Two people from different generations may have very different understandings of the same thing.
At this moment, Liu Rengui was probably thinking about the little bastard and the weasel giving New Year greetings to the rooster.
What Li Qinzai was thinking was that he was done with the calf, and the meat bun would beat the dog.
Two thoughts, five animals.
Chinese is so vast and wonderful.
Both of them held the brocade box in their hands and did not let go, pulling each other very seriously.
Li Qinzai kept in mind the purpose of his visit today. He was here to test Liu Rengui and find out whether he was behind Li Ji's back and making a fuss about the deserters.
The two families had never dealt with each other, so how could Li Qinzai give him such an expensive gift?
Go back and give Butler Wu a good beating. The old prodigal has tricked him to death.
Liu Rengui didn't know why, but he got into a fight with this brocade box and refused to let go until it was beaten to death.
You don't even have the dignity of an upright official. If you like money so much, why don't you go and embezzle?
"Uncle Liu, I made a mistake today, and I apologize to you..." Li Qinzai gritted his teeth and squeezed out a smile: "The people below are not good at doing things and got the wrong gift. I will deal with him later. You... Can you let me go?"
Liu Rengui said calmly: "You are so rude. After everyone has entered the door, you have already held out the gift. How can you take it back? If this spreads throughout Chang'an City, will you, Duke Li, lose your face?"
"Face? What do I want with that thing..." Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "To be precise, I went to the wrong door today. I actually wanted to visit that person... Well, Grandpa Cheng's house, that's right, kid I plan to visit Grandpa Cheng, but I'm really sorry, the two doors look too similar."
Liu Rengui smiled: "The Cheng family's family is magnificent, while my family's family is shabby. This can be a mistake. Can you put some thought into your nonsense?"
Li Qinzai blinked and was about to make up a more reasonable lie, but Liu Rengui suddenly exerted his strength, and with a swish, the brocade box fell into his hand.
Looking at his empty hands, Li Qinzai sighed.
Okay, no need to make up any nonsense, it’s completely over.
Liu Rengui opened the brocade box and looked at the dozen or so gems of various colors inside. He couldn't help stroking his beard and smiling: "Well, Duke Li is interested. Is it worth a lot of money? It will cost you money, but I was disrespectful, so I reluctantly accepted it." Yes, haha."
Li Qinzai laughed, and began to hesitate whether to pick up the table, smash Liu Rengui's dog's head, and snatch his brocade box back.
However, Liu Rengui immediately called his servants and ordered them to take the brocade box back to the warehouse.
Li Qinzai was completely despairing, and his energy and spirit were much weakened.
At this time, Liu Rengui stroked his beard and said calmly: "Tell me, Duke Li is here today. What do you want to do?"
Li Qinzai smiled and said, "Uncle Liu, I have nothing else to do. I really came to visit you."
Liu Rengui said with a half-smile, "I'm busy with official duties. If you don't tell me, I'll have to see guests off."
Li Qinzai's cheek twitched a few times. The old guy didn't understand the world at all.
It is a common practice in official circles to talk nonsense for at least half an hour during a meeting. Is such an important procedure omitted?
"Ahem, Uncle Liu has been in charge of the government affairs and has assisted the Holy Lord Zuo for many years. I know very well that Uncle Liu is upright and hates evil. With Uncle Liu in the court, the country of the Tang Dynasty is as stable as a rock. Uncle Liu is as important to the Tang Dynasty as the sun...
…”
"Well, Uncle Liu, please don't be impatient. Sit down first and collect ten gems from the boy. Isn't it too much to give the boy a little more patience?"
Liu Rengui said coldly: "If you talk nonsense again, you will have to pay more."
Li Qinzai looked at him in shock. He couldn't tell that the old guy was hiding so much. How did he know about such a shameless money-adding rule?
"Yesterday, the Goguryeo army reported that the king's army defeated the enemy's capital Pyongyang. This was originally an exciting and happy event, but I heard that someone in the court was making a fuss about deserters..."
"My grandfather has not yet returned to the court, but now someone in the Chang'an court is planning to suppress the heroes and implicate the desertion on my grandfather. Uncle Liu, have you heard about this?"
Liu Rengui said in a nonchalant manner: "I never take such nonsense to heart."
Li Qinzai paused for a moment, saying, "How dare you come up with rumors out of thin air?" You are an official, and all you do is make up rumors based on rumors.
What is "heard and reported"? That is to say, no matter what the officials hear in the court and among the people, no matter whether it is true or false, or whether there is any evidence, they are obliged to report it to the emperor. Even if it is found to be untrue, the officials will report it to the emperor.
You will not be punished for your words.
Today's political environment in the Tang Dynasty is very relaxed, so officials like Liu Rengui can control the court and scold anyone who is unhappy, including the emperor.
Li Qinzai carefully observed Liu Rengui's expression.
It was Prince Li Hong who broke the news. Li Qinzai believed that Li Hong would not talk nonsense. He now wanted to know whether Liu Rengui was involved in this matter, and if so, whether he was the mastermind.
Seeing Li Qinzai staring at him without saying a word for a long time, Liu Rengui finally couldn't help but laugh.
He couldn't hold back his laughter. Liu Rengui actually held his belly and laughed loudly. He didn't know who tapped his smile point. He didn't care about his manners at all. The green beard under his chin trembled as if he touched a switch.
After laughing for a long time, Liu Rengui finally stopped, wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, calmed down and said, "I'm afraid you have bad intentions when you come to visit us today, right?"
Li Qinzai said seriously: "Uncle Liu has wronged me. I really just paid an ordinary visit today..."
"Your grandfather almost beat me up when he saw me. Our two families don't have such a deep friendship. You would visit your enemy's house if nothing happened? Haha."
Li Qinzai blinked: "The juniors should not interfere with the elders' affairs. In the kid's heart, the elders are the elders. If you elders are fighting each other, the juniors should still bow according to the rules when they see you. This is the upbringing of my Li family."
Liu Rengui sneered: "That sounds grand, aren't you just here to find out if the person making a fuss about deserters is me? Do you think I am blind?"
Li Qinzai grinned.
What should I do? It seems a bit embarrassing.
Why put it so bluntly, leaving no room for anything, it’s such a nonsense...
Liu Rengui glanced at him sideways and said, "Do you know why I accepted your generous gift of gems?"
Li Qinzai said weakly: "Because you are stronger than me..."
Liu Rengui sneered and said: "You came here with bad intentions. I accept your gem as an apology for insulting my character. I have been an honest official all my life and never accepted bribes, but I deserve your gem."
Staring into Li Qinzai's eyes, Liu Rengui's expression suddenly became serious: "I am a censor and an official, but what I have reported over the years is well-founded and I have never deliberately framed my colleagues."
"I have never done anything to destroy one's conscience, suppress or frame heroes. You are a hero of the Tang Dynasty, and your grandfather is also a hero of the Tang Dynasty. You have great military exploits and brilliant deeds. You stand in a bright place and are respected by the subjects."
"But I'm not worse than you, it's just that I'm in this offending position and no one sees my efforts."
"In the 21st year of Zhenguan, I participated in the impeachment of Lingzu, and ordered his troops to loot and slaughter the city indiscriminately. This is because Lingzu did indeed do these things. I can't stand it, so I must participate in the impeachment."
"In the second year of Linde, Lingzu led the king's army to march eastward. Due to the cold weather in the north, there were deserters in the army. This matter had nothing to do with Lingzu."
"Not only that, Lingzu was able to decisively delay the attack on the city when the morale of the army was getting chaotic. He first boosted the morale of the army, first secured the interior and then destroyed the city. Lingzu not only had no fault, but actually made meritorious deeds."
"In my opinion, this achievement is no less than defeating the enemy's capital. You must know what terrible consequences it will be if the morale of the army collapses in the dangerous environment of a foreign expedition. However, Lingzu turned the tide and finally achieved victory.
It is not easy to get to this point, and he is worthy of being a famous general of the Tang Dynasty."