The last time Li Yanqing saw Cai Jing was in the autumn and winter of last year, when Cai Jing was old, but he still felt a little fairy, but he hadn't seen him for half a year, and Cai Jing's back was actually rickety and shrunk into a dry little old man, which completely subverted the image in Li Yanqing's memory.

Li Yanqing watched for a long time, and finally recognized the old man in front of him as Cai Jing, the former minister of power.

"Humble Li Yanqing to meet Old Minister Cai!"

"It turned out to be Li Shaobao, a rare guest!"

Although Cai Jing is old, his eyes are extremely sharp, he glanced at Li Yanqing, and said with a slight smile: "Congratulations to Li Shaobao for turning the tide, making immortal achievements, and going down in history!" ”

"This is the credit of all the soldiers, Li Yanqing is just at the right time to do his duty as a courtier."

"Li Taibao is too modest, please wait for me for a while, let's go to the study to talk!"

Cai Jing washed his hands in the bucket and dried them with a cloth, and then he was supported by the eldest grandson and slowly walked to the outer study.

"Li Shaobao, please go to the study and sit for a while, and let me change my clothes."

Li Yanqing nodded, walked into the study, the study was very simple, there was a bookcase against the wall, which was full of books and picture scrolls, in front of the window was a wide bookcase, behind was a sandalwood carved wide chair, there was a small coffee table by the window, there was an official kiln plum vase, a budding Han Lian was inserted, and a proclamation was laid on the table, there were four treasures of the study, as well as a pen holder and pen holder.

On the front wall of the table is a painting written by Cai Jing himself, with only four big characters, 'I have thought about it behind closed doors!' ’

Li Yanqing still remembers that there was a banner hanging on the wall in the past, 'Lao Ji is in the middle of nowhere, and his ambition is thousands of miles!' ’

He couldn't help but smile, old age is possible, but thinking about it may not be.

At this time, a maid came in and served him a cup of tea, Li Yanqing nodded, sat down in the guest seat, and soon, Cai Jing, who had changed into a Zen robe, walked into the study, Li Yanqing hurriedly got up, Cai Jing smiled: "Let Li Shaobao wait for a long time, please sit!" ”

Li Yanqing sat down again, Cai Jing sat down on the main seat next to Li Yanqing, the maid also served him tea, Cai Jing waved his hand, and his grandson Cai Zheng closed the door and retreated.

"Li Shaobao, although the Jin soldiers have retreated, the situation is still very grim!"

Cai Jing sighed lightly and said, "The official family was taken away by the Jin soldiers, and the country can't be without a king for a day, what can I do?" ”

"That's what I'm here for!"

"Oh-"

Cai Jing said with a smile: "Li Shaobao wants to make the king of Daning County the new emperor? ”

Zhao Chen, the king of Daning County, is the eldest son of Zhao Huan, only seven years old this year, living in the harem with his mother Queen Zhu, Zhao Huan has only been on the throne for half a year, because of the fierce war, Zhao Huan has not had time to make him the prince, and he is still the king of the county.

Li Yanqing shook his head, "Although the Jin soldiers retreated north, they will kill again at any time, now is the critical moment of the Great Song Dynasty, the county king is too young to take on the important task of saving the survival of the Great Song Dynasty, I consider supporting King Likang as the new emperor." ”

"King Kang?"

Cai Jing was stunned for a moment, and he suddenly said in surprise: "That's right! King Kang was in Jingzhao and did not follow the official family into the military camp. ”

Li Yanqing smiled, "Now that His Royal Highness King Kang has rushed to Guancheng County, Zhengzhou, I will send someone to greet him, and today I have come to invite Cai Xiang to come out of the mountain and support the new emperor with me!" ”

Although Li Yanqing doesn't have a good impression of Cai Jing, Cai Jing at least doesn't have too deep personal grudges with him, so he can't let Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan, Wu Min, Geng Nanzhong and others support the new emperor!

In contrast, Li Yanqing feels that Cai Jing is his best collaborator.

Cai Jing's eyes lit up, he has been immersed in officialdom for decades, how could he not know the huge opportunity contained here, this is a key turning point for the Cai family, and he must seize this golden opportunity.

After pondering for a moment, Cai Jing narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "I'm afraid that now Bai Shizhong, Wu Min and others have entered the palace to support the king of Daning!" ”

Li Yanqing smiled faintly, "The gate of Bai Shizhong's mansion has been guarded by the army, and they can't go out for the time being, of course, it is also for their safety, for fear that they will be harmed by the enemy." ”

Cai Jing gave Li Yanqing a thumbs up, "Li Shaobao is smart!" ”

.........

Cai Zheng sent Li Yanqing away, and then hurried back to the outer study, only to see his grandfather leaning his back and pacing back and forth in the room, Cai Zheng stepped forward and saluted, "Grandfather, Li Shaobao has left." ”

"I know, he'll go to the palace next."

Cai Zheng hesitated, but couldn't help but ask: "Sun Er doesn't quite understand, why did Li Yanqing want to establish King Kang, it stands to reason, isn't it more conducive to him to control the government by appointing the young King of Daning?" ”

Cai Jing smiled coldly, "How do you think the official family entered the gold camp, Li Yanqing can stop the emperor, but he can't stop the official family?" You underestimate Li Yanqing too much, I'm afraid that the official family's entry into the barracks was already in his expectation, and it was also in his plan. ”

"This ..... It's unlikely! ”

"What is impossible, how could King Kang go to Jingzhao? Li Yanqing said that King Kang has arrived in Guancheng County, Zhengzhou, and I know that Li Yanqing has already notified King Kang to enter Beijing, and there are some details that I may not understand, but I am sure that Li Yanqing has long been in collusion with King Kang, besides, the king of Daning County is too young, and he will inevitably be the queen mother after he ascends the throne, do you think Empress Zhu will spare Li Yanqing? Only when King Kang ascends the throne will there be merit in supporting it. ”

Cai Zheng was silent, and after a while, he said again: "Grandfather also supports King Kang's accession to the throne!" ”

"Of course, the king of Daning County is the eldest grandson and eldest son, and it is logical for him to ascend the throne, which is in line with the interests of Bai Shizhong, Li Bangyan, Wu Min and other ministers in power, but it is by no means in line with the interests of our Cai family, only when King Kang ascends the throne, I Cai Jing will have the merit of supporting it, and it is the turning point of my Cai's fate."

"So what are we going to do?"

"Does that need to be said? Of course, it is to fully cooperate with Li Yanqing and King Likang, this is the reason why Li Yanqing is looking for me, he needs me to stabilize the court for him, recruit children, and quickly change his grandfather's clothes, and I will enter the court now. ”

Cai Jing immediately changed his court clothes, sat in a sedan chair, and hurried to the palace accompanied by Cai Zheng.

At this time, nearly 200 officials have gathered in the palace, most of them are middle- and low-level officials, among the six ministers of the Zhizheng Hall, He Li died in battle, Zhang Bangchang and Tang Ke did not return in Jinying, Geng Nanzhong was imprisoned by Li Yanqing for robbing the people's daughters, only Wu Min and Li Bangyan were left, these two people are currently under house arrest by Li Yanqing, and Bai Shizhong and Sun Fu, the two former Xiangguo, are also under house arrest.

So that the hundred officials for a while the dragon has no leader, all the courtiers gathered in Daqing Square to discuss, among the courtiers to the university scholar Xu Churen, the university scholar He Jiao, the official department of the servant Li Yan and the imperial history of Cheng Xu Han and other people have the highest official position, but there is no Xiangguo, many things can only be discussed and can not be decided.

"Scholar Xu, what should we do now? The country cannot be without a king for a day, and the official family has been taken away by the Jinren, can we consider setting up a new king? More than a dozen young officials surrounded Xu Churen, the most senior, and asked.

Xu Churen is about 60 years old, is the Shenzong Yuanfengjian Jinshi, has been an official for nearly 40 years, has always adhered to the mean, in the fight for a time he also belongs to the centrists, both against compromise and surrender, and has no confidence to resist Jin, advocating peace talks with the Jin State under the premise of safeguarding the interests of the Song Dynasty.

The current situation is unclear, of course it is impossible for Xu Churen to roast himself on the fire, his face sank, and he said coldly: "Although the official family goes north with the Jin people, it is unknown whether they will return or not, without the edict of the official family abdicating, who dares to speak of establishing a new emperor?" ”

He Jiao, a university scholar, also said to everyone: "Whether to establish a new emperor is decided by the governor of the Tang Xiangguo, Geng Xianggong, Wu Xianggong and Li Xianggong are all in the capital, they have not expressed their attitude, so we should not overstep the bounds." ”

At this time, someone suddenly shouted, "Prime Minister Cai is here!" ”

The ministers turned around, only to see a few people surrounding Cai Jing and walked over, Cai Jing has been close to forty years, and his prestige among the hundred officials is extremely high, and he belongs to the nature of the ballast stone of the imperial court.

Cai Jing came forward, so that the ministers suddenly had the backbone, they all surrounded each other, and asked urgently: "Prime minister, what should the court do now?" ”

Cai Jing waved his hand and said with a smile: "Ministers, don't panic, the Jin soldiers besieged the city and the imperial court can still be stabilized, and now that the Jin soldiers are retreating north, it should be the time for the imperial court to operate again, as long as the order is sorted out, the court can be revitalized." ”

Cai Jing's few words stabilized the anxious hearts of the ministers, and Xu Churen said again: "Prime Minister, Geng Xianggong, Wu Xianggong and Li Xianggong are all in the capital, and they didn't show up today, are we going to invite them to preside over the court?" ”

Cai Jing sneered and said: "The official family was coerced and tricked into going to the Jinying to negotiate, so that they were trapped in the tiger's den, and it is still difficult to get out, the three of them are the culprits, they should be imprisoned for questioning, where is their turn to preside over the court?" ”

Xu Churen was speechless for a moment, and Li Yan, the servant of the ministry, stepped forward and said, "Where do you think the minister should start now?" ”

Cai Jing smiled slightly, "Li Shaobao has already gone to ask the Empress Dowager Ningde, everyone should be calm and wait for the Empress Dowager's decree!" ”

Everyone suddenly woke up, no wonder Li Yanqing didn't show up, it turned out that he went to ask the Queen Mother.

Xu Churen and the others knew it, no wonder Cai Jing would come out, I am afraid that Li Yanqing invited him, Li Yanqing is in military power, and how the court should operate will ultimately have to be decided by him.