noveltune Chapter 5440 Being Too Clever
Chapter 5440 Being Too Clever
Chapter 5440 Being Too Clever
Fang Xuanling's use of "deterrence" was, of course, just a joke. Given his gentle and refined demeanor, how could he possibly encourage his son to beat someone? His real intention was to teach Fang Jun a lesson: once you reach a certain level of status and power, you don't need too many schemes and tricks. You just need to openly and honestly show your face and express your attitude of "I am very angry and the consequences will be severe," and others will naturally avoid your sharp edge and keep their distance.
When the real enemy is fearless and refuses to retreat an inch, then it's best to just start a war.
In short, you shouldn't adopt a "I'm going to hit you, are you scared?" attitude. That's too rude and also quite low-class.
Keep it simple and direct, and you'll get better results.
This is how they treated Pei Huaijie.
The same applies to Li Chengqian.
……
After leaving the Secretariat, he turned right in front of the Historiography Institute and the Secretariat, and soon arrived at the Wude Gate. The eunuchs inside the gate first invited him to wait inside, and then ran to the Wude Hall to inform His Majesty.
While waiting for His Majesty's summons, Fang Jun saw Li Jingye, the current commander of the "Hundred Cavalry Division," emerge from the palace in full armor. He seemed to be in a hurry to leave the palace on business. Upon seeing Fang Jun, he stopped and bowed.
"This humble general pays his respects to the Grand Commandant!"
Fang Jun showed no disdain, and stood up with a smile to return the greeting: "As expected of the prodigy of the Ying family, you are handsome and upright, with a majestic and imposing gait. You are indeed from a family with a long tradition of learning. The Ying family has a worthy successor!"
Li Jingye's eye twitched uncontrollably twice.
Although he was a generation younger than Fang Jun, the two were of similar age and usually did not have much formality regarding seniority when they met. Now, Fang Jun was deliberately acting like an elder to comment on him, obviously mocking him for his previous act of sneaking into the Wude Hall to inform others.
It would have been one thing to ridicule him, but adding the phrase "a family with a long tradition of learning, and a worthy successor to the esteemed Duke Ying" included Li Ji as well. After all, during this period when various rumors attacking and slandering Fang Jun were rampant, Li Ji not only stood by and watched but also offered his support.
"Grand Commandant, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise. Emperor Taizong once praised you as having the talent of a prime minister. There is also a saying that 'one should have a son like Fang Yi'ai.' Fang Yi'ai is a gentle and refined gentleman, known to all. With you, Grand Commandant, inheriting his mantle, he is truly a role model in officialdom."
If you have something to say, just say it to my face. Why beat around the bush and make veiled accusations?
hypocrite!
Fang Jun's smile vanished, his face darkening: "My father was the prime minister of the country and a meritorious official of the late emperor. How dare a greenhorn like you comment on him?"
Li Jingye was furious: "Then how dare you comment on my father?"
Fang Jun pressed on aggressively: "My evaluation of your father, whether right or wrong, is entirely based on public opinion. As for your evaluation of my father, who do you think you are?"
The nearby guards and eunuchs all fell silent, trembling with fear.
Li Jingye's face flushed red, realizing he had said the wrong thing.
Although Fang Jun is a generation younger, he is now on equal footing with Li Ji and never acts superior or presumptuously as an elder. As for Li Jingye, he has made no contribution to the country or the country, and is merely a commander of the "Hundred Cavalry Division". What right does he have to evaluate Fang Xuanling, let alone call him a hypocrite?
Fang Jun pressed on: "Apologize now, admit your mistake and say the wrong thing, and I will let it go. Otherwise, I might have to teach you a lesson on behalf of Duke Ying, you arrogant bastard!"
Li Jingye stood there, caught in a dilemma.
Filled with regret, I should have just said goodbye and left. Why bother provoking this idiot?
I only remember this guy as a spoiled brat, arrogant and domineering, but I've forgotten that he was once someone who could debate with an imperial censor in the Taiji Hall...
But he couldn't bring himself to apologize to Fang Jun.
He is now the leader of the "Hundred Cavalry Division," the number one henchman of the emperor, representing the emperor's will to the outside world. His bowing to Fang Jun means that the imperial power is waning.
Li Jingye's head can fall off, but it cannot be bowed down.
With this thought in mind, he raised his head even higher, his chin facing Fang Jun, arrogant and fearless.
Fang Jun couldn't help but laugh when he saw Fang Jun's cockfighting expression, and suddenly felt that he was really losing face.
It's really not fun to fight with such a brash and frivolous playboy.
He raised his hand and patted Li Jingye on the shoulder, his tone somewhat wistful: "This world is a mixture of light and darkness, good and evil, not simply black and white. It is not the same as the world you imagine. Be careful with your words and actions, and more importantly, keep yourself in the best of your ability. Be worthy of what Ying Gong has done for you, and don't take it all for granted. That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself."
I was deeply moved.
Li Ji feared that Li Jingye would cause a terrible disaster, but he was unwilling to leave his eldest grandson idle and neglected. Therefore, he was forced to switch sides and pledge his complete loyalty to the emperor.
However, Li Ji, who was wise all his life, made a foolish mistake. He really thought that by dragging the whole family into the mess and having the whole family endorse Li Jingye, he could ensure that Li Jingye would not be swept up by the political turmoil and would rise step by step until he could support the Li family's reputation.
In fact, regardless of whether Li Ji took a desperate gamble, as long as Li Jingye, that blockhead, always firmly believed in so-called "loyalty" and "integrity," the Li family would inevitably be dragged into the quagmire of politics and ultimately suffer annihilation.
The only way for the Li family to survive is if Li Jingye can realize his mistakes and pull back from the brink.
After all, in the realm of "politics," there is no right or wrong, no good or evil, no black or white; only naked self-interest.
When it comes to dividing up and devouring the entire Li family, who would hesitate even for a moment?
……
Upon entering the Wude Hall, Li Chengqian was already sitting on a mat by the window, boiling water and making tea. After Fang Jun greeted him, he beckoned him to sit down and personally poured a cup of tea for him.
Fang Jun thanked him respectfully, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
Li Chengqian smiled gently and teased, "Knowing that Erlang must be thirsty, I brewed tea for him early on."
Fang Jun put down his teacup and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness."
Clearly, this was a veiled reprimand for him barging into the Xia Province and reprimanding Li Jingye at Wude Gate.
But Fang Jun only said "I'm sorry for the trouble," without even apologizing.
Li Chengqian's smile faded slightly, and he said calmly, "These past few days, there have been many rumors circulating in the court and among the people, all saying that Erlang will definitely storm into the Ministry of Personnel and beat Pei Huaijie. Even I am curious whether Erlang will really do such a thing to vent his pent-up feelings... He actually reasoned with people and persuaded them with virtue, which shows that Erlang has indeed made progress."
Fang Jun smiled and shook his head: "There are rules in the court. In the past, when young people did not know their place, they often did reckless things. Emperor Taizong and my father repeatedly reprimanded and punished them. Now they must always have a sense of awe... Pei Huaijie is just a lackey, not even a foot soldier. How can he be worth my attention?"
Li Chengqian: "..."
The reason you didn't punish Pei Huaijie isn't because you understand the rules and know your limits, but because Pei Huaijie wasn't the mastermind.
He raised an eyebrow and stared at Fang Jun: "If we were to face the mastermind, Erlang would be ready to give him a good beating?"
I'm sitting right here, do you dare hit me?!
Fang Jun remained unmoved: "Pei Huaijie and his ilk are shallow in virtue and lack talent. It is also a loss of character for someone to conspire with him to spread rumors. Fighting with such despicable and shallow people will only make us a laughing stock and will not bring any benefit."
Li Chengqian's eyelids twitched involuntarily, but a smile reappeared: "I am very pleased that Erlang is now mature, steady, and acts only after careful consideration."
Fang Jun smiled brightly: "Your Majesty has discerning eyes, and I also feel that I have made great progress in the past two years!"
Li Chengqian: "..."
Continuing this conversation would only make him angrier, so he decisively changed the subject: "In the spring, Xue Rengui withdrew his troops from the sea and returned to Guanzhong. After resting, he led his Anxi army back to the Western Regions to garrison. Several prime ministers have advised that the Western Regions are no longer the border of the empire, and continuing to garrison tens of thousands of troops is a waste of military funds and supplies. They believe that the Anxi army should be transferred elsewhere or disbanded. What do you think, Erlang?"
Fang Jun was stunned: "Who came up with this terrible idea? Could it be that idiot Pei Huaijie again?"
Li Chengqian's expression was slightly unnatural. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "It is indeed the Chamberlain's suggestion."
Let Pei Huaijie take the blame...
Fang Junqi said, "Didn't the other prime ministers object? This suggestion is simply the beginning of chaos. If it is passed, the entire situation in the Western Regions will instantly fall apart. The Seven Rivers Basin and the vast land between the two rivers that Xue Rengui previously conquered will be devoured by various barbarian tribes. The strategic buffer zone will be completely lost, and the Western Regions will once again become the front line against the enemy. Whether the Anxi Army is redeployed or disbanded, its strength will be greatly reduced. How can the stability of the Western Regions be maintained? Once the Western Regions are lost, the enemy will cross the Tianshan Mountains and advance straight into the four prefectures of Hexi, threatening the safety of Longyou and Guanzhong... The fact that such a suggestion can be made shows that the person's ability is simply not up to the position of prime minister. Your Majesty should consider dismissing him and appointing a more capable person."
It is understandable that the central government is worried that local armies will become too powerful and even form their own factions and become warlords, but the situation in the Western Regions is different from other places.
Its unparalleled strategic value has been regarded as the reliance of the Northwest since ancient times. When the Western Regions were under the control of the Central Plains dynasties, the domestic situation was stable and prosperous. Conversely, when the Western Regions were controlled by foreign tribes, Guanzhong, Luoyang and other places were constantly threatened by foreign tribes. They either had to invest heavily in counterattacks or strengthen their defenses. Whether it was a counterattack or a defense, it would consume countless manpower and resources.
Therefore, any capable and ambitious ruler would dream of stationing troops in the Western Regions to defend against foreign enemies.
Now the Anxi army is sweeping across the Central Asian countries, pushing the strategic zone outward by hundreds or thousands of miles. If the Western Regions are stable, then Guanzhong will be stable... but instead, they are destroying their own Great Wall?
Li Chengqian's expression was somewhat strange. He coughed lightly and explained, "Second Prince, there's no need to be so agitated. It was just a suggestion, and he probably hadn't thought it through..."
Fang Jun, however, had no intention of engaging in pretense with him and asked directly, "Is this His Majesty's idea?"
Li Chengqian: "..."
You have such good taste?
Fang Jun was furious: "Your Majesty is in Chang'an, in charge of the central government. If you don't understand the situation on the frontier, you should listen to opinions widely before making decisions. How can you be so narrow-minded and make assumptions out of thin air, which could lead to the complete deterioration of the situation in the Western Regions? If Your Majesty can't even 'know people and appoint them well,' how can you talk about imperial ambitions and a lasting legacy?"