Fang Fengnian stood on the bow of the boat and looked at the city. He recalled that when he came to Yanzhou for the first time, he came here to take the scholar exam. At that time, his family had no money to take him by car or boat, so he walked from Sui'an to Yanzhou to take the exam.
Fortunately, he passed the exam once. Later, when he went to Hangzhou to take the exam, he still had no money, so he walked another four hundred miles to Hangzhou to take the exam.
I recall that time, although his family was poor, he was young and full of ideals. His mother died when he was seven years old, and his father began to teach him the I Ching when he was eight years old. He often studied until late at night, and was beaten when he failed to complete his homework. He was beaten and hid under the table.
He walked four hundred miles to Hangzhou to take the exam, and after he finished the exam, he walked back home. When he got home, the government official who announced the good news had already arrived at Fang's house to announce the good news before him.
He passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-seven and became a Jinshi at the age of thirty-seven. In the Ming Dynasty, Fang Fengnian's road to the imperial examination was very smooth. Looking back at the time when he was the editor of the Hanlin Academy and the examiner of the Huguang Provincial Examination, he mocked Wei Zhongxian for being a scourge to the country, and was eventually beaten.
At that time, he was so full of ideals.
Looking back now, I find that during the two months in Shaoxing, I was busy with internal fighting and only wanted to compete for the position of chief minister. Now that I was ordered to serve as an official, I returned to my hometown and sailed alone on the river, walking on the same route that I left my hometown.
On the way, he thought quietly and couldn't help but feel ashamed.
He was only sixty years old this year. He was still in the prime of life and could be valued by Lu Jianguo. He was called into the industry to work in the cabinet. This was originally an opportunity to serve the king and save the country, but he was busy with internal fighting within the party.
Looking back, I feel regretful and guilty.
pier.
Only then could he bring his nephew to greet him.
"uncle!"
Fang Fengnian came to worship him. When he was young, his father taught him very strictly and often punished him with sticks. He would hide under the table after beatings. His uncle Fang Kezhi often spoke for him and defended him. He even accompanied him when he came to Yanzhou to take exams.
Came here to take the exam.
"Shutian, you are back. Our family is about to be destroyed. You have to make the decision for us."
"What happened, uncle, tell me slowly."
Fang Ke Zhiru found a supporter, took his nephew's hand and told him about the recent grievances he had suffered.
Fang Fengnian listened quietly without feeling very angry.
"Uncle, go back to the city first and wait until I pay homage to the prisoner."
"Jian Guo is too cruel. They are trying to force us to death. They have more than 50,000 stone grains, and they also have to collect 12% of the fire consumption. Where can we get it?"
Fang Fengnian didn't answer the call. He knew that the Fang family could actually afford these now. Although not all of the more than 10,000 acres of land under Fang Ke's direct name belonged to him, the Fang family also ran the tea and grain business, and the granary contained
There was a lot of grain, pawnshops, banks, etc., and there were several cellars of money buried underground.
He was surprised by what Jian Guo did in Yanzhou, but he was not in a hurry to express his position.
After Fang Guoan was executed and dismissed from his post, he calmed down and thought a lot, and his mentality changed a lot.
Fang Fengnian, who was dressed in Tsing Yi and had white hair and beard, led his donkey into the city. Someone at the city gate had already informed Zhu Yihai of the news.
Fang Fengnian came directly to see him after entering the city.
"I will go and greet you personally."
Zhu Yihai came to greet him at the door, which surprised Fang Fengnian. The last time he met Zhu Yihai was in Jiaxing. At that time, their cabinet ministers crossed the sea to chase the supervisor and wanted to invite him back to Shaoxing. However, the supervisor made no boasts about the Northern Expedition.
, Looking back now, the Supervisor has done what he said, but he, a great bachelor, has failed to live up to the trust and trust of the Supervisor.
"Old minister, I am ashamed to show you to Your Highness." Fang Fengnian lowered his head in shame.
Zhu Yihai supported him and said, "Young master, don't talk about this anymore."
Holding Fang Fengnian's hand and entering the house, Zhu Yihai even poured him a cup of tea, "Nandu was destroyed, and Fang Gong committed suicide in the Shaoxing temple with a hunger strike. He devoted himself to sacrificing his country and keeping the integrity. This loyalty moved me. After that, he was able to go out to help fight against the captives.
It’s even more valuable.”
Fang Fengnian shook his head in shame, "I am ignorant and have betrayed His Highness's trust. I should not fight for fame and fortune and attack the chief minister of the Song Dynasty."
"Forget it, let's not talk about that."
Zhu Yihai initially appointed him to the cabinet because, firstly, Fang Fengnian had served as the chief minister of Chongzhen, secondly, he was commendable for his loyalty when he committed suicide on hunger strike in Shaoxing, and thirdly, the general Fang Guoan, who held a heavy army at the time, was his adopted son. Based on several points, Zhu Yihai
Only then did he become a great scholar in the cabinet, and he also wanted to use his reputation to strengthen his position as governor of the country.
In any case, although Fang Fengnian's performance was average, he still did some things in Shaoxing and helped stabilize this banner. As for uniting with Chen Meng, and even secretly united with Fang Guoan, he wanted to oust Song Zhipu and become the chief minister himself.
, although this kind of thing is disappointing, it is actually normal.
Although he has always said that he does not want internal strife within the party, this kind of thing cannot be avoided at any time.
He is now deposing Fang Fengnian just to discuss the matter. After Fang Guoan was executed, he always wanted to clean up the forces related to him. At the same time, by deposing Fang Fengnian again, he reminded everyone of his aversion to party strife.
Fang Fengnian just wanted to be the first assistant, and he did not say that he secretly wanted to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, or had any intention of being disrespectful and disadvantageous to Zhu Yihai, so he just allowed him to serve.
"Mr. Fang, the Ming Dynasty is now in a critical situation due to internal and external troubles. I am alone in Yanzhou and want to start drastic reforms. How do I start to carry out these reforms now? What do you think of Mr. Fang?"
Fang Fengnian said bluntly, "It is indeed time to make changes. During His Highness's Northern Expedition, Shaoxing was struggling to maintain itself. Although it was supported by all the provinces, it had no troops and no food. It was only possible to rely on donations and persuasion.
A temporary plan. If His Highness hadn't opened up the situation in Sanwu and diverted the attention of the Tartars, I'm afraid we wouldn't have been able to survive here."
"The guards are in ruins, the gentry is in arrears with taxes, and supporting the vassal is indeed a major problem. Your Highness can see it and propose a reform method. I think it is very clever."
"But reform will touch the interests of many people."
Fang Fengnian stood up and said, "As soon as I arrived in Yanzhou, I met my uncle Ke Zhigong who came to pick me up. He told me about the Fang family. Although Ke Zhigong was my uncle, I still supported His Highness's decision. Regardless of what happened before.
It is wrong to follow some bad rules and practices, not to mention that now that the country is facing a crisis, we, the Ming gentry family, should work together with the country."
"The Fang family should make up for the fine of more than 50,000 shi of grain. I will immediately arrange for the family to hand it over and ensure that it will be paid within half a month, and then raise another 100,000 taels of silver to the court."
Zhu Yihai was slightly surprised when he heard this. Fang Fengnian's consciousness was a little too high. He thought he was here to bargain with his old man, and was even prepared to give him a little face.
Who would have thought that people would be willing to add a whole penny without deducting a penny.
More than 50,000 stones of grain and 100,000 taels of silver were paid within half a month.
This is not a small amount, even for Fang Fengnian, who has been the chief assistant, it is probably a large amount of family wealth.
But Fang Fengnian continued, "I will lead the Fang family to return all the original guard fields and government official fields under the family's name. No matter how they were resold, they will all be dedicated back to the imperial court. In addition, they were donated before and sent to the imperial court."
All the fields under our name will be cleared away on our own initiative."
"The Fang family will also mobilize their children to join the army to protect the family and the country."
Zhu Yihai looked at the gray-haired Fang Fengnian and didn't know how to answer the question.
"Mr. Fang."
"Your Highness, I also heard about many tragedies in the Central Plains in Shaoxing. They fell into the hands of the Tartars. They were forced to shave their heads and change clothes. They were forced to change their clothes and be polite. They did not keep their clothes and even their life and dignity. If the country is destroyed, the family will not survive."
"Money is an external possession. When the Tatars come, money will become a disaster. It is better to use it where it should be used. It can be regarded as a contribution of the Fang family."
After what he said, Zhu Yihai planned to immediately appoint him as a bachelor in the cabinet, and even made him the first assistant. This realization was too correct.
"Your Highness, the Ming Dynasty's resurgence will begin with your highness, and the resurgence will begin with the reform of Yanzhou, so let the veteran lead the Fang family to set an example."
Zhu Yihai applauded happily and said, "Please pay homage to Mr. Fang!"
After saying that, he stood up and bowed seriously.
Fang Fengnian quickly stepped aside and did not dare to accept it. The monarch and his ministers talked happily, and Zhu Yihai finally personally walked Fang Fengnian to the door.
Fang Kezhi had been waiting outside the door, and when he saw Jian Guo escorting him out in person with a smile on his face, he felt relieved.
"how?"
"We've negotiated, fifty thousand shi of grain and one hundred thousand taels of silver. We'll collect them together and deliver them as soon as we get back. We need to be quick." Fang Fengnian said with a smile.
Fang Kezhi was shocked and almost thought he heard wrongly. Why did he keep talking more and more?
"Shutian, what's going on?"
"Uncle, you heard me right, hurry up and raise food and money."
