Jiuxi

Chapter 121 Chapter 120 [Everything is difficult at the beginning]

Pingkangfang, Nancheng, is the prime minister's residence.

Li Yunyi stood respectfully in the hall, with his head lowered and his eyebrows lowered, pretending to be a well-behaved person. The violent expression on his face before in Fanlou disappeared without a trace.

"I know you did these things out of filial piety, and besides, you wouldn't cause much trouble, so I didn't let anyone stop you. Even if His Majesty knew about this, it was just a bump in the road between young people. As for blaming your father for this."

On the high seat, the gray-haired Li Daoyan said calmly.

Li Yunyi apologized and said: "My grandson is stupid and can't help his grandfather with his work. I feel ashamed of my love for my grandfather."

Li Daoyan smiled slightly and said: "If you can do this kind of thing by yourself, how can there be so much trouble in the court."

Li Yunyi didn't understand what he meant and subconsciously looked at his father standing next to him.

Li Daoyan didn't explain much, waved his hand and said: "Okay, this matter is over. Before His Majesty summons the generals of the border army, don't think about making trouble for others."

Li Yunyi didn't seem to understand. Hearing what his grandfather meant, he didn't seem to object to taking revenge on Lu Chen in the future?
After he left, there were only Li Daoyan and his eldest son Li Shizhi in the hall.

"The third child is getting more and more mischievous. If my father hadn't kept someone by his side, we wouldn't have known that he would win over the border generals."

Li Shizhi was 41 years old at the time and was serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Among Li Daoyan's many sons, he was the only high-ranking official in the ministry close to the central government.

Li Daoyan heard his sigh, adjusted his sitting posture slightly, and said meaningfully: "It's true that Yun Yi likes to fool around. This is also the result of deliberate indulgence by you and me, but his brain is not enough to see clearly that His Majesty will mobilize the border troops." The true intention of the military general to enter the capital must be the instigation of the people placed around him by the Sutra Weaver Division."

Li Shizhi hesitated to speak.

Li Daoyan knew what he wanted to say and said calmly: "I know that there are people from the Sutra Weaving Department around Yun Yi, and your Majesty can probably guess that I know this. It is just a harmless and tacit thing, so don't take it too seriously. Just like when I let you indulge Yun Yi, let everyone in the capital know that the most favored son of the Li family is just a playboy with no ambitions, just to reassure Your Majesty. There is no disloyal heart in the Li family, and neither does your father. He will become the kind of figure who manipulates power in the history books."

Li Shizhi soon came to his senses and pondered: "So by allowing Yun Yi to do these things, is my father showing the attitude of the Li family to His Majesty?"

"That's understandable."

Li Daoyan picked up the tea cup at hand, took a sip to moisten his throat, and continued: "Your Majesty...many people in Beijing think that His Majesty is just a show-off. He shouts the slogan of the Northern Expedition every year, but even the Beijing army The generals in the north and south yamen can't be replaced. But these people refuse to open their eyes and see. Even Qin Zheng, a cunning fox, is so loyal. How can your majesty be an ignorant person?"

Li Shizhi sighed: "Your Majesty is indeed good at forbearing."

Li Daoyan chuckled and said: "Twelve years of forbearance is long enough. This time is His Majesty's test. He wants to know how much reliable power he can control. But as a father, he is very worried. He is worried that His Majesty's step is too big. It will shake the stability of the court. Some things cannot be said publicly, because there will be no room for relaxation and maneuvering. It is more appropriate to let Yunyi make nonsense. In fact, His Majesty asked the secret agent of the Sutra Weaving Department to seduce Yunyi. Test the Li family, if my father supports His Majesty's decision, he will definitely not allow Yun Yi to do this."

Li Shizhi looked at his old father's gray hair and said slightly worriedly: "Now it seems that His Majesty's determination is very firm."

"This is Your Majesty's first step to truly launch the Northern Expedition. Of course, you must go firmly. However, Yunyi's nonsense should make Your Majesty understand that it is difficult to get enough support for the Northern Expedition. I just don't know if he can think clearly. The attitude of the Li family is just a microcosm. Those who really oppose the Northern Expedition are the vast number of southern families. If the Li family stands on the opposite side of them, the Jinlin Li family is likely to gradually decline."

At this moment, the old man's deep eyes were filled with helplessness.

"If father remains silent..." Li Shizhi said carefully.

"Father taught you long ago where power comes from."

Li Daoyan looked at his eldest son and said slowly: "Aside from those illusory truths, power comes from bottom-up support. Without the support of all the princes in the court and the vast family, how can my father be able to sit firmly on the left? The position of the phase?"

Li Shizhi's heart trembled, and he lowered his head and said: "What the father taught is that the son understands."

"Because of this, we have to stand on the opposite side of His Majesty this time. My father acquiesces in Yun Yi's nonsense. On the one hand, it is to remind His Majesty, and on the other hand, it is to let others see the Li family's attitude clearly to prevent them from misjudgment. "

There was a tired look in Li Daoyan's eyes, and he said softly: "During the court meeting, you can stand up and give out your advice at the appropriate time."

Li Shizhi bowed and responded: "Yes, father."

Of course, he didn't need to ask what the admonition was about. When the emperor transferred these border army generals to the capital, many things were already clear. The next step was just to choose their own positions.

……

"You might as well give it a try... These four words are so well said, concise and powerful, and they clearly reveal the vitality of young people."

There was a burst of hearty laughter in the East Nuan Pavilion of the Wende Palace in the Imperial City.Naturally, the palace people outside did not dare to eavesdrop on the conversation between the monarch and his ministers inside, but when the laughter floated into their ears, they couldn't help but feel sad.

How long has it been since I saw His Majesty in such a happy state?
For these palace people, although the emperor was not a particularly generous emperor, he was quite lenient to the people below him. Unless they violated a principled issue, they would usually just give a reprimand, or at most they would be dragged to Yeting for a beating. Pause the board.

Not to mention that His Majesty has been working diligently and diligently in government affairs for more than ten years, and everyone has seen it.

It's just that being in a good mood like today is a bit of a luxury for His Majesty.

If the princes could be more sensible, your Majesty would be happier, right?

In the Nuan Pavilion, Li Duan was rare and did not sit behind the imperial case to review the memorial.Thinking of the conflict in Fanlou, his eyebrows were filled with smiles and a bit of envy.

That's right, the mighty Emperor Qi would actually envy a small border military captain.

Qin Zheng was sitting on the round stool opposite.

He knew very well where this envy came from, so he joked: "Li Sanlang is used to being domineering in the capital. Relying on the leftist relative's love for him, he hardly pays attention to other people, and only has some respect for the clan and the royal family. Respect. This time he encountered a hard bone and almost broke his teeth. If Lu Chen hadn't endured it, Li Sanlang would have suffered another big loss."

"When you talk about this matter, I remember that he also suffered a loss at the hands of Li Bingxue two years ago?" Li Duan asked with interest.

Qin Zheng smiled and said: "He was even worse that time. He was kicked from the inside to the outside by Lieutenant Li, and then he lay on the bed for two months. Your Majesty gave the order clearly, and it was not easy for the left prime minister to protect him. Waiting for him to be raised After he was healed, he was tied up and beaten by his father, and that was the end."

A deep light appeared in Li Duan's eyes, and he said leisurely: "The reason why the left prime minister did not protect him is not because of my decree, but because he knows very well that the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion is more important than the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion. If Huaizhou is lost, what will happen to them? It seems that Da Qi just lost the springboard for the Northern Expedition, and the Puppet Yan still cannot build ships on the north bank to cross the river south. Furthermore, there are many places in Xinzhou on the south bank that can be set up to form a defense line."

Qin Zheng remained silent. He thought this was a stupid idea, but many people in the court regarded it as a standard.

Li Duan continued: "But if Jingzhou falls, the navy built by the puppet Yan on the upper tributaries can go down the river, and the defense line along the river that stretches thousands of miles will be dwarfed on the left and right. It will be difficult for our army to defend all the ferries. You can see it clearly. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't be so kind to Li Tianrun's apple."

"Your Majesty, I see some completely different qualities in these two young people from the border, so I am thinking about another question."

"Speaking bluntly."

"According to your majesty and ministers' previous inferences, those in the court must want to keep these young border army generals in the capital. Whether it is the Privy Council or the Ministry of War, there are always some high-power and low-level posts that can arrange them. As time goes by, these Young people may not be able to withstand co-optation and assimilation, so this move by His Majesty can be resolved."

At this point, Qin Zheng paused for a moment and said thoughtfully: "Do you think you can push in this direction?"

Li Duan thought: "You mean, go with the flow and take another step?"

Qin Zheng said slowly: "Clarity of rewards and punishments is the basis for the normal operation of the imperial court. In this matter, Your Majesty has a natural right and there is no need to use those hidden secret hands. With such a foundation, coupled with the fact that these young generals are solid If most of the courtiers agree that it is more appropriate to grant them the position of Beijing official, your Majesty may as well take advantage of the situation and directly transfer them to the Beijing army."

Li Duan fell into deep thought for a long time.

This is a very bold move.

He is the Emperor of Qi, but he cannot be arbitrary. The most obvious point is that when it comes to the appointment and dismissal of officials, it is often inconvenient for him to force decisions. It is best to win the support of most courtiers.

Such a thing was unimaginable before the Yuanjia Incident. Although the late emperor was shocking in how he handled many things, he could still dismiss ministers at will.

The main reason for this is that it has been 140 years since the founding of Daqi. The majesty of the Tianjia has long been ingrained in everyone's bones.

It wasn't until Heluo City was breached by the Jing Dynasty's army, the palace was destroyed in a fire, and the late emperor, empress, prince, and countless palace residents all died of self-immolation, that the majestic imperial power that suppressed people from moving began to loosen.

As the seventh son of the late emperor, Li Duan luckily escaped the disaster and ascended the throne as emperor in Yongjia City with the support of Li Daoyan and others.

There are no legal concerns about his succession to the throne, but he is too weak by nature and lacks the strength and confidence to be strong.

If it weren't for the support of Qin Zheng, Li Tianrun and Xiao Wangzhi, as well as the struggles and strife between various forces in Beijing, it would be difficult for him to exploit every opportunity to develop his current strength.

After a long time, Li Duan said calmly: "The left prime minister has already expressed to me the attitude of the Li family, or the views of most officials in Beijing, through the conflict at Fanlou, so we can't be anxious. Let's do this, from now on Tomorrow we will start summoning the border army generals in batches to meet with them. I will meet with Li Bingxue and the commanders first, and you will leave Lu Chen at the end."

Qin Zheng responded respectfully: "I obey your order."

(End of this chapter)