readbooksol Chapter 5519 A Battle of Wits
Chapter 5519 A Battle of Wits
Chapter 5519 A Battle of Wits
It's no wonder Li Chengqian lacked composure and changed color on the spot; Fang Jun's words were truly excessive.
The emperor is not even dead yet, and you have already laid out the framework for the crown prince's future rule and already given the emperor's final verdict?
The atmosphere in the bedroom was almost frozen.
Li Chengqian did not hide his anger. He pointed at Fang Jun and said angrily, "I am the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty. You have no respect for me at all. Are you trying to piss me off to my face?"
Empress Su remained calm, but Consort Shen was so frightened that her pretty face turned pale and her whole body trembled.
Li Xiang was completely at a loss and at a loss.
Fang Jun smiled wryly and said, "Your Majesty, why do you say that? Ever since Your Majesty was still the Crown Prince, my respect for Your Majesty has never diminished in the slightest."
Li Chengqian stared at him for a long time before finally relaxing his brow and sighing.
He recalled those days in the Eastern Palace when he faced Qingque's relentless pressure and Zhinu's secret schemes, and the fear and anxiety that plagued the couple.
During the darkest period, when it was almost certain that the crown prince would be deposed, it was Fang Jun who stepped forward, withstood the pressure of Emperor Taizong's wrath, and did everything in his power to protect his position. Furthermore, after ascending the throne, he took the lead and risked his life to quell two rebellions, thus preserving his throne.
He never doubted Fang Jun's loyalty to him.
The rift between the two was indeed due to their differing political philosophies.
In Fang Jun's view, "extreme power inevitably leads to extreme corruption," and the supremacy of imperial power is a cup of poison, seemingly quenching thirst but in reality, certain death; "the interests of the nation are above all else," and once the interests of the nation are harmed, even the emperor must yield...
Today, Li Chengqian is able to fully understand Fang Jun's political views.
But he couldn't accept it!
Because he was the emperor!
Moreover, since his throne was inherited from his father and grandfather, no matter how much he agreed with Fang Jun's proposals, he could not sit idly by and watch the imperial power decline and decay in his hands!
Right and wrong do not depend on themselves, but on one's position.
Li Chengqian slowly nodded: "You are naturally loyal. I have never had the slightest doubt about it. No matter what, I will tell the world that you, Fang Jun, are loyal to me and to the Tang Dynasty. You are upright and unyielding, and your loyalty will last for a thousand years!"
Fang Jun's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was slightly agitated. He did not speak, but bowed deeply to the ground.
With Li Chengqian's words, as long as he does not commit regicide in the future, the world will have to recognize his status as a "loyal minister," which is beyond doubt and irrefutable.
But he doesn't feel any guilt towards Li Chengqian.
By what right does the emperor have the supreme power to hold life and death?
By what right does the emperor have the right to enslave the people of the world and force them to offer blood sacrifices?
By what right can an emperor be above all others, act tyrannically, and even hold the people accountable for his right and wrong?
Therefore, Li Chengqian is not innocent.
"Although we are ruler and subject, we are actually friends and relatives. Well, although I don't really want to acknowledge you as a relative... we are still close friends, so there's no need to be so formal. I am ill, and the Crown Prince has to stay in the palace to take care of me. The Empress has also returned, and our family has not been together for a long time, so it can be considered a blessing in disguise. So you don't need to worry too much. Go home and rest."
Upon hearing this, Fang Jun bowed and said, "Then this humble subject will take his leave for now and will come to the palace to visit again tomorrow."
Li Chengqian chuckled: "What, is my Taiji Palace some kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair, where demons and monsters would devour the Crown Prince?"
He paused, then said with a seemingly calm but actually meaningful tone, "You seem to care more about the Crown Prince than I, his father."
Empress Su, standing to the side, clenched her handkerchief, her face flushed with shame and anger.
To say in front of the child that she is closer to other men, what about the child's mother?
But His Majesty can say that, and she cannot refute it.
Fang Jun narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile unchanged, and said with a smile, "Your Highness has been close to me since childhood, and I am indeed flattered. But I am still a child after all, intelligent but inexperienced, and often feel lost and confused because of what I encounter. Since Your Majesty has appointed me as the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, in addition to protecting Your Highness's safety, I also have the responsibility to enlighten Your Highness. However, my knowledge of Confucianism is still shallow, and I do not understand many profound meanings. I only know to admonish Your Highness to have lofty aspirations and the principle that man can overcome nature. I am ashamed."
The bedroom fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop. It seemed as if everyone was holding their breath at the same time.
Empress Su gripped the handkerchief tightly in her slender hand, her face expressionless, but inwardly she almost cheered for Fang Jun.
Wang De, the chief eunuch, was standing very close to the door. He wished he could get out of there as soon as possible. He hadn't heard anything and was sweating profusely.
Room 2!
You really dare to say that!
Do you really think that His Majesty's words "sharing weal and woe" mean we are bosom friends who understand each other perfectly?
Shen Jieyu looked up in shock, her eyes wide open.
His Majesty said that you are too close to the Crown Prince, and even too close to the Empress, which makes me uncomfortable...
But what did Fang Jun say?
He said that the reason he was close to the Crown Prince was because the Crown Prince was feeling lost and confused due to injustice... What he meant by injustice is self-evident.
Especially the last sentence, what does "ambition" mean?
You must firmly believe in your status as the crown prince and take inheriting the throne as your lifelong ambition!
What does "human determination can conquer nature" mean?
"Tian" means "Son of Heaven," and even if the Son of Heaven wanted to change the heir, it was not allowed!
The one who will ultimately prevail is definitely the Crown Prince!
A war of words.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Li Chengqian suddenly broke out in a violent coughing fit. Consort Shen and Empress Su rushed forward, but Li Chengqian waved them away.
After finally catching his breath, Li Chengqian closed his eyes and waved helplessly at Fang Jun: "Go! Go! If you keep talking, my illness will only get worse!"
Every word hits home!
Fang Jun didn't even say a word of apology, but simply bowed and said, "This humble subject takes his leave."
He took three steps back, turned around and walked out of the bedroom, and followed by Wang De out of the side hall.
The air outside the palace was crisp and cold. Standing on the steps, one could see the rooftops of the palace covered in snow. Fang Jun took a deep breath, nodded slightly to Wang De, and stepped down the steps, heading out of the palace.
Looking at Fang Jun's retreating figure, Wang De felt both terrified and filled with admiration.
Throughout history, no minister has been more powerful than Fang Xuanling!
……
As Fang Jun walked out of Wude Gate, he saw Li Jingye, dressed in military uniform, standing guard outside the gate. Li Jingye met Fang Jun's gaze, but neither went forward to greet him nor turned away. He simply stood still, his eyes burning, as if the humiliation he had suffered earlier had vanished, and his fighting spirit was high.
Fang Jun naturally paid no attention to it, only keeping a sense of vigilance in his heart, and then quickly left.
In his view, Li Jingye was absolutely loyal to the emperor, even deserving the title of "henchman" or "lackey," always putting the emperor's will first. Such extreme loyalty often leads people to extremes in their thoughts and actions, and under certain circumstances, they may take crazy actions that defy common sense.
We must be wary.
*****
With snow-covered roof tiles and plum blossoms in bloom, Fang Jun and Ma Zhou sat facing each other in an exquisite little building in the backyard of Zuixianlou, accompanied by Cheng Wuting, Sun Renshi, and Wang Xiaojie on either side.
Cheng Wuting suffered severe torture at the hands of Changsun Wuji, which damaged his vital energy. It took many years of recuperation to recover. However, his former youthful vigor was gone. With a beard, he now sat there with a more profound and dignified air, quite like a famous general.
Sun Renshi was usually a man of few words; he mostly drank, ate, and listened to music.
Wang Xiaojie, the youngest and from the humblest background, was very active, taking charge of pouring tea and serving water, and attending to guests at meals...
The group drank a few cups and talked about interesting things that happened in the imperial court.
Ma Zhou said, "I have something to tell you. Yuezhou just sent a memorial, saying that they want to follow the example of Liaodong to form a 'legion' to integrate forces and speed up the development of Dongting Lake. At the same time, they earnestly request His Majesty to transfer a part of the Right Guard stationed in Jinling Stone City to Yuezhou to prevent any unforeseen events. The memorial has just been sent to the palace, and His Majesty has not yet approved it."
Fang Jun pondered for a moment and then laughed, “Xu Jingzong is indeed a corrupt official. He doesn’t care about the environment and conditions of Dongting Lake at all. He just wants to work hard and seize every minute. He even sent people to Liaodong to steal various books and technologies. Now he wants to form a ‘legion’ and is determined to seize this great achievement. But he has taken too big a step and did not make full preparations beforehand. His hasty decision will cause endless trouble.”
The "corps" can indeed unleash the full potential of all its soldiers. Humans are social animals and are easily influenced by their environment. When propaganda and supervision are in place, people will go all out and be fearless in pursuit of a goal.
Just like on the battlefield, when one faces the enemy alone, one will feel timid and fearful, but when a group of people are charging forward, they will put life and death aside.
If Xu Jingzong were to organize those bandits and Liao people into a "corps" in Dongting Lake, how would he conduct propaganda? How would he supervise them? Once morale collapses, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Ma Zhou frowned and looked at Fang Jun with dissatisfaction, saying, "The development of Dongting Lake is crucial to the stability and prosperity of half of the empire. You wouldn't sit idly by and watch the situation deteriorate because of personal grudges, would you?"
Fang Jun didn't take it to heart, took a sip of his drink, and said with a smile, "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Ma Zhou nodded and affirmed, "Of course not. When it comes to broad-mindedness, no one in the world can surpass Fang Er."
"Heh, don't think you can make me submit to your fate by morally blackmailing me!"
Fang Jun sneered and said seriously, "Do you think Xu Jingzong doesn't know the dangers involved? Although that fellow is immoral and selfish, his abilities are absolutely no problem. He knows the dangers and consequences better than anyone else! But no one can stop him from doing it. Even if His Majesty does not allow the Right Guard to move to Yuezhou, he will not stop."
Ma Zhou took a sip of wine and sighed, "Just for the sake of becoming a high-ranking official and rising to the position of prime minister?"
Fang Jun nodded: "I can stop him once, but not twice, otherwise His Majesty will also be dissatisfied. Xu Jingzong is taking a chance and will definitely be willing to take risks in order to become the prime minister, and His Majesty's will is mixed in with this."
Ma Zhou naturally understood, so he remained silent.
Cheng Wuting, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but say, "Knowing that Xu Jingzong might mess up the situation in Dongting Lake, we are helpless and can only let it go?"