After Li Qinzai finished speaking, he looked a little annoyed.
In fact, his original wording was not so unpleasant. Along the way from Ganjingzhuang to here, Li Qinzai was silently drafting the draft in his mind, constantly telling himself to be tactful, peaceful, and gentle...
Only eminent monks are qualified to give a wake-up call. Who is Li Qinzai? Why should he condemn Li Zhi from the commanding heights of serving the country and the people?
But once the topic was brought up, Li Qinzai couldn't hold Huo'er anymore, and the more he spoke, the more unpleasant he said it.
Li Zhi lightly issued a decree. He thought it would be easy to grant the title of Zen to Mount Tai. From his point of view, the imperial chariot set out from Chang'an City, bringing with it more ministers and followers.
I drove during the day and rested at night. When I arrived at the top of Mount Tai, I knelt in front of the altar and said a few words of blessing. I also remembered my achievements in governing the world over the years, and finally returned to Chang'an City with satisfaction.
Look, it's so simple. It not only achieves the political goal, but also shows off one's own achievements. His father Li Shimin never had the chance to become a Zen monk in his life, but he did it. What does it mean?
It shows that he is more successful than his father, and it shows that he has stepped out of the shadow of the late Emperor Taizong.
Recruiting some young men and building a few palaces, these things were very insignificant to Li Zhi.
What Li Zhi didn't know was how bad things he thought were trivial would have on the people's livelihood of the Tang Dynasty.
Today, Li Qinzai lured him to Jingyang County under the guise of being good at hunting. The purpose was to let him see with his own eyes how bad the consequences would be.
Li Zhi stood there blankly, listening to Li Qinzai's sarcastic words, his face gradually became clouded.
At this moment, Li Zhi had come to his senses. Li Qinzai took the initiative to invite him to hunt and deliberately brought him to this village. In fact, it was just to let him see the barren farmland with his own eyes, and in this way to satirize Li Zhi and Empress Wu.
The long-prepared ceremony for the Zen ceremony.
A feeling of shame and anger filled Li Zhi's chest.
It is the right way for ministers to give advice, and it is the emperor's business whether to accept the advice or not. Li Zhi is not a narrow-minded emperor, and it is impossible for him to sin because of his words.
However, from the standpoint of the emperor, Li Qinzai used his hunting skills as an excuse to lure him to this village, and then used very harsh words to evaluate Li Zhi and Feng Chan. Li Zhi could not accept this kind of advice.
It's against the emperor's taboo!
"Li Qinzai, did you invite me here today to set up a trap?" Li Zhi asked with a livid face.
Li Qinzai sighed and said: "How dare I lay plans for the emperor? I just feel that hearing is worse than seeing. I want your majesty to see these abandoned farmlands with your own eyes and see the villages where only the elderly, women and children are left..."
"Look at what is obviously a prosperous year, but the common people of Li have to face the dilemma of survival again because His Majesty wants to enshrine Mount Tai."
"If Your Majesty feels that all my hard work is just a plot, I have nothing to say and I am willing to accept the blame."
Li Zhi stared at him with cold eyes and said: "Are you opposed to my Feng Chan Taishan?"
Li Qinzai lowered his head and said, "Yes, I object."
"Why?" Li Zhi's tone became increasingly gloomy.
Li Qinzai smiled calmly and pointed to the barren farmland not far away.
Li Zhi said coldly: "Because it delayed the spring sowing?"
"Not only that, Your Majesty, there have been frequent natural disasters in the Tang Dynasty in recent years. Food harvests have been poor year after year. The national treasury has been overdrawn. Coupled with several wars, the survival of the people has become increasingly difficult..."
"I also heard that the three provinces have received His Majesty's instructions and plan to discuss increasing taxes at the Shuo Wang Dynasty meeting in three days' time?"
Li Qinzai bravely looked directly into Li Jiafa's gloomy eyes and said slowly: "Your Majesty, I have no qualms with you whether in public or private matters. I just can't see your majesty hurting the foundation of the Tang Dynasty step by step and losing the country."
The public sentiment of the Tang Dynasty."
"Perhaps your Majesty's meritorious service qualifies you to be granted Zen status, but this year and next are not suitable. I ask Your Majesty to take pity on the common people and postpone the issue of Zen status for a few years. When the state treasury and the people have regained some vitality, I will definitely be the first to stand up and support His Majesty's status.
Mount Tai.”
After saying this, Li Qinzai bowed to Li Zhi and did not get up for a long time.
Li Zhi stared at his face and said in a cold tone: "Li Qinzai, you have indeed made a lot of contributions to the Tang Dynasty, but you are becoming more and more presumptuous now. Do the heroes have the right to be proud of their merits?"
Li Qinzai's heart sank and he said, "I don't dare. I'm just admonishing Your Majesty. I don't have any arrogance."
Li Zhi stared at him silently.
The harmonious relationship between emperor and ministers that had been harmonious for several years now plummeted and became extremely cold.
Li Qinzai was still bowing, but there was no trace of regret on his face.
He did everything he needed to say and do.
If he did not dare to speak out to stop Li Zhi's foolish decision because of the harmonious relationship between the emperor and his ministers, Li Qinzai would truly regret it, and this regret may stay with him throughout his life.
The tense atmosphere lasted for a long time, and neither the monarch nor the minister spoke.
After an hour of silence, Li Zhi finally raised his voice and shouted: "Come, please drive back to Chang'an!"
After speaking, Li Zhi gave Li Qinzai a cold look, turned around, mounted his horse and left.
At this time, Li Qinzai slowly straightened up, looked at the retreating figures of Li Zhi and the Yulin guards, and sighed sadly.
If you have no regrets, then so be it.
If Li Zhi still insisted on his wish to be enshrined in Zen, then Li Qinzai would not mind the growing estrangement between the monarch and his ministers. From now on, he would be a wealthy man enjoying peace in Ganjing Village. Wouldn't it be in line with his own wishes?
Seeing Li Qinzai standing still for a long time, Liu Asi behind him stepped forward. Although he was a rough martial artist, he also understood the truth, so he said softly: "Fifth Young Master, I don't understand the truth, but I think what you did today
That’s right.”
Li Qinzai smiled: "So, it is Your Majesty who is at fault?"
Liu Asi hesitated for a moment and said: "I don't dare to speak ill of the emperor, but... anyway, the fifth young master is right!"
Not far away, the elder who had been standing there finally moved. He walked up to Li Qinzai and suddenly knelt down on his knees towards Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai was startled, and hurriedly took his arm and helped him up.
"Old man, you can't do this. You are shortening my life."
The old man said with red eyes: "This noble man, although I don't know your surname and official position, I know that you must be a good official."
"In front of the emperor just now, I didn't dare to tell many inside stories for fear of causing trouble for myself and the farmers. I have no idea how the Tang Dynasty is doing or how the country is. But I know that everyone has been living in poverty in the past few years."
"Last year there was a severe drought, and people in the village almost starved to death. Fortunately, those who did not starve to death also borrowed a lot of food debts. This year, there will be a whole year of corvee work, and no one will take care of the land at home. Seeing that there will be another famine after autumn, Your Majesty
Next year when we are enshrined in Mount Tai, people in Zhuangzi may die..."
"Just now, your Majesty asked for your life for us and other useless people. I will remember it in my heart. No matter whether His Majesty will take back your order, at least you are a good person and a good official."
"The old and the old Zhuangzi, the young and the young, the women and the children, all must pay you a big tribute."
The old man wanted to bow down, but Li Qinzai held him tightly and prevented him from kneeling down.
After Li Qinzai's persuasion, the old man had to give up the act of making a big gift.
Turning around and looking at the bright scenery, the lush green forests and wheat fields, Li Qinzai suddenly smiled freely.
The feeling of being treated as a good person... is really good.