Ten years of Tianbao, the Year of the Rabbit.

Starting from the New Year's Day, the city of Chang'an is looking forward to the lifting of the curfew on the Shangyuan Festival. However, on the 14th of January, a piece of news came back from Shuofang, which made the already solemn atmosphere of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion even worse.

Li Xiu has returned from Lishan, ready to take Li Linfu to Huaqing Palace to face the saint, this year's Shangyuan Festival saint did not have fun with the people in the Calyx Building for the first time, and still stayed in the Huaqing Palace.

At the beginning of spring, Li Linfu's spirit seemed to be better, not as unconscious as before the New Year's Festival, and he was supported by people to lie down in the carriage and horses. There were just a few fast horses galloping through the streets of Pingkangfang, and hurriedly reined in front of the right minister's house.

"Phew!"

"Slow down, Hugh disturbed my grandfather." Li Xiuqi shouted.

"Shilang forgives the sin, it is eight hundred miles urgent, please look at it."

Li Xiu's father took the official document, opened it and looked at it, and saw the sentence "Li Xianzhong betrayed Tang and fled north", his face changed, although he was not surprised, but he still felt unacceptable.

From the beginning, he knew that he couldn't condone An Lushan's wanton suppression of Absi, but it was his grandfather who repeatedly said "yes", so he was lucky, thinking that maybe this was just beating Absi.

Lifting the curtain and entering the carriage, Li Xiu spread the paperwork in front of Li Linfu and said, "Grandpa, Li Xianzhong has betrayed." ”

"Li Xianzhong?" Li Linfu muttered, his eyes cloudy.

Li Xiu was stunned, and suddenly realized that Grandpa might not remember the name given to Absi by the saint at all.

So was it "can" or "thirsty" at that time?

Li Xiu knew in his heart that the reason why An Lushan's request was granted was because it was the easiest way to do it. Otherwise, if you want to appease Absi, it is not enough to refuse to transfer him to Fan Yang, the key is the death of Zuo Xian Wang Ge Jie.

In the final analysis, Li Xiu is still weak, and he has no courage to pursue An Lushan for killing Ge Xie without authorization, and he can't seek justice for Absi. So he used the word "may" as an excuse to avoid these troubles.

As a result, it's even more troublesome.

"Grandpa, do you remember Li Xianzhong? The Turk who said that he wanted to worship Grandpa as his father-in-law, he rebelled. ”

Li Linfu's eyes had some brilliance, and he said in surprise: "Betrayed? ”

"Yes, how's that good?"

Zhang ...... Zhang Qiqiu. Li Linfu tried to raise his hand, his mouth was ho-ho, and finally said, "Apologize." ”

Outside the carriage, Jin Wuwei urged: "Shilang, it's time to go." ”

After all, they were going to meet the saints, and they couldn't leave too late.

The carriage then set off and drove slowly to Lishan.

……

The road was bumpy, Li Linfu seemed to be asleep, and in his mind, some past things seemed to be recalled with the bumps in the carriage.

Finally, Li Xiu's voice sounded outside the carriage again.

"Grandpa, it's here."

Li Linfu was rarely sober, and suddenly remembered that Absi was Li Xianzhong.

He then propped himself up and said, "You have to explain it to the saint." ”

"Grandpa, rest assured, the saint is already waiting to meet Grandpa." Li Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to help him, and said with relief: "The saint has a deep friendship with Grandpa, and when he learned that Grandpa had no vitality, he ordered Grandpa to face the saint as soon as he arrived. The sooner you face the saint, the sooner you recover. ”

Having said that, in fact, he had already come to ask for an audience on behalf of his father a month ago, when the sage promised to summon Li Linfu when he returned to Xingqing Palace. After a few days, he was dissuaded by Gao Lishi to return to the palace, and when the New Year began, he had to let Li Linfu meet in the Qing Palace, in short, it was delayed for a month.

Although Li Linfu had been tired all the way, he was more conscious after changing the environment, and he looked up at the sunset on the horizon, looking forward to seeing the saint.

Although he was unwilling to die of illness, he had too many things to ask the saint for after his death.

A little eunuch in front of him rushed over and said with a smile: "The right minister is here, the sage has already made a will, and ordered the slaves and maids to prepare a shoulder for the right minister." ”

"Thank you, saint."

Jun's grace was profound, and Li Linfu was more and more moved, and he still tried his best to speak under a serious illness.

He was helped on his shoulders, crossed the Wangxian Bridge, Jinyang Gate, and passed through the Huaqing Palace.

In the process, he struggled twice to get up, because he felt that it was inappropriate for the courtiers to sit on their shoulders and walk in the palace, but the eunuch who led the way was relieved: "It doesn't hurt to sit on the right side, the saint prays for the right minister in the Chaoyuan Pavilion on Li Mountain, the road is far and steep, sit." ”

"It's rude to sit in a sedan chair in the palace for a minister."

"The right minister has been in charge of state affairs all his life, how can he not have this preferential treatment?"

Huaqing Palace is built next to the mountain, integrated with Lishan Mountain, walking in the palace and raising your eyes can see the West Xiuling of Lishan, many palaces on the ridge are scattered, it is a place of many Taoist temples and sacrifices including the Palace of Eternal Life.

The group passed through the Zhaoyang Gate and boarded the Yulin Road.

This is a wooden paved mountaineering royal road, from the Huaqing Palace straight to the mountain, in the past, only the saints, the concubine can take the ceremonial drive from the jade chariot road, and the hundred officials are with the attendants to walk the side of the path.

The jade road is very long, and the eunuchs who are carrying the shoulders have changed two groups of people, and they are so tired that they are out of breath, and they have reached the peak of the third peak of Xixiuling, and the sky has completely darkened.

"Right Phase, it's here."

Li Linfu didn't fall asleep anymore, just closed his eyes to recuperate, accumulated his energy and prepared to face the saint, and as soon as he felt his shoulder stop, he opened his eyes and prepared to get off the sedan chair.

The two eunuchs gently pressed him and said, "You don't have to get up, just face the saint like this." ”

Li Xiu couldn't help asking, "How do you face the saint like this?" ”

"The saint is there."

The father and son of the Li family looked up and saw the Chaoyuan Pavilion towering in front of them, although there were only three layers of eaves, it seemed to go straight to the sky.

Chaoyuan Pavilion is regarded as the family temple of Li Tang Sheji, which enshrines Lao Tzu and the portraits of the emperors since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. The saint once dreamed that Taishang Laojun descended to Chaoyuan Pavilion, so he renamed it "Descent Saint View", and carved a white marble sitting statue of Taishang Laojun and placed it in the view.

The jade statue was still carved by craftsmen arranged by Li Linfu, and in order to please the saint, it was specially carved according to the appearance of the saint, and it was lifelike.

At this time, the lights were lit on the Chaoyuan Pavilion, and a chariot was carried to the railing of the attic.

"Saint to!"

With this shout, everyone bowed down.

Li Linfu's movements were stiff, and he was still saluting, and the eunuch had already saluted, so he hurriedly helped him sit back on his shoulder, and said: "The right phase sits, Chaoyuan Pavilion is at the top of the West Embroidery Ridge, and enshrines the portraits of the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty, which is the most vital place in the world. ”

"Minister...... Thank you, Lord Longne! Li Linfu was grateful.

Li Xiubai fell to the ground, and when he heard that the saint had arranged it so carefully, he didn't get up, and kowtowed a few times to thank the Son of Heaven.

After that, he looked up from afar, and saw the saint sitting on top of the Chaoyuan Pavilion standing still, as if looking down on the world, only the wind blew the dragon robe, and a royal breath came to his face.

Gradually, the wind blew colder and colder.

After a while, it was Gao Lishi who personally took a big coat over, sighed and put it on Li Linfu, and asked with concern: "The right minister feels the vitality of the Son of Heaven, and his body and bones are better?" ”

"Old minister...... Much better, ahem. ”

Li Linfu felt uncomfortable because of the mountain wind, so he swallowed and dealt with it with all his spirits, and said, "Shuo Fang's matter, the minister wants to explain one or two things to His Majesty. ”

"The saint is personally praying for the blessing of the right minister." Gao Lishi said: "These state affairs, the right minister can talk to the old slave, how about it?" ”

"Shuo Fang Jiedu made Zhang Qiqiu unfairly distribute grain and grass, and treated the Turks who belonged to him harshly, causing Li Xianzhong to defect, and the old minister asked him to be punished for his crimes, cough cough."

As early as last year, Li Linfu wanted to make a move on Zhang Qiqiu, but because of Xue Bai's obstruction and the ongoing battle of Nanzhao, he pressed it down, and now he can only use Zhang Qiqiu to take responsibility for causing Absi to defect.

As for An Lushan, he is too powerful and has won the trust of the saints. When Li Linfu was seriously ill, he no longer dared to make friends with him.

"Don't worry." Colliers said, "I will definitely convey this matter to the saint." ”

When Li Linfu heard this, he faintly noticed that the saint seemed to have the intention of not seeing him again, and looked up at Chaoyuan Pavilion again, squinting a pair of old eyes, only to see the saint sitting there motionless.

When it was close to the Shangyuan Festival, the moonlight was very bright, shining on the face of the saint, shining like white jade.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"

Li Linfu suddenly coughed heavily.

He had realized one thing - it was not a saint sitting on the Chaoyuan Pavilion, but a white marble statue carved by the craftsman in the appearance of a saint.

How beautifully carved the jade statue is, how mocking it will be tonight.

This is the so-called monarch and courtier's affection, he saddled the sling for the saint for more than ten years, and when he was dying, the saint did not even want to see him.

How can there be any "vitality", he is not here today to absorb the vitality of the saint, but there are too many things that he can't rest assured, hoping to meet the Son of Heaven, explain what happened after his death, and fulfill his last duty.

Amusing.

"Right Phase, what's going on?"

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. With the vitality of the saint, the old minister has been much better. Li Linfu laughed and said, "But the vitality is too heavy, and if you go down, the old minister will not be able to bear the weight." ”

He seemed to be really much better, his face was even rosy, and his eyes were shining.

"That?"

"The old minister wants to ...... Farewell to the saints. ”

This time, Li Linfu didn't let anyone stop him, stood up from his shoulder with difficulty and hard work, and slowly bowed down to the white marble statue on the tall building.

He has borne countless infamy in his life, and he also knows very well that he will inevitably be called a "traitor" after his death, because he has borne everything for the saint. Of course, the saint also gave him the endless power he wanted.

It's a pity that the monarch and the ministers will never see each other again.

"The saint is safe and healthy, and the minister retires, I only wish my emperor a long life!"

Li Linfu's voice was hoarse, and he shouted out this sentence with all his might.

On the Chaoyuan Pavilion, the saint was still immovable, silent, and the moonlight shone on the face carved from white marble, as if he could really live forever and never grow old.

~~

Because the saint lived in the Huaqing Palace for several months, the courtiers had many other properties in Lishan, and Li Linfu was no exception, and he lived in another property in Lishan that night.

He was helped to the couch, but he did not lie down, but supported himself, and said, "I don't sleep, I will explain you a few things." ”

"Grandpa, are you really going to be okay?"

Li Xiu couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw that he was in good spirits, and said, "What Daoist Fang said is really useful, if he is contaminated with the vitality of a saint, his illness will be cured." ”

"Call all your brothers to Lishan, I want to see them." Li Linfu said.

"Grandpa?"

"Wang Zhonghei must be removed." Li Linfu knew that his death was not far away, and at this time it was just a return to the light, so he said to himself: "Once Li Heng ascends the throne, he will never let us go, and the only way to get rid of Wang Zhonghei is to let Hu Er prevent Li Heng from ascending the throne." ”

He offended Li Heng for the sake of the sage to balance the prince's mind, and also bet the future of his children and grandchildren on the gambling table.

As a result, overthrowing Li Heng became his lifelong obsession, and it also became the most reassuring thing for him before he died.

There are two people who want to prevent Li Heng from ascending the throne like him, one is An Lushan, and the other is Xue Bai. Among them, Xue Bai's strength is weak, and he has a lot of requirements, not only to protect Wang Zhonghei of the Donggong family, but also to deal with An Lushan, who can cooperate.

Therefore, Li Linfu failed to cooperate with Xue Bai to the end after all, he is a person who has been up and down in the power field all his life, and he values practical interests the most, and he can't bet on the distant and ethereal future of a person who is too young.

However, thinking about what happened behind him, the figure of the young man always lingered.

"Hu Er is cunning, don't trust too much, after getting rid of Wang Zhonghe, you can win over Xue Bai to balance Hu Er. But before Wang Zhonghei dies, he must not be recalled to Chang'an, lest bad things happen......"

Referring to Xue Bai, Li Xiu couldn't help asking, "Then what about Yang Guozhong?" ”

Yang Guozhong is the person closest to the phase at the moment, and he is also the political enemy that the Right Prime Minister's Mansion has been trying his best to deal with for a while.

But before, Li Linfu didn't believe that he was going to die, so he wanted to keep the phase, and today he knew that his life was coming to an end, and he suddenly found that the phase he cared about the most in the past was the least important in the end.

The most important thing at the moment is to ensure the safety of the family after his death.

"Spit pot...... Hate me? ”

"What?"

Even if he returned to the light, Li Linfu's physical strength was not enough to support him to continue thinking, the ruddy color on his face had faded, and he lay down tiredly, his eyes were dark, and he passed out again.

In the dark, he realized that he was about to die, but he was extremely unwilling in his heart, and he kept thinking about living.

This strong desire to survive kept the last wisp of his spirit alive all night, until someone whispered in his ear.

"Grandpa, Uncle Guo is here."

The word "Uncle Guo" is rarely mentioned in the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, Li Linfu opened his eyes, and saw Yang Guozhong standing there with a sad look on his face.

"You are?"

"Right Prime Minister Shangyuan Ankang, it's me, Yang Guozhong." Yang Guozhong rushed to the side of the couch and said with tears in his eyes: "I haven't seen you for half a year, how can the right minister be haggard?" ”

"Old, old." Li Linfu sighed, "You just arrived from Yizhou?" ”

Yang Guozhong glanced down, his mud-covered boots were stepping on the soft carpet of Xiangfu Beye.

"Yes, I just arrived in Lishan, and I heard that the right phase was sick, and I rushed here without putting the horsewhip. Please also ask the right minister to recover as soon as possible, share the worries of the saints, and protect the people. ”

Just listening to this sentence, Li Linfu knew that Yang Guozhong came only after preparing a speech, not because the two had a deep friendship, but because he wanted to show the world that he Yang Guozhong knew his kindness and was worthy of trust.

"Ahem, ahem."

Li Linfu suddenly coughed again, sat up with his body propped up, phlegm in his mouth, and gestured to find the spittle.

Yang Guozhong didn't open his mouth to answer it like when he first arrived in Chang'an, as if he didn't see his movements, he just bowed to the side of the couch, calmly.

A maid came over with a spittle, Li Linfu spit out a mouthful of thick phlegm, lay back on the couch, and muttered: "Today is different from the past." ”

"But the right side treats me, and my kindness has not changed." Yang Guozhong pointed to the sky and swore with a gambling curse: "The right minister only cares about recuperating with peace of mind, but if there is anything at home, I will treat it as my own business, and the two families share weal and woe, and they are in the same breath." ”

Li Linfu felt a burst of exhaustion welling up, staring at Yang Guozhong for a long time, thinking that he had made too many enemies in this life, and the number of people who hated him was countless, in comparison, Yang Guozhong had always been respectful to him.

"State affairs, I'll leave it to you."

Although Yang Guozhong wants to pay homage to the prime minister and does not need Li Linfu's consent, but with this sentence, the process of taking over government affairs in the future can be much smoother.

A meeting consumed Li Linfu's last strength.

He thought that he had guarded the phase for a lifetime, and finally cheapened a scoundrel like Yang Guozhong, and the sorrow came from it, and he felt that the phase was not worth it, and even his life seemed cheap.

"Grandpa." Li Xiu stepped forward and said, "Brothers and sisters are here soon, who do you want to see?" The child is going to please. ”

Li Linfu then thought that he had important words left unfinished last night, but today he was delayed by Yang Guozhong, and he tried to open his mouth, but he was angry.

Xue Bai ...... Xue Bai ......"

At this time, the courtyard was already filled with the sound of footsteps.

Li Xiu glanced back, knowing that it was impossible to let the nearly 100 family members rush in, so he hurriedly ordered someone to stop him.

"Grandpa, who do you want to see? Let's get up one by one. ”

The brilliance in Li Linfu's eyes had faded, and he finally muttered, "Xue Bai......"

"Grandpa?"

"Grandpa?"

Li Xiu called several times in a row, his eyes widened in disbelief, and he reached out to Li Linfu to sniff, and the whole person was there.

He turned around blankly, looking at his family members who were walking towards him, not knowing what the Li family would do in the future.

The prime minister who has been in charge of the Tang Dynasty for 17 years is dead.

No one knows what Datang will do in the future.

~~

Yang Guozhong left Li Linfu's other business, and he didn't change his clothes, he still looked like a dusty servant, and rushed to Huaqing Palace to face the saint.

Along the way, he thought about the situation when he had just sworn in front of Li Linfu, and secretly thought that he had now learned the skill of the honey-bellied sword, and he was even better than Li Linfu.

All the way into the temple, the saint happened to come out of the soup and summoned him directly.

Compared with Li Linfu's old illness, Li Longji looks full of vitality.

"The minister greets the saint and asks the saint to go to the Yuan to be healthy."

"No courtesy." Li Longji put on a robe, sat down in the warm spring-like hall, glanced at Yang Guozhong, and naturally could see that he deliberately did not change his clothes to invite credit, so he felt funny, and said: "Aiqing has worked hard, and the battle of pacifying Nanzhao won a great victory, thanks to your good planning." ”

"Thanks to the sage's personal secret strategy, strategizing, the saint and the heavens, and bless my Tang soldiers, we have this victory."

Li Longji was happy to hear this, smiled, ordered someone to bring a wine glass, and asked, "Why don't you wait a while and take Ge Luofeng back to the court to report the victory." What are you doing when you rush back? ”

The reason why Yang Guozhong was able to come back was naturally because Li Longji approved it, and the reason why he asked this question was nothing more than to make fun of his impatience.

He smirked twice, and answered honestly: "The minister heard that the right minister is seriously ill, and he is worried that there is no one around the saint to worry. ”

"It's fine."

In fact, in the days when Li Linfu was ill, Li Longji was already annoyed because he had to work on state affairs anymore, and looking around the court, although Yang Guozhong was not the most capable and virtuous, he was the most considerate of the Sacred Heart.

What's more, in the first battle of Nanzhao, it can be seen that Yang Guozhong is a lucky handsome.

"You first sort out the merits of this southern expedition, how to reward the soldiers, and draw up a charter."

"Obey."

This is a tedious and meticulous errand, Li Longji is too lazy to ask in person, but for Yang Guozhong, it is a fat difference.

And Li Longji's attitude is obviously that he has agreed to hand over the position of ruler to him.

At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly came to whisper to Gao Shili, and Gao Lishi stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Sage, the right phase is dead." ”

Li Longji sighed slightly, thinking that this Li Linfu died at this time, delaying the Shangyuan Festival.

Yang Guozhong frowned, bowed his head there, and considered what kind of expression to put on.

What he didn't expect was that the sage was far more practical than him, and immediately said: "I decreed that Yang Guozhong should be appointed as the secretary of the Zhongshu Order, and he will also be the secretary of the Ministry of Officials." ”

"Yes."

Colliers received the decree and asked, "Is the grace given to the right minister also edicted?" ”

"Let's do it."

Li Longji waved his hand casually, there is no imperial banquet on the Shangyuan Festival this year, he has other pleasures, and he is not patient to deal with these.

Yang Guozhong then went to Li's house with Gao Lishi, and announced the decree, giving Li Linfu Taiwei and the governor of Yangzhou, and giving Ban Jian and Xiyuan secret weapons.

It turned out that the posthumous gift had already been prepared, just waiting for Li Linfu to die.

But after all, the saint is a gentleman's deep grace, you must know that this class of swords and Xiyuan secret weapons are special graces, since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the people who enjoy this honor are only Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Yu Chi Jingde, Xiao Yu, Cen Wenwen and a few others, among which the three dukes are also gifted, only Fang Xuanling and Li Jing are only.

Li Linfu was treated so favorably after his death, which was not only the affection of the monarch and the minister, but also the sage's conclusion on his coffin, praising him for assisting the sage in creating the Kaiyuan and Tianbao prosperous times.

In short, the deceased is gone, and it will be his turn to rule the world in the future.

And the first thing in front of him was the reward of the meritorious people in the Southern Expedition.

~~

Yunnan County, Yaozhou.

Today, after finishing his official duties, Cui Guangyuan invited Xue Bai to have a drink again.

After becoming the Yunnan Taishou, his attitude towards Xue Bai has changed slightly, and he hopes that Xue Bai will be promoted as soon as possible.

"I heard today that Xian Yu Zhongtong is also going to be transferred back to the DPRK." Cui Guangyuan said: "It is said that he is rewarded for his merits, and he will be relocated to Jing Zhaoyin." ”

Xue Bai actually got the news, and nodded with his wine glass.

In the first battle of Nanzhao, Xian Yu Zhongtong actually did not have much credit, but there were many promotions, which was nothing more than someone in the court, who was good at drilling camps.

Cui Guangyuan said: "I offended him, and now it is even more inappropriate to return to Chang'an, so I will stay in Yunnan, but why has your reward never come down?" It stands to reason that it is impossible for the court to treat you lightly. ”

"I won't treat it lightly, otherwise I would have been rewarded a long time ago." Xue Bai said: "It's because it's not good to be rewarded, so it's been delayed." ”

"Why?"

"They are jealous of me."

Xue Bai knew that Cui Guangyuan was looking forward to him leaving, so he didn't hide it, and confessed the situation in the court that he had speculated.

"Now Yang Guozhong and Li Linfu are competing for the position, and they are not sure who I will help, so they are unwilling to let me return to the court. But once the dust settles over the phase battle, they will have to face a new opponent, and they will surely be able to use me. ”

Cui Guangyuan smiled when he heard this, and asked, "I'm afraid that I'm going to rush to invite you back?" ”

Before he finished speaking, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard outside the small mansion.

After a while, Diao Bing ran over and said, "Lang Jun, the stagecoach is here!" ”

He rushed to Xue Bai and handed over an official document.

Before Xue Bai could take it, he just looked at the seal on it and understood what was happening, so he picked up the wine glass in front of him and slowly poured the wine on the ground.

He hasn't drunk with Li Linfu yet, so this should be a toast to Li Linfu......

(End of chapter)