"This trip will be windy and rainy, and the journey will be long. I wish my dear nephew a smooth journey, fearless of wind and rain, and great achievements."
To the east of Chang'an, in a long pavilion ten miles away, a group of people, wearing e-guan robes, were setting up wine to see each other off and saying goodbye.
At that time, people paid great attention to a sense of ceremony when bidding farewell, especially when officials from the capital were sent away, and relatives and friends were sent off to the outskirts of Chang'an, which was a custom of breaking willows.
Fang Xuanling took the post of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and transferred it to the outside as the chief envoy. Although his rank was considered to be average, and the Beijing official was transferred to the outside, it did not show the dignity of the Beijing official.
But smart people all know that the extremely high threshold from the fourth grade to the third grade no longer exists for Fang Qiao. After serving as chief envoy, he can successfully enter the ranks of the third grade senior officials after returning to Beijing to report on his duties.
This is like cultivating immortals. There are always several big thresholds. For example, from the seventh level to the sixth level, from the fourth level to the third level, they are all essential leaps. Some people are blocked from the threshold throughout their lives and are not allowed to enter.
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But some people pass by in one step without any obstacles.
Since Fang Xuanling entered the officialdom and served as the Prime Minister of Chang'an County, and in the past few years when he was sent to the outside as the Chief Envoy, it took almost more than ten years to rise all the way up. It can be said that he has risen through the ranks. Such people are rare.
That is to say, at the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there were many generals who were good at fighting, but they were in urgent need of talents to govern the country. Only people like Fang Xuanling were like a fish in water.
Otherwise, in the prosperous times, if you do not have a prominent family background behind you, even if you have political talents, you will still have to stumble on a long official career. Most people do not need two or three decades, how can they be outstanding?
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There were quite a few people who came to see Fang Xuanling off as he took office. There were twenty or thirty people, most of whom were young. Apparently the elders in the family could not come in person, so their representatives came to see him off.
As for why he couldn't come in person, it was simple. Fang Xuanling had a wide network of friends and many friends, many of whom held important positions in the government. If they all came, it would be too conspicuous, and it would inevitably be suspected of forming a clique.
Today, when Changsun Shunde, Du Yan, Zhang Wen and others are doing bad things, anyone with a little bit of political sensitivity must tread carefully on this matter.
The people who saw him off were headed by the author Lang Yu Shinan, and there were also secretary and young eunuch Xue Deyin and others. Except for Yu Shinan, the other people who worked with Fang Xuanling in Tiance Mansion were unknown, but most of them sent their nephews to come.
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Yu Shinan and several others were in noble positions and had little real power. With them taking the lead, they not only allowed Fang Xuanling to take office in Beijing in a glorious manner, but also weakened the political implications. This was the clever thinking of the officials.
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You need to drink farewell wine when you say goodbye...well, not the kind you drink before beheading...
Yu Shinan said his congratulatory speech, Xue Deyin filled their wine glasses beside him, and Yu Shinan toasted to them.
Fang Xuanling didn't like such occasions. He had said goodbye to many people in Chang'an for many years and was always in a bad mood. Today was his turn, and the feeling was even more inexplicable.
As the old saying goes, those who are secretly ecstatic can only say goodbye.
There were not only old friends, but also his hometown. When he left home, his wife was no longer as fierce as before, holding the crying baby in her arms, and her pitiful expression made him feel very uncomfortable.
It's just that the normal procedures of official repayment still have to be followed. Yu Shinan is his predecessor, and he is even more famous in the literary world. In any case, being able to come to see him off in person is to give him Fang Xuanling face.
After raising the glass and finishing the drink, Fang Xuanling said with a smile: "Xuanling was just released as an official, it is not a big deal, but it disturbed the quiet life of Mr. Xuanling. This is Xuanling's crime."
I offer a toast to you as an apology, and I also hope that you can take care of yourself... Xuanling read Beitang's book before, and there are very few people in this world who can be like you..."
Yu Shinan smiled like a spring breeze, waved his hands and said: "Reading articles all over the world is what I want in my life. You don't have to be like this at Xuanling. You have the talent to govern the world and bring peace to the people. You will definitely be able to fulfill your ambitions and serve your family and country when you go. Your future achievements are not mine."
It’s within the reach of those who play with words.”
In fact, this sentence alone shows that the two have different ambitions. One is devoted to writing books and preaching, and his eyes are full of beautiful articles. The other is enthusiastic about fame and fortune, and has the ambition to stabilize the country.
Although they can both be classified as literati, they are two completely different people, and the scenery they see on the road of life is naturally very different.
Looking at Yu Shinan, who was so elegant and elegant, Fang Xuanling felt a little envious. Naturally, what he envied was that Yu Shinan was full of poems and books. Apart from being pure, he also showed signs of leaving his name in history.
Of course, he also knew that the reason why Yu Shiji put aside his official career and devoted himself to writing Shu Chengshuo was because the Yu family had gone through a great disaster and there were only a few people left, so he did not want to get involved in trouble anymore.
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Fang Xuanling was not in a hurry to leave, and talked to the farewell people without any sign of impatience.
The process was almost done, Yu Shinan left first, Fang Xuanling also got on his horse, handed over to the people who were left behind, and waited to say goodbye. Only Xue Deyin also got on his horse, ready to see Fang Xuanling off again, and it was clear from a glance that she still had something to say.
Fang Xuanling and his party were quite large, including more than a dozen officials who followed him to Jin Dynasty to take office, and more than 200 bodyguards.
Among them were fifty Yulin soldiers, and the rest were from the garrison. At Fang Xuanling's level, it was not unusual to receive such treatment.
Some of these guards will also seek some official positions in Jin in the future, so that Fang Xuanling can govern the place smoothly as soon as possible.
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"Changsun Fuji was transferred to your left envoy. Why didn't you set off with Brother Fang today?"
Xue Deyin and Fang Xuanling walked side by side.
He and Fang Xuanling were not friends, and their origins were very different. They had only met a few times before, so to describe their relationship as being ministers in the same palace was a bit close.
Fang Xuanling shook his head and smiled, "The eldest grandson has returned to Beijing not long ago and has just handed over his duties at Dali Temple. How can he set off in a hurry?"
Xue Deyin just asked this question and then changed the topic.
"My wife is unable to come in person due to her status, so she asked me to see you off on your behalf. I hope that you can cherish your journey, carry out your ambitions, and come back with honor in the future to talk about old friendships."
Xue Deyin clasped her fists on the horse as a salute and spoke solemnly.
Fang Xuanling was not surprised when he heard this. He and Xue Deyin were both favored by Mrs. Chu back then, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were disciples. However, now that they have gradually become important officials in the imperial court, they can no longer regard themselves as disciples.
That was the starting point of their official careers when the Tang Dynasty was founded, and it was also the only place where they were connected. No matter where they went in their official careers, the shadow of Mrs. Chu would always appear looming behind them.
Generally speaking, when officials accept favors from others and claim to be under their sect, it is an early stage behavior. After reaching a certain point, for example, a person like Fang Xuanling, who has a great future and is expected to be in good positions in the future, will not accept arbitrarily at this time.
At the mercy of.
The argument that one's disciples are not subordinates can no longer restrain them, not to mention the Lady of Chu, not even the King of Qin Li Yuan.
In fact, it mainly depends on what they think. Senior officials above the fourth rank will not make fun of their career and easily join any faction.
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Fang Xuanling immediately returned the gift and said, "Thank you for your concern, madam. I don't know when Xuanling will be able to return to the capital after leaving. I hope that the young eunuch will respond to madam on behalf of Xuanling and hope that madam can take good care of herself."
In fact, he sent a greeting note to Mrs. Chu's house a few days ago and wanted to say goodbye in person. However, since Li Xiuning was appointed as Zong Zhengqing, he could not be as casual as before, so he replied to the note telling him not to do so and just take up the post with peace of mind.
Today, Xue Deyin was asked to come to see him off. Fang Xuanling knew that there must be something to tell him.
Sure enough, Xue Deyin said: "Madam, when you are in charge of the clan, you have a lot of troubles, so you should know..."
Fang Xuanling considered the words for a moment, nodded and said with a smile: "Madam's appearance as a woman is useful. The eagle flies and the crane dances, and it will be passed down to the world. It will become a good story in the future."
Xue Deyin pursed her lips. He was not a person who showed off his mood and anger. He was always serious, but now he wanted to laugh. Fang Xuanling was so flattering... Hum.
Good things to say, bad things to say, your majesty is really affectionate and righteous today. Letting Mrs. Chu take charge of the clan is tantamount to officially giving her a status.
He and Fang Xuanling were not familiar with each other, so naturally they would not get entangled in this kind of topic. Seeing that Fang Xuanling was pretending to be ignorant, he simply said directly: "My family is in Jinyang, but my ancestral home is in Hedong. Madam...
…”
Fang Xuanling is such a smart person. He must have understood why Mrs. Chu asked this person to come to see him off. She was very grateful in her heart.
, I have heard about it a long time ago, and I will definitely gain something by paying a visit here.
I would like to thank Mr. Xue in advance."
There is no need for a heavy hammer to play the drum, and the elegant meaning can be understood by listening to the string music. Xue Deyin said: "The Xue family is not a famous family, but only has a small reputation in the local area.
I have gone to Xin's house a long time ago to ask you to take office... so that you can help me with big things, but I can make a small contribution to small things."
Fang Xuanling thanked him again, but he didn't feel much joy in his heart. He was about to take charge of Shanxi South Road, and the well-informed Hedong family had already sent people to Chang'an to meet him.
Especially the Pei family, he can't even imagine the people who come here. Nowadays, no matter how many Xue families there are, it doesn't matter.
Of course, although the Xue family in Hedong is not as good as the two surnames of King Pei, they are still a big family in Hedong.
Their ancestors were originally barbarians from Sichuan. They moved to Jin during the Three Kingdoms period and gradually grew in size during the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Naturally, he was based in martial arts at the beginning, and later he gradually turned to civil affairs. The former Sui Dynasty scholar Xue Daoheng was a member of the Xue clan in Hedong, and now the uncle and nephew of Xue Deyin have already looked like a powerful family in Jin Dynasty.
However, they did not completely give up on military affairs. Not to mention Xue Ju, Xue Rengao and his son who started the uprising in the late Sui Dynasty, General Zuo Yuwei, Duke Xue Shixiong of Wu'an County and others all came from the Xue family in Hedong.
Moreover, the current general manager of Lingzhou, Xue Wanjun, and the brothers Xue Wanche, the general of Youwuwei, are also members of the Xue family in Hedong.
Therefore, with their support, Fang Xuanling will have a much easier time serving as the chief envoy of South Shanxi Province.
Of course, Fang Xuanling also understood that Xue Deyin had obviously received the instruction from Mrs. Chu, so she gave him a farewell gift?
Thinking of Mrs. Chu Guo's behavior, Fang Xuanling could only sigh secretly. It was rare in the world for a woman to do things so grandly and delicately.
I can’t blame His Majesty for allowing his wife to leave the clan’s mansion...