Today, it is no exaggeration to call Li Ji the "number one" in the court. He is "below one person and above ten thousand people" in both civil and military circles. He plays a decisive role in the ownership of the throne. , even His Majesty Li Er, who was dictatorial in Qiangang, had to listen to Li Ji's opinions. If the new governor he established could not be approved by Li Ji, His Majesty could only persuade him.
Once Li Ji disagrees with His Majesty's wishes, it will easily cause a huge shock in the court, causing Yi Chu's affairs to become turbulent.
After Cheng Yaojin asked, Li Zhi and Xiao Yu also looked at Zhang Xingcheng.
Zhang Xingcheng said with a bitter look on his face: "To this day, the British Duke has long refused to listen to the instructions of the Shandong family. He has gone his own way and formed his own faction. No one knows what he thinks. The Shandong side is also very dissatisfied with the British Duke, but There is nothing we can do. I am afraid that the British Lord will not reveal his true intentions until the last moment."
Right now, Li Ji has become the biggest variable.
There is no way. Although the Shandong family had contributed to Li Ji's rise to power, the rewards given to the Shandong family were also many. Not to mention that the reason why Zhang Xingcheng was able to reach his current position was promoted by Li Ji. Isn’t it possible that the increasingly large overseas trade of Shandong families is all due to Li Ji’s secret matchmaking with Fang Jun?
Li Ji and Fang Xuanling, who originally belonged to the Shandong family, have gradually begun to separate from the Shandong family in recent years. Their relationship is no longer as close as before. On the contrary, the two families are getting closer and closer, and their interests are deeply entangled...
However, both Li Ji, who was the number one man in the dynasty, and Fang Jun, who had gained control of the naval power, were constantly distant and distant from the Shandong family. This made the Shandong family extremely annoyed, but there was nothing they could do about it.
After all, the Shandong Aristocratic Family not only needs Li Ji to stand up for other families in the court and recommend their children, but also needs the huge profits brought by sea trade to maintain their luxurious and extravagant life. More and more dependence on the Shandong Aristocratic Family How can you be tough in front of Li Ji and the Fang family?
Not only could they not give orders to them, but they had to look up to them and not dare to offend them. This was the reason why the Shandong family desperately vowed to enter the court and lay the foundation for this.
After all, it is better to rely on yourself than to rely on others...
Li Zhi had a headache: "But the British public position is really important and must be tested, otherwise we will be too passive."
Whether or not Li Ji's support is available is crucial for any prince who is interested in the throne. Only based on this can a detailed plan for the throne be formulated.
If Li Ji's support can be won, the hope for a reserve position will greatly increase.
Xiao Yu looked at Zhang Xingcheng, who quickly shook his head: "The British Duke has a high status and outstanding achievements. How can I convince you? If I come to the door now, I am afraid I won't even be able to get in. This matter needs to be done by Song Guogong yourself. OK."
Xiao Yu frowned and was also very distressed.
Li Jiping has never been involved in the struggle for power in the court. Although he is the head of the prime minister, he always does not do anything. This makes his majesty dissatisfied and thinks that he is not responsible. However, Li Ji still goes his own way, which shows how stubborn his character is. If It's okay that he originally intended to support the King of Jin. If he didn't have this intention, who could convince him?
After thinking about it, he said helplessly: "Tomorrow I will go see Shen Guogong and see what his position is. If he is willing to stand on His Highness's side, it will have more influence on Li Ji."
The "Bohai Gao family" is a descendant of the Northern Qi royal family. Even though the Northern Qi Dynasty was destroyed for many years, it still has great influence among the two major families in Guanlong and Shandong. Moreover, Gao Shilian, the Duke of Shen, was a great benefactor to Li Ji, and the two have been in close contact over the years. .
Li Zhi nodded: "This matter has troubled the Duke of Song Dynasty. Please inform the Duke of England. Once it is completed, the respect will be doubled in the future and the status will remain the same. I will not be incompetent."
As for relationships, you can definitely find them if you look for them, but the decisive factor is interests.
If there are not enough benefits, why should Li Ji stand on your side?
Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.
Although the words "double the respect, the status remains the same" means that Li Ji's status will still be above him in the future, it is inevitable that he will feel a little uncomfortable, but it is not unacceptable. In the end, with Li Ji's current status, his power is far greater than that of Li Ji. Above him, the contribution that he could make to the Jin King's fight for the crown prince was not comparable to him, so the benefits that Li Ji would gain after the event was completed would naturally be far greater than him.
That's fair.
Just because you have the ability to "persuade" doesn't mean you can convince everyone, right?
In the final analysis, whether competing for reserves now or repaying merit in the future, strength means everything...
Xiao Yu remembered something again and reminded: "Your Highness, please don't forget that you have previously requested Fang Jun to attack the Japanese country in preparation for Your Highness to go to sea to establish the country... In case the Japanese country is destroyed at this time, the navy will report to you whether your majesty will allow you to go there. The Japanese islands?”
When Li Zhi heard this, he immediately frowned and regretted it.
He thought he was taking a step back to advance, but in fact it was full of flaws. Not only did it make it difficult for him to ride a tiger, but he even completely messed up the current situation of competing for reserves, leaving him deeply passive.
You can't just go back on your word and regret it when things get bad, right?
I'm afraid that my father will think that I am speculative and have no responsibility, and I am no better than Qingque who sleeps in the open and devotes himself to education...
But if he doesn't regret it, if the navy destroys the Japanese country, will he really go to that barbarian land to establish a country and a vassal state?
Cheng Yaojin solemnly said: "The navy is powerful and invincible within the seven seas. The Japanese country has been in the palm of the navy for a long time. If you want to destroy its country, it will be effortless. Maybe there will be good news soon. Your Highness should be early Make plans."
With tens of thousands of troops equipped to the teeth, hundreds of thousands of new ships, and powerful firearms, the navy's combat power is second to none even among the Sixteenth Guards, not to mention those overseas countries with barren land and poor population. A rare foreign country?
Then you can really destroy whoever you want...
Moreover, now that everyone in the East Palace is afraid that the world will not be in chaos, Fang Jun will definitely order Su Dingfang to speed up the pace of destroying the Japanese country. I am afraid that it will not be long before the entire Japanese country is invaded.
However, this matter is entirely within Fang Jun's control and cannot be controlled by them. They can only hope that His Majesty will issue the abolition edict as soon as possible and establish a new emperor in order to get rid of this crisis. But on the other hand, who can be sure that His Majesty will "abolish the edict" and establish a new emperor as soon as possible. "The eldest son establishes the young", first depose the eldest son, then abandon the second son, and instead make the youngest legitimate son, King Jin, the crown prince?
Li Zhi was worried about gain and loss in his heart, but he was not a person who couldn't make a decision. He thought about it a little, gritted his teeth and said: "You can't do this by force, just obey your father's will. If the news of the destruction of the Japanese country comes before your father makes a decision, and your father If you also want me to go, then I will pack my bags, go to sea and build my country, and never return to Chang'an City for the rest of my life! On the contrary, if my father intends to appoint me as his heir, then I will be blessed by God, and I will achieve great things together with you."
Xiao Yu, Cheng Yaojin, and Zhang Xingcheng looked at each other, then nodded together.
Right now, the reason for siding with King Jin to seek the position of crown prince is to grab more benefits in the future. But if His Majesty has never thought about letting King Jin inherit the throne as the prince, who would be willing to follow King Jin all the way to confront His Majesty?
?
Doing something you know is impossible is a lunatic.
Those who know how to advance and retreat, and know how to choose, are the true heroes...
After the discussion was completed, Cheng Yaojin stood up first: "It's getting late. Let's go back to the city quickly and act together tomorrow to avoid being noticed by the 'Baiqisi' gang of bastards and causing trouble."
Li Zhi nodded and said: "That's exactly what it should be!"
He stood up and bowed his head to the ground, with a sincere tone and an emotional expression: "My king's affairs depend entirely on your management. If he succeeds, I will definitely be worthy of my responsibility!"
Xiao Yu and Zhang Xingcheng hurriedly returned the gift. The former said: "Your Highness is intelligent and beautiful, with clear virtues and benevolence. His bare breasts are like touching scales, and his edicts are no different from those of fans. He has shown signs of a wise master since he was a child. I and others can be attached to Ji."
At the end of the day, it is truly a blessing to help His Highness create a great cause!"
Zhang Xingcheng also said: "I am loyal to His Highness and willing to serve to the death!"
Li Zhi lifted Xiao Yu up with both hands, and then took Zhang Xingcheng's hand. He was moved with emotion and his eyes were red: "How can I be assisted by all the wise ministers? I swear here today that I will live and die with you!"
Cheng Yaojin urged: "We have been out of the city for a long time, and we may have been targeted by the 'Baiqisi'. If we are hit by it, it will be really troublesome to turn back and report to Your Majesty. Without further delay, let's disperse quickly."
Li Zhi reluctantly let go of Zhang Xingcheng's hand, and gently told Xiao Yu to take care of his body and not to catch the cold...
*****
Compared with Li Zhi, Li Tai became more and more angry.
There was no news about Li Xiaogong before he returned to the city. It can be seen that his father must have given him a heavy responsibility in recalling him this time. I am afraid it is not just as simple as suppressing the clan.
After all, this is the most famous generation of generals in the clan besides His Majesty. The former generals and generals are now all over the armies of the Sixteenth Guards, and countless people still follow the orders.
The rain fell outside the window and the night breeze was cool. Li Tai looked at the empty study and said to the princess Yan beside him: "In this matter, there must be a juxtaposition of civil and military forces around Pheasant Slave. There are a lot of talents and countless people who make suggestions. But here I have the Qing Dynasty.
I am cold and cold, and I don’t even have anyone close to me. It seems that I am not destined to be the crown prince, so I should give up my ambition."
His words were dejected and dejected.
It's not that he has no confidants, but the matter happened in a hurry, and those confidants haven't had time to arrive to discuss it. Moreover, the rank and position of those confidants are far inferior to those of Hedgehog's staff gathered around Pheasant Nu, which inevitably puts him in many dangers.
Discouraged.
Everyone can see that his father Yi Chu is around the corner, but if he can't come up with a decent idea at such a critical juncture, isn't he missing a good opportunity and seeing his throne fall by the wayside?
Yan held the pot and poured tea, with a faint smile on her pretty face. She didn't feel any irritation at all, and her crisp tone was calm and peaceful: "Your Highness is still such an impatient temper. He should change it. What kind of person is your father? Your Highness."
How could it not be clear? If the emperor values who among the princes is the most powerful, then why should he depose the prince? After the Guanlong Rebellion, everyone knows that the subordinates of the East Palace are powerful."
Li Tai thought about it while holding the tea cup, and felt it made sense, and asked: "Then what do you think my father values most?"
Yan laughed and said, "It's nothing more than the words 'filial piety' and 'ti'."