Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5040 Shangguan Tingzhi
Shangguan Tingzhi was a formal Confucian disciple. He had studied classics and historical books since childhood, and Confucian thoughts were deeply rooted in him. Moreover, he was still young and inexperienced in the world, so he was a bit of a rough diamond and lacked the ability to understand and accept new things. He was unable to turn around for a while.

Merchant work has always been the most menial. Now his father actually wants him to go to the West Market to serve as the mayor, and associate with those cunning and unethical merchants all day long?

Especially the nature of the West Market. The Hu merchants came from the west and entered the Jinguan Gate directly to the West Market. Every day there were groups of pack horses and feces all over the ground. It was very filthy... How could I, a son of a noble family and a gentleman as precious as jade, allow myself to degenerate like that?

He was a little reluctant: "The mayor of Xishi is of the eighth rank, why don't you go to the government office and ask them to replace him with a chief clerk of Jing County!"

Jingxian is one of the counties under the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture. The chief clerk is the third in command in the county government, below the magistrate and the chancellor. His rank is from the eighth grade, two levels lower than the mayor.

Although it was inevitable that my father would have to rely on personal connections to change his position in the government office, after all, he was demoted two levels, so it was reasonable whether he was in the government office or reported to the Censorate...

Shangguan Yi was angry that he didn't argue: "Father has already made up his mind on this matter, don't say anything more!"

Shangguan Tingzhi wanted to say more, but Shangguan Tingzhang at the side quickly pulled him back. His father seemed gentle and elegant, but he was a stubborn person. His words were always final in the family, and no one could oppose his decisions.

Shangguan Tingzhi was dejected and said helplessly: "My son, I will obey your orders."

Shangguan Yi felt sorry for him when he saw him so depressed, so he said softly, "How can your father harm you? Go to Fang's house later and meet Duke Yue. Tell him in detail what happened during the selection of officials at the Ministry of Personnel today..."

Then he told Shangguan Tingzhi about the Censorate's intention to investigate Zhang Zizhou, and taught him the skill of speaking.

This is the advantage of being a child of aristocratic family. Their ancestors have accumulated countless experiences, and the children have received a very detailed and strict education before they even enter officialdom. If they encounter problems after entering officialdom, they can also ask their elders at home for advice on how to solve them, and they can also mobilize their family connections to help solve them.

However, the children of poor families or the children of the people have no such help. They can only rely on themselves to climb the official career ladder. They encounter many troubles and get into a lot of troubles, but their official career often becomes a wedding dress for others...

Shangguan Tingzhi was not stupid, otherwise he would not have stood out among thousands of candidates. Hearing this, he understood what he meant and nodded repeatedly: "Don't worry, father, I understand!"

To put it bluntly, the purpose is to show goodwill to Fang Jun and take this opportunity to make his position clear and stand on Fang Jun's side.

Shangguan Tingzhang was a little confused: "Please enlighten me, father. The Imperial Censor is your Majesty's lackey. This is known to everyone in the court and the public. Now the Imperial Censor wants to cause trouble for Fang Jun, but we want to stand on Fang Jun's side. Isn't this the same as going against your Majesty?"

It’s okay to take sides and express your stance, but how can you abandon His Majesty and stand with Fang Jun?
No matter how powerful Fang Jun is, he can't be stronger than Your Majesty, right?
Shangguan Yi did not take it as an offense, but instead taught him earnestly: "Whether it is the affairs of the court or the affairs of the world, it is often not either this or that. Liu Xiangdao is your majesty's lackey, but isn't Fang Jun? Compared with the two, how can the former be compared with the latter? It is currently rumored that there is something dirty between your majesty and Fang Jun. Even if it is true, so what? From what I have seen, Fang Jun not only has a stable position, but has also returned to the political hall to become prime minister, and his confidants who were promoted and reused in the past have not been suppressed or exiled. Because your majesty knows that Fang Jun is his most solid foundation in the court, civil officials and military generals."

His Majesty has countless hawks and dogs, and Fang Jun is the biggest and strongest one!
The two brothers were convinced, and Shangguan Tingzhi hurried back to take a shower and change clothes.

……

When he returned to his residence, his wife Zheng hurried to greet him. Seeing that he was preparing to take a bath and change clothes, she asked the maid to prepare clothes and accessories, and she personally helped her husband bathe.

After soaking in the tub for a while, Shangguan Tingzhi enjoyed his wife's service. He looked down and saw his wife's beautiful face, gentle and elegant, with her temples pressed against her fair face. He smiled and asked, "Is Kun'er making a fuss?"

Shangguan Kun'er is the couple's eldest son. He is less than one year old, but he usually has too much energy and is very noisy.

Zheng said softly, "Mammy is watching over him, so he's fine. My dear, you're getting dressed and washing up now. Do you have a banquet or poetry gathering to attend?"

After giving birth, I was bloated and my figure had not yet recovered. I wondered if my husband was tired of it and wanted to go out and have some fun...

Shangguan Tingzhi chuckled: "What are you thinking about, madam? My father asked me to go to the Duke of Liang's mansion to pay a visit to the Duke of Yue."

Then he whispered the matter.

His wife was the legitimate daughter of Zheng from Xingyang. She was a lady from a prominent family, had extraordinary insights, was smart, quick-witted, and meticulous. She always played the role of "think tank" between the couple. Shangguan Tingzhi admired her intelligence and strategy, and always listened to her advice and never hid anything.

Zheng frowned slightly, thought for a while, and whispered: "Father is far-sighted, so it's no problem. But you can ask the Fang family for advice on the operation of the West Market. The demolition and expansion of the East and West Markets were originally based on the advice of Duke Yue, and later the various regulations of the two markets were mostly made by him. In the current court, if there is anyone who knows the operation and trade of the two markets, it must be Duke Yue. If you can get a few pointers from him, I think you will be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort in the future."

Shangguan Tingzhi understood and nodded repeatedly.

Being taught by him and gaining some insights is only one thing. What is more important is to be able to catch Fang Jun's eye. As long as he values ​​you, your future will be bright.

Don’t you see that all those who were recommended and reused by Fang Junzhi are now independent and successful?
Besides, the reason why his father asked him to go to Fang's house was because he had this in mind. Otherwise, given his official position and his past friendship with Fang Jun, he could have paid a visit in person...

……

The evening breeze is blowing gently and the lights are coming on.

After dinner, Fang Jun sat in the study, made a cup of tea, opened the large stack of "Han Shu", and began to read slowly.

Fang Jun had heard Emperor Taizong's words "Learn from history to understand the rise and fall of a nation" in his past and present lives, but he had never taken it to heart. He knew it was true but not why. This time, when he was ridiculed by Liu Li, he may not have felt humiliated, but he was indeed ashamed.

So he studied hard.

I had just turned two pages when I saw Xiao Shu'er coming in from outside. She walked gracefully with lotus steps and the jingling of her jewelry. As she approached me, a faint fragrance wafted from her. Her face was picturesque and her steps were light and graceful.

During these two days, every time I was reading in the study, Xiao Shuer would be there to add fragrance to my heart and be gentle with me...

Fang Jun looked at the sky. Although it was already dark, the mansion was brightly lit. Servants and maids were busy doing things and walked past the window from time to time.

Shocked, he said, "Although I know what you mean, and I am willing to help you, and I enjoy it, but you should be restrained and distinguish between time and place, right?"

Xiao Shu'er's pretty face flushed, and she stamped her feet and said angrily, "How can you treat me like this? It was the eldest son of Shangguan Yi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who came to visit with his father's name card, saying that he had something important to tell me."

"Shangguan Yi's son? I have to meet him."

Fang Jun threw the book aside and walked to the front yard with his hands behind his back.

The printing quality of this book is poor, the paper quality is poor, it makes people dizzy...

In the side hall, Shangguan Tingzhi sat on a chair with his tea aside, looking at the decoration in the hall from time to time, and thinking about what he had seen since entering the mansion. The servants of the Fang family were humble and polite, and their words were appropriate. The mansion was full of lush flowers and trees, and servants were coming and going. The decoration in the hall was elegant and antique. It was worthy of being "a family of two dukes", with a grand and prosperous atmosphere.

Just as I was considering what to say after the meeting, I saw Fang Jun, who was wearing a dark blue robe and coming with his hands behind his back. His broad shoulders and thick back made him look a little thin against the backdrop of his clothes. He had a straight back and walked with a majestic step. His hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin and he did not wear a crown. There was a piece of white jade around his waist. His face was slightly dark and thin, with handsome eyebrows and eyes and a calm smile.

Has there ever been any trace of the murderous spirit of "being the bravest among the three armies and killing people like flies"?

He looks more like a well-dressed, gentle and honest young man from an aristocratic family...

He quickly stood up to greet the emperor, bowing to the ground and saying, "I am Shangguan Tingzhi, the junior, and I am honored to meet the Grand Commandant."

Fang Jun walked to the main seat and sat down, then waved his hand and said with a smile: "Your father and I were colleagues in the past, but there is a big age difference between us. On the contrary, we are not much different, so there is no need to be so polite and cautious. We can just be friends as peers."

Shangguan Tingzhi also felt that it would be awkward to call him "uncle", so he followed suit: "The Grand Commandant has made great contributions to the country and has great reputation. I will obey your command out of respect."

"Okay, no need to be polite, sit down and have some tea, and please speak frankly if you have anything to say."

Fang Jun smiled and asked Shangguan Tingzhi to take a seat. Then his eyes would occasionally glance at the other's face. He saw that his face was as white as jade, his demeanor was handsome, and his temperament was gentle. He was indeed a rare handsome man. He nodded secretly in his heart.

He is worthy of being the man who gave birth to Shangguan Wan'er.

Counting on my fingers, it seems that the talented woman who "measures the world's scholars" has not yet been born...

He naturally felt a little emotional in his heart, but he didn't know that Shangguan Tingzhi was already worried and at a loss.

Fang Jun's eyes kept passing over his face, making Shangguan Tingzhi's hands and feet tense and quite uncomfortable. He knew that he had outstanding looks and extraordinary temperament, and had always been admired by "broken sleeves and peach sharing" men, who had entangled him repeatedly and he could not bear the annoyance, so he relied on his family background to "escape" every time.

Fortunately, I have never heard of Fang Jun's obscene habits, otherwise he would have run away right now...

Please explain your purpose in detail immediately.

Fortunately, he was the son of a noble family and had excellent qualities. Although he was panicked, he was able to remain calm, speak clearly and was not panicked.

Fang Jun drank tea with his eyes lowered, listening silently to Shangguan Tingzhi's words without saying a word.

Shangguan Tingzhi finished speaking the words he had already considered, and at the end, he said carefully: "My father asked me to remind the Taiwei that the Imperial Censor may not have evidence, but he may not be able to stir up trouble. Once the matter gets out of hand, everyone in the court and the public will pay attention, and then the Taiwei may not be able to explain himself even if he is right. After all, the Imperial Censor is an extremely noble, fair and honest official, but Liu Xiangdao may not be that pure."

Although the words were spoken cryptically, Fang Jun already understood them.