Chapter 480 Prepare for a rainy day

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

After Zhang Yue received Du Ling, he rested for one night at Bailongyi and had the morning meal the next day before setting off to return west.

Because of Chi Dao's presence, the group of people had arrived at Loulan City at noon on the third day.

Du Ling recalled the scene when he first came to the Western Regions and couldn't help but sigh: "How fast!"

When Zhang Yue heard this, he suddenly recalled the scene twenty years ago.

He couldn't help but look at the Peacock River, recalling the scene in the past when he and Li Si planned to open up the Western Regions.

Seeing this, Yang You stepped forward and said, "The Lord has remembered Mr. Li!"

Zhang Yue nodded and sighed: "Things are different and people are different!"

Yang You persuaded: "I think Li Gongquan has some knowledge. He should be happy to know the current situation in the Western Regions!"

Du Ling also sighed: "What General Yang Lang said is true. Li Gongruo will also be happy to see the Western Regions today!"

Zhang Yue nodded silently,

At this moment, a group of people came out of the city to greet them. When everyone looked up, it turned out that Dong Fei was coming with his people.

"Your Majesty, Duke Du enters the city!"

Dong Fei rode up to Zhang Yue and others and bowed his hands.

Zhang Yue then turned around and said to the crowd: "Masters, let's enter the city!"

That night, Dong Fei, as a landlord, held a banquet in Loulan to welcome everyone.

It could be said that the guests and hosts had a great time that night, but Dong Fei's casual words at the banquet made Zhang Yue fall into deep thought again.

"Is there anything unwell, Your Majesty?"

After everyone went back to their rooms to rest, Yang You asked Zhang Yue in a low voice.

Zhang Yue shook his head, and then climbed to the top of the building step by step.

Yang You, who was worried, also followed suit.

The evening breeze blew by, and Zhang Yue felt that his mind was extremely clear at this moment.

I don't know how long it took, but Zhang Yue finally came back from his thoughts.

He suddenly said to Yang You: "Yang You, do you think that someone should avenge Li Gong?"

Yang You was shocked at first when he heard this, and then asked: "Hasn't the Lord already avenged Li Gong?"

Zhang Yue smiled slightly and looked at Yang You without saying anything.

Yang You looked ashamed under Zhang Yue's gaze.

"The princes and princes are powerful against each other. If they really want to avenge Li Gong, the world may be uneasy!"

Yang You hesitated for a moment and said, "Maybe you can figure it out slowly!"

Zhang Yue nodded and sighed: "Think slowly, it's easier said than done..."

Yang Youdao: "If the monarch can control the Chang'an court, he should do it..."

The two were talking when footsteps came from downstairs.

"Why doesn't Mr. Du take a rest?"

Zhang Yue looked at Du Ling who was climbing the stairs and asked.

"Didn't the Lord have no rest?" Du Ling smiled.

Zhang Yue pointed at the hazy mountains and rivers under the moonlight.

"Who does Du Gong think will own this great Han Dynasty a hundred years from now?"

Du Ling knew that there must be something behind Zhang Yue's question, so he just stared at Zhang Yue without saying anything.

Sure enough, after a while Zhang Yue said again: "What does Duke Du think of the powerful people in Guandong?"

Du Ling said: "The powerful people in Guandong must be suppressed, otherwise the foundation of the Han Dynasty will be shaken!"

Zhang Yue agreed: "What Duke Du said is true, but how can we suppress it?"

When Du Ling heard this, he smiled bitterly: "This is what Zheng Ling wants to ask the prince for advice!"

Zhang Yue sighed and asked Yang You, "Yang You, what do you think you should do?"

Yang You had never considered these things before. Hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, and then said: "I think the system of Lingxian implemented by the Han Dynasty is quite good!"

Du Ling sighed and said: "Although the system of Ling County is good, it is no longer sustainable!"

Yang You asked in confusion: "Why can't it be maintained anymore?"

Du Ling looked at Zhang Yue at this time.

Zhang Yue looked into the distance, "After the emperor, Chang'an has been unable to suppress powerful forces..."

Yang You was shocked: "How could it be so?"

Zhang Yuedao: "Before Xiaojing, the Han Dynasty was able to suppress the powerful mainly because of the power of the princes and the system of Lingxian..."

"With the power of the princes combined with the system of Lingxian County, there is not much room for development of powerful forces... The peasants can rely on their own land to be self-sufficient... This is how the rule of Wenjing came..."

"Emperor Xiaojing and the previous emperors' reduction in status seemed to strengthen the power of the central government, but it also made the local governments unable to suppress powerful families..."

"The former emperor could still forcibly move powerful people into Maoling... However, as the powerful people became more powerful... the power of local counties has slowly fallen into the hands of powerful families... Chang'an has actually become difficult to..."

Du Ling added, "An even more important point is that local powerful forces have begun to get involved in the Chang'an court..."

Yang Youdao: "You know this, virtuous literature is the representative of local power!"

Du Ling said: "What General Yang Lang said is both right and wrong!"

Yang You paid homage and said, "Please ask Duke Du for advice. Naturally, virtuous literature is the representative of local powerful people in Chang'an..."

Du Ling sighed: "Now that your Majesty has increased the number of doctors to a hundred people, the power of local powerful people in Chang'an has increased several times..."

"But what is even more dangerous is that the military heroes have also begun to compromise with virtuous literature. This is an even more dangerous signal!"

Yang You said: "Can't General Huo Guang see this?"

Zhang Yuedao: "Huo Guang can naturally see this, but Huo Guang is not an emperor, and Huo Guang is a politician... He pays more attention to compromise and exchange..."

"Huo Guang's approach is far from wrong. In a short period of time, it can bring harmony and stability within the Han Dynasty. However, this only temporarily hides the conflicts. One day the conflicts will break out more intensely."

Yang Youdao: "Isn't there a good solution?"

Zhang Yue said: "Unless you use force, the risk is too high!"

Du Ling said: "Yes, if we suppress the powerful forces, there will probably be another Seven Kingdoms Rebellion!"

Yang Youdao: "Isn't there a better way?"

Zhang Yue hesitated after hearing this.

Du Ling said: "Since you have a better way, why don't you tell me about it?"

Zhang Yue said: "I don't know how to do this!"

Du Ling said thoughtfully: "The prince wants to practice feudalism again!"

Yang You was surprised and said: "Let's go back to feudalism!"

Zhang Yue nodded slightly: "What I can think of for the time being is to use the nobles to suppress the powerful... but this method is not conducive to centralization of power!"

Du Ling nodded and said: "The princes and emperors are the same!"

"This method can indeed suppress local tyrants and maintain local stability, but its shortcomings are also obvious... As the power of the aristocracy increases, the power of the central government will also be threatened... In the long run, the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period may reappear!"

Zhang Yue said: "Du Gong is indeed a wise man!"

Du Ling shook his head and said: "Compared with the princes, I am far behind..."

Zhang Yue waved his hand and said: "Du Gong is too modest!"

The three of them unknowingly talked upstairs for nearly two hours. It was not until the third watch that the three of them went back to their rooms after being reminded by the servants.

In the next few days, neither Zhang Yue nor Du Ling discussed this topic in advance.

The group stayed in Loulan for four days and set off again to Luntai.
Chapter completed!