Chapter 215 Double Standards
Chapter 215 Double Standards
Han Wang Yang Liang walked out of the group and said calmly, "Your Majesty, I agree with the Crown Prince's explanation. It is well-reasoned and fully upholds the principles and system of the court. However, I have a few questions that I would like to ask Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to grant me your approval!"
Yang Yong was awed. The King of Han was going to cause trouble for him again. He hoped that his father would directly reject Yang Liang's request. Unexpectedly, his father nodded and said, "Approve!"
Yang Liang bowed to Yang Yong and said, "I have some questions to ask you, my dear brother. Liu Zhizhen, the former military commander of Zhangye County, was also the governor of Zhangye. He was just an ordinary general. He was promoted from a soldier to a lieutenant, and then from a lieutenant to a general, and then to the military commander and governor of Zhangye. He never held any official position in the county, not even a county clerk. It is said that he knows no more than a hundred characters, but he was recommended by you to serve as the governor of Zhangye. Why didn't you mention the court system?"
This slap made Yang Yong speechless. He said for a while: "If he is old enough and has accumulated merits, it is not impossible for him to be a prefect. Besides, Zhangye is a frontier, which is different from the inland areas. Defense is the main job, so the military commander usually serves as a governor. We can't expect every general to have been a civil official. The reason why I oppose Xiao Xia is that he is too young. I am worried that his cognition and personality are not mature enough, and he is not suitable to be the lord of a county."
"Just because you're too young, isn't it?"
"Exactly!"
Yang Liang was waiting for him to say this. He sneered and said, "If that's the case, Yun Shiduan was only seventeen years old at the time and had never held any official position. How could he be appointed as the governor of Lishi County? Lishi County is not a frontier!"
Yang Yong's face turned pale and red. Yun Shiduan was the second son of Yun Dingxing, the prince's father-in-law. Five years ago, he appointed Yun Shiduan, who was only seventeen years old, as Sima of Lishi County, and the next year he was promoted to Governor. This matter was criticized by many people, but at that time the prince had just overthrown Prince of Jin not long ago and was in power, so no one dared to say anything about him.
Who would have thought that the King of Han, Yang Liang, would reveal this matter at this critical moment? Moreover, he revealed it in a way that slapped Yang Yong in the face one after another. Yang Yong was speechless.
At this time, Gao Jiong hurriedly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Your Majesty, Xiao Xia was appointed as the military commander of Zhangye in order to cooperate with the court's plan to attack Tuyuhun. He will follow General Xue on the western front to attack Tuyuhun. Whether it is rewarding him for his merits or serving as the governor of Zhangye County, it is best to wait until the battle with Tuyuhun is over before considering the overall situation. Now we should let him go all out to prepare for the war."
Yang Jian nodded, "Prime Minister Gao is right. Attacking Tuyuhun is the most important thing. Let's put other things aside for now. That's it!"
Yang Jian stood up, looked at Crown Prince Yang Yong meaningfully, then turned and left.
"Farewell, Your Majesty!" More than a dozen important officials saw the emperor off together.
"Bang!" Yang Yong slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth, "What a venomous snake! I was bitten hard by this bastard when I wasn't paying attention. Even if he is my brother, I want to kill him with my own hands!"
The aide Zhang Yunqiu sighed secretly at the side. He knew the whole cause and effect of the matter. In the final analysis, it was the prince who targeted Xiao Xia, and was caught by Yang Liang. He had advised him many times not to target Xiao Xia, but he just wouldn't listen. In the end, he brought shame upon himself. Could he blame others?
"Please teach me, sir, how should I deal with the King of Han?" Yang Yong asked hatefully.
Zhang Yunqiu said after a while: "I have advised His Highness many times, but His Highness just won't listen. What else can I do?"
"What are you advising me, sir?" Yang Yong was a little confused for a moment.
"I advise Your Highness not to deal with Xiao Xia. He is a person that the emperor values. If you displease the emperor, Yang Liang, the venomous snake, will see an opportunity. If Your Highness says nothing today, how can Yang Liang attack?"
Yang Yong pinched his forehead and said painfully: "I also know that the emperor wants to appoint him as the governor of Zhangye, but I just can't help it. Others are fine, but it's just him. I always feel that he is my biggest enemy."
In fact, Yang Yong just didn't want Xiao Xia to stay in the border for a long time, so he wouldn't be able to monitor Xiao Xia. It would be best if Xiao Xia could stay in Chang'an so that he would have a chance to find out his background.
Zhang Yunqiu said calmly, "If Your Highness regards him as your greatest enemy, then one day Your Highness will definitely fall into his hands. To be more precise, the sword that Your Highness used to stab him will rebound and stab you."
"Why do you say that?" Yang Yong asked puzzled.
"The reason is very simple. This is the emperor's art of ruling. If Your Highness had confronted the King of Han, the emperor would have given the resources to the King of Han. Then the Marshal of the Western Expedition to attack Tuyuhun this time would have been the King of Han, not the King of Jin. But Your Highness has repeatedly targeted Xiao Xia, so the emperor gave the resources to the King of Jin. This is the real reason why the King of Jin was appointed as the Marshal of the Western Expedition." Yang Yong walked to the window with his hands behind his back. After a long while, he sighed and said, "No matter what I do or say now, my father will be disgusted. If I do nothing and say nothing, my father will criticize me for not taking action and not sharing his worries. I don't know what to do now?"
Zhang Yunqiu said helplessly: "I will give you three more suggestions! If you still don't listen, then I can only go home and farm."
"Sir, your words are too polite. Please continue!"
"My first suggestion is to have Yun Shiduan resign immediately. This incident was originally a poisonous arrow aimed at Your Highness, but the King of Han used it too early, which exposed his sinister plot. This is actually a good thing. It also reminds Your Highness to learn from this incident and look for similar situations, so as not to become the next poisonous arrow of the King of Han."
"Sir, what you mean is that Master Yun's matter is not a big problem?"
Zhang Yunqiu nodded, "Who doesn't have some selfish motives? It's normal for Your Highness to arrange for your brother-in-law to be an official. The emperor won't care. The key is that he is the governor of Lishi County, not the governor of Mayi County. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Military power?"
"Yes! If Master Yun were to take control of the military power, that would be a big problem. As long as we don't touch the military power, nothing will happen!"
Yang Yong suddenly realized that it was fortunate that Yun Shiduan did not know martial arts, so he did not consider letting him command the army. He thought about it and said, "How can I persuade Yun Dingxing?"
"Your Highness, tell him that Yun Shiduan has been targeted by the King of Han. If Yun Shiduan does not resign, he will end up like Yun Shitai sooner or later."
“I see, what about the second suggestion?
"The second suggestion is that Your Highness should thoroughly clean up all previous personnel appointments, especially those involving the military. If there are any illegalities or non-compliant issues, correct them immediately and do not give the King of Han any more leverage."
Yang Yong nodded, "I understand. What happened to Xiao Xia today reminded me of this."
Zhang Yunqiu continued slowly: "The third suggestion is about Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia is only the last resort of the King of Jin. He cannot affect Your Highness. Your Highness should stop keeping an eye on Xiao Xia and let the King of Han keep an eye on him."
"Will the King of Han punish him?"
Zhang Yunqiu sneered and said, "The King of Han is narrow-minded and vindictive. Xiao Xia made him face the wall for a year. How could he forget this grudge? He investigated Liu Zhizhen, the former military commander of Zhangye County. I suspect his original intention was to deal with Xiao Xia."
Yang Yong nodded silently, "You are right!"
At this time, an eunuch was outside the door, "Your Highness, the Emperor has something to summon you!"
Yang Yong was startled and said quickly: "I know!"
Zhang Yunqiu promptly warned: "If the emperor questions you about Yun Shiduan, Your Highness should frankly admit your mistakes. If the emperor asks you about Xiao Xia's appointment as the governor of Zhangye County, Your Highness should still stick to your principles. Don't change your principles easily. Giving up your principles easily will make the emperor look down on Your Highness!"
"I remember!"
Yang Yong agreed and hurried to his father's imperial study.
(End of this chapter)