Chapter 134: Knowing the safety of the world, but not knowing how to save one’s life
Chapter 134: Farewell to the loyal minister Li Gang and arrest the treacherous minister Zhu Meng
"The official family, the Song and Jin Dynasties united to destroy the Liao Dynasty, it is absolutely impossible! Don't the official family know the principle of 'lips are dead and teeth are cold'?
The Maritime Alliance should be abolished as soon as possible, and Zhao Liangsi will be in trouble!"
After Zhao Ji listened to Li Gang's direct advice, he still agreed with it.
In order to test whether the Li Gang in this world was as loyal and upright as the famous official Li Gang who presided over the successful first defense battle of Kaifeng in Tokyo against the Jin Dynasty that he knew from reading history books, he deliberately pretended to be very angry.
He slapped the table and shouted loudly:
"Li Gang, I have summoned you back to the capital. I do not blame you for your fault in discussing the flood in the capital last year, which caused God to warn me and punish me.
However, Li Gang, you have not yet been recalled to the capital. On your way to Yangzhou, you met my imperial chariot who came to ask for an audience. I also summoned you. Unexpectedly, you were still the same as before, unrepentant, and still good at disobeying me and refuting the decision of the military state.
Big deal, are you doing this to win the reputation of being loyal and upright?!
Li Gang, aren't you afraid that if you offend me, I will kill you in anger?"
Li Gang answered calmly: "My minister Li Gang knows that he has a king and father but does not know that he is pregnant; he knows that the world is in danger but does not know how to save his life.
Therefore, if you dare to offend the Holy Wrath and die for remonstration, even if your minister Li Gang is killed, your ambition to love the country and care for the emperor will never be taken away!"
After Zhao Ji heard Li Gangyi's stern words, he admired Li Gang's loyalty and his ability to bring up the serious problems faced by the Northern Song Dynasty, including internal and external troubles.
In fact, Li Gang's foresight was already shown when, after the floods in Bianliang, the capital city, in the first year of Xuanhe last year, he asked officials to pay attention to heaven's warnings and asked the court to pay attention to internal and external troubles in his admonishment. p>
Zhao Ji's testing of Li Gang was over. He saw that Li Gang in the parallel world he had traveled to was as loyal and upright as the Li Gang recorded in the history books he had read.
Zhao Ji said:
"Just now, what Li Aiqing said is exactly what I meant."
Li Gang, who knelt in front of Zhao Ji, couldn't believe what he heard. Did it really come from Zhao Guanjia's mouth?
Li Gang raised his head and looked at the Zhao Guan family, who he could not understand more and more, and confirmed that the words that he had just approved of abolishing the Song and Jin Sea Alliance and killing the traitorous envoy Zhao Liangsi came from the official mouth of the Zhao Guan family.
However, Li Gang became confused:
If the Zhao family knew the principle of "lips are dead and teeth are cold", why would they send envoys Zhao Liangsi to sign a maritime alliance with the Jin Kingdom and abandon the Chanyuan Alliance, which has been peacefully negotiated and repaired with Song and Liao for 115 years, and there has been no war on the border?
?
"Hahaha!" Zhao Ji laughed. He stood up and left his seat, walked to Li Gang, helped the kneeling Li Gang up, and said: "Just now, I deliberately used words to test my beloved.
It can be seen that Li Aiqing is truly a minister of the country and a great man!
The ministers are all like Li Aiqing, so why worry that the Song Dynasty cannot be rich and powerful?!"
Li Gang was confused by the huge contrast between Zhao Guan's family and his sudden change from anger to joy.
He looked at the smiling official Zhao who was holding his arms, and his eyes were actually a little moist.
Could it be that the Zhao Guan family had an epiphany?
Is it true that the official Zhao family in front of me is willing to change his past mistakes, stop wasting money and people, believe in Taoism and cultivate immortality, stop favoring treacherous ministers and villains, and want to reuse an upright and loyal person like me?
Li Gang's mind was full of excitement and his heart was surging, and he sighed secretly:
In the past, King Zhuang of Chu had ‘not flown or made a sound for three years. He will observe the public opinion. Even though he has not flown, his flight will reach the sky; even though he has not made a sound, his sound will be astonishing’!
Now, the Zhao Guan family in front of us has been mediocre and indulging in pleasure for twenty years. Now they are working hard to govern and revitalize the country. Do they want to imitate King Zhuang of Chu who said, "After three years of silence, he became a blockbuster and soared into the sky"?
If this is true, it will be a blessing for the country!
Zhao Ji saw Li Gang's excitement. He wanted to continue to win over the loyalty of Li Gang, a famous official, so he said:
"I killed the demon Dao Lin Lingsu in the capital, and the treacherous ministers Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and Wang Fu, and told the world about this. Did Li Aiqing ever hear about it in Sha County, Jiannan Prefecture?"
Li Gang replied excitedly: "My minister Li Gang has heard this, and I deeply feel that it is not too late for the officials to rein in the situation!"
Although Zhao Ji felt that Li Gang's words came from his heart, they still didn't sound right.
After all, Li Gang just commented on my wise move of killing demons and eradicating traitorous ministers, saying "it's not too late to stop at the brink". If it were replaced by other flattering ministers, he might be able to blow off my wise move.
It’s so exciting!
However, Zhao Ji wanted to take advantage of Li Gang, so he didn't call him back to Beijing just to hear good things.
Li Gang, who was not very good at talking and could chat to death, enabled him and reused him just to do practical things.
When Zhao Ji saw that he had asked Li Gang and received Li Gang's answers, they all responded honestly and honestly. Therefore, Zhao Ji said:
"Li Aiqing, why did you come to see me?"
Li Gang did not hesitate and said bluntly:
"I originally asked to see Zhao Guan's family. I wanted to ask the officials, who wasted so much time on the people and money, used a large number of officers and soldiers to protect them, and patrolled the south of the Yangtze River. Should they follow the example of Emperor Sui Yang, the king of the country's subjugation?"
When Zhao Ji heard that Li Gang was so blunt, he felt bad immediately. I thought you, Li Gang, came to show your kindness after you met me by chance in Yangzhou?!
What the hell, I didn’t expect that you were here to rebuke me directly!
Zhao Ji forced his face and asked with a smile: "Li Aiqing, now that I have explained to you my determination to work hard and revitalize the Song Dynasty, do you still want to reprimand me and scold me for being like the subjugated king, Emperor Sui Yang?"<
/p>
With a "plop", Li Gang knelt down in front of Zhao Ji again, and replied with a trembling voice due to excitement: "Listen to the words of the officials and observe the actions of the officials. Today's officials are definitely not Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, but
More like our Taizu and Emperor Taizong who founded the Song Dynasty!
It’s my minister Li Gang who is blind.
Minister Li Gang suddenly realized that when the officials went to the south of the Yangtze River this time, they must have heard in advance that the battle of Huashigang in the south of the Yangtze River had made the people in the southeast miserable. Therefore, the officials had already foreseen that the people in the southeast were likely to revolt. Therefore, in the name of patrolling the southeast, the officials led elite troops to escort them, but in fact they wanted to eradicate the Fangla Uprising in the southeast as soon as possible?!"
Zhao Ji nodded after hearing Li Gang's analysis.
He felt that there was no need to waste words when dealing with a famous minister like Li Gang who was loyal, honest and smart. Li Gang's analysis was very accurate.
After Li Gang received the nod from Zhao Guan's family, he became even more excited and said:
"The official family can be so foresighted, predicting that people like Fang La in the southeast will coerce the people to rebel, and the official family can use the name of patrolling the southeast, but in fact carry out the work of a true imperial commander. The official family really has the talent of a saintly king and a wise master!
”
It was difficult for Zhao Ji to receive Li Gang's heartfelt praise, and the corners of his mouth immediately turned up. I am very happy, I am happy from the bottom of my heart!
However, Zhao Ji was not happy for two seconds. Damn it, but Li Gang changed the subject and continued:
"My minister Li Gang is fortunate to see that the officials want to work hard to govern.
However, my minister Li Gang sincerely urges the officials to work hard to revive the Song Dynasty, and the move to revive the Song Dynasty must not be 'exposed in one day and cold in ten days'!"
The corners of Zhao Ji's mouth, which had just been praised by the loyal and upright Li Gang, cracked with laughter, immediately froze there. Damn it, this Li Gang once again cited the classics and taught me the words of Mencius.
I really want to reply to you: Li Gang, are you here to teach me how to do things?!
However, Zhao Ji felt that if he were replaced by a treacherous minister or a flattering minister, he would definitely retaliate.
Li Gang quoted the words of Mencius and advised me to work hard to revitalize the Song Dynasty and not to "exposure to the cold". It was really out of loyalty, so I will not criticize you, Li Gang.
Zhao Ji just nodded slightly and said to Li Gang, "You are damn right". If I want to revitalize the Song Dynasty, I won't be exposed to the cold all at once. I must persevere.
Zhao Ji asked Li Gang and said:
"Fang La in the southeast gathered a crowd to rebel. What strategy does Ai Qing have to counter the rebellion?"
Li Gang said: "La Neng in the southeast gathered a crowd to rebel, and the current earthquake in the southeast was all caused by Hua Shi Gang. Fang La gathered people to rebel under the banner of Zhu Meng, and the people who had suffered greatly from the battle of Hua Shi Gang responded one after another.
Therefore, in order to quell Fangla's rebellion, officials should first kill Zhu Meng, the initiator of the Huashigang battle, so that they can quickly break the hearts of Fangla's troops!
If Fang La and his subordinates are recalcitrant and do not accept the imperial court's offer of recruitment, the strength of Fang La's troops will be greatly undermined.
Finally, the officials sent out elite soldiers and strong generals to fight, and they were able to wipe out the rebellious people under Fang La's command in one fell swoop.
After the Fang La Rebellion was settled, I implored the officials to give preferential treatment to the rebels who had abandoned the dark side and turned to the bright side, and also to do light service in the southeast..."
Zhao Ji looked at Li Gang, who was thirty-seven years old this year, listened to his talk, and agreed:
"What Li Aiqing said is the same as what I think."
Li Gang said happily: "Since the officials have the same idea as my minister Li Gang, the officials can issue an order to kill Zhu Meng in Yangzhou."
Zhao Ji waved his hand and said: "I will go to Suzhou in person to declare Zhu Meng's crime and then kill him in public."
Li Gang bowed in admiration and said: "The officials are wise. However, if the officials want to go south from Yangzhou to Suzhou, they will be getting closer and closer to the sphere of influence of Fangla's rebels in the southeast!
The minister Li Gang is worried about the safety of the official family, so the minister Li Gang is willing to lead the order and go south to Suzhou to kill Zhu Meng."
Zhao Ji smiled slightly and said: "I originally wanted to go south to conquer the Fangla rebels personally. I will pass by Suzhou on the way to Hangzhou with my army, so why should Li Aiqing go south to Suzhou again?
What's more, I summoned Li Aiqing back to the capital, so I naturally have a reason to let him return to the capital.
Now that the prince oversees the country, he has a weak character. When Li Aiqing returns to Beijing, she can assist the prince more."
Li Gang felt that what Zhao Guanjia said was very true, so he kowtowed and said:
"Your Majesty Li Gang obeys the decree."
Zhao Ji waved his hand and said: "After Li Aiqing receives the order, quickly return to the capital. I will send ten more personal officials from the Sicheng Division to escort you back to the capital.
Li Aiqing, take care on your way home.
When my imperial commander returns from the expedition in person, I will discuss state affairs with you in the palace!"
"Your Majesty Li Gang paid a courtesy visit to the official family."
Li Gang said goodbye and left...
Zhao Ji discovered that the loyal minister Li Gang had talked with me for a long time about national affairs in the Yangzhou government office, but he did not ask him what his official position would be after I called him back to Beijing.
In other words, a loyal minister like Li Gang doesn't care about personal gains and losses at all. All he cares about is the country and the people's livelihood...
Zhao Ji led his more than 3,000 soldiers to repair in Yangzhou for a day. Early the next morning, he led his troops to board the ship again from the ferry of the Yangzhou Canal...
Zhao Ji's fleet went south along the canal, passing Wenfeng Temple and Gaomin Temple, arriving at Guazhou and crossing into the Yangtze River, passing through Wuxi and arriving at Suzhou Ferry at noon that day.
Zhao Ji led his troops to land ashore and asked the eunuchs to enter the city to announce the edict. All officials of the sixth rank and above went out of the city to welcome the Holy Emperor...
Under the protection of six imperial cavalrymen, the eunuch who delivered the decree rode into the city on a fast horse to announce the decree...
Half an hour later, more than 40 officials of the sixth rank in Suzhou City, led by Weiyuan Jiedu Envoy, Suzhou Yingfeng Bureau Special Tribute Envoy, and Defense Envoy Zhu Meng, left Suzhou City in fear.
Go to the ferry and prepare to welcome the Holy Driver.
They were still forty or fifty feet away from Zhao Guan's house, so they all got off their sedans and horses, and walked nervously on foot. When they came to Zhao Guan on the dock shore, they all knelt down, kowtowed, and shouted long live the mountain... p>
Zhao Ji glanced at the group of officials in Suzhou City in front of him and saw three purple robes and a group of red robes kneeling in front of him.
Relying on the remaining memories of the original owner Song Huizong, Zhao Ji quickly found Zhu Meng, one of the six aristocrats of the Northern Song Dynasty, among these kneeling officials.
The third-rank official Zhu Meng, who was wearing a purple court uniform, was two times fatter than the Zhu Meng in Zhao Ji's mind when he summoned him a few years ago. It should be that in this Jiangnan area, Zhu Meng was extremely powerful and pampered.
It makes others gain a lot of weight.
Zhao Ji looked at Zhu Meng with the eyes of later generations. This traitor should weigh up to 200 kilograms now, but Zhu Meng was quite short, only about 1.65 meters tall.
At this time, Zhu Meng had walked forty or fifty feet before coming to meet Zhao Guan's house, and he also heard that Cai Jing, his great supporter in the capital, had been killed by the emperor. Therefore, Zhu Meng knelt on the ground at this time and was trembling.
, sweating profusely, not even daring to raise his head and look at Zhao Guan's house.
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After Zhu Meng heard that Zhao Guan's family suddenly came to patrol the southeast, he immediately sent his men on fast horses to find out whether Zhao Guan's family had killed corrupt officials along the way like they did in the capital. The news he sent back was that Zhao Guan's family stayed in Yangzhou.
No Southeast officials were punished.
This made Zhu Meng breathe a sigh of relief. He guessed that the officials Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, and Wang Fu in the court had too much power and had threatened the imperial power, so they were eliminated by the Zhao Guan family in the power struggle.
.
Zhu Meng felt that it had been fifteen years since he had served Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty in November of the fourth year of Chongning and presided over the Suzhou Yingfeng Bureau, and it had been fifteen years since the second year of Xuanhe.
In the past fifteen years, I have been in charge of the Suzhou Yingfeng Bureau, specializing in searching for exotic flowers and stones, known as the "Flower and Stone Guide", and transporting them from the Huaihe River to the Bianhe River to Bianjing in large ships. Over the years, I have gained the full trust and trust of the Zhao Guan family.
Praise. I shouldn’t be like Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, Wang Fu and other powerful court officials who were convicted and killed by Zhao Guan?!
Zhu Mensi thought about it and felt that the Zhao Guan family should be reluctant to kill him. After all, over the years, he had presided over the "Hua Shi Gang" transported to the capital, and was extremely loved and highly praised by the Zhao Guan family.
In order to add an extra layer of insurance, Zhu Meng continued to ask his men to search for exotic flowers, trees and rocks in Suzhou City in order to donate them to Zhao Guan's family who was visiting the southeast. He also planned to give away several paintings of famous Tang Dynasty artists collected at home.
Calligraphy and painting, send someone to Yangzhou where Zhao Guan’s family is staying.
However, what Zhu Meng never expected was that the Zhao Guan family only stayed in such a fun and colorful world for one day, and suddenly came to Suzhou at the end of the day.
After Zhu Meng received the eunuch sent by Zhao Ji to deliver the order, he originally wanted to excuse his illness and not dare to face the eunuch. However, he thought over and over again that he could not avoid blessings and disasters, so he bit the bullet and came to pick him up... Suddenly, Zhao Ji knowingly asked: "Where is Zhu Meng, the envoy of Weiyuan Jiedushi, the envoy of defense, and the tribute collector of Suzhou Yingfeng Bureau?"
"Your Majesty, Zhu Meng is here." Zhu Meng, who was kneeling on the ground and had finished the obeisance ceremony, replied tremblingly.
"Hmph!" Zhao Ji shouted angrily and said, "Zhu Meng, do you know your guilt?"