No one can be right all the time, and it is normal to make mistakes.
In the era when imperial power was concentrated, the emperor spoke with a golden tongue and followed the law. The emperor's will was supreme throughout the world. Once the emperor made a mistake, the consequences would be extremely serious.
Therefore, the more wise, mighty, talented and strategic a king is, once he makes a mistake, the extent of the damage will be earth-shattering.
For example, how wise and wise were Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty when they were young? There are few people at home and abroad who can match them. However, it is precisely because of their outstanding achievements in their youth and their reputation in ancient and modern times that they have increasingly developed a self-centered character. In their old age, they think about
Being stagnant and unwilling to make progress, due to one's own ignorance, the empire went from bad to worse, reaching its peak and then declining, laying the foundation for its downfall.
For the current Tang Dynasty, there is no need for a prosperous Ming Dynasty or a thousand emperors. As long as the imperial power is stable, there will be prime ministers and assistants to rule the world, working hard and sleeping day and night.
The reason why Fang Jun unswervingly supported Li Chengqian at the beginning was because Li Chengqian was the most suitable candidate to be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty after His Majesty Li Er. The others, whether Li Tai or Li Zhi, were indeed outstanding, but once they took the throne, they would cause chaos in the court.
Violent turbulence will be of no benefit to the country.
Although Li Zhi was a man of great talent and strategy, he was the best among emperors throughout the ages, but he could also be said to be a "hero created by times". With the rich family property left by Emperor Taizong, and the famous ministers and patriots passed down from the Zhenguan Dynasty, it would not be possible to change him.
There is a high probability that we can expand our territory and create a prosperous age...
Fang Jun said sincerely: "Your Majesty, there is no need to belittle yourself. No one is a sage. Who can have no shortcomings? As long as you know how to make use of your strengths and avoid weaknesses, most people can start a career. As the Supreme Being of the Nine-Five-Year Plan, your Majesty does not need to do everything personally. He only needs to be steady.
Sitting firmly on the throne, holding the sun and moon in hand, there will be capable ministers and officials to handle the government affairs."
Why did Song Huizong ruin the Northern Song Dynasty?
In addition to many external factors, his "lack of self-awareness" and "reluctance to sit still on Diaoyutai" are also important reasons. The king who is full of artistic cells is versatile and intelligent, but he has never been able to recognize that his political talent is idiotic.
The disadvantage is that he still wants to get involved in government affairs and direct the country.
The natural result is that the country, which is already riddled with holes, becomes even more angry and resentful. Even if the Jin army does not go south and plunder Bianliang, sooner or later it will be annihilated by the surging peasant uprising...
A counter-example is Song Renzong Zhao Zhen, whose military power was not as good as that of the founding emperor Song Taizu, and whose literary skills were not as good as that of his successor Song Huizong, but he was able to create the most prosperous era in the Song Dynasty and even in the entire imperial power system.
"Being a king should only end with benevolence." This is the highest state of an emperor. Even if he expands territory and dominates the world, it is still slightly inferior.
Of course, Song Renzong also had shortcomings. His tolerance for border troubles laid the hidden danger of destroying the country...
Li Chengqian smiled bitterly and said: "Do you want to rule by laying down the arch? But the prerequisite is to 'believe in the clear righteousness and respect the virtues and repay the merits'. Of course I dare not belittle myself, but I cannot be arrogant."
Fang Jun also laughed: "Everyone must have some ideals in life, right? Governance without doing anything is not doing nothing. It is not easy to be able to hang down the clothes and hand over the government while the government is still running as usual, and the officials in each department perform their duties.
If you do it, Your Majesty should encourage yourself."
Li Chengqian took a sip of tea, and the anger in his chest was slightly relieved, but he was much more relaxed: "The Zhenguan rule seems to be flourishing, but in fact the foundation is unstable. The remnants of the Sui Dynasty and the traitors of the clan are taking turns to cause chaos. A little relief can lead to catastrophe.
Disaster. Not to mention that although Emperor Taizong won a complete victory in the Eastern Expedition, the war almost consumed all the wealth, money and food accumulated since the founding of the country. If there had not been sea trade to import a large amount of food from abroad, I am afraid that it would not have slowed down for more than ten or twenty years.
Come on. Even though the country is big, if it is warlike, it will perish. Therefore, it is extremely correct for us to turn the national policy from the outside to the inside and implement the New Deal. I think that I am not a peerless king like my father, who does not seek to expand the territory and threaten the world.
, I only hope that I can work hard, work hard and sleep hard, and leave to my successors a rich family fortune with sufficient treasury and prosperity for all industries."
Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has been glorious for eternity and has made great achievements for thousands of years, without the accumulation of the two generations of emperors Wen and Jing, how could he have accomplished the feat of driving the Huns from the north and opening up new territories?
The achievements of the two kings Wen and Jing will never be buried in the history of Qing Dynasty.
Li Chengqian was self-aware, and as Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he would never have that ability. He also did not have the lofty ambitions of Emperor Taizong to embrace the world. Being able to be a conservative king and guarding this family fortune would be the greatest success.
Fang Jun said with a smile: "If your Majesty's ambition is this, it is not difficult. All you have to do is to suppress land annexation and add frivolous corvee and low taxes to make a living for the people. As long as you do these two things, your prosperity will last long and your achievements will shine through.
."
What is the key to the rise and fall of an empire?
Official administration, taxation, that's all.
How can we make the national destiny last longer? Then we need to add another restraint to land annexation.
After Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong, the two generations of emperors had made a good start. Now that the aristocratic families that were the biggest threat to the stability of the empire were at their weakest, it was not as difficult as imagined to achieve these three points.
Of course, there are many people who understand this truth, and it is easy to say it, but it is extremely difficult to actually do it.
*****
The snow on the street has been swept to both sides, so although it has stopped snowing today, the weather is extremely polar due to the accumulation of snow all over the city. Fang Jun, wearing an ermine hat and a large cloak, rode his horse long surrounded by dozens of soldiers.
Street, swaggering through the city, rushed into Chongrenfang like a wind and lingering clouds, and returned to Liang Guogong's mansion.
When I arrived at the door, I saw a gorgeously decorated four-wheeled carriage parked in the gatehouse, and dozens of guards stood in front of the street holding their horses.
Fang Jun reined in his horse and stood in front of the door. When he turned over and dismounted, he glanced at the carriage. When he saw the mark on the carriage, he knew that it was Princess Changle's carriage...
I was a little surprised.
Because Changle and I had an affair, I was always a little ashamed in front of Princess Gaoyang. I would try to avoid public occasions, let alone visit in person. Unless there was something important, it would be impossible.
As soon as he dismounted, dozens of Changle Princess's guards knelt down on one knee and performed military salutes: "See the Duke of Yue!"
Fang Jun threw the reins to the soldiers, stood there, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice: "No need to be polite."
"Here!"
Dozens of guards agreed and then stood up.
Fang Jun turned around and said to the soldiers: "Let people prepare hot tea and snacks, and let them enter the concierge in batches to drink hot water and warm themselves up."
"Here."
The soldiers responded quickly.
One of the leaders of the imperial guards thanked him loudly: "Thank you so much, Duke Yue!"
Although Princess Changle has a transcendent status, in the final analysis she is just a powerless princess, and she has been divorced. It would be great if they, the imperial guards, did not suffer cynicism when traveling with the princess. How have they ever been treated like this?
What's more, it's natural for such a powerful and powerful person to show personal care, so I'm naturally very grateful.
Without saying another word, Fang Jun climbed up the steps and entered the house through the side door.
Outside the main hall, a maid came in to announce. Fang Jun stepped into the main hall, casually took off his cloak and handed it to the maid serving beside him. He saw Princess Changle, who was sitting with Princess Gaoyang, stood up.
Fang Jun then smiled and said: "Why should my family be so polite? I don't dare to greet you as your highness."
Unexpectedly, Princess Changle rolled her eyes at him, turned back to Princess Gaoyang and said, "Then I'll leave first, as long as you know what's going on."
Princess Gao Yang glanced at Fang Jun first, and then said to Princess Changle with a smile: "Since we are at home, why don't we have dinner before leaving? Why don't we just stay? In the evening, we sisters will sleep on the same bed and have a long talk."
Hearing her say "sleeping on the same bed", Princess Changle's heart skipped a beat for some reason. She shook her head and said, "Let's talk about it another day when we have free time. It's better to go back to the palace today."
Princess Gaoyang no longer forced herself, nodded and said: "Then let's talk about it another day, I'll see my sister off."
"Um."
The two princesses walked to the door hand in hand.
Fang Jun looked at the two of them, one of them was handsome in Taoist robes, and the other was charming in a crimson skirt. Naturally, his heart felt hot. When he saw Princess Changle leaving, he was reluctant to leave: "Well, why don't you, Your Highness, sit down again?"
For a while?”
Princess Changle's clear eyes glanced at his face, and the corners of her lips curled up into a sneer.
"Ah!"
Without further words, he turned around and walked out accompanied by Princess Gaoyang.
After seeing off Princess Changle's carriage and going back to the main hall to sit down, Fang Jun asked curiously: "Why did Your Highness Changle come to the door today? She looked a little uncomfortable."
Princess Gaoyang sat upright with a dignified appearance. She held a tureen and took a sip of tea. Her eyes drooped slightly and she said lukewarmly: "What's wrong? Is it not as passionate as before, or is it not gentle enough?"
Fang Jun: "Ahem..."
He almost choked on his tea and decisively changed the subject: "I'm going to the farm tomorrow to take a look. It snowed recently. Many greenhouses failed to clear the snow in time and collapsed. The old steward Lu Cheng became very angry and even
Several servants who had neglected their duties were killed with a rod, and the whole village was in trembling fear and needed to be appeased."
Princess Gaoyang chuckled lightly, stared at her husband with a pair of beautiful eyes, and brought the topic back: "I heard that today in the court, the Yushitai impeached Feng Deyi, and not only removed all his official positions during his lifetime, but also granted him a gift after his death.
Take away everything, and even change the posthumous title?"
Fang Jun's heart skipped a beat, and he felt something was wrong, and said in anger: "This Liu Xiangdao simply doesn't know what to say. He knew clearly that this move would stain Emperor Taizong's reputation, and even put His Majesty into a situation of 'disloyalty and unfilial piety', yet he still went his own way.
If you don't repent, you are really a stupid person!"
The Feng family has suffered a heavy blow this time and is no longer qualified to discuss marriage with Princess Jinyang. Does Princess Gaoyang think that she is causing trouble in Princess Jinyang's marriage?
No wonder Princess Changle came to visit so rarely. She must have told everything about what happened in Taiji Palace, and then expressed her suspicions about the impeachment of Feng Deyi... This Highness is crazy, how could he be thought of as coveting her family like that?
What about the sister-in-law who wants to occupy her forever?
How dare you come to complain!
Sure enough, Princess Gaoyang smiled half-smilingly and said softly: "How can Mr. Lang not recognize a good heart? Although Liu Xiangdao has damaged the reputation of Emperor Taizong and brought infamy to His Majesty, he is actually a good person to you, Mr. Lang.
I would rather offend His Majesty than fulfill your wishes, so you should praise others more."