The midsummer of the ninth year of Tianbao is coming to an end, but it is also the most difficult day. The heat that oppresses people, the heat stands on the earth, and the air becomes transparent and flowing. There are few pedestrians on Zhuque Street, and even beggars don’t want to come out.

In the evening, several soldiers guarding the city in front of Mingde Gate leaned lazily against the wall, and occasionally scooped a scoop of water from the bucket to pour it on themselves.

"Damn, my life is hard, and even the well water has become hot!" A soldier cursed softly: "Those officials can wear furs to hold the little girl to keep warm, but I have to stay under this poisonous sun, wearing such heavy armor."

"Liulang, you said something strange. How can you wear fur to keep warm in the summer?"

A fat black soldier beside him smiled "sneer!", turned the squad leader with his elbow, and whispered: "I see that Liulang is so hot that he is talking nonsense."

The sergeant was a veteran in his forties. He said disdainfully: "You know what's wrong, Liulang is talking about Yang Guozhong. People use ice to build walls, and of course they wear fur to hug women."

As he spoke, he saw a dozen black and thin Tang soldiers walking away with their horses. The military uniforms were ragged. The horses were as thin as them, with heavy steps and constant breathing. The commander slowly stood up and his face was in awe.

The Tang army guarding the city stood up one after another and silently watched the ragged Tang army walk into the city gate. The fat soldier hit a nail and felt angry. Seeing that these dozen people who were not like humans or ghosts walked in, they couldn't help but 'pah!' at their backs, "I was dressed so badly, but I ran to Chang'an to embarrass myself!"

Chief Soldier strode forward, scalp hard, and scolded: "Bastard! This is Anxi's border army. People are fighting, but you are hiding here to enjoy the cool air. You have the shame to say that."

These dozen Tang soldiers were the Wu Xingsu and his party who traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to deliver memorials. They ran day and night, changed their horses all the way, and arrived in Chang'an in just one month.

Li Qing instructed them to see Gao Lishi, but it was dark at this time. Gao Lishi had not returned in the palace. More than a dozen Tang soldiers were extremely tired and fell asleep under several big trees in front of Gao Lishi's mansion.

It was not until the next day when Gao Lishi's carriage finally returned to the mansion. He was exhausted all these days. He had to review the memorials on behalf of Li Longji, and also served the master's Fenghuaxueyue to deal with his endless ideas to please the imperial concubine. Last night, the Ice Palace made of 200,000 yuan collapsed and killed more than a dozen eunuchs and palace maids. He handled it all night.

Gao Lishi was drowsy in the carriage and was suddenly awakened by a loud noise. He sat upright and looked out through the curtains. He saw more than a dozen soldiers lying in a row under the Darong tree, and several family members were urging them away.

"Forget it! Let them go, can't you be quiet?" Gao Lishi waved his hand, "Go into the mansion quickly!"

At this time, a gatekeeper ran down on the steps and stood in front of the carriage to report: "Master! They are Anxijun, and they say they have something to come to you."

‘Anxi Army looked for me!’ Gao Lishi changed his mind and immediately realized, ‘Is it Li Qing not successful?’

"Ask them what's wrong?"

After a moment, Wu Xingsu was taken forward. He saluted in front of the carriage, took out Li Qing's memorial from his arms, and handed it on with both hands, "This is what my Governor Li from my family gave to the General."

Gao Lishi received the memorial but did not look at it. He looked at the soldiers again and saw that they had already climbed up from the ground one after another. They were all ragged uniforms and dark and thin. Gao Lishi couldn't help but look surprised in his eyes, "Did you come from the Shi Kingdom?"

"Yes!" Wu Xingsu bowed and bowed again, "The governor said that the matter was urgent, and we dare not delay it, and we came day and night."

"I see!"

From Shiguo to Chang'an, it was more than ten thousand miles away. Gao Lishi suddenly felt a little moved. He turned around and said to his family: "These are all the pillars of my Tang Dynasty. I led them into the mansion and gave them some good food and rest."

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An hour later, a carriage drove from the east and quietly stopped at the back door of Gao Lishi's mansion. A middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat got out of the carriage quickly. The housekeeper who had already been waiting in front of the door immediately led him in. "Aweng, are you looking for me?" The middle-aged man flashed into the study. He took off the bamboo hat. He was the deposed former crown prince Li Heng. Perhaps because he was not as worried as the prince, he was much better, but his face was still as pale as before.

He was named King Dongxian and still lives in the original Prince Zhong's Mansion. At the beginning, he was not allowed to go out at will. There were special people monitoring his words and deeds. As time went by, Li Longji's supervision of him gradually became loose. Li Heng could also go out secretly once or twice a month, stroll around the streets and alleys of the old days, tasted restaurants and teahouses, and became a veritable King of Xian.

Just as dawn today, Gao Lishi suddenly sent someone to ask him, saying that there was an urgent matter to discuss, Li Heng did not dare to neglect and sneaked out. At this moment, his usual leisure was gone, his expression was extremely serious, and his eyes were sharp, just like the former prince Li Heng.

"I know it's not easy for the prince to come out, let's talk about it for a long time!"

Gao Lishi smiled and poured him a cup of tea himself before returning to his seat. He said slowly: "I'm actually looking for you for King Guangping."

"Chu'er?" Li Heng was shocked. Li Chu was the only hope for him to step into the Daming Palace and ascend to the throne of the Supreme Emperor, but nothing happened.

Just as Li Qing guessed when he was deposed the prince, Li Longji has not established a new Eastern Palace so far. Time is the touchstone of all affairs. After King Yong and King Qing failed to enter the Eastern Palace for a long time, Li Longji's other sons also turned their attention to the hall that fascinated them. As the deposed prince Li Heng, behind his leisure, he never gave up hope.

His son, the eldest grandson of the emperor who was once the father valued the most, received full support from Gao Lishi, and may not be unable to enter the Eastern Palace. In order not to implicate him, he has only seen his son three times in the past two years.

Seeing him surprised, Gao Lishi couldn't help but smile and said, "Prince, don't be surprised. There is nothing bad, but it's a good thing."

He pondered for a moment, suddenly raised his head and looked at Li Heng and said, "I received a memorial today. I have been thinking about it for a long time. I think there is something I should tell you."

Gao Lishi stood up and walked a few steps in the room. He stared at the 'Panisha chess map' on the wall, and after a long time he said slowly: "I was also influenced by a person to support King Guangping to enter the Eastern Palace. He and I have always been an alliance in this matter, and sometimes his role even surpasses me."

Gao Lishi suddenly turned around, and a mysterious smile appeared in his eyes, "Guess who this person is?"

Li Heng was shocked. He was more useful than Gao Lishi. Who would it be? Is the Imperial Concubine? Or Li Linfu?

"The prince would never have thought." Gao Lishi smiled and waved his hand, "Think about the Shangyuan Night in the fourth year of Tianbao. That time, there was an additional prince's servant in the East Palace."

"Li Qing!"

Li Heng suddenly realized, and then his surprise gaze dimmed again. He shook his head gently. What if Li Qing supports his son? His energy is too small.

Seeing Li Heng's face showing disappointment, Gao Lishi naturally understood his thoughts. Gao Lishi didn't say it out loud, but just smiled faintly: "I want King Guangping to go to Shiguo for a year of training. I wonder if the prince is willing to give up?"

‘Dang!’ The crisp bell echoed over Xingqing Palace. The emperor woke up in the afternoon. The eunuchs and palace maids on duty immediately became busy, serving soup and tea, and they all walked in a hurry.

Li Longji stretched his waist long, and the cool breeze in the room made his nap particularly sweet. When he woke up, he felt refreshed and energetic.

Although the sun was scorching outside the house, the inner wall of the room was built with ice walls, and the ventilation was good, making people feel the breeze was as cool as spring. Li Longji walked to the window and unexpectedly found a memorial on the table. He smiled. It must be that Gao Lishi had encountered something that could not be decided.

This is what he is most satisfied with Gao Lishi. He does what he does and does not do. He decides on small matters or criticizes them for discussing them together, and reports to himself the major matters. Which one is more important and what is more important is the right time to take it.

Li Longji's eyes fell on the signature of the memorial: Li Qing, the appeaser of Anxi and Beiting towns, was shocked, "Is there something wrong with the Western Regions?" Li Longji sat down immediately and opened the memorial impatiently.

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The echoing bells in Xingqing Palace also woke up Gao Lishi who was taking a nap in the side hall. He washed his face randomly and hurried to Li Longji's bedroom. As soon as he arrived at the door, he saw a loud "bang!" sound from the room, and several eunuchs closed their eyes in fear.

"The emperor is getting angry, Ah Weng, go quickly!" An old eunuch ran out of it, his legs trembling, and his upper and lower teeth trembled. "The emperor ordered me to summon the prime minister."

Gao Lishi was a little nervous. He knew that Li Longji would be angry about the memorial, but he didn't expect that he would get angry to this extent. Gao Lishi bent down and picked up the inkstone that fell in half, and shook his head sighed. This was the best blood stone for Chuzhou tribute. It took a hundred years to see this place and it was carved into a dragon inkstone. It was gone after such a fall.

He turned around and took the jade bowl from a palace maid, carefully held it and walked to Li Longji, and whispered: "Your Majesty, this is the snow mud prepared by the Imperial Concubine himself. Eat some to reduce the fire!"

Hearing the word "Niu Concubine", Li Longji's anger disappeared slightly. He took the jade bowl with a gloomy face, scooped a piece of creamy snow mud with a small golden spoon and put it into his mouth. After a long breath was over.

"Gao Xianzhi is too arrogant, I can't stand it anymore!"

"A person who has no eyes on the emperor will be in chaos sooner or later. Instead of making him stand tall, it is better to take it early."

Li Longji stopped Jinshao in surprise. Gao Lishi never said anything lightly about the political situation, but today he made an exception.

"Is this the General's opinion?"

Gao Lishi lowered his head and said, "How could I participate in the government affairs casually? It's because the emperor's anger is rare in the past two years, and I am also inspired by my feelings."

"I don't know that I have sent a special military supervisor for this." Speaking of this, Li Longji couldn't help but say hell: "Every time Bian Lingcheng goes to war, he says he will not go away. If such a big incident happened in Shi Kingdom, he will not see his report. Needless to say, this dog thief must have eaten Gao Xianzhi's bribe. I still don't know how many things are deceiving me."

Speaking of deception, the fire that Li Longji had just calmed came up again. He remembered a report by Tocharo Yehu a few days ago, saying that the Tocharo countries sent envoys to Kucha every year and always regarded the Tang Dynasty as the sect leader. The threat of the Great Food became increasingly serious, and he asked the Tang Dynasty to send troops to resist the Great Food together.

Li Longji learned from this above that the small countries in the Western Regions actually regarded Kucha as an audience. In other words, seeing Gao Xianzhi was equivalent to seeing him Li Longji, and Bian Lingcheng had never mentioned this. This was the root of his anger today.

‘Dong!’ The jade bowl in Li Longji’s hand hit the table again, “Go! I’ll call Bian Lingcheng back with my gold medal.”

Gao Lishi took the gold medal in panic and was about to leave, but Li Longji suddenly called him, "Forget it, wait a moment before talking."

It is a trivial matter to ask Bian Lingcheng to come back, but if Gao Xianzhi is alarmed, it is a big matter.

Li Longji slowly sat on the chair and stared at a cicada on the branch outside the window in a daze. Seeing his eyes flashing, Gao Lishi knew that Li Longji was fighting in his heart, he whispered: "Actually, Anxi and Minister Li are there, so the emperor doesn't have to worry."

Li Longji sighed. This was what he was worried about. One mountain could not accommodate two tigers. He wanted the two to restrain each other, but now they became two tigers fighting each other. It doesn't matter if one died, but it was afraid that it would affect the stability of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty. This was also due to his inadequate consideration at the time. He wanted to transfer Gao Xianzhi back, but he was worried that Li Qing could not suppress Gao Xianzhi's old subordinates.

At this time, an eunuch reported at the door that Li Xiangguo had arrived.

Li Linfu happened to have an emergency request to meet Li Longji. Due to tight finance, the Salt and Iron Supervision adjusted the salt price to 150 cents per bucket, which caused trouble for salt merchants in various places, with the worst in Yangzhou, with many casualties already killed and injured.

However, Li Linfu met the eunuch who announced the edict halfway. When he heard that Li Longji was furious, he immediately sent someone to send home the memorial he was preparing to submit.

What he wanted to report was the root cause of the salt merchants' trouble. The serious financial problems of the court were mainly due to the increase in the expenses in the palace every month. It is only August, but the expenses in the palace have exceeded 5 million guan. The summer expenses were reduced by just one, which was 200,000 guan last year, but this year it reached 1 million guan. If this continues, there are autumn hunting and winter patrols. It is a blessing that it can be controlled within 8 million guan by the end of the year. The various taxes in the Tang Dynasty added up to only 20 million guan, but the expenses in the palace have gone by nearly half and they have to bear military expenses. If this continues, the local area will only have to eat or drink.

As the prime minister, Li Linfu was worried about the financial crisis all day long, but he did not dare to give advice from Zhang Jiuling, Yao Chong and others. Faced with the severe situation, he finally chose the latter between the rise and fall of the country and personal gains and losses, causing various social contradictions to accumulate. Coupled with Yang Guozhong's incompetence in the later period, the Anshi Rebellion broke out.

Li Longji naturally didn't care about the financial expenses. In his opinion, if you don't have enough money, add salt prices, or expand the scope of the monopoly. At the beginning of the year, iron, tea and wine were included in the monopoly category. When it was almost hot in June, saltpeter was included in the monopoly. This was caused by Li Qing. His saltpeter ice-making method has become common sense, and using ice to cool down has become the first choice for summer.

Li Longji was concerned about his throne and his dignity of the emperor. He called Li Linfu to discuss with him how to deal with Gao Xianzhi.

After reading Li Qing's memorial in a hurry, Li Linfu couldn't help but take a breath of air. Gao Xianzhi dared to be so bold that he executed the king without authorization, and he ransacked the city of Zhecheng, and he himself had the treasure house of the Shi Kingdom.

Although Li Longji did not make any statement, since he showed this memorial to himself, it would indicate that he was going to touch Gao Xianzhi, otherwise he could just laugh it off.

As an emperor, many things cannot be told to the ministers. The ministers below must understand and understand them. On the one hand, they can intimidate the ministers' psychology, and on the other hand, they can also protect the emperor's dignity. They can't hate someone and shout to slash the Meridian Gate. This is the pen of the historical recorder! Zhu Yuanzhang, who was born in a rampant family and did not understand these things, finally left a cruel handle in history.

Otherwise, you can learn from Wu Zetian, make a few cruel officials to take action, and finally kill them to thank the world. Li Longji is the same, using Li Linfu to eliminate dissidents for him. Finally, after Li Linfu died, he whipped the corpse to win the world's gratitude.

Li Linfu was a master who figured out the holy intention. His mind was turning rapidly. He immediately thought that Li Longji must be afraid of being a jealous person. He was afraid that Gao Xianzhi would turn around in anger, so he wanted to come forward by himself. Since he wanted to come forward by himself, he didn't want to kill him.

"Your Majesty, I would like to let Gao Xianzhi go to Beijing to report his duties, and then give it to high-ranking officials and raise them in the capital, so that he can also calm his subordinates' hearts."

"Professional report?" Li Longji took two steps and suddenly said lightly: "It will be early next year, it's still early!"

Li Linfu's eyes rolled and he immediately had a solution. He smiled and said, "Is it the birthday of the Imperial Concubine in a few days? I beg your Majesty to order the generals from all sides to offer prisoners, Gao Xianzhi attacked Xiao Bolu, and the Master of the State has made great contributions, so he can be rewarded in advance and then ordered him to come to Beijing to thank him!"

Li Linfu's method was to seize Gao Xianzhi's fatal hole. The king, the Tubo princess, and later the king of the Imperial Army captured by him in Tianbao sixth year were all imprisoned in Kucha. If he went to Beijing to offer prisoners, how could he give up such glorious things to others? In addition, he would definitely come to express his gratitude and reward in person. Then he would be foolproof if he raised him in Beijing.

Li Longji smiled, "You prime minister has many ideas, but I am not as far away as you think."

He nodded slightly, verbally agreed to Li Linfu's request to celebrate his birthday for the concubine, and the rest was done by him.

Li Longji suddenly turned around and said loudly: "Transfer my will. Gao Xianzhi made great contributions to the country to defeat the enemy. He also appointed him as the Kaifu Yitong Sansi and the Duke of Miyun County. He rewarded him with 50 million yuan and 1,000 pieces of silk, and specially approved his sons."

After Li Linfu left, Li Longji pondered for a long time. Gao Xianzhi's entry into Beijing was resolved, but Li Qing had a cold relationship with him. How could he hand over the military power to Li Qing? This is also a matter worth discussing. Gao Lishi smiled and said nothing. He was Li Longji's roundworm. The answer to this question had long been thought of. Li Longji felt something, looked up at Gao Lishi, and suddenly smiled and said, "I forgot you. Tell me, how can I untie this knot for me?"
Chapter completed!