novelcrest Chapter 5435 Feeling refreshed and relaxed
Chapter 5435 Feeling refreshed and relaxed
Chapter 5435 Feeling refreshed and relaxed
Fang Jun sighed inwardly. Just by looking at Li Chengqian's face and expression, he could tell that he had indulged in excessive sexual activity. His vital energy had been greatly depleted due to a fall from a horse when he was young. If he were to be unrestrained in sexual matters and even rely on the invitation of wolves to maintain his virility, how could it last long?
However, as a subject, one can only offer subtle advice and should not directly remonstrate with the emperor.
He's not Wei Zheng...
"The nations have just been established and everything is going well. The indigenous tribes in various places are uncivilized, ignorant and clumsy, living by fishing and hunting, and their fighting power is extremely low. They cannot pose a threat to the safety of the nations, not to mention that there are naval forces patrolling everywhere, ready to provide support at any time."
"How is the farming going?"
"All the vassal states have warm climates and abundant water, but the cultivated land needs time to mature, and the yield is limited after two or three years. However, the overseas vassal states have lush vegetation and extensive water networks, so there will be no shortage of food. The only concern is the small population. Although all countries have successively issued policies to encourage childbirth, how can the situation be alleviated in ten or eight years?"
Li Chengqian immediately became nervous: "The development of vassal states should prioritize stability. These are remote and desolate overseas lands that require years of development. Introducing so many people at once would only bring many drawbacks. Will the supply of food, medicine, cloth, and so on be sufficient? We also need to guard against attacks from the natives and savages scattered throughout the mountains and plains... Please don't do anything like 'filling Hebei with people from Guanzhong.' Do you know how much infamy I have suffered by running away overseas to find peace and quiet?"
Regardless of the benefits that the people of Guanzhong might gain from going to Hebei, at least for the time being, no one wanted to leave their homes and be far from their homeland. The people deeply resented this policy, first cursing Fang Jun, then cursing His Majesty. As a result, Fang Jun went overseas, and all the blame was concentrated on Li Chengqian.
The reputation of "benevolence" that he had cultivated over many years was almost ruined in an instant...
Seeing that Fang Jun only nodded slightly and seemed unconvinced, he warned, "The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is firm, the state is secure. If we lure the people away from their homeland and overseas with petty gains, the country will cease to exist! Moreover, the Tang Dynasty is based on the mainland and its vassal states are secondary. If some of these vassal states become too powerful, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse and causing endless troubles? It's one thing for Jiang State, but the other vassal states must not be treated this way!"
Fang Jun paused for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty’s concerns are certainly understandable. However, the current predicament of Guanzhong is obvious. Luoyang alone cannot solve the problem. Rather than confining the people of Guanzhong to this overdeveloped land, why not send them to Hebei and Liaodong? Furthermore, the water level of Yunmengze has receded significantly compared to the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The area is warm and humid with fertile soil, and should be given priority for development.”
The situation in Guanzhong is irreversible. Over the past thousands of years, as the center of Chinese civilization, it has been overdeveloped, and the nutrients in the soil are difficult to recover. In addition, since the Han Dynasty, a large number of people have poured in, and the land in Guanzhong can no longer support the people of Guanzhong. It can only rely on the import of grain.
However, the transport of grain by canal had many drawbacks: corruption among lower-level officials when collecting grain, the cost of maintaining a canal transport team, and the risks and losses during transport on rivers... The cost of each shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain far exceeded its intrinsic value by several times.
If this continues, it will inevitably become a huge burden.
If that's the case, why not simply relocate the people of Guanzhong out of the area?
Whether it's the current Liaodong Protectorate or the Yunmeng Marsh where the water level has receded, as long as we invest manpower and resources to open them up, we will gain two huge granaries!
Li Chengqian shook his head: "Guanzhong is the location of the capital and the center of the country. It is crucial to the stability of the nation. The pressure on Guanzhong can be relieved by building the Eastern Capital, but the people of Guanzhong cannot be relocated on a large scale. Otherwise, Guanzhong will be empty, the nation will be unstable, and the consequences will be endless!"
For emperors, no matter how vast the country's territory is, the most fundamental thing is the population. If there is not enough population, who can they rule over?
The reasons for choosing Chang'an as the capital were threefold: firstly, the strategic advantage of the four passes surrounding Guanzhong; secondly, the nourishment provided by the eight rivers surrounding it; and thirdly, its thriving population and prosperity. Even if the political situation in the country became turbulent, Guanzhong could maintain its tax revenue, sustain its military manpower, and ensure a stable food supply, remaining as secure as Mount Tai.
However, once the population of Guanzhong decreased sharply, the financial pressure seemed to be relieved, but in reality, the foundation of the Li Tang Dynasty was damaged.
Fang Jun tried his best to persuade him: "Governing the people is not about the boundaries of the territory, securing the country is not about the dangers of mountains and rivers, and dominating the world is not about the advantages of weapons... This is the wisdom of the ancients. Why does Your Majesty remain stagnant and stick to the old ways? The Li Tang dynasty is as solid as a rock, and the people of the world wholeheartedly support it. All of China is Your Majesty's territory. Why hold onto Guanzhong?"
Li Chengqian stopped speaking, remained silent, and drank his tea with his head down.
Fang Jun was helpless.
This is not a question of who is smart or stupid, but a question of positions and interests.
The Tang dynasty originated in Guanzhong, and its core interests naturally lay there, especially in Guanzhong. It can be said that no matter how vast the Tang territory was, how powerful its military might was, or how its ships roamed the seven seas, for the emperors of the Tang dynasty, their foundation was always in Guanzhong.
The outer states can be managed and ruled by powerful clans, and the military affairs of the realm can be either controlled by the central government or directly managed; these are not important.
As long as the strength of Guanzhong is always maintained and Luoyang is used to intimidate the world, there is nothing to worry about.
Therefore, in Li Chengqian's view, the essence of Fang Jun's remonstrances was to weaken the foundation of the Li Tang imperial family and thus reduce imperial power...
That's all for this.
However, regardless of the system a country follows, wealth is the foundation of the entire society. When enough wealth poured into the Tang Dynasty from overseas, it was enough to cause upheaval and change in any social class. A bottom-up reform swept away all rules and constraints like a raging flood.
If this force can be guided, it can naturally be brought under our control and we can take the initiative.
If we ignore or disregard it, we will only be swept along by the raging flood, drifting and sinking in the great river of history, each accepting our fate.
After finishing his tea, Fang Jun stood up, bowed, and took his leave.
"Your humble servant is exhausted after just entering the city, and will now take his leave to return home and pay his respects to his parents."
Li Chengqian waved his hand: "Looking at how travel-worn you are, if you go straight home, wouldn't Chancellor Fang complain that I don't care about my subjects? Go to Chang Le, take a bath and change your clothes before you go home."
"...I obey the decree."
Fang Jun agreed, turned around and left the Imperial Study. Led by an attendant, he exited the north gate of the Wude Hall, headed west, bypassed the Shenlong Hall and Ganlu Hall, and passed through the Thousand-Step Corridor to reach the Shujing Hall.
When the maids at the door saw Fang Jun, they were both surprised and delighted. One of them ran to report to Princess Chang Le, while the other led him directly into the palace.
As far as Shujing Palace was concerned, Fang Jun was definitely "one of their own," and there was no reason for them to wait for Princess Chang Le's permission to enter...
Fang Jun had just sat down in the hall when he saw Princess Chang Le, dressed in palace attire and with a beautiful face, walking gracefully towards him. She asked curiously, "Why is Your Highness not wearing a Taoist robe today?"
Princess Chang Le sat down in front of him, her fragrance wafting in the air, like orchids and musk. She smiled gently and said, "I am not a real female Taoist priest. I change my clothes occasionally. Is it not to your liking, Grand Commandant? Have I disappointed you?"
There was a clear hint of sarcasm in those words, implying that Fang Jun had a peculiar "taste" and seemed particularly fond of Taoist robes...
Fang Jun looked the beauty up and down and said with a smile, "My taste is not in Taoist robes or palace attire, but in Your Highness yourself... After all, no matter what you wear, you are ultimately naked in front of each other."
"Pooh!"
Even though she was already a mother, Princess Chang Le couldn't resist this guy's flirtatious words. Her fair and delicate face flushed red, and she spat out a mouthful of saliva.
Seeing that Fang Jun looked listless and travel-worn, he said, "There's hot water prepared in the back. Go wash up and get ready before heading back to the manor, so that Prime Minister Fang and the others won't worry."
Fang Jun grasped her slender hand: "Your Highness, please come with me."
Princess Chang Le was taken aback and quickly refused, "Stop fooling around, go and take a bath and wash up properly... Ouch!"
However, Fang Jun had already scooped her up by the knees and carried her to the back hall, ignoring her screams and pounding.
Half an hour later, Fang Jun, refreshed after bathing and changing, sat in the hall drinking tea. Princess Chang Le had changed her clothes, and her exquisite hair bun had been loosened and tied up with a white jade hairpin, revealing her fair and slender neck. Her skin was soft and tender, with a rosy glow, and her eyes were sparkling and full of charm.
Although they had been married for a long time, Fang Jun was still amazed by her beauty, feeling that every part of her—from her eyebrows and eyes to her figure and temperament—was beautiful.
He then leaned forward, inhaling the delicate, orchid-like fragrance, and whispered, "Your Highness, would you like to have another child? If so, I will spare no effort and do my utmost to help!"
"Who asked you to devote yourself so wholeheartedly? And to work so hard... You probably do it willingly!"
Princess Chang Le's face grew even redder. She glared at her shameless husband, but she was also somewhat tempted.
Although Lu'er was a member of the Fang family and was deeply loved by Fang Xuanling and his wife in the mansion, and was treated as their own daughter by Princess Gaoyang and others, and could play with all her brothers and sisters, she could not marry into the Fang family as a concubine. Therefore, Lu'er was nominally different from her brothers.
It's fine when they're young, but they'll inevitably be lonely when they grow up.
If we give him a younger brother or sister, they can discuss things together in the future and help each other out when they encounter difficulties...
Thinking to himself, he glanced at Fang Jun.
How insightful and perceptive is Fang Jun?
With just one glance, he understood immediately, and thumped his chest loudly: "Your Highness, rest assured, I am strong, healthy, and capable, and I will surely make Your Highness happy and pregnant!"
The maids on either side lowered their heads and covered their mouths to chuckle.
Princess Chang Le's pretty face turned blood red, like a cloud of rosy clouds, and she wished she could pounce on him and shut his mouth.
What does it mean to "get pregnant while feeling relaxed and happy"?
The key question is whether "pregnancy" is a good thing or not.
Who feels "refreshed and invigorated"?!
She raised her delicate hand to cover her burning face and groaned, "Stop talking, you should leave now, or you'll say something shameless again."
Fang Jun remained unmoved and suggested, "Why doesn't Your Highness simply move to Zhongnan Mountain? It would be more convenient for me when I'm working day and night. The palace is ultimately inconvenient..."
Princess Chang Le was so ashamed that she couldn't bear to face anyone. She angrily said, "Get this person out of here! He's completely insane!"
The maid who was about to burst out laughing quickly stepped forward, trying her best to keep a straight face: "This servant respectfully sees off the Grand Commandant."
Fang Jun had no choice but to reluctantly leave...