Aristocratic families are the cancer of the country. The meaning of their existence is to attach themselves to the body of the country and suck flesh and blood to strengthen themselves. Family interests are above all else. For this reason, they rarely have the concept of "feelings for family and country" in their minds.
But just like the saying "a sword has two edges", the existence of aristocratic families also has many positive meanings.
For example, in the great crises when the political power was ups and downs again and again, and the people were in dire straits, it was the interests-first nature of the aristocratic families that prevented them from falling into turmoil, thus well preserving the inheritance of Chinese culture and preventing it from disappearing with the ups and downs of the political power.
Annihilation.
Another example is the long-standing inheritance of aristocratic families and the monopoly on education, which allows the children of aristocratic families to study and inherit the family, and acquire a level of knowledge that is far above the average, becoming the backbone of China's rapid governance after the end of the troubled times.
Things in the world are often like this. They are never right or wrong, black or white. In addition to negative factors, there will also be positive effects.
Therefore, the country is wary of the destructive power of aristocratic families, but it only "suppresses" rather than "cuts off". It does not stop eating because of choking, nor does it end once and for all.
Pei Xizai stood respectfully in front of Fang Jun and said solemnly: "The reason why I am standing here today is that I am here on behalf of the Pei family in Hedong. Otherwise, what qualifications would I have to talk to you about this?"
The Hedong Pei family may not be the largest family in the world, but when it comes to "unity", they have never been inferior to others. The branches of other families are named "fang", but only the Hedong Pei family is called "juan". The difference is,
It's obvious.
Fang Jun pondered for a moment, nodded and said, "I already know this matter. I will report it to Your Majesty later. I will inform Pei Zuocheng when there is a conclusion."
Pei Xizai said: "In this case, I will trouble the Duke of Yue. You are busy with official duties and I dare not disturb you. I will leave for now."
After saying this, he bowed, saluted, and left.
Fang Jun was sitting in the official room drinking tea. He did not feel too happy because the "Hedong Alliance" was broken up and the salt pond ownership was settled. On the contrary, it was because the Hedong Pei family was so quick and resolute in finding another, more important, alliance.
He is worried about the path suitable for the survival of aristocratic families.
Is this the background of aristocratic families?
When the economic lifeline of the family was cut off and the glory of the past was lost, there was no hysteria or entanglement. Instead, he was keenly aware of how the family should choose to advance or retreat and how to find another way in the changing tide of the times.
These clans have been able to pass on for a long time in the era of ups and downs of political power and the overthrow of China, and they indeed possess incredible wisdom.
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The reason why the Hedong Salt Pond can nurture the "Land of Three Rivers" and Guanzhong at the same time and create the foundation of Chinese civilization lies in its excellent geographical advantages. Not only can it go south from the Yellow River to Luoyang and control Henan, but it can also go west from the Yellow River to Guanzhong.
Messages flow between the two places very quickly.
Zheng Xuanguo left the salt pond and headed west, crossing the Yellow River at the Pujin Ferry Floating Bridge next to the Guanque Tower, then went south along the river to the Wei River, then westward along the Wei River, crossed the Wei River at the Xianyang Bridge near Jingyang, and arrived in Chang'an.
The boat and horses traveled quickly without stopping. In just two days, they entered Chang'an and headed straight to the Zheng family's residence in Chang'an...
The news of the forced takeover of Yanchi in Hedong reached Chang'an even earlier. The capital was shaken, political debate boiled over, and a huge wave of waves arose in both the government and the public.
Zheng Rentai received several visiting in-laws and old friends at his home. Without exception, all the visitors accused the Zheng family of Xingyang of "eating in and out" and "begging for glory behind their friends". They followed Fang Jun's orders and killed all their allies in Hedong, which was "a family feud."
"Shame" and should be despised by the world.
Zheng Rentai was extremely depressed because although Zheng Xuanguo followed Fang Jun, he stood by and did nothing when Fang Jun put pressure on the Hedong clan and sent troops to take over the Yanchi. How could he kill the Zheng family in Xingyang?
As a traitor in a wealthy family?
If Your Majesty issues a decree and orders you to follow Fang Jun, do you still dare to refuse?
It's just that he was wrong in the end, and when faced with the challenge, he tried to explain himself in every possible way, but he just turned his back on himself.
"Master, Dalang is back..."
Zheng Rentai, who had just sent away a wave of visitors, was sitting in the hall drinking tea, waiting for the next wave of visitors, when he saw the steward hurrying in to report.
Zheng Rentai was shocked. Shouldn't his son still be with Fang Jun at this time to help him stabilize the situation in the Hedong Salt Pond?
Why did he suddenly leave Yanchi and return to Chang'an?
"Call him in quickly!"
"Here!"
The steward went out, and not long after, Zheng Xuanguo, who was dusty and haggard, strode into the hall. After seeing the ceremony, he couldn't help but excitedly said: "Father, what a great opportunity given by God!"
Without waiting for Zheng Rentai to ask, Zheng Xuanguo recounted the current situation in Yanchi in Hedong and what Fang Jun said.
At the end, his eyes were bright: "Right now, the Yanchi in Hedong is in chaos. Officials at all levels have been arrested and interrogated. The saltmen and civilians have either fled or been imprisoned. They have come to a complete standstill. The resumption of work and production is far away. Duke Yue
The pressure we are facing is extremely huge. If our family can give us full support at this time, we will definitely be able to win the position of 'Salt Envoy'. From now on, I, the Zheng Family of Xingyang, will be in charge of the Hedong Salt Pond, and I will be able to make further progress!"
Why do aristocratic families have a long-lasting heritage and why do they stand out?
The key lies in the amount of resources they control. The Hedong family has been transcendent for more than a hundred years with the Hedong salt pond. Why not imitate the Zheng family in Xingyang?
Zheng Rentai waved his hand for him to sit down and asked with concern: "You are on your way in such a hurry, have you ever eaten?"
Only then did Zheng Xuanguo feel hungry and his mouth was dry. He drank a bowl of tea in one breath, shook his head and said, "I was in such a hurry that I even forgot to prepare dry food."
Zheng Rentai sent people down to prepare meals, and then said warmly: "You can see such an opportunity, and I am very happy as a father. But you are young after all, and it is inevitable that you are not thoughtful about things. You did not think that if my family supported Fang Jun, other aristocratic families would
What a reaction it would be.”
"How can they react?"
Zheng Xuanguo was puzzled: "The Hedong families seemed to have formed an alliance, but that was only when the Hedong Salt Lake was under control. Once the Hedong Salt Lake was completely nationalized, the ties between the Hedong families would be gone and they would fall apart.
It is inevitable. Our Xingyang Zheng family has interests involved with the Shandong family. As long as we obtain the position of 'Salt Envoy' and control the salt pond, the other Shandong families will definitely respond and support us. What should the Hedong family be afraid of?"
The position of the Zheng family in Xingyang among the aristocratic families is somewhat subtle. In terms of distance, they are closer to the Hedong aristocratic family, but geographically they belong to the Shandong aristocratic family. They have close contacts with Cui, Lu and other surnames, and their interests are entangled.
Now the entire Shandong family has suffered heavy losses due to supporting the King of Jin in raising troops, and is dormant and licking its wounds. If there is an opportunity to steal control of the Hedong Salt Pond, how can they let it pass?
As long as they build momentum and spare no effort to support the Zheng family in Xingyang, their strength will naturally be far better than that of the Hedong family.
Zheng Rentai sighed and said: "You only saw that Fang Jun took the initiative to nationalize the ownership of the Hedong Salt Pond, but you forgot that the current national policy towards the clan is to 'suppress' rather than 'cut off'. What is 'suppression'? Of course it is.
Suppressing the power of the family members, limiting the influence of the family members to one place, no longer threatening the imperial power at all times like in the past... Fang Jun took over the Hedong Yanchi. In a sense, he has attracted the attention of all the families in the world, and they are all waiting for the end.
The ending."
Every family in the world basically has its own cornerstone of interests, and the imperial court's attitude towards Yanchi in Hedong can also be extended to the foundation of other families.
Nowadays, it is of great importance whether the Hedong family is the chicken that "kills the chicken to scare the monkeys" or the mountain that "knocks the mountain to scare the tiger".
Everyone can tolerate being knocked and frightening others.
But if it is to be slaughtered to scare monkeys, who can bear it? If the world's powerful people are dying and their teeth are cold, it may cause a huge turmoil that will affect the whole world.
Zheng Xuanguo thought thoughtfully: "What does father mean... Will the Hedong Salt Pond eventually fall into the hands of the Hedong family?"
Zheng Rentai nodded: "It must be so."
The national policy of "suppressing the clan" is to use a series of mild means to quietly and quietly weaken the foundation and influence of the clan, rather than completely cutting off the foundation and inheritance of the clan and forcing the clan to confront the central government.
Therefore, when Fang Jun took the initiative to nationalize the ownership of the Hedong Salt Pond, he was bound to give the Hedong family some comfort, and there was no one more appropriate than the so-called "Salt Dealer".
Zheng Xuanguo was quite disappointed. He clicked his tongue, shook his head and sighed: "What a great opportunity, what a pity."
Zheng Rentai took a sip of tea and felt very heavy.
What he did not say was that if the Hedong family was willing to honestly give up the ownership rights of the Hedong Salt Pond and become a testing ground for the imperial court's "suppression of powerful families" policy, and thereby serve as a "role model" for central governance of the local area, then it is very likely that it would
Received preferential treatment.
Zheng Rentai can't think of what kind of "preferential treatment" it will be, but it will undoubtedly enhance the competitiveness of the Hedong Family and make it possible for them to become the top family in the world.
As one goes and the other goes, the Shandong family will face the suppression of the Hedong family and fall into a huge crisis.
The Shandong Aristocratic Family must not sit still and wait for death. Otherwise, when the Hedong Aristocratic Family becomes established, it will be difficult to surpass them.
However, everyone is competing with each other to "loyalty" to the central government, and they all want to receive preferential treatment while complying with the central government's policy of "suppressing the powerful". The final result may only be that everyone loses.
The "preferential treatment" that everyone has is naturally not "preferential treatment".
When everyone returns to the same starting line, the basic interests that are relied on to maintain inheritance are deprived by the central government, and without more significant advantages, they will eventually become puppets manipulated by the central government at will. The power and the method of "deposing the emperor" completely disappeared, and how much glory and brilliance cannot be copied.
The aristocratic families will gradually lose themselves in the prosperity of the empire.
Who would have thought that Fang Jun's seemingly violent takeover of Hedong Yanchi could completely break the offensive and defensive alliances of the world's elites, and even cut off the foundation of the family's inheritance?
After all, times have changed.
It is no longer possible for aristocratic families to rely on the practices passed down by their ancestors for hundreds of years. In the new era, if they want to keep up with the pace of progress, they must change their ways and keep pace with the times.