Chapter 2657: Entrusted with a Heavy Task
The pavilion is not big, but it is very delicate. It has red pillars and white stone railings. The eaves are flying like a bird spreading its wings. Sitting in the hall, you can face the vast Kunming Pool. The forest is full of tranquility and comfort, the blue waves are rippling in front of you, the sky is high and the clouds are pale, the Chang'an city wall rises and falls in the distance, and the barriers in your chest disappear in an instant.
The floor of the pavilion is covered with wooden boards and has a small stone table. Several people are sitting on the ground. There are already diligent scribes running around to get tea and cakes, pouring tea and water, and waiting on the side.
King Li Tai of Wei drank a cup of tea, put a piece of pastry into his mouth and chewed it. He leaned back on the railing and looked at the beautiful scenery and beautiful rivers in the distance. After he swallowed the pastry in his mouth, he said: "When the time comes, Come back from Jiangnan and prepare a room for me in this academy. Son, I will definitely come here to stay for a while in my spare time. Such beautiful scenery and leisurely reading are really a blessing in life. If it snows in the winter and the sky and the earth are covered with snow, I will definitely see it from the railing here. It’s another fun to cleanse the soul.”
Fang Jun said with a smile: "You are the prince, and the entire empire belongs to your family. How dare I disobey my orders? But now that the academy is newly established, all the conditions have not caught up for a while, and the accommodation conditions are a bit worse. I'm afraid it will be temporarily suspended." Your Highness has grieved, but it will not be until next spring that more buildings will be built in the academy to accommodate students and teaching doctors. ”
"It's no problem. I came to this academy just to experience the pure academic style. If I am greedy for enjoyment, how can I compare with the fine clothes and fine food in the Furong Garden?"
Li Tai didn't care.
Fang Jun nodded in agreement, turned to Xu Jingzong and said: "Leave this matter to Master Xu, your Highness, don't worry."
Xu Jingzong said hurriedly: "Your Highness, don't worry, I will do my best to make arrangements for you."
Li Tai hummed, then drank tea and ate cakes, admiring the beautiful scenery around him, and said nothing.
Fang Jun drank a cup of tea and said to Xu Jingzong: "I will accompany His Highness to the south of the Yangtze River. It will probably take some time, as fast as two months, or as slow as around the Chinese New Year before I can return to Beijing. During this period of time, Inside, everything in the academy needs to be freed from the control of Master Xu.”
Xu Jingzong's eyes suddenly shone. He was greedy for money first and second for power. How could he not be overjoyed to have the opportunity to take over the power of the academy?
But immediately he wondered: "Even if you are not here, isn't there still Chu Suiliang? That guy is a college secretary like you, and his official position is above mine, how can I command him?"
Fang Jun glanced at him and said calmly: "Then why do you think I entrust the academy to you so solemnly?"
Xu Jingzong looked embarrassed: "Of course I know what you mean, Duke Yue... But after all, he is a senior official, so I am also very embarrassed."
Of course he understood what Fang Jun meant, which was to restrict Chu Suiliang from misbehaving, taking advantage of Fang Jun's absence to break the academy's rules and benefit the Guanlong nobles behind him.
But the problem is that although Chu Suiliang is not difficult to deal with, whether it is the emperor or the Guanlong nobles behind him, they are all top-notch opponents. When the time comes, Chu Suiliang will move out the backers behind him to suppress him. What can people do on their own?
He was indeed in a dilemma, but Fang Jun didn't consider these things at all, let alone understand him. He just said: "That is your own problem. You only need to tell me whether you can complete my explanation. If you can, If necessary, you can go to see the prince and ask for his help. If you can't, I will naturally not embarrass you. After returning from Jiangnan, I will ask your majesty to change the chief register. "
"..."
Xu Jingzong was so angry that he almost jumped up. This was just a rogue act!
But if you think about it carefully, although there is the risk of offending the emperor and the Guanlong nobles, you can still have the opportunity to get close to the prince and become the prince's team. This can be regarded as Fang Jun's alternative way of introduction, right?
Obviously he wants his own certificate of nomination...
Thinking of this, there is no need to weigh too much. Xu Jingzong gritted his teeth and said: "Don't worry, Lord Yue, as long as the lower official survives, the rules of this academy must not be broken!"
He is greedy for money and power, so he is not afraid of offending others, but is afraid of offending others but not getting enough benefits.
He has his own judgment on the ownership of the reserve, and is obviously more optimistic about the prince. The academy is under Fang Jun's control, so the entire academy is the cradle for the prince to cultivate his followers. As long as he can show his ability and value in the academy , will inevitably be trusted by the prince.
As long as the prince can successfully ascend the throne in the future, no matter how many sacrifices he makes now, he will receive unparalleled rewards...
Fang Jun pointed out: "Chu Suiliang is quite talented, but not very smart. Especially because he has a fierce personality and a soft heart. He only knows how to deal with things tactfully and does not have the courage to break the boat. He is still easy to deal with. As long as Master Xu can you Stay tough and don't back down no matter what, he won't be able to do anything to you. As for if he moves out the old guys from the Guanlong nobles, you can blame it all on me. I don't believe they dare to ignore me. Face! ”
Instead of telling Cui Dunli to compromise and avoid the enemy for the time being, he warned Xu Jingzong to confront him head-on. After all, even though the King of Jin and Chu Suiliang had His Majesty Li Er and the Guanlong nobles standing behind them, for this The level of support between the two is completely different.
What is particularly important is that compared to Cui Dunli's loyalty and uprightness, it is obvious that the cunning Xu Jingzong has a greater advantage over Chu Suiliang.
If you can't deal with even Chu Suiliang, how can you win the trust of Gao Zhi and Wu Zetian and become the chief minister?
Not everyone can be a traitor!
Xu Jingzong hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Lord Yue, I will definitely fulfill my mission and guard the academy. No one can put their hands in it!"
He knew that although the current task was difficult and difficult, it was the most direct opportunity for him to gain Fang Jun's trust and even enter the prince's circle. If he missed this time, he would probably be excluded from the prince's party forever.
After all, Fang Jun has always been biased against him and doesn't trust him enough.
Although he never understood where this prejudice came from...
He picked up the teapot and poured tea for Li Tai and Fang Jun respectively. Fang Jun thanked him softly, and then said seriously: "Although Mr. Xu is of high seniority, so I have to call him uncle, he is not very old. There is still a long time to come, so there is no need to rush in. Just stay in this academy. Calm down your heart, dedicate yourself to the king's duties, and do your best. Not only will His Majesty remember your merits, but also countless students in this academy will be grateful for your kindness. They will definitely call you "teacher" when they meet in the future. By then, we will be full of students. In the world, why worry about not being able to stretch your ambitions? ”
For superiors, the character of their subordinates is actually the last thing they need to consider. Everyone's concept of good and evil is different, but not every evil person is born full of evil. It will be uncomfortable if you don't do some bad things that harm the world.
Xu Jingzong is a well-known traitor in history, but his misdeeds are not unbearable. There are not many evil deeds that are truly outraged by humans and gods, and resented by heaven and earth. It is more due to the various misdeeds caused by his poor character. If this kind of person is not Given greater power, the harm is really limited.
And a treacherous and cunning person like Xu Jingzong is naturally a powerful weapon against the Guanlong nobles.
At least when facing Chu Suiliang, he was completely crushed...
Xu Jingzong naturally understood the meaning of Fang Jun's words and told him not to be impatient and to just keep his mind down and run the academy well. In the future, neither His Majesty nor the Crown Prince would forget his merits. Naturally, it is a matter of course.
Although it was a little slow, at least he could see hope, and Xu Jingzong could only be honest.
"This academy was also built brick by brick in Xiaguan. Every subsequent building and brick was put in place by Xiaguan's hands one by one. Every copper coin spent contains Xiaguan's With hard work, I can do it in my lifetime. Your Majesty and the Duke of Yue can rest assured that you are able to participate in such a cause that is destined to be famous for generations and go down in history.
Seeing Xu Jingzong's solemn expression but mentioning money in his mouth, Fang Jun remembered that he still seemed to owe this man a hundred dollars...
As expected, before he could speak, he heard Xu Jingzong continue: "...It's just that the rules of this academy were all created by you, Duke Yue. You should be the one who should unite knowledge and action. Academy Things are complicated, and we often need to go out to buy things. Sometimes the clerks and officials have to pay in advance for urgent matters. It is inevitable that the settlement of accounts cannot be kept up. This is common sense, but the accounts should be settled in time afterwards..." (End of Chapter)