roccoschili Chapter 5410 The Tragedy of Hebei
Chapter 5410 The Tragedy of Hebei
Chapter 5410 The Tragedy of Hebei
In the summer of the seventh year of Renhe (1111).
Even before the height of summer, Guanzhong is already as hot as a furnace.
Last night, a torrential downpour occurred. Outside the window, the courtyard was lush with flowers and trees, a verdant sight. But as the summer sun rose high and the temperature soared, the evaporation of the rain created a sweltering, oppressive heat. Just a few steps were enough to leave one drenched in sweat.
Inside the Ministry of Personnel's official residence, Fang Jun and Li Ji sat facing each other.
Ma Zhou looked away from the pile of documents and watched Fang Jun across from him drinking tea. The sound of "fu liu fu liu" could be heard incessantly. The weather was hot and the tea was scalding hot, but his face remained normal. Not only was there no trace of sweat, but he also looked relaxed.
This guy's physical condition is truly enviable.
Now over forty, he felt his blood and energy were depleted and he was declining day by day. Even when facing his beautiful concubine at night, he felt powerless. In contrast, the woman in front of him was not yet thirty and was in the prime of a man's life. She was dashing and charming all day long, which inevitably made him feel "decrepit".
These things are fine, but what's even more concerning is that once all the meritorious officials of the Zhenguan era have declined and passed away, Fang Jun will be at the peak of his physical strength and wisdom. Looking around the court, who can control him?
If this fellow had lived longer, he might have even held immense power in the court for thirty years…
Fang Jun noticed Ma Zhou's gaze, put down his teacup and smiled, "The Prime Minister came to ask me for tea, but he didn't even drink a sip of the tea when it got cold. He just wanted to ask for these naval data. I wonder what his purpose is?"
Since Ma Zhou became the Grand Secretary, the two have minimized contact and have not been this close for a long time.
Ma Zhou rubbed his temples and asked, "I've heard that the navy has opened up salt fields in the Lutai area and built a city and port at the river mouth?"
Fang Jun nodded: "That place is a military port and does not involve the north-south canal transport, so it was not reported to the State Affairs Hall."
The city and port they built were located in Tianjin, which is known as the "lower reaches of nine rivers" and the "estuary of three seas". Building a military port there could cover most of Hebei and Henan provinces. Whether for military deterrence or for the future development of canal transport, it would be the most important port in the north.
Now that Ma Zhou has become the Grand Secretary and Pei Huaijie has become the Attendant-in-Ordinary, the political procedures are very formal. If an application is made to build a port, it would have to go through multiple stages such as discussion, project approval, preparation, and construction, which would take a long time and be full of twists and turns. Therefore, Fang Jun simply ordered the navy to build it in the name of a military port.
Although the navy today sails the seas and never sets foot on land, it has long since become a behemoth. Its efficiency in mobilizing resources and gathering craftsmen far surpasses that of the imperial court.
Ma Zhou said, "It's one thing for you to build military ports and salt fields, but why send the people of Hebei overseas one after another? It is said that this year alone, no less than 100,000 people have been sent to Jiang and Jin. If this continues, nine out of ten households in Hebei will be empty. How can this be tolerated?"
Fang Jun poured him a cup of tea and asked in return, "Does the Prime Minister know the current situation in Hebei?"
He paused, and without waiting for Ma Zhou's reply, he continued, "Since the end of the Sui Dynasty, the land of Hebei has been filled with starving corpses and countless lives lost. Emperor Yang of Sui's three campaigns against Goguryeo conscripted all the laborers and able-bodied men of Hebei, resulting in disastrous defeats. Countless Hebei men either died in Liaodong or were captured and never returned. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, instead of allowing the land of Hebei to recover and recuperate, the Tang Dynasty imposed heavy taxes and levies, compounded by years of drought and floods, making life unbearable for the people... Do you think the people of Hebei can still survive?"
The foundation of the Tang Dynasty originated in Guanzhong, and the conflicts and hatred between the Guanzhong aristocratic families and the Hebei families had a long history. In addition, at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Dou Jiande occupied Hebei and pointed his sword at Guanzhong, resulting in a series of battles and deep-seated hatred. As a result, after the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, it suppressed Hebei in various ways, not only without providing any assistance, but also increasing taxes year after year, leading to the people's suffering.
Although the power of the Guanlong aristocratic families has declined, the inertia of their policies cannot be eliminated in the short term.
Ma Zhou was somewhat annoyed: "I know all that you're saying, but what will happen to the land of Hebei if all the people of Hebei are relocated to overseas vassal states?"
The plains stretch for thousands of miles but no one cultivates them. Why then do we want to relocate people overseas to cultivate wasteland? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?
Fang Jun laughed and said, "You are the Grand Secretary and the Prime Minister, that's your problem, what does it have to do with me? I just can't bear to see the people of Hebei suffering, so I provided people and money to send them out to find a way to survive. This was also a promise His Majesty made when he granted the princes fiefdoms and established their own states."
Whether out of brotherly affection or for personal gain, when Li Chengqian permitted the princes to go to sea and assume their fiefdoms, he promised that the court would not obstruct them as long as there were people willing to follow.
Otherwise, wouldn't that mean sending the kings overseas to live among barbarians?
Ma Zhou angrily said, "You've taken everyone away and left me with a mess. This is outrageous! Knowing you as I do, you would never do anything to benefit yourself at the expense of the public. Besides, you always plan carefully before you act, so you must have a solution to this!"
Fang Jun shook his head: "I can't help it."
Ma Zhou's eyes were piercing: "You definitely have it!"
"Really not!"
"Very well! Then I will submit a memorial to His Majesty to resign and recommend you for the position of Grand Secretary! I believe not only His Majesty will be extremely pleased, but the entire court and the people will also rejoice!"
"..."
Fang Jun was taken aback.
It has to be said that Ma Zhou's move hit his weak spot.
If Ma Zhou were to resign and recommend him for the position of Grand Secretary, would His Majesty agree?
It wasn't just that he was happy; Li Chengqian was probably dancing with joy inside the Taiji Palace!
Throughout history, the greatest constraint and threat to imperial power has been military power. As for the power of the prime minister, no matter how powerful it is, it cannot threaten the foundation of imperial power. If Fang Jun becomes prime minister or Grand Secretary, he must give up military power if he does not want to be condemned by the people. Otherwise, the people will surely rise up against him. "Purge the emperor's inner circle" is not an empty promise.
The civil officials in the court deeply resented the strength of the military under Fang Jun's leadership, and would definitely try to "elevate" him to the position of prime minister if given the chance.
Ma Zhou, who voluntarily resigned, would not only not be regarded as a "coward" or a "weakling," but could even be hailed as a hero who "sacrificed himself for the country" and be highly respected. His name and deeds would be widely circulated and recorded in history.
Fang Jun asked doubtfully, "You're not serious, are you? To be honest, have you been thinking about this for a long time?"
Ma Zhou's attitude was firm: "If you can't come up with a solution to the predicament in Hebei, then don't blame me for being disloyal!"
He had a very close personal relationship with Fang Jun and knew each other well. He naturally knew that Fang Jun was most impatient with these trivial matters of official documents. Making him stay in the Secretariat from dawn till dusk to handle government affairs and face mountains of books was worse than killing him.
Therefore, he did not believe that Fang Jun would refuse to comply.
Fang Jun stared at Ma Zhou suspiciously for a long time, unable to discern his thoughts from his expression, and dared not bet that he was just joking.
This person's belief in "serving the country wholeheartedly" is quite pure. If he truly felt that Fang Jun was more suitable to be the prime minister, he was very likely to resign and step down...
He sighed and said with a wry smile, "I may seem to have great authority now, but in reality I am constantly on guard and walking on thin ice. Why must you put me in the eye of the storm and subject me to criticism?"
Ma Zhou raised an eyebrow, realizing that Fang Jun indeed had a solution. He then said solemnly, "The chronic problem in Hebei is not related to population, nor to policy, but to the poison inflicted by local powerful families. When the Prince of Jin rebelled, powerful families in Hedong, Henan, and even Shandong all responded, only to suffer heavy losses. Only the powerful families in Hebei sat on the sidelines, remaining inactive and still wielding immense power. They continued their exploitation of the people and showed no sign of resisting the imperial decrees. If this situation is not broken, it will inevitably become too powerful to control and cause a major disaster. Now that you, Grand Commandant, have been able to save the people of Hebei from their suffering, how can you sit idly by and watch Hebei degenerate? A true man has things he will not do and things he must do. Why should he care about public opinion? Where the truth lies, I will go even if it means facing a million men!"
The situation in Hebei can be described as a "lawless land," where powerful families banded together for mutual support, relying on their own resources and the strength rooted in every prefecture, county, and countryside to resist the imperial court.
The ambitious infrastructure construction project stalled in Hebei, where local people, encouraged and supported by powerful families, openly defied the imperial decrees, while the central government was powerless to stop it.
This is the power of aristocratic families.
If it weren't for the rebellion of Changsun Wuji and the plot of the Prince of Jin, which dealt a heavy blow to the powerful clans in Guanzhong, Hedong, Henan, Shandong, and Jiangnan, how could the government's decrees be so effective today?
We can't exactly mobilize the army to wipe out the powerful families of Hebei, can we?
If that were done, not only would Hebei be engulfed in flames of war and utter devastation, but the other powerful clans that had already been lying low would surely rise up in response, with unimaginable consequences...
Fang Jun said helplessly, "It's not that I'm afraid of those slanders and attacks, but rather that I'm not in a position to do anything. Why should I bear the responsibility of your position as Grand Secretary?"
"I will go and resign my post to His Majesty right now, and ask you to take on the position of Grand Secretary. That will be your responsibility!"
"Okay, okay..."
Fang Jun quickly waved his hand to stop him, saying, "The solution is actually not difficult. Please allow me to transport some of the people from Hebei out of the province. When the population is incomplete and the population is scarce, we can then fill Hebei with people from Guanzhong."
Ma Zhou was taken aback: "How can this be?"
Fang Jun shrugged: "You know it's wrong, huh? Then why did you force me to say it!"
Ma Zhou clicked his tongue, but in his heart he was weighing the pros and cons.
"There are two difficulties in relocating people from Guanzhong to Hebei. First, which people whose ancestors lived in Guanzhong would be willing to leave their homes and go to Hebei? Second, how could the powerful families of Hebei allow the navy to transport the people of Hebei away? I wonder how the Grand Commandant will manage this?"
Since he had already brought it up, Fang Jun decided to be frank: "The first point is very simple. The court only needs to issue a decree that the land acquired by people going to Hebei will be double the current amount, and that they will be exempt from taxes for three years. The people of Guanzhong will naturally flock to it."
Today, the Guanzhong Plain is overdeveloped, and the land burden is too heavy and is getting worse. It can no longer support too many people. Otherwise, the Eastern Capital would not have been built and Luoyang would not have been rebuilt. The purpose was to balance the increasingly serious food crisis in Guanzhong.
When the people, burdened by heavy responsibilities, see all the benefits of going to Hebei, how could they not go?
Saying you can't bear to leave your homeland is all meaningless in the face of survival...
Ma Zhou then asked, "How do we solve the second problem?"
(End of this chapter)