Chapter 4972: Journey to the great road, the world is for the common good!
Liu Xiangdao gave up his official position, power, and gains from his half-life career, hoping to persuade His Majesty to take back his orders and give the court a stable and gentle trend. However, he failed to impress His Majesty. Instead, he was scolded and expelled from the Tai Chi Palace.
Of course, Li Chengqian was not confused yet. Although his words were extremely harsh and his attitude was extremely bad, he did not punish Liu Xiangdao in any way.
The Imperial Censor is almost the anchor of the court's ethos. A Censor who can stand firm and is not afraid of power must represent a court that is upright and solemn, with clear administration. Otherwise, even the Imperial Censor will follow the trend and flatter others. , the court was naturally filled with smoke and corrupt officials.
What Li Chengqian wanted was the authority that should belong to the emperor, not a chaotic court. What he wanted was absolute power, not a group of bureaucrats who were obsessed with people and favored others.
However, what he failed to understand was that these things were actually contradictory.
Under absolute power, how can there be clear government, just laws, and a serious court?
The four directions above and below are called the universe, and it has been the universe throughout the ages. There has never been a so-called "absolute" in the universe...
*****
There are several huge locust trees in the courtyard of the Ministry of War Yamen, just outside the window of the official's room. In the cold winter, the trees are covered with snow, the branches are withered, and the dry trunks are thick and gnarled, giving them a somewhat proud and rugged look.
On the mat in front of the window, Li Ji and Fang Jun knelt opposite each other. The latter made tea and poured half a cup, indicating to Li Ji to drink the tea. He himself picked up the tea cup and took a sip. The afternoon sun shone warmly on his body through the glass window. , squinting his eyes slightly, savoring the sweetness of the tea.
Li Ji held the tea cup in one hand and stroked his beard with the other, and also took a sip.
Neither of them spoke, but the atmosphere was very comfortable.
After finishing half the cup of tea, Li Ji glanced at the other party and said slowly: "Shouldn't you stand by His Majesty's side at this time? I am old and have no pursuits anymore. It is good to become an official like this, but you are still young after all. ”
The rebellion was initially set up and interrogated. Naturally, there were many things involved. Whether it was pursuing political opponents and knocking them down with a stick, or helping allies get out of the vortex, it was extremely important for a young official, and these things can only be better done by His Majesty's side. Plot.
Moreover, His Majesty's trust in Fang Jun has always been consistent and has not been diminished in any way.
So at this time, Fang Jun should not sit here drinking tea and chatting with him after finishing a "Military Reform Committee"...
Fang Jun picked up the teapot and poured tea, and shook his head with a smile: "Your Majesty is sensitive, and since he is already deeply wary of the military, it is best not to put too much pressure on him at this time. People are different, and some people are raped. The stronger and the greater the pressure, the greater the rebound. Some people have delicate personalities and may be completely crushed by excessive pressure.”
Obviously, Li Chengqian is the latter.
As the eldest son of Emperor Taizong, the prince who had been widely praised by the government and the public and had high hopes from Taizong must have excellent abilities and qualifications, and talents were the best choice. However, he was too well protected by Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende since he was a child, and he failed to develop a tough character. He could use his intelligence and talents when things were going smoothly, but when things went wrong, he would easily become irritable and depressed, and his character would collapse.
We can only guide Li Chengqian, not force him.
Li Ji disagreed: "To deal with traitors, you can risk the disapproval of the world and resort to 'cutting', and ignore the sincere advice of the Yushitai. This is not what a weak character can do."
Obviously, he did not agree with His Majesty's use of "cutting".
Fang Jundao: "In my opinion, it's just the opposite. It's precisely because the pressure is too great and the sense of crisis is too great that you insist on going your own way. Otherwise, why would you go against the entire court?"
Li Ji sighed and said, "Perhaps your original insistence may not have been correct."
This is to say that Fang Jun unswervingly supported Li Chengqian at the beginning. It was precisely because of Fang Jun's persistence that some Zhenguan ministers also opposed His Majesty's intention to change the throne, and finally allowed Li Chengqian to inherit the throne.
But now it seems that Li Chengqian does not have the appearance of a wise king...
Fang Jun took a sip of tea and said calmly: "Maybe, this is what I insist on."
Li Ji was silent.
He remembered Fang Jun’s consistent political views...
Without continuing the topic, Li Ji said: "This time around the mutiny, His Majesty has barely concealed his fear of the military. I think that after the clan is dealt with, he will definitely attack the army. You have to think of countermeasures as early as possible before things come to a head." Caught off guard.”
Originally, the left and right Jinwu guards and the left and right leading guards marched into Chang'an City to defend the Taiji Palace. It was a simple matter to advance, attack, retreat or defend. However, His Majesty was willing to put himself in danger to exclude the military. It was obvious that he had lost trust in the military. .
In other words, both Li Ji and Fang Jun made His Majesty feel the threat of "conquering the master with great achievements".
This has nothing to do with whether he continues to trust them, but the fact that the strength of the military makes him, a king, too mediocre, and he feels unwilling to do so.
"What do you think, Mr. Ying?"
Fang Jun kicked the ball back.
I'm not the only one your Majesty is afraid of. Don't even think about watching the fun.
Li Ji frowned, a little confused.
He has never been an indecisive person. His character is calm, self-possessed and decisive. However, when faced with Fang Jun's questions, he didn't know how to answer.
He understood what Fang Jun meant. As long as the two of them worked side by side and had a tacit understanding, no one in the world could touch the Tang army, not even His Majesty.
But with this, the military and the imperial power officially began to compete.
This is not right.
The military has always been a vassal of the imperial power. Once the army and the imperial power share different dreams or even restrict each other, it will inevitably be a sign of troubled times.
But now, he has clearly seen through the shortcomings of "monarchy supremacy", and he also knows that the current situation is the most suitable time to restrict imperial power, so how can he be willing to give up?
Fang Jun has always said a saying that has long been known to the public, that is, "the interests of the country are above all else." Although Fang Jun's explanation is that "the king is the country, and the interests of the country are the interests of the king," there are obviously some Reluctantly, because the interests of the king may sometimes conflict with the interests of the country.
Li Ji recognized Fang Jun's concept, but the "monarch, minister, minister, father, father and son" he had been exposed to since childhood was incompatible with it.
Everything ultimately boils down to one question that goes straight to the heart: Loyal to the King? Or loyal to the country?
Li Ji thinks they are all right, but if he has to choose one of them...
"Alas~" Li Ji sighed and said tangledly: "But even if your idea can be realized, what's the use? The imperial power will never be cut off year after year, but you and I will die one day, and then the people will die and the government will cease. , finally the imperial power comes back and dominates the world, what is the significance of your actions?”
Just like those powerful ministers in the history books who were once illustrious, they pointed the country and had great authority when they were alive, but when they died, all their deeds turned to dust, and the imperial power was still high, and everything returned to the original point.
I've been busy for a long time, so what's the point?
Fang Jun disagreed: "In the long run, we can give future generations a revelation, letting them know whether what we did is right or wrong, so that they can use it as a reference, so as not to have nothing to learn from and make mistakes." In the short term, I'm going astray. When there are no constraints, the whole country will be able to create a prosperous era and enhance national strength. To say the least, even if the future king is ineffective, we can leave him an inheritance that has been ruined for many years. "
Li Ji was noncommittal, pondered for a long time, and suddenly asked: "What are you doing all this for?"
Fang Jun said: "Your Excellency, you want to ask about the ideal, right?"
Li Ji raised his eyebrows: "Ideal?"
This term is new and has never been heard before.
Fang Jun put down his tea cup and turned to look out the window. The cold wind was blocked by the window, leaving only the bright sunshine.
"Ideal is 'ambition', it is 'Those who face a different road have worries about wandering, those who look up to the mountains have the ambition to fly to the sky', it is 'the sparrows play with the firewood of the feudal lord, and the swans are safe when they travel', it is 'the husband's ambition is all over the world, thousands of miles away' "Just like your neighbors," and more importantly, "not worried about poverty and lowliness, not obsessed with wealth and honor"..."
He turned back and looked at Li Ji, his eyes blazing and bright: "People do not only kiss their relatives, nor do they only have sons and daughters, so that the old will have their end, the strong will be useful, and the young will have their own growth, and they will be lonely, widowed, lonely, alone, and disabled. Everyone has something to cultivate... If you walk on the great road, the world is for the common good! ”
The last sentence is sonorous and inspiring.
Ever since the First Emperor unified the nine states and established prefectures and counties, for more than two thousand years, this nation has been wandering in the same rut, sinking back and forth, unable to extricate itself. No matter whether it was a grand plan in the prosperous age or the land of China was sinking, how could the people of the world ever use hard work to earn happiness for themselves? Life?
The people are prosperous and suffer.
Death, people suffer!
This land is home to the most industrious and simple people. Their sweat should be shed for their own happy life. Their blood should be shed to resist foreign aggression, not for the autocratic world of kings or the selfish desires of bureaucrats. flow!
History has inertia, and you can never turn things around and make the world unified by your own efforts. But just like those who have groped for the way forward in the darkness and risked their lives for the beliefs in their hearts, as long as there is light in their hearts, that light will eventually will come.
Many times the beginning of everything is just a spark.
However, a single spark can eventually start a prairie fire...
Li Jiche was completely shocked. He knew that Fang Jun had high aspirations, but he never knew that his ambitions were so high and so far.
In the journey of the great road, the world is for the common good... This is the unity of the world!
The magnificent world that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors pursued tirelessly but never achieved!
Of course, he also understands that wanting to achieve this is tantamount to wishful thinking, but if he has this ambition, even if the outcome is not achieved, he has struggled for it. Compared with being a dog in a coma and being selfish, this is so magnificent and noble. Life?
This life is not in vain. Li Ji did not hesitate too much and nodded solemnly: "I don't know how to do it, and I don't know if I can do it well. You just move forward, I will stick to my tail."