When Ma Zai heard Li Hong's question, he was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the Yunzhong Protectorate was still led by King Pei Yao. The prince had just cut off all King Pei's wings during this period. If the Yunzhong Protector's Mansion under Yao Ling is taken away, it will obviously aggravate the conflict between the royal prince and King Pei.
Ouyang Tong was also shocked when he heard this. Although Ma Zai's suggestion sounded very touching, especially when it was proposed by a minister of the Ministry of Industry, it was obviously very appropriate. But if the problem of Prince Yunzhong's remote leadership cannot be solved, The construction of three roads is equivalent to treating the symptoms rather than the root cause.
Ma Zai smiled helplessly and continued: "I have been in Tubo these years, and occasionally go to Anxi, at least three or four times a year. Although the two places are separated by mountains,... Nowadays, there is close communication , this is a rare opportunity. Tuyuhun, Dashi and other foreign countries have been eyeing today's Anxi. Although Anxi is now unbreakable, as the saying goes, the strong are always strong. If we want to maintain our current advantage in Anxi, this path is obvious. It must be repaired! And I know that the widening and strengthening of the roads from Yunzhong and even Chang'an to Anxi will bring huge benefits to the Tang Dynasty. But as for your question just now... I think it is because of your status. The affairs between the Minister and His Highness have nothing to do with me."
"Okay Ma Zai, you are right. Neither Yunzhong nor road construction is an urgent matter, especially the Yunzhong matter. Whether it is solved or not, it will not affect your road construction, right? You can repair it first, As for Yunzhong, I ordered Yuan Shuji and others to have more contact with Xue Tai and Li Jun. The Blackwater Army of the Tang Dynasty placed in Yunzhong has not been moved for many years. Li Jingxuan is idle as well. I will communicate with the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War to see if they can be replaced first. Let's talk about it." Li Hong thought for a while and said.
"Yes, Your Highness. I have one more thing to do..."
"Place the two of them according to your wishes. If the queen mother asks about it, let me know. Before that, I think it is best to put them somewhere to practice." Li Hong said lightly.
As for the fate of Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi in the next two years, they originally thought that they would continue to be comfortable and idle officials in the Ministry of Industry, but they were completely ruined by Li Hong's words. They will have to Facing the baptism of sand and dust, violent storms and severe weather at high altitudes.
Ma Zai nodded, indicating that he understood what Li Hong meant. Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi were in the Ministry of Works, and now they were holding Fang Xianzhong and King Pei in their arms. No one in the Ministry of Works dared to offend them. As newcomers, Jin's Minister of Industry wants to achieve something, His Highness the Crown Prince's support is part of it, but his vigorous and resolute style is the key to success.
Ouyang Tong took the 30 taels of silver in his hand and thought about the 1 million taels of silver among the 30 million taels of silver in the court today. He suddenly understood the importance of this note!
Obviously, his predecessor, Jinghui, did not tell him such an important thing, but now that the prince told him, he already understood what it meant.
"Your Highness, I understand. This question is easy to solve. With what I have learned in Chongwen Hall in the past few years, I can completely smooth this out and return all the accounts to their original state." Ouyang Tong took a look. Ma Zai said solemnly.
"That's fine, just understand." Li Hong touched his stubbled lips, thought for a moment and said, "What do you think of taking over the Royal Bank?"
Ouyang Tong was stunned. He didn't expect that the Minister of the Ministry of Accounts would have such a task, and he also knew very well that while Jinghui was in charge of the Ministry of Accounts these years, he also worried about the treasure trove of the Royal Bank, but now he has not really As soon as he takes office, His Highness the Crown Prince plans to leave this to himself
No matter how shrewd and capable the minister was, he would not dare to answer without thinking when faced with Li Hong's straightforwardness. Ouyang Tong did not dare either, and also chose to speak cautiously.
Li Hong did not make things difficult for him, but gave him enough time to think about and understand everything about Royal Bank. At this moment, his mind was once again focused on Li Zhe, who was still undergoing painful suffering in Futu Camp.
Naturally, Li Hong could not go to the court meeting on the second day. Instead, while others were still going to court, he ran into Shangshu Province and waited for the courtiers to go to court.
Pei Xingjian and Shangguan Yi first came to Li Hong's study. After talking with Li Hong in detail, they walked out with relaxed expressions. Today, in the court, not knowing what happened to His Majesty, he directly issued an order to appoint Shangguan. The instrument is Zhongshu Sheng Zhongshu Ling, and the word agency is missing from the imperial edict.
Jing Hui and Lin Shiling hurriedly walked in after Pei Xingjian left with Guan Yi. They did not dare to forget the topics given to them by the prince. Regarding the future governance of Tubo and the establishment of the Tubo Protectorate, all these were discussed in the court. It's all just a formality, and there is no need for the consent of other ministers. As long as His Majesty nods, it is enough for the Minister to implement it.
The Zhongshu Ministry does not need to draft, and the Ministry of Men does not need to give approval. Naturally, His Majesty does not need imperial approval. He only needs to nod. After all, there is a qualitative difference between forcibly establishing the Protectorate and unanimous approval by the court.
Unless the matter of the Tubo Protectorate is already certain, it can be brought to the court, formulated by the Zhongshu Ministry, approved by the Ministry of Menxia, and then approved by His Majesty and announced to the world.
This will not only ensure that the royal dignity is not damaged, but also demonstrate the prestige of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, these matters will not become real national affairs to be discussed before they really start.
Li Hong had to look at Lin Shiling with admiration. This guy was indeed a talent, a rare ruthless and loyal minister. Compared with Jinghui's aboveboard and upright behavior, they were as different as two sides of the moon.
Similarly, because the two have completely different styles and ways of doing things, they have become the most complementary partners, even compared to Pei Xingjian and Ma Zai, who are known as "Pei Ma".
All the details are well done, but Lin Shiling's ruthlessness is revealed in his treatment of Wen Cheng. Although it is more effective than Jing Hui's method, it is too underhanded.
Li Hong had to shake his head and sighed: "As for Princess Wencheng, Lin Shiling, you still need to handle it as appropriate. The Tubo people are not like us people in the Tang Dynasty. They are a group that easily collapses their faith. Their hearts towards faith are firm and clean. No blasphemy, I have tolerated Princess Wencheng for the past two years, do you think I am willing? No matter what, nothing can happen to Princess Wencheng! Princess Yiyang and the Prince Consort will also go to Tubo, they can only be replaced and cannot be overthrown! possible."
Lin Shiling was stunned. He was still a little dissatisfied with the prince's cautious remarks. In the Tang Dynasty, it was not that he had never seen monks, Taoists, and nuns, and it was not that he had never interacted with them. These people's beliefs were completely based on their belief in the future. Ignorance and fear.
Their devout prayers and respectful worship of Buddha are completely based on the lack of material reality, which is absolutely different from their ideological realm and spiritual cleansing!
The collapse of a person's belief or the collapse of a group's belief is, in Lin Shiling's view, a complete destruction of the product of one's belief and the establishment of a new spirit. When the people's belief collapses, they will only seek helpless repentance and reflection. How could it be possible, as the prince said, that it would cause them to riot, become furious because of the blasphemy of their faith, and attack them in groups in order to protect their faith
This is impossible. The rise and fall of every dynasty before the Tang Dynasty, from the hundreds of schools of thought to the current struggle between Buddhism and Taoism, each belief originally had many supporters, but as the belief was banned by the powerful, the trend Even though they were dying, I didn’t see any group of people rising up in anger to save themselves because of the collapse of their faith.
Therefore, he did not believe that the collapse of Princess Wencheng could cause the Tubo people to riot and rescue, nor did he believe that Princess Wencheng could influence the minds of the Tubo people like a god and influence the rights and wrongs of the Tubo people.
Li Hong had no way to explain what true faith was. If he had known that more than a thousand years later, more people would see going to Tubo as a baptism of life and a test of the soul. Washing, they worshiped devoutly, and if the faith they guarded with the most respect included Princess Wencheng, he wouldn't be so dismissive!
Shaking his head helplessly, Li Hong smiled lazily and said, "Don't make any conclusions too soon. Only stupid people will make random conclusions based on their past experiences when they are not exposed to the facts. I don't want you to You are such a fool, so I didn’t pass this one! As for after Yuan Day, when you arrive in Tubo, you can watch and listen first, and then make plans. This is my only advice to you, so take care of yourself!”
Lin Shiling was shocked. His Highness had never warned him so sternly since he followed the prince. Did he really have to be careful
Although he was timid of the majesty of Prince Li Hong, it also aroused his unyielding character as a poor scholar. A man who could sleep rough in Chang'an City for several months after entering the severe cold obviously would not let the prince's few warnings. It was easy to give up his plan.
Confident people are always like this. They can withstand failure and even more the glory brought by success. However, on top of the glory, they are still able to accept the suggestions of others and then improve their own strategies. Lin Shiling is undoubtedly such a person. .
He has absolute confidence in himself, and at the same time, he has absolute belief in the words of people he admires. Therefore, Lin Shiling's competitive spirit aroused by Li Hong made Lin Shiling want to leave and fly to Tubo to see what faith is and what it means. god!
After talking to these two people, the sun once again planned to finish its work early and began to sink below the horizon. Chang'an City became dim again, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the city walls, covering the large and small buildings in the city.
Half of the buildings in the Daming Palace were also covered with a layer of sacred gold, dragging a long, slightly sad and tired shadow in the dusk. Together with the sound of dusk drums, they reminded the people who had been busy all day that the sun was shining brightly. It is the law of nature to work when you go out and rest when the sun sets.
(End of chapter)