Nancheng Pingkangfang, the prime minister's residence.

Li Yunyi stood respectfully and solemnly under the hall, lowering his head and lowering his eyebrows and pretending to be well-behaved, and his violent demeanor in the alum tower disappeared without a trace.

"I know that you are doing these things out of filial piety, and you can't make much trouble, so no one will stop you. Even if Your Majesty knew about this, it was just a bump between young people, and I don't think it would blame your father for this. ”

On the high seat, Li Daoyan, who had gray sideburns, said calmly.

Li Yunyi pleaded guiltily and said: "My grandson is stupid and can't help my grandfather do things wholeheartedly, and I am ashamed of my grandfather's love." ”

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

Li Yunyi was puzzled, and subconsciously looked at his father who was standing next to him.

Li Daoyan didn't explain much, waved his hand and said: "Okay, this matter is over, before Your Majesty summons those border generals, you don't think about making trouble with others." ”

Li Yunyi seems to understand whether he understands or not, listening to the meaning of his grandfather's words, he doesn't seem to object to taking revenge on Lu Shen 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 nonsense, if it weren't for his father leaving someone by his side, we didn't know that he would go to win over the border generals."

Li Shizhi was forty-one years old at the time, and he was the only high-ranking official close to the center among Li Daoyan's many sons.

Li Daoyan heard his emotion, adjusted his sitting posture slightly, and said meaningfully: "Yunyi likes to mess around, which is also the result of me and you deliberately indulgence, but his brain is not enough to see the true intention of His Majesty's transfer of border army generals into Beijing, which must be instigated by the people placed by the Warp Weaving Division beside him." ”

Li Shizhi wanted to speak and stopped.

Li Daoyan knew what he wanted to say, and said lightly: "I know that Yunyi has people from the Warp Weaving Division by his side, and His Majesty can probably guess that I know this, but it's just a harmless tacit thing, don't care too much." Just as I asked you to indulge Yunyi back then, so that everyone in the capital knew that the most favored son of the Li family was just a man with no ambitions, in order to reassure His Majesty. The Li family has no heart for disobedience, and your father will not become the kind of person who manipulates authority in the history books. ”

Li Shizhi quickly came to his senses and muttered: "So my father is doing these things with Yunyi to show His Majesty the attitude of the Li family?" ”

"It can be understood that way."

Li Daoyan picked up the teacup in his hand, took a shallow sip to moisten his throat, and continued: "Your Majesty, he ...... Many people in Beijing thought that His Majesty had nothing to show for it, and the slogan of the Northern Expedition was shouted every year, but even the generals of the northern and southern armies of the Beijing army could not be changed. These people refused to open their eyes to see that even the cunning fox Qin Zheng was so loyal, and His Majesty was an ignorant person. ”

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

Li Daoyan chuckled: "Twelve years of forbearance is long enough, this time is Your Majesty's temptation, he wants to know how much reliable power he can drive." But my father was very worried, worried that His Majesty's step was too big and would shake the stability of the court. Some words are inconvenient to be made public, so there will be no room for relaxation and maneuver, and it is more appropriate to let Yun Yi mess around. In fact, His Majesty asked the secret son of the Warp Weaving Division to pry Yunyi, and he was also testing the Li family, if his father supported His Majesty's decision, he would definitely not allow Yunyi to do so. ”

Li Shizhi looked at his old father's gray hair and said with a little worry: "Now it seems that Your Majesty's determination is very firm. ”

"This is the first step for His Majesty to really start the Northern Expedition, of course, we must go firmly. However, Yunyi's nonsense should make His Majesty understand that it is difficult to gain 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, and it is the vast number of southern clans who really oppose the Northern Expedition. If the Li family stands on their opposite side, the Jinlin Li family is also likely to gradually fall. ”

At this moment, there was a little more helplessness in the old man's deep eyes.

"If my father is silent......" Li Shizhi said cautiously.

"My father taught you a long time 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, if there is no support from the court and the majority of families, how can the father sit firmly in the position of the left minister?" ”

Li Shi's heart sank, and he lowered his head and said: "What my father taught me is that my son understands." ”

"Because of this, this time we have to stand on the opposite side of Your Majesty, acquiescing to Yunyi's nonsense for our father, on the one hand, to remind Your Majesty, and on the other hand, to let others see the attitude of the Li family clearly, so as not to cause a misjudgment."

A tired look floated in Elder Li Daoyan's eyes, and he said softly: "When the court meeting, you can stand up and speak out at the right time. ”

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

Of course, he didn't need to ask what to advise, when the Son of Heaven transferred this group of border generals to the capital, many things were already clear at a glance, and the next thing was to choose their respective positions to take sides.

……

"Why don't you try...... These four words are really good, short and powerful, and they undoubtedly reveal the vigorous vitality of young people. ”

In the East Warm Pavilion of the Wende Hall of the Imperial City, a burst of hearty laughter sounded.

The palace people outside naturally didn't dare to eavesdrop on the conversation of the pair of monarchs and ministers inside, but this laughter floated into their ears, and they couldn't help but feel related.

How long has it been since I have seen His Majesty in such a happy state?

For these palace people, although the Son of Heaven is not a particularly generous emperor, he is quite generous to the people below, unless he violates a matter of principle, it is generally a reprimand, at most he is pulled to the court to beat the board.

Not to mention that His Majesty has been diligent in his administration for more than ten years, and everyone has seen it.

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

If the princes could be more sensible, I think Your Majesty would be happier, right?

In the warm pavilion, Li Duan was quite rare and did not sit behind the imperial case to review the recital. Thinking of the conflict that occurred in the alum tower, there was a smile between his eyebrows and eyes, and he was a little envious.

That's right, the dignified Qi Tianzi would envy a small border military captain.

Qin was sitting on a round bench opposite.

He knew very well where this envy came from, so he joked: "Li Sanlang is used to being domineering in Beijing, relying on Zuo's love for him, he hardly takes other people in his eyes, and only retains some respect for the clan and royal family. This time he encountered a hard bone, and he almost didn't break his teeth. If Lu Shen hadn't endured it, Li Sanlang would probably have suffered another big loss. ”

"Speaking of this, I remember that he also suffered at the hands of Li Bingxue two years ago?" Li Duan asked with interest.

Qin Zheng said with a smile: "That time he was even worse, he was kicked from inside the door to outside the door by Captain Li, and then lay on the bed for two months. His Majesty made a clear decree, and the left minister was not easy to cover up, and after he recovered from his injuries, he was tied up and beaten by his father, so it was over. ”

A deep light appeared in Li Duan's eyes, and he said leisurely: "Zuo Xiang didn't cover it up not because I made an edict to apply for punishment, but because he knew very well that the Jingzhou Governor's Mansion was more important than the Huaizhou Governor's Mansion. If Huaizhou is lost, in their opinion, Daqi will only lose the springboard for the Northern Expedition, and the pseudo-Yan will still not be able to build ships on the north bank to cross the river to the south, and there are many places in Xinzhou on the south bank to set up a defense line. ”

Qin Zheng was silent, he thought that this was a very stupid idea, but many people in the court regarded it as a guideline.

Li Duan continued: "But if Jingzhou is lost, the naval division built by the puppet Yan in the upstream tributaries will be able to go down the river, and the defense line along the river that stretches for thousands of miles will be left and right, and it will be difficult for our troops to hold all the ferries. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have shown favor to Li Tianrun's palm pearl like this. ”

"Your Majesty, from these two young men from the frontier, the minister sees some completely different qualities, so the minister is thinking about another question."

"To put it bluntly."

"According to the previous inferences of His Majesty and the ministers, those people in the court must want to keep these young generals of the border army in the capital, whether it is the Privy Council or the Ministry of War, there are always some high-ranking and low-ranking positions that can arrange for them. After a long time, these young people may not be able to withstand the co-optation and assimilation, so that this move of His Majesty can be resolved. ”

Speaking of this, Qin Zheng paused slightly, and muttered: "Do you think you can push it in this direction?" ”

Li Duan pondered: "You mean, push the boat down the river and go further?" ”

Qin Zheng said slowly: "The clear distinction between rewards and punishments is the basis for the normal operation of the imperial court, and in this matter, Your Majesty has a natural righteous reputation, and there is no need to use those hidden secret hands." With such a foundation, coupled with the real merits of these young military generals, if most of the courtiers agree that it is more appropriate to grant them the post of Beijing officials, His Majesty might as well take advantage of the situation and directly transfer them to the Beijing army. ”

Li Duan fell into a long contemplation.

It's a bold move.

The most obvious point is that in the appointment and dismissal of officials, it is often inconvenient for him to make forced decisions, and it is best to win the support of most courtiers.

Such a thing was unimaginable before the Yuanjia Change, and although the first emperor was stunned in the handling of many things, he could still dismiss the ministers of the court at will.

The main reason for this is that it has been one hundred and forty years since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, and the majesty of the Heavenly Family has long been immersed in everyone's bones.

It wasn't until Heluo City was breached by the Jing Dynasty army, the palace was destroyed in a fire, and the first emperor, the empress, the crown prince and countless palace people all died of self-immolation, and the kind of awe-inspiring imperial power that pressed people did not dare to move.

As the seventh son of the first emperor, Li Duan was lucky to escape the catastrophe and ascended the throne as emperor in Yongjiacheng with the support of Li Daoyan and others.

He inherited the unification without legal worries, but he was too weak congenitally and did not have too strong strength and confidence.

If it weren't for the support of Qin Zheng, Li Tianrun, and Xiao Wangzhi, as well as the struggle and struggle of all forces in Beijing, it would be difficult for him to see the power that the stitches developed.

After a long time, Li Duan said unhurriedly: "Prime Minister Zuo has already made clear to me the attitude of the Li family, or the opinion of most officials in Beijing, through the conflict in Alum Tower, so we can't be in a hurry. In this way, from tomorrow onwards, the generals of the border army will be summoned in batches, and I will see Li Bingxue and those commanders, and you will leave Lu Shen at the end. ”

Qin Zheng replied respectfully: "The minister obeys the order." ”

(End of chapter)