Chapter 288: Old Ginger and Green Onions

readx; "Back to the emperor's grandfather, my father is not in good health, and I often visit him during this time. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info”

Li Yu replied cautiously, in fact, their father and son have discussed this issue no less than ten times, the saint asked this question how he should answer, one plan is that he has not seen each other for nearly a year, missing his father, because he does not dare to visit because he does not have the holy decree, this is the best answer, but this may not be able to hide from those eunuchs who are resident in the palace, and the new head of the central official, Yu Chaoen, will not help them hide the facts, so the risk is too great, Li Heng and his son retreated to the second, playing the favor card, first pointing out the poor health, and then using vague words'From time to time', it is difficult to determine whether it is every day, or once every three days, or once every ten years, or even once a month, so that there can be room for relaxation, so when Li Yu said this answer, he saw that the gaze in Li Longyu's eyes was still gentle, and he knew that his answer was right, and he was secretly relieved in his heart.

Li Longji nodded, now he doesn't value Li Heng very much, he has decided to give up Li Heng, then Li Heng is an ordinary prince, just his son, after the incident of King Di, Li Longji especially values the honesty of his children and grandchildren, so it is not important for the eldest grandson to visit the former prince of the East Palace, the important thing is whether the eldest grandson will also lie to himself, he has already obtained first-hand information from the eunuchs in advance, and the emperor's eldest grandson has been visiting his father almost every day for more than a month, although he doesn't know what they are talking about, But every time it was more than a quarter of an hour, so he was very worried that the emperor eldest grandson he fancied also lied to himself, fortunately no, the imperial eldest grandson did not lie to himself, he went every ten years for the past year, and he only went every day for the last month, and in the last month, Heng's health was really bad.

This answer makes Li Longji very satisfied, the eldest grandson takes filial piety first, and honesty and stability make him more satisfied, this is indeed the most qualified successor to the throne, Li Longji made the decision to succeed to the throne of the eldest grandson is not accidental, he has been observing for two years, initially he took a fancy to King Ying, but after observing for half a year, he found that King Ying has the weakness of impulsiveness, which is not the character that the emperor should have, he gave up King Ying, and then King Di, King Di is the fourth son, from the perspective of the order of the eldest and youngest, he is more suitable, but after the drought in Henan caused the land annexation incident, Li Qing'an impeached King Qing and Cui Qiao, Li Longji immediately sent his henchmen eunuchs to secretly check, but unexpectedly pulled out the radish and brought out the mud, and the eunuchs found out that King Di was also enclosed nearly 50,000 acres of land in Chenliu and Xingyang, which made Li Longji extremely angry, King Qing's greed is floating on the water, you can see it at a glance, but King Di's greed is hidden deeper, such a person is terrible, if he can continue to sit on the throne for another ten years, can he bear it?

It is from King Di's scheming that Li Longji finally decided to give up his children, and turn the goal to his grandchildren, the benefits of letting his grandchildren inherit the throne are self-evident, first of all, he Li Longji can sit on the throne peacefully, this is a big problem that Li Longji has been taboo for decades, he has been on the throne for too long, it has been forty years, and he still wants to sit for another twenty years, so that when he abdicates, his sons are close to the sixtieth birthday, which son can bear it? Li Longji also knows this truth, so he will change a prince every ten years, first in the twenty-fifth year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, he got rid of the impatient Prince Ying, and then abolished Prince Heng again after more than ten years, but Li Longji also knows the consequences of changing the prince frequently, so he can make his grandchildren the prince, which can make him worry about decades of contradictions and solve them.

Set up his grandson as the grandson, Li Longji's first thought is the eldest grandson Li Jiao, this is his favorite grandson, to a large extent, he is actually for this eldest grandson and set up the mediocre third son Heng as the crown prince, and finally let the Tang Dynasty throne fall into the hands of the eldest grandson, now since he does not consider his son, and Li Longji's eyes are naturally locked on the eldest grandson, and his reason for abolishing the prince now seems to be an unjust case, it is his eldest son Cong and his mistress Mrs. Guo jointly set up, so he also has a sense of guilt for the third son Heng, The appointment of his son as the prince can be regarded as compensation for him.

After taking all these factors into consideration, Li Longji finally established a plan for the succession of the emperor's eldest grandson, and this morning, he suddenly announced this plan at the imperial court.

Li Longji looked at his vigorous eldest grandson, and his heart was full of relief, in his subconscious, he was no longer able to solve the problem of land annexation, and just let his young grandson take over to solve this problem.

"Grandson, today grandfather has declared you the prince in the court, although he did not discuss with you in advance, grandfather hopes that you will not panic or get carried away because of this, grandfather hopes that you can keep a normal heart and look at this matter calmly."

Li Longji's tone was very gentle, which was completely different from the attitude when he spoke to his son, he liked and trusted his grandson in his heart, he didn't want his sternness to frighten his grandson, he was like a kind grandfather sitting under a big tree telling his grandson stories at the moment.

"The grandson will not get carried away, the grandson only feels that the burden on his shoulders is very heavy, and the grandson will study harder so that he can afford the trust of the emperor's grandfather."

Li Longji nodded and said: "It is necessary to study, but you can't just study, I will gradually delegate some power to you, so that you can deal with government affairs as soon as possible, exercise your ability, and I will not bind you like your father in the past, you can make friends with hundreds of officials, establish your own power, and prepare for your future inheritance." ”

It should be said that this is Li Longji's unprecedented decision, he used to restrict the two princes in every way, lest they take power, in the final analysis, he is still afraid that his son will be too powerful and threaten his throne, but he has no scruples about his grandson, he can let him do things, even if he does something wrong, he can also redeem him, maybe this is the benefit of the next generational inheritance, father and son are natural enemies, but grandchildren are not, on the other hand, Li Longji also has selfish intentions, he is really tired of government affairs, but he is not worried about Yang Guozhong's ability, let his grandson start to deal with government affairs, It can not only share his worries, but also balance Yang Guozhong's one-party dominance.

Li Longji said while looking at Li Yu's expression, he was looking for Li Yu to have a long talk today, just didn't want Li Yu to have too much burden, then he saw a trace of deep worry flashing in his grandson's eyes, so he asked: "If your grandson has any worries, you can say it!" ”

Li Yu's lips moved, he suddenly knelt down, and said: "Imperial grandfather, grandson is really worried about land annexation, grandson has been to Guanzhong several times in the past few months to investigate, and found that land annexation is very serious, seventy percent of farmers have no land, grandson thinks that if you don't take decisive measures to stop land annexation, grandson is worried that my Tang Dynasty is in danger!" ”

This is not Li Yu's impulse, he knew a few years ago that the land issue has become a cancer in the Tang Dynasty, and it is getting more and more intense, a large number of relatives, powerful and important ministers have the fact of encroaching on the land, the powerful refuse to pay the tax, the small power will pass on the rent to the tenant farmers, the high rent makes a large number of peasants live in poverty, the slightest natural disaster will appear to sell children and daughters, the tragic scene of the family is ruined, if the land annexation is not curbed, there will be a large-scale peasant uprising in the Tang Dynasty, thus shaking the rule of the Li family, Li Yu was worried about this, and today he took this opportunity to express his thoughts, he wanted to get the support of the imperial grandfather, and take effective measures to curb the land annexation.

Li Longji is still drinking his ginseng tea unhurriedly, the serious surname of the land problem, he doesn't know, he has issued several edicts for this reason, strictly prohibiting land annexation, but it has no effect, land annexation involves the interests of almost all the magnates up and down the Tang Dynasty, and even he, Li Longji, doesn't he also own tens of thousands of hectares of imperial estate? He didn't dare to move this problem, a move involved the overall situation, he only pinned his hopes on his successor to solve this problem, the eldest grandson Li Yu can propose to solve the crisis of land annexation, which really makes him feel gratified, but Li Longji does not approve of the eldest grandson's method, he is too anxious, even a little rash, he does not realize the complexity of this problem at all, of course, this is because the grandson is sharp, young and vigorous, but let the grandson understand his situation, but it is his own responsibility.

Li Longji put down the tea bowl and said slowly: "My grandson wants to solve the problem of land annexation, I understand and support you, but I also want to tell you that if you start to solve the land annexation now, you will not be able to sit on the throne in the future, do you understand?" ”

Li Yu didn't expect his grandfather to answer like this, he was silent for a while, Li Longji sighed and said, "Do you think I don't want to solve the land problem?" But it's hard! This is no longer a matter of individual bureaucrats being greedy for land, but if individual bureaucrats are corrupt, it is very easy to do! It's okay to kill him, but the magnates of the entire Tang Dynasty are annexing land, and even high-ranking officials in the army, who can you kill? Who can you kill? With the emperor's grandfather in power for such a long time, do you want to break the ice just after sitting in the East Palace? You have violated their interests, will they tolerate your accession to the throne? ”

Seeing that his grandson was about to speak, Li Longji waved his hand and said: "Don't talk first, listen to me, I know that the land problem is serious, so I express my support for you to solve the land annexation, but I don't approve of your way, I hope that you will sit on the throne in the future and then start to cut it slowly, this is a safe plan, not now, your top priority now is to cultivate and establish your own power as soon as possible, so that after you take over the throne, you can quickly sit on the throne, and only then will someone listen to your command and do things for you, Only then can your will go out of the palace and be implemented in every state and county of the Tang Dynasty. ”

Li Yu was deeply moved by his grandfather's earnest teachings, but the urgency of the land issue made him feel that time was running out, and he thought that there was no need to settle the old land accounts, just to curb the continued merger and deterioration of the land, which was not difficult, as long as he could deal with a few powerful people with the greatest public anger, he could receive the effect of the example, but it was such a simple thing, the imperial grandfather still refused to act, the last time Li Qing'an had found out the case of King Qing's enclosure, the imperial grandfather could make a fuss about him and make an example of him, but the imperial grandfather finally held it high, Gently put it down, this is obviously insincere, maybe it is what he himself said, pushing the last accumulated risks to himself.

Li Yu sighed secretly in his heart, and was silent, Li Longji saw that he was not convinced, this grandson is a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers, it is no wonder, it seems that this is a stubborn young man, and he will also be an emperor who offends people, no matter what, being an emperor is always to offend people, and if he refuses to offend the powerful, let his grandson be a villain! It's not a bad thing to let him experience the hardships of politics first, but he must keep his grandson's position as the prince, so that he can't be deposed because of this.

Li Longji couldn't help but think of his layout today, today's layout is actually a preparation to keep his grandson's position as the crown prince, it is his long-considered plan, to promote Li Xian, who has outstanding ability and is an honest official, he is the clan, and the original Donggong Party, this is to let the clan support Li Yu, and then promote Wei Jian and Pei Min, not only because they are members of the Donggong Party, but more importantly, they represent the two major families of the Tang Dynasty, Wei and Pei, this is to let the family support Li Yu, and the Cui family and Yang Guozhong are too close, So he didn't consider Cui Qiao, and promoted Li Qing'an to be the prime minister again, which was of course to let Li Yu get the support of the military, but the more important reason was that Li Qing'an had always been the pillar he planned to leave to the prince, and originally wanted to keep Wang Zhonghei to Li Heng, but Wang Zhonghe's power rose too fast, and when he was not ready, Wang Zhonghei matured, and it would be a disaster sooner or later.

In terms of military power, he can't tolerate a little sand in his eyes, which is the reason why he got rid of Wang Zhonghe, and Li Qing'an is the pillar he chose to inherit after Wang Zhonghe, especially the eldest grandson, the two of them are of the same age, their thoughts are closer, and Li Qing'an's loyalty to the former prince has always been appreciated by him, he needs Li Qing'an, such a powerful local prince, to protect his grandson, let Li Qing'an develop his strength in Anxi first, and before the eldest grandson succeeds to the throne, he can be transferred to Longyou Hexi, with a strong army to protect the new emperor's reform.

This is the layout that Li Longji has been thinking about for two whole years, and he doesn't want to tell his grandson, but let him slowly comprehend it himself, so that he can make progress, and let him slowly learn to use the emperor's art to solve problems.

Thinking of this, Li Longji smiled slightly: "It's still a long time, let's talk slowly when we have time in the future, in addition, I will let Gao Lishi go to the East Palace, he is my loyal servant, he will teach you how to deal with government affairs." ”

Li Yu knelt down again and kowtowed to Li Longji twice, "Grandson thank you for your grandfather's teachings!" ”

......... Li Yu retired, Li Longji was a little tired, and he was about to give the order to drive back to the palace, when Yu Chaoen, who had been waiting next to him, whispered: "Your Majesty, Gao Weng said that he has something urgent to see Your Majesty." ”

Yu Chaoen was originally a little eunuch grinding for Li Longji, smart and understanding, and won the appreciation of the eunuch chief Gao Lishi, so he was slowly promoted to the director of the imperial study, Yu Chaoen has served Li Longji for more than ten years, and has never been at fault so far, and has also been recognized by Li Longji, but after the outbreak of the East Palace case two years ago, the crown prince was deposed, and Gao Lishi did not support Li Longji on this major issue, but tried his best to defend Li Heng, which caused a crack in the strong trust relationship between them, and Li Longji began to slowly alienate Gao Lishi, first deprived him of the right to review the folds, and then deprived him of the power to be in charge of the eunuchs of the supervising army, and finally even used him to serve him with him, and Yu Chaoen seized this opportunity to stand out, and gradually replaced Gao Lishi and became the first eunuch around Li Longji, but the only fly in the ointment is that Yu Chaoen's name is not right, the inner attendant and supervisor order is still Gao Lishi, not he Yu Chaoen, Gao Lishi is still a hussar general, Bohai County Duke, he Yu Chaoen is nothing, just a eunuch, so he wants to really replace Gao Lishi, The only way is for Gao Lishi to leave, today Yu Chaoen finally saw the opportunity, just now Gao Lishi came to see the saint, begging the bones to return to his hometown, this is Yu Chaoen's dream, so although Li Longji is exhausted, Yu Chaoen still wants Li Longji to meet Gao Lishi, miss this opportunity, maybe Gao Lishi will regret it.

Li Longji happened to be looking for Gao Lishi, so he nodded and said, "Let him come in!" ”

Yu Chaoen was overjoyed, and hurriedly ran to inform Gao Lishi, and after a while, Gao Lishi walked into the imperial study, he came to tell the old man to return to his hometown, thinking that he was finally going to leave the saint he had served for nearly fifty years, Gao Lishi was also a little embarrassed in his heart, he slowly knelt down, "The old slave sees the saint!" ”

Gao Lishi can be said to be Li Longji's most trusted person, he and Gao Lishi are called master and servant, the actual relationship is siblings, he gave Gao Lishi the greatest favor, Gao Lishi gave him the greatest loyalty, but in the abolition of the prince, they finally had a contradiction, this contradiction actually made them incompatible, Gao Lishi once said a sentence deeply hurt him, he said, 'Your Majesty abolished the prince in his later years, will make fratricide and family affection annihilated. ’

Now this sentence was unfortunately said by Gao Lishi, several sons are fighting for the throne of the East Palace, and King Di is still frenzied, concocting a fake case of assassination before the royal car, and now looking at Gao Lishi, Li Longji also felt infinite guilt in his heart, and he smiled and said: "Do you want to report when the general comes to see me?" How is it getting more and more divided. ”

Gao Lishi was sad in his heart, and said in a trembling voice: "There are rules in the palace, and if the old slave does not serve with the car, he must report first and see later." ”

"The rules are set by people, so I will change this rule, except for the general in the future."

Colliers sighed secretly, is there a future? He took out the fold of begging and retreated, handed it to Li Longji and said, "This is the fold that the old slave gave to His Majesty, begging Your Majesty for permission!" ”

Li Longji caught a glimpse of the word 'retreat' on the fold, so he reversed it, clasped it with a teacup and didn't look at it, and said with a smile: "Today, I have established the eldest grandson as the prince, what does the general think?" ”

"This is a wise move by Your Majesty, and the old slave supports it."

Li Longji listened to him say support, and his heart was relieved, this is the sentence he wants to hear the most, Gao Lishi has always been against him in the matter of the prince, today he finally recognized his decision, Li Longji's heart hanging in the air fell to the ground at once, he couldn't help but lean on the dragon couch and laughed, feeling very happy in his heart.

"Since Your Majesty has established a prince, the old slave is also worried, and I hereby ask Your Majesty to allow the old slave to return to his hometown."

"No!" Li Longji categorically refused, and this time the heart of Yu Chaoen next to him was suspended, and without waiting for Gao Lishi to speak again, Li Longji preemptively said: "I understand the general's intentions, but the person I trust the most is the general, I implore the general to teach my eldest grandson for me, assist him in handling government affairs, and teach him the way to be a king, general, for the sake of our fifty years of friendship, let's help me again!" ”

Tears welled up in Gao Lishi's eyes, after fifty years of friendship, did the saint finally recognize himself? For this sentence, at this moment, Gao Lishi was willing to die for Li Longji, he burst into tears, kowtowed heavily, and said sadly: "The old slave obeys the order!" ”

(To be continued)