Li Linfu was sitting alone behind the desk, twirling his beard on his chin, his eyes shining brightly, staring at the memorial letter discussing the method of salt, feeling as sick as if he was stained with dog excrement.
He knew very well that as long as the court was unwilling to take corvee lightly and allow the people to rest and recuperate, any tax laws would eventually become a means to help the saints exploit the people.
In fact, he is not afraid of those people who claim to be honest, such as Zhang Jiuling, Pei Yaoqing, Li Shizhi... These people are gentlemen, and gentlemen can be bullied, and he has eliminated too many of them.
However, the evil method proposed by Yang Zheng posed a great threat to him.
"Xue Bai's real purpose is to encourage Yang Sui to fight for power."
The murderous aura towards Xue Bai resurfaced in his heart, lingering in and out of sight. Li Linfu personally took up the pen and listed in the memorial the ways in which the Salt Law harmed the country and the people.
At this moment, he became an eternal loyal minister who cared about the common people and worried about the people at the bottom.
The world only knows that he is a traitor, but they don't know that under the appearance of exorbitant taxes and jealousy of talents, he is actually a wise prime minister who only wants to collect taxes for the Tang treasury. If others also want to collect taxes for the Tang Dynasty, they will harm the people and destroy them. Of the Tang Dynasty.
suddenly.
A female envoy hurried over and handed a message to Li Linfu.
He looked at it, and his frown deepened.
"Recruit Ji Wen."
"Here."
After a long time, Ji Wen didn't arrive, but Pei Mian came first to see him.
Li Linfu's conversation with Pei Mian was very simple and he only asked one sentence.
"Have you heard everything? What do you think of this matter?"
"Report to the right minister, the lower official has heard about it." Pei Mian said: "No matter who did this, the lower official thought that Ji Wen was too much of a mistake. Without him, the lower official would have been better off making secret visits."
"Keep checking."
"Here."
Afterwards, Ji Wen's somewhat hasty voice came from the other side of the screen.
"Ji Wen has seen your prime minister, and he is in good health..."
"You have what it takes." Li Linfu put down his pen and said, "I want you to find out the truth, and you can kill him directly."
"What an injustice! Please believe me, I never killed him!"
Ji Wen quickly prostrated himself and shouted: "Right Minister, you know me well. Over the years, whenever I kill people, I have always been imprisoned, tortured, killed with a stick, and sent to the police to kill after being exiled. How have I ever sent an assassin?" ?!"
Li Linfu was silent.
Ji Wen knelt forward, kowtowed, and cried: "Since the right prime minister presided over the revision of the "Kaiyuan New Style", I have always abided by the laws of the Tang Dynasty and acted in accordance with the law. I have never thought of using force to break the ban. What's more, Where can I find such a dead warrior?"
Li Linfu believed these words.
Since he became prime minister, he has killed countless people, but whether it is the Xue Xi family who was forced to kill in Lantianyi, Wei Jian who was forced to kill after being exiled, Huangfu Weiming, or the countless innocent souls who died in Gongmen... there has never been any He sent an assassin to kill a man.
A dignified country's prime minister does not need to be sneaky and raise dead soldiers like some people.
Even the bodyguards in his palace are all Jinwu Lijing halberds approved by the sage.
"Your right prime minister." Ji Wen said again: "I beg your right prime minister to intercede on my behalf!"
"It's late."
Li Linfu picked up the news on the table and read it, with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"When Mrs. Guo Guo learned the news, she immediately brought the treasure to see the imperial concubine. This time, the truth cannot save you, so you should take the initiative to leave for a few years to wait for the imperial concubine to calm down..."
"Right Prime Minister." Ji Wen cried: "Right Prime Minister, if you don't have someone as loyal and loyal as me by your side..."
"Go down."
Li Linfu has no shortage of a Jingzhao Prefecture magistrate like Ji Wen.
The more urgent matter now is to let the saint understand that there is no need to fight for salt. The prosperous Tang Dynasty can also support the northwest military expenditure and expand the Huaqing Pool.
The candlelight flickered, and it was dusk before I knew it.
"Alang, Da Xi Yingying is asking for an audience... Today, the saint summoned her in Xingqing Palace."
"Has the news from Xingqing Palace arrived?"
"Not yet."
"Bring her in."
~~
Through the screen, you can vaguely see the graceful figure of the beautiful woman.
Li Linfu thought to himself that King Shou also had excellent taste in choosing women...it was a pity that he was just too good.
"I have met the right minister." Da Xi Yingying Wanfu said: "The slave family has something important to report."
She made people feel much better than Ji Wen, and she spoke eloquently.
"The slave family gave up Qingliangzhai and spent money to form a partnership with Fengwei House. Sure enough, they won the trust of Xue Bai and Du Zhai, but Xue Bai still didn't trust me. He asked Yang Yuyao to find out that I was from King Shou, so he gave me
The saint presented the dominoes and shared part of my merits. Today, the saint gave me my birth..."
Having said this, Daxi Yingying also felt great pressure.
She knew that saying this would make Li Linfu doubt her, but she couldn't hide the matter, so she could only take the initiative to tell it before the news of Xingqing Palace came out.
"Are you telling the truth that you have defected to them?"
"The slave family dare not." Da Xi Yingying said quickly: "The slave family dares to leave King Shou, but they will never dare to disobey the right prime minister. After all, how can they compete with you?"
Li Linfu was silent.
Da Xi Yingying lowered her head and said softly: "If you don't believe it, I want to serve you..."
"Cough cough cough."
Li Linfu suddenly coughed.
"Right Chancellor, what's wrong with you?"
"Don't come here."
Da Xi Yingying whispered with concern, and wanted to step forward, but was stopped, so she stood by the screen, holding the knot tied on the belt with both hands, looking charming and charming.
However, she secretly glanced behind the screen and saw four female envoys standing beside Li Linfu, but she didn't know which one was having an affair with Xue Bai.
"Go down."
"yes."
"Go on."
Da Xi Yingying talked about the dominoes and the face saint in detail, and then talked about the little things she learned about playing dominoes with Du Wulang earlier.
"At that time, Du Li had already listened to the cards, but someone wanted to see him. The slave followed him quietly on the pretext of changing his clothes. He only heard a very low voice saying, 'Even if he is dead, as long as the deed is there, the next person to come is Xue Pingzhao.'"
"
"What do you mean?"
"The slave family speculates on this meaning. Xue Bai may not really be Xue Pingzhao. After ten years, who knows whether a child who has become an official slave will survive. But there is definitely a force behind them, and they have cultivated several outstanding young people.
, throw it out, stir up trouble in the name of Xue Xiu's son, and remind the saint of the three common people case back then..."
Li Linfu's eyes became more thoughtful.
He understood what Da Xi Yingying was saying.
The mastermind behind the scenes still made him fearful, but Xue Bai might just be a chess piece, not an orphan with a blood feud to seek revenge.
"Keep checking."
After dismissing Da Xi Yingying, Li Linfu recalled the information he had obtained today and knew that if the imperial concubine was unhappy, then the saint would be unhappy, and even his dignified prime minister had to express his stance to appease Xue Bai.
He then recruited Li Xiu.
"Xue Bai is injured, you go and visit him."
~~
Changshoufang, Xue Zhai.
Because it was once sold out and then bought back, the layout of the main hall of Xue's house is quite strange.
Li Xiu sat there, looking at the bandaged wound on Xue Bai's arm, and said: "My master was furious when he heard about this, and has already asked Ji Wen to be demoted to Fan Yang."
"Thank you, Prime Minister, for standing up for me, but this matter may not have been done by Jifa Cao."
"Don't mention it, you need to recuperate."
After seeing each other again after many days, Li Xiu also felt that he was very alienated from Xue Bai and could not return to the atmosphere of getting along before the Lantern Festival at all.
There was no one else in the hall at this time. He pondered for a moment and said, "Can you and I have a frank talk?"
"good."
"Are you Xue Pingzhao?"
Xue Bai said: "I really don't remember my life experience. What I can guarantee is that as long as the Prime Minister's Office has no ill intentions towards me, I will have no hatred in my heart. I have said this many times, and things are sometimes so simple."
Li Xiu smiled perfunctorily.
Since Xue Bai still refused to be honest, there was no need for him to stay any longer. However, when he stood up, he remembered Seventeenth Mother's earnest confession, so he stopped.
"If you can tell me honestly, maybe... the Right Prime Minister's Mansion can give you another chance to marry the Seventeenth Mother."
"I just said it, honestly. What I said is the truth."
Seeing how stubborn he was, Li Xiu turned around and smiled, and never looked back.
Xue Bai lowered his head and adjusted the bandage on his shoulder, thinking of the woman who called herself "Zong Xiaoxian".
He thought that he might have been able to cheat the marriage just now, but it was not necessary. He would have to make up for his lies every day in front of a narrow-minded person like Li Linfu. The support from the Right Prime Minister's Office was not much, but the backlash in the future was huge.
But I also remember that the little girl said, "You owe me a favor."
If she hadn't reminded him that day, Xue Bai would have been imprisoned in Dali Temple. If he had first confessed some evidence of Dong Gong's crimes, he might have been able to escape. But it is impossible to say how much suffering San Mu would have suffered.
He accepts this debt of gratitude...
"Mr. Lang?"
Xue Bai came back to his senses and saw Qing Lan standing in front of him, his face full of distress and concern.
"Sitting here injured, what are you thinking about?"
Xue Bai smiled and said: "I'm thinking that after getting rid of Youxiang Mansion, we can live better and better in the future."
Qinglan felt a little ashamed when she heard this, and thought to herself, "Mr. Lang said that 'we' want to spend time together."
The two of them walked out of the main hall and looked up. They saw the sky was clear and the sky was clear. Xue Bai couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief.
During the past period, he sometimes felt like an ant scurrying between people's fingers, but he still kept telling himself in his heart that it was a towering tree... Now it can sprout.
This is the spring when all things revive.
~~
February 16th.
This was the day when Ji Wen was demoted and sent out. He was about to go to Fanyang to take charge of the affairs. There was no one in Chang'an City to see him off, only the guards at the city gate gave him a few cold looks.
Looking back at Chang'an, he only felt that he had lost so miserably...
Xue Bai recovered from his injuries and enrolled in the Imperial College to prepare for the imperial examination.
When he presented the dominoes, Yang Yuyao asked him what reward he wanted to ask for from the saint. He thought for a long time and finally did not take the opportunity to ask for an official. Because even if he asked for it, he would only be an official. His ambition is not to be a magic chicken like Jia Chang. Boy, you should definitely owe this reward to save your life if something happens in the future.
Yang Wei has recently been trying to persuade the brave saint to discuss salt. He could have Xue Bai work under the curtain and then recommend him as an official. If this method fails, the official reputation will not be good at the beginning, so it is okay to leave.
Xue Bai is prepared for everything, and hopes to take the right path to become an official. It may seem troublesome at first, but it will be much easier in the future.
If you can pass the annual examination of the Imperial College this fall, you will be eligible to take the imperial examination next year. During this period, you should make up for your deficiencies in talent, calligraphy, reputation, etc.
…
The Imperial College is located to the west of Wubenfang, opposite Anshang City of the Imperial City. It occupies half a square, with a width of 350 steps from north to south and a length of 450 steps from east to west.
Now that the spring of the sixth year of Tianbao is approaching, many tribute students from various states and counties have arrived and settled in Wubenfang. On the long street, elegantly dressed men of all ages can be seen everywhere.
It's a good time to make friends.
"Xue Bai!"
From a distance, he saw Du Wulang waving to him at the gate of the Imperial College.
He shouted loudly, and several people immediately looked at them. Xue Bai was not afraid of people looking at him, and nodded to these future cronies.
"Grandpa said that everything has been arranged. We are supplementary students. We can just go directly to the Secretary of the Imperial College."
Although Du Wulang didn't like reading very much, he was still very fresh when he came here for the first time, so he led Xue Bai in through the side door.
First, we bypassed the Lu Shengren Palace where Confucius was enshrined, followed by a high-gate lobby, and then the four halls of "Guozi", "Guangwen", "Taixue" and "Four Gates".
They walked towards the Taixue Pavilion, and Du Wulang kept introducing them all the way.
"This Siye's name is Su Yuanming. It is said that he is quite talented. But do you know what is even more remarkable? Just recently, the famous Xielu Lang Zheng Qian was appointed as a doctor of Taixue."
"who is he?"
In fact, Du Wulang only heard about it yesterday, but he talked eloquently: "Dr. Zheng was a Jinshi before he was twenty years old. His attainments in poetry, calligraphy, and painting were so high that he was called the 'Three Wonders of Zheng Qian' by the saints. He is also good at military arts, medicine, Taoism, and miscellaneous studies. In short, he is very talented. Grandpa said that we have entered the Imperial College, and it is a blessing to have him teach us..."
~~
Imperial College, Imperial College.
Su Yuanming pushed open the door of the public room and saw Zheng Qian sitting on the desk looking at the papers. He couldn't help but smile and said: "Brother Chuting has been transferred to the Imperial Academy."
Zheng Qian was fifty-six years old at that time, with a long beard and extraordinary style. When he saw Su Yuanming come in, he immediately responded: "It will be convenient for you and me to drink from now on."
"Du Zimei must be in Chang'an in the next few days, and he should drink wine with his poems."
Zheng Qian responded with a smile, but his eyes never left the document in his hand.
Su Yuanming noticed his concentration and asked, "What is brother Chuting looking at?"
Zheng Qian handed over the scroll in his hand and said, "How about you take a look at this five-character poem?"
"The grass grows taller and brighter every year..."
Su Yuanming felt the extraordinaryness of this poem at just one glance. After reading it, when he looked at the name of the person who wrote the investment banking paper, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"It's him again."
"What does the weak man know about him?"
"The two new students who were recruited this time are both known for their filial piety. In the Tianbao Five Years case, Du Qi saved his father; not long ago, Xue Bai was running to pay off his father's debt. In addition, at the Shangyuan Banquet, Xue Bai was there That poem by Yu Qian is really good..."
Zheng Qian smiled, stroked his long gray beard and said nothing more.
After a while, someone outside the door said: "Students Xue Bai and Du Qi, please see the teacher."
When the two young men entered the room, before Su Yuanming could tell them apart, Zheng Qian's eyes had already fallen on Xue Bai. He might not have seen him before, after all, the difference in appearance between the two young men was obvious.
"I've met Dr. Zheng. Please say hello to Dr. Zheng."
After Xue Bai bowed solemnly, Zheng Qian smiled and said, "A student of Yan Qingchen's handwriting is so bad?"
"The student is dull and has just become a teacher."
"It doesn't matter, the future is long, don't be impatient about your studies." Zheng Qian said, closed his eyes, and added unconsciously, "No matter what your status was in the past, today you have entered the order of the emperor, and here you are just Student, do you understand?"
Xue Bai had a thought in his mind, wondering if he had any overtones, so he hurriedly bowed in response.
He vaguely felt that Zheng Qian might be here for him...
Today is another transitional plot, so I wrote very slowly. There are more than 9,000 words in total, which is indeed an extraordinary performance. The reason why I didn’t use readers’ poems is because readers’ poems are often too good, and Xue Bai’s current level is not yet~ ~After the Dragon Boat Festival, there are still some new alliance leaders. I will thank you when I summarize at the end of the month. Now I will express my gratitude briefly: Shou Mei Shuan Cai, Inch Green Silk Years, Seventeenth Uncle, Golden Requiem, Taiyuan Young Master Brown Fur is Coming , The ancient road is sad, Li Buyan 0112, Achilles 003, Hua Muning, Lazarus, stop making trouble, I’m full, squeeze it... Thank you very much! Thank you everyone too~~
