Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

The situation unfolded exactly as Li Shimin and his son Li Chengqian had agreed upon.

Li Chengqian sent people to take up official positions in Jiangnan East Circuit. Apart from ordinary officials and departmental staff who were assigned by the Six Ministries of the court, the governors or military commanders of various prefectures and counties were directly appointed by Li Chengqian, the crown prince.

Among them, Pei Ruocai, who had outstanding political achievements and unique insights into canal transport and ship management, was appointed by Li Chengqian as the prefect of Suzhou, the capital of Jiangnan East Circuit.

As for Li Shimin, he appointed Qiang Mubai, who came from the Qiang family in Shu and had also achieved remarkable political achievements, as the prefect of Hongzhou, the capital of Jiangnan West Circuit.

The remaining Huainan Circuit was left to the imperial court by Li Shimin and Li Chengqian.

After the father and son finished explaining some things, they set off to return home.

Whether in Jiannan Circuit or Chang'an, a great deal of government affairs awaited the father and son's attention.

However, this presented a dilemma for Fang Xuanling and his group.

“No, although this person has political achievements, Huainan Circuit is currently bordered by Henan Circuit, which will soon be connected by railway, to the north, and Jiangnan Circuit to the south. This person is too conservative. If he is allowed to govern Huainan Circuit, I'm afraid that within a few months, the population of Huainan Circuit will be drawn away by the north and south.”

Fang Xuanling's expression was solemn, and his brows were furrowed.

Looking at the resume submitted by one person, he shook his head repeatedly.

Dai Zhou frowned as he looked through several resumes of officials who were deemed suitable for deployment, sent by the Ministry of Personnel. His brows furrowed even more deeply.

Beside him, Li Daozong, the Minister of Justice, also joined the work.

"This man is from Huainan Circuit. He was selected as a scholar in the eighth year of the Wude era and is now serving in Hebei Circuit... Alas, he is a bit old. He is already fifty-six years old, and I'm afraid his energy is waning."

Fang Xuanling glanced at it from the side and shook his head.

"It's not just a matter of energy. Huainan Circuit is different from Hebei Circuit. Their geography and culture are also very different. Although this person comes from Huainan, his learning and governance methods are all based on the methods of governing the north and lack innovation. I'm afraid he won't be a match for Pei Ruocai and Qiang Mubai."

Dai Zhou was puzzled: "Prime Minister Fang, I know Pei Ruocai well; he is indeed a rare talent for governing the world. But as for Qiang Mubai, I don't think he's a gentleman; he's obsessed with vanity and luxury..."

When Fang Xuanling saw that Li Daozong was also looking over, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and then sigh.

He slowly began to explain.

......

"Brother Pei, why are you looking at me like that? I have no such fetish..."

Qiang Mubai shrugged with a half-smile, then met Pei Ruocai's gaze. Seeing the other's surprised expression, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

Pei Ruocai gave him a deep look, then lingered for a moment on the young officials from Shu behind him.

"I didn't expect Brother Qiang to be so decisive; he's already made arrangements so soon after taking office..."

While saying this, his gaze remained fixed on the luxurious clothes and precious jade worn by these people. Wasn't he afraid of being robbed with such ostentation?

Wearing this plain robe on these people, Pei Ruocai couldn't detect anything strange about it at all. On the contrary, it looked quite natural. If he hadn't personally seen how luxurious the clothes of Qiang Mubai and the others looked, he would have been fooled by them.

Qiang Mubai smiled faintly.

Their smiles revealed the unique confidence and pride of young officials from Sichuan.

He slightly arched his hands.

His gaze fell upon Pei Ruocai and the group of talented men from the north behind him, and he immediately began to speak eloquently.

“I love fine clothes and jade carriages, not because I am indulging in extravagance. It is because the clothes are used to pacify and govern Sichuan, ensuring that the granaries are full and the people are at peace, and the emperor personally bestows upon them a purple ribbon; the carriages are used to supervise the canal workers and open up thoroughfares, risking their lives to benefit merchants and travelers, and are bestowed with a red carriage by the sage.”

“My desires are as clear as the sun and moon, and my loyalty is as bright as metal and stone; I can lay bare my heart and present it before the Emperor.”

"Although Brother Pei wears coarse clothes and eats simple food, he hides his desires in silence, causing Your Majesty to worry about him: Is this minister usable? Should he be employed?"

Qiang Mubai chuckled twice, then spoke leisurely with an air of composure.

"But I have no such worries."

Pei Ruocai's pupils contracted slightly, and the group of talented men from the north behind him also became serious.

Clearly, Qiang Mubai intended to use this opportunity to engage in a political debate with them.

This is a clash of opinions and ideologies between those in power.

Pei Ruocai was a representative of the young officials in the north at that time.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and almost instantly came up with a solution, letting out a cold snort.

“Those who wear red robes and sing will only cause the common people to look askance and criticize them for being unadorned.”

"This is not only destroying the integrity of the court, but also leading the ruler to the level of Jie and Zhou! When governing a region, one should emulate Li Xiping and share wine with his soldiers, so that the common people know that you are still among the commoners."

"Now you gentlemen are so engrossed in the adornment of fine jade that you have created a rift in the imperial court. I fear that the assessments of the prefectures and counties are not yet complete, and the criticism of 'why don't they eat meat porridge' has already reached the ears of the Emperor."

Pei Ruo paused slightly, then saw Qiang Mubai, who had been wearing a smug smile, gradually lose his smile, but his aura suddenly surged again.

The noise grew increasingly intense.

"The responsibility of a shepherd is not merely to ensure full granaries and the safety of the people."

"Furthermore, we should enable the people to observe our movements and conduct themselves in accordance with the rules, so as to demonstrate the diligence of our sage ruler and the benevolence of Yao and Shun."

"You people indulge in extravagance and frivolity, truly disrupting the refined elegance of the 'Deer Cry' tradition with the sounds of Zheng and Wei!"

His words became increasingly aggressive.

On one hand, they refuted the other party's view that "officials should control their words, actions, clothing, and food," which they described as "controlling and concealing their desires" and "causing the emperor to develop a rift with his officials."

On the one hand, their true intentions were revealed, and they immediately retaliated against their opponent.

"In the eyes of the people, officials are just like the current emperor, both shepherds. If officials eat and dress extravagantly, in the eyes of the people, it is also because the emperor is morally deficient." "You eat and dress extravagantly, even if you have obtained all of this through rewards, the people will not think that way, and His Majesty's holy name will be disgraced because of your behavior."

Officials like Pei Ruocai, who came from the north, didn't care about etiquette when they started cursing.

At first, the group may have intended to test each other's knowledge.

But as the topic became increasingly heated, Pei Ruo pointed at Mu Bai's nose on the wall in front of him and started spitting wildly.

"Have you not heard the Book of Rites say, 'If the ruler likes something, the people below will surely have an even greater fondness for it'? This is not merely a violation of official precepts, but a disrespect for the imperial throne, causing the sage's virtue to be tarnished in the common people's homes!"

Qiang Mubai's fair and handsome face immediately darkened.

His slightly upturned lips revealed teeth that looked like fangs, complementing his rather dangerous gaze.

The two sides stared at each other, the young officials on both sides glaring at each other, looking like they were about to start a fight on the spot.

Qiang Mubai was not afraid at all.

Sneered.

Faced with Pei Ruocai's accusation that they had "tarnished the emperor's reputation," they immediately retaliated without hesitation.

“Brother Pei says, ‘I wear coarse robes and eat millet, sharing the hardships with the people.’ How could you say that the common people cannot wear fine clothes and eat rich food?”

"The current emperor and the crown prince are both exceptionally talented and have the potential to govern the people. Previously, he issued an edict to the six departments, saying: 'The Zhou Li has nine offices, which are responsible for governing the people and promoting their moral character; Guanzi has four principles, with ensuring sufficient food being the primary task.'"

"Is the intention to use Yan Ying's simple fox fur coat to cover up Gongsun Hong's deceitful use of a coarse cloth quilt?"

Pei Ruocai's face instantly turned bright red; he was clearly enraged.

This fellow is so audacious and rude that he actually said Pei Ruocai's so-called "integrity" was just "false integrity" like Gongsun Hong.

What's the difference between this and pointing your finger at him and calling Pei Ruocai not his own mother's child?!

Qiang Mubai, however, did not stop outputting.

"The way to make the people willingly accept their customs and enjoy their way of life is the decree of the Holy Dynasty; but to use one's own conduct to gain a reputation for integrity in the imperial court is surely the evil of 'serving the officials and turning against them' as described in the Lü Xing!"

"You are a traitor to the country!"

These words, which should have remained in his heart rather than been spoken on the spot, were blurted out by Qiang Mubai in his excitement.

Qiang Mubai inwardly cried out in alarm.

But the next moment.

Pei Ruocai's fist suddenly loomed larger in front of him.

Accompanying this was a furious, vulgar curse.

"Wall of White, I'll enter your mother!!!"