The south wind is fumigating, the sun is shining brightly, and the brine in the fields is sparkling. Due to the different salt content, it shows different colors in the sunlight. Looking from a high position, you can see that the fields are shining like gems.
Countless salt collectors and peasants work in the salt fields under the guidance of technicians. The rakes made of wooden boards collect the snow-white crystal salt grains in piles, making them neat, white and delicate.
The resumption of work at Yanchi is proceeding in an orderly and prosperous manner.
Thousands of troops were waiting and watching eagerly. The "Three Law Division" turned over the account books of the salt field and checked each item. The results were sealed in wooden boxes and handed over to Fang Jun for safekeeping. In addition, they made a private agreement with the Hedong family... With a three-pronged approach, the Hedong family issued strict orders to ensure that their disciples must cooperate closely with Fang Jun without any neglect.
The newly appointed "Hedong Salt Lake Salt Envoy" Wang Fukiao was satisfied with his wish. He consulted Fang Jun in advance on everything, and then implemented it meticulously. While quickly restoring the output of the salt pond, he also won himself a "loyalty". Dog" nickname.
Being conscientious and obedient to orders made the other children of aristocratic families hopeless for promotion, and they inevitably became jealous and spread rumors and slanders in private. However, Wang Fukiao ignored this and ignored it.
What happened to the "loyal dog"?
There are many people who want to be dogs in this world, but you can’t be one if you want to be one. If you don’t have outstanding business ability and excellent eyesight, you don’t want to be given to others for nothing...
Serving as the "Salt Envoy" and taking the power of the salt field in his hands is not only an opportunity for the Longmen Wang family to rise to a higher level, but also has an immeasurable and huge impact on the individual, accumulating more connections and political foundation for future progress.
Furthermore, Fang Jun represents the center, and it is natural for him to serve the center. How could he be reduced to the status of a "dog"?
It's just jealousy of people who do good things, so there is no need to pay attention to it.
……
In the official residence, Wang Fujiao reported all the current affairs of the salt farm to Fang Jun in detail, including the output per ten days, the number of salt workers, logistics procurement, salt storage... Every item was numerically accurate and meticulous, ignoring the man drinking tea beside him. The three big bosses Liu Xiangdao, Dai Zhou and Zhang Liang turned a blind eye to Zheng Xuanguo's disdainful gaze.
Fang Jun nodded and praised: "Brother Wang is indeed prudent and considerate. I am very relieved to hand over the salt farm to you."
Wang Fukiao smiled brightly: "The Duke of Yue is so complimentary. Compared with your ability to turn your hands into clouds and rain, I am still far behind in being a low-ranking official. I still need to follow you closely to learn more, and I can also do more for you." Serve the elderly.”
Fang Jun felt that he lacked the potential to become a "sycophant" and "powerful minister". It was difficult to remain calm when faced with such flattery. He suppressed the discomfort in his heart and said with a smile: "It doesn't have to be like this. You are the salt envoy appointed by the imperial court." ', I am serving the Empire and Your Majesty, you and I are the same. Manage the salt field well, and I will report your achievements to Your Majesty and the Central Committee."
Wang Fukiao nodded quickly: "Thank you so much, Duke Yue for your promotion."
What happened to flattery?
The Hedong family has always regarded itself as a famous family in the world, but since the Northern and Southern Dynasties, although its descendants have repeatedly served as officials, there are only a few of them. Especially since the Tang Dynasty, they have been suppressed by the Guanlong clan, and they have no ability to govern the country. There is no way to serve the country.
If there is no strong backer, how can one enter the center and be in power for a while?
Now that I have a huge backer like Fang Jun, I can get twice the result with half the effort. How can I hesitate and worry about gains and losses just because of a few ridicules?
At this time, some soldiers came in to report that a letter jointly signed by King Wei and Xu Jingzong had arrived. Fang Jun called the messenger in and asked about things in Luoyang. Then he took the letter, read it at a glance, and then turned around and handed it to Liu, Dai and Zhang.
……
Zhang Liang looked troubled, but he felt a little gloating in his heart: "The Luoyang family is so domineering, which makes the situation very tense. A slight mistake will lead to conflicts with disastrous consequences. But if we return to Luoyang together to review the officials of Henan Prefecture, will we really All of them are convicted? Even if they are convicted, they can be punished. After that, most of the officials will be suspended from their duties, and the entire Henan Prefecture will be in a state of no government, and the world will be in chaos. "
If there is no government or officials in a land, what kind of situation will that be?
There had never been such a place in the most chaotic times of the late Sui Dynasty. Once this situation occurred, it meant that the central government had completely lost control of the local area. Is it possible to fire hundreds of thousands of troops like Yanchi in Hedong and march into the entire military control of Henan?
No one can bear such consequences, not even His Majesty.
In fact, the situation in Luoyang has nothing to do with his interests, but as long as he sees Fang Jun and his team causing trouble, he is happy.
But I definitely don’t dare to show it on my face, I can only have fun secretly...
Fang Jun glanced at him and said disapprovingly: "Luoyang is the Luoyang of the Tang Dynasty, and the officials in Luoyang are also officials of the Tang Dynasty. Since the central government has formulated national policies, how can Luoyang be free from the territory of the Tang Dynasty? This time I still have to worry about it. The three of them set off for Luo Yang made a trip to carefully examine the entire Henan government, seek truth from facts, never give in, and do whatever is necessary. Even if he wiped out all the officials in the Henan government, he would not hesitate. The central authority cannot be provoked. "< br>
This is the biggest sin of the family members. They only care about the interests of the family and turn a deaf ear to central government orders. Once the situation changes, they each stick to their base areas to declare themselves kings, develop warlords, and then withhold taxes and separatist regimes. One side dreams of confronting the central government and achieving regional autonomy.
And when foreign countries invaded, these noble families were reluctant to spend all their wealth. In order to preserve their strength, they often surrendered without a fight, and even actively colluded with foreign invaders to invade China...
Without a strong center and constant display of toughness, these aristocratic families would have no limit.
Dai Zhou frowned and hesitated: "It's easy for us to go to Luoyang, but are we really going to arrest all the officials of Henan Prefecture?"
Fang Jun said: "You just go ahead and do it, I will bear the responsibility. Don't they want the stability of the government to intimidate the central government? Then first examine and investigate. If you don't believe that each of them has paid taxes and paid the corvee according to regulations over the years, As long as an amount is found to be in arrears or hidden, a fine of a hundred times will be imposed, which will definitely bankrupt them!”
If you want to show the central government's toughness, you must not retreat even half a step in Henan Mansion. Otherwise, if the enemy advances and we retreat, one will wax and wane, and it will be wishful thinking to control Henan Mansion.
Now that the leverage has been raised, let's continue the leverage to the end. If the officials of Henan Prefecture do not cooperate in measuring the acres, then they dare to lead the army one by one to collect the arrears or hidden taxes and corvees.
Dai Zhou, Liu Xiangdao, and Zhang Liang looked at each other, nodded and said, "Whatever you say will be whatever you say. We will follow your arrangements and set off back to Luoyang early tomorrow morning."
Liu Xiangdao smiled and said: "Since I became an official in the second year of Wude, I have been working hard to handle state affairs and have never stepped out of Guanzhong. But now I still borrow your light from Erlang to be able to walk around and have fun in an open and honest manner, and appreciate the great achievements of these years." The rapid changes in the Tang Dynasty are a beautiful thing.”
While talking and laughing, they eliminated the embarrassment of Fang Jun ordering them here and there. After all, he was the boss of the "Three Laws Division". It was really hard for Fang Jun to be transferred to Luoyang, then to the salt field, and then back to Luoyang. It’s a little embarrassing...
Dai Zhou also laughed: "And it's reimbursed with public funds. The food, drinks and entertainment are top-notch. I can do this kind of thing again."
Fang Jun said: "You two have the responsibility of supervision. If you know the law and break the law, how will the imperial officials in the court deal with it? I'm afraid that before you can return to Chang'an, your Majesty's imperial court will already be filled with impeachment memorials."
Talking and laughing, the atmosphere was relaxed, Fang Jun organized a banquet for several people, and invited Wang Fijiao and other saltworks officials to join them at the table for practice.
The saltworks officials all shuddered and declined, saying that they had official duties and did not dare to delay. They would rather give up the good opportunity to camp in front of the three big bosses than come.
Drinking at the same table with the big boss of Sanfasi is certainly a good opportunity to expand your network, but if you are so drunk that you stumble and talk incoherently and lose all your manners, it will be more than worth the gain...
Naturally, Liu, Dai and Zhang also knew that Fang Jun had held a banquet with officials all day after arriving at the salt field. At this moment, when they saw that the salt field officials were avoiding Fang Jun's banquet, they were all afraid of it. Laughing loudly.
When the wine was full, I heard that a messenger came from Chang'an to deliver the central edict. I quickly stopped the banquet, washed briefly and received the messenger...
"Taking fuel from the bottom of the cauldron, Your Majesty is so courageous!"
After reading the edict, Dai Zhou stroked his beard and said with emotion.
The system of "penalty and atonement" has been around since ancient times. To put it bluntly, it means "paying money to atone for one's sins." Of course, not all crimes can be "atonement through penalty and atonement," and not everyone is qualified for "atonement through penalty and atonement." Another interpretation of "doctor" is one of the privileges of the scholar class.
Now that he has been deposed by an imperial edict, it is conceivable that this move will inevitably cause unprecedented shocks in the Tang Dynasty. If he does not have the courage to create the world, how can he dare to tell the world?
Li Chengqian's impression has always been that he was "too humble but not courageous". He was timid in his actions, decisive and hesitant. He was criticized for being far inferior to Emperor Taizong, and even inferior to King Wei and King Jin.
It is really surprising that such an edict is issued to the world.
It must be that someone in the court persisted in admonishing Li Chengqian either because he couldn't shirk it or because he was following the trend, so he issued the edict abolishing "penalty and redemption"...
But in any case, for the three bosses of the "Three Laws Division", they can naturally see the positive significance and the determination to innovate.
Fang Jun rubbed his hands and his eyes lit up with excitement: "The salt farm is on the right track. In two days, we can sell salt to Guanzhong, Longyou and other places. I have no use here anymore, so I just happen to accompany the three of them." Heading to Luoyang. Hehe, I want to see what the officials of Henan Prefecture are like this time. If they continue to be arrogant and domineering, I will respect them as heroes!"
With such an edict abolishing "penalty and redemption", the officials of Henan Prefecture could only bow their heads and admit defeat, otherwise they would absolutely not be able to bear the consequences.
Such a God-given opportunity should come at the right time to smoothly promote and implement the national policy of measuring land acres throughout Henan Prefecture, and at the same time, it can also knock the rip-offs of those aristocratic families...*****