After Li Mubai finished, he thought that Yang Fan would be overjoyed but he did not expect Yang Fan to be so calm and not even the slightest bit excited. Li Mubai frowned and slowly relaxed. He smiled and said, "Since Erlang became an official, everything has been smooth sailing. At such a young age, you have already become a fifth-ranked official. Perhaps you think that your future will be smooth sailing?"
I will be frank with you. The higher you go, the harder it is to be promoted and the harder it is to find a vacant position for you. With your current rank, there will be countless people competing with you for another promotion. Moreover, each of them has a strong background and strong connections. Even if you make great contributions, it will be difficult for you to advance further.
We, on the other hand, can give you what a commoner's son lacks the most after entering the officialdom: power and connections! Wei Qing and Huo Qubing may have made great contributions but Li Guang's contributions are no less than theirs. Why can they have a meteoric rise and have the opportunity to make even greater contributions and be bestowed the title of Marquis? Their glory will last for thousands of years while Li Guang's life is full of ups and downs.
Erlang repelled the Turkic army of a hundred thousand, sowed discord between the Tubo King and Prime Minister, and quelled the rebellion of the southern barbarians. Any one of these contributions can be announced to the world as a great merit if your surname is Wu. At the very least, you will be promoted to a fifth-ranked general. Why do you have to make an exception and promote a fifth-ranked general?
If you can be of use to us, the contributions you have made will one day be repaid accordingly. Not to mention other things, seventy to eighty percent of the world's education is in the hands of our aristocratic families. We are the mouthpiece of the imperial court. As long as we are willing, your name will spread throughout the world in a day. Even the Emperor will not be able to deny you the corresponding official position and power.
Grandpa Zheng's eyes flashed and he lightly laughed, "Perhaps … Erlang is worried that we will make Erlang do things that are against his will."
Cui Gong said, "This does not conflict with Erlang's personal ambitions. When a person studies hard and strives to reach the top, after entering the officialdom, all he wants is his own future and the future of his family and descendants. He also wants to express his life's worth and make his name known throughout the ages. In order to achieve all of this, he had to acknowledge his master, become friends with his peers, and unite with his comrades. It was rare to see a lone minister who did not recognize his own kin. Wasn't this a 'family' that was bound together for good or bad?
A true family would have similar goals and methods. It was just that the scope of support and support was not limited to the comrades of the same generation, but the entire family. However, a mediocre person sitting in an official position would not only harm others, but also himself. Even if you wanted to promote him, you would not be willing. The vision and bearing of a thousand-year-old family would not be so short-sighted.
Regardless of whether one wanted to reach the pinnacle of one's future or to have a long lasting family legacy, peace and stability were the most basic conditions to achieve all of these. Therefore, if one wanted to pursue one's future, one's family's future, and the future of a country's future, the benefits were interlinked.
Emperors wanted to live for thousands of generations, aristocratic families wanted their foundations to last forever, and officials wanted to achieve success and recognition. It was just that their abilities were different and the size of their desires were different, but there was no difference in essence. So, you don't have to worry that we will make you do something illegal. "
Yang Fan smiled but did not say anything. This could be recorded in the family tree, an achievement that future generations could boast about. For him, the temptation was not great. The prime minister of a dynasty looked glorious, but it was too easy to become a prisoner. In the few years that Yang Fan had been in the court, the prime ministers had been killed, imprisoned, and exiled one after another.
With the powerful empress Wu Zetian and the two Wu brothers eyeing them covetously, when these prime ministers were in power, they were above tens of thousands of people. When they were not in power, their circumstances were more miserable than beggars. It was precisely because he had seen too many of these things that this promise, which was enough to move the world, was not moved by Yang Fan. He cared more about actual power and benefits.
Even if he was unknown in the world, he could control the life and death of others, honor and disgrace. How free and unfettered was that? Other than satisfying one's own vanity, what was the use of an empty title? Of course, as a prime minister, one would also have great power. But a prime minister who relied on the support of others to get to his position would never be as glorious as Li Zhaode.
Li Zhaode himself was the son of an aristocratic family. He relied on his family's ability and connections to get to his position. He was not controlled by others, but Yang Fan was different. If he relied on the help of the aristocratic families to become prime minister, he would inevitably become their puppet. In the process of climbing up step by step, it was unknown how many secrets and weaknesses the aristocratic families would have. The higher his position, the more power he would be controlled by others.
Cui Gong saw that he was smiling without saying anything. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows. "What? Is such a generous reward not enough?"
Yang Fan said, "Then, what does Yang need to do?"
Without waiting for their reply, Yang Fan answered himself, "At this stage, you naturally have to continue to be enemies with the cruel officials. On one hand, you have to eradicate the cruel officials who have caused great harm to you, establish your own clean reputation, and obtain the praise of the court. On the other hand, you have to vigorously cater to the policies that are beneficial to the aristocratic families, such as the household tax, agriculture, and imperial examinations. You have to do your utmost to oppose the policies that are not beneficial to you. Next, if I can become an assistant minister, minister, or even prime minister, I have to share honor and disgrace with the aristocratic families in matters concerning the people's livelihood, advancing and retreating together. "
Cui Gong said in a deep voice, "All of this is beneficial to the country and the people. Isn't this your ambition?"
Yang Fan said, "Most of the time, the interests of the country and the people are the same. But sometimes, to protect the interests of the country, one must harm the interests of the people. Similarly, the imperial court and the aristocratic families are the same. Most of the time, the interests of the imperial court and the aristocratic families are the same, but there are also times when they don't match or even conflict. If I become one of your people, naturally, no matter who is right or who is wrong, whether it benefits me or not, I must brace myself and cheer for the aristocratic families! "
Duke Zheng said in a deep voice, "If you want to gain something, you must naturally pay a price!"
Yang Fan nodded leisurely and said, "What Duke Zheng said is correct. If you want to gain something, you must naturally pay a price. However, between the price and the benefit, only a worthwhile transaction will be done. Prime minister? Ha! To this Yang, the position of prime minister is not tempting at all. "
Cui Gong said in shock, "The conditions of an extremely high official are not enough to tempt you? What do you want? "
Yang Fan said, "Haha, a messenger for an extremely high official? This matter was originally a part of Young Master Jiang's responsibility, right? Now, you've taken out this part of the officialdom and handed it over to one person to manage. To Young Master Jiang, this actually doesn't weaken his authority. On the contrary, it frees him from the part that hinders his actions, allowing him to do things more freely.
As for me, no matter what I do, everything I want to do, and everything I want to achieve, all comes from Young Master Jiang. I'm just a mouth and a pair of hands for him to control when I speak or do things. Unfortunately, I'm not as important as his real mouth and hands. If I'm no longer needed, he can swap me out at any time, or … sacrifice me! This is not what I want. "
Li Mubai was quite surprised. He thought that the benefits he had given Yang Fan were things that every official dreamed of. Yang Fan had no reason to refuse, but Yang Fan simply didn't agree. This was truly out of his expectations, and also out of the expectations of all the aristocratic bigwigs present.
They had thought that such a generous reward could make Yang Fan tremble in fear and weep. However, Yang Fan's current attitude towards the position of Prime Minister was like a child playing with mud when compared to his great ability to govern the country. It was just like what he said just now, comparing poetry with the great ability to govern the country, it was just like a child playing with mud.
The patriarchs and clan lords looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
In the end, it was Li Mubai who calmed himself down and asked slowly, "Then, what do you want?"
Yang Fan raised a finger and said, "I only want one thing!"
"Speak!"
"Young Master Jiang's position!"
Everyone in the hall was stunned, but then they all broke into a smile.
To them, Yang Fan's request was as laughable as Buddha hearing that the mischievous Sun Wukong had raised the banner of the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal and wanted to sit on the Jade Emperor's throne. The group of white-haired old men shook their heads with smiles, not even bothering to get angry. Why would they get angry if something was ridiculous to the point of being ridiculous?
Li Mubai couldn't help but cough while suppressing his laughter. "Erlang is a meticulous thinker with a calm temperament. I don't think he would make such a ridiculous request. Hehe, Erlang, you're saying this because you want us to give you a guarantee, right? Don't worry, as long as you agree to our request, you will be one of us. All the old grudges between you and the Lu family will be nothing. As for Young Master Jiang, he won't seek revenge and will do his utmost to protect you. "
Yang Fan shook his head. "You misunderstand, Grand Elder Li. I am not joking. A prime minister's position cannot move me. In my eyes, a prime minister is just a lump of mud. Young Master Jiang has been in this position for long enough. It is time for a new person and a new atmosphere. "
Li Mubai's expression darkened. "Absurd! How can the Succession Hall be controlled by you? "
Yang Fan said seriously, "How can I not feel that it is absurd for all the elders to use a lump of mud to exchange for my service? Only by controlling the Succession Hall can I make my own decisions without harming the interests of the aristocratic families. Only then can I maintain my freedom and do everything according to my heart! The sea can accommodate hundreds of rivers. If the aristocratic families are so exclusive, then I can only be like before. When my goal is the same as the aristocratic families', I can cooperate with them conditionally. At other times, I can do whatever I want without interfering with each other. I refuse to become a vassal without my own opinion! "
After saying these powerful words, Yang Fan's expression quickly became gentle again. He stood up and bowed to the elders in the hall. He said with a smile, "Today is Grand Elder Li's birthday. Since we can't agree, let's not discuss this matter for now. If I disturb Grand Elder Li's birthday because of this, I will be guilty! I hope that all the elders can discuss my proposal in detail after the banquet. Goodbye. "
After saying this, Yang Fan bowed again and walked out of the hall. With each step he took, he recited a verse. He blurted out a five-character poem:
"The fetus transforms into a celestial body. The long cry is in the Nine High Mountains.
The clear cry of the sky reflects the frosty hair of the sun.
Ten thousand li thinks of Liao Kuo, a thousand mountains gazes at Yu Tao.
The fragrance condenses and disappears, the wind accumulates.
When the phoenix climbs, the chickens think of a sudden.
If the heaven responds, the fluttering wormwood flies! "
Yang Fan recited a verse and took a step forward. When he was halfway through, he had already left the hall. When the last verse "If the heaven responds, the fluttering wormwood flies" reached the ears of everyone, his voice was spiraling, as if it really came from the Ninth Heaven. This fool. When others wanted to compete with him in poetry, he refused to say anything. Now he actually wrote a verse in one step. He wrote twelve verses at once. He was even more impressive than Cao Zijian!
The opportunity to worship the prime minister was an official position that Yang Fan would never have a chance to reach in his life. But in his eyes, it was as unbearable as a lump of mud. Now he casually threw out such an even more amazing lump of mud, which made everyone dumbfounded. Only Ning Ke was beautiful with a little pride in her eyes.
…
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