Chapter 2317: Mindful of the world
Throughout the ages, in any feudal dynasty, the royal family has been a very subtle existence.
Conquests in the south and north, and determination of the country require the clan to work together and face the crisis together. In the most critical time, only the clan is the most trustworthy. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the clan was the core of stabilizing the world and supporting the political power. Anyone would seek to usurp the throne, but the clan would not. One person would ascend to heaven after attaining enlightenment. This world belonged not only to the emperor, but also to the clan.
But because of this, the clan is the emperor's biggest threat.
It is very difficult to overthrow a dynasty. Even if the time, place and people are right, you still have to go through countless bloody battles to turn the whole world upside down. Success or failure still depends on the will of God. , like Xiang Yu, destroyed the Qin Dynasty but finally handed over the country to Liu Bang, which is simply the greatest tragedy...
But if the clan usurped the throne and overthrew the emperor, it couldn't be easier.
Therefore, any emperor is very concerned about the attitude of the clan. He must not only win over them and make them more important, but also be vigilant at all times.
Loyalty to the emperor and patriotism are the main themes promoted by all dynasties. The people are very disgusted if they want to overthrow one dynasty and establish another dynasty, because this means that there will be a chaos and the people will live in disgrace. However, if there is a coup within the royal family, A certain prince usurps and seizes power and ascends to the throne, but the people don't care.
It's all your family's business. As long as you don't cause trouble to the world, just do it on your own...
Therefore, it is the lowest cost and the highest success rate for the princes of the clan to seek to usurp the throne.
No emperor would condone the unlimited expansion of the power of the clan. His Majesty Li Er wanted to release Li Xiaogong, the "first general of the clan", and appointed him as the Great Protector of Anxi. He would take over the military and political power and station troops and horses. Hanging in the Western Region, this is really surprising.
The hidden dangers are too great...
Li Ji pondered for a moment and then tactfully warned: "Your Majesty, think twice. Although the Hejian County King has great military exploits and is an expert in using troops, he has not led an army for more than ten years, and his physical condition is getting worse. Moreover, the army is now equipped with more firearms and tactics." It has already been replaced by a new generation. It may be inappropriate to rashly order the prince of Hejian County to guard the Western Region and take over the post of Protector of Anxi. "
At this time, being a minister is the most difficult.
Li Xiaogong is the king of the clan and the cousin of His Majesty Li Er. They are closely related by blood and have a deep brotherhood. If the advice is too obvious, it will inevitably be suspected of sowing discord. After all, Li Ji is just an outsider; but as a minister, he Zuo Pushe was originally His Majesty Li Er's assistant officer. He would be derelict in his duty if he ignored such a hidden danger without warning.
Naturally, His Majesty Li Er would not be tempted to "provoke" because of Li Ji's admonition. In fact, he himself was not completely relieved about this matter.
Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, he sighed and said: "Since the establishment of the Shipping Department in Huating Town, Jiangnan's maritime trade has mushroomed like bamboo shoots after a rain. It has grown day by day and is out of control. With this, the wealth of Jiangnan has risen, and it has already begun to catch up. If the Western Region falls into the hands of the Arabs, the Silk Road will be blocked and the wealth of Guanzhong will be restricted. In the hands of outsiders, our core position in the empire is challenged. If one day we are surpassed by Jiangnan, it will inevitably lead to a situation of weak branches and strong branches. If the balance is lost, the government will be unstable and the world will be uneasy. Is it possible that I can still move the capital to Jiangnan. ? Therefore, the stability of the Western Region is as important as the Eastern Expedition and must not be underestimated. ”
Moving the capital is definitely not possible. The Li and Tang royal families started in Guanzhong and are all based here. If they move their capital to Jiangnan, is it possible that they still have to look up to the gentry in Jiangnan?
Moreover, the Guanlong nobles would not agree.
People worked hard for the Tang Dynasty, spent money and people, and now in the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty, when they were enjoying the huge profits brought by venture capital, the capital was suddenly moved, causing the status of Guanzhong to plummet, and it was difficult for the Guanlong nobles to dominate the court. How can you be content with your status?
If His Majesty Li Er insists on moving the capital now, there is no way that the Guanlong nobles will rebel collectively tomorrow and simply unite to form a small kingdom. This is something that the Guanlong nobles have done a lot in the past. This is how the Northern Zhou Dynasty came about...
Li Ji clicked his tongue and said nothing.
In the past, the Western Regions were not actually that important to the Central Plains dynasty. They were more of an icing on the cake, highlighting the glory of the dynasty in its heyday. Of course, the Silk Road was the most important source of commercial tax in the Guanzhong region, which directly nourished the development of the Guanzhong region. the finances of every dynasty.
But it has never had the supreme strategic position it currently has.
In any previous dynasty, the Western Regions could be occupied if they could. If they really couldn't, that didn't matter.
But now that the Western Region has been connected with Guanzhong, it is even related to the stability of the empire, and there is absolutely no room for loss.
The Western Region was lost, the Silk Road was cut off, the Guanzhong was unstable, the world was unstable, and the imperial power was not solid... and all of this originated from the rise of wealth in Jiangnan.
The rise of wealth in Jiangnan was caused by the establishment of the Shipping Department of Huating Town.
The establishment of the Huating Town Shipping Department was conceived and implemented by Fang Jun...
Did Fang Jun accidentally shoot himself in the foot, or was it intentional? When the Shibo Division was established, Fang Jun had already seen the current situation?
Li Ji couldn't guess correctly.
But he knew that among Fang Jun's ambitions, his obsession with land was very strong, and could even be said to be coercive. Just look at the islands he visited, no matter how big or small, when he ordered naval ships to go to sea. It is just a rock that protrudes from the sea. A stone tablet must be erected to indicate its ownership, and a sea map will be drawn. After returning, it will be reported to the chief map officer of the Ministry of War immediately, and it will be entered into the map of the Tang Dynasty for permanent production.
Thinking about it this way, Fang Jun would definitely have the intention to permanently incorporate the Western Region into the territory of the Tang Dynasty.
It’s just that the Western Region is barren. Except for the Silk Road, the land has no output and the rivers have nothing to gain. All dynasties have occupied it if they can, and abandoned it if they can’t. No Central Plains dynasty has ever regarded it as a land, and the land is inhabited by people and barbarians. , there were only a few Han merchants, and even if they were occupied, it would be difficult to integrate with the Tang Dynasty.
It was okay when the country was strong, but due to military power, the Western Regions had to stay contented and surrender to the Tang Dynasty. However, if the country's power weakened one day, these places would immediately rebel and split away.
What is the use of such a place?
If the current situation is indeed what Fang Jun has planned for a long time, Li Ji feels that it may be a bit rash.
For the sake of a barbarian land, we had to use heavy troops to maintain our rule, which cost the empire money. This is not a good deal no matter how you calculate it, right?
His Majesty Li Er sighed with a look on his face and said slowly: "From the time when the Municipal Shipping Department was established and the first batch of commercial taxes were paid to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, I saw the pressure and threats that the rise of Jiangnan would bring to Guanzhong in the future. I want to issue an edict to abolish the shipping department and eventually the sea trade, so that the Jiangnan region will not have this opportunity to rise."
Li Ji was silent and looked at His Majesty Li Er. He was very curious. Since he had seen the crisis, why didn't he stop it in time and turn it into the current situation that could not be lost?
His Majesty Li Er expressed his thoughts: "But the wealth arriving from the south of the Yangtze River makes me want to stop... Ship after ship of copper coins are like nutrients that promote the prosperity of the empire. With this money, more buildings can be built." More cities will prevent refugees from becoming homeless Return, more schools can be set up, so that more children have the opportunity to read and read, more ordnance can be produced, the strength of the Tigers of the Tang Dynasty will skyrocket, more roads can be laid, and transportation between prefectures and counties in the world will be convenient and efficient. If the thoroughfare..."
"I am the emperor, and I have to shoulder the responsibility of stabilizing the empire and the stability of the country. But at the same time, I also have to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that the people who follow me have enough food and clothing. Is the whole world not the land of the king, and the shore of the land is not the king. Sir, since I am the emperor of the empire, when there is such a thing in front of me that can fill the national treasury, all the How can I give up the opportunity for a better life for all the people of the empire because I am short-sighted and careless about progress? I am destined to be rich in the world, so I should forge ahead and strive for the well-being of the people in the world, instead of being complacent in the face of difficulties and living in vain. Give up such an opportunity to create an unprecedented prosperous era! ”
When His Majesty Li Er said these words, his handsome square face was full of uprightness, and his already somewhat saggy skin was glowing with a divine luster.
Li Ji left the table and knelt down, shouting loudly: "Your majesty is a sage, caring about the country and benefiting the people, and his merits are as good as those of the ancient sages, even the emperors of Qin and Han Dynasty are not as good as him!"
From ancient times to the present, all emperors have tried their best to maintain their rule, even if they regard all people as rotten dogs, they are not willing to take any risks.
Has there ever been such an ambitious and grand plan as His Majesty Li Er?
Even though he knew that the rise of Jiangnan would bring unparalleled hidden dangers to the empire's rule, he was willing to bear all the hidden dangers in order to have more wealth to invest in the construction of the empire and bring a happier life to the people of the world.
Although there are thousands of people, I will go. (End of chapter)