Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 217 Grassroots Ambition

In the high-end bedroom arranged by Li Qiwu, a beautiful maid was washing Fang Chongyong's feet.

His soft little hands were rubbing Fang Chongyong's big feet that smelled of sweat. The sweat on his forehead dripped into the basin without even bothering to wipe it.

Even though he was tired from serving Li Qiwu during the day, he had to work hard to serve the young censor from Chang'an at night.

"Fang Yushi, are you satisfied with my craftsmanship?"

The maid asked in a delicate tone.

After looking at this maid, both in appearance and massage techniques, she looked like a pared down version of Anaye.Fang Chongyong laughed and waved his hand gently, signaling the other party to step back.

This maid, who had originally thought of serving this promising censor at night, who could fly up a branch and turn into a peacock, was stunned for a moment when she heard Fang Chongyong's words, and then wiped the water off Fang Chongyong's feet without saying a word.

After confessing his crime, he picked up the basin and left the bedroom.

Only Gao Shang was left standing by, dumbfounded and didn't know what to say.The beauty comes first, it’s you who should be blocked!
Gao Shang couldn't figure out what Fang Chongyong was thinking for a while.

Just now, Fang Chongyong was washing his feet in front of him without hesitation, and then drove away the beautiful maid who was almost asking for sex after washing her feet. I really don't know why this censor can be so incomprehensible.

"I have heard a little about your deeds.

No need to beat around the bush, just tell me, what can you teach me? "

Fang Chongyong put his feet on the warm cushions, looked at Gao Shang, and asked with burning eyes.

Gao Shang gritted his teeth. Naturally, many people in the official circles knew about his scandalous incident.

But it's one thing to know, it's another thing to say it so blatantly.

The other party was so rude and arrogant, which fully demonstrated that...the opportunity for him to seek an official position was right in front of him!
If a powerful person really talks to him in a condescending manner, even if he is an equal, then Gao Shang will be afraid that the other person will one day sell him out!
As a powerful person, arrogance is normal, but it is very dangerous to be submissive!

"I wonder what Yushi Fang thinks of the current situation in the court?"

Gao Shang quietly closed the door, then walked over and asked in a low voice.

"The Tang Dynasty is at its peak and dominates the world. I am a hawk and dog of a saint. How else can I look at it? Of course I think that the Tang Dynasty will live forever."

Fang Chongyong said calmly.

"Hey, Yushi Fang doesn't have to be humble. Someone who has a heart-to-heart relationship with Yushi Fang will naturally say something that is of interest to Yushi Fang.

Fang Yushi came to Pizhou to look for charcoal. Isn't it because a small piece of charcoal made all the officials in Chang'an miserable? "

Gao Shang showed off in a very subtle way that he was well informed.

Fang Chongyong put away his smile, nodded slightly and said nothing.

In fact, as a descendant of the clan, Li Qiwu naturally has his own channels for information.As a confidant of Li Qiwu, it is not surprising that Gao Shang knew some things that local officials did not know.

Besides, before Fang Chongyong came to Pizhou, the Ministry of Industry also sent an official document to the government, asking the Pizhou local government to fully cooperate with Fang Chongyong in exploring the carbon pits unconditionally.Gao Shang, as the "Prefecture Secretary Cao Joins the Army", can be regarded as the "Prefecture and County Minister of Industry". It is not surprising that he knows Fang Chongyong's intention.

What is really admirable about Gao Shang is that when Fang Chongyong came to Pizhou, he was reminded of the Chang'an energy crisis!Think of the bloatedness and incompetence of the imperial government!
This is not something ordinary people can do.

"It was just a joke. Now you can tell what the current situation in the DPRK is like."

Fang Chongyong said seriously.

"Hui Fang Yushi, I think that the Tang Dynasty is already in chaos. I am afraid that within ten years at most, the world will inevitably break out."

Gao Shang said in an alarmist tone.

This kind of talk is actually the same as a street swindler who grabs a passerby and tells him that his hall is dark and he is in danger.

If you don't say it more seriously, how can you scare people?
However, Fang Chongyong's memories from his previous life told him that Gao Shang's words were by no means alarmist!

"It's interesting. Let's continue talking. I'm listening."

Fang Chongyong took out a delicate file from his cuff, pretended to be trimming his nails, and listened to the noble "high talk" with open ears.

Seeing Fang Chongyong's indifferent attitude, Gao Shang gritted his teeth and hesitated whether to say what he was thinking.

Gao Shang already understood that playing tricks on Fang Yushi, who had saved the country and served as the governor of Shazhou for four years, would not have any positive effect.

If you don't learn some "dry stuff", it will be completely impossible to achieve your goal of "improving".

"According to some observations, the imperial court oppresses the people of Hebei too much, and prevents the children of Hebei aristocratic families from entering the central government. In the long run, Hebei from top to bottom will definitely hate the imperial court. Once there is any trouble, they will be the first to attack!
If the imperial court wants to deal with such a situation, it will definitely give priority to giving various military and political powers to Youzhou Jiedushi and Pinglu Jiedushi, so that they can suppress Hebei forcefully. This is the simplest solution.

If the power in the hands of the Jiedushi envoys in Hebei is not expanded, it will be impossible to suppress civil unrest, just like when Khitan Li Jinzhong rebelled against the Tang Dynasty.

Once the power in the hands of several Jiedu envoys in Hebei is increased, they will not be able to lose their power, and it is natural for them to even secretly collude with the Hebei aristocratic families.

Jiedushi rotates one by one, and there will always be those who are bold and take risks.

In short, something will happen in Hebei, it just depends on when and how.

This one. "

Gao Shang said in a deep voice.

"It's interesting. Keep talking. I'm all ears."

Fang Chongyong pretended to be very interested and encouraged.In fact, he already knew these commonplaces.

"Secondly, the saint is already over sixty years old, and the newly appointed prince has no influence in the court.

Not only that, the saint also transferred several princes out of Chang'an.In the future, the weak prince and the powerful prince will definitely fight each other endlessly.

The courtiers will also take sides to support their favorite prince.The day the saint dies is the day when they attack each other. "

Gao Shang said with certainty.

"Presumptuous! Are you allowed to talk about the things of a saint?"

Fang Chongyong scolded angrily.

"Please forgive me, Censor Fang, for I have spoken unreasonably."

Gao Shang said with folded hands and a salute to Fang Chongyong, but there was no shame on his face.

"Then go ahead."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, his anger was also fake.

"Moreover, let alone other places, just look at this Guanzhong.

The rich have endless land and traffic; the poor have no place to stand, and it is difficult for them to have enough food and clothing after a year.

The boots of ordinary farmers are worn by grandfathers and grandpas, and grandpas wear them by their children. A pair of boots needs to be worn by three generations.

Not only do they have to pay taxes, but they also have to bear various additional sex labor.

If things continue like this, will there be no problems? "

Gao Shang asked with a sneer.

As the capital city, Chang'an will not go into detail about the population pressure and environmental pressure it brings to Guanzhong.

Suddenly, there were hundreds of thousands more "non-productive" people. In order to feed them, the surrounding people had to bear countless labors.One of the "salaries" paid by the Tang Dynasty to central officials in Chang'an was "forced service".In other words, ordinary people who served in color service were allowed to work as laborers for free in the homes of officials as part of their wages.

This laborer can work in the official fields, or help with cleaning, carrying goods, etc. It depends on what the officials need.

The number of officials in Chang'an Center is so large that the number of "strength services" required every month is also considerable.So who is going to do the "forced service"?The answer is the ordinary people in Chang'an and the people in the states and counties surrounding Chang'an.

These matters are coordinated and arranged by the "color service envoy".

Compared with Hexi, the situation in Chang'an is much more complicated.

"It's true that a certain Guan Binmen postman was as skinny as a stick and had a hungry look on his face."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

“More than just looking hungry, Binmen Post is a small post, and it is the responsibility of the people with limited land in this state to bear the responsibility for their own profits and losses.

The state government is short of money and has been in arrears with their operating funds for a long time. This matter is being handled by a certain person.

Binmenyi has forced away several wealthy households here before, and it is common to change them once a year or even several times a year. "

Gao Shang couldn't help but sneered.The officials at the center of the imperial court thought that there was peace in the world, but they didn't know that the local situation had long been unsustainable.

The money for operating the inn should have been allocated from the "local tax" and earmarked for the purpose.

But it is obvious that as the number of officials in the Tang Dynasty increased, the frequency of exchanges increased, the officials' pomp became more and more grand, the collection of local taxes was not timely, and other factors.

As a result, local state governments are responsible for the small inns in many places.

But the local and state governments don’t have any money either!

So the way they came up with was to get rid of the burden through "private contracting".Then reduce operating costs through financial subsidies and tax exemptions.

This kind of thing was actually commonplace during the Wu Zhou period.In the early days of Kaiyuan, things improved for a while.But obviously, now it seems to be "returning to the old ways", and even getting worse.

"I know that Fang Yushi is a close confidant of the saint.

But the saint is already old. Once the saint is gone, where will Fang Yushi go? "

Gao Shang asked calmly.

"It's interesting. Now, what do you think?"

Fang Chongyong asked pretending to be casual.

“In order for the saint to use the prince as a shield and for the prince not to intimidate his own power, the saint will definitely support a strong prince.

As long as Fang Yushi recommends someone to that prince.

If that prince gains power, the new emperor will definitely not treat Fang Yushi badly after he ascends the throne.

And if the prince did not gain power, he would just sink into the sea and not hurt Fang Yushi at all. "

"So you want to play dragon slaying."

Fang Chongyong suddenly realized and said.

A man like Gao Shang has great ambitions, and ordinary petty officials cannot satisfy his appetite.

Only being a high official is what he wants in his life.Therefore, even if this person has the road to take the imperial examination, he will not take it easily. In fact, he may even look down on everyone in his heart!
Including Li Qiwu, including Fang Chongyong.

Helping is equivalent to an additional investment.

It doesn't matter if you don't help.Can Gao Shang still do anything to Fang Chongyong?

However, this kind of villain has no bottom line in what he does, and it is not a good thing to be targeted by him.

"Among the kings, who do you like the most?"

Fang Chongyong asked softly.

"Eternal King Li Lin."

Gao Shang said four words.

"King Yong?"

Fang Chongyong had a strange look on his face. You must know that on Brother Ji's sixtieth birthday, King Yong was an impulsive man who dragged a beautiful dancer into the woods and raped her in public.Why would Gao Shang be optimistic about such a person?

"King Yong, is there anything special?"

Fang Chongyong asked doubtfully.

"King Yong is young and impulsive, prone to anger. If the saint wants to find someone to challenge Prince Li Lu in the ring, it must be King Yong.

The other princes are not impulsive enough. If they watch the show from the sidelines, wouldn't the saint's efforts be in vain? "

Gao Shang said eloquently that this insight was indeed deeper than Fang Chongyong's understanding.

After all, Fang Chongyong still wanted to do practical things in his heart, but Gao Shang only had dragon-slaying skills in his mind!
"You're right, it's not unreasonable."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said without comment.

In fact, in his opinion, neither Prince Li Xuan nor Yong Wang Li Lin are just puppets in Brother Ji's hands.The only difference between them is that some people are aware that they are puppets on strings, while others are completely unaware of it.

But no matter what, the path Gao Shang takes is a path against heaven. If you are not careful, you will die.

But for this kind of people, struggling at the bottom might be better than gambling on dragon-slaying skills.As long as you win the bet, the greatest achievement since ancient times is to follow the dragon. By then, won’t you have everything?
But, what are the benefits of Fang Chongyong introducing Gao Shang to Li Lin?

The answer is obvious: insert a nail into the future political situation!
Gao Shang can be used, but not in the way he planned!

"A certain person is going to Sanshui County to survey the charcoal pits in the next few days. You should go with a certain person.

Let me see if you are diligent in doing things, and then make a decision. "

Fang Chongyong showed no emotion or anger, nodded slightly and said without comment on the noble request.

"Thank you, Censor Fang, for your support!"

Gao Shang was so excited that he knelt on the ground and gave a prostration.

"Go, I'm going to have a rest."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said very coldly.

Gao Shang quickly exited the house and closed the door, with a look of ecstasy on his face.

Haha, Fang Chongyong is nothing. After the saint dies, the Fang family and his son will be nothing.

These days, it is no longer important what you can do, what is important is how to gain power!As long as you can gain power, you can control everything!
That's life!
Gao Shang muttered silently in his heart, secretly despising Fang Chongyong for not knowing how to gain power despite having such good conditions, and instead looking for a useless charcoal pit.

However, although he despised Fang Chongyong in his heart for not knowing how to take advantage of the opportunity to gain power, he was still very honest physically and placed himself in a position equivalent to a "servant".

Gao Shang stayed silently in the gatehouse of the courtyard, lying on the cold and hard wooden bed, watching the door for Fang Chongyong and refusing to leave.

　tired. . . .

　　
　
(End of this chapter)