noveltune Chapter 5487 Request for Help Rejected
Chapter 5487 Request for Help Rejected
Chapter 5487 Request for Help Rejected
As Pei Huaijie roared in anger, the side hall fell silent.
In order to oppose His Majesty's policy of developing Dongting Lake, he insisted on developing Liaodong despite the bitter cold and hardship. For his own selfish reasons, he put hundreds of thousands of Tang soldiers in difficult circumstances and used the blood and flesh of his soldiers to taint his own political achievements... Even Fang Jun could not withstand this charge.
All the officials looked at Fang Jun, wondering if this fellow would get angry and beat up Pei Huaijie in front of His Majesty.
Even if you gave him the courage of the heavens, he wouldn't dare to do it, but Fang Jun could...
However, Fang Jun showed no anger in the face of Pei Huaijie's sinister intentions.
He just looked at Pei Huaijie with curiosity: "You once served as the governor of Henan. You couldn't possibly be completely ignorant of the hardships of rural life and the living conditions of the people. How come you've come to Chang'an and sat in the government office for a few days and already put yourself in a superior position, as if you don't know the suffering of the people?"
Pei Huaijie said indignantly, "It is precisely because I understand the suffering of humankind that I despise and scorn the Grand Commandant's disregard for the lives of his soldiers!"
Fang Jun ignored Pei Huaijie and looked at Li Ji, asking, "Pei, the Minister of the Palace, comes from a noble family and holds a high official position. He has long been out of touch with the lives of ordinary people and thinks that the world is peaceful and prosperous, and has reached the point of 'Why don't they eat meat porridge'... But Lord Ying has been to Liaodong and should know the true situation there."
Pei Huaijie angrily rebuked, "Slander and defamation! Utterly shameless!"
Emperor Hui of Jin, Sima Zhong, famously asked, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" This phrase has been passed down through the ages and is infamous for its infamy. Although he was not an emperor, such a statement was enough to make him a prime minister known for his "Why don't they eat meat porridge?" and to be compared to Emperor Hui of Jin.
This is worse than killing him!
Fang Jun said calmly, "Don't interrupt me, and don't force me to slap you in front of His Majesty!"
Pei Huaijie blushed, but dared not confront him directly. He could only turn to Li Chengqian, looking aggrieved, and said, "Your Majesty..."
Li Chengqian was too lazy to pay attention to this guy, and waved his hand impatiently: "The more you argue, the clearer things become, but that doesn't mean that shouting and yelling makes you reasonable. Let the Grand Commandant and Duke Ying finish speaking."
Pei Huaijie's face turned pale.
Li Ji then said, “The bitter cold of Liaodong is far beyond imagination. The river channels have never been dredged for hundreds or thousands of years. Every rainy season, the river swells and breaches the riverbanks, turning the area into a vast expanse of water. In the mountains and forests, there are hordes of insects, snakes, and wild beasts. The fallen leaves and withered grass accumulated over the ages are indeed the best fertilizer, but the grass roots on the ground have become intertwined and inseparable after thousands of years of reproduction. It is true that the ‘underground dwelling’ is damp and gloomy, but in the winter of Liaodong, sleeping in an ‘underground dwelling’ is the best way to avoid the severe cold. If you stay in a house and are attacked by the cold wind and heavy snow, you can freeze solid in one night.”
Xu Jingzong sighed, “One can imagine how windy and snowy it must have been, how difficult and arduous it must have been. Dongting Lake was no different. If the environment had not been so harsh and severe, these two places would not have been sparsely populated swamps and wilderness since ancient times. Our large-scale development of these two places is a struggle against the heavens, the earth, and poisonous insects and wild beasts. Every piece of land that has been reclaimed is the result of countless people risking their lives.”
We can't always emphasize how harsh Liaodong is. Although Dongting Lake isn't cold, it's also very harsh due to the rampant miasma and the abundance of insects and snakes!
In some ways, that damp, smoky environment was more unbearable than the cold...
Ma Zhou, who had remained calm and collected, then spoke up: "Therefore, whether it is Dongting Lake or Liaodong, it is all thanks to the great Tang Dynasty's all-out effort and courage in its development. We not only conquered and annihilated the enemy with our invincible military might, but also used our indomitable will to create something new! Developing Dongting and Liaodong not only cultivates fertile land and increases grain production for the empire, but also lays an immortal foundation for future generations. Anyone who opposes, sabotages, or obstructs this matter is an enemy of the hundreds of millions of people of the great Tang Dynasty!"
Pei Huaijie blushed and quickly explained, "I fully support the development of both places, but I am worried about the living conditions of the soldiers. Grand Commandant, please don't misunderstand."
Fang Jun: "Hehe."
Pei Huaijie: "..."
……
The following day, after the sacrificial ceremony was completed, news came that Li Xiaogong was critically ill. Li Chengqian returned to the palace, took off his sacrificial robes and changed into ordinary clothes. He then led a group of civil and military officials out of Taiji Palace and arrived at the Prince of Hejian's residence in a grand procession.
Upon entering the inner room, they found that Li Xiaogong had fallen into a coma and was unconscious.
Li Chengqian sighed, comforted his family, turned around and went out to sit in the hall, looking very sad.
The two most important contributors to his successful succession to the throne were Fang Jun and Li Xiaogong.
Fang Jun's merits are beyond question. He not only stood firm against Emperor Taizong's repeated attempts to change the heir apparent, but also served as a pillar of support during the two subsequent coups, making outstanding contributions.
Although Li Xiaogong did not have the same illustrious achievements as Fang Jun, he single-handedly stabilized the imperial clan, using his profound prestige to support and protect them. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be those clowns jumping around and causing trouble...
However, as of today, Fang Jun is at odds with his own ideals and has different political views. Although he remains loyal, he is gradually drifting away from the path of governance. Li Xiaogong, who was like a pillar that intimidated the royal family, is also about to pass away. With the two pillars of the past no longer intact, can people like Pei Huaijie and Xu Jingzong be relied upon?
After sitting for a while, feeling heavy-hearted, he said to the ministers, "Today has been eventful and I am quite tired. I will go back to the palace to bathe, change clothes and rest. If there are any changes here, I will come to the palace to report immediately."
"Here."
The officials rose and, together with Li Xiaogong's three sons, saw the emperor off at the door. Only after the emperor had gone far away did they return to the main hall.
As Li Xiaogong lay dying, everyone should stay here a little longer, no matter what...
As dusk fell, dinner was prepared in the mansion. Everyone ate a bite together, but seeing that there was still no movement, some people took their leave one after another.
Fang Jun, however, sat in a side hall with Li Ji, Li Yuanjia, and Cheng Yaojin, drinking tea and chatting. They agreed that if there was still no movement by 9 PM, they would leave for the time being and come back the next day.
Before long, Xu Jingzong also came over...
Fang Jun laughed and said, "Spring is just around the corner, and various projects are about to start. Why is Governor Xu lingering in Chang'an instead of hurrying back to Yuezhou to take charge of the overall situation?"
Xu Jingzong served tea to the four men, then said with a wry smile, "To be honest, my little shoulders are about to be crushed by all the development matters. I beg the Grand Commandant to give me some support in the name of our past camaraderie."
Fang Jun smiled and shook his head, drinking his tea in silence, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Li Yuanjia naturally had to cooperate with his brother-in-law and asked curiously, "Prefect Xu is now stationed in Yuezhou, overlooking the three provinces. He can be said to have great power and a great reputation. He has mobilized almost half of the country for the development of Dongting Lake. Why does he still need support from others? After all, he did not receive a single penny of support from the national treasury in Liaodong. He relied entirely on his own efforts."
The support and supplies from Dongting Lake are at least several times that of Liaodong. Moreover, holding the Emperor's decree, they command the world and none dare disobey. How dare they ask Liaodong for support?
Have you no shame?
If it were anyone else who had been so bluntly confronted by Li Yuanjia, they would have been red-faced and utterly humiliated, but Xu Jingzong didn't care about that at all.
As for face and such, it doesn't matter at all.
Xu Jingzong revealed a perfectly timed fawning smile, which flowed smoothly and naturally: "Your Highness is mistaken! When I was serving as an advisor to Emperor Taizong in the Prince of Qin's residence, I was repeatedly transferred to different posts until I became the Prefect of Yuezhou. I had never managed any administrative affairs and had no experience whatsoever. Now that His Majesty has entrusted me with this important task, I should do my utmost and devote myself wholeheartedly. However, human strength has its limits, and I am at a loss in the face of various difficulties. I can only shamelessly ask the Grand Commandant for help... After all, even if it is humiliating in front of the Grand Commandant, I am willing to do it."
Cheng Yaojin had always looked down on Xu Jingzong, and upon hearing this, he sarcastically remarked, "You certainly know how to talk. It's just a pity that Emperor Taizong didn't like those who only talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Otherwise, Governor Xu would probably have already risen through the ranks and become a high-ranking official."
Xu Jingzong remained smiling, his composure unmatched: "Duke Lu, there's no need to belittle yourself. I'm the most eloquent among the civil officials, and you're the most eloquent among the military officers. We're even."
Cheng Yaojin was furious and was about to retort when Li Ji interrupted him with a light cough: "Where is this? Let's not argue."
Then he looked at Xu Jingzong and asked, "But I wonder what kind of assistance Governor Xu needs?"
Xu Jingzong said, “Tools! As the saying goes, ‘A skilled craftsman must first have the right tools!’ Right now, Yuezhou is teeming with people and has plenty of food, but it is extremely lacking in tools! Hoes, mattocks, shovels… I have applied to the foundry several times, but Liu Shi has turned me down each time, saying that production is low and supply cannot meet demand, so he won’t give me anything!”
Hundreds of thousands of people are preparing to manage the swamp and reclaim wasteland. How can they do it without tools?
Despite his shameless exploitation of nearby prefectures and counties, which aroused widespread resentment, the tools he obtained were still less than eleventh of what he needed...
Left with no other option, they sought help from the foundry. Liu Shi asked what the low production volume was.
It's just that Liaodong is prioritized for supply!
Even though he was very dissatisfied, he knew that the foundry was Fang Jun's private domain, and the tools produced there naturally had to be sent to Liaodong. Liu Shi did not dare to make decisions on his own.
They had no choice but to beg Fang Jun for help.
Fang Jun shook his head decisively: "The foundry does indeed have limited production capacity, and the smelting speed cannot keep up. Governor Xu will have to think of another way."
Xu Jingzong said urgently, "How could the smelting speed not keep up? As far as I know, the steam engine project has always consumed a lot of steel. If that steel were used to make tools, it could solve the immediate problem!"
Li Ji also looked at Fang Jun.
Today, the steam engine project is no secret among the upper echelons of the empire. Due to its continuous investment without seeking returns or considering the future, it is jokingly referred to by many as a "money-devouring beast," with annual investments amounting to no less than several million strings of cash.
Although they were all amazed by the steam engine, they couldn't understand this kind of "filling the hole" investment.
Fang Jun didn't explain at all, because even if he did, they wouldn't understand: "As long as I'm alive, as long as the sky hasn't fallen, nothing can stop the steam engine research and development project, until one day the steam engine's smoke will fill every corner of the Tang Dynasty."