Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5108 Giving someone a handle
Fang Jun did not avoid suspicion and said casually: "The core of the empire at present is the economy. Besides, the end of your official career will definitely not be the chief clerk of Liangzhou, so you don't have to care about other things. Just focus on growing cotton. As long as Liangzhou's economy makes great progress, you will naturally make great contributions. It will be natural for you to return to the center and enter the three provinces in the future."

The Tang Dynasty today has a sense of "economic indicators above all else" that is similar to a certain stage in later generations. Although it has many drawbacks and even caused some irreparable damage, there is no perfect policy in the world, and any policy can only have its emphasis and trade-offs.

It’s just that people in the world today have not yet realized what kind of capital changes will be brewing behind the brilliant and rapid economic development…

Cui Shenji nodded repeatedly, and then sighed: "The white sedge has long been recorded in history books. The history of its cultivation in Hexi and the Western Regions is hundreds of years. Some people transplant it into flower pots for viewing, and some people remove it like weeds. But no one has ever thought that this plant can be spun into thread and woven into cloth, becoming a treasure that supports the local economy and is sold all over the world!"

He was convinced by Fang Jun: "The Grand Commandant is the best poet in the world, he has made great achievements and has been invincible in battles. He can be said to be 'both civil and military, amazing talent'! But I admire your way of 'studying things to gain knowledge' the most. You can turn stones into gold and turn decay into magic, just like an immortal!"

Fang Jun laughed and said, "At the beginning of the universe, the laws of physics were already there. We just discovered the principles and rules and then made use of them. How can it be considered a magical method? Brother, you are praising me so much that I am ashamed!"

"Ji Lang is too modest!"

Seeing that Fang Jun had no airs of a superior and always called him "brother" in a very friendly manner, he naturally changed his address from "Taiwei" to "Erlang".

We had a great time talking and felt sorry for not meeting each other earlier...

The sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, and the personal soldiers reported that Duke Lu and the Governor of Liangzhou were coming together. Fang Jun and Cui Shenji then stood up and went outside the pavilion.

Soon, Cheng Yaojin and Guo Guangjing arrived hand in hand.

The two men dismounted and went forward to greet...

Fang Jun first exchanged greetings with Guo Guangjing, and then bowed to Cheng Yaojin and said, "My nephew pays respects to my uncle. At such an old age, you still serve the country by guarding the borders, fighting on horseback, wearing old wounds, and loyally protecting the country. I, the younger generation, really admire you and feel inferior to you."

"Haha! You and I are uncle and nephew, and we are as close as a family. In my eyes, you are no different from my sons. There is no difference between you and me! Hurry up and get up. No need to be so polite."

Cheng Yaojin laughed, walked forward, held Fang Jun's shoulders and helped him up.

On the side, Guo Guangjing, Cui Shenji, and even Cheng Chumo's eyelids twitched, secretly admiring Cheng Yaojin's thick skin as a city wall.

Logically speaking, there is nothing wrong with what he said. Isn't Fang Jun his nephew?
However, with Fang Jun's current status, he is not only on par with him, but even better than him... There is still a saying circulating in the court: "If I had a son, I would want him to be like Fang Yiai", but who really dares to say "Fang Yiai is like my son"?
Even Li Ji didn’t dare to say this!

Fang Jun stood up, smiling as if he had no dissatisfaction with Cheng Yaojin's words, and even nodded repeatedly: "Your and my two families are old friends. Uncle is not only an elder, but I even regard him as my foster father!"

Cheng Yaojin was unable to react for a moment, stroking his beard and smiling happily: "Why not wait until we return to the capital, I will host a banquet for your father, find a few old friends to accompany us, complete the ceremony of our recognition as father and son, and announce it to everyone!"

Fang Jun said with a smile: "That is what I wish for, but I dare not ask you!"

On the side, Cui Shenji and Guo Guangjing had strange smiles. The former was more honest after all. Seeing Cheng Yaojin laughing happily, the silly boy Cheng Chumo also laughed beside him and couldn't help but remind him: "Duke Yue fought on the battlefield and was invincible. He really has the courage of 'Marquis Wen', which complements Duke Lu's bravery. If they could become father and son, it would be a good story."

Cheng Yaojin: "Hahahaha... burp!"

The smile froze on his face.

He was not just a military general. He had grown up in a wealthy family and was well-read. Naturally, he had read "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and reacted immediately.

Isn’t “Wen Hou” Lu Bu?
Who was Lü Bu's adoptive father... Ding Yuan? Dong Zhuo?

These two old guys were killed by Lu Bu!

He was immediately furious: "Wow, Fang Er, you bastard, are you going to kill me? Come on, let's fight for 300 rounds today and let me teach you how to respect the elderly!"

Fang Jun quickly begged for mercy, then smiled and said to Cui Shenji: "I sincerely want to recognize Duke Lu as my adoptive father. Why don't you go back to the capital immediately and inform my father about this so that he can prepare?"

Cui Shenji pretended to be silent and said, "Duke Yue has given me an order, so I dare not evade or shirk my responsibility. However, I am carrying out the emperor's order..."

Fang Jun said solemnly, "The emperor's order is important, but isn't my recognition of my adoptive father important? You can return to the capital. If His Majesty punishes you, you can put the blame on me. I will take it all! I think His Majesty will not punish me if he knows that I delayed the emperor's order in order to recognize my adoptive father."

Cui Shenji: "I obey your orders and will return to Chang'an immediately..."

"Hey, hey, hey!"

Cheng Yaojin was shocked. Although he knew that this was Fang Jun's counterattack against him for taking advantage of his seniority and was most likely a joke, he did not dare to gamble.

What if this idiot Cui Shenji takes it seriously and doesn't even read out the imperial edict summoning him back to the capital, and instead goes back to Chang'an?
He spread his hands helplessly: "You young people really don't understand humor. It's just a joke, why take it seriously? Come on, Erlang, follow me into the city. I'll have a banquet tonight, and we won't leave until we're drunk!"

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Uncle, are you kidding? Haha, I took it seriously. But you said it yourself, 'I won't go home until I'm drunk'. Governor Guo and Brother Cui, please be my witnesses and don't let Duke Lu deny it."

Cheng Yaojin's face changed, and he then remembered Fang Jun's ability to "drink a thousand cups without getting drunk". But now that things have come to this, he can't go back on his word and gain some benefits, right?
I had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, “I will risk my life to accompany you today!”

……

After entering the city and arriving at the governor's mansion, Cui Shenji first read out the imperial edict.

As expected, Cheng Yaojin was summoned to lead the Zuo Wuwei back to the capital...

Cheng Yaojin was eager to return to Chang'an, but when the imperial edict arrived, he found that he was not so happy.

He stared at Cui Shenji: "Could it be that Cui Dalang came here just to read the imperial edict?"

Logically speaking, it was just a matter of reading the imperial edict, so there was no need for a Huangmen minister to go there in person...

As expected, Cui Shenji handed another document to Guo Guangjing: "The Ministry of Personnel has appointed me to be the chief clerk of the Liangzhou Governor's Office. From now on, I will be under the Governor's command."

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened: "The chief clerk of the Liangzhou Governor's Office?"

Cui Shenji said with a smile: "That's right. Before I left, His Majesty gave me some instructions. Because the wasteland in Liangzhou is being reclaimed and cotton is being planted, the prime ministers in the court are worried that someone will take advantage of the opportunity to occupy the good farmland and carry out annexation in the name of reclamation. Therefore, he strictly ordered me to check the account books and settle the land, and make sure that the good farmland of the people will not become the 'wasteland' of the aristocratic families!"

The atmosphere was very serious.

Several of those present here are either descendants of aristocratic families or military heroes of the country. Naturally, they are very familiar with the annexation methods used by the aristocratic families.

Reclaiming wasteland to plant cotton is a good thing, but in this process, has anyone forcibly bought the people's fertile land and then registered it as wasteland?
The answer is almost yes.

Guo Guangjing was a little flustered. He was the governor of Liangzhou. As long as Cui Shenji found out that an acre of good land had become wasteland and fell into the name of a noble family, he would not be able to escape the blame.

If he wanted to be exempted from responsibility or to atone for his crime, he could only cooperate with Cui Shenji to catch those parasites one by one...

The most panicked one was Cheng Yaojin.

Because he suddenly remembered that he had used "rogue" means to snatch so many cotton fields from Xiao Yu. With Xiao Yu's cunning character, how could he let him rob him obediently?
Even if Xiao Yu had not seized the good farmland and turned it into wasteland before, when he wanted the land, he would most likely seize some of the good farmland and transfer it to Cheng Yaojin in the name of wasteland...

He had no idea how many cotton fields under his name had turned from good land to barren land.

But he knew that there must be cotton fields that had "turned from good land to barren land".

As long as he investigates, all kinds of witnesses and material evidence will be automatically delivered to Cui Shenji...

Cheng Yaojin was sweating a little.

Damn, I was careless!

I thought I had gotten a great advantage, but unexpectedly I gave others an advantage!
He looked at Fang Jun, who happened to be looking at him. Their eyes met, and Fang Jun asked with a smile, "When will uncle leave for Beijing?"

Cheng Yaojin: "..."

If he returned to Beijing at this time, how many acres of cotton fields would be left that were under the name of Zuo Wuwei but actually belonged to him personally?
It doesn’t even matter how much is left. What matters is whether he will be charged with the crime of “occupying people’s land and turning good land into wasteland”?

The money I have already received may not be enough to pay it all out, and I may have to pay a large fine...

But the imperial edict has already arrived, can he still disobey it?
He wiped his face and forced a smile: "How dare I delay the emperor's order? It's just that there are still some affairs in Hexi that need to be properly handled, and I'm a little worried."

Fang Jun smiled brightly: "Uncle, just go back to Beijing. If there is anything, I will help you deal with it."

Cheng Yaojin: "..."

This damn smile looks like he has no good intentions!

However, this matter really has to fall on Fang Jun's shoulders. Looking at how close Fang Jun and Choi Shenji are, as long as Fang Jun is willing to cover up for him, I think Choi Shenji will let it go.

But the problem is that his return to the capital this time will, after all, be used by His Majesty to check Fang Jun's power in Chang'an. If he needs Fang Jun to cover up for him, it means that Fang Jun has caught him. How can he return to the capital with a clear conscience to control the left and right Jinwu Guards?
"...Uncle, this is what I thought. In order to ensure that the Left Guard could have a full meal, I bought some cotton fields. Now that the imperial edict has arrived and I need to lead the Left Guard back to the capital, these cotton fields are of no use. I will give them to Yu Erlang as well, okay?"

Now he would rather not have these cotton fields than be blackmailed by Fang Jun.

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Since you return to Beijing, my nephew and Brother Cui will take care of the cotton fields here for you. Don't worry, what belongs to you will always be yours. If anyone dares to use his brain to do something, I will be angry with him!"

Cheng Yaojin: "..."

With Fang Jun's words, these cotton fields are definitely under his name, and no one else can snatch them away.

Likewise, Fang Jun would always have the evidence in his hands. If he dared to attack the left and right Jinwu Guards in Chang'an, there would be a big explosion here, and countless evidence would be sent directly to the Censorate and the Dali Temple...

Mother!

"Come on, come on, stop talking nonsense, the banquet is ready, and today Erlang and I won't leave until we are drunk!"

If I could get Fang Er drunk at the bar, I would have a reason for being angry and would feel better.