Chapter 103: After Mo Chi, who can be the prime minister? (4000 words, two chapters in one)

Under the instruction of Emperor Wu, Xu Ming's letter of refusal of engagement had spread throughout Wudu and even the entire Wu Kingdom.

At the beginning, many people were shocked when they heard that Xu Ming broke off the engagement and defied the order.

Emperor Wu wanted to hand over his most beloved daughter to you, but you refused? Some people thought Xu Ming was too arrogant, ungrateful, and even arrogant.

Some people admire Xu Ming even more, because Xu Ming's breaking off of the engagement shows that Xu Ming is not obsessed with power and has the pride of a scholar. Xu Ming's image in their hearts has been elevated a lot.

But almost everyone thought that Xu Ming would definitely be punished.

But this divorce letter got out.

The brilliant literary talent and sincere emotions of this letter of refusal made many scholars stand on Xu Ming's side.

yes.

So what if he is a son-in-law? So what if he has a father-in-law who is the most powerful in Wu State?

As a man, you should make achievements on your own, instead of being a canary!

The men of my Wu country should fight on the battlefield instead of hiding behind and cowering.

Xu Ming's divorce letter aroused the sympathy of many aspiring people who did not want to live off others.

If His Majesty wanted to punish Xu Ming, they even thought about writing a petition together.

However, in the end, Emperor Wu not only did not punish Xu Ming, but instead rewarded Xu Ming with 100 taels of gold, ten pieces of Shu silk, and a Ferghana horse from the Northern Wilderness, and conferred Xu Ming the title of civil and military official, the fifth rank.

This was an official position specially set up by Emperor Wu for Xu Ming. Although it had no real power, it sounded like just a title.

But this title contains both the words "civil and military".

It is obvious that one can make a living whether on the civil or military side.

This is the first time in the history of the Wu Dynasty.

Emperor Wu's magnanimity also won unanimous praise from the people. Many people even felt that because of Xu Ming's rejection of the marriage proposal and Emperor Wu's understanding, this incident might very well be recorded in the history of mutual understanding between the monarch and his subjects.

In fact, Emperor Wu gave Xu Ming this sinecure in order to prepare Xu Ming for his future trip to the Rootless Secret Realm.

If Xu Ming were really given some real power, both civil and military officials would need to be distracted.

But what Xu Ming needs to do now is to continuously improve his cultivation.

In less than two years, the Rootless Secret Realm will be opened.

This is the last time the Rootless Secret Realm will be opened, and it will also be a carnival for all geniuses in the world.

For Xu Ming, this is not only a major opportunity, but also concerns the reputation of the Wu State.

Otherwise, when Xu Ming represents the Wu Kingdom to go to the Rootless Secret Realm, if he embarrasses himself, it will be the people of the Wu Kingdom who will be embarrassed.

Xu Ming naturally knew what Emperor Wu meant.

So when he went to the palace to meet the emperor and express his gratitude last time, Xu Ming expressed his desire to go out and gain experience.

Wait until one and a half years later to come back.

Regarding Xu Ming’s idea.

Emperor Wu naturally agreed.

Now that Xu Ming has entered the Heroic Soul Realm, he really needs to go out for a walk to broaden his horizons.

Warriors don't look like monks.

Monks can meditate in seclusion to attain enlightenment, and they don’t need to go anywhere else, as their realm can still improve.

Anyway, as long as the cultivator sticks to his original intention, sticks to his own path, and keeps going forward, his state of mind will not be broken and his cultivation will not fall.

But warriors are different. They need to hone themselves in actual combat again and again, surpass their own limits, and even comprehend their own way of martial arts between life and death.

This is something that no famous teacher can bring to Xu Ming.

Otherwise, why did almost everyone in the Blood Pagoda have many missions every month besides fighting? And each mission was not easy and could lead to death?

That's the reason.

After learning that Xu Ming was going on a long journey, Chen Suya didn't say anything.

As a mother, Chen Suya is proud of her son, but she knows that she has no special abilities.

Even Chen Suya doubted whether Xu Ming was her biological son, because Xu Ming was so outstanding.

But Chen Suya knew that the only thing she could do for her child was to support her child's decision and let her child fly high.

When the child came back, he had a home in a courtyard in Wudu, and his mother was waiting for him there.

As the third place winner in the imperial examination, Emperor Wu asked Xu Pangda what official position he wanted.

Xu Pangda said he wanted to leave Wudu and visit the common people.

Emperor Wu smiled and said "OK", then transferred Xu Pangda to Baihe County in Chongyun County and made him the county magistrate.

Baihe County in Chongyun County seems to be a simple county town to ordinary people.

But it has profound political implications.

Three prime ministers of the Wu State were born in Baihe County.

The official careers of these three prime ministers all started in Baihe County.

Moreover, Baihe County is the hometown of the current prime minister Fang Ling.

Therefore, Emperor Wu appointed Xu Pangda as the magistrate of Baihe County. Many people believed that this was a sign of his intention to make use of Xu Pangda.

When Xu Pangda has accumulated a certain amount of experience as an official and has a certain understanding of the people of Wu State, he will work in other positions for a few more years.

During this period, Emperor Wu would definitely pay special attention to Xu Pangda and constantly test his quality.

If Xu Pangda is found to be a promising talent after assessment, he will be transferred back to Wudu.

At that time, Xu Pangda truly rose to prominence.

In the court, many people were already sighing about the twins of the Xu family. They didn't know what kind of luck the Xu family had to produce such two people! Although many people thought that Xu Pangda was so valued by the Emperor because of his brother Xu Ming.

But those who really know the truth know that this is actually what Mr. Zhang said when he was chatting with Xiao Mochi: "This boy's role in the Wu Kingdom in the future will be no less than yours and mine."

This sentence reached the ears of Emperor Wu through Tingfeng Pavilion.

By then, when Xu Ming has made great contributions to the Wu Kingdom, he will return to the court to be conferred an honor and marry the princess.

Xu Pangda was also transferred back to Wudu to take up an important position. What kind of turmoil will these two brothers stir up in the court of Wu?

As for whether these two brothers would become too powerful in the future and threaten the imperial power, or even usurp the throne, Emperor Wu was not worried at all.

Not to mention that Mr. Zhang vouched for the character of these two brothers.

Unless the ruler of Wu State acts recklessly and his luck is truly over, the destiny of Wu State will not recognize anyone else of Emperor Wu's bloodline.

Not to mention that the Azure Dragon Seal of the Wu Kingdom can only be activated by the current royal bloodline.

If others cannot obtain the recognition of the Azure Dragon Seal, the defense strength of the Wu Kingdom will be reduced by at least a quarter.

Even if Emperor Wu was worried, he was worried that the Xu and Qin families would not know their limits and would form cliques for personal gain, which would not only drag down the reputations of Xu Ming and Xu Pangda, but would also make the entire court a mess.

However, Emperor Wu has already prepared a backup plan. When the day comes when he really wants to use Xu Ming and Xu Pangda, if the Xu and Qin families still don't restrain themselves, they will have to suffer the consequences.

As for the previous friendship with the late emperor, that was before.

The laws of our ancestors have been changed by themselves.

What does the friendship between the late emperor and Duke Xu and Duke Qin mean?

Anyone who hinders the progress of Wu State will be kicked out one by one by the current Emperor Wu!

Just when the heat of Xu Ming's "dissolution of engagement" had not yet died down, another piece of news came out from the court, which became the "hot search" for Xu Ming.

Prime Minister Fang Ling submitted a letter of resignation, wishing to return to his hometown to enjoy his remaining years in peace.

Xu Ming didn't know much about Prime Minister Fang, but not long ago, this Prime Minister Fang came to Xu's house and talked with him for two hours.

Xu Ming knew that this Prime Minister Fang was the only mortal who had served as prime minister since the establishment of the Wu State.

All the previous prime ministers of the Wu Dynasty were Confucian monks. Even if they retired and returned to their hometowns, it was because they had consumed too much of their life essence and wanted to live a few hundred more years.

Or see if you can make a breakthrough and extend your lifespan by a few thousand years or something.

After all, everyone has their own selfish desires, and there is nothing wrong with wanting to live longer.

Of course, this does not include those who are deeply involved in the court and cannot extricate themselves.

But Fang Ling is an ordinary person and does not need to worry about the consumption of his life essence.

There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6-9!

Furthermore, Fang Ling had a very good reputation in Wu State and was known as "Fang Tiemian". "Tiemian" naturally meant "impartial and impartial".

Secondly, the house is now sixty years old. Although he is old, most mortal officials in the human dynasty retire at the age of seventy, which means that the house still has ten years of use.

Therefore, many people in Wudu did not understand why Fang Ling resigned.

After Fang Ling submitted the memorial, Emperor Wu naturally disagreed and tried to keep Fang.

Fang Ling resigns again.

Emperor Wu stayed again.

Fang Ling quit again.

Emperor Wu stayed again.

After three refusals and three retentions, Emperor Wu agreed to Fang Ling's request for the fourth time.

Emperor Wu rewarded Fang Ling with 1,000 taels of gold, 100 maids, a piece of white brocade, and 100 acres of fertile land as his retirement pension.

But all the houses were rejected based on their age.

Fang Ling simply asked Emperor Wu for a branch from the banyan tree in front of the imperial palace and made a ruler.

Emperor Wu did not know the meaning of Fang Ling, but he still agreed.

On this day, three days before Fang Ling left, the Town Transport Bureau came to count Fang Ling's property.

When a prime minister leaves office, the prime minister's residence needs to be returned to the royal family, so it must be counted. There is also another purpose, which is to see how much you have embezzled over the years.

Actually, under normal circumstances, for senior officials like these who voluntarily resigned, even if the Zhenyunsi came to count their assets, even if there was some corruption or something, emperors of all dynasties would turn a blind eye, and the Zhenyunsi was also ordered to pretend not to see anything.

Because if you were going to be dealt with, you would have been dealt with long ago. The Zhenyun Division would have kicked open your door long ago.

Now everyone is just going through the motions, it makes everyone look good, it gives you a good end, and it also leaves you with a good reputation after death.

However, the director of the Town Transport Division, who was personally in charge of the inventory, was a little confused during this inventory.

Because in the Prime Minister's Mansion, the director did not see any valuable calligraphy and paintings, no priceless antiques, and no expensive elixirs.

In the study of the Prime Minister's Mansion, there was only a landscape painting given by a friend, a table, a pen, and an inkstone.

In the master bedroom of the Prime Minister's Mansion (the wife's room), all the jewelry and rouge were cheap ones in the market, and there were no more than five pieces of clothing.

The servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion were hired in accordance with the minimum standards under the laws of the Wu Dynasty. In addition, Fang Ling only had one wife and three grandsons (Fang Ling's two sons were both members of the royal family and had left the Wu Kingdom), so many rooms were empty and not fully occupied.

The director of the Zhenyun Division felt something was wrong, because no matter what, officials in such high positions would have some "extra income" to a greater or lesser extent, so the director of the Zhenyun Division had people dig deep into the ground.

But all they dug out were layers of mud.

Finally, when nothing could be found, the Director of the Zhenyun Division had the soil filled in, the floor paved, and then he walked out of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

All I saw was an old man holding his grandson's hand, looking at me with a smile like an old farmer.

The Director of the Zhenyun Division bowed.

The old man bowed in return.

The day before Fang Ling left, Emperor Wu invited Fang Ling to the palace for a banquet.

There were only two people at this banquet, Emperor Wu and Fang Ling.

The concubines and even the eunuch Wei Xun all left.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Fang Ling bowed to Emperor Wu.

Emperor Wu hurriedly stepped forward and helped Fang Ling up: "Prime Minister, why should you be so polite? Please stand up quickly."

Fang Ling shook his head: "Your Majesty, I am no longer the Prime Minister."

Emperor Wu said sincerely: "In my heart, Mr. Fang, you will always be the Prime Minister of Wu State."

Fang Ling just smiled and didn't say much.

Emperor Wu pulled Fang Ling to sit on a chair and said, "Mr. Fang, these dishes were cooked by the Empress herself. I am here to see you off!"

After he finished speaking, Emperor Wu raised his glass.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Fang Ling also raised his glass, drank it all in one gulp, smacked his lips, and said, "This wine is really good."

Emperor Wu smiled and said: "If Mr. Fang likes it, I will have someone send it to you every month."

Fang Ling put down the wine glass and said, "I thank your majesty, but forget it. This wine can be exchanged for too much food. I feel uneasy drinking it."

Emperor Wu: “.”

Fang Ling looked at Emperor Wu with a smile: "Your Majesty, did you ask me to come here just to have a meal?"

Emperor Wu filled Fang Ling's glass with wine and said, "The late emperor said that you are the best at judging people and have never made a mistake. So, there is one thing I want to ask you, Mr. Fang."

"Your Majesty, just speak frankly."

Emperor Wu put down the wine pot and looked directly at Fang Ling: "After Mo Chi, who can be the prime minister?"

Fang Ling didn't hesitate at all: "Chen Xuan."

Emperor Wu: "What happens after Chen Xuan?"

Fang Ling: “It’s a waste of time.”

Emperor Wu: "What happens after Fei Yi?"

Fang Ling closed his eyes and thought for a long time this time: "Xu Pangda."

Emperor Wu: "Descendant of Xu Pangda?"

Fang Ling thought about it for a longer time, but shook his head and said nothing more.

Emperor Wu: "I wonder what Mr. Fang thinks of Xu Ming?"

Fang Ling smiled and said, "A month ago, I went to Xu's house and talked with the champion for two hours. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider this."

Emperor Wu's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that Xu Mingzheng is not good enough?"

Fang Ling still shook his head: "The position of Prime Minister is the biggest waste of the number one scholar."

(End of this chapter)