Chapter 5099: War of Great Powers
Chapter 5099: War of Great Powers
Zhang Xingcheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Okay!"
In principle, this is almost impossible. How could the central government hand over the country's mineral resources to the local government to mortgage? After all, the risk is huge. If Zhang Xingcheng manipulates the assets and pockets them, and eventually hundreds of thousands of guan of assets are completely lost, wouldn't the central government have to bear the blame?
The loss of money is secondary. Who would bear a crime that could affect his or her political career for no reason?
Zhang Xingcheng's confidence came from the fact that after the failure of the Jin Prince's rebellion, the Shandong noble families resolutely surrendered and made huge concessions to the central government in terms of measuring land, reforming the imperial examination system, and collecting commercial taxes.
Whether it was to provide compensation or to stabilize the local area, as a leading figure of a Shandong family in the court, he still had some say.
Li Tai was overjoyed and raised his glass to say hello: "In that case, I wish you success in this matter!"
He now has so much money that he can't spend it all. He takes out part of it to "lend out". While gaining favors from others, he can also earn a considerable long-term income. It's really the best of both worlds.
Zhang Xingcheng was also very happy. As long as he could properly manage the dilapidated Henan Prefecture, his return to the center would be just around the corner.
……
After the banquet, the banquet was cleared away and the maid prepared a small stove, a kettle, a bucket of spring water, tea sets and other items, but was then dismissed by Fang Jun.
Only a coffee table was left in the pavilion, and Fang Jun personally boiled water and made tea.
At this moment, the moon is at its zenith, and a cool breeze is blowing. The river water that is introduced into the garden flows slowly, gathers into a pool, and then flows out from the underground canal. Lotus leaves are connected and candlelight is reflected.
Drinking tea after drinking alcohol is very thirst-quenching.
The four of them sat around the table and had a pleasant conversation.
Li Tai took a sip of tea and asked, "Erlang, do you plan to stay in Luoyang for a while?"
Fang Jun shook his head and poured tea. "We will stay for a few days and then return to Chang'an. Before winter comes, we will go to Hexi and even visit Fuqi City. The war with Tubo has been going on for a long time. The Tang Dynasty supports the Gar family. Over the past year, the consumption of food, fodder, weapons and other materials has been huge. Many people in the court have complaints about this and are stirring up public opinion. If the war with Tubo cannot be ended as soon as possible, the people will be very dissatisfied."
Those officials who are deeply influenced by Confucianism always talk about "anti-war" and "warlike people will perish". Now that the country is thriving, they can't wait to put the army's weapons into storage and let the horses go to the mountains, and use all resources for domestic construction.
It is both a dispute between civil and military officials and also an inherent way of thinking.
During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Confucianism was positive and progressive. However, since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with the peace and prosperity of the country and the sea, an idea of "enjoying wealth and not fighting" emerged and gradually became the mainstream.
How could those officials and great scholars fail to understand the significance of the "Tibetan Strategy" to the Tang Dynasty?
But they didn't care, they only cared about their own academic, ideological and power, and strongly opposed spending a lot of resources to aid the Gar family...
Li Tai sighed and said, "It's easy to say 'national interests are above everything else', but it's hard to do it. There are many mediocre people in the world, and there are many people in the officialdom who are greedy for power and profit. How many people care about their country and are loyal to the country? Most of them are just corrupt officials."
Ashina Zhong had drunk a little too much, so he took over the conversation: "Isn't there a saying that goes, 'If a man does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth'? It is naturally difficult for secular people to get rid of secular utilitarianism, so only those who are wholeheartedly dedicated to the country and the people and not for personal gain can be recorded in history and be remembered in history. If everyone can regard the country as their home and be selfless, how can there be loyal ministers who work hard for the country and heroes who die on the battlefield?"
Fang Jun refilled Ashina Zhong's tea and praised him, "Duke Xue's words are extremely insightful!"
What is a “hero”?
Anyone who can do things that ordinary people cannot do is a "hero", and therefore his reputation will be recorded in history forever.
If there are "heroes" everywhere, "heroes" will be worthless...
In the final analysis, a "capable person" is a "hero" and a "hero" is always unique and unconventional...
Ashina Zhong was flattered, and he stroked his beard and laughed, saying, "This is just drunken talk, Duke Yue, thank you for your compliment!"
Fang Jun looked at him with a smile. This guy had a typical Turkic appearance, with strong bones, a sturdy body, and especially a big beard that made him look even more tough. Although he had a protruding belly and had not been in the battlefield for a long time, anyone who saw his appearance would have to praise him as a "great man". However, he was actually a useless silver-plated spear head.
Ashina Zhong once again felt Fang Jun's puzzled look: "..."
What the hell are you laughing at?!
Zhang Xingcheng held the teacup and said slowly, "Who doesn't want to be a famous minister who is loyal to the country and the society? Who doesn't have the dream of making great achievements and leaving a name in history? However, people are up and down in officialdom and political circles, and most of the time they have no choice. Personal ability, family ties, and the good or bad situation are like huge nets that trap people and make them unable to break free. Every step takes a lot of effort. Even if you want to serve the country and the people and be selfless, you have the will but not the strength."
The other three remained silent, because this made a lot of sense.
Many times, "heroes are made by the times". The same person, placed in different environments, may make completely different choices and actions.
Heroes are not born, and not all are treacherous ministers. It’s just that they are in such an environment and have a different mindset, so they make choices that best suit their own interests.
Throughout history, how many people can do whatever they want and follow their hearts?
Most people just go with the flow.
Loyalty, treachery, good and evil, are not all based on one's own heart...
After a few sighs, Zhang Xingcheng asked again, "I heard that the situation in the Western Regions is not stable. The Caliph of the Arabs is mobilizing troops and intends to invade the Western Regions again?"
Fang Jun nodded: "This battle is inevitable."
Li Tai said depressedly: "Are the Arabs bored because of idleness? Their caliph personally led the army to fight before, but you defeated him and made him flee in panic. Why are they coming again?"
Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty and the destruction of the Turks, the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo was successful but ended in failure. Only the last battle in the Western Regions was a great victory and countless enemies were annihilated. It was precisely such great achievements that made Fang Jun a new generation of leading figures after the meritorious officials of Zhenguan.
The last time, Muawiyah sent out troops from Damascus and mobilized 200,000 troops to invade the Western Regions. The losses were extremely heavy. How could he only care about eating and not fighting?
Fang Jun drank tea leisurely and explained, "It's not a question of whether the Kingdom of the Tang Dynasty wants to fight or not, or even whether our Tang Dynasty wants to fight or not. When the interests of two superpowers are tied together, there must be a war. Between countries, either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. Even if there is a short period of peace, it is just each side strategizing and accumulating strength. War is bound to break out."
Because of the cultural differences between the East and the West, the evolutionary paths they have taken are also very different. Relatively speaking, Eastern Confucian culture pays more attention to "internal affairs" and achieves productivity progress by exploring one's own potential; while the West is just the opposite, taking the route of "my neighbor hoards food, I hoard guns", ignoring production and just robbing others...
Even after the Industrial Revolution, when productivity levels in the West leapt ten or a hundred times that of the East, the underlying thinking patterns remained the same.
After all, how can construction be faster than robbery?
Historically, the Arab Empire expanded desperately to amass wealth and plunder people in order to achieve the goal of stable rule. When their expansion reached West Asia, they inevitably went to war with the Tang Dynasty.
The superficial result of the "Battle of Hellas" seemed to be the defeat of the Tang Dynasty, but at the same time it also prevented the Arab Empire from expanding eastward.
Today, with the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty's maritime trade, Tang ships are sailing freely on the oceans, and the trade surplus with the Arab Empire is increasing year by year. The conflict of interests between the two countries has become irreconcilable.
Although not everyone in the Arab Empire could explain the "trade deficit" clearly, it was obvious that the country was filled with goods produced by the Tang Dynasty, including porcelain, silk, glass, bamboo paper, cotton cloth... and that a huge amount of money was lost, leading to a money shortage.
Expansion is hindered, trade is dumped... How can we avoid war?
Even though the Arab Empire suffered disastrous defeats in the Battle of the Western Regions and the Battle of Shiloh, it still had to bite the bullet and continue the war.
After all, Europe at the moment was a wilderness with nothing to rob. If it could not open a passage to the east, how could it maintain its huge domestic consumption?
Li Tai said depressedly: "So as long as we develop, we have to fight?"
Fang Jun nodded: "If you don't hit others, others will hit you."
Ashina Zhong drank a little too much, so he started to talk without thinking: "Just like us Turks... The Han people always complain that we Turks go south from time to time, trample the Great Wall, drink from the Yellow River, burn, kill, plunder and commit all kinds of evil, but don't we have any way to do it! We don't know how to farm, and we don't know how to farm. After all, farming is not as fast as robbing. Back then, Jie Li Khan drank from the Wei River and marched to Chang'an, forcing Emperor Taizong to sign the 'Wei River Alliance' and emptied the entire Guanzhong treasury. The spoils of that battle were more than all the Turks could have saved even if they farmed for a hundred years!"
This is true, but he forgot that there were three Han people present, one of whom was the son of Emperor Taizong...
Li Tai glared, slammed the table fiercely, and cursed: "Barbarians, worse than beasts, all of them should be killed!"
When people talk about the "Weishui Alliance", they always exaggerate how "brave" and "inspiring" Emperor Li II was. Little do people know that Emperor Li II himself regarded it as a great shame and humiliation. Otherwise, he would not have been so impatient to send out several armies to invade the Turks as soon as the country's strength was restored.
As the son of Emperor Li II, he was furious when he saw the Turkic man talking about the "Wei River Alliance".
If Ashina Zhong had not already pledged allegiance to the Tang Dynasty and was considered half his brother-in-law, he would have drawn his sword long ago...
Ashina Zhong was startled, knowing that he had said something wrong, and hurriedly stood up and explained, "I didn't mean to be disrespectful. It's just that when we talked about this, I was moved and said something without thinking... Your Highness, please forgive me!"
