Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 172 The Style of Power

"Come back early after the banquet. I have something to discuss with Alang."

After sending Zheng Shuqing away, Fang Chongyong was about to go out, but was stopped by Wang Yunxiu, who looked troubled.

"Is Madam pregnant so soon? The wedding must be arranged in advance."

Fang Chongyong said jokingly, but Madam Wang slapped him hard on the arm and said angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about! Haven't you only been back for a few days? How can a child come out of my belly? Or do you think of me as a child?" The kind of bitch who doesn’t follow the rules of women?”

"Oh, yes, it is indeed impossible. So, what exactly is the lady going to say?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a foxy look on his face.

Trivial matters at home are also unlikely.Although Wang Yunxiu and Anaye were rude, they were both reasonable women and accepted each other's existence. On weekdays, they would just quarrel with each other at most.

They will not take the initiative to destroy the stability of the family, and they all know that the environment Fang Chongyong faces is full of challenges, and there are no external conditions for conflicts.

In the officialdom, officials who had their homes confiscated and exterminated because of some trouble at home were not alone. It could even be said that they were caught in large numbers.

Wang Yunxiu, who was born in an official family, naturally knows the importance.

Fang Chongyong felt that Wang Yunxiu would not find fault with that "vixen" and would not treat Anaye as a thorn in his side.

"While I was helping A Lang to inquire about information, I got involved in a fatal matter related to the Ten Kings' House."

Wang Yunxiu said in a deep voice.

"Ten Prince's House? Did those people put their crooked ideas on you?"

Fang Chongyong became angry when he heard this!You dare to steal your wife from me, how can you bear this?

However, he saw Wang Yunxiu wave his hands indifferently and sighed:

"When it comes to attracting bees and butterflies, I am really not as good as the vixen at home. Even if they want to attack me, it will be because of the power of my father, Hedong Jiedushi, rather than my beauty.

This is quite different from what Alang thought.

Alang underestimated the beauties around the princes, emperors and grandsons in the Ten Kings' House. What kind of beauties did they want? Could they offend the Hedong Jiedushi and attack his concubine? "

"So, what's going on?"

Fang Chongyong asked in confusion, the more he listened, the more confused he became!
Wang Yunxiu came over and whispered in his ear for a long time.Fang Chongyong's face became more and more solemn, his fists were clenched tightly, and finally he slowly loosened them.

"Anyway, that's what it's all about. Should we help with this, or not?
If you help, there will definitely be risks.

If I don't help, I will break my trust and will definitely be ostracized by some people in the future, and it will be difficult to help Alang find out the news. "

Wang Yunxiu asked with a worried look.

"Of course I have to help. There is still the most basic justice in the world. Madam is wholeheartedly thinking about me. Of course I understand that this matter will be taken care of by me."

Fang Chongyong held Wang Yunxiu's hand tightly and said.This virtuous wife of mine is really trying her best to help him build a "ladies' network" and secretly inquire about all kinds of information through these women.

This time she was stuck because of a small mistake, so Fang Chongyong naturally had to help her wrap things up and deal with the possible adverse effects of subsequent troubles.

"But you can't call me madam. Only the prime minister can call me madam."

Wang Yunxiu said embarrassedly, she already understood what Fang Chongyong wanted to express.

"There's no one at home, so what's the matter with just calling someone random? He's just the prime minister, so I'm tired of thinking of him as such."

Fang Chongyong said nonchalantly.

"Okay, okay, let's go to the banquet quickly. Leave early and come back early."

Wang Yunxiu was so excited that she came over and kissed Fang Chongyong on the face and pushed him out of the courtyard.

However, when Fang Chongyong came to Li Linfu's house in Pingkangfang full of worries, he found that... their house was extremely peaceful today, even as quiet as if they had gone to bed, but it didn't look like they were holding a family banquet at all!

If it weren't for someone to guide him and light a lot of torches in the yard, Fang Chongyong would have wanted to go home directly.

Needless to say, the state banquet of the Tang Dynasty can be compared to the state banquet of Fang Chongyong's previous life, but it was far more luxurious.

As for the family banquet in the Tang Dynasty, it was not simply a meal called a family banquet.

The so-called "family banquet" in an official's family must be a banquet for all family members, friends who have family connections with the family, and even colleagues with good connections in the yamen.

This kind of banquet was an important social etiquette occasion for the families of feudal nobles and officials, and was responsible for maintaining the family relationship network.For an ordinary official family, it can be regarded as a matter of life and death.It cannot be emphasized enough.

Whether an official's wife is virtuous in the eyes of outsiders often depends on her ability to organize family dinners.

Through the pomp, dishes and even the number of servants at the family banquet, outsiders can judge whether the official family is making progress or has fallen into decline!Are the members of this family united or full of contradictions?

Then they will use their own perceptions to judge what strategy they should adopt when interacting with this family in the future.

If you want to get married, which one of them will you get married to? What is the character of the person who wants to get married?

If you find that this family's beauty is ruined on the outside, you have to stay away from them and slowly become distant from them.

If you find that this family has great potential and great prospects, you must strengthen contact and communicate frequently.

A "small" family dinner is no less than an in-depth assessment of the family's interpersonal network. Can it be a simple thing?
As for outsiders attending other people's family banquets, they should also carefully observe various situations at the banquet and strictly restrain their words and deeds.

While you are rating others, others are also rating you!Face is given by others, but face is lost by oneself!
Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, some officials from Qingshui Yamen are really poor. When they invite friends or colleagues to their homes for a family banquet, they only eat a bowl of rice, a stack of pickles, and a glass of turbid wine, and that's it.His friends and colleagues did not take him seriously and did not care about the false courtesy.

But obviously, Li Linfu is definitely not such a person.To be a right prime minister, you must have the quality of a right prime minister!Therefore, the family banquet of the Right Prime Minister’s family must also have strong political significance!It is very particular about who is invited and who is not invited, and how the seats are arranged.

Humans are social animals and demonstrate social status through social attributes.Everything about the family dinner is a reflection of Li Linfu's social status, and nothing should be done carelessly.

After a while, Fang Chongyong was led to the study by his servants, and he saw Li Linfu who was working at his desk.

All I saw was paper on his desk. Not to mention it was a family banquet, and he didn't even see any pastries.The right prime minister of the Tang Dynasty seemed to be in the same state at home and in the Yamen!
"The Left Prime Minister has planned to organize some victims who have complained to the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen in the past five years to go there to file complaints against the officials in two days. At least fifty cases a day.

If Zheng Shuqing fails to take over or handles the matter poorly, then the censor Zhongcheng Zhang Yi will turn to the left prime minister, and at the same time impeach Zheng Shuqing for neglecting official affairs and being lazy and negligent in government affairs.

How do you think you should deal with this matter? "

Li Linfu asked without raising his head.

Fang Chongyong was very curious as to what the right prime minister of the Tang Dynasty was up to. He was not busy rebelling either!Why do you still have to work after going home?
Seeing that Fang Yanei didn't speak at all, Li Linfu thought that he had frightened the other party. He quickly pointed to the cushion in front of him and said in a gentle tone: "Just sit down and talk casually."

The Chinese language is broad and profound, and things that are often called "casual" are not very "casual" and you have to be very alert to deal with them.

"Back to Prime Minister, there is no solution to this matter.

In old cases, the witnesses and physical evidence have long been changed beyond recognition. Even with the help of ghosts and gods, it is difficult to clarify the rights and wrongs of the past.In the art of war, this is called the enemy's strength.In any case, to deal with this type of thing, you must make use of your strengths and avoid your weaknesses.Responding head-on will result in half the effort and is not advisable. "

Fang Chongyong did not say what to do, but analyzed the nature of the incident and hinted: This matter cannot be forced upon!
"well said!"

Li Linfu put down his pen and sighed softly:

"There are so many people around me, but they don't get to the point, but you, an outsider, can see it clearly.

It's just that these truths are known. Although they are true, it does not help solve the matter.The truth is asking you now, how to deal with it. "

"Do not deal with it."

Fang Zhongyong crossed his hands and saluted.

"Why not deal with it?"

Li Linfu continued to ask.We are all smart people, so words naturally cannot be understood through the simplest meaning.

"As far as I know, Zheng Fuyin doesn't seem to have a very good official reputation.

In this case, it’s better to be thick-skinned.As long as I am not in a hurry, others will be anxious.The slovenliness of the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen's affairs is no longer a matter of a day or two.When I was in Chang'an, I often heard that the Yamen of Jingzhao Prefecture had a bad reputation. The Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture had a vegetarian meal, and he was really no worse than Yin Zheng.

If you want to deal with it, you can use the dragging technique.

Open the door of Jingzhao Mansion's Yamen and let Zheng Fuyin handle the case at the gate to show that Jingzhao Mansion goes all out to handle the case.But old cases are inherently difficult to handle, so Jingzhao Mansion will handle them if they can, and delay them if they can't. In short, it's okay to make Zheng Fuyin look very busy.

If someone from the court presses, just say that the case is being handled and wait until the saint returns to Chang'an.If you are rushed, you can make a bet. Whoever can handle it will come to handle the old case, and whoever can't handle it will shut up.

The saint also has eyes and ears in Chang'an, so it is natural that he would not know about such things. "

Fang Zhongyong said eloquently.

This move is a "bad move" against a "bad move".As long as I am shameless, others will be the shy ones!
After hearing this, Li Linfu immediately put his hands on his hands and laughed: "Wonderful!"

However, he instantly fell down and asked:
"But do you think that Zhang Shougui, surrounded by people with nothing but wine and rice sacks, can't even handle this kind of thing?
Delaying time is not without cost. The price is that all the manpower of Jingzhao Mansion Yamen is involved in these old cases!

Originally there were very few people there who could do things.Once you get busy, what should you do if something big happens in Chang'an and the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen needs to come forward? "

"This is the Zuo Xiang's killer move. I don't know what Zuo Xiang's moves are.

However, after all calculations, the only major recent court events that can affect the saint are the imperial examinations that will be held immediately after the saint's birthday.

I heard that the right prime minister himself opposed the imperial examination. If something big happened during this period, it is not difficult to judge what the saint would think. "

After finishing speaking, Fang Chongyong crossed his hands and saluted Li Linfu.

"Is it the imperial examination?"

Li Linfu murmured to himself.

It has to be said that Fang Chongyong’s analysis was spot on and he was indeed the key figure who helped Zheng Shuqing save the day from danger many times!

Li Linfu had also held a meeting with his cronies before and analyzed everything, but he was not sure how to start Zhang Shougui's counterattack!
Jingzhao Mansion Yamen will definitely be the first to be dealt with, this is recognized by everyone.

However, apart from looking for those old cases, there is no other way.These bad moves are routine, and this is not the first time Datang has encountered them since the founding of the country.Whenever he wants to get rid of the governor or county magistrate of a certain place, he likes to use the "saturation attack of old cases" + the censor's platform to impeach lazy and lazy administration.

However, because Li Longji himself despised the Jingzhao Prefecture Yamen, he did not place any hope on the Jingzhao Prefecture Yin.

This is the so-called "no hope, no disappointment", even Brother Ji will have a headache where to find a "qualified dog officer" like Zheng Shuqing.

But if Zhang Shougui lets their black gloves take action and come up with some major cases that cause widespread social panic, then it will be Jin Wuwei who takes action!
During the period when Li Linfu was supervising the country, the Jinwu Guards followed Zhang Shougui's orders. This was also the check and balance of power designed by Brother Ji!
Zhang Shougui's troubles in Chang'an not only failed to cause trouble for Zheng Shuqing, but also made Jin Wuwei exhausted!Who will be more unlucky in the end is anyone's guess.

Therefore, for Zhang Shougui, deliberately creating some major cases is just shooting himself in the foot.On the contrary, regarding the imperial examination, if something happened, Li Longji would think that it was inseparable from Li Linfu, who had previously opposed the imperial examination.

The Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and the Jingzhao Mansion Yamen are all Li Linfu's basic base.

Moreover, the imperial examination is a fig leaf for the imperial court, and Brother Ji is a face-saving person. If this fig leaf is torn off, he will become furious!

Li Linfu was startled, and suddenly felt that what Fang Chongyong said was extremely maneuverable. It was very likely that Zhang Shougui's plan was already on the way!

However, now that the imperial examination has not been held, how can we defeat both the Jingzhao Mansion and the Ministry of Rites with one move?
It was a taboo to talk lightly, so Li Linfu swallowed the question he almost couldn't help asking and immediately put on a smile.

"Alas, there is a family banquet in Japan today. It's just because of these government affairs that I can't bear to eat it!
Come on, get ready to serve the food. The truth is, I want to have a drink with General Fang! "

Li Linfu laughed loudly and ordered his servants to serve the dishes.Then he took Fang Chongyong to a private room, which was surrounded by screens, but left many gaps.

Fang Chongyong looked around, always feeling that it was easy to hide people behind these screens and eavesdrop on his conversation with Li Linfu.

After the two sat down, Fang Chongyong took out a booklet from his sleeve, handed it to Li Linfu and said:

"The saint made a lot of profits from the business on the west side of Hexi. At the same time, he stabilized the border army and the border town.

Although the accounts are false, the errands are real. "

Fang Chongyong crossed his hands and saluted Li Linfu and said.

"Yeah, I got it."

Li Linfu put the booklet aside casually, looking unconcerned.

Now it was Fang Chongyong’s turn to be surprised!Li Linfu actually had such a dismissive attitude towards a major matter that he believed was of vital importance to his life?

Seeing Fang Chongyong's "shocked" look, Li Linfu said with a smile on his face:
"You can't interfere with the saint's affairs, and you can't ask about them. It's best to pretend not to know."

He nodded slightly and continued to praise: "What I want is just attitude, not details. Your attitude makes me very satisfied."

"You are so kind to me, Prime Minister."

Fang Chongyong bowed deeply and said.

"Ah."

Li Linfu casually put the book on the candle and lit it, then said nonchalantly: "There is nothing wrong with Hexi now."

Seeing this scene, Fang Chongyong was extremely shocked!
His booklet is theoretically important evidence that can bring down Zhang Shougui!

Li Linfu actually burned it without even looking at it?
"The truth is that Zhang Shougui has always been connected with the affairs in Hexi. After all, he was a military envoy of the Jiankang Army, so it is not surprising that he has some connections in Hexi.

A lot of these truths have been investigated for a long time. A little more information is not too much for you, and it doesn't matter if you have less information.

Now the prime minister just wants to know why you didn't go to Zuo Xiang's Mansion after returning to Chang'an, but came to the prime minister. "

Li Linfu asked with squinted eyes, his tone gradually becoming serious.

"Because the left prime minister didn't invite me, but the right prime minister did."

Fang Chongyong said seriously.

I will go to anyone who invites me.This sounds like child's play, but Li Linfu chewed the mystery carefully and felt that it had profound meaning!

"Well, let's do this. The accounts of the four states in Hexi will be redone and sent to you for review. If you think there is no problem, then send them to the Shangshu Mansion and submit them to the Ministry of Punishment for audit.

As for the previous question, is that junior official named Yang Yan?He took the blame due to his lack of ability, and it would be nice if he would never use it in the future. "

Li Linfu's few words determined the living conditions of many people in Hexi. He raised the board high and put it down gently.

His very casual words here decided whether certain people in the five states of Hexi would live a good life, be promoted and make a fortune, or flee to the Western Regions, or even be killed!

This is the power of the Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty!It cannot be seen or touched, but it is everywhere!

that power!Power!authority!

Whether a man has a hard waist or not depends on this!

Fang Chongyong took a deep breath. He could now conclude: Li Linfu, who takes Brother Ji's affairs as his own, will definitely win in the fight with Left Prime Minister Zhang Shougui.

It’s just a matter of time and whether the process is smooth or tragic.

Just seeing that Li Linfu was willing to let this incident go to deal with his political opponents just because he was afraid of touching Brother Ji's interests, we knew that he would have the last laugh!
In Chang'an's Longtan Tiger's Den, all brute strength is useless, and all passion is useless. If you want to live well, you can only rely on your brain!

"Now that we've finished talking about official matters, you can feel free to talk privately. Come on, come on, let's eat food and eat food."

Li Linfu pointed at the dazzling array of dishes on the table and said to Fang Chongyong.

Looking at the size of the table, it seems that there is room for two more people.Fang Chongyong asked in confusion: "Is there only one guest at this banquet?"

"What to do with so many people? It's like reading the Art of War in daily life. Isn't it written in the book of war that 'it's not about the number of soldiers but the quality of them'?"

Li Linfu said meaningfully.

Fang Chongyong suddenly felt a chill on his back. He looked around, feeling like someone was peeking in here.

(End of this chapter)