Yuchi Gong was uneasy: "What if your estimate is wrong and Li Ji is too ambitious?"
Yu Wenshiji glared in displeasure: "Now that the matter has come to this, what can I do?"
What is "wolf ambition"? If Li Ji's attack on Chang'an in an attempt to depose the crown prince was "wolf ambition", wouldn't it be even more excessive than "wolf ambition" when the Guanlong clan raised an army and beat Chang'an to a pulp?
Yu Chigong was speechless. His words didn't sound good, but wasn't that the truth? Saying "wolf ambition" is an advantage for you. You are simply "rebellious ministers and traitors"...
However, as Yu Wenshiji said, at this moment, You Houwei is in desperate situation, with no way to the sky and no way to the earth. Apart from relying on Li Ji's bluff and having other plans, what else can be done?
*****
Cheng Yaojin was undecided, Yuchi Gong was at a loss, Li Ji was unclear about his intentions, and the East Palace was at war with each other... But in the Dayun Temple, all the distinguished officials from Guan Long were celebrating with each other, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
In the jingshe on the back hill of the temple, Changsun Wuji and Linghu Defen sat opposite each other, with sandalwood curling from the bronze beast stove in the corner, and clear tea on the table.
Dugu Lan took a sip of tea, exhaled a long breath, and said with a frightened look on his face: "That day, the Sixth Army of the East Palace conducted a large-scale search for the Guanlong disciples. I almost couldn't sleep all night, and I was so frightened that I was afraid that the Guanlong lineage would be in our hands. Cut off the bloodline and continue the incense. If we really get to that point, how can we have the face to see our ancestors under the Nine Springs in a hundred years? I am afraid that when I die, I can only cover my face with hair, and even dare not enter the ancestral graves. ."
The other two people nodded together, with lingering fears.
For clan members, nothing is more important than the inheritance of blood. The family's rich heritage and rich collection of books are enough to ensure that their children are at a higher level than ordinary poor families. Even if they suffer heavy losses and their wealth is gone, they are no longer needed. Three generations are still rising. As long as one outstanding talent appears within three generations, they can easily regain the glory of their ancestors and shine on the lintel.
But if the bloodline is cut off, then everything will come to an end...
Anyone who causes the family bloodline to be cut off will naturally be the eternal sinner of the family.
Changsun Wuji hammered his injured leg, which was still aching, and said with emotion: "There is no end to the road. It's probably because those old guys in Shandong have stayed at home for so long that even their minds are filled with ignorance and decadence. Otherwise, why would they be like this?" Are you rushing to seize power in such a hurry, not even caring about the emperor, so that you give us a chance to breathe? "
Linghu Defen laughed loudly, raised his tea cup and said, "Let us use tea instead of wine and give a toast to everyone in Shandong!"
Changsun Wuji shook his head and laughed. He raised his glass with Dugulan and took a sip of tea.
Who would have thought that the Shandong family would be so eager for quick success when they had all the advantages? The death of Cui Yuqing, the minister of punishment, seemed to be a trap for Guanlong, but in fact, who couldn't see the bitter plan of the Shandong family? Probably only the Shandong family was self-righteous and happily sacrificed He killed a younger member of the clan and put the blame on Guan Long...
The Guanlong Clan was indeed criticized for this, but this move obviously aroused the prince's strong fear. From then on, he began to prepare a way out, let the Guanlong Clan go and win over them, hoping to use the remaining power of the Guanlong Clan to resist Shandong and Jiangnan. The powerful local clans entered the court - no one is willing to be a puppet emperor who is ignored by his ministers, let alone Li Chengqian, who turned defeat into victory in a desperate situation, was ambitious and claimed that he was destined to be his destiny?
In short, it was the rebelliousness and greed displayed by the Shandong family that gave the Guanlong clan a glimmer of hope and escaped the disaster.
For Changsun Wuji, as the leader of Guanlong, he could be forgiven by the prince and return to the court, which was just around the corner.
Who could have imagined in advance that the Guanlong clan, which almost destroyed the East Palace in an uprising, could actually survive after being defeated by the East Palace's reliance?
It’s really amazing how things change in the world.
At this time, the servant knocked on the door from outside and handed a letter to Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji took the letter, opened the envelope, took out the letter paper and read the ten lines. His face became serious, and he handed the letter paper to Linghu Defen, and Dugu Lan passed it around to the two of them...
On the letter, of course, was the news that Li Ji had commanded the army to cross the Ba River and assemble on the east bank.
The sudden report of the battle caused silence in the monastery.
Linghu Defen waved the servant away, frowning his snow-white eyebrows tightly, and asked in confusion: "What did Li Ji think? The prince ignored the opposition of the government and the public, and even went against the interests of the Shandong and Jiangnan clans. He also wanted to go out of the city to greet him respectfully. "Holy Master" clearly gave Li Ji a step down. All he had to do was hand over His Majesty's body. After the state funeral, the Crown Prince successfully ascended the throne. The general trend of the world was determined once and for all, and Li Ji would not be held accountable for his various rebellious behaviors since the withdrawal of troops from the Eastern Expedition. This Li Ji is so clueless, could it be that he wants to continue our unfinished business?"
The so-called "unfinished business" in his mouth is naturally to overthrow the East Palace and depose the prince...
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the other two people immediately changed.
When the Guanlong clan clans raised their troops, it looked like a mighty force with many generals, but in fact there were not many elite troops. The main body was still the private armies of the clan clans that had lasted for more than a hundred years. They ran rampant in the countryside and boosted the lintel of the clan. It was okay, but the real Confrontation on the battlefield, battle array attack, but it is much more ineffective.
Therefore, against hundreds of battle elites, the unparalleled Youtunwei, and the famous commander-in-chief, Donggong Liuliu, who had high morale, they finally fell short and were completely defeated.
But Li Ji was different.
Even if not all of the hundreds of thousands of Eastern Expedition troops under his command could obey his orders, just relying on the prestige of being the first in the army, countless elite troops would swear allegiance. At this moment, Youtunwei, the Sixth Army of the East Palace had just experienced the battle. In the great battle between Guanlong and Guanlong, the men and horses were exhausted and the army was downsized. Once Li Ji commanded his troops to march straight into Chang'an, it would be difficult to resist...
Dugu Lan's face turned pale, his lips trembled twice, and he said harshly: "Then everything will stop!"
For Guan Long at the moment, the best situation is naturally to be stable. After the prince successfully ascends the throne, he will assist him and recuperate for the future. There will always be outstanding children to revive the family. But if Li Ji also decides to depose the prince, establish another If the prince's ambition is to succeed in one fell swoop, the Guanlong clan will once again be in dire straits.
Except for the East Palace, no other force wants Guan Long to continue to exist...
Therefore, not only did Dong Gong hate Dong Gong Guan Long to the core but had to support and rely on him, Guan Long also wanted to overthrow Dong Gong a few days ago, but now he hopes that Dong Gong will be as stable as Mount Tai and that the crown prince will successfully ascend the throne?
People are not saints, and they naturally have greed, anger, and delusion. However, if the interests are present, everything is vain...
When Changsun Wuji saw both of them looking at him, he took a sip of tea and muttered: "Since the withdrawal of troops from Liaodong, all Li Ji's actions have been unimaginable. They are very different from his previous acting style. It is as if he has changed his mind. It's hard to predict. At first, everyone thought that he would quickly return to Chang'an to quell the mutiny initiated by us, thus turning the tide and stabilizing his position as the number one person in the DPRK. However, he dragged his feet on the march and turned a blind eye to the chaos in Guanzhong. He turned a deaf ear to the life and death of the prince, and allowed the East Palace to collapse and almost be destroyed under our offensive, and remained indifferent. Later, the East Palace reversed and won, and everyone should quickly return to Chang'an to show their loyalty. No matter what kind of thoughts they had hidden before, they were already in the East Palace. They all swore allegiance once the situation was stabilized...but Li Ji refused."
Linghu Defen and Dugulan were silent, and they couldn't figure out what Li Ji did.
In fact, it's not just them. Almost everyone in the government and the public is confused about Li Ji's behavior, thinking that he has committed evil spirits and is possessed by ghosts...
Changsun Wuji's mind was spinning, he subconsciously caressed his injured leg, and continued: "So now when I think Li Ji will send troops to attack Chang'an, who knows if he will do something unexpected again? I always feel that Li Ji's various actions , it doesn’t seem to come from his heart, it’s more like being coerced..."
Linghu Defen said: "Perhaps there really is a 'legendary edict'? Li Ji just acted in accordance with the 'legendary edict', and the 'legendary edict' contained the imperial order that His Majesty wanted to change the throne."
This makes sense. Although Li Ji's various behaviors were strange, they had one core purpose - to sit back and watch the prince's fall without paying any attention to it.
His Majesty Li Er's desire for Yi Chu was well known in the government and the public. However, in the past few years, the prince's performance was not bad, and with the support of Fang Jun and other powerful officials, His Majesty had to put it aside for the time being. However, he was still thinking about Yi when he was dying. It is not impossible to leave a "posthumous edict" to order close ministers to act according to the order...
"Posthumous edict? Ha!"
Changsun Wuji snorted coldly. The poison he prepared did not require blood and could seal the throat. In just a few breaths, the whole body was paralyzed, the functions of the organs stopped, the breathing stopped, the hands could not move, the mouth could not speak, and it took half a cup of tea. He would be killed. How could he find the time to leave a legacy?
Nowadays, everyone inside and outside the court speculates that Li Ji acted in accordance with the "edict" and therefore sat back and watched the prince's defeat. Only Changsun Wuji always laughed at it.
But these details can only be brought into the coffin by oneself, and there is no need to reveal them in front of others...
He said categorically: "There can be no imperial edict. This world was brought down by His Majesty. Since Zhenguan, he has been working hard and caring for the people. How can he ignore the empire, the country, and the people of the world just for the sake of easy storage in his heart?" ?That’s not His Majesty’s style.”
No one understands His Majesty Li Er better than him. Even if he had time to leave a posthumous edict, His Majesty Li Er would never give orders to Yi Chu.
If His Majesty Li Er is here, he may be able to put Yi Chu on the agenda in the future. Although it is a matter that shakes the foundation of the country, as long as he is here, everything will be fine; but if His Majesty Li Er dies but still leaves behind the edict of Yi Chu, then It will plunge the world into turmoil, with forces from all sides constantly fighting for power and interests, and the great empire of Nuo will fall into decline, with nearly twenty years of hard work in vain.
With His Majesty Li Er's wisdom, he would definitely not do such a stupid thing.
Linghu Defen always thought that he was outstandingly intelligent and talented, but now after listening to Changsun Wuji's analysis, instead of seeing the light of day, he became more confused and puzzled.
"Then what are the reasons for Li Ji's various behaviors?"
You can't really be obsessed with ghosts, can you?