Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5018: Differentiation and Balance
The creation of the title of "Tongzhongshumenxia Pingzhangshi" had the deepest meaning of "expelling" Fang Jun and Li Ji from the list of prime ministers, so that they could not directly participate in state affairs, thereby enhancing the influence of civil officials to check and balance the military.

To this end, he even left the positions of the left and right prime ministers vacant...

But now you suddenly mention letting Fang Jun return to the government hall. What is your Majesty's intention?

Fang Jun was confused and wanted to ask Fang Xuanling for help, but he knew that Fang Xuanling would not give him any advice under such circumstances. After thinking for a while, he declined politely, "Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your grace. But Your Majesty should also know that I am not interested in court affairs. I am not impatient to deal with those mundane affairs, and I don't think I can do better than the prime ministers. I am already very satisfied to teach and educate people in an academy and promote some high-yield grains in my spare time. Therefore, I am sorry that I cannot obey your order."

Although I don’t know what Li Chengqian is up to, it’s definitely not a good idea, so it’s definitely right to refuse.

Li Chengqian was very dissatisfied: "What is your mentality?"

He looked at Fang Xuanling and complained, "Look, Prime Minister Fang, isn't Erlang just giving up? The empire is thriving, the country is getting stronger, and the unprecedented prosperity is coming as expected. We should do our best and work hard day and night! I work hard day and night for state affairs, but he only takes on those easy tasks. I want to add more burdens, but he refuses. How can he live up to the favor of Emperor Taizong and my trust? It's simply unreasonable!"

Fang Xuanling chuckled: "I have retired and returned to my hometown. I should enjoy my grandchildren and family life. I have worked hard for the empire for half my life and my energy has long been exhausted. There is really no room for me to comment on such matters."

The manifestation of imperial power lies in checks and balances.

The simplest and most effective check and balance is to "beat one and pull one", so that the ministers are not united and naturally rely on the emperor for everything. In this way, the imperial power is stabilized.

He saw through Li Chengqian's method at a glance, but he had to admit that such simple methods were often extremely effective.

This is an open conspiracy.

Li Chengqian looked at Fang Jun again, and said earnestly, even humbly, "Although we are king and minister in name, we are close friends and brothers in reality! Now that our country is strong and government affairs are cumbersome, how can you bear to let me work alone and lose sleep? You must share some of the burden with me! Now there are six prime ministers in the government hall, and it is often tied 3 to 3. Even trivial matters have to be brought to me for judgment. How can I make a judgment? Your going to the government hall will just break the current situation of equal strength. Most government affairs will be decided in the government hall, and I can save a lot of time."

The hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes turned over, most of them lingered on Fang Jun's face, to see how he would respond and make the choice.

Being able to make the emperor say such words, no matter what his original intention was, was unique. If Fang Jun continued to refuse, he would inevitably be suspected of "deceiving the emperor"...

Fang Jun was helpless. He had already vaguely understood Li Chengqian's intention. He probably wanted to destroy his alliance with Li Ji in this way. In terms of seniority, Li Ji was older, and in terms of merits, Li Ji was equally as good. Moreover, because the two of them worked together to control the army, they were both expelled from the ranks of prime ministers. If he now returned to the government hall and became prime minister again, what would Li Ji think?
No matter how magnanimous Li Ji was, and no matter how much he understood Li Chengqian's intentions, he would inevitably draw a clear line between himself and Fang Jun, and the alliance would collapse.

But Li Chengqian was so humble that he didn't intend to let Fang Jun refuse.

Otherwise, how would the government and the people view his extravagance and arrogance?

Queen Su, who was standing by, seemed to sense Fang Jun's embarrassment and anger, and quickly hugged the child and said, "Erlang and Your Majesty have a deep friendship. At this time, the government affairs are so complicated and overwhelming that Your Majesty can't breathe. You should lend a hand to help Your Majesty share some of the burden. Only when the monarch and his subjects work together can we create a prosperous era. You don't need to care about other people's opinions."

This gave Fang Jun a chance to step aside. Otherwise, Li Chengqian’s slightly distorted face would have almost exploded...

"Your Majesty trusts me so much, how dare I take a break? I will obey your orders."

"Haha, that's right!"

Seeing Fang Jun give in, Li Chengqian was overjoyed and patted Fang Jun on the shoulder: "Don't you have many ideas that you want to realize one by one? Don't worry and work hard, I support you!"

He never suppressed Fang Jun's "desire for change". After all, all the "reforms" that Fang Jun had advised or presided over in the past had been very effective. Facts have proved that sticking to the old ways can hardly keep up with the rapid development of the empire. Only seeking innovation and change can drive the empire to continuous progress.

With such a capable minister assisting him, many government affairs can be handled in the government hall, instead of flying to his desk like snowflakes waiting for his decision.

He really felt that he had limited energy and could not continue when faced with the mountain of documents...

*****
"Your Majesty's method may seem simple, but it is actually very effective. Once you enter the Political Affairs Hall, you will probably become a thorn in the eyes of Liu Li and others. There will be endless fighting between them. Your Majesty will be sitting in the middle, and each party will have to rely on the imperial power to win... But these are not a big deal. The court is full of fighting, and where there are people, there are conflicts of interest. The most important thing is to talk to Lord Ying. No matter how magnanimous Lord Ying is, he will probably be dissatisfied with this situation."

After Li Chengqian and his family left, the father and son had a long talk in the study, analyzing the pros and cons of Li Chengqian's move.

Fang Xuanling was quite worried.

"Jealousy" is human nature. Anyone who is abandoned by His Majesty and supports his ally to become the prime minister again will not feel happy.

Once the alliance between Fang Jun and Li Ji begins to crack, the military will no longer be united...

Fang Jun sighed, "No wonder Emperor Taizong didn't think highly of Your Majesty. Sometimes you are indeed a little petty. As an emperor, you only know how to weigh the pros and cons, but you don't know how to be upright and aboveboard. It's very disappointing."

Fang Xuanling drank tea and said disapprovingly: "Why are there so many grand and petty ones? There is no distinction between bright and dark means, only good and bad ones. Now I force you to agree to return to the political hall in public, and the goal is achieved, so this is a good means. On the contrary, if you are always grand and generous but no one recognizes it, what is the use of it?"

"That's what my father taught me."

Fang Jun bowed and accepted the instruction, then stood up and said, "I will go to the Duke of Ying's mansion and have a chat with him."

Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "Just make your feelings clear. Don't try to make Lord Ying accept anything. The more you say, the worse it will be."

"My child understands."

……

Fang Jun immediately changed into casual clothes, went out with his personal soldiers, and rode to the Duke of Ying's mansion.

There was no need to report to the clerk. He went straight to the main hall under the guidance of the steward, and just in time saw Li Yulong coming out...

"I heard that the Princess of Silla gave her brother a little prince?"

Li Yulong had been divorced a long time ago and had never remarried. The young woman, who was in her twenties, had a beautiful face and was innocent, just like a young girl. When she saw Fang Jun, she immediately came closer with sparkling eyes.

Fang Jun sat down and said with a smile, "How can you be so well-informed? The child has not even been born for two hours."

Li Yulong sat beside him and said, "The Fang family has a new baby, and His Majesty and the Queen have come to congratulate you personally. This is a major event that has attracted the attention of the entire Chang'an City. The news has already spread. Congratulations, brother."

Fang Jun said with a smile: "Congratulations, congratulations!"

"What are you celebrating?"

Li Yulong's pretty face turned slightly red and she gave Fang Jun a cold look.

Although she is married, she has never given birth, so how can she be "happy together"...

There was a hint of resentment in his eyes.

Li Ji came out from the back hall, smiled and waved to Fang Jun who stood up to salute, and said with a smile: "It's the Fang family's happy event, I should have visited Fang Xiang, but it's you who came in person, which makes me feel a little terrified."

They took their seats one after another.

Fang Jun said: "Your and my families are close friends, why should we care about these red tape? As a junior, I should just come here to ask for advice."

Li Ji waved his hand to drive his daughter away, took a sip of tea from the teacup, raised his eyelids to look at Fang Jun, and said calmly: "I heard that His Majesty and the Queen went to the mansion to congratulate?"

"Why is it so? Hey! I am very frightened by your majesty's trick."

"Oh? Tell me."

Fang Jun then told Li Ji about his return to the Council of State. Looking at Li Ji's expression, he sighed and said, "It seems that His Majesty is becoming more and more wary of you and me. He would rather use this method of treating us differently to divide us, and even disregards the majesty of the imperial power."

A sword has two edges. Li Chengqian was able to pressure Fang Jun in public, forcing him to agree out of consideration for the dignity of the imperial power. Naturally, he also had to endure the backlash that came with it. He even had to use the dignity of the imperial power to intimidate ministers. It is obvious how much of the imperial dignity is left?
So although Li Chengqian's move seemed successful, he actually killed one thousand enemies but lost eight hundred of his own.

Li Ji said helplessly: "But your majesty's trick is still very effective. I don't care about gains and losses. I can let you stand in front of me, but those arrogant and brave generals under my command may not be willing to accept it."

Why do we have to take sides in politics?

Taking sides means making a choice. Whichever side you stand on and that side makes progress will lead to success; otherwise, everyone will suffer together.

Li Ji has a long history and has made great contributions. Over the years, a large group of people have joined him because of their common interests and have shared the same fate with him. Now that Fang Jun has returned to the political hall, Li Ji is obviously the one suspected and suppressed by His Majesty, so the interests of those around him will inevitably be damaged.

So what if I understand His Majesty's methods?

When one's own interests are truly damaged, even the most sensible people will not be able to bear it. No one cares whether it is an open or secret plot, interests are the most important...

Fang Jun said, "You and I are not trying to play tricks like adding nine gifts or conferring titles of nobility. Even if some people below are dissatisfied and cannot cooperate as sincerely as before, as long as you and I advance and retreat in unison and have no barriers, the army of the Tang Dynasty will not be in chaos!"

Why must it be so rigid?
Moreover, it has never been a solid block...