Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5239 Repeating the Same Trick
The essence of the imperial examination system was to revolutionize aristocratic families and clans, completely shatter their monopoly on educational resources and distribute them throughout the country, giving everyone a chance to enter officialdom, rise in social class, and change their destiny.

Therefore, the implementation process will inevitably encounter layers of obstacles from powerful families and clans. It will be extremely difficult to truly promote it throughout the country. The process will involve countless setbacks, offending countless people, and even engaging in a life-or-death struggle with powerful families and clans.

This is something that ordinary people can't do; only people like Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu, who are willing to do anything to achieve their goals, have a chance of succeeding.

Even if it doesn't ultimately succeed, throwing out such a "traitorous minister of all time" to quell public anger is a way to make use of waste, and it's not a big deal.

Sometimes, it's difficult to get things done if you care too much about your personal reputation or the stability of the overall situation. On the contrary, it is those who are selfish and unscrupulous who can accomplish great things.

The best example is Emperor Yang of Sui. If he had paid any attention to his reputation and the country, would the Grand Canal have been completed?
Xu Jingzong stroked his beard, his face showing difficulty: "Since the Cao Wei dynasty implemented the Nine-Rank System as the guiding principle for selecting officials, it has been more than four hundred years. It is deeply rooted and almost a permanent rule. Not to mention unified dynasties like Wei, Jin, Sui, and Tang, even when the Eastern Jin dynasty was confined to a corner of the country and the Northern and Southern Dynasties were filled with bloodshed, this policy was never shaken. It is easier to move a mountain than to shake the powerful clans!"

The foundation of the "Nine-Rank System" lay in aristocratic families and powerful clans.

As long as powerful clans exist, it will be impossible to completely abolish the "Nine-Rank System" and implement the "Imperial Examination System".

Although the imperial examinations have been held for several sessions, the selected talents are at least from poor families, and not even a truly commoner can be seen.

For centuries, this practice has completely monopolized education. How can it be overthrown or abolished simply by popularizing a few cheap books and building more county schools and village academies?
It can only be said that the imperial examination system shook the foundations of aristocratic families, but the road to truly replacing them was still fraught with difficulties and obstacles, and the journey was long and arduous.

Ma Zhou, with a serious expression, solemnly said, "Without the will to overcome all difficulties and persevere, how can one accomplish great things? Let alone the glorious undertaking of promoting the imperial examination system, which is destined to leave a lasting legacy! Minister Xu, please rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist you. If we join hands and forge ahead with determination, what is there to worry about in achieving great things!"

Fang Jun glanced at Ma Zhou, who was speaking righteously and sternly, and couldn't tell whether he really wanted to help Xu Jingzong or was deliberately trying to provoke him. Although Ma Zhou usually seemed upright, strict and impartial, how could someone who could rise to such a position be a stubborn blockhead?
Footsteps sounded outside the door, and a clerk knocked: "The Chief Eunuch has summoned the Grand Commandant by His Majesty's decree."

Xu Jingzong, who was closest to the door, quickly got up and opened it, only to find Wang De standing outside.

Wang De first bowed to Xu Jingzong, then bowed to Ma Zhou and Fang Jun respectively, and finally said: "His Majesty has issued an oral decree to summon the Grand Commandant."

Fang Jun stood up and nodded to Ma Zhou and Xu Jingzong, then followed Wang De out of the Secretariat and headed to the Wude Hall.

*****
The sky was overcast, the wind blew and snow fell. Many eunuchs were sweeping the paths and courtyards in the snow. The palace staff were coming and going in the Taiji Palace, which was unusually lively.

As the two walked, Wang De lagged slightly behind, and heard Fang Jun ask, "May I ask what His Majesty has summoned me for?"

Wang De walked with his head down and said softly, "It's about the Prince of Jin's enfeoffment."

"Where does Your Majesty intend to place the Prince of Jin?"

"The Prince of Jin himself requested to travel far south to the large island south of Java."

Fang Jun was taken aback.

As the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet gained more and more experience in navigation and its shipbuilding technology improved, it almost reached the pinnacle of sailing technology. Naturally, it traveled further and further afield, and even Australia, which was hidden far away in the southern sea, was discovered.

Li Zhi actually wants to go to Australia?

What is Your Majesty's opinion?

Given Li Zhi's "numerous criminal records" and "bad deeds," releasing him from Chang'an to Australia could very likely lead to "releasing a tiger back to the mountain," and Li Chengqian might well be wary of such a move.

Wang De then looked up, exchanged a glance with Fang Jun, and said, "Your Majesty's benevolence and kindness are unprecedented throughout history."

Fang Jun then understood that Li Chengqian was actually willing to let Li Zhi go to Australia.

If that's the case, then why summon me?
……

The Imperial Study was warm and cozy. A eunuch came forward to respectfully brush the snowflakes off Fang Jun's shoulders and led him into the inner room. There, he saw Li Chengqian, dressed in an ochre-yellow casual robe, kneeling with Li Zhi, who was wearing a python robe, sitting on a mat by the window, drinking tea.

"Your humble servant pays homage to Your Majesty and greets Prince Jin."

"Erlang, there's no need for such formalities. Come and have some tea."

Li Chengqian smiled and casually waved.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Fang Jun stepped forward and knelt down to one side, smiling as he said, "Your Majesty, please speak freely if you have any orders. As for the tea, I won't drink it; I was almost full from drinking at the Secretariat."

Even so, Li Zhi still poured him a cup of tea.

Fang Jun hurriedly expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Li Zhi smiled warmly: "Brother-in-law, there's no need for such formalities."

Li Chengqian asked curiously, "What is Erlang doing at the Secretariat?"

"Today, heavy snow has blanketed the Guanzhong Plain in white, freezing the rivers. Literati and poets have taken advantage of the snow to tour the scenic spots, gathering with friends and writing poems, many of which have been passed down through generations. However, for ordinary people, this heavy snow is a disaster. Those whose houses are on the verge of collapse may see their walls crumble, and the lonely and impoverished may freeze to death..."

Li Chengqian's expression turned solemn: "What's the situation?"

Li Zhi also suppressed his smile.

Fang Jun smiled and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Under the leadership of Ma Zhou, the Jingzhao Prefecture is fair and honest, and loves the people like its own children. Moreover, it is a prosperous and peaceful time with a wise ruler in power. It has already joined forces with many other government offices to go to various places to provide disaster relief, and has prepared emergency supplies to distribute one by one. The millions of people in Guanzhong live in peace, health and prosperity, and everywhere they sing praises of the wise ruler and the righteous people in the court!"

"That's good!"

Li Chengqian exhaled and sighed, “Your poem from back then was well written: ‘When the country prospers, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer!’ The people of China are the most hardworking and simple, always rebuilding their homes from ruins and becoming self-reliant… Why should hardworking people have to suffer so much? I don’t care about being praised as a ‘wise ruler’ or ‘enlightened monarch’; I only wish for the empire to prosper and the people to be wealthy!”

"Your Majesty's benevolence is a blessing to all people!"

"Enough! Why such hypocritical formalities between us? These words are fine to listen to, but if you actually believe yourself to be some kind of sage ruler, that would be utterly foolish!"

Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed, then glanced at Li Zhi and asked Fang Jun, "Does Erlang know about the island in the south?"

Fang Jun nodded: "I know a little about it. It was a large island that the navy discovered by chance when it crossed the strait and headed south while suppressing pirates in the waters near Java. The island is vast and sparsely populated."

Li Chengqian nodded, looked directly at Fang Jun, and said, "Zhi Nu is about to take up his fiefdom. I originally intended to grant him the land of Lin Yi to establish a state, to permanently secure Nan Yue and serve as a bulwark of the empire for generations... but he insisted on exiling himself to the far south, to open up that desolate land for the empire. What do you think?"

Fang Jun did not hesitate and said decisively, "I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order. This matter is absolutely unacceptable!"

Li Zhi's hand holding the teacup tightened slightly, and he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Fang Jun.

Li Chengqian was slightly taken aback and asked, "Why do you say that, Second Brother?"

Fang Jun knelt to one side, straightened his back, and said solemnly, "Although that island is located in the far south, thousands of miles away from the Tang Dynasty, and is sparsely populated with both jungles and deserts, it is vast and boundless, with an area no less than half the size of the Tang Dynasty. The coastal areas have abundant rainfall and fertile land, and the deserts and mountains are rich in minerals. With enough people, it can develop into a powerful country within a hundred years and dominate the far south... If others go there to assume a fiefdom, that's fine, but if the Prince of Jin goes there to establish a state, there will definitely be many opponents in the court."

He didn't say why the court officials opposed it, but the implication was quite clear.

Allowing someone with a history of rebellion to go to Tiannan Island will inevitably lead to their breaking free from the control of the imperial court. If they grow strong and powerful in the future, wouldn't that be like raising a tiger to cause trouble?
Who knows, one day, the descendants of the Prince of Jin might sail back to the Tang Dynasty in warships and vie for the rightful succession to the empire…

Li Zhi hurriedly put down his teacup: "As far as I know, that island is shrouded in miasma and teeming with wild beasts. The island's natives are also ferocious and violent. Only a small area along the coast is habitable; the vast majority of the island is desert and Gobi. I made a grave mistake before, and if I had not wished not to tarnish Your Majesty's reputation, I would have already drawn my sword and committed suicide to atone for my sins. Now, I only wish to travel far away to this barren place to atone for my sins through hardship and toil. I have absolutely no intention of being disloyal."

He knew nothing of the specifics of Tiannan Island, only that it was barren and uninhabited, which he considered the perfect place for him. Now, hearing Fang Jun say that the island also had fertile land and abundant mineral resources, he felt a surge of joy. After all, who truly desires poverty and hardship?
As long as I stay far away from the Tang Dynasty, the past will not be brought up so often, and my safety will be much more secure...

As for returning to his old ways or plotting rebellion, he has long since lost that intention.

Firstly, His Majesty was kind and forgiving towards him, and he was not heartless; how could he not be grateful?

Furthermore, the navy is now unparalleled in the world and roams the seven seas. Even if the cavalry on that island were to rebel, they would likely suffer a devastating blow as soon as they set sail...

Most importantly, that island was too far from the Tang Dynasty, and not many people would accompany him there. Without enough people, how could he possibly rebel and launch a counterattack against the Tang Dynasty?

Fang Jun shook his head again and solemnly said, "Your Highness, please do not blame me for my petty mind. However, many things must be prevented before they happen. As Your Majesty's subject, I should speak frankly and honestly."

Li Chengqian hesitated slightly, then said, "Zhi Nu has never asked me for anything since he was a child. Now that he wants to go to Tiannan Island, it is not an excessive request."

Fang Jun chuckled inwardly. Had he learned something from Guo Xiaoke's incident and was planning to copy it and repeat the same trick?
Previously, Xu Jingzong was the treacherous minister, now Fang Jun is the villain, and Li Chengqian himself is displaying his "generosity" and "benevolence"...