The second branch of the Cui family in Boling started from Cui Zhongfang, the former Minister of Rites of the Sui Dynasty. Cui Zhongfang had two sons, the eldest son Cui Tao, the father of Cui Dunli, the father of Cui Yuqing, the second son Cui Ling, and the father of the only son Cui Chengfu.
In the entire Bolingcui clan, the second family is considered a prominent family and carries a considerable weight.
However, Cui Yuqing's violent death in the Shenheyuan Manor in the south of Chang'an City shocked the entire Boling Cui family. The second family was even more angry and vaguely drew a clear line with the family. Cui Dunli did his own thing in the court and did not obey the family's orders at all...
This is something that the entire Bolingcui family cannot allow, and the pressure this puts on the second house can be imagined.
Faced with heavy pressure, Cui Tao did not choose to give in. Instead, he appointed Cui Chengfu to go to Chang'an to secretly meet with Cui Dunli to confirm the cause of Cui Yuqing's death.
If it had nothing to do with the Shandong nobles, Cui Dunli would naturally be ordered to obey orders and not violate the arrangements of the Shandong nobles.
But if it is confirmed that Cui Yuqing's death was an internal act of the Shandong nobles, with the intention of using a "bitter flesh trick" to coerce the Boling Cui family's second wife, then we have to take a long-term approach...
…
Dark clouds gradually accumulated and the sky gradually darkened. Cui Dunli's straight but isolated figure walked out of the manor, feeling extremely depressed.
The concept of "family first" passed down from generation to generation of the aristocratic family has indeed made the family stronger and stronger. With accumulated accumulation, it can grab more resources to feed the children of the family. As soon as the children of the aristocratic family are born, they are destined to rely on the family's power and support. The foundation has reached the pinnacle of life.
Whether you become an official or study behind closed doors, you can obtain resources that children from poor families cannot obtain in their lifetime.
However, behind all these seemingly blooming flowers and increasing advancement, there is the loss of family affection and the annihilation of human nature.
Everything is based on the word profit. For the sake of profit, we fight with outsiders and also fight with our own people.
When struggle is everywhere, how can we talk about brotherhood and blood ties? Father and son can turn against each other, brothers can turn against each other, and husband and wife can become enemies...
This is true for a family, and it is true for a country.
Dynasties rise and fall, imperial powers change, and kingdoms and societies come and go. How can aristocratic families escape from their nests?
…
On the way back to Chang'an from Shenheyuan, Cui Dunli opened the car curtain and looked at the suddenly gloomy sky outside. He told the servant driving the car: "There is no need to go back to the city. Let's go to Lishan Fangjia Farm first."
"Here."
The coachman took the order and continued forward to cross the river from Fangjiawan Pier. After that, he did not go straight north to Chang'an, but turned eastward along the river bank and rushed to Lishan Mountain.
Cui Dunli was sitting in the car, looking at the busy transportation of goods along the river and the densely packed merchant ships parked on the river, and suddenly felt emotional.
Everyone is saying that Fangjun has the Midas touch, especially the Fangjiawan Wharf, which has almost a monopoly on the import and export of goods in Guanzhong. It can be said that money is made every day. I don’t know how many people are jealous and wish they could just take it and enjoy it. The source of wealth has also achieved the reputation of being the richest in the world.
But who has seen that it is this wharf that has caused the total amount of goods entering and leaving Guanzhong to increase more than ten times compared with the early years of Zhenguan?
The substantial increase in commodity trade not only brought abundant tax revenue to the court, but also created hundreds of thousands of jobs. This time, hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the flood in Guanzhong. Their homes were destroyed, the fields were barren, and they had no food and clothing. Even though How can it be completely solved with the help of the imperial court? In previous years, these people who lost their farmland and property would have either become refugees and begged in various counties in Guanzhong, which not only cost the imperial government money and food relief, but also posed hidden dangers to public security; or they would have had to join a wealthy family. As slaves, they have been reduced to a lowly status for generations, and their descendants have their blood and sweat squeezed, their bones broken and their marrow sucked out.
But now, it is the prosperous merchant trade that has attracted these disaster victims. Although the family still has no permanent property, they can earn money and food with both hands to support the whole family.
The policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business since ancient times is certainly correct.
Without farmers, there is instability. Farmers can produce more food to feed more people, making the country more prosperous. However, businessmen do not engage in production, and travel around to earn the price difference from farmers' output. This can be said to absorb the blood and sweat of farmers, which is extremely bad. Moreover, businessmen are very profit-oriented. , the idea of having no family and country is disgusted and feared by rulers.
But the sword has two edges. If the country wants to be rich, it cannot do without business.
If merchants can be controlled from hoarding goods and speculating, so that they can not only contribute to the circulation of goods in various places, but also increase taxes and attract refugees, how can the country not be rich and strong?
Of course, the sages of ancient and modern times may not have been unable to see such a way out, but no one has ever succeeded, which shows how difficult the operation is.
But no matter what, there is finally a ray of light to eliminate all the shortcomings of the government...
The carriage went around half of Chang'an City, and when it passed Ba Bridge, a drizzle began to fall in the sky. Cars and horses were rattling on the official road along the way, and pedestrians were in a hurry.
At the foot of Lishan Mountain, follow the cement-paved road straight up the mountain. There are criss-crossing roads on the slopes on both sides of the road. There are water channels everywhere. The leaves of crops stretch high and high in the drizzle, and are as green as ink. Countless tall water carts are framed on the hillside. Everywhere, river water from low places is continuously pumped to high places and poured into ponds for irrigation.
This once barren land in the mountains with wild trees and weeds had already become one of the most fertile farmlands in Guanzhong after it belonged to the Fang family.
Fang Jun is also outstanding in the way of agriculture...
When they arrived at the gate of Fangjiazhuangzi, a member of the Fangjia family came forward to inquire. When they learned that it was Cui Dunli who was visiting, he quickly ushered the carriage into the entrance hall and went inside to report.
Cui Dunli got out of the car and sat down, then followed the returning servants into the village.
…
"It's a blessing for you, An. Some seafood has just been delivered from the East China Sea. I asked someone to deliver some to Princess Jinyang in the palace. There is still a lot left. Let's just have a few drinks."
Fang Jun, dressed in regular clothes and with a cheerful face, warmly entertained Cui Dunli.
Cui Dunli smiled and said: "The fresh goods from the East China Sea are sent to Chang'an all the way, and it costs a lot of money. But ordinary people can't afford it. The Duke of Yue should enjoy it behind closed doors, and the lower officials come uninvited. It costs a lot of money for you to entertain me like this." Could it be that he has become a bad guest?"
Although he was Fang Jun's subordinate and their titles were completely different, they always got along casually.
Fang Jun laughed and invited Cui Dunli to sit down for tea, and then said meaningfully: "Nowadays, powerful people from Shandong and Jiangnan are entering the court, occupying many central government offices, and their power is overwhelming. They dominate the court. I don't know how many people are groveling to please me. How can I I have this opportunity to show my courtesy to An Shang, but I don’t know how many people dream of it.”
Cui Dunli seemed not to understand the meaning of these words. He took a sip of tea with a smile, then met Fang Jun's eyes, and then said slowly: "That will disappoint you, Lord Yue. The Shandong family is a Shandong family. Xiaguan is Xiaguan. Although the two are involved, they cannot be confused with each other. To be honest, before coming here, Xiaguan had just met someone from the clan. The detailed discussion was not pleasant, and they were annoyed with each other. It was almost like breaking up with each other. Ruoyue The Duke wants to use Xiaguan's side to show his favor to the Shandong family, but I'm afraid he will be disappointed."
Although his meeting with Cui Chengfu was secret, it was impossible to hide it from the eyes and ears of the "Hundred Cavalry Division". After all, as the actual controller of the Ministry of War, both His Majesty and all the forces in the DPRK and China must strictly monitor him.
If you can't hide it from "Baiqisi", you can't hide it from your majesty. You can't hide it from Dong Gong and Fang Jun. Others don't know that Li Junxian is closely involved with Dong Palace in private, but he, as Fang Jun's confidant, knows it very well...
Fang Jun laughed.
It is so easy and comfortable for smart people to do things together, and they can understand each other's thoughts. As long as you are willing, you can eliminate all suspicions and misunderstandings in advance.
Obviously, when Cui Dunli met with his clan members today, the other party must have brought an order from the clan, and this order was reached after deliberation among all the Shandong aristocratic families, but Cui Dunli has already rejected it.
It is not difficult to guess that this order must be at the expense of Cui Dunli's interests, but to maximize the interests of the Bolingcui family and even the Shandong family...
But since he chose the East Palace route, Cui Dunli didn't want to cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so he came to clarify today.
Even if the news of his meeting with his family spreads afterwards, Fang Jun and everyone in the East Palace will not be suspicious.
The drizzle was gurgling outside the window, and seafood dishes were served on the table. The two sat opposite each other, opened a jar of rice wine and drank...
Fang Jun picked up the wine glass and toasted Cui Dunli. Cui Dunli quickly put down his chopsticks to clink the glass with both hands and drank it all in one gulp. When he put down the wine glass and took a mouthful of stewed yellow croaker and put it into his mouth, he heard Fang Jun ask: "Now that the East Palace is declining, it is easy to store
The matter has long been irreversible... As a good bird chooses a tree to roost, why does An Shang stand so firmly on the side of the East Palace?"
In the officialdom, political ideas are sometimes very important. Once you serve as an official, you must leave some achievements engraved in the history books to live up to your life.
But sometimes it is not so important. After all, being an official is to gain power. If you lose power and have no power, what can you do?
Going with the flow is the norm, but going against the trend makes a difference.
Cui Dunli swallowed the fresh and smooth fish meat, held the pot to fill the wine glasses in front of the two of them, and said with a smile: "Rather than saying that Xiaguan is standing on the side of the East Palace, it is better to say that I am standing on the side of Duke Yue... Xiaguan does not dare to commit suicide. He is worse than the sages of ancient times, but he has always been in a noble mood and refused to follow the crowd."
After a pause, he continued: "If the King of Jin becomes the crown prince, it is conceivable that the old system of the Sui Dynasty will be restored. The government is controlled by the noble families. Orders come from the top, but they are not allowed to go to the countryside. This world is said to be the world of the Tang Dynasty.
It is better to say that the world belongs to aristocratic families. And the foundation of aristocratic families lies in the interests of the family. It is the proper intention to harm the public and enrich one's private life. Don't look at the prosperity of the empire now, but no matter how powerful a country is, how can it withstand the wealth of the aristocratic family members?
Rats are digging endlessly day after day? Maybe in fifty years, maybe in a hundred years, the Tang Dynasty will break through hundreds of holes like previous dynasties, collapse suddenly, and fall into the mortar of the rise and fall of dynasties and the rise and fall of dynasties...
So what’s the point of all the hard work we have put in today to make the empire prosperous?”
From ancient times to the present, China has never lacked talents with outstanding vision.
It's just that the existence of aristocratic families makes these people with outstanding vision willing to follow the trend, strengthen the small family and ignore everyone else.
When the aristocratic family collapsed and the family declined, Confucianism once again occupied the court and controlled the way of speech.
Only respecting Confucianism and deposing hundreds of schools of thought makes Confucianism become a "family clan" in another sense. It only knows how to constantly exclude dissidents and seize power. Who cares about all the living beings in China, and who cares about the rise and fall of empires?