Jiuxi

Chapter 242 240 [The human heart is like an abyss]

Li Daoyan's mood was very complicated at the moment.

In fact, before this court meeting, he had already received some rumors that a storm was brewing against Right Minister Xue Nanting.

In Yongjia City, it was difficult to completely hide anything from the old man. At best, only a few people such as the Emperor and Qin Zheng could do it.

Li Daoyan even knew that this storm against Xue Nanting was secretly related to the forces in the north.

As the recognized leader of the Jiangnan family, Li Daoyan should be willing to see this storm emerge from a selfish point of view. He should even give a boost to oust Xue Nanting from the position of right minister.

The reason is simple. Although Xue Nanting also came from a Jiangnan family, he was a staunch supporter of the Northern Expedition and the emperor's right-hand man.

The key point is that Xue Nanting not only had the determination to support the Northern Expedition, but was also a capable official who was good at managing government affairs.

The people in Yongjia City naively believed that the initial success of the Frontier Army Company and Lienjie's Northern Expedition was entirely due to the efforts of those soldiers. However, they did not think about it. If there was not enough logistical support, what would the soldiers eat and use? In this severe cold weather, if they don't even have cotton-padded clothes to keep out the cold, how can they fight in the ice and snow? If they didn't have sophisticated weapons and qualified siege equipment, could they rely on their hands to siege the city?

If there is no sufficient military pay and no promised pension money, how can the soldiers have the determination to fight the enemy?

All these are due to Xue Nanting's hard work and food. Without him, who spent countless days and nights in charge of government affairs and dug out money from all aspects to support the border troops in Jinghuai, this Northern Expedition would never have been fought.

From this perspective, as long as Xue Nanting is removed from the position of right minister, the emperor's Northern Expedition will be unsustainable, and the frontier army can only stand still no matter how strong it is.

Therefore, Li Daoyan should support or even contribute to this storm.

At this moment, the old man couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Is this the reason why the North is going all out? You are sure that I will not go against the trend."

Li Daoyan was not surprised when he felt the emperor's gaze on him. Perhaps in the emperor's view, only this old man could plan such a battle.

Li Daoyan didn't know how many of the courtiers who went out to impeach Xue Nanting were instigated by the north, how many made their own decisions behind his back, and how many took advantage of the situation and wanted to build on Xue Nanting's reputation. He only Knowing that I have never made such an arrangement.

The voices in the court gradually subsided, and Li Duan's face became extremely ugly. Xue Nanting was better, but he was no longer as calm as before.

Everyone will have emotional fluctuations, especially in this kind of situation.

Li Daoyan suddenly coughed a few times, and then took a step forward.

Some people were overjoyed and were waiting for the old prime minister to make the final decision.

However, when he looked up, he found that Li Daoyan was not facing the emperor, but turned to face the officials.

The old man's profound gaze swept across Xue Nanting's face, continued to look at others, and then named them one by one.

"Master Liu, you just impeached the right prime minister for being lax in running the family, and the second son of the right prime minister is acting wantonly in the capital?"

Facing the old man's indifferent tone, Liu Yanguang, the minister of Taichang Temple, subconsciously lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Li Daoyan said slowly: "As for what the second son of the right prime minister did, I have heard occasionally that it was just Zhang Tai, a young man from a rich family, who was trying to get along with others, or he was jealous and vindictive. This kind of behavior is indeed not the behavior of a gentleman, but what do you think of it? If you want to impeach the right prime minister, where will you put me? Who in the capital doesn't know that the third grandson of my family has never done anything serious, and spends his days fighting cocks and running around, so why don't you impeach me? The right prime minister manages the government and cares about national affairs, and treats the family It is inevitable that the disciples will not be able to take care of everyone. It is in vain that you, as the Minister of Taichang Temple, are so indifferent, ridiculous!"

The old man did not deliberately accentuate his tone, but just the word "ridiculous" made Liu Yanguang break into a cold sweat and remain silent.

Li Daoyan said to another official: "You are impeaching the Xue family of Qingyuan for embezzling land? Do you have any real evidence? Your Majesty Xu Er and other imperial censors have heard that they have the right to report the matter, but it does not mean that you can just talk! If there is no real evidence, I will report it immediately Please, Your Majesty, banish you from the capital!"

The person did not dare to refute.

It was extremely quiet in the huge palace. Only Li Daoyan's voice kept ringing. He was calm and clear, refuting those who impeached Xue Nanting one by one, until everyone was speechless.

Not only did Li Duan, Xue Nanting and Qin Zheng's expressions change, but even Li Daoyan's supporters such as Ding Hui, the Minister of War, and Ning Yuanfu, the Minister of Personnel, were astonished.

They couldn't figure it out. Today's storm against Xue Nanting was a godsend. Why did the old man want to speak for the other party?

Li Daoyan finally refuted the last person. It was difficult for him to remember all the impeached officials clearly in a short period of time. Such a long speech made the old man look very tired.

The whole hall was silent. The old man turned to look at Li Duan, bowed slightly and said: "Your Majesty, I do not approve of their impeachment of the right prime minister. Today's scene is so huge. It is obvious that someone is secretly fueling the fire. I sincerely ask your Majesty to send someone to investigate thoroughly. ."

Li Duan looked at the old man's solemn expression, and he suddenly understood.

The reason why Li Daoyan made the decision to support Xue Nanting was not because he supported Xue Nanting, but because the actions of these people today, whether intentionally or in agreement, were rooted in the instigation from the north.

Perhaps Li Daoyan will still find ways to target Xue Nanting in the future, but he will never allow Beiyan or Jingchao to insert their hands into Daqi's court, thereby shaking the dignity of the right prime minister!

Today, the north can use this method to criticize Xue Nanting, but won't it be able to target others in the future?

If this evil trend cannot be stopped, wouldn't the huge Qi court follow in the footsteps of Bei Yan?

It is not difficult to guess what Li Daoyan was thinking. He wanted to cut off the hand stretched out from the north at the first sign of the outbreak. As for the ideological differences between him and Xue Nanting, it was an internal conflict.

Although this concept is not shocking, it is not easy for this old man to make a decision in such a short period of time.

After all, many people can only see the immediate benefits, but have difficulty understanding the subsequent waves, especially the negative impact on the people of the court after Xue Nanting's downfall in this way.

Upon thinking of this, Li Duan looked at Li Daoyan with a complicated expression, nodded slightly and said, "What the Prime Minister Zuo said makes sense, I agree." Li Daoyan lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

The storm was over, and Li Daoyan refuted everyone's impeachment without even needing Xue Nanting to come forward to defend himself.

Without prior notice, important ministers such as Ding Hui and Ning Yuanfu did not dare to disobey Li Daoyan's clear attitude, so they could only suppress their confusion and wait for a clear explanation in the future.

The last regular court meeting in the thirteenth year of Jianwu ended here. Due to the delay of the massive impeachment, it was already afternoon when the ministers walked out of the palace.

Although the imperial city was not dyed white in the depth of winter, it was still chilly.

The ministers consciously walked farther away, and no one disturbed the two prime ministers who were walking side by side.

Xue Nanting stared at the crowd in front and said slowly: "Although the impeachments today are turbulent, they are not fatal. I think there should be a fatal blow, but they died down because of the intervention of the old prime minister."

Li Daoyan coughed lightly and said, "Xue Xiang doesn't seem worried."

Xue Nanting said: "Thank you very much, Mr. Xiang, for your help."

Li Daoyan smiled and asked with interest: "I am actually very curious. If I don't come forward and the other party comes out with the most ferocious criticism, how will Prime Minister Xue respond?"

Xue Nanting said calmly: "To be honest, there is no good way. I just made up my mind at that time. No matter what the other party does, I will not admit guilt. At worst, I will remain in the position of right minister. As long as Your Majesty does not nod, I will If I don’t resign, what if they scold me bloody?”

Li Daoyan couldn't help but laugh, shook his head and said: "They say that you, Xue Nanting, are an upright gentleman. It is unimaginable that you would do such a thing."

"The situation forces us to do this as a last resort."

Xue Nanting sighed, and then said firmly: "Even if you carry the infamy with you, it is better than being trapped in the house, unable to serve the emperor and Daqi."

Li Daoyan did not accept this sentence.

Xue Nanting knew this very well. After all, the two of them were not on the same road, so he changed the subject and said, "I have benefited a lot from seeing the old prime minister scolding Fang Qiu today."

"What do you mean by that?"

"When the old prime minister came forward, His Majesty and I had similar thoughts, that is, there was the shadow of outsiders behind this matter. Even though the old prime minister did not support the Northern Expedition, he did not want outsiders to insert their hands into the court. He must kill him Cutting off this hand will at least maintain the dignity of the emperor in the court."

Li Daoyan turned his head and glanced at Xue Nanting, and said slowly: "Your Majesty does think so, but I don't know what Prime Minister Xue has a different view?"

Xue Nanting met his eyes as deep as the sea and said softly: "It's just a step further. Part of the old prime minister's consideration must be to cut off the hands of outsiders, but you don't want to see me forced to resign, because this is This is a result that His Majesty will never allow. By that time, His Majesty will definitely be on the opposite side of most officials, and if the old Prime Minister had not come forward to defend me in advance, you would definitely be forced to break with His Majesty. In short, a The storm against me will cause a split in the Qi court."

In the biting cold wind, Li Daoyan sighed leisurely.

After a long time, he said unhurriedly: "You are right, this conspiracy is not just against you. If I step in according to the other party's wishes, even if I want to pull you down first and then deal with those who have been bewitched by others, Even an idiot will fall into a bottomless cliff. His Majesty will be furious if he uses this method to force you to step down. He will deal with me at all costs, because in anyone's opinion, only me has the ability to organize a campaign against you. The killing game."

Xue Nanting's eyes were clear and he asked again: "In the opinion of the old prime minister, who could have done this? Wang Shidao? Or the little princess of Jing Dynasty?"

"They don't have the guts yet."

Li Daoyan turned his head to look north and said quietly: "It was probably Qing Yugong who did it casually. He doesn't need to weave in these details. As long as you are forced to step down at the court meeting, His Majesty will naturally fight to the death with me."

"Qing Yugong is indeed a difficult opponent."

Although Xue Nanting said this, there was no fear in his eyes, and he continued: "Today I accept the kindness of the old Prime Minister, I wonder if I can give you a thin noodles, find a quiet place, and have a few drinks?"

Li Daoyan looked calm and chuckled: "No need, you should focus on how to deal with those people in the north."

He did not directly reveal Xue Nanting's thoughts, and there was no embarrassment on the latter's face.

After walking out of the imperial city, the two of them said goodbye and boarded their carriages.

Entering the carriage, the smile on Xue Nanting's face disappeared and was replaced by a heavy look. It was not because Li Daoyan refused the olive branch he threw at the last moment, but because the people in the north obviously would not sit back and watch the Qi Dynasty's monarchs and ministers behave like this. One heart.

This time it was directed at him, who would it be next time?

In another carriage, Li Daoyan closed his eyes to rest, and suddenly whispered to himself: "Lu Chen is in danger."

On the lonely imperial street, two carriages went one behind the other. After traveling two miles in the same direction, they turned to the east and west respectively.

This is the opposite.

　4 updates today, 33 more are due.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)