Volume 1 The Wind Rises Chapter 15: Emphasis on Military Affairs over Literature
There is a reason why Guo Rong is so conflicted.
Even the emperor who was high above everyone else would encounter many obstacles. Especially during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the emperors were more of a signboard, arrogant and fierce generals who would ignore you if they said they would not pay attention to you, and would rebel if they said they would.
Loyalty is worthless in this era.
Before the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, great rulers of every dynasty would directly recruit people like Zhuge Liang, Fang Xuanling, and Wang Meng, and keep them by their side, entrust them with important tasks, and regard them as their confidants. Even if strong old men like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who had shared hardships with Liu Bei, were dissatisfied, they had to keep it to themselves.
In that era, people of wisdom were respected and admired.
And now?
The chaos and turmoil of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms had caused society to develop in a distorted direction, with the emphasis on military power over culture reaching its extreme.
This was an era when military men ruled the country. The power of military generals reached its peak, and it was common for military generals with military power to rebel and become emperors.
Men of war are respected, while men of letters are looked down upon by the world.
In the 5,000-year history of China, there has never been an era in which the status of literati was so poor.
Some people in later generations analyzed that the Song Dynasty's policy of emphasizing culture over military was an overreaction to the abnormal policy of emphasizing military over culture during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Perhaps because they had been suppressed for too long, the rejection of military generals by civil officials in the Song Dynasty was unprecedented in history.
Guo Rong had just ascended the throne, and his foundation was not solid enough. He wanted to use the invasion of Northern Han as a special case to demonstrate his power and intimidate the arrogant and powerful generals.
As a result, the generals did not obey their orders, the soldiers could not fight, the guards were half old and half young, and the strong and the weak were not distinguished. He was so angry that he killed more than 70 generals in one breath, and he killed hundreds of soldiers who fled in the face of the enemy.
Although Guo Rong's move shocked the arrogant soldiers and generals, it was also like a double-edged sword hanging over their heads.
Guo Rong was so murderous that many military governors and generals who commanded large armies were worried that the sword would fall over their heads.
Guo Rong was also quite helpless about this. If he didn't start killing, how could he reorganize the military? If he didn't improve the combat effectiveness of the soldiers, what would the Great Zhou have to conquer the world?
After returning to the capital, Guo Rong began to appease the generals one by one and alleviate their anxiety .
The military generals were powerful, and if Guo Rong wanted to secure his throne he could only focus on military affairs rather than civil affairs. If he used a "Zhang Zifang" at this time, this "Zhang Zifang" would definitely become the target of public criticism.
Guo Rong already knew Luo Youdu's background.
The only force he has now is his own old butler, and if all living things are counted, it's just an extra donkey.
How can we fight against the entire group of military generals with this strength?
Moreover, Luo Youdu had already offended some generals in the dispute between Wei Renpu and Zhao Kuangyin. It was just that his status was too low, so it would be a loss to attack him.
If Luo Youdu rises at this time, it will do him no good but only harm.
However, Guo Rong was worried that Luo Youdu would not be given a valuable position, so he became dissatisfied and defected to Jiangnan.
Jiangnan is the only place in the world that values literati. Many literati and officials in the Central Plains could not bear the humiliation and went south to join the Tang Dynasty.
If Luo Youdu really wanted to surrender to the Tang Dynasty, wouldn't it be the same as Zhuge Liang surrendering to Liu Xuande?
Therefore, Guo Rong ate his meal in silence, thinking about how to deal with Luo Youdu.
Unexpectedly, Luo Youdu could understand his difficulties. Guo Rong's worries were gone, and he said proudly: "Give me a year, and I will definitely give you a corresponding position."
One year is enough to secure your position in the world.
Luo Youdu doesn't care about these empty things at all.
Workplace experience: As an employee, you don’t need to let everyone know your strength, but you must let your boss know your ability.
Luo Youdu knew that he had no foundation at all, and being too prominent would be detrimental to his development. As long as Emperor Guo Rong recognized him, he would not be afraid of not having the opportunity to rise, so he said: "The world has been turbulent for a hundred years, and only Your Majesty has the hope of pacifying the four barbarians and unifying the world. It is enough for me to follow a wise leader to create a great cause, and I don't ask for anything else."
Guo Rong also had this ambition, and he believed that no one in the world could compare to him. He said with great enthusiasm: "Then you and I will follow the story of Emperor Gaozu of Han and Zhang Liuhou and put an end to this chaotic world!"
He said as he raised his glass high!
Luo Youdu raised his glass in response and drank the wine in the glass.
Guo Rong put down the wine glass in his hand and said, "Let me be honest with you, sir. I am very dissatisfied with the Kaifeng government. Cui Yan is knowledgeable in criminal law and has talent, but he is irresponsible and indecisive. Zhang Yue and Lu Bin each have their own ideas and almost ruined the country in their fight for the position of judge. Cui Yan has no suitable successor, so I am not going to move him. I plan to transfer Zhang Yue and Lu Bin out of the capital to take charge of local people's livelihood. I will keep Lu Bin's position as a lawyer for you. As for Zhang Yue's position in the government, do you have any good recommendations?"
Luo Youdu said without thinking: "My colleague, Yin Yide, the legal officer, is proficient in law and has served in Kaifeng Prefecture for many years. He is familiar with the affairs and can take on this task."
Guo Rong said without thinking, "Then it's him."
Luo Youdu would certainly not forget that Yin Yide stabbed him in the back. It was precisely because Yin Yide stabbed him in the back that he recommended Yin Yide at this time.
The reason is simple: Yin Yide’s political skills are not very good.
Luo Youdu was absolutely sure that he had him in his hands. Instead of letting another capable and scheming person, or a second-generation person with a strong family background, be the governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, it would be better to let Yin Yide be the governor.
He doesn't want to be confined to the position of legal counsel for the rest of his life. The weaker his competitors are, the greater his chances of getting promoted.
What does a little friction matter compared to your future?
Guo Rong kept talking with Luo Youdu until the palace was closed, and then he reluctantly let Luo Youdu leave. Before leaving, he did not forget to say that he would go to Kaifeng Prefecture to talk to him about world affairs when he had time, and he arranged for several imperial guards to escort him back to the palace.
After leaving the imperial city, Luo Youdu rode on his little donkey and walked slowly under the escort of the palace guards.
Looking at the strong imperial guards, Luo Youdu was secretly envious. Choosing to be a civil servant in this era was really a decision he had to make.
If this body of mine had extraordinary strength and physique, and if I had learned a few tricks in my later life, I would never have become a civil servant.
What's more, military power is the most real power in troubled times. In this cannibalistic world, Luo Youdu always felt uneasy without any soldiers at hand.
Looking up at the stars in the sky, Luo Youdu suddenly recalled a sentence from Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms: A general who is ignorant of astronomy, geography, yin and yang, and the art of divination and military formations is a mediocre person.
He stared at the sky full of stars, like an old cow listening to a musical instrument, and muttered to himself: I, Zhang Zifang, am probably a mediocre person.
The stars twinkled, reflecting Luo Youdu's dark eyes.
My eyes are getting brighter and brighter. I don’t know how to do this, but is there no way I can learn?
Who says that leading troops is the job of military commanders? Who says that civilian officials cannot lead troops?
Aren’t Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and Lu Xun all civil servants?
If you don't understand military affairs, you will never be able to command an army in your life. As long as you have the ability, it will be possible.
How about emphasizing military power over culture?
Can't I fight my way out as a civil servant?
