Don't Ask Where People Go After Time Travel

Chapter 1500 Retreat

"Master Fang is now a rising star, and he is so impressive." Fang Chongzheng's words were neither cold nor warm, but to Fang Zilan, they sounded like sarcasm. She couldn't help but retort, "Of course, he can't compare to Master Fang, who was a founding member of the dynasty and served as prime minister for three generations."

She was deliberately trying to anger Fang Chongzheng, but he was not annoyed at all and said calmly, "Since Lord Fang has respected me as an official for a long time, I will take advantage of my seniority today and have a good talk with Lord Fang."

Fang Zilan was stunned, and only heard Fang Chongzheng say: "Master Fang, do you know who instigated this case in the northern border?"

"Lu Zhizhang." Fang Zilan answered without hesitation. Fang Chongzheng asked in a gentle and persuasive way, "Then, Lord Fang, have you ever thought about what role the Wang family and the Huangfu family of the Northern Territory played in this case?"

"Adding fuel to the flames." Fang Zilan's voice deepened. Fang Chongzheng asked, "Why?"

"I don't know." Fang Zilan's voice became lower and lower, and it was obvious that she lacked confidence. "I thought that the lips and teeth are cold, and the Wang family would never harm anyone but the people in the army."

"You think you think long-term enough just because you think the lips and teeth are cold?" Fang Chongzheng taught him earnestly: "A person's life span is a few decades, a family's life span is hundreds of years, and a dynasty's life span is no more than a thousand years. The Wang family is not concerned about the temporary rise and fall of Wang Quanzhi, nor the honor and disgrace of Wang Quanrui, but the rise and fall of the Wang family over a hundred years. Do you think the Wang family will allow military generals to override civil officials?"

Fang Chongzheng's words were like a ray of light, which made Fang Zilan suddenly enlightened.

She stayed at home for a few days, thinking hard but couldn't understand why the Wang family would become Lu Zhizhang's accomplice. The division between the civil and military in the northern border was clear, and the Wang family had no reason to harm the people in the army.

It was not until she heard what Fang Chongzheng said that she understood. Most of the people in the army, such as Lieutenant General Li and Qin, were promoted when she was in office. After she left, the Huangfu family probably also put in a lot of effort. As a result, it became a secret competition between military generals and civil officials.

After a while, Fang Zilan sighed and said, "No. Lord Fang is teaching me that I was not thoughtful enough."

"Improper consideration." Fang Chongzheng repeated the word in a deep voice, his tone a little colder. "To this day, having come this far, Lord Fang feels that he has not thought things through?"

Hearing the sound, Fang Zilan only felt terrified, as if a child who did something wrong was caught by his parents.But she still said calmly: "What exactly does Master Fang want to tell me?"

Fang Chongzheng did not answer but asked, "May I ask you a question, Lord Fang. In your heart, is the responsibility of the mountains and rivers everlasting greater than the sky?"

Fang Zilan was stunned for a moment, then said softly, "Yes." Her voice was a little hoarse, revealing an indescribable heaviness, but extremely firm.

"Then do you know that this responsibility should belong to the emperor in the Qiankun Palace?" Fang Chongzheng's tone was a little solemn. "You say that the responsibility in your heart is as solid as the mountains and rivers, but the noble families say that power and interests are more important than the sky. Your perseverance cannot reach the threshold of their high-ranking families, cannot accumulate an inch of land for their fiefdoms, and cannot support the beams and pillars of their grand courtyards."

Fang Zilan listened quietly, but she felt a nameless anger in her chest burning more and more fiercely.

She couldn't help but retort, "Master Fang is in a high position in the government, and his way of being an official is definitely not something I can compare to. But even so, I dare not agree with what Master Fang said."

She coughed lightly to clear her throat and continued, "Do your job. The affairs of the world are not the business of the emperor alone. Otherwise, what are the officials for? What is the use of noble families? If you are in a high position, you don't take the world as your responsibility, but take the world as your own body. If you make such a mistake, you will go to any place."

Fang Chongzheng was silent, but a familiar figure flashed in his mind. When we were young, who didn't worry about the world with passion and devote ourselves to it? But with the passage of time and the changing world, who can stick to it as before?

Indeed, they are a family.

"Lord Fang is young, so he must think that what he did was justifiable and righteous." Fang Chongzheng said slowly, "But looking back many years later, it was just a momentary impulse of heroism. You are willing to die for the people of the North, but who will stand up to protect them after you die? Life is a matter of decades, and there is a long way to go. It is not something that can be decided in one day when you are young."

Fang Zilan suddenly chuckled, her voice full of regret, "Master Fang is used to protecting himself, why would he care about a junior like me who is young and frivolous and doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth? Although life is not a race against time, there are always things that need to be done. I have always been a person who will not turn back until I die, and I am afraid that I will offend Master Fang's kindness."

"Master Fang, do you think that there is anything in this world that you have to do?" Fang Chongzheng's tone gradually turned cold, and Fang Zilan's voice became weaker. "No one has to do anything. It's just..."

She suddenly stopped talking, and after a while she said, "There are many things in this world that no one is willing to do. I don't want these things to be looked down upon and remain silent." She found herself laughing as soon as she finished speaking.

Fang Chongzheng was right, she was indeed trying to be a hero.

But who can be the savior? She is not arrogant enough to that extent.

Fang Chongzheng clenched his hands into fists in his sleeves, and the past events flashed back to him like a kaleidoscope.

He was powerless then, and he is helpless now.

He once felt lonely because he could only protect himself for the sake of the Fang family. He also envied those who were determined to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country. He was even more unwilling to accept that the Fang family was not strong enough to protect everyone in their country.

Later, as he grew older, the hills and valleys in his heart were gradually worn down into a smooth path. He thought that the loneliness, envy and resentment he had in his youth had all disappeared with time.

However, it was not until this moment that he suddenly realized that after so many years, no matter how calm he was, he still had a trace of regret that he could not suppress.

At last, his expression was as indifferent as usual, and he said in a cold voice: "Since ancient times, no brave general has ever had a good end. I hope Lord Fang will take care of himself."

"That's strange." Awan looked puzzled. "The Mo family didn't rebel, and it wasn't pirates causing trouble, so why did His Majesty ask you to come to the southeast to handle this matter?"

"The pirates did happen, which means that General Xiahou's news is not groundless." Fang Zilan raised her hand and frowned, analyzing: "But the Mo family did not rebel, which means that the other half of General Xiahou's news is not credible."

Awan asked subconsciously, "You mean, General Xiahou sent false information to the capital?"

"Two possibilities." Fang Zilan deliberately lowered her voice. Awan moved closer to her and heard her say, "Either General Xiahou was deceived and mistakenly believed that the Mo family was rebelling. Or General Xiahou had some problems with the Mo family and deliberately sent false information to the capital, intending to use Your Majesty to eliminate the Mo family."

(End of this chapter)