Haisheng Mingdi

Chapter 208 Fang Shoufu's Courage
In front of Yanzhou City.

Fang Fengnian stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the city, thinking back to when he came to Yanzhou for the first time, he came here to test for talent.At that time, the family had no money to take him by car or boat, so he walked from Suian to Yanzhou for the exam. Fortunately, he passed the exam once.Later, when I went to Hangzhou to take the exam, I still had no money, so I walked another four hundred miles to Hangzhou to take the exam.

Back then, although his family was poor, he was young and full of ideals. His mother died at the age of seven, and his father began to teach him the Book of Changes when he was eight.

He walked [-] miles to Hangzhou for the exam, and then walked home after the exam. When he got home, the officials who announced the good news had already arrived at Fang's house to announce the good news before him.

27-year-old Zhongjuren, 37-year-old Jinshi, in the Ming Dynasty, Fang Fengnian's road to the imperial examination was very smooth, recalling that when he was an editor of the Imperial Academy and the main examiner of the Huguang Township Examination, he ridiculed Wei Zhongxian as a scourge of the country, and was beaten and cut by the imperial staff. As a citizen, how full of ideals he was at that time.

Looking back now, I realize that during the past two months in Shaoxing, I was so busy fighting among myself that I just wanted to fight for the position of chief assistant. On the way, he thought quietly, and couldn't help feeling extremely ashamed.

He is only 60 years old this year, he was still in the prime of life, he was able to be valued by the governor of Lu, and he was recruited to work in the cabinet.

Looking back, I feel regret and guilt.

pier.

Fang Ke directly brought his nephew to meet him.

"uncle!"

Fang Fengnian came forward to pay respects. When he was young, his father taught him very strictly and often punished him with sticks. He beat him to hide under the table. It was his uncle Fang Kezhi who often spoke for him and came forward to defend him. Even when he came to Yanzhou for the exam, he was still with him. I'm here to take the exam.

"Shutian, you are back, our family is going to be ruined, you have to make the decision for us."

"What happened, uncle said slowly."

Fang Kezhi found a backer, and took his nephew's hand to tell his recent grievances.

Fang Fengnian listened quietly, not very angry.

"Uncle, go back to the city first, and wait until I pay homage to the prison country."

"The supervisor is too ruthless. This is trying to force us to death. There is more than 5 stone grain, and another [-]% of fire consumption will be collected. How can we get it!"

Fang Fengnian didn't answer the call. He knew that the Fang family could actually afford these now. Although Fang Kezhi's more than 1 mu of land was not all his, the Fang family still operated tea and grain businesses. There is a lot of grain, there are pawnshops and banks, and there are several cellars of silver buried underground.

He was surprised by what Jian Guo did in Yanzhou, but he didn't express his opinion in a hurry.

After Fang Guoan was killed and dismissed, he calmed down and thought a lot, and his mentality has changed a lot.

Fang Fengnian, who was dressed in Tsing Yi and had white hair, led his donkey into the city. Someone at the city gate had already reported the news to Zhu Yihai.

Fang Fengnian came to see him directly after he entered the city.

"Go and meet alone."

Zhu Yihai came to greet him at the door, which surprised Fang Fengnian. The last time I met Zhu Yihai was in Jiaxing. At that time, their cabinet ministers chased Jian Guo across the sea and wanted to invite him back to Shaoxing, but Jian Guo said nothing about the Northern Expedition. , Looking back now, Jian Guo did what he said, but he, a bachelor, failed the trust and entrustment of Jian Guo.

"Old minister, I am ashamed to face Your Highness." Fang Fengnian bowed his head in shame.

Zhu Yihai supported him, "Shao Fu don't talk about that anymore."

Holding Fang Fengnian's hand into the house, Zhu Yihai even poured him a cup of tea, "The southern capital died, Fang Gong committed suicide in the Shaoxing Temple by hunger strike, devoted himself to the country and kept the festival, this loyalty moved Gu. After that, he was able to go out to help resist the captives. It’s even more precious.”

Fang Fengnian shook his head in shame, "The minister is stupid and has failed His Highness's trust. He should not fight for fame and fortune and attack Song Shoufu."

"Forget it, let's not talk about those."

At the beginning, Zhu Yihai asked him to join the cabinet. Firstly, Fang Fengnian had served as the chief assistant of Chongzhen. Secondly, he was loyal and commendable when he went on a hunger strike in Shaoxing. Moreover, Fang Guoan, the general who held a heavy army at that time, was his adopted son. To sum up, Zhu Yihai The reason why he was appointed as a scholar in the cabinet was because he wanted to use his fame to strengthen his position as supervisor of the country.

In any case, although Fang Fengnian's performance was mediocre, he still did some things in Shaoxing to help stabilize this banner. As for joining Chen Meng, and even secretly joining forces with Fang Guoan, he wanted to drive Song Zhipu out of power and serve as the chief assistant himself. , Although this kind of thing is disappointing, it is actually normal.

Although he has always said not to fight among parties, this kind of thing cannot be avoided at any time.

Now that he dismissed Fang Fengnian, he was just discussing the facts. After Fang Guoan was killed, he would always clean up his related forces. At the same time, he also dismissed Fang Fengnian again to remind everyone of his aversion to party disputes.

Fang Fengnian just wanted to be the first assistant, and he didn't say that he secretly wanted to surrender, or that he had the idea of ​​disrespecting Zhu Yihai, so he just let him retire.

"Old Fang, now the Ming Dynasty is in dire straits due to internal difficulties and external troubles. He is alone in Yanzhou and wants to start drastic reforms. Now he is starting to carry out several aspects. What does Elder Fang think?"

Fang Fengnian said bluntly, "It is indeed time to change. During the period of Your Highness's Northern Expedition, the Shaoxing line was also struggling to maintain among the princes. Although it was supported by all provinces, it was only a matter of relying on donations and food. It's a temporary plan. If His Highness hadn't opened up the situation in Sanwu and diverted the attention of the Tartars, I'm afraid that walking here would not be able to continue."

"The abolishment of the guards, the tax arrears of the gentry, and the support of the vassals are indeed several major problems. Your Highness can see it and propose reforms. The minister thinks it is very clever."

"But the reform will touch the interests of many people."

Fang Fengnian got up, "As soon as I arrived in Yanzhou, I met my uncle Ke Zhigong who came to pick me up. He told me about the Fang family. Although Ke Zhigong is the uncle of my family, I still support His Highness's decision. Regardless of the previous It is wrong to follow the old rules and regulations, not to mention that now that the country is in crisis, we, as the family of Ming gentry, should work together with the country."

"There is more than 5 shi of grain. The Fang family should make up for it and pay the penalty. The minister will immediately arrange for the family to hand it over, guaranteeing that the payment will be completed within half a month, and then donate another 10 taels of silver to the court."

Zhu Yihai was slightly surprised when he heard that, Fang Fengnian's awareness was too high, he thought he was here to rely on the old to sell the old to bargain, and even planned to give him a face, a little bit of nothing.

Who knows that people don't want to deduct even one point, and they are willing to add another whole point.

More than 5 stone grains and 10 taels of silver will be paid within half a month.

This is not a small number, even for Fang Fengnian, who once served as the chief assistant, it is probably a lot of wealth.

But Fang Fengnian continued, "I will lead the Fang family in the future, and return all the farmland under the family's name and the government's official land. No matter how they were resold, they will all be returned to the court. Those who are waiting in the fields under their name will also take the initiative to retire."

"The Fang family will also mobilize their children to join the army to protect the family and the country."

Zhu Yihai looked at the gray-haired Fang Fengnian, and for a moment didn't know how to answer.

"Old Fang."

"Your Highness, I have also heard of many tragedies in the Central Plains in Shaoxing. They fell into the hands of the Tartars. They were forced to shave their hair and change their clothes.

"Money and wealth are things outside the body. Once the Tartars come, the money will become a disaster. It is better to use it where it should be used. It can be regarded as a contribution of the Fang family."

From what he said, Zhu Yihai planned to immediately invite him to join the cabinet as a bachelor, and even let him be the first assistant. This realization is too correct.

"Your Highness, Your Highness will start the revival of the Ming Dynasty, and the revival will begin with the reform of Yanzhou. Let the veteran lead the Fang family to set an example."

Zhu Yihai applauded happily, "Please pay homage to Mr. Fang!"

Speaking of getting up, he bowed very seriously.

Fang Fengnian hurriedly stepped aside and did not dare to accept it. The two monarchs and his ministers talked happily, and finally Zhu Yihai personally sent Fang Fengnian to the door.

Fang Kezhi waited outside the door the whole time, seeing Jian Guo personally escorting him out with a smile on his face, he felt relieved.

"how?"

"It's settled, 10 stone grains, [-] taels of silver, we'll gather them up and deliver them when we get back. Hurry up." Fang Fengnian said with a smile.

Fang Ke was taken aback, almost thought he heard it wrong, why did he talk more and more?

"Shutian, what's going on?"

"Uncle, you heard me right, hurry up and raise food and money."

(End of this chapter)