readbooksol Chapter 5520 Insight into the Crisis
Chapter 5520 Insight into the Crisis
Chapter 5520 Insight into the Crisis
Fang Jun shook his head and said calmly, "No one can stop Xu Jingzong. That would lead to a complete break between His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and an unstoppable storm would sweep through the entire Tang Dynasty's officialdom. At that time, no matter who is right or wrong, it will greatly damage the interests of the empire."
In officialdom and politics, one cannot punish evil and promote good, nor can one vent one's anger and resentment.
A political confrontation like that of tit-for-tat is almost impossible. The idea of "opposing whatever you support" is extremely foolish; it would only completely destroy the entire framework of the country, with the death of the leader and the collapse of the regime being the only outcome. This would be the most fatal blow to an agrarian civilization.
Of course, while everyone understands this principle, whether or not it can be put into practice is another matter.
Clearly, Fang Jun wouldn't disregard the overall situation just to attack Xu Jingzong.
Ma Zhou downed the wine in his cup in one gulp and sighed, “When I was in charge of the Jingzhao Prefecture, I only lamented the constraints on my work and my lack of power. I thought that one day, as the prime minister, I could plan the country and direct the nation, and realize my ambitions. However, even now, though I am above all officials and in charge of all affairs, I find myself still full of worries, as if caught in a net. Every move I make is subject to the reactions of all parties and the weighing of various interests. I am still constrained and subject to various checks and balances.”
The overall strategy of governing all parties is actually about taking into account all sides. Taking a comprehensive view of the overall situation means weighing the pros and cons. If you want to really do something and realize your ambitions, you either have to go your own way regardless of the consequences, or you have to compromise and reconcile the interests of all parties and do your own thing in a small space.
It is extremely difficult to make bold and decisive moves and fully utilize one's talents.
Fang Jun burst into laughter at Ma Zhou's dejected look, but stopped laughing when he saw Ma Zhou frowning in annoyance. He comforted him, saying, "Prince Bin still hasn't seen through the true nature of things!"
Ma Zhou asked in bewilderment: "What is essence?"
"Whether it's officialdom, the imperial court, or even peddlers and farmers, everyone's behavior boils down to two words: self-interest. But within the existing national framework, the total amount of self-interest is basically constant; for every bit more someone gains, someone else loses. Whether it's following the old ways or vigorously reforming, it's ultimately just a redistribution of self-interest, which will inevitably affect those who already have vested interests. How can it not encounter resistance or even a backlash?"
The world is bustling with activity, all for the sake of profit; the world is in turmoil, all for the sake of gain.
The essence of the world is self-interest.
Fang Jun continued, "People die for wealth, birds die for food; this is the pursuit of profit, it's instinct, and no one can escape it. Some people's interests are to work hard day and night to innovate and improve, some people's interests are to be remembered for eternity and to be remembered by future generations, and some people's interests are to be rich and powerful for thousands of generations... How to reconcile interests is the key to the success or failure of innovation."
So-called reforms and changes are, in essence, measures to redistribute interests.
Some people will cheer and applaud because they benefit, while others will curse and rebel because they lose. If you cannot resist the resistance of the losers, you will be utterly defeated. On the contrary, once you gather the beneficiaries together to form a vast ocean, you can naturally break through some of the dust and decay.
Ma Zhou frowned, lost in thought and remained silent.
These words truly enlightened us, revealing the essence of innovation. However, understanding the principle is one thing, and being able to put it into practice is another.
Fang Jun asked Wang Xiaojie to pour wine and said to Cheng, Sun and Wang: "From today onwards, intensify the inspection of personnel and transported goods in your respective jurisdictions. I need to know the detailed information of all personnel and goods entering Taiji Palace. I absolutely do not want hundreds or thousands of fully armed elite soldiers to suddenly jump out of Taiji Palace one day."
Not only did the three of them change color, but even Ma Zhou, who was deep in thought, was startled: "What does Erlang intend to do?"
With the Left and Right Golden Guards and the Xuanwu Gate guards, they could absolutely control the entire palace, ensuring that not even a bird could escape their surveillance.
What are they trying to do?
Is this to isolate China from the world?!
Fang Jun frowned. Ma Zhou was his ally, and the other three were his absolute confidants, so there was no need to hide anything from him.
"His Majesty's illness came on suspiciously, and Li Jingye is too calm, which is not in line with his character. I always feel that there may be some shady plot involved."
Entering the palace as the crown prince was extremely dangerous, but given the principles of loyalty between ruler and subject, father and son, even knowing there were tigers in the mountains, they still had to go.
Li Jingye, on the other hand, gave him a feeling of extreme danger.
He is a loyal but hot-blooded and reckless man. This can be seen from his willingness to challenge the authority of the "number one person in the military" in public. Under such hot-blooded and reckless behavior, he suddenly learned to be tolerant. Is it just because he was beaten up and is afraid?
It might be possible for someone else, but considering Li Jingye's daily behavior and historical conclusions, Fang Jun thinks it's unlikely.
The more likely reason for this is that they have something in mind and are choosing to remain patient.
A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years.
So how will he take his revenge?
Ma Zhou also realized that the biggest variable lay with the Crown Prince, but he still shook his head and said, "Although His Majesty insists on changing the heir apparent, he has no intention of harming the Crown Prince. This would have enormous consequences, both publicly and privately. How could he do such a foolish thing?"
Cheng Wuting angrily said, "That little thief Li Jingye is extremely arrogant. He was already too disrespectful to Erlang before, and now he dares to harbor ill intentions? I might as well send someone to keep an eye on his whereabouts and shoot him dead as a warning to others!"
"There's no need for that!"
Fang Jun first calmed Cheng Wuting down and said gently, "Li Jingye is nothing but a clown. Using assassination to solve problems would have too great a backlash and too many consequences. It is not advisable. However, we should still send someone to keep an eye on his whereabouts and keep track of his situation at all times to prevent any unforeseen events. But we must be careful not to be discovered by the experts of the 'Hundred Cavalry Division'."
Then he said to Ma Zhou, “His Majesty has no intention of harming the Crown Prince, but does he not know what will happen to the Crown Prince and the Empress if the heir is changed? The temperament and thoughts of the monarch are completely different from ours. He can make any sacrifice for the sake of imperial power.”
Ma Zhou's face was grim. After a moment of silence, he said in a deep voice, "If His Majesty really disregards the safety of the country and forcibly changes the heir, we scholars who have received the favor of Emperor Taizong in selecting him will not sit idly by. We may well follow the example of the Wude era."
Cheng, Sun, and Wang all looked at him in shock. If we're talking about ruthlessness, it has to be the civil officials who are ruthless!
What are the "Old Stories of Martial Virtue"?
This does not refer to the "Xuanwu Gate Incident," but rather to the subsequent events in which Emperor Taizong stormed into the palace, first imprisoning Emperor Gaozu, then using the imperial seal to establish Emperor Taizong as the crown prince, and finally forcing Emperor Gaozu to abdicate...
This is to honor His Majesty as the Retired Emperor!
Sun Renshi couldn't help but ask, "Has it really come to this?"
Although the situation was somewhat tense due to His Majesty's sudden illness, he could not see that it had come to such a dangerous point.
Fang Jun said, "Although everything is just speculation, something is bound to happen."
Ma Zhou also said, "It's better to believe it's true than not to believe it's not true. After all, the consequences would be unbearable for the entire empire... Be prepared. If anything happens, the whole city must be on high alert to prevent the incident from spreading."
The three generals stood up together, clasped their fists in unison, and said, "Rest assured, gentlemen, we will be fully alert and will not slacken our vigilance!"
They all looked excited and enthusiastic.
Civil officials can still be promoted based on their political achievements, but for military generals, military merits can only be obtained on the battlefield, whether by expanding territory, killing enemies, or suppressing rebellions. Now, the three of them each command an army, guarding the palace and protecting the capital. The only path to promotion and advancement is to suppress rebellions.
If Fang Junzhi's prediction comes true and he ultimately succeeds, then these supporters of the Eastern Palace will be credited with the greatest merit for following the emperor.
Fang Jun reached out and pressed down, instructing, "Sit down and talk... These things must be done in secret. It's okay if someone finds out, but you must never do it openly to avoid being attacked."
"Here!"
The three of them took their seats.
Fang Jun asked Ma Zhou, "If something unexpected happens within the palace, can you stabilize the court and control the Council of State Affairs?"
After weighing the options in his mind, Ma Zhou shook his head and said, "If anything changes, it will depend on Pei Huaijie."
Although the Attendant-in-Ordinary is not the head of the prime ministers, he plays a crucial role in connecting His Majesty with the Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel. In the officialdom, he is considered "second only to the emperor and above all others." In particular, his responsibility for reviewing government orders makes him His Majesty's unquestionable "confidant."
Fang Jun nodded: "Then we must control Pei Huaijie when necessary! We must keep the Council of State under our control and be responsible for stabilizing the capital region together with the army. As long as Chang'an is not in chaos, Guanzhong will not be in chaos; and if Guanzhong is not in chaos, the whole country will not be in chaos."
Ma Zhou didn't ask him how to control Pei Huaijie, but instead asked, "Has there been any arrangement with the Prefect of Jingzhao?"
Although the Prefect of Jingzhao had no military power and could not control the government, his position as Prefect of Jingzhao was a crucial element in stabilizing the situation.
Fang Jun said calmly, "If anything happens, Ren Ya will follow your orders."
Ma Zhou then knew that Ren Yaxiang had completely sided with the Crown Prince...
Thus, he sighed even more: "Your Majesty is now too obsessed, insisting on maintaining the supreme position of imperial power, but completely disregarding the will of the people, even at the cost of turmoil in the world... You are really confused."
In the current political climate, the Crown Prince has gained a significant advantage.
Not to mention the Anxi Army, which is the strongest army in the world, and the Royal Navy, the Left and Right Jinwu Guards in Chang'an City alone, plus the guards at Xuanwu Gate, were enough to seal off the palace and even influence the outcome of the battle.
Within the Council of State Affairs, there were countless officials who openly sided with the Crown Prince or secretly favored him, enough to ensure a stable transition of power...
In some ways, the difficulty of His Majesty changing the heir apparent is even greater than the difficulty of a coup d'état in the Eastern Palace.
All of this was caused by His Majesty's willful and obstinate actions...
Even the imperial family, noble families, and powerful clans have stopped standing with His Majesty!
Fang Jun, however, could understand Li Chengqian's mentality and sighed, "His Majesty may not necessarily want to seize power, nor does he necessarily care whether imperial power is supreme, but he cannot accept losing all of this in his hands."
Ma Zhou nodded, indicating that he understood.
From the moment His Majesty ascended the throne, he was burdened with a demon in his heart: he had to make the world recognize him as a qualified or even excellent emperor in order to offset the harm caused to him by Emperor Taizong's repeated attempts to change the heir apparent.
If imperial power wanes in his hands, it means he is a failure as emperor, which would confirm Emperor Taizong's initial disappointment in him.
This is something His Majesty finds extremely difficult to accept.