Chapter 31 Defeat
Zhou She's heart raced a little from the praise.
He didn't consider himself a diligent person. Emperor Hong'an making him get up at three in the morning to work was already hard enough, let alone the things Tianmu said about him being "working day and night" and "working tirelessly day and night," which he wasn't really familiar with.
It can only be said that fate played a cruel trick on him; life was nothing short of a major transformation, which unexpectedly propelled him to the highest throne.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jianhe's eyes lit up: "Grandpa, so your grandson really didn't look for the wrong person. It's all those civil officials' fault, always spouting nonsense..."
Xiao Yichun also came to terms with it. One second he thought Zhou She should be a military general, the next second he felt that Zhou She was more suitable to be the emperor.
Although changing one's expression might sound a bit embarrassing, but...
He affectionately patted his grandson's shoulder and said gently, "You are also a civil official."
This good-for-nothing grandson even forgot that his grandfather was also a civil official.
Let's get back to the present. In the area of governing people's livelihood, Emperor Jungjong was a slow learner. He was indeed not an expert, but with a lot of enthusiasm, he learned everything from scratch. He put in 99% effort, and actually did quite well. The people were grateful for his care over the past six years.
But now he suddenly realized that there was someone who not only had hard work, but also talent. Talent is sometimes unpredictable; Emperor Zhongzong toiled tirelessly, only to achieve a 90%, while Fang Jingruo… effortlessly, achieved a perfect score.
Zhou She: "..." That's right, that's more like Tianmu's tone.
Who possessed her just now?
It seems that the Zhong family all have a strong desire to be the best in the world, and Emperor Hong'an couldn't stand seeing his own family members ranked second.
Although he could tell the Fifth Prince that "the most important thing for an emperor is to know how to use people well, and whether he himself is capable or not is not important," at this moment, he still turned to Zhou She and said, "How can you be outdone by your own ministers? You should learn more."
Zhou She replied respectfully, "Your subject will certainly do his best."
He was saying one thing but meaning another; what he really thought was: "If I do everything myself, won't I be exhausted? It's wise to let those who are capable handle the tasks."
Meanwhile, Fang Jingruo was squatting at home reading the "Outline of the Imperial Examinations," feeling that he had lost a few more strands of hair. He was too worried that he would not stand out. If he did not get a good ranking, not only would his reputation be ruined, but if His Majesty brought up past grievances, he would be finished.
Suddenly, he heard the sky calling his name.
My heart pounded wildly, and excitement and panic burst forth from my chest at the same time.
[Jungjong had one advantage: he was willing to let go. Some people were incompetent themselves, and then they wouldn't let capable people take over—I'll specifically criticize the fifth prince; he was a complete fool. If it weren't for his legitimate position, he'd be a skeleton by the roadside within three days.]
The Fifth Prince had just fainted from anger, and amidst the chaos, the doctor was administering acupuncture to him. The doctor's hands moved swiftly, and with great effort, the prince finally began to slowly regain consciousness.
The attendants rushed forward, overjoyed, and exclaimed, "Your Highness—"
The doctor wiped the sweat from his brow and said tremblingly to the man behind him holding the knife, "His Highness the Fifth Prince is merely suffering from a sudden shock; he is not seriously injured. Please, sir, show mercy..."
The other party glanced at the Fifth Prince and was about to move the blade away when the Fifth Prince, unfortunately, heard the words "big fool" and fainted on the spot in anger.
Doctor: "..." Oh my god...
Speaking of Fang Jingruo, Emperor Zhongzong did not assign Fang Jingruo any position before he left. As a result, Fang Jingruo worked for Emperor Zhongzong for half a year without any power or influence, working overtime late into the night and doing odd jobs for him.
And just like that, it still managed to double the GDP of Mingyuan Pass. The expressions of the officials under Mingyuan Pass changed, from "Who do you think you are, daring to steal my power?" to "Lord Fang is truly a rare genius! We have no choice but to step down and yield to him."
And so, Fang Jingruo, a commoner, became the de facto commander of Yongzhou.
Upon discovering this, Emperor Zhongzong immediately declared: "The position of Prefect of Yongzhou is perfect for you! I will step down today. Fang Jingruo, if you perform well, you will be richly rewarded in the future!"
Fang Jingruo breathed a sigh of relief.
Putting aside his unwavering loyalty to the current emperor, there is one thing he is now certain of: he is definitely a loyal subject of Emperor Zhongzong!
A wise minister meeting an enlightened ruler is like a thoroughbred horse meeting a discerning eye; Emperor Jinghua was certainly such an enlightened ruler.
Xiang Mingzhou: "?" What about me?!
Who kicked me out?
To briefly summarize Fang Jingruo's political achievements:
Firstly, Yongzhou's economic index doubled that year. According to research, the meat consumption index of ordinary people surged that year, at least doubling. The birth rate increased year by year, and the population almost doubled as well.
Secondly, he promoted culture and education. Starting in the 29th year of the Hong'an era, Emperor Zhongzong began to build free schools in Yongzhou. On this basis, Fang Jingruo further expanded the scope of these free schools, earning the affectionate title of principal.
Thirdly, changing customs and habits. I don't quite understand this. Fang Jingruo himself was a traditional Confucian scholar, and it's said he felt the people of Yongzhou were too fierce and should be disciplined—people need to be polite, after all. However, he was later punished by Emperor Zhongzong. Their political views differed, so I won't comment.
Xiao Yichun, an official who rose through the ranks, couldn't help but exclaim, "It sounds simple, but most people find it difficult to do."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jianhe couldn't help but ask, "Grandson doesn't understand, what exactly did Fang Jingruo do well?"
On the sky, three lines of black text stand side by side, recounting the achievements of a person who is currently unknown.
Xiao Jianhe felt a surge of resentment in his chest: he was clearly also a future favorite minister of Emperor Zhongzong's court. When people talked about him, he was a treacherous minister, but when Fang Jingruo spoke of him, how did he become a virtuous minister?
He also spread Fang Jingruo's achievements throughout the world.
The boy was unaware of his own competitive nature.
Although Xiao Yichun understood, she didn't point it out. She only asked, "Your teacher is a top scholar in the imperial examination. He only makes one calligraphy brush every three months. He only complains about the quality of his food, clothing, and daily necessities, never about how expensive they are. Zhi Ping, if you were in Fang Jingruo's shoes, could you endure it and remain calm?"
Xiao Jianhe's face immediately turned red, but he still pressed on, "Grandfather, does that mean it was a mistake for me to be born into the Xiao family?"
“That’s not the case.” Xiao Yichun shook his head in denial. “That’s your advantage. But when you’re an official in a local area, the most important thing is to be pragmatic and realistic. Every achievement must be genuine. If I were you, I would understand after just one trip to the fields.”
"Yes." Xiao Jianhe lowered his head, his heart surging with emotion, and suddenly asked, "Then Zhou... Emperor Zhongzong, why was he able to..."
“Silly child.” Xiao Yichun smiled kindly. “He can become emperor, naturally he has his extraordinary qualities. He can be flexible and adaptable, reaching from the imperial court to the common people, that is his ability.”
From then on, Fang Jingruo became Emperor Zhongzong's personal construction official, and was sent to wherever the country was poor.
Of course, while sending people to remote and impoverished areas, he also sent letters one after another, asking every two weeks: "How are you doing in Lingnan/Ryukyu/Guanwai/Beiluo, Fang Qing? Is anyone there hindering you? I have suppressed all the impeachments in the court. If you need money, ask me. I will not treat you unfairly. Don't be afraid, I am your support!"
Who wouldn't envy this treatment?
Who wouldn't be envious?
The civil and military officials stared so hard their eyes almost popped out!
This time, it wasn't just Ren Heng who was envious; everyone was jealous.
What tyrant?! This is the wise ruler they've always dreamed of!
Who, when serving as an official outside the capital, is not afraid of trouble in the capital? How many officials, doing well in their positions, are impeached by petty people, while capable ministers, who are not adept at factional strife, suffer the consequences?
If an emperor could truly remain faithful to one woman until the end... well, that would be truly wonderful.
We really can't have too high expectations.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Hong'an looked up, about to speak, when he realized that Zhou She was still standing: "Sit down."
Zhou She sat back down, placing his hands neatly on his lap, and silently watched him.
Emperor Hong'an looked him over again, his gaze somewhat complicated, and said hesitantly, "You're quite clever, and you've achieved some success."
After all, judging from Tianmu's tone, they've already reached the Northern Luo.
To be honest, if this were his son, he would be his dearest son.
After saying that, he breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that he had been quite fair: "And this Fang Jingruo, he can be considered a capable minister."
Zhou She couldn't figure out his meaning, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Your Majesty, perhaps we shouldn't kill our capable ministers."
People with real skills, people who can work on the front lines, are truly useful.
Emperor Hong'an slapped his head in exasperation: "What I mean is, since he's so useful, we shouldn't let him go!"
Zhou She thought to himself, "Truly worthy of being the emperor, the tone of his voice makes it sound as if he's about to kill Fang Jingruo on the spot."
“However…” Emperor Hong’an pondered for a moment, “It wouldn’t be bad if I tried it first.”
It seemed like a casual remark, but Zhou She's heart almost stopped beating.
What does "try it out first" mean?
The emperor's thoughts were unfathomable, and at this moment, he couldn't help but wonder, could it be...?
Is he going to get promoted again?
In reality, Emperor Jungjong was not only as generous as the other party. He trusted his subordinates implicitly; he never believed baseless accusations against ministers he entrusted with important responsibilities, and any attempts to harm them behind their backs were simply unfounded. Ministers who were truly punished for wrongdoing were always proven beyond redemption.
Everyone just needs to work for him. After all, King Jungjong himself said that he was just working for the Ning Dynasty.
If it weren't for the fact that so many people were killed in the seventh year of Jinghua, I think King Jungjong's historical reputation would have been even higher. There would have been no reason for those demons and monsters to jump out and speak ill of him.
At worst, he could just revise the history books. Anyway, he loves to embellish and revise history books, but when it comes to the dark history, he doesn't bother to change it.
[Sigh.jpg]
This time everyone understood: Tianmu, this woman, still complained that Emperor Zhongzong hadn't revised the history books well enough.
Don't they realize that no respectable person would rewrite history books?!
At this moment, their feelings were a mix of coldness and warmth: King Jungjong was ruthless towards civil officials, but he was also generous and protective of his trusted ministers.
Sigh, it's such a difficult choice.
As for those whose careers are not going well, this is not a choice for them.
In a small town, Yu Suisheng was packing his bags, stuffing his clothes into them, and carrying them on his shoulder as he walked away.
He stepped out the gate, just as two equally young clerks approached. Seeing that he looked like he was about to embark on a long journey, they were both shocked: "Yunshi, where are you going?"
As colleagues with a good relationship, both being low-level officials, they naturally knew that Yu Suisheng was having a hard time.
His official career was unsuccessful, and Yu Suisheng, being extremely arrogant, failed to gain the appreciation of the county magistrate. Even when he finally achieved some success, it was snatched away.
Even so, does that mean we should just give up on life?
Yu Suisheng remained silent, glancing at the sky. The two followed his gaze and saw the three lines of black characters on the sky.
"Yunshi, you're not going to follow in Fang Jingruo's footsteps, are you?!" one of them quickly stopped him. "He's at least a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), how can we compare? Besides, even if you want to join him, you should at least wait for him—"
Before he finished speaking, Yu Suisheng's face darkened slightly, and he said in a low voice, "There are so many talented people in the world who are not able to realize their potential. The current emperor has his own destiny. I believe that Emperor Zhongzong will still ascend the throne. If it is later, we may not have such a good opportunity now."
The two minor officials looked at each other for a long time. The older one stamped his foot and said, "Alas, I knew you couldn't be trapped here. You're just suffering from those people's grievances here."
Yu Suisheng remained calm.
The two lowered their voices and said in unison, "Take care on your journey, we'll be waiting for your triumphant return!"
Of course, the people didn't care what others thought; they just expressed their approval.
"The fairy is right! His Majesty is our good emperor!" This person's title has directly skipped Zhongzong and become His Majesty.
"The fairy has appeared! What are those people doing... Oh, those historians spouting nonsense? None of it makes any sense!" Although he didn't understand what history books were, what good people could those who were associated with this stuff and smearing Emperor Zhongzong be?
"Exactly! What do you mean by exaggerating? Tianmu is so tactless!" This person went even further, disliking Tianmu as well.
Because Emperor Zhongzong fought against the Northern Di before leaving, this period was very peaceful. The emperor also woke up, making it arguably the most peaceful time in recent years.
In this atmosphere, Emperor Zhongzong embarked on a massive infrastructure campaign: military affairs were not a major concern, as he excelled in that area; his focus should have been on civil administration. While Fang Jingruo was indeed useful, even a hard-working ox needs rest. Emperor Zhongzong, however, was a hard-working ox who didn't need rest, so he continued to recruit talent while simultaneously working diligently.
This peaceful atmosphere lasted until the winter of the thirty-fifth year of Hong'an. By this time, almost everyone in the northern region was under the command of Emperor Zhongzong in terms of appointments and dismissals. If he had been more arrogant, it wouldn't have been impossible for him to have donned the yellow robe and ascended the throne on the spot.
With so many people, trouble is bound to arise. On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, just after returning from holiday, Emperor Zhongzong suffered his first defeat in history. Countless pieces of evidence pointed to Fang Jingruo, the logistics manager, as a suspected traitor.
"What?!"
Countless people exclaimed in surprise. The path to heaven was clearly right before their eyes. How could any intelligent person possibly betray the enemy?
This is absolute slander, a blatant defamation!
However, some people hesitated and said, "The evidence is conclusive, how could it be false? Maybe he has ulterior motives and is trying to gain King Jungjong's trust before turning around and killing him."
Emperor Hong'an's hand trembled, his mood soured by the sudden change in the atmosphere.
Of course, since Tianmu had said that Fang Jing had followed his grandson for many years, then he was naturally innocent.
Thinking about this, he asked, "What do you think he will do?"
This "he" refers, of course, to the future Zhou She.
Zhou She said almost without hesitation, "He will believe Fang Jingruo."
The emperor was taken aback, not expecting him to be so resolute, and deliberately asked, "How do you know? If he truly colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country..."
“With conclusive evidence, it is certainly appropriate to make an example of him to deter others,” Zhou She said righteously. “But if there is no irrefutable evidence, wouldn’t it chill the hearts of the people to want to kill a meritorious official?”
"So you're not going to investigate?"
"Of course we must investigate. With the tide flowing, the traitors will naturally come to light." After saying this, Zhou She's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he suddenly smiled. "Your Majesty, just like when the Fifth Prince framed me, even though there was false evidence, didn't Your Majesty still investigate thoroughly and clear my name?"
Zhou She was referring to what Tian Mu had just said.
Emperor Hong'an suddenly realized what was happening. Looking at his grandson's smiling face, he was speechless and could only say, "You're still so good with words."
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