Faced with Han Xizai's silence, Li Jing took the opportunity to ask: "Recently, you have repeatedly advised me to repair my military equipment and improve the river defense. However, even if the whole country fights hard, what can I do? As for taking the initiative to send troops, you may give me a guarantee to defeat the Han army.
, regain the homeland and protect it?”
Li Jing's words are full of feelings of failure. If you can get temporary peace and enjoy a night of happiness, you are already satisfied, so there is no need for long-term planning.
Seeing Han Xizai's expression gradually becoming agitated, Li Jing probably knew that he was about to say those useless words of advice, so he raised his hand slightly to stop him and said seriously: "Han Qing, this year is about to end, so you can prepare in advance tomorrow."
We have enough money to pay tribute every year so as not to be caught off guard again."
Hearing this, Han Xizai's face twitched and he replied in a deep voice: "Yes!"
"In addition, it will be ten years since the Lord of the Han Dynasty succeeded to the throne. Now that the certificate of credence has arrived, our court should express it. Well, I will personally write a letter of congratulations, prepare generous gifts, and send an envoy north to celebrate it. This matter is also
..." Li Jing continued, but noticing Han Xizai's somewhat ugly expression, he immediately changed his words: "Leave this matter to Zhong Shangshu!"
"Yes! I will definitely live up to my mission!" Zhong Mo, the Minister of Rites, stood up and said respectfully with a smile.
"Okay!" Li Jing was very satisfied with Zhong Mo's attitude.
"Your Majesty, there is still official business in the courtyard. Rong Chen will take his leave first!" Seeing the wine and dancing in the palace, Han Xizai was filled with helplessness and bowed, as if he was eager to get rid of the "smog" that filled the palace and keep himself clean.
Standing personality.
Li Jing obviously didn't want Han Xizai to be an eyesore here and ruin the atmosphere. A gentle smile appeared on his drunken old face: "Han Qing is diligent in official duties, so that I can have peace. You can do it yourself!"
"Your Majesty, please retire!" Han Xizai bowed again, then turned away. However, when he left the palace and turned around, he flicked his robe sleeves, as if venting his anger.
After he left, the atmosphere in the palace was still a little colder. Seeing this, Feng Yansi picked up a wine glass, approached Li Jing, and said angrily: "Your Majesty, you favor Han Xizai too much. This man thinks he is talented and has always been arrogant.
, Now in charge of the state affairs, he is unscrupulous and contemptuous of his colleagues. Now, he dares to insult His Majesty's face, where is the courtesy?"
Hearing this, he looked at his favorite minister who had not aged much. Li Jing's mouth twitched slightly and replied: "Han Shuyan has always been like this, and he has done a good job in governing the country in these years. Come on, ignore him, don't be bad.
Our pleasure!”
"Yes!" Feng Yansi raised his glass in response. He seemed very indifferent. To slander someone, it is natural to repeat and slander him bit by bit.
The relationship between Feng Yansi and Han Xizai was not only a personal grudge, but also a struggle for interests. Since the death of Qiqiu and his party members in the Song Dynasty, Feng Yansi has been the only leader of the nobles, bureaucrats, and landlords in Jiangnan. In these years, the government led by Han Xizai
The reform seriously infringed on the interests of other people, how could one not resent it?
However, the power of the upper class was severely hit because of Li Jing's suppression of party strife. Under the huge threat of the Northern Han Dynasty, Han Xizai carried out reforms under the banner of saving the country and strengthening himself, and gained the support of public opinion, making it difficult to block the general trend, but secretly
Confrontations, misinterpretations, delays, and obstacles to its policies are constant.
On the other hand, Feng Yansi also had a bad impression of Han Xizai personally. He was noble in front of others, but lived an equally luxurious life in the back. He usually criticized them for being extravagant and greedy for enjoyment...
Li Jing was actually aware of the changes and struggles below, but he chose to support Han Xizai's reforms. The biggest reason was that after losing Jiangbei, the Southern Tang Dynasty's finances fell into crisis, and the complementary economic balance between Jiangnan and Jiangbei was disrupted.
to serious damage.
However, under the bad situation, the court's expenditures increased, including post-war pensions, military reconstruction, honors, bureaucrats' salaries, the royal family's luxurious life, and high annual tributes to the South.
As far as the Tang court was concerned, it had to increase fiscal and tax revenue, and it had to change, either by imposing heavy taxes on the people, or by attacking the ministers, bureaucrats, landlords, and wealthy businessmen who occupied the main social wealth.
Li Jing chose the latter, firstly because they were rich, and secondly because they were led by a group of people led by Han Xizai. No matter what, with Han Xizai charging forward, he, the leader of the country, was hiding behind the scenes as the referee, which couldn't be more perfect.
However, in the past two years, due to Han Xizai's reforms, there has been a lot of dissatisfaction between the DPRK and the Central Government. There have been repeated criticisms of the New Deal, and there have been constant slanders and slander. Li Jing, who has a soft ear, obviously has other ideas.
While enjoying the fruits of Han Xizai's reforms, on the other hand, he began to elevate the status of Jiangnan nobles and bureaucrats. There is a practical problem. When Li Ming founded the country, he relied on the support of the Jiangnan scholar group. Those people were considered to be from the Southern Tang Dynasty.
The foundation is shared with the country.
In fact, the Southern Tang Dynasty was very similar to the Later Shu, with prosperous culture and education, a rich economy, and a weak army. However, in terms of shortcomings, the Southern Tang Dynasty was even worse. Land annexation was serious, and the livelihood of the lower class people was difficult. After the cession of Jiangbei, the situation was even worse.
The situation deteriorated rapidly, and many nobles and bureaucrats with important interests in Jiangbei had to find ways to make up for their losses in Jiangnan.
Although Han Xizai's reforms had a certain suppressive effect, they only addressed the symptoms but not the root cause. Under the top-down confrontation, progress was difficult, and it became more and more difficult as time went by.
Because the territory is long and narrow, threatened from all sides, and the external environment is extremely unfriendly, the "atmosphere of subjugation" in Jinling is stronger than that of Meng Shu. After all, Meng Shu still has the mountains and mountains to rely on, and the Southern Tang Dynasty can
There is basically only one big river, and half of it is the Yangtze River. How can this block the Northern Han Dynasty? No one believes it.
The country was about to fall, and chaos occurred frequently. By the tenth year of Qianyou's reign, Jinling could still maintain a certain degree of stability, which Han Xizai and other ministers had worked hard to maintain. However, the trend of the general trend could not be reversed by a few people like Han Xizai.
?
Li Jing and Feng Yansi, the chief ministers, had their own thoughts. Zhong Mo, the Minister of Rites, was changing cups and enjoying themselves with others. His eyes were directed at them from time to time, always with a smile on their faces, which was meaningful.
Over there, Han Xizai walked slowly in the cold wind to the Xuanzhengyuan. He raised his eyes and looked at the dull sky. The scene in the Cai Palace just now appeared in his mind, and he felt infinitely sad in his heart.
He, Han Xizai, had been traveling to the south for more than thirty years, and had spent more than twenty years wasting his time. Although he was favored by the Tang Dynasty, he never held power. He was always envied by others and was deeply involved in party disputes with the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River.
It was not until the Han army marched south, Jiangbei fell, and the country fell into crisis that it was truly put into use. In these years, a group of like-minded people have been gathered to withstand huge pressure and carry out reforms, hoping to turn the tide and support the country.
building.
Of course there are achievements, but the results are always unsatisfactory. A series of policies aimed at the parasite-like nobles, bureaucrats, landlords, and merchants have indeed increased fiscal and taxation and eased the pressure on government, but the country's strength has never been able to achieve this.
After being promoted, the life of the people at the bottom is still getting more and more difficult, and he has to face constant criticism and slander from both inside and outside, and the backlash from Feng Yansi and others is becoming more and more severe.
The results of his reforms were used for annual tribute, to maintain the enjoyment of the palace, and to support nobles and bureaucrats. They were far from the rich country and strong military he expected.
Of course, the country is limited by its national conditions. After all, it cannot be pushed back. All reforms are limited and belong to reform. Knowing its limitations is not unacceptable.
What hurts Han Xizai the most is Li Jing's attitude. His superiors are all depressed, demoralized, and just getting by. No matter how active he is, what can he do? This year, Li Jing's changes have also made Han Xizai feel better.
A deeper understanding is that this cannot be trusted to the master of will and interest.
However, Li Jing's kindness to Han Xizai was real and gave him room to show his kindness. Han Xizai really couldn't hate Li Jing.
Conflicting psychology occupied Han Xizai's heart, and the cool breeze seemed to reflect his mood. As he walked, he lost his way. Looking around the gorgeous palace scene in Jinling, Han Xizai looked up to the sky and sighed, and finally turned into depression.
The Xuanzhengyuan also went out, went out of the palace and returned to the palace, called friends, prepared wine and banquets, and entertained themselves...
The banquet in the Turtle Palace was in full swing, the wine was at its climax, and the monarch and his ministers were dissolute and singing loudly. When an official with a white scarf on his forehead walked in under the guidance of the chamberlain, his face was full of sorrow.
Li Jing recognized the person who came. He was Jin Gong, an official of Li Jingsui, the governor of Hongzhou. Seeing his appearance, his heart skipped a beat, and the wine was no longer fragrant. He asked slightly nervously: "Why are you here to do this?"
dress up?"
"Your Majesty, the Duke of Jin was assassinated in Nanchang Mansion, and he has passed away!" The visitor bowed down, weeping in pain, his words were filled with sadness, and he was told with heavy retribution.
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As soon as he finished speaking, the whole palace was shocked and fell into silence for a moment.
Li Jing was stunned for a moment, then his body tensed up, the wine glass in his hand was knocked over, and he almost breathed out. With the help of the chamberlain, he slowly recovered, and soon, tears filled the palace, and he burst into tears.
, shouting "my brother".
Later, because of the death of Duke Li Jingsui of Jin, Li Jing ordered a funeral for his brother in the Tang Palace. All Jinling officials expressed their condolences and rushed people to Nanchang Mansion to welcome his coffin to the north.
Of course, one thing that is certain is that because of Li Jingsui's abnormal death, the Jinling court will set off another political turmoil. Smart people have linked Li Jingsui's death to Li Hongji.
Can you avoid suspicion by hiding in Runzhou? I'm afraid I don't know the story of the three hundred taels of silver here...