Chapter 225: Compromise with Li Linfu

Recently, Li Linfu had something that was both relieved and frightened. The gratitude was that he moved to a new home. The haunted old house troubled him for more than a year. Three days ago, he finally bid farewell to the place where the ghosts remained and moved to the new home. The panic was that the new home was located in the east of Chongyefang, only a hundred steps away from Xuandu Temple. All the ministers in the court said that the emperor's kindness was great, and he commended his heart for fulfilling his heart for the country. The reason was that the location of the new home was actually in Chang'an Fengshui Jiuwu Supreme

The place, when Prime Minister Pei Kuande built a house near Huaizhenfang, he was impeached by the censor as "the house occupied by the Okayama and was not summoned to come, his heart can be seen." The central axis of the Nine Five Supreme Land is Zhuque Street. The core place is Xuandu Temple on the left and Xingshan Temple on the right. Li Linfu's new house is only a hundred steps away from Xuandu Temple. According to Li Longji, he used the Taoist qi to suppress evil spirits for him, but Li Linfu knew that things might not be that simple.

But since it has been moved here, it is useless to worry. There have been endless people celebrating these days. Even Zhang Qiu Jianqiong came to the door to congratulate him and sent a tall Taihu stone, which was placed in the back flower courtyard by Li Linfu. He could enjoy it if he had nothing to do. Finally, there were fewer guests today. Li Linfu also stole a little leisure and hid in the study and felt the breath of the new house carefully. His study was arranged as usual, not bad at all. Even the spider busy in the corner of the house moved from the old house.

It was raining heavily outside the window, and lightning flashed across the roof. The strong wind carried the raindrops as big as beans, ravaging the two old sycamore trees in the courtyard. At this moment, the room was very quiet and warm, with soft lights. The two glass lampshades emitted a faint orange-red halo. Li Linfu was sitting on his yellow and ancient rattan chair, holding his jaw with one hand and gently stroking his huge nose with the other. In front of him, there was a report by Zuoshi, which detailed the investigation into the source of the rumors.

King Yong didn't care who was spreading this time, and King Qing was roaring and roaring to no avail. As for Li Longji's no interest in the market rumors, such trivial matters usually stopped at Gao Lishi, but Li Linfu was extremely sensitive to the incident that must be driven by a mastermind behind this matter. He couldn't help but think of the incident where Yang Guozhong was hacked, which was like the same method as this time, and it was most likely that it was done by the same person.

Li Linfu suddenly became excited. He had always loved to ask such a mystery throughout his life. Zuo Shiyi's report made him gradually discover clues. When analyzing one thing, the most important thing is to look at the biggest beneficiary of this matter. Both rumors have something to do with one person, that is Li Qing. The last time Yang Guozhong was plotted against was exactly the day after he told Li Qing, it should be him.

Li Linfu's eyes showed a smile, "Li Qing, you are much more powerful than Yang Guozhong. I really should use it well."

Although he had guessed that it was Li Qing's work, Li Linfu didn't take it very seriously. He just liked to explore and took everything into his own hands. As for whether to do it or not, that was another matter.

At this moment, the salt administration promoted by Li Qing was highly concerned by the emperor. If he interfered violently, Li Longji would suspect that he had collusion with King Qing, which was too expensive. Another more important reason was that Li Linfu had no time to distract himself at this time, and he was slowly implementing another plan.

A slight footsteps came from the door, "Father, can I come in?" This was Lao Ba's voice.

"You're in!" After Li Yin got married, he became much more steady, pragmatic and willing to work hard. He got the most good exam in the examinations of the Ministry of Personnel at the end of the year, and was the best, which made Li Linfu proud.

Li Yin took his steps lightly, slowly walked into his father's study, stepped forward and knelt down to pay his respects to his father, "I'll bow to my father."

"Get up first!"

Li Linfu glanced at him and said slowly: "So late, what's the matter for you to come to be your father?"

Li Yin stood up and stood aside, his mouth moved a few times, and Fang Na said, "Father, the child wants to marry a concubine and follow the queen."

Li Linfu was surprised, "Why did you mention again? Didn't I ask you to discuss with Liu Liu?"

"But! But! The shrew refused to do anything. She asked me who I wanted to marry. Look at that, if I say that, she would kill someone!"

"Nothing!" Li Linfu slapped the table and said angrily: "Liu Liu is your wife. You have been married for less than a year, and it is normal for you to not be pregnant. If you want to take a concubine and have children, how can she not worry? How can you call her a shrew, and even kill people, you can even say something like that. This is your attitude towards your father?"

Li Yin was so embarrassed and angry that his father scolded him. He could no longer help him. He knelt down with a "thump". The pain and invisible future that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time made him cry and said with a snatch: "It would be fine if I didn't pursue her in the past, but she was as fierce and rude as her mother. When I came back from socializing later, she forced me to ask me in the middle of the night, who would be with me and whether I had found a woman. I would give up. I would like to spend my life with such a woman. Father! "Jealousy is one of the seven things. I want to divorce this woman!"

Li Linfu was shocked suddenly. Cui Qiao's wife's fierceness is famous in Chang'an. He also knew that this "savage" can be passed on to the next generation? It is obvious that the situation is true for his son. At that time, he only cared about marrying the Cui family of Boling, but forgot about the consequences. Looking at his crying son, Li Linfu couldn't help feeling guilty and could only comfort him: "Cui Qiao was shocked yesterday. I will tell him tomorrow and let him control his daughter well. Don't worry!"

"But my father-in-law had no choice but to do anything. He only advised me to focus on the government and just bear with it."

"There is still such a thing?"

Li Linfu couldn't help laughing silently. The dignified Dali Temple Minister could not even subdue his wife. In this family, Li Linfu was the sky. No matter what kind of woman he was, he dared not ignore him at all. He could not understand what it felt like to be afraid of his wife.

At this time, the butler's low voice came from outside the door, "Report to the master, Mr. Li of the Ministry of Revenue wants to see the master outside the door."

"It's too late now, let him come again tomorrow!"

Li Linfu didn't react for a moment, but waved his hand impatiently. Suddenly he was stunned, with a very surprised expression, 'Isn't Li Qing the Minister of Revenue Li? Wasn't he assassinated in Yangzhou? When did he return to Chang'an? Why didn't there be any news from Boji?' Several questions came out of his heart, but he didn't have time to think about it. Seeing that the butler was going to send Li Qing, he quickly changed his words and said, "Hurry! Please come to my study quickly."

The question lingers in Li Linfu's mind, as if there is a feeling of the ghost of the old house following him to the new house. He strode around the room with his hands behind his back. This is the first time he has felt restless since this year.

His eyes slanted, and when he saw his son kneeling on the ground and wiping his tears quietly, he couldn't help but sigh, "Forget it, you should focus more on the government affairs. In two days, please see if there is any real lack of Zhang Qiqiu. You can go to the place to become an official!"

"Thank you, my father!" Li Yin lowered his head and slowly retreated from the study room. When he reached the door of the study room, the corners of his mouth twitched, revealing a hint of undetectable pride.

Li Linfu was thinking about Li Qing's intention to visit him, but he did not notice the change in his son's expression. However, he did not know that his thoughts had laid the root of killing himself, so he would not mention it later.

After a while, Li Qing came to Li Linfu's study under the guidance of the butler. He dusted off the raindrops on his body at the door, straightened his clothes, and then strode towards the door.

"I have met the Prime Minister!" Li Qing bowed and gave a long salute to Li Linfu who was smiling.

"Haha! I didn't expect Mr. Li to visit on a rainy night, I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it!"

Li Linfu pulled Li Qing up and looked at him carefully, and said with great concern: "I heard from Zhang Boji that you were assassinated in Yangzhou, how about you? You are not hurting anyway!"

Seeing that he mentioned Zhang Boji's message without any hesitation, Li Qing couldn't help but be impressed by his prime minister's demeanor, so he smiled and said frankly: "There is no way, I just escaped assassination by chance. I was afraid of being stabbed again on the way back, so I used the golden cicada to escape, lying that I was seriously injured by the stabbing, and then quietly returned to Chang'an."

He looked up at the house and apologized: "I just arrived in Chang'an last night. I wanted to come to congratulate the Prime Minister during the day, but I had to accompany my wife and daughter in the morning and visit my mentor in the afternoon, so I came only in the evening. Don't blame the Prime Minister."

Li Qing spoke extremely implicitly. Only an old fox like Li Linfu could hear his implication. He went to find Zhang Qiu Jianqiong in the afternoon and to find him in the evening. The implication was that he came on behalf of Zhang Qiu Jianqiong. Otherwise, since he said he was here to congratulate him, why did he have no courtesy at all? This is unreasonable. In this way, there is only one explanation, and he was not here to congratulate him for the housewarming.

In fact, Li Qing did talk to Zhang Qiu Jianqiong. The new salt law was still smooth. For his next reform plan, he must now reach a temporary compromise with Li Linfu. Although Zhang Qiu Jianqiong was a little hesitant, he still reluctantly agreed to Li Qing's request.

"So that's the case. Mr. Li is worthy of being a war with Tubo. He used this trick skillfully to escape from the shell, and even I have hidden it."

Li Linfu smiled and took Li Qing's hand, walked to the coffee table, "Come! Come! Come! Let's sit down and talk."

Soon the maid served tea. Li Linfu picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and asked casually: "Do you know who is the one who assassinated you?"

"I don't know who it is, but one thing is clear. This person must have bought a murderer and stabbed me because the new salt law violated his interests."

Li Linfu smiled and asked reluctantly: "I heard that the three assassins were killed on the spot. The third one was a dancer and was caught by the minister. How could he not know who sent it?"

Li Qing shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The person who knows was killed on the spot, and this female assassin has a low status. She really doesn't know that it was an order from the capital."

"In this way, without evidence, isn't this a headless case?"

Li Linfu sighed, and then changed the topic and said, "You just arrived in Chang'an yesterday, and I'm afraid you don't know the rumors about Chang'an these days!"

Li Qing laughed, "I have heard from my wife about this matter, saying that King Qing had stolen official salt and was arrested by me. This is purely nonsense." He suddenly lowered his voice and said to Li Linfu: "It is true to seize official salt, but according to the person who was arrested, the official salt was stolen by Li Chengshi, the governor of Yangzhou. Moreover, I checked the account books. It was around the Shangyuan Festival that Zhang Boji returned to Beijing to visit relatives, and Li Chengshi served as the acting chief. He had this opportunity. The evidence in this case was conclusive. I had written a letter to the emperor to impeach Li Chengshi."

Li Qing's words are true and false, how could Li Linfu not hear that? The value of 200,000 stones of official salt is not very high, but only 60,000 to 70,000 yuan, but it is a death sentence. How could Li Chengshi do such a thing that is not worth the loss? This matter is probably what King Qing like is doing. Li Qing is just looking for a scapegoat for King Qing. Li Chengshi is not his person, so he doesn't care, but Li Qing's last words made him feel moved and he had a thought.

Li Qing seemed to have a close relationship with Li Linfu. As soon as Li Linfu thought, Li Qing smiled and said, "Zhang Changshi is an honest official and has great achievements. He is always a high-ranking assessment every year. If the emperor is willing to accept my impeachment, I will recommend Zhang Changshi to the emperor as the governor of Yangzhou. Don't blame me for being abrupt."

"The minister was joking. How could Zhang Boji, a nerd, be the governor of Yangzhou? He would still be the long-standing minister for a few years."

Li Linfu knew that Li Qing's words were just what Zhang Qiu Jianqiong meant. He recommended his son-in-law as the governor of Yangzhou, and they were showing kindness to him! Li Linfu smiled coldly in his heart. Even if he had this intention, he would never agree to this matter if he did not force their true purpose.

"The prime minister is too modest. Zhang Changshi and his literary talent are good. He has a good reputation among the people. He also understands the situation in Yangzhou and cannot even be the governor. Wouldn't that ridicule Li Qing as the governor of Shazhou?"

Li Qing understood what Li Linfu really meant. He had just received news from the palace that Li Longji would summon him tomorrow morning, so Li Linfu would know his thoughts at the latest tomorrow. It would be meaningless to hide from him. So he said sincerely: "I'm not hiding the prime minister. Li Qing has some ideas and wants to get the support of the prime minister first."

"Tell me! What's the idea?"

Li Linfu touched his huge nose with interest, and wanted to serve the tea bowl, but subconsciously shrank back.

"I have been the Minister of Revenue for a short time, and I felt that the people of the Tang Dynasty were rich, but the treasury was empty. Why not use the free money from the people? I thought for a long time and had contacted Wang Baoji Cabinet. This gave me an idea. Why didn't the country set up a cabinet to attract all the spare money from the people? At the same time, the money can also be stored in it. This money can be used to make profits for merchants. When the court urgently needs money, it can also borrow money from the people through this cabinet."

Li Qing's idea was to establish a central bank similar to that of later generations. However, the Tang Dynasty did not have the conditions to issue paper money, so he could only implement the functions of some banks, but the premise was to separate Zuozang (i.e., the state treasury) from the Taifu Temple controlled by Yang Guozhong and get the real financial power to promote his financial attempt. He had another deeper purpose but could not speak clearly to Li Linfu.

Li Linfu didn't speak for a long time. This was indeed a bold idea. He had been the prime minister for more than ten years, so how could he not understand Li Qing's intention?

I am afraid that the emperor will be willing to agree if he can hold the money from the people in the hands of the court, but it is hard to say whether the people are willing to store the money in this "national counter house".

But he was more concerned about another thing that was more important to him. After pondering for a long time, he asked, "Which department belongs to this cabinet?"

Li Qing was silent for a moment and finally said slowly: "My idea is best managed by the Ministry of Revenue Department to facilitate the streamlining of various financial relationships."

Li Linfu suddenly realized that he had said that he wanted to hold all the financial powers in his hands for a long time. No wonder Li Qing said that he would also include Zuo Zang and quickly balance the pros and cons. Although the emperor had to discuss this with him, it was not good for the emperor to oppose too much of what he wanted to do. It would be better to use this opportunity to reach his hand into the Ministry of Revenue. On the other hand, he also wanted to deal with Yang Guozhong. Maybe let Li Qing slap him first before talking about it.

Li Linfu nodded and said without hesitation: "I thought about Zhang Boji as the governor of Yangzhou before. I thought about it again. I had to give him a chance to display his talents, so I did not object to the recommendation of the Minister of the Minister. In addition, Di Wuqi was promoted to the Jianghuai Salt and Iron Branch Envoy, and the position of Wailang, the Ministry of Revenue Department, was vacant. I recommended Wang Yan, the county magistrate of Wannian County to take this position. I hope the Minister of the Minister of the People's Republic of China to support him."

Wang Yan was Li Linfu's confidant Wang Gong. He used him as the deputy commander of the branch, which means he got a share of Li Qing's pie. His plan was very good, and this was his condition.

Li Linfu's wishful thinking was not known. He had a corresponding solution after a second thought. He might as well agree first. In the future, he just needs to transfer him away by promotion. He smiled slightly, "Prime Minister, let's make up for it!"

Li Qing and Li Linfu looked at each other, and the two foxes, both old and young, laughed knowingly.

Let’s talk about Li Yin exiting his father’s study and walking quickly towards his room. The rain was heavy, so he didn’t have to hold an umbrella. He rushed through the rain curtain in one breath and ran to the other end of the yard. His door was covered with a faint cloak. Li Yin pushed open the door and suddenly subconsciously covered his left ear. Unexpectedly, a pain in his right ear, and his wife’s proud laughter came from his ear, “What if this move is unintentional? I knew you would cover your left ear.”

"It hurts! It hurts! Let go." Li Yin cried out in great pain.

"Haha! You don't cry on weekdays, but what are you calling today? Did I teach you the method I've succeeded?" Cui Liuliu twisted Li Yin's ear, kicked the door closed, dragged him to the edge of the bed in the inner room, and then let go of his hand, "Speak quickly! What official do your father plan to put you out as?"

Li Yin said bitterly: "I don't know what official is, but it may be that he went to Shuofang area to become an official."

"It doesn't matter where you go, but you must be a county magistrate or governor. I want to be the first lady!"

A verbal saying of "I'm" made Li Yin's hair stand up. This was a sign that she wanted to do something. He begged in a low voice: "Didn't you say that if I go to an outsider, I'll be allowed to take a concubine? You have to keep your word."

Cui Liuliu glanced at Li Yin with a thin fish eye, and granite bit her lips, and laughed in a low voice: "You damn ghost, I'll set my fire on you."

She turned around and blew out the lights, and in the dark she could only hear her low laughter, "What concubine! You can't even satisfy me."

"But I want to have a last minute, oh! Be gentle!"
Chapter completed!