novelcrest Chapter 5450 Driven by Interest
Chapter 5450 Driven by Interest
Chapter 5450 Driven by Interest
Upon hearing this, Xue Zhongzhang and Tang Zhiqi, who had been speaking vehemently and emotionally, as well as Du Qiuren, who had been drinking silently, all instantly calmed down.
When one is drunk and flushed, and full of youthful vigor, it is inevitable.
However, acting impulsively is the most taboo thing in officialdom. Although the people had a deep friendship and all regarded Li Jingye as the leader in terms of family background, ability, and personality, they could not risk their own future by supporting Li Jingye.
Because in public, they represent not only themselves, but also their families.
With the development of Dongting Lake and Liaodong already decided, a massive construction boom is about to begin. How could mid-level officials like them not want to get a piece of the pie? Securing a position through their own efforts, family connections, and compromises on interests is their top priority. As long as they handle things properly and make achievements, they can not only enjoy their lives but also give back to their families.
If acting impulsively attracts attention from all sides and hinders the selection of officials, it would be a case of losing more than one gains and is incredibly foolish.
Xue Zhongzhang took a sip of wine, clicked his tongue, and sneered, "Luo Guanguang is such a cunning fellow. Before, he often drank wine and composed poems with us, and made friends through literature. But as soon as the development of Dongting and Liaodong came up, he immediately distanced himself from us and stayed obediently in the Chang'an County Government. I bet he's gone to Fang Er to curry favor with him quite a bit."
Luo Binwang, courtesy name Guanguang, was renowned in his hometown as a child prodigy. After arriving in the capital, he studied at Zhenguan Academy.
He had a good personal relationship with several of the people present.
Du Qiuren said, “Guang Guan is different from us. He has the identity of a student of an academy and has studied under Fang Xiang. He is Fang Xiang’s unofficial disciple. Naturally, he has a deep connection with Fang Er and is not one of us.”
Tang Zhiqi snorted: "I'm afraid Fang Er has already arranged an official position for him in Liaodong by now, and he's just waiting to go and take up his post."
The tone contained both jealousy and sarcasm.
The development of Dongting Lake has attracted a powerful and deeply entrenched faction, with its members deeply involved at all levels. To gain a position in this monumental project destined for lasting fame and to acquire political capital, the exchange of interests required is extremely complex, as far as too many people are eyeing those positions.
The development of Liaodong was different. It seemed that Ma Zhou was in charge, but in reality, Fang Jun was in charge. Any official position was decided by Fang Jun with a single word, based only on ability and not on family background.
Moreover, those students who came from Zhenguan Academy were naturally close to Fang Junzhi's position. As long as they had the title of "academy student", they were almost always successful.
To this day, regardless of how they entered officialdom, alumni of the academy have occupied countless important official positions...
Wei Siwen drank his wine and looked at Li Jingye, who was silent and had a gloomy expression: "What do you think, elder brother?"
Li Jingye put down his wine cup and rubbed his face: "Luo Binwang and we are not on the same path. From now on, let's treat each other with respect."
Wei Siwen said helplessly, "I wasn't referring to Luo Binwang, but rather, does my elder brother have any thoughts on this?"
Li Jingye smiled wryly: "What thoughts could I possibly have? As the commander of the 'Hundred Cavalry Division,' my duty is naturally to guard the palace and uphold imperial authority. I won't think about anything else."
Even so, I felt somewhat frustrated.
Faced with the vigorous development of Dongting Lake and Liaodong, who wouldn't want to participate and make contributions?
Instead of spending their days in the palace, engaging in petty and disrespectful activities.
Xue Zhongzhang said, “Brother, there’s no need for that. Which military general in the world doesn’t envy your position? All we ask for is to be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. Brother, you are in the palace and protect the imperial power. You should keep a close eye on the movements of the Crown Prince and ensure that the imperial power is secure.”
His Majesty's repeated attempts to change the heir apparent are already common knowledge throughout the land.
The struggle between the imperial power and the Crown Prince was becoming increasingly serious and had far-reaching consequences. Who could guarantee that another "Xuanwu Gate Incident" would not be launched?
That was the time when Li Jingye made his mark.
Upon hearing this, Li Jingye's eyes lit up.
Compared to Xue Zhongzhang's speculation, he, being inside the palace, could more clearly perceive the tense atmosphere between His Majesty and the Crown Prince, and between Taiji Palace and the Eastern Palace. His Majesty was worried about the Eastern Palace's growing power and had been planning to change the heir apparent. Naturally, the Eastern Palace was unwilling to submit and, with Fang Jun's support, openly resisted His Majesty...
Although both sides are currently exercising extreme restraint and no direct conflict has occurred, how can they possibly handle this matter rationally when it involves imperial power?
Conflict is inevitable; it's just a matter of time.
How did Fang Jun rise from a spoiled playboy to a powerful minister who held immense influence in the court?
Because he first supported Your Majesty's position as heir apparent, and then stood firmly by Your Majesty's side during the two coups by Changsun Wuji and Li Zhi, he not only ensured Your Majesty's ascension to the throne but also protected Your Majesty's imperial power. As a result, he not only gained Your Majesty's trust but also became famous throughout the world.
This is the path Li Jingye will take in the future.
All one needs to do is rise up when the rebels are arrogant and rebellious, turn the tide, save the collapsing empire, protect the emperor, and maintain imperial power, and one will naturally achieve great merit and be remembered in history!
Raising his wine cup, he exclaimed, "This is true! We need only be loyal to the emperor and serve the country with unwavering devotion; what need is there for our future? We should protect the dignity of the imperial power with our own flesh and blood, even if it means sacrificing our lives! Come, let us raise our cups and toast His Majesty!"
"Congratulations to His Majesty!"
Everyone raised their wine glasses and responded with a resounding roar.
……
The word "profit" encompasses fame, wealth, power, and status; it can even be found in air, sunlight, and nutrients, and more importantly, in ambition and ideals.
Therefore, all living beings in the world pursue profit.
The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is in turmoil, all for gain.
This is an immutable principle, applicable to all things under heaven.
Huating Town.
The Wusong River flows mightily, its wide surface teeming with boats and sails that blot out the sun, with ships shuttling back and forth like shuttles.
A large ship turned from the Yangtze River into the Wusong River waterway and headed straight for the port.
Linghu Defen, with his white hair and beard, stood at the bow of the boat, wearing an elaborately patterned brocade robe. The river wind blew his robes and hair wildly.
As the port drew ever closer, the berths were densely packed with ships, and the docks teemed with merchants and porters like ants. All sorts of vessels, merchants of different skin colors, and skilled craftsmen were operating the booms, loading mountains of goods from the docks onto merchant ships or hoisting cargo from the holds onto the docks…
Although Linghu Defen has been writing books and living in seclusion in Chang'an in recent years, he had traveled all over the world and seen a lot in his youth, but he had never seen such a large, busy and prosperous port.
No wonder the Huating Town Maritime Trade Office alone accounts for more than half of the total foreign trade volume of the entire Tang Dynasty each year...
Beside him stood Dou Dexuan, a man in his sixties, wearing a turban and with a lean appearance. He sighed, “Everyone knows that Fang Jun has the skill to amass wealth and is richer than a country, but how many people realize his ability to turn stone into gold? As far as I know, Huating Town used to be nothing more than a salt flat, overgrown with reeds, remote and desolate. But ever since Emperor Taizong bestowed this place upon Fang Jun as his fief, it has changed rapidly. In just a few years, it has become the number one port in the southeast. Whether it is the goods that come and go or the salt fields built along the coast, they are all remarkable.”
Linghu Defen nodded in agreement.
Making money is not difficult. Even if Fang Jun has the skill to amass wealth and is richer than a country, he is just more talented than others.
However, transforming a barren saline-alkali wasteland into the world's premier port is an incredibly difficult task.
This has transcended the realm of "making money" and demonstrates the ability to govern a country.
No wonder Emperor Taizong once exclaimed, "This son has the talent of a prime minister," and even uttered the famous saying that is still widely known today: "One should have a son like Fang Yi'ai!"
The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other without saying a word.
As the current heads of the Dunhuang Linghu and Daibei Dou families, the reason why the two, in their sixties, still traveled through mountains and rivers to Huating Town was to resolve the past grievances and hatred between them and Fang Jun.
The development of Liaodong has become an unstoppable trend, an unstoppable force. Compared to His Majesty's all-out efforts in developing Dongting Lake, the powerful families and clans of the land are more optimistic about Liaodong, which is being managed behind the scenes by Fang Jun. This involves not only substantial financial gains but also the future prospects of their family members.
Just as in the past, when the entire nation mobilized to conquer Goguryeo, powerful families and clans regarded the development of Dongting Lake and Liaodong as a grand feast of "political achievements." Anyone who could participate could accumulate a substantial and indispensable political achievement and benefit immensely.
Therefore, it is necessary to take an attitude and demonstrate a stance.
Compared to the interests of their families, the personal dignity of Linghu Defen, whose face was scratched all over by Lady Wu, and Dou Dexuan, who sought to marry Princess Jinyang, was insignificant.
When the large ship arrived at the port, small boats that had been waiting there led it to the berth that had been prepared in advance. The accompanying soldiers and servants set up the gangplank, and the two of them disembarked and went ashore one after another.
Standing on the pier, surrounded by bustling crowds and noisy people, the feeling is different.
Dou Dexuan looked around and sighed softly, "With our status, entering and leaving the palace and meeting His Majesty is nothing out of the ordinary. But now we have to travel all over the mountains and rivers to meet a mere concubine of the Fang family. It is truly embarrassing."
On the contrary, Linghu Defen, who had a deeper grudge against Wu Meiniang, laughed nonchalantly: "Why must you be like this, my good brother? It is the way of the times and the way of fate. How can one not bow one's head when under someone's roof? Besides, although Lady Wu is just a concubine, throughout history, even if we include all the concubines of emperors, how many concubines have been able to wield such enormous power? Compared with the interests of our families, our reputation is not worth mentioning."
He spoke of being carefree, but in his heart he was contemptuous. If you really couldn't bear to lose face, why did you come here in person?
Since we're here, it means we've already put aside all pretense of face and dignity, so why bother with affectation and feigned modesty?
In Fang Jun's words, this is "wanting to be a prostitute while also wanting to maintain a virtuous image"...
Furthermore, how can Wu Zetian be simply categorized as a "concubine"?
With the maritime trade booming, many business owners are making a fortune and reaping huge profits. Naturally, they should be respectful and courteous to Wu Zetian, who holds the reins of these businesses. This is the pursuit of profit by powerful families, not flattery towards any particular person.