Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 644: Same Name, Different Fate

"Don't be so reserved. You and I have met before."

In the study of the government office, Fang Zhongyong waved to Li Mian, whom he had met before.

Li Mian was so nervous that his neck was stiff.

"Meet the official."

Li Mian saluted Fang Zhongyong with his arms crossed and said, even though Fang Zhongyong was very easy-going, he still felt very nervous.

"I heard that you are from a royal family, don't you have any objection to me?

Many people outside say that I am the Cao Cao of the Tang Dynasty."

Fang Zhongyong asked casually in a joking tone.

broken!

Li Mian secretly thought that something was wrong.

His status as a royal family member was the biggest obstacle in this imperial examination.

Li Mian was the great-grandson of Li Yuanyi, who was the thirteenth son of Li Yuan. Although he was a member of the royal family, when the Tang Dynasty was still in its heyday, the advantages he had enjoyed were quite limited.

There are too many members of the royal family. Those who are not from Taizong's lineage have nothing in common except the same surname!

If it comes to bloodline, Li Mian can't even compare to Xiao Fu, because Xiao Fu's mother is Ji Ge's biological daughter!

Li Mian is a member of a branch of the Li Tang royal family. He is not from the lineage of Emperor Taizong. He has no chance of getting into good things, but he cannot escape from bad things!

The Tang Dynasty might be important to him, but it was far from the point of going through fire and water and living and dying with the country.

"Officials, God is watching what we do. God is watching us. What we do is for the people of the world. Why should we care about the delusions of those ignorant people?"

Li Mian said this very politely. As for the other things, he couldn't say more.

“I originally wanted to help you, but you did so well in the exam, which made me worry too much.

The government is now promoting public schools and teaching people to read 500 characters. Are you willing to be a teacher in a public school?
Food and accommodation are provided, but there is no salary, and the duration is one year.

The government will examine your teaching and then grant you an official position after one year, depending on your performance.

Generally, they were sent to other prefectures and counties, but it was not ruled out that they could serve in Bianzhou itself. "

Fang Zhongyong smiled, as if he was just chatting about family matters.

"Li is willing to accept it."

Li Mian nodded.

This was very unexpected, but it made sense when you think about it.

When these candidates first arrived in Bianzhou, they heard that the government had hired people to open public schools to teach the people to read and write.

Li Mian was originally skeptical about how the government could afford to hire someone to be a tutor. But now it seems that the trap had been set long ago, waiting for those who passed the imperial examinations!

How to put it? Li Mian was a little confused.

"Sir, I have a question that I don't quite understand. I wonder if you could help me solve it."

After thinking it over again, Li Mian bowed to Fang Chongyong and asked.

"But it doesn't matter."

Fang Chongyong nodded without refusing.

"Village schools and county schools can naturally provide opportunities for education. Why would the government go to the trouble of setting up public schools that only teach people how to read but do not understand the principles?"

Li Mian asked with some confusion.

“The government doesn’t have the energy to teach the people how to behave and do things, and there’s no need to do so, because they will understand it themselves.

One more literate person means one less ignorant person, that's all.

My thoughts are very pure.”

Fang Zhongyong said with a serious face. He used a very serious tone to say something that seemed absurd to outsiders.

In the Tang Dynasty, when productivity was underdeveloped, it was not easy to bring about even a little bit of positive change.

Fang Chongyong couldn't explain to Li Mian the benefits of literacy, just like a person who has read thousands of books cannot understand how an illiterate person feels when he sees a book.

People are different and are born unable to understand each other. Only when they are in the same situation and can they gather together for warmth, can they reach a consensus in the group.

"Go ahead. Being a lecturer is hard work. Just think of it as the court testing you."

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly, indicating that Li Mian could go out as the interview was over.

Many people had already finished the interview before Li Mian, and most of them felt uncomfortable or even disgusted with being teachers for the "mud legs". However, they did not dare to act rashly due to the power of the court.

After much difficulty in passing the imperial examination, he also got an interview opportunity, which showed that he was going to be given an important position.

At this time, because of a trivial matter, the qualification of being an official is revoked. The feeling of gaining and losing again will make people crazy and want to die.

It's just one year, it will pass if you grit your teeth. Many people think so.

Li Mian didn't say much and just bowed and left.

Just as Fang Chongyong was thinking, the next candidate for the interview walked in. He was the candidate named "Xiao Ying", and his test paper left a deep impression on Fang Chongyong.

He didn't have the chance to take a closer look before, but now that they were face to face at close range, Fang Zhongyong suddenly felt that the other person looked a little familiar.

It seems like I have seen it somewhere.

"Aren't you Xiao Yingshi? Why don't you reveal your real name?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly understood and a strange look appeared on his face.

He then continued to ask in a teasing tone: "Do you think that if you change your name, I won't recognize you? Back then, Li Linfu hosted a banquet at the Xinghua Tower in Chang'an and entertained all his ministers. It seems that you were there at that time."

He bluntly exposed Xiao Yingshi's past. In fact, Li Linfu admired Xiao Yingshi very much and even invited him to a banquet.

However, Xiao Yingshi believed that Li Linfu was an unlearned person and was not worthy of the position of prime minister.

So Xiao Yingshi wrote an article "Fu on Cutting Down Cherry Trees", in which he used the words of the ancients to draw out his own opinions on how to deal with cherry trees in nature, and then explained the reasons why cherry trees should be cut down from two aspects.

It implies that the court should treat evil people like Li Linfu in a way that eradicates evil as soon as possible and leaves no future troubles.

Obviously, no matter how well-mannered Li Linfu was, he could not tolerate others making fun of him like this. So Xiao Yingshi was kicked out of Chang'an by Prime Minister Li and went to work in another place.

"Xiao is just curious about what you want to do."

Xiao Yingshi said with a sigh.

The death of Yan Bojun made Xiao Yingshi calm down and secretly investigate many things that happened in Bianzhou and other places.

You won’t know until you check. The more Xiao Yingshi checks, the more confused he becomes.

Everything Fang Chongyong did made Xiao Yingshi see the grandeur of a new political regime.

There are many things that our predecessors did not even dare to mention.

For example, the new imperial examination system, and promoting literacy among the people.

Many people want to do it, but cannot do it for various reasons.

Just like what Confucius said: There is no distinction in teaching.

However, among the Confucian scholars who came later, who really took this statement seriously?

Fang Chongyong dared to propose that ordinary people could also learn to read. As for whether the government will end with the death of the leader or go further, no one knows what the future will be like.

Popularizing literacy is a great feat since the beginning of the world.

Xiao Yingshi was very curious about how far Fang Chongyong, the powerful official, would go in the end. For a smart man like him, it was obvious what Fang Chongyong's ultimate intention was.

Xiao Yingshi just didn't understand, whether Fang Chongyong wanted to be Cao Cao or Sima Yi, he could just go straight to the goal, why did he have to do those "unnecessary" things?

"Are you planning to return to Chang'an, or do you want to be an official in Bianzhou? Or do you just want to teach ordinary people to read?"

Fang Zhongyong asked helplessly.

For someone like Xiao Yingshi who likes to play around, whether he passes the imperial examination or not is really irrelevant. With his level, he is more than qualified to be an examiner. Now the court is eager to recruit talents, so naturally they don't mind people like Xiao Yingshi becoming officials, and it also shows outsiders the court's open-mindedness.

However, it was obvious that Xiao Yingshi was not really interested in being an official. He just didn't understand some things and felt unhappy.

Xiao Yingshi resolutely chose to stay in Bianzhou and teach the people to read. For him, this was a typical waste of talent. But Xiao Yingshi did not feel wronged.

He wanted to understand why Fang Chongyong wanted to implement such an incredible policy.

When Xiao Yingshi walked out of the study room of the Bianzhou government office, he was greeted by a young man in cloth. He had a confident smile on his face and seemed to be full of confidence in the upcoming interview.

"As expected, you run to wherever there is fame and fortune."

When they passed each other, Xiao Yingshi stopped and spoke to the young man without turning his head.

This person was Yuan Zai, who once studied literature under Xiao Yingshi, but the latter felt that their paths were different, so he politely declined.

Therefore, not only did they not have any friendship, but they also had hatred for each other.

"Mr. Xiao, can't you see that a new era has arrived? Corrupt people like you should be buried with the Tang Dynasty.

It is you who should not have come to Bianzhou."

Yuan Zai retorted bluntly and strode towards the study.

Xiao Yingshi didn't know how to respond for a moment. To some extent, what Yuan Zai said was true.

However, just as Yuan Zai walked into the study room of the government office and was about to start introducing himself, Yan Zhuang hurried in and whispered in Fang Chongyong's ear for a long time.

After he finished speaking, Fang Zhongyong smiled and explained to Yuan Zai: "I have something urgent to do now, please go back to your residence and wait for news."

After saying that, he hurriedly left with Yan Zhuang, leaving Yuan Zai alone, kneeling on the spot like a fool, and was finally politely asked to leave by Zhang Guangsheng.

……

The "Privy Council" office located in Kaifeng City was built not long ago, but it has already been in operation.

At this moment in the lobby of the yamen, Fang Chongyong was frowning, listening to the important news that Cen Shen brought back from Yangzhou.

"Your Majesty, the Shezhou uprising is gaining momentum, and the rebel army now exceeds 10,000 people. This is Pang Jun, the governor of Shezhou."

Cen Shen saluted Fang Chongyong who came hurriedly with his arms crossed.

The Shezhou governor, who was wearing a red official robe, was trembling with fear, feeling embarrassed and frightened.

Shezhou?

This name is not unfamiliar to Fang Chongyong, because it is the famous Huizhou in later generations.

The fact that Huizhou became well-known in later generations actually proves from the side that this place was very important.

It is a marginal area where Jiangxi borders Jiangnan and Huainan.

This place may seem like a marginal area, but in fact, if you control it, you can take Huainan to the north, Suzhou and Hangzhou to the east, Poyang and Yuzhang to the west, and Fujian to the south.

It was the central area of ​​the four provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang in later generations.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this place was at its peak, and the Huizhou merchants were even more famous.

"As a governor of a state, you are unable to suppress a minor civil uprising?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Pang Jun, the governor of Shezhou, and questioned him. He was so intimidating without even getting angry that no one dared to look him in the face.

"There is a rebel Yuan Chao in Taizhou causing trouble, and the rebel army has reached tens of thousands. There is a rebel Chen Zhuang in Jiangxi causing trouble, and the number of rebels is also tens of thousands. There are also rebels Zhu Ci and Shen Hao in Huzhou, and the number of rebels is unknown.

This traitor Fang Qing might have just seen someone making trouble, so he followed suit. "

Pang Jun said tremblingly.

Why did the people in Jiangdong revolt? No matter how big the land conflicts here are, are they bigger than those in Guanzhong and Hebei?
That's obviously not the case.

The large-scale development of land in Jiangnan began in the late Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties. At that time, Jiangnan was short of people, but had a considerable surplus of land.

So why did so many civil unrest suddenly emerge in various places in Jiangnan like mushrooms after rain?

In fact, the answer is very simple: the Tang Dynasty no longer has control over the area south of the Yangtze River!

The rebels are just performing in the front stage. Behind them are the big landlords and powerful people in Jiangdong and even Huainan!

Those people use these rebels to explore the way, and when they become powerful, they will find ways to reap the benefits.

Similar routines are common in all dynasties.

What if these peasant uprisings failed? What should be done?
The answer is nothing to do, because the ones who died weren’t the landlords or tyrants anyway!

If the rebel army wins, they will make a lot of money, and may even be able to change the dynasty; if they lose, they will not lose anything, because the butcher's knife will never fall on their necks anyway.

Double the happiness, you can get candy even if you lose, let alone win!

"Your Majesty, Prince Sheng has surrendered and asked the court to send troops across the river to suppress the bandits."

Cen Shen bowed to Fang Zhongyong and took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to him.

Previously, including this time, Fang Zhongyong had played games with Li Qi and his men based on the righteousness of the cause, and gradually took control of the military and political power of Huainan in a bloodless way.

Li Qi’s reaction now is quite consistent with Fang Chongyong’s assessment of the situation.

But the problem arises. Since this has been said, Bianzhou must send troops to suppress the rebellion in the south of the Yangtze River in order to demonstrate its strong military strength.

If the rebellion is successfully suppressed, not only can the territory of Huainan be completely absorbed and Li Qi and his "followers" be properly dealt with, but the territory can also be extended to the south of the Yangtze River.

If the rebellion cannot be suppressed successfully, Li Qi will probably have some unnecessary worries.

Things that follow will be difficult to deal with.

This battle seemed to be just against the peasant uprising army, but in fact it was a severe test for the leader Chongyong and the Bianzhou court.

There must be no mistakes.

"Go down to the posthouse and rest first. As for your guilt for losing Shezhou, I will settle it with you later."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand impatiently. Pang Jun, as if he had been pardoned, hurriedly left the Privy Council Hall at a brisk pace.

Officials like Pang Jun were the main reason why Fang Zhongyong pushed for the new imperial examination. Many officials appointed during Ji Ge's time were unqualified and rose to power through nepotism.

Keeping them is like not dealing with small tumors in the body; these people will cause big trouble sooner or later.

"Everyone, what do you think?"

Fang Chongyong looked around the crowd and asked.

"Please ask the emperor to personally lead the army, gather the main forces of the Silver Spear Army, go to Shouchun for repairs first, and set out after all the baggage is ready.

Che Guangqian's troops were transferred from Dengzhou to Hangzhou by sea, and a defense was organized in Hangzhou to prevent the several bandit armies from joining together.

Li Guangbi's Hexi Army was transferred and stationed in Xingyang to resist Li Baochen.

Li Siye was transferred to garrison at Guoqiao to prevent Li Guiren from rebelling.

He issued an imperial edict to Li Guiren, appointing his subordinate Liu Longxian as the military commander of Weizhou in order to disperse Li Guiren's forces.

An imperial edict was issued to Shi Chaoyi, appointing him as the governor of Lulong, and asking him to continue his fight with Shi Siming.

Li Quan issued several military orders in one breath.

"So good."

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly and said that he finally realized the benefit of having talented people available. Li Quan's arrangement was both a strategic move and a siege, and it was the best response. Even if he thought of it himself, it might not be better than this operation.

"Your Majesty, this thief Fang Qing from Shezhou has the same name as you, and he has a very bad influence. His troops are a bit far away from the main force of the rebels, you can get rid of them first, and then march eastward!"

Li Quan grabbed Fang Chongyong's sleeve and tried to persuade him.

This will certainly help Yuan Chao become more powerful, and Che Guangqian will probably also face a tough battle in Hangzhou.

However, Li Quan believed that there could only be one Fang Qing in this world.

If there are too many, they must be killed immediately!

(End of this chapter)