Xiao Jiangyuan's smile was a little more sincere, and he said solemnly: "The minister just didn't expect that everyone who has always been very sensitive to the contempt of the courtiers will not only not be anxious or angry when facing Yao Tingshi, but also reflect on themselves, which should be a model of Mingjun." ”

"Other courtiers despise me, they look down on me, and at the same time bully me. Yao Gong is different, if he thinks that I am incompetent, he must be based on evidence and seek truth from facts. ”

"Aren't you very confident in your abilities?"

"With the excellence of Yao Gong, I am afraid that the standard of judging me will not be lower than that of my grandfather, grandmother and even Emperor Taizong. Am I incapable of comparing this way? At this moment, Li Longji had already walked to the front of the horse and touched the snow-white hair of Zhao Yebai's whole body, "And Yao Gong has always acted out of public intentions, not calculating utilitarianism for himself, thinking that the reason why he is unwilling to be the prime minister is really related to my virtue and talent." ”

It seems that this hunt can't be too arbitrary, and it has to be performed. The monarch can choose his courtiers, and the courtiers also have the right to choose the monarch, and there is no precedent in history for the courtiers to test the monarch? Yao Chongruo made up his mind to refuse to pay homage to the prime minister, Li Longji, a person who wanted to be the lord of the Ming Dynasty, really couldn't take this patriarch of the Three Dynasties.

But Li Longji has done so much foreshadowing for Yao Chong, if Yao Chong refuses at the end, Li Longji will be busy in vain, and for the time being, he can't think of anyone more suitable than him to replace the hero as the prime minister. At this moment, the heroes have just been deterred by Li Longji, and they are naturally honest, but if they continue to stay in the position of prime minister, after a long time, this deterrence will be useless.

Li Longji turned over and got on the horse, smiled at Yao Chong, and at the same time pursed his lips and whispered: "Yao Gong, you can't treat me like this......"

The hunting ground was very large, and Li Longji also asked his ministers not to be formal, just to have fun on their own, so there were not too many courtiers to keep up with him and Yao Chong's team.

The heroes have already exchanged news and know what Li Longji is thinking, so they will not come forward without interest. Unexpectedly, when the Son of Heaven and Yao Chong returned from hunting, although the Son of Heaven was happy, Yao Chong was still a thorn. Did the saint not mention it at all, or Yao Chong...... Refused? The heroes couldn't help but talk about it.

"There may be people in the world who refuse to pay homage to the prime minister, there may be, but there must be few, at least Liu has never seen it." Liu Youqiu said disapprovingly.

Zhang said: "All along, I have been too concerned about what the Son of Heaven thinks, but I have ignored Yao Yuanzhi's thoughts, what if he really doesn't want to pay homage to the prime minister?" Then everything will turn around. ”

After speaking, Zhang Shuo looked at Zhang Jiuling, but saw Zhang Jiuling smile indifferently, shook his head, and said nothing. Zhang said that only then did he remember that Zhang Jiuling was promoted by him and had a good relationship with him, but he didn't like to be with heroes, let alone discuss right and wrong behind people's backs, not to mention the suspicion of speculating on the holy will of the Son of Heaven.

Jiang Jiao gave Li Linfu on the side a look and asked, Li Linfu only stretched out his hand and wrote four words behind his back:

Desire, capture, so, indulgence.

On the other side, Li Longji was still discussing with Yao Chong about the hunt of Fang Cai, no matter what Li Longji asked, Yao Chong could answer, and quoted scriptures and classics, and even intentionally or unintentionally asked some difficult problems in political affairs, he could also get the same point as a person who woke up in his dream.

The Tang people hunted not only in a straight pursuit, but also in strategy, after all, in the jungle, fierce beasts and weak birds are all there, which is similar to the marching formation. After just a few rounds of hunting, Li Longji saw that what Yao Chong said was true, his hunting methods were very clever, and he also had a bit of the art of war. In this regard, Li Longji is a talented man among talents, and he is not to be outdone. The two complement each other well and have a very tacit understanding, coupled with Yao Chong's own energy and stunning brilliance, which makes Li Longji more and more sure that this is the prime minister he wants.

At the same time, Yao Chong also had a lot of good feelings for this vigorous and world-minded son of heaven, and unconsciously, his heart was a little shaken, but he still didn't dare to make a decision easily. Maybe...... He should personally confirm whether this is a monarch he can assist, and if so, everyone will be happy, and it will be a good thing for the country and the people, and if not, the reason is not his. It is good to give the Son of Heaven a chance, and also to give himself a chance.

Seeing that Li Longji was not in a hurry to reveal the purpose, but took it step by step, taking care of Yao Chong's emotions very much, Xiao Jiangyuan was very happy. But in the blink of an eye, the sun is slanting to the west, and if you don't strike while the iron is hot, and tomorrow, Yao Chong and other magistrates will return to their posts, so Xiao Jiangyuan interjected in a timely manner: "It's getting late, everyone should leave to go back." ”

"Is it so late?" Li Longji was stunned for a moment, shook his head and smiled, "I had a very happy conversation with Yao Gong, but I didn't realize the change of time!" ”

Yao Chong felt that the main event was coming, so he smiled a little, and his eyes showed a bit of solemnity. Li Longji was unconscious, and said as he got on the horse: "I still have a lot of things to ask, so Gong Yao, please go with the prime minister, you can get closer to me, and it is convenient to talk." ”

That's the obvious hint.

Seeing that Yao Chong neither agreed nor refused, Li Longji was full of joy, and felt that the matter of paying homage to the prime minister was completed, so he led the way with confidence. But he didn't know that when the team marched, although Yao Chong also walked like the other courtiers, his pace was a little slower, and the prime minister and the heroes passed him, and it was not until he returned to the team of the assassin that he returned to the normal speed.

Xiao Jiangyuan reminded: "Yao Gong didn't follow. ”

Li Longji immediately turned around, and when he saw that this was the case, he hurriedly stopped. When Yao Chong got closer, he hid his uneasiness, and said with a smile: "Why is Gong Yao not with the prime minister, but far behind?" ”

Yao Chong took a deep breath and lowered his eyes: "The old minister's official rank is low, and he doesn't dare to rank with Zai. ”

Hearing Yao Chong say this, Li Longji relieved half of his heart. It seemed that the time had come, and he did not hesitate to say, "This is easy to do." From today, Yao Gong has been promoted to the secretary of the military department, and he is the third product under the same Zhongshu, so it can be justified, right? ”

Yao Chong, like Fang Cai, still did not deny. His long-term silence caused the surrounding ministers to look at each other, and they exchanged heads and ears, which also made Li Longji puzzled. At this time, Xiao Jiangyuan walked up to Yao Chong and said tentatively: "Yao Xianggong is so happy that he forgot to thank him? ”

Seeing that Yao Chong still didn't react, Li Longji said half-jokingly: "Yao Xianggong Mo is not a small official?" ”

At this point, Yao Chong had faded all smiles. He knelt on his knees with a serious face, bowed his hands and said, "The old minister is not grateful, not because the official is small, but because there are ten requests that have not been mentioned. If the saint can agree to the minister's request, the prime minister's position can be accepted by the minister, otherwise, the minister will not dare to obey his fate even if he dies! ”

Li Longji hurriedly dismounted, helped Yao Chong with both hands, solemnly and respectfully, both excited and curious: "Yao Xianggong said quickly, listen to the late life." ”

Yao Chong was also a little nervous, he didn't know if this Son of Heaven could do what he wanted. The cold wind blew across the hill, blowing his goatee and swinging it, he stretched out his hand and stroked it, and said: "First, since Empress Zetian came to power, the imperial court has been strict with the law, with an iron fist, and there are even cool officials in charge, chasing the wind and catching shadows irresponsible reports, causing the world to be rumored and miserable. Is it okay for the old minister to ask the saint to be benevolent in the future, and to put benevolence and righteousness first? ”

Li Longji's eyes lit up: "This is exactly what I expect Yao Xianggong to do, and it is urgent to rectify the rule of officials, of course you can." ”

"Second, the current national strength is limited, and there are natural disasters, and the people's livelihood is not stable, the old minister asks the saints to use their swords within ten years, and they can't afford to open up the territory and expand the territory, can you?"

"The treasury is not abundant, and I already know in my heart that such troubles are still there, and of course we can't fight."

"Third, in the past, when the heroine came to the dynasty and reused the eunuchs, although the grade was not high, the power was not small, which was a hidden danger for the country. The old minister asked the saint not to let the eunuchs participate in politics in the future and influence state affairs, is it okay? ”

When Yao Chong said the first two requests, the ministers were only sincerely or insincerely admired, but when it came to the third request, their expressions became different, and then they all looked at the same person.

Xiao Jiangyuan's face was calm, and he was not shocked or angry because of this. With Li Longji, whose current political ability is much higher than her, she has not reached the point of controlling state affairs, and she also abides by the duty of a eunuch, Li Longji is even more calm: "Eunuchs participating in politics will bring disaster to the country and the people, I have long wanted to do this." ”

Yao Chong's heart was still a little apprehensive, and now he decided: "Fourth, since Empress Zetian, the Wu clan began to step into the court, and later the Wei Shu people, the rebellious Shu people and the princess of Zhenguo took power one after another, and the selection of officials became even more chaotic. The old minister asked the saint not to appoint any important official positions of the emperor's relatives from now on, and miscellaneous officials of unknown origin, such as oblique officials and foreign officials, will be dismissed, is it okay? ”

It's really a pleasure to cut through the mess with a quick knife! Li Longji's heart was surging, and he couldn't help but be bright: "When I was still the king of the county, I knew that those miscellaneous officials were not successful enough to fail, so it is also my ambition to remove them and return the court to a clear mind!" ”

"Fifth, recently, many close ministers have been exempted due to various relationships even if they have violated the law, and the old ministers think it is very inappropriate, so please ask the saint to enforce the law impartially and without favoritism in the future, regardless of the size of the official?"

"I can't stand this kind of thing for a long time, of course."

"Sixth, the relatives outside the clan once competed to attack the treasures for the Son of Heaven, and this trend spread carelessly, and the officials in the national capital and the local government followed suit, daring to ask where the treasures in their hands came from? Naturally, it was looted from the hands of the people. The old minister asked the saint not to accept other offerings in the future except for the normal tax, can I? ”

"The people are not rich, how can we talk about peace and prosperity? I have answered this matter. ”

Seeing that Li Longji's eyes lit up when he heard this, Yao Chong also said more and more confidently and loudly: "Seventh, the Empress of Heaven has blessed the first temple, the first emperor has built the Shengshan Temple, and the emperor has built two Taoist temples, Jinxian and Yuzhen, which is too laborious and costly. After the old minister asked the saints, he must not build these useless palaces and temples again, can you? ”

Li Longji sighed and said, "Every time I see these buildings, which are tall and gorgeous, I feel shocked. Yao Xianggong, please rest assured, in the past, my aunt went to copy the mansion of Zong Chuke, for the beauty of the mansion, but she sighed that her life was wasted, and when I received my aunt's property, I felt that the treasury was shabby. After that, not to mention useless palaces and monasteries, they will no longer be built, and if any courtier's house is too beautiful, I will not tolerate it. ”

"Eighth, in the past few dynasties, the Son of Heaven treated the ministers with disrespect, and even regarded the pillars of the country as businessmen and had fun in the palace. Scholars, can be killed but not humiliated, the old minister asks the saint to treat the courtiers in the future, is it okay? ”

"That's how it should be, why not?"

"Ninth, there have been several ministers who have been convicted of advice before, and in the long run, who would dare to give advice to the saints? The old minister asked the sage for permission, and all the ministers in the future can advise the Son of Heaven and criticize the current affairs, is it okay? ”

"I can assure Yao Xianggong that in this life, I will have such a tolerant amount. As long as the advice is right, I will do it, and even if it is wrong, I will not hold it accountable. ”

"Tenth ......" Yao Chong said this, he was already shocked, seeing that the Son of Heaven was so enlightened, he was a little choked, "The sage must know that the dictatorship of foreign relatives almost made the former Han Dynasty go to extinction, and my Tang Dynasty experienced the heroine's advent of the dynasty, and once changed the country name and changed the country surname, which was even more serious than the situation in the Han Dynasty." The old minister asked the sage to remember the heroine's assumption of power in the history books to warn future generations, is it okay? ”

Wu Zhou's incident was the first nightmare in Li Longji's life. As soon as he heard Yao Chong mention it, he also felt that his nose was slightly sore, he held Yao Chong's arms with both hands, and asked Yao Chong to stand up straight: "This is an unforgettable lesson for me in the Tang Dynasty, as a member of the Li Tang royal family and the son of the Tang Dynasty, how dare I forget it?" ”

So far, Li Longji has agreed to all the ten requests made by Yao Chong. Yao Chong only felt as if everything was in a dream, and he was a little incredulous: "The sage really responded to all the requests of the old minister?" ”

Li Longji said seriously: "I am the emperor, and I am true of my word. ”

Only then did Yao Chong kneel down and thank him: "This is the blessing of the Tang Dynasty and the blessing of the people!" The old minister must do his best to assist the saint, create a peaceful and prosperous world, do his best, and die! ”

Later generations called Yao Chong's ten requests "ten things to say", which was quoted in the "New Tang Dynasty Book", and it was a good story of the generation of Junming and Chenxian. Yao Chong thus became a virtuous minister of the Tang Dynasty alongside Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui in the Taizong period, and Li Longji did lay a solid foundation for the future Kaiyuan Dynasty because of Yao Chong's shrewdness and ability.