Chapter 4719 Times have changed
Fang Xuanling instantly understood the whole story.
The reason why Xiao Yu tested himself today was obviously because the family members could no longer sit still in the face of the huge overseas interests. They may not have disobedient intentions and may be bent on profit, but this caused the empire to fall into hidden dangers, but it was definitely not Good thing.
The suppression faced in the country was too severe, and the family members could hardly breathe. They had enjoyed a luxurious life that they could ask for for hundreds of years. Now they were suddenly restrained. This was not possible and that was not allowed, so they began to completely set their sights overseas. But this It is not that they hoped to make a lot of profits through sea trade before, but to directly extend their power and completely escape the control of the empire.
Shen Sheng died inside... Chong'er was born outside?
How is that possible!
Xiao Yu nodded: "Of course I know this, so what does Xuan Ling mean?"
Fang Xuanling looked at Xiao Yu with a serious face, and said in a sincere tone: "Now that Zhenguan Academy has been rebuilt, the number of students has increased by more than 30% compared to before. They are all highly qualified and intelligent people. Unfortunately, the teaching staff is lacking and the teaching team is unsustainable. .Brother Shi Wen’s literary style He is a leader in the Jiangnan literary world. Since he has nothing to do after becoming an official, why not move his family north to the academy to serve as an edict, teach and educate people, and serve the country well? ”
There was no politeness or tact, and Xiao Yu's mind was completely blocked with just one mouthful.
Xiao Yu did not expect that Fang Xuanling not only refused outright, but also cut off all possibilities. It seemed like a joke and suggested that he return to Beijing to teach, but in fact it was an ultimatum. If he refused to leave Jiangnan and return to Chang'an, Fang Xuanling would probably write to His Majesty. The Lanling Xiao family imposed even more severe suppression.
Once that happens, the Lanling Xiao family's transcendent status will be challenged. There are too many aristocratic families in Jiangnan who want to replace it...
He couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "Why is this so?"
Fang Xuanling had a serious face and solemn tone: "Brother Shi Wen, do you blame me for being too harsh and unreasonable? To be honest, I am not only upholding the court's laws and eliminating hidden dangers, but also thinking about the Xiao family."
Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows: "I would like to hear the details."
While suppressing my Xiao family, you have no regard for our normal friendship, and at the same time you are pretending to be "for my own good". They say that you, Fang Xuanling, are an upright gentleman, but you turn out to be so shameless.
Fang Xuanling poured tea for Xiao Yu with her own hands and asked warmly: "The Xiao family originated from Marquis Fou and the former general. It has been passed down for nearly a thousand years. During this period, there have been continuous inheritance and incense. I don't know how to continue?"
The "Houhou" is Xiao He, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, and the "former general" is Xiao Wangzhi, the sixth grandson of Xiao He and a great scholar of the Han Dynasty. These two people have always been regarded as the ancestors of the Lanling Xiao family.
Xiao Yu was a little embarrassed.
It’s not because Fang Xuanling asked him how the Lanling Xiao family’s inheritance lasted for thousands of years, but because of the phrase “continuous inheritance and endless incense”...
Compared with the "Cui family", "Wang family", "Zhu family" and other cultural noble families with long histories and traditions, the Lanling Xiao family really rose to prominence in the middle and late Southern Dynasties. They were typical "late comers" and "late bloomers". At that time, they valued Due to the social atmosphere of her family, the Lanling Xiao family felt ashamed.
Ever since, after successively gaining dominance in Nan Qi and Nan Liang, and truly becoming a top-notch family, he continued to revise and improve his family's genealogy and lineage. Both "Book of Nan Qi" and "Book of Liang" directly trace the genealogy of the Xiao family in Lanling before the southern crossing to Xiao He and Xiao Wangzhi in the Han Dynasty, and they extend from generation to generation without any gaps. The most suspicious thing is that this is obviously Fabricated by Xiao Zixian, the author of "Book of Southern Qi" and his contemporaries. During the Six Dynasties period, all aristocratic families revised their genealogies, which was a common social custom at that time. During the Southern Dynasties, as the social status of the Xiao family in Lanling continued to improve, they naturally traced their family origins and clung to famous families in history. Xiao He and Xiao Wangzhi in the Western Han Dynasty were recognized as famous officials in the world, so the Xiao family It is natural to pursue ancestors
The world-famous Confucian scholar Yan Shigu once verified this and said that Xiao He and Xiao Wangzhi had different birthplaces. However, the "Book of Southern Qi" records that Xiao Wangzhi is the sixth grandson of Xiao He, which is obviously inconsistent with what is recorded in the "Book of Han". Lack of basis. Ban Gu, the author of "Book of Han", and others lived during the Han Dynasty, and they should be very clear about the blood relationships and family inheritance of important figures at that time. If Xiao Wangzhi was Xiao He's successor, I believe he would not have missed it.
Yan Shigu even more bluntly said: "In modern genealogy, spies rely on each other in vain. After Xiao He of Yunwang, he followed Zhao Mu, and popular scholars have shared their ancestors. However, Hou Hou, a member of the Han Dynasty, had high achievements and important positions, and his descendants Yinxu have detailed records. Table and biography. Changqian is a great Confucian scholar, famous and knowledgeable. From ancient times to the present, one can tell about his ancestors. The city and dynasty have not changed, and the years are not far away. The elders have passed down the stories closely. If it is true, how can it be inherited? How can future generations trust it if it is not described in the "Book of Han"? ? Otherwise, it can be understood. ”
It directly pointed out that the so-called inheritance of the Lanling Xiao family was indeed a forgery, glossed over and far-fetched.
Of course, most of the so-called long-standing sects in the world have done this kind of thing. Lest Yan Shigu become interested in tracing the origins of the nobles one by one, they were so frightened that they rushed to Chang'an and begged this famous scholar to stop...
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But no matter what, this is an indelible stain on the Xiao family of Lanling. Xiao Yu can't argue with it, how can he not be embarrassed?
He felt that Fang Xuanling was slapping him in the face, so he was very unhappy and said in a cold tone: "The Xiao family of Lanling is naturally devoted to farming and reading, and passed down poems and books to the family. What questions does Xuanling have?"
Fang Xuanling asked curiously: "In this case, why does Mr. Xiao tirelessly pursue more money? Even though the benefits of maritime trade are far greater than ten or a hundred times the output of land, he still wants to cross the ocean and go to a foreign country? Leaving What is the use of the poems and books passed down by the Xiao family in this land to educate the barbarians and spread Chinese Confucianism? ”
Xiao Yu was in a low mood: "Do you think I am willing? But now His Majesty's suppression of the family members is increasing day by day, and one day he will cut off the foundation of our inheritance. You, a small family member of Qi Fang family, may not be able to understand Our sorrow and desolation ”
Compared with the five surnames and seven sects, the Qingqi Fang family is indeed a small family, with only one main line and few side branches. As long as the Fang family and his son are still standing, the entire family will prosper without worries. But a family like the Xiao family is different. It has prosperous branches and a large number of people. Xiao Yu alone cannot take care of it. It requires more children to embark on official careers, seize power, and then support the family.
Otherwise, even if the main trunk is prosperous, it will completely decline when the branches wither.
And once a family with such a big tree and deep roots declines completely, it is almost impossible to restore its former glory...
Fang Xuanling asked curiously: "Why is it so depressed and desolate? The Lanling Xiao family has been passed down for thousands of years, and the bells and dishes are luxurious and prosperous. If your family is depressed and desolate, how can it be embarrassing for the people in the world? Now that the world is peaceful, the rivers are clear and the sea is flowing, and the prosperous age is coming, it will be great Within the territory of the Tang Dynasty, there was no food to eat, no clothes to cover the body, and no food to cover the body. There are many people who can read books and have no cure. Why are you dissatisfied? Why do you have to violate the laws of the country to continue the glory of the family? Does the Lanling Xiao family really want to move out of the Tang Dynasty? Overseas barbarians spread their branches and establish their own country? ”
Xiao Yu was speechless.
No matter how miserable the Lanling Xiao family is, it is impossible to be worse than those who have no food to eat and no clothes to cover their bodies. It is just that compared with their former self, they look lonely, and the whole family cannot accept it.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
As for migrating to a foreign country to form its own country... that is to say, the Tang Dynasty could allow aristocratic families to profit from maritime trade, but it was absolutely impossible to allow the overall migration of countless people to go to a foreign country to establish a country.
Only the heirs of Emperor Taizong have this qualification. If the family members want to carve a piece of meat from the huge body of the Tang Dynasty to establish their own country, there is no way to even think about it...
Fang Xuanling said sincerely: "Don't be blinded by the generosity and kindness shown by Your Majesty. No matter how generous or merciful he is, he is also the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the lord of the world. Once the core interests are touched, he will never kill people. You think you will blink. Can these things be planned so seamlessly that you don't know anything about them? That's too small for your majesty. Listen to my advice and leave for Chang'an to teach in the academy and express your loyalty to the Xiao family. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous."
The emperor is the dragon entrenched on these splendid rivers and mountains. The dragon soars over the nine states and dominates the eight wastelands. When he is kind, he makes clouds and rain and moistens all things. But no matter how gentle the dragon is, once he gets angry, he will thunder and destroy all things. This is the dragon's nature. Characteristics, as long as they are dragons, there is no exception.
Thinking that the dragon sitting on the throne is not as majestic and domineering as his father, does he think he is weak and can be bullied?
The family members were sometimes blinded by power and interests, or perhaps after the power changes in the Sui and Tang dynasties, they had little respect for the imperial power. They believed that the current world was still like that of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, where "the soldiers are the kings." Being rooted in the south of the Yangtze River and far away from the center, you can arbitrarily resist the imperial decrees, and even do whatever you want even if the emperor is far away.
It's just ridiculously stupid.
Xiao Yu smiled bitterly and said: "But if I return to Beijing to teach, where will the Jiangnan nobles be placed?"
Being a "leader" is not easy. While enjoying power, you must also shoulder responsibilities. He came today to test Fang Xuanling and wanted to find out the attitude of the court. Naturally, he would not represent the Lanling Xiao family himself, but would shoulder the responsibility of all Jiangnan people. The expectations of the nobles.
He could walk away and avoid the emperor's wrath and punishment, but what about the rest of the nobles?
When it is known that this "leader" has backed down and even betrayed everyone, everyone will inevitably cry out for beatings, and the Lanling Xiao family will become notorious...
Fang Xuanling shook his head and said calmly: "That's it for now. Brother Shi Wen, please take care of yourself."
How can you take care of others at this time?
Once the emperor's anger is vented, will the Lanling Xiao family bear the brunt of the emperor's punishment for the sake of reputation?
It's not impossible, as long as you are willing to bear it and can afford it.
But it was obvious that Xiao Yu didn't want to bear it and knew that he couldn't bear it, so he quickly made a decision: "When I returned to Jinling, I wrote a memorial and had it quickly delivered to Beijing, and then I set off for Chang'an."
Since Fang Xuanling asked him to take a break from work and go to the academy to teach, there is no reason why he should not be used as an edict. After all, among the most learned scholars in the world, there is no one who can definitely surpass Xiao Yu in terms of literary classics. There are really only a few, even Fang Xuanling has to accept the defeat...
Fang Xuanling nodded slightly and said with emotion: "The times have long since changed, and the world is changing with each passing day. We cannot cling to the old and be stubborn, but should make gains and losses and keep pace with the times. Otherwise, sooner or later, we will be eliminated by the times and be beaten by the endless waves. I will be shattered to pieces." Xiao Yu was a little confused and a little sad.