I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 584 Fan Ling Talks about Cai Yong

"Deyun, I've been a little troubled lately!"

Listening to Cai Yong's words, Fan Ling unexpectedly became the one being consulted.

But he thought that if he could help Cai Yong solve his doubts, then Cai Yong would be able to write an ode for him! Fan Ling immediately responded, "Bo Ji, please tell me. If I can help you solve your worries, I will tell you everything I know."

Cai Yong then told Fan Ling about his troubles: "The Way is the root, and the skills are the end. The Way of the sage is the great Way, and the study of the hundred craftsmen is the minor Way. However, in my opinion, Your Majesty has attached more and more importance to the study of the hundred craftsmen in recent years, and the study of the hundred craftsmen has indeed achieved results that no one can deny!"

Fan Ling: ???
He never knew that he held such a high position in Cai Yong's heart that he actually discussed with him such a high-level academic issue that was closely related to the government.

But he doesn't know!

In recent years, his mind has been full of the world's hydrology, and he has been thinking about how to build ditches more reasonably. Now he is asked to study this high-sounding theory - I can't do it!
Cai Yong was not disappointed when he saw that Fan Ling was unable to find the answer for the time being, because he had not found the answer either.

Fan Ling asked, "Why did Bo Ji think of this question?"

Cai Yong replied, "At first, your majesty asked me to take charge of Hongdu School. At that time, I was worried that the treacherous villains in Hongdu School would deceive your majesty. But later, Hongdu School played an increasingly important role. I witnessed this with my own eyes and understood that Hongdu School needed to further expand its enrollment of students... But... Deyun, have you heard about it? Your majesty intends to set up medical officers in the counties and set up medical students in the county schools to make up for the shortage of good doctors in the counties."

"What Bo Ji is worried about is that once high positions and generous salaries are offered to lure them, there will be more utilitarian people with ulterior motives among the students of Hongdumen School."

Cai Yong replied: "All students of Hongdu School are exempted from taxes and corvée, and their accommodation is provided by the school. Although they need to provide their own grain, for those whose families are really poor, the school will arrange for them to do lighter work so as not to delay their studies."

"With all these things, I don't want to cultivate people who are full of utilitarianism."

After hearing this, Fan Ling was filled with respect for Cai Yong. He had heard that after Cai Yong became the Minister of Rites, he devoted himself to the Imperial Academy and the Hongdu School, and was praised by many people at that time. Now it seems that Cai Yong deserves this praise.

As a result, he became even more eager to have Cai Yong write an ode for him.

His thoughts also started to race rapidly.

Listening to Cai Yong's worries, Fan Ling suddenly thought of Huang Zu, who was learning water control from him.

——Huang Zu can be said to be a very typical utilitarian person. Huang Zu chose to follow him for his future, which Fan Ling saw clearly. Because he had done such a thing for his future, he did not reject Huang Zu.

After introducing Huang Zu to Cai Yong, Fan Ling got the answer he expected from Cai Yong: "I don't want to teach such a person."

Fan Ling continued, "However, when we were building the canals many times in the past, Huang Gongyuan never avoided danger and worked with the people who were building the canals. He was not as reserved as the children of ordinary wealthy families. Without him, I would not have been able to build these ten or so canals as smoothly as I am now."

However, Cai Yong still insisted on his own opinion: "Now he has gone to such a great extent to achieve success, who knows if he will go astray in the future."

"No one is without faults." Fan Ling was waiting for this sentence from Cai Yong. "Has Huang Zu done anything wrong? Having a utilitarian mind does not mean one's intentions are not right. As long as there is righteousness in the world, utilitarian people can also use their utilitarianism to benefit the world!"

"What was Bi Lan, one of the Ten Eunuchs, like in the past? What is he like now? The bamboo paper used in the world today all has its merits! This can be said to be the result of the prevailing trend. In my opinion, Bo Ji is overthinking."

Cai Yong hesitated. Was he really overthinking?
But what Fan Ling said is not without reason.

Seeing that his words had taken effect, Fan Ling immediately stepped up his efforts: "If I tell Bo Ji now that when I was Jingzhao Yin, I built the Fanhui Canal purely for political achievements and without any thought of benefiting the people, would Fanhui Canal not harm the people? If Bo Ji knew what I was thinking at the time, would he still write an article to record it?"

Cai Yong hesitated.

If it was just now, he would have refused without hesitation, but now...

Seeing that Cai Yong fell into deep thought, Fan Ling did not disturb him.

After a long while, Cai Yong suddenly said, "Ci Jun Gong once wrote in the Book of Rites: Only after understanding things can knowledge be achieved, only after knowledge is achieved can intentions be sincere, only after intentions are sincere can the heart be righteous, only after the heart is righteous can the body be cultivated, only after the body is cultivated can the family be in order, only after the family is in order can the country be governed, and only after the country is governed can the world be at peace. The meaning of this is quite consistent with what I am worried about today."

"Skill is the first step. It is not a bad idea to enter the Dao with skill. How can I do something that will force the issue?"

Seeing that Cai Yong seemed to have suddenly realized something, Fan Ling was a little puzzled. He asked Cai Yong, "Can Bo Ji help me solve this puzzle?"

Cai Yong said happily: "I also want to thank Deyun for clearing up my doubts!"

Cai Yong continued, "Water conservancy, medicine... the ways of all craftsmen, I have always been worried that these small ways are not enough to guide people to be good, so even though I saw that these ways benefit the country and the people, I still have doubts in my heart."

"Now Deyun's words have awakened the dreamer. Beyond the minor path, there is a major path. The ways of the hundred craftsmen are not enough to make people cultivate their hearts and bodies, but the major path taught by the saints is enough."

After hearing this, Fan Ling felt that Cai Yong was going too far. A normal person would spend his entire life studying Confucian classics, and if he didn't find the right method, it would be difficult to achieve enlightenment, let alone devote his energy to various arts.

He could think of this, and Cai Yong, who was engaged in education, naturally thought of this problem. He said: "Today's classics, in order to make people cultivate their minds and bodies, often take a long time to master. In the past, when the school was re-established, although the classics were also taught, there were many shortcomings. Now, for the school, there should be a doctrine suitable for them to guide them!"

After that, Cai Yong said to Fan Ling: "Deyun, I should have kept Deyun as a guest at home, but I have something else in mind, and I want to visit Zheng Kangcheng."

After hearing this, Fan Ling was about to say goodbye tactfully, but suddenly he heard Cai Yong say, "Would Deyun like to go with us?"

"Of course I am willing!" Fan Ling replied.

What was Zheng Xuan studying at this time?

He was deeply moved by the political chaos caused by external relatives and eunuchs in his early years, and also by the fact that local tyrants in recent years had not hesitated to rise up and rebel for their own selfish interests. Now his doctrine highly advocates the moral principles between the ruler and the subject.

When the matter finally came to Liu Bian, he listened to Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan introducing the collection of classics and annotations that they had specially selected and compiled for the education of students.

Liu Bian found it very interesting. What was the core point? He concluded that it was to adhere to the leadership of His Majesty the Emperor.

Liu Bian feels like this is a narrow sense of "science has no nationality, but scientists do."

At the same time, it also puts forward requirements for the professional ethics of all workers.

There is no doubt that this "ideology course" will increase the academic pressure on students, but Liu Bian agreed without hesitation.

With the endorsement of Zheng Xuan and Cai Yong, the ideological resistance to the development of Hongdu School will be smaller and smaller. Sometimes, Liu Bian felt that when the ministers exerted their subjective initiative, he had nothing to do.

He just needs to grasp the general direction.

For example, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhou Yu, Xu Shu and others before, after deciding on the general plan, Liu Bian did not need to worry about the rest of the matters. They had their own ideas and were capable of independently completing the mission assigned by Liu Bian.

Another example is Xu Huang today.

When Liu Bian intended to upgrade the Office of the Chief Administrator of the Western Regions to the higher-level Office of the Protectorate of the Western Regions, after much discussion in the court, the candidate for the new Protectorate was finally decided on Xu Huang, who had won a victory in the Western Regions. The Western Regions needed a powerful man with outstanding achievements.

As for Hu Zhen, who had worked hard in the Western Regions for many years, he continued to stay in the Western Regions as Xu Huang's deputy, that is, the deputy lieutenant of the Western Regions. Although it was only a deputy lieutenant, this position, which had existed since the Western Han Dynasty, was the same as the Protector General of the Western Regions, with a salary of two thousand stones, and even the scope of responsibilities was different from that of the Protector General of the Western Regions. The focus of the work of the deputy lieutenant of the Western Regions was to cultivate the land in the Western Regions.

Like all border areas, the problem faced by the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions was also insufficient population. How to migrate people to the Western Regions to participate in military farming quickly, efficiently and economically without forcibly relocating the people became a major problem.

All the prisoners who can be sent away have been sent to Shuofang County. Even if there are any left, Beidi County can take them.

Xu Huang came here to present to Liu Bian his plan for the future development of the Western Regions: "I think that those who can be used should be merchants traveling back and forth."

"Han merchants traveled a long way to the Western Regions. After passing through Yumen, they were often at risk of being robbed. Therefore, I heard that Han merchants always brought guards with them when they entered the Western Regions to prevent thieves."

"Moreover, those who dare to trade in the Western Regions often rely on the help of powerful families. Although they have no shortage of guards, the guards often set out from Luoyang and even Guandong, and by the time they reach Yumen Pass, they are almost useless."

After listening to Xu Huang's statement, Liu Bian admitted that Xu Huang's idea of ​​targeting merchants was reasonable. Nowadays, almost all those who dared to travel along the Silk Road were big businessmen. Even without considering the power behind them, these merchants generally had thousands of slaves in their homes. If they were willing to contribute their population to cultivate land in the Western Regions and liberate these slaves, Liu Bian would naturally be happy to see it happen.

However, businessmen are the most shrewd. It is not easy to make them bleed without using force.

Liu Bian asked, "Gong Ming, if the merchants don't want to, what should we do?"

Xu Huang hesitated for a moment before answering, "Your Majesty, I think that the merchants can travel safely in the Western Regions because of the prestige of the Han Dynasty in the Western Regions for many years. If they are not grateful, how is it different from forgetting their ancestors?"

Liu Bian also knew that it would be very difficult to accomplish this, after all, these merchants all had backers. But since Xu Huang had the drive, let him try it first!
Liu Bian then waved his hand towards Xu Huang and said, "Gongming, go and do it."

After thinking for a while, Liu Bian reminded again: "Don't force it too much!"

He didn't want Xu Huang to be ruined because of this.

Xu Huang took the order and left.

……

"Mr. Yuan, how should we make this decision? I hope you can give us some advice!"

In Yuan Wei's mansion, a man in gorgeous clothes was bowing before Yuan Wei, complaining nonstop: "That Xu Gongming is too much of a bully. It is true that the garrison in the Western Regions is hard. If he wants us to pay more customs duties, as long as it is not excessive, it is fine, just consider it as paying some military expenses. But if he wants slaves..."

"Mr. Yuan, you know that we have so many slaves in our family, not just for personal enjoyment, but to reel and weave silk in the workshop. If we lose them, even if we can go to the Western Regions, do we have to buy silk from other families?"

Yuan Wei listened to the grief and indignation of the person opposite him, but he didn't care at all, because the person in front of him was a businessman. Although he had cooperation with the Yuan family, he was still in a position that Yuan Wei could crush to death with a wave of his hand.

After thinking for a while, Yuan Wei said, "I don't want to expose you even if you gossip in front of me...How many concubines have you had in the past few years?"

"Since Xu Gongming wants people, then you should give him some. If Xu Gongming is greedy, then we can talk about it later!"

The man left in disgrace.

But after this person left, Yuan Wei couldn't help but think more in his heart.

Since the Yuan family split up, only one of them could be said to have lost a lot of power. After the road to the Western Regions was opened, in order to show goodwill to the emperor, he was the first to send people to follow Mi Fang to the Western Regions for trade. As a result, the Yuan family became one of the clans that benefited the most on the Silk Road.

Now, Xu Huang clearly wanted to make the Han merchants on the Silk Road bleed.

Yuan Wei was unwilling to be the first to speak out. If others gave slaves, he would be willing to give a symbolic amount. If others were unwilling to give... he would also give a symbolic amount. After all, he could not afford to take the risk now.

It's just like what that little shrimp said just now, the slaves in his family, in addition to serving people, are mostly engaged in business, and each slave represents a string of Wuzhu coins.

It is better to make as little friends as possible.

If it really doesn't work, he shouldn't go and complain to the emperor, but there is someone who can!
Although the family business had been divided, Yuan Wei did not treat Yuan Shu harshly. He also gave Yuan Shu a workshop, and the benefits of the Western Region trade routes were also enjoyed by Yuan Shu's newly established Henan Yuan family.

What Yuan Wei didn't expect was that before he found Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu had already found the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Xu Huang has gone too far!" Yuan Shu was both angry and aggrieved. He was a dignified Nine Ministers, and Xu Huang was just a Protector General of the Western Regions, yet he dared to openly extort his family's servants who were engaged in business.

How dare he!

"Don't worry, sir." Liu Bian knew what had happened as soon as he heard it. While he felt sad that Xu Huang was so reckless, he also tried to comfort Yuan Shu.

According to Liu Bian's understanding of Yuan Shu, he is a donkey and needs to be stroked by the right hand.

"Xu Gongming is a bit impulsive. I have heard about his affairs. I will definitely reprimand him when I get back! But it is also for the future of the Western Regions. Please don't blame me."

After listening to Liu Bian's words, Yuan Shu calmed down, but he still couldn't help but say: "If the country needs it, I am willing to offer my slaves, but if it is just an official who does things wrong for the sake of political achievements, as the Minister of Justice, I cannot sit idly by!"

After Yuan Shu said this, his whole body seemed to radiate a selfless aura. If Liu Bian had not known Yuan Shu's style, he would have believed it.

But at the moment, Liu Bian thought that he could pretend to believe it first: "Do you really have the heart to sacrifice yourself for the public?"

Yuan Shu was stunned and felt a little uneasy - this was obviously bragging, the emperor would not really believe it!
(End of this chapter)