Chapter 4092 Political Opinions
The second branch of the Boling Cui family started from Cui Zhongfang, the former Sui Dynasty Minister of Rites. Cui Zhongfang had two sons, the eldest son Cui Tao, who had Cui Dunli and Cui Yuqing, the second son Cui Ling, and the only son Cui Chengfu.
In the entire Bolingcui clan, the second family is considered a prominent family, and its weight is not small.
However, Cui Yuqing died violently in the Shenheyuan Manor in the south of Chang'an City, which shocked the entire Boling Cui family. The second family was even more angry and vaguely drew a clear line with the family. Cui Dunli did his own thing in the court and did not obey the family's orders at all...
This is something that the entire Bolingcui family cannot allow, and the pressure this puts on the second room can be imagined.
Faced with heavy pressure, Cui Tao did not choose to give in. Instead, Cui Chengfu was sent to Chang'an to secretly meet with Cui Dunli to confirm the cause of Cui Yuqing's death.
If it has nothing to do with the Shandong nobles, Cui Dunli will naturally be ordered to obey orders and not violate the arrangements of the Shandong nobles.
But if it is determined that Cui Yuqing's death was an internal act of the Shandong nobles, with the intention of using the "bitter flesh trick" to coerce the second wife of the Cui family in Boling, then we have to take a long-term approach...
……
Dark clouds gradually accumulated and the sky gradually darkened. Cui Dunli's straight but isolated figure walked out of the manor, feeling extremely depressed.
The concept of "family first" passed down from generation to generation in aristocratic families has indeed made the family stronger and stronger. With accumulated accumulation, it can capture more resources to support the children of the family. As soon as a child of an aristocratic family is born, he or she is destined to reach the pinnacle of life relying on the family's power and heritage.
Whether you work as an official or study behind closed doors, you can get resources that children from poor families cannot get in their lifetime.
However, behind all these seemingly blooming flowers and increasing advancement, there is actually the loss of family affection and the annihilation of humanity.
Everything is based on the word profit. For the sake of profit, we fight with outsiders and also fight with our own people.
When struggle is everywhere, how can we talk about brotherhood and blood ties? Father and son can turn against each other, brothers can turn against each other, husband and wife can become enemies...
This is true for a family, and it is true for a country.
Dynasties rise and fall, imperial powers change, and kingdoms and societies come and go. How can aristocratic families escape from their nests?
……
On the way back to Chang'an from Shenheyuan, Cui Dunli opened the car curtain and looked at the suddenly gloomy sky outside. He told the servant driving the car: "There is no need to go back to the city. Let's go to Lishan Fangjia Farm first."
"Here."
The coachman took the order and continued forward to cross the river from Fangjiawan Pier. After that, instead of going straight north to Chang'an, he turned eastward along the river bank and rushed to Lishan Mountain.
Cui Dunli was sitting in the car, looking at the busy transportation of goods along the river and the densely packed merchant ships parked on the river, and suddenly felt emotional.
Everyone knows that Fangjun has the Midas touch, especially the Fangjiawan Wharf, which has almost a monopoly on the import and export of goods in Guanzhong. It can be said that money is made every day. I don’t know how many people are jealous and wish they could just take it in and enjoy it. The source of wealth has also achieved the reputation of being the richest in the world.
But who has seen that it is this wharf that has caused the total amount of goods entering and leaving Guanzhong to increase more than ten times compared with the early years of Zhenguan?
The substantial increase in commodity trade not only brought abundant tax revenue to the court, but also created hundreds of thousands of jobs. The number of people affected by the floods in Guanzhong has reached hundreds of thousands. Their homes have been destroyed, their fields are barren, and they have no food and clothing. Even if the government provides relief, how can it be completely solved? In previous years, these people who lost their farmland and property would have either become refugees and begged in various counties in Guanzhong, which not only cost the court money and food relief, but also posed hidden dangers to public security; or they would have had to join the wealthy families as slaves and become humble for generations. The blood and sweat of their children and grandchildren were squeezed out, their bones were broken and their marrow was sucked out.
But now, it is the prosperous merchant trade that has attracted these disaster victims. Although the family still has no permanent property, they can earn money and food with both hands to support the whole family.
The policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business since ancient times is certainly correct.
Without farmers, there is instability. Farmers can produce more food to feed more people, making the country more prosperous. However, businessmen do not engage in production and go around to earn the price difference from farmers' output. It can be said that they absorb the blood and sweat of farmers, which is extremely bad. Moreover, businessmen value profits and have no regard for family and country, which is disgusted and feared by the rulers.
But the sword has two edges. If the country wants to be rich, it cannot do without business.
If merchants can be controlled from hoarding goods and speculating, so that they can not only contribute to the circulation of goods in various places, but also increase taxes and absorb refugees, how can the country not be rich and strong?
Of course, the sages of ancient and modern times may not have been unable to see such a way out, but no one has ever succeeded, which shows how difficult the operation is.
But no matter what, there is finally a ray of light to eliminate all the shortcomings of the government...
The carriage went around half of Chang'an City. When it crossed Ba Bridge, a drizzle began to fall from the sky. Along the official road, there were noisy carriages and horses and hurried pedestrians.
At the foot of Lishan Mountain, follow the cement-paved road straight up the mountain. On the slopes on both sides of the road, there are criss-crossing streets and canals. The leaves of crops stretch high and green in the drizzle. Countless tall water carts are framed on the hillside. Everywhere, river water from lower areas is continuously pumped to higher areas and poured into ponds for irrigation.
This once barren land in the mountains with wild trees and weeds had already become one of the few fertile farmlands in Guanzhong after it belonged to the Fang family.
Fang Jun is also outstanding in the way of agriculture...
When they arrived at the gate of Fangjiazhuangzi, a member of the Fangjia family came forward to inquire. When they learned that it was Cui Dunli who was visiting, he quickly ushered the carriage into the entrance hall and went inside to report.
Cui Dunli got out of the car and sat down, then followed the returning servants into the manor.
……
"It's a blessing for you, An. Some seafood has just been delivered from the East China Sea. I asked someone to deliver some to Princess Jinyang in the palace. There is still a lot left. Let's just have a few drinks."
Fang Jun, dressed in regular clothes and with a cheerful face, warmly entertained Cui Dunli.
Cui Dunli smiled and said: "The fresh goods from the East China Sea are sent to Chang'an all the way, and it costs a lot of money. But ordinary people can't afford it. The Duke of Yue should enjoy it behind closed doors, and the lower officials come uninvited. It costs you a lot of money to entertain them like this." Could it be that he has become a bad guest?”
Although he was Fang Jun's subordinate and their titles were very different, the two of them always got along casually.
Fang Jun laughed and invited Cui Dunli to sit down for tea, and then said meaningfully: "Nowadays, powerful people from Shandong and Jiangnan are entering the court, occupying many central government offices, and their power is overwhelming. They dominate the court. I don't know how many people are groveling to please me. How can I I got this opportunity to show my courtesy to An Shang, but I don’t know how many people dream of it.”
Cui Dunli seemed not to understand the meaning of these words. He took a sip of tea with a smile, then met Fang Jun's eyes, and then said slowly: "That will disappoint you, Mr. Yue Guo. The Shandong family is a Shandong family. Xiaguan is Xiaguan. Although the two are involved, they are not To be honest, before coming here, Xiaguan had just met with someone from the clan. The detailed discussion was unpleasant and they were annoyed with each other. It was almost like a breakup. If the Duke of Yue wanted to borrow money from the Shandong family. I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed if I show my kindness.”
Although his meeting with Cui Chengfu was secret, it was impossible to hide it from the eyes and ears of the "Hundred Cavalry Division". After all, as the actual controller of the Ministry of War, both His Majesty and all the forces in the DPRK and China must strictly monitor him.
If you can't hide it from "Baiqisi", you can't hide it from your majesty. You can't hide it from Dong Gong and Fang Jun. Others don't know that Li Junxian is closely involved with Dong Palace in private, but he, as Fang Jun's confidant, knows it very well...
Fang Jun laughed.
It is so easy and comfortable for smart people to work together, and they can understand each other's thoughts. As long as they are willing, they can eliminate all suspicions and misunderstandings in advance.
Obviously, when Cui Dunli met with his clan members today, the other party must have brought an order from the clan, and this order was reached after deliberation among all the Shandong aristocratic families, but Cui Dunli has already rejected it.
It is not difficult to guess that this order must be at the expense of Cui Dunli's interests, but to maximize the interests of the Boling Cui family and even the Shandong family...
But since he chose the East Palace route, Cui Dunli didn't want to cause any unnecessary misunderstandings, so he came to clarify today.
Even if the news of his meeting with the family spreads afterwards, Fang Jun and the people in the East Palace will not be suspicious.
The drizzle was gurgling outside the window, and seafood dishes were served on the table. The two sat opposite each other and opened a jar of rice wine to drink together...
Fang Jun picked up the wine glass and toasted Cui Dunli. Cui Dunli quickly put down his chopsticks, clinked the glass with both hands, and drank it all in one gulp. When he put down the wine glass and took a mouthful of stewed yellow croaker, he heard Fang Jun ask: "Now that the East Palace has declined, the issue of easy storage has long been irreversible... The good bird chooses a tree to live in, why is it so determined to install it?" On the side of the East Palace?”
In the officialdom, sometimes political ideas are very important. Once you serve as an official, you must leave some achievements engraved in the history books to live up to your life.
But sometimes it is not so important. After all, being an official is to gain power. If you lose power and have no power, what can you do?
Going with the flow is the norm, but going against the trend makes a difference.
Cui Dunli swallowed the fresh and smooth fish meat, held the pot to fill the wine glasses in front of the two of them, and said with a smile: "Rather than saying that Xianguan is standing on the side of the East Palace, it is better to say that I am standing on the side of Duke Yue... Xianguan does not dare to commit suicide. Compared with the sages of ancient times, he has always been in a noble mood and refused to follow the crowd. ”
After a pause, he continued: "If the King of Jin becomes the heir, it is conceivable that the old system of the Sui Dynasty will be restored. The government is controlled by the aristocratic family members. Orders come from the top, but they are not allowed to go to the countryside. This world is said to be the world of the Tang Dynasty. It is better to say that the world is dominated by aristocratic families. The foundation of aristocratic families lies in the interests of the family. It is the proper intention to harm the public and enrich one's private interests. Don't look at the current prosperity of the empire, but no matter what, How could such a powerful country withstand the endless excavations carried out day after day by powerful men and women from aristocratic families? Perhaps in fifty years, perhaps in a hundred years, the Tang Dynasty would be riddled with holes and collapse like previous dynasties? , falling into the mortar of the rise and fall of dynasties and the rise and fall of dynasties... Then what is the meaning of our efforts today for the prosperity of the empire?"
From ancient times to the present, China has always had talents with outstanding vision.
It's just that the existence of aristocratic families makes these people with outstanding vision willing to follow the trend, strengthen the small family and ignore everyone else.
When the aristocratic family collapsed and the clan declined, Confucianism once again occupied the court and controlled the way of speech.
Only respecting Confucianism and deposing hundreds of schools of thought has made Confucianism become a "family clan" in another sense. It only knows how to constantly exclude dissidents and seize power. Who cares about all living beings in China, and who cares about the rise and fall of empires? (End of chapter)