Chapter 10

In the afternoon, Fangjiazhuang was very quiet, with only the sound of a gentle breeze brushing across the land.

Fang Xing sat in his study, dozing off with his hand supporting his cheek.

Just as he was dreaming of punching the Japanese pirates and kicking the Mongols, a hurried footsteps interrupted his good dream.

"Master, Master, a man named Zhang Taishun is here to visit you."

Fang Xing, whose dream was interrupted, was quite annoyed. He just raised his hand and said, "Please come in."

Even though the alcohol was still affecting his brain, Fang Xing still tried to stay alert, rubbed his face, and put on a carefree appearance.

"Ha ha ha! Brother Dehua, I greet you."

Fang Xing's hand was still covering his face. Hearing this familiar voice, he peeked through his fingers.

The young man in a brocade robe looked spirited, wearing an intricately crafted headgear. He held a folding fan in his hand and bowed in greeting.

"You are..."

Fang Xing's face was red from rubbing. He felt that this young man looked familiar.

The young man smiled and said, "I am Zhang Taishun. A few days ago, I had a conversation with Brother Dehua near the manor, and I was amazed by your wisdom! So today, I boldly come to visit, I apologize for the intrusion."

Although he was smiling, the young man exuded an aura that was not to be trifled with, clearly not from an ordinary family.

Fang Xing slapped his forehead and said, "I remember now, the neighboring manor is yours, right?"

This was Fang Xing's way of deflecting, trying to avoid the incident where he had refuted several scholars.

Although his words were satisfying, in the current context where most people opposed the capital relocation, spreading them would make enemies.

After exchanging pleasantries and sitting down, Xiao Bai served fragrant tea. Zhang Taishun looked around the study and said, "Brother Dehua, the other day you didn't seem very happy when you spoke. So today, I came to seek your advice on the capital relocation. I hope you will not hesitate to share your insights."

His words were polite, but there was a hint of insistence.

What a strong presence!

Fang Xing instantly guessed this person's identity, concluding that he was likely the son of an official involved in the capital relocation.

Fang Xing wanted to refuse, but then he thought about the long reign of Emperor Yongle. In the end, he pretended to sigh, "Scholars are ruining the country!"

Zhang Taishun listened with a smile.

This attitude was impressive, making Fang Xing, who came from a humble background, somewhat envious.

Fang Xing used his hand to dip in the tea and drew a circle on the table, roughly the size of the Ming Empire. Then he drew a line and marked Jinling, looking up at Zhang Taishun.

Zhang Taishun frowned and tapped his hand with the fan, finally saying, "Brother Dehua, do you mean... far?"

"Exactly!"

Fang Xing then marked the position of Beiping and said, "If our dynasty does not relocate the capital, I can guarantee that within fifty years, the nine borders will be in chaos."

Fang Xing's expression showed concern for the country and its people, a determined look as if he was willing to risk his life for the Ming Empire. In his heart, he truly supported the capital relocation.

If the capital was not relocated, the nomadic tribes on the grasslands might invade Beiping before he even died. Where could he hide then?

Zhang Taishun pointed to Jinling with his fan and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Brother Dehua, if our dynasty does not relocate the capital, even if there is an alert in the north, the capital can still mobilize a large army to support, right?"

Mobilizing a large army from Jinling, the southern capital, was a popular argument at the time.

Fang Xing saw Old Seven at the door, looking alert, and smiled, "That's just wishful thinking!"

Being young, Zhang Taishun's face showed shock and he asked urgently, "Brother Dehua, what do you mean by that?"

Fang Xing, feeling the urge to urinate, said without hesitation, "From Jinling to Beiping, it's several thousand miles. By the time the reinforcements arrive, the north will already be in chaos."

"Taishun, I need to change clothes, please wait a moment!"

After Fang Xing finished, he found Old Seven standing outside the toilet, watching the entrance warily.

"Master, Zhang Taishun brought two attendants, quite interesting."

Old Seven, holding a Tang knife, told Fang Xing about his discovery.

Interesting?

That means they are skilled!

Fang Xing took a mint from his pouch, put one in his mouth, and threw two to Old Seven.

"Give one to the girl later."

Swinging into the study, Fang Xing saw Zhang Taishun still drawing on the 'map'. Hearing the footsteps, he messed up the water marks on the table and turned to say, "Brother Dehua, from your analysis just now, I feel that you are not optimistic about the nine borders of the Ming Empire, is that correct?"

Fang Xing, free from the pressure of the imperial exams, said casually, "The nine borders will eventually have problems, and they will ultimately be the downfall of the Ming Empire."

Zhang Taishun stood up with a look of anger, his eyes narrowing, and said calmly, "Brother Dehua, please enlighten me."

Fang Xing burped, the aroma of Maotai wine wafting out, and then said leisurely, "The so-called nine borders are merely watchdogs. If the military system of the Ming Empire does not keep up with the times, it will eventually end up like the Mongols, and this is not something that can be changed by human will."

Fanning his mouth, Fang Xing saw that Zhang Taishun was still angry but thinking, and said, "You are young, go back and read more history to see how dynasties decline."

"Learn from history to understand the rise and fall of dynasties."

Fang Xing said with a benevolent tone.

Currently, the Ming Empire's military was at its peak, driving the nomadic tribes on the grasslands to flee. However, within a hundred years, or even fifty years, the Ming Emperor who favored Wang Zhen would lose the last bit of morale of the Ming Empire at the Tumu Fort. From then on, the Ming army would never again enter the grasslands on a large scale.

The anger on Zhang Taishun's face magically disappeared. He sat down again, looking calm and composed, as if he were a different person.

"Brother Dehua, what do you think are the flaws in the military system of the Ming Empire?"

This was a big topic, and Fang Xing did not dare to speak recklessly, fearing that Emperor Yongle might cut off his head. So he evaded, "In Chinese history, only the Han and Tang dynasties fell due to their strength."

Zhang Taishun agreed with this point, and his eyes looked at Fang Xing with a burning intensity, making him feel somewhat uneasy.

"Cough, cough!" Fang Xing cleared his throat, "During the Song dynasty, the status of soldiers was the lowest in history, but do you know why the Song dynasty lasted so long?"

Zhang Taishun, somewhat confused, said, "Probably because of the excellent civil governance."

The civil governance of the Song dynasty was indeed 'excellent,' directly sharing power with the scholar-officials.

Fang Xing glanced at Zhang Taishun and pointed at him, "You are not being honest."

Zhang Taishun cried out, "Brother Dehua, I am truly speaking from the heart!"

Fang Xing said lazily, "The Song dynasty merely benefited from the opening of the sea, with a full treasury. That's why it could last until the Southern Song, even almost dragging the Mongols to their death."

"That's the benefit of wealth! But what about the Ming Empire?"

翻页上AD开始

翻页上AD结束