Heavy rain poured down, and the entire Tai Chi Palace was rolling and noisy like a pot of boiling water. Even though the guards and soldiers of the Hundred Cavalry Division were yelling and suppressing, it was of no avail. Outside the palace gate, the sixth rate of the East Palace and the right Houwei were in a fierce battle, and the sound of drums and horns was heard.
It has already passed through the wind and rain and entered the palace, and the battle to seize the heir has already broken out. One's own life and death are as insignificant as ants. They are easily wiped out with no bones left. Who can remain indifferent?
The change of imperial power is often accompanied by bloody massacres. It seems that those who have been born in the palace know too many royal secrets and often become the first targets to be eliminated...
In the Liangyi Hall, the officials suppressed the fear and fear caused by the war in their hearts. Li Yuanjia, the minister of Zongzheng, and Li Huaiyan, the minister of rites, confirmed the etiquette regulations for the "big burial" to ensure that there would be no mistakes in every step and process.
, but also to discuss the process after the prince reads out the memorial in public and accepts the worship of hundreds of officials.
Such an important matter should have been discussed by Zong Zhengqing and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites together, but Fang Jun had been dismissed as the Minister of the Ministry of War. After Guo seized the power of the Youtun Guards and appointed the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, he refused to accept it. He never came to the Rites Yamen to take up the post. Later, he reluctantly accepted it.
He has never participated in the affairs of the Ministry of Rites. All ministry affairs are presided over by Li Huaiyan, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites...
Being able to handle ministry affairs as Zuo Shilang is almost equivalent to being recognized as the candidate for the next minister. Li Huaiyan is naturally secretly happy, so he always works seriously and has a lot of respect for Fang Jun, an empty minister, even if Fang Jun does not interfere with the ministry.
Wu Dan also often came to ask for advice, and he was very respectful.
But today, as one of the hosts of the "big funeral", Li Huaiyan felt like he was sitting on pins and needles and was sweating profusely when he was showing off his status.
He presides over the "big funeral" and assists the prince in reading out the memorial. If the king of Jin finally enters the palace and seizes the throne, will he be regarded as a member of the prince's gang and be cut off?
The conscience of heaven and earth, their lineage comes from the Li family of Longxi, and they have the same ancestry as the Li and Tang royal families, but they will never participate in the internal affairs of the royal family. Whether the prince or the king of Jin, it is the same to him no matter who becomes the emperor, and he will never take sides.
principle...
Wiping away his sweat, Li Huaiyan made a look of sincerity and said to Li Yuanjia in a low voice: "The lower official is only the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and the second assistant of the Minister of Rites. How can he be qualified to preside over the 'big funeral'? It is better to send the Duke of Yue to the funeral."
Please come and take charge of the overall situation together with Your Highness, this is the only way to be safe."
The opportunities that we looked forward to in the past are now very likely to become a rope that chases our lives. We should retreat and push our heads hard...
Li Yuanjia was rummaging through the classics related to the "Great Burial", reading them word for word, holding a pen in his other hand to excerpt the important points one by one to avoid omissions. Hearing this, he stopped writing and raised his head, glanced at Li Huaiyan, and said calmly: "Why?
Officials eat the salary of the emperor, and it is their duty to be loyal to the emperor. The more difficult the situation is, the more they must stand up. If you cherish your own body and shrink from moving forward in the face of difficulties, why not simply resign and return to your hometown to live under the forest and spring.
How can you be at ease with your grandson?"
Li Huaiyan's face turned red and he quickly complimented him.
Although His Royal Highness the King of Han's prestige within the clan is not as high as that of the Prince of Hejian and Jiangxia, in terms of bloodline, he is indeed the biological son of Emperor Gaozu. Regardless of whether the crown prince or the King of Jin finally ascends the throne, he must be revered as "uncle". Moreover,
Although Fang Jun may be disgraced along with the prince, Fang Xuanling has always been in Jiangnan and stayed out of the matter. As long as Fang Xuanling does not die, who dares to touch his beloved son-in-law?
In comparison, I, a descendant of the Li family in Longxi, are nothing...
Li Yuanjia was dealing with Li Huaiyan, holding the scroll in his hand, but looking at the side hall from time to time. Just now, Ma Zhou came to visit Li Ji. The two were having a secret conversation here. Everyone could guess Ma Zhou's intention of coming. Everyone knows that Li Ji's stance can determine the outcome of this battle to seize the heir, so whether Li Ji can accept Ma Zhou's lobbying in the end affects everyone's minds.
…
The rain was gurgling outside the window, and a carved lacquer table was placed on the floor by the window. The charcoal fire in the small red clay stove was burning brightly, and the silver kettle was steaming. Li Ji raised his hand to stop Ma Zhou, and his parents mentioned The kettle pours boiling water into the teapot, and the aroma of tea is immediately released, refreshing the heart and mind.
After pouring tea into the two teacups on the table, Ma Zhoucheng pushed one of the teacups to the opposite side. Ma Zhoucheng took it with both hands in fear, but he himself picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips, taking a sip.
Putting down the tea cup, he reached out and picked up a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake from a plate on the table, put it into his mouth and chewed it. He raised his hand to signal Ma Zhou to take it by himself without any formalities.
This world-famous commander who was born in the army and fought all the way to the top of the Prime Minister's office has no trace of the spirit of iron-blooded killing in his body. He is calm, elegant and informal, and his graceful style is heart-breaking...
Ma Zhou put down his tea cup, did not eat the cake, and said straight to the point: "The King of Jin is in rebellion. The rebels have entered the city and are fighting fiercely with the Sixth Army of the East Palace outside the Chengtian Gate. The country and the country are in danger. The British Duke is the leader of the Prime Minister. The military leader, His Royal Highness, hopes you will We can order the Sixteenth General to stay where he is and not leave without authorization. I wonder what the British will do?"
Li Ji avoided answering, pointed to the cakes on the plate, and said calmly: "Since Fang Er got the true taste of tea from nowhere, tea has become popular all over the world and is more popular than before. But although the tea is good, It is not advisable to drink it on an empty stomach. It should be accompanied by tea to avoid stomach trauma and nausea and acid reflux. This tea is carefully made by the master chef of the imperial kitchen. You may wish to try it."
Naturally, for such a person, at this time, not a single word would be nonsense. Ma Zhou understood this, so he sat upright, with a very standard kneeling posture, and a serious face, and asked: "The British Lord does not need to use such specious remarks. If you are trying to prevaricate me, please let me know clearly whether you are following His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's order. I will go back and get my order back soon."
Talking around in circles is not your style, Li Ji. Please give me a quick word of caution. Don’t continue to hide your head and show your tail like this. It’s specious but not true...
Li Ji smiled bitterly and said: "You are really boring... In this case, I will give you a happy reply and reply to Your Highness. I will not order the General of the Sixteenth Guards what to do."
Although Ma Zhou shouted to Li Ji to have a good time, Li Ji was so happy that it was beyond his expectation...
He raised his thick eyebrows and asked curiously: "May I ask why?"
Li Ji, who was usually serious about his speech, seemed to be in a lively conversation today. He drank tea and asked: "Prince Bin is a leader among the younger generation. Let me ask you, how do you view the current struggle for imperial power? Do you think that if the king of Jin had stayed on his own and not raised his troops? If something goes wrong, everything will go as usual and the world will be at peace?"
Ma Zhouyi was stunned, thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "I'm afraid that's not the case. To be fair, neither the prince nor the king of Jin is alone. There are too many people around them who rely on them to gain benefits, and the power of the two can be to some extent. It is said that it comes from these dependent people around me... When a person is in court, he cannot help himself, and when an arrow is on the string, how can he not fire it?"
“Great insights!”
Li Ji sighed in admiration, and then said slowly: "In my opinion, the dispute over the throne and imperial power is just a boil. The source of the poison has been planted since the day when the late emperor wanted to depose the prince and establish a new prince. It has been deeply rooted in the flesh for several years. It cannot be removed, and it will burst out sooner or later. Instead of suppressing it forcefully and then bursting out causing huge winds and waves at an unknown time, it is better to endure the temporary pain and let the abscess burst out now, and then scrape the bones to cure the poison and eradicate it completely."
Ma Zhou was dumbfounded. Although you, the British Duke, have great achievements and great power, you actually compared the battle to seize the progeny to a boil and have no respect for the imperial power...
He thought he had heard wrong, so he hesitated and asked, "Did the British Duke refer to the prince and the king of Jin?"
Li Jijian raised his eyebrows: "Essentially, what's the difference?"
Ma Zhou was speechless. There is indeed no difference in essence, but as human ministers, shouldn’t we be in awe in our hearts?
Li Ji drank tea, but he only said half of what he said. There are still some fair and honest officials in the court, and there are still men in the army who dare to fight to the death. What does it matter who becomes the emperor?
Ma Zhou naturally understood Li Ji's unfinished words.
When the prince ascends the throne, trouble will inevitably arise if the King of Jin is unwilling to do so; if the King of Jin goes against it, how can the prince be willing to sit back and wait for death? Therefore, both parties are the source of disaster that threatens the stability of the country and the country, and they are essentially the same.
Only by letting both sides do their best to have a hearty fight, wait until the winner is decided, and then choose the best to assist and calmly clean up the mess, then the opposition forces in the empire will disappear, and at least decades of gains will be achieved. The peace and stability. The political power is stable, the government is clear and clear, the Zhenguan era will naturally continue, and the prosperity of the world will be better than before.
This makes sense at least theoretically. Of course, it is unclear whether Li Ji's heart was so pure and unmixed with other purposes...
Ma Zhou was silent for a while and sighed: "But if this happens, your reputation and future will be ruined..."
Sitting on a mountain and watching a tiger fight, how would the tiger that won in the end treat Li Ji who stood by and watched? No matter how important the country, the country, and the country were, in the eyes of the emperor himself, it was not as important as his own life.
Li Ji smiled proudly: "Since I entered the court, I have not been greedy for power, nor have I taken power. I have been clean and self-sufficient, and have been self-denial and devoted to the public. When have I ever cared about my own future? This position of Prime Minister and Assistant was also forced upon me by the late Emperor, and I couldn't refuse it just now. I have to do it reluctantly. There are no outstanding children in my family, but they are in a high position because of me. This will not only prevent a long line of blood, but also cause trouble. It makes me so worried that I can't sleep at night. I might as well be a The rich man came to live happily and carefree. Is it possible that when someone becomes the emperor, he can chop off my head? Fame and wealth are just a fleeting thing to me, and I have never cared about it. Naturally, I have a pure mind and can serve the public wholeheartedly."
His power and title have reached their peak. Even if he performs another meritorious service, there will be no reward or title, so why should he specialize in this meritorious service?
As for the current rumors that the King of Jin will reward meritorious officials after he ascends the throne, the feudal world... His family's children and grandchildren are unworthy, and high-ranking officials are generously paid. This is already a cause of disaster. If in a feudal land, hereditary neglect, he becomes a true local emperor. , wouldn’t it further breed ambition?
Maybe one day they might even start a rebellion, causing disaster to the whole family...