novelcrest Chapter 4707 Family, Country and World
Chapter 4707 Family, Country and World
Chapter 4707 Family, Country and World
As the lights come on, the pavilion is surrounded by lush flowers and trees and the scenery is pleasant. The lights are projected onto the water in the pond, creating ripples and the lotus flowers in the pond stand tall and graceful.
Fang Jun told Wang Xuance: "Don't worry about Zhang Liang. If he behaves well as your general, that's fine. But if he does something weird, be merciless in dealing with him. The most important thing is to improve the army's combat effectiveness on the basis of maintaining it. Do not slack off in daily training. I always believe in the principle of 'sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in war'."
He needed a force that could be deployed at any time and "capable of fighting and winning", so he needed to keep the army's training going at all times.
Wang Xuance was a little embarrassed and said hesitantly, "It's not that I'm trying to shirk my responsibility. I was just a soldier guarding the city. I was holding a sword and showing off my power at the city gate all day long. I have never really experienced anything in the army and I'm not familiar with the art of war. I'm afraid I'll make trouble for the commander-in-chief."
With the qualifications of being the general manager of the "Eastern Tang Trading Company" and Fang Jun's full support, he has enough prestige in the army. However, he has never received formal military training after all. Now most of the people in the Right Jinwu Guards use the methods he used to lead the "company".
Not professional...
Fang Jun said gently, "Who can lead troops to fight right from birth? With the training rules I left behind and the support of all officers, you just need to follow the procedures. Watch more and think more during daily training. Gradually ponder, you will naturally understand the essence of it."
This is a tough guy who can "destroy an entire country by himself". Perhaps he lacks the ability in daily training, but his ability in military strategy relies more on talent. How many people in this world dare to claim that their talent is greater than Wang Xuance's?
Wang Xuance felt extremely proud, so he stood up and knelt on one knee: "General, you have selected me from my humble position. I will never be able to repay your kindness. I will obey your orders for the rest of my life and serve you like a dog!"
From a distant descendant of a noble family and a city gate guard, he became the leader of the "Eastern Tang Business Company", with billions of money and goods under his control, and his words could decide the rise and fall of foreign countries. Many noble families and dignitaries treated him as a guest of honor and welcomed him with a smile. Although he is now the chief of the Right Jinwu Guard in name, in reality Zhang Liang is just a puppet. The entire army is in his hands, just like a commander-in-chief...
Such an encounter was something he would not have dared to hope for even in his most beautiful dreams, but it actually happened to him.
Shouldn't I repay the kindness of being recognized and appreciated by being torn into pieces and working like a slave?
Fang Jun also stood up, patted his shoulder, and said in a gentle voice: "You don't have to be loyal to me, but to the Tang Dynasty and the people. We are soldiers of the country and the people, not private armed forces raised by some people. We should take it as our responsibility to defend our country and protect the people. We can sacrifice our lives for the integrity of the empire and the well-being of the people, but we don't have to put personal feelings above our duties."
This is the difference between the armies of the old and new eras. The armies of the old era regarded themselves as vassals of certain people or forces and fought for their own selfish interests. The armies of the new era regard themselves as "children of the people", born from the people and repaying the people, and fighting for the interests of the country and the welfare of the people.
Therefore, that army can face challenges head-on, become stronger when faced with stronger opponents, be willing to sacrifice their own lives and face death, and take the initiative to attack in order to isolate the war outside the borders, even at the cost of their own bodies being buried in a foreign land.
He looked at Wang Xuance, but his thoughts seemed to drift thousands of miles away: "Some people ride on the people's heads, shouting how great they are, while others bend down and serve the people like cattle and horses. Some people carve their names into stones in the hope of "immortality", while others would rather be weeds, waiting to be burned by the fire underground."
Whoever rides on the people's heads will be thrown down by the people; whoever works like an ox or a horse for the people will be remembered by the people forever!
Those who carve their names into stones will have their names rot away earlier than their corpses; wherever the spring breeze blows, there will be green weeds everywhere.
Once upon a time, he could only admire this state and found it difficult to understand, but today, he deeply understands the principles contained therein.
It’s actually very simple and can be summed up in four words: family, country and the world.
Wang Xuance knelt on one knee and looked up. He felt that at this moment Fang Jun seemed to be surrounded by holy light. His selfless spirit of putting the people of the world in his heart made him tall and upright, and he just wanted to worship him.
*****
While the two were talking, there was a servant from the mansion serving on one side. He naturally heard what was said between Fang Jun and Wang Xuance. When Fang Xuanling asked about it, he repeated it word for word.
Fang Xuanling was silent for a long time, and asked someone to call Fang Jun to the study. He looked at his son, who amazed and pleased him more and more, with complicated eyes. He was speechless for a long time, and finally sighed: "Although I understand the truth of what you said, it is not as thorough as your summary. If you can be consistent and set an example, you may be immortalized in history."
Fang Jun smiled and said, "I just want to follow my heart and fulfill my duties. I don't want to carve my name into stone to achieve 'immortality'."
These are exactly the original words of the two lines of poetry.
Fang Xuanling was stunned for a moment, then he realized it and laughed, "Well said, as long as you keep the people of the world in mind and fight for their well-being, even if you die one day, what's the harm? Erlang, your father is proud of you."
Seeing his father so excited, Fang Jun felt a little embarrassed, because he didn't write those two lines of poetry...
The father and son were talking, discussing the current situation.
After a while, Fang Xuanling thought of a doubt in his mind and asked, "Whether it's your so-called 'excellent poetry and lyrics' or your 'investigation of things to gain knowledge', I am certainly pleased, but not surprised. After all, there have been countless talented and brilliant people throughout history, and one more person like you is not that amazing. But I am deeply impressed by your ability to identify and use people. For example, this Wang Xuance was just a humble servant in the past, but you promoted him and entrusted him with important tasks. Facts have proved that he is indeed a pearl covered in dust, and once the dust is gone, the light will be reborn!"
Fang Jun was speechless. He could not explain this matter, so he could only give a vague answer: "Maybe it's luck? Or maybe it's because I'm sincere to others and I'm willing to help talented people. I don't employ people I don't doubt, and I don't doubt people I employ. So naturally, others can use 100% of their talents."
In fact, many times successful people are not necessarily much better than others. Talent is the foundation of achievement, and opportunity is the most important.
The saying "Heroes are made by the times" is roughly true.
Although Fang Xuanling did not say anything else, his doubts were not completely dispelled.
"Don't employ people you doubt, and don't doubt people you employ" sounds very reasonable, but it is not easy to put into practice. Who can be employed? Who can't be employed? Every person you have selected from the humble has grown into a talent. How can such a skill of judging people be summed up in one sentence?
……
The mandarin ducks embrace each other and the brocade quilt flutters.
When the maid finished cleaning with a red face, Fang Jun hugged Xiao Shuer, who was exhausted and limp, in his arms, and couldn't help but sigh that this evil old society really should be criticized...
The unique elegance and restraint of Jiangnan women, as well as the sophistication and elegance cultivated by the ladies of famous families, made the woman maintain the last bit of reserve even in extreme joy. After finally catching her breath, she leaned into her husband's arms and whispered, "I received a letter from home today."
The so-called "home" is naturally not the Fang family, but the Xiao family far away in Jiangnan.
Fang Jun lay on his back and held Xiao Shuer in his arms, feeling her slender figure and her silky skin. He hummed and said, "What did you say?"
Xiao Shu'er raised her body and lay on her side, with one arm bent to support her chin. Her pretty face was still filled with the afterglow of the storm, and her beautiful eyes flickered as she looked at her husband: "The master wants me to ask you if you can accept that 'banknote' and whether it will become a piece of waste paper in the end."
Fang Jun snorted, "This old man is just too cunning. If he asks me directly, he's afraid I'll lie to him, so he wants to ask you first so you know I won't lie to you."
Xiao Shuer smiled sweetly, lowered her head and kissed Langjun on the forehead, and said softly: "Langjun dotes on me, they all know it."
In this era, there are only two ways for most women to demonstrate their value: either their natal family is powerful enough to help them, making their position in their husband's family secure and no one dares to bully them; or their husband's family values them, so they speak firmly when they return to their natal family.
Fortunately, she has both.
Therefore, she would not try to challenge Princess Gaoyang's status, nor did she need to compete for favor with Wu Meiniang. Now that she had given birth to a daughter, she lived a very comfortable life. She only needed to give birth to another son, and her life would be complete.
But she also made her attitude clear: "No matter whether the 'paper money' is useful or not, you just need to tell me what to say. I will say what you want me to say."
She makes a clear distinction between her husband's family and her own family. Her own family is her roots, but her husband's family is her home.
Besides, Lanling Xiao might not be without complaints. When she was given to Fang Jun as a concubine, she was sad and upset for a long time. Although it was later proved that such a talented, gentle and considerate man was a good match for him and she was satisfied even as a concubine, the humiliation of being given away like a commodity was still hard for her to let go.
Fang Jun stroked her smooth hair and said softly, "Just tell him that in addition to paying taxes directly with 'paper money', he can also trade with 'East Datang Merchants' for an equal amount."
Due to limitations in transportation, information, and cognition, it was impossible for paper money to circulate completely in the Tang Dynasty, but it was not complicated to circulate it at a certain level. For example, bulk commodity transactions, huge taxes from aristocratic families, and taxes paid by local governments...
This limited circulation should not be underestimated. It not only solves the urgent problem of lack of money, but also reduces countless losses in the process of government offices across the country transferring taxes to the central government. This alone can save millions of strings of cash every year.
The beauty twisted her slender body, her face flushed, her eyes watery, her red lips close to her lover's ear, and whispered softly: "I still want to give birth to a son..."
Fang Jun was dissatisfied: "Do you think I'm just a tool to give birth to a son?"
Xiao Shu'er was stunned at first, then she smiled with curved eyebrows and said in a sweet voice: "Then you can be a tool for once."
"It's not impossible, but since you are a tool, you have to have the characteristics of a tool. The tool won't move, so you have to do it yourself."
"I...I can't do it. I'm so embarrassed."
"It is natural to let go of the joy of the boudoir. If you are always reserved and conservative, you will lose the charm."
The beauty's pretty face was as red as fire. She bit her lips lightly, and her voice was trembling and sweet: "Come on..."
There was a gentle breeze in the middle of the night, and raindrops began to fall, wetting the flowers and trees in the courtyard. The raindrops were on the tips of the green grass, and they were crystal clear and about to fall off.