The next day, the envoys from the Kingdom of Jin set off to return to their country. They came and left quickly. What is sad is that the Song court also sent them many gifts and cordial greetings. Even the emperor deserved this.
, it really leaves people speechless.
What a great guy!
This matter quickly spread among the people. The people were indignant and felt that they had been humiliated. But there was nothing they could do. The emperor was like this, and he could only sigh.
Of course, if a dignified emperor is slapped in the face, someone must take responsibility for it. The emperor's face cannot be slapped in vain. Since he does not dare to settle the score with the person who slapped him in the face, he can only vent his anger to his own people.
So Song Huizong waved his hand and Li Gang took over.
...
This morning, the cool morning breeze blew by, making people feel refreshed.
On a small hill outside the West City, Li Qi and Qin Hui stood on horseback on the hillside, looking at the road in the distance. They saw four or five people walking slowly on the road. Although they were only looking from a distance,
But it gives people a feeling of loneliness and desolation.
These people are Li Gang's family. The day before yesterday, he was demoted from the capital by Song Huizong and was going to a small county near Xijing to serve as magistrate. This is the second time he has been demoted, and he came so quickly.
This was something Li Gang had not expected. He originally received the invitation from Zhao Huan and thought that his ambition would finally be realized. However, he did not expect that in the blink of an eye, he would be knocked back to his original form. What made him even more angry was that he
From beginning to end, he felt that he was not wrong. He argued with the Jin envoys and even almost got into a fight. What was this all for? It was just for the face and dignity of the Song Dynasty. But he ended up like this.
He is probably already discouraged at this time, but if he is given another chance, he will probably still do it. I believe that any person with integrity will do this.
Li Qi sighed softly, with a flash of guilt in his eyes. He turned to Qin Hui and asked, "Didn't His Highness the Crown Prince promise to protect him?"
Protect him? If you want to protect him, it's not a piece of cake. However, if you want to harm him, it's also easy. Isn't this the result you want? Qin Hui shook his head and said: "No. According to the official,
Your Highness originally wanted to protect him. But because of Geng Nazhong’s advice, Your Highness decided to let Li Gang be the scapegoat.”
Li Qi asked curiously: "Why do you know so clearly?"
Qin Hui said: "It was Geng Nanzhong who told Xiaguan yesterday when he was drinking with him."
Li Qi smiled and said, "I wonder what Geng Nanzhong said to His Highness before he gave up the idea of protecting Li Gang."
Qin Hui said with a smile: "Although Geng Nanzhong is not a man of great talent, he is still capable of adding insult to injury. He told His Highness the Crown Prince that the reason why Li Gang did this was entirely because he wanted to express himself in front of the emperor and to get a higher position, but he
I didn’t care about the situation this move would put His Royal Highness in.”
"That's it." Li Qi nodded and said with a smile: "This reason is enough. No one would like his subordinates to be disloyal to him in the slightest. Obviously, Geng Nanzhong found this reason very well.
Moreover, Li Gang is too ignorant to restrain himself. He doesn't know how to show off his sharp edge and attract people's hatred. At this point, you are doing much better than him. In fact, with your talents, it is really too much to be inferior to me.
I feel wronged to you."
Qin Huicheng said in fear: "I don't dare, I don't dare. Your Majesty has spoken harshly. It is my blessing that I can study with you. I dare not expect anything else."
Li Qi waved his hand and said, "Stop talking about these things. Are you going to go to higher places? When the time comes, I will release your restraints. How high you can climb by then depends on your own abilities."
Qin Hui was startled and stopped talking about this, because he knew that if he continued talking, he would only appear to be more hypocritical. So he brought the topic back and said: "In fact, even if His Royal Highness protects Li Gang, I'm afraid Honglu Temple can't accommodate him.
, After all, this matter has already been brought before the Emperor. If no punishment is given, the Emperor will not be able to live with his face. If Li Gang is not punished, then His Royal Highness must be punished."
Li Qi nodded, looked into the distance again, sighed, and said, "Go back."
Back in the city, Li Qi asked Qin Hui to go back to the Bureau of Commerce first, while he headed towards Zuixianju Group Company. After all, he had thrown out 300,000 yuan and had to take the helm himself. Although Xiaoyu had made great progress, the situation was still the same.
A little less.
But when he came to a tea shop near Zuixianju Group Company, he suddenly found a familiar figure sitting inside, which made him frown slightly.
The man had already seen him and nodded slightly as a greeting.
This person is none other than Zhao Jingyan.
Li Qi smiled slightly, got off his horse, and said to Ma Qiao: "You should go back first." Then he walked towards the tea shop alone.
"Mr. Zhao, what a coincidence!" Li Qi waved and said with a smile.
Zhao Jingyan glanced at him and said, "I came here specially to wait for you."
It’s so unfunny. Don’t you tell me that I don’t know? Really. Li Qi shook his head sadly, sat down, looked around, exclaimed, and said, “Why don’t you even say hello?
nothing."
Zhao Jingyan said: "Because I booked this tea shop."
"oh."
Li Qi gave a thumbs up and said: "As expected of a descendant of the Zhao family, you have courage. You should do the same next time you go to my Zuixianju."
Booking a stay in Zuixianju? How much does it cost? Zhao Jingyan didn't seem to appreciate Li's humor today and said: "I have also heard about the envoys from the Kingdom of Jin coming to Beijing this time." At this point,
Two rays of light suddenly shot out from her eyes, and she said in a deep voice: "I, the Song Dynasty, have never suffered such a shame and humiliation. They are simply bullying others too much."
Li Qi opened his eyes depressedly and said, "No, you just listened to the first half, didn't you hear about the part where I turned the tide and verbally fought with the golden envoy?"
Zhao Jingyan said disdainfully: "You are just being clever. It's like others covering your head with a dung bucket, but you just hold the dung bucket and tell others that you are not wrong. The problem now is not about reason.
Whose side is it? It's a matter of dignity."
"Shit bucket? Oh, it's such a letdown."
Li Qi shook his head and sighed: "Then what do you think we should do?"
Zhao Jingyan said word by word: "Kill one to serve as a warning to hundreds."
"What you said is easy. If you kill me, you will think that the tens of millions of people in the Jin Kingdom are just for free." Li Qi said angrily.
Zhao Jingyan snorted: "Do you still think that the Jin Congress will engage in economic construction with us? This is just our wishful thinking."
Li Qi was stunned for a moment, frowned and said, "What do you mean by that?"
Zhao Jingyan stood up suddenly, holding the teacup with her two long and narrow white jade fingers and making a squeaking sound, saying angrily: "The Kingdom of Jin is already Sima Zhao's heart, and everyone on the road knows it. This time is just a test move by them.
It is precisely because of this that you have what you call turning the tide. If they were serious, how could they let you succeed like this? It is just around the corner that they will send troops to invade the Song Dynasty. Don't tell me that you didn't notice it at all.
"
Li Qi poured himself a cup of tea and said: "This is just your guess. I am different from you. I am a third-grade official. I dare not say such irresponsible words."
Zhao Jingyan frowned deeply and said, "Well, let's assume that the Kingdom of Jin---."
Li Qi didn't wait for him to finish his words and said, "I never answer hypothetical questions."
"enough."
Zhao Jingyan shouted angrily and said: "Li Qi. Now that my country, the Song Dynasty, is in danger, do you still want to play this little trick with me?"
She is a descendant of Zhao Kuangyin. Her self-cultivation and demeanor can be imagined. Li Qi has known her for so long, but this is the second time he sees her getting angry. The first time is the first time they meet, but Li Qi seems to have already
He had expected it and was not surprised at all. He said calmly: "Is your aunt here? Demeanor, demeanor."
Li Qi's stubborn character is really a headache! Zhao Jingyan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a calm tone: "Do you still remember your theory of the Three Kingdoms?"
Li Qi pondered for a moment, shook his head and said, "I don't remember. I only remember that I wrote a book called The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which has always been my pride."
"Then let me remind you." Zhao Jingyan said: "When the Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty attacked the Liao Dynasty, you once compared the Song, Liao and Jin countries to Shu, Wu and Wei. In the situation of one strong and two weak, the weak should join forces.
Resist the strong, rather than join forces with the weak to destroy the weak. Otherwise, once one weak is destroyed, the other weak will surely follow in its footsteps. What you said has basically been realized. Now that the Liao Kingdom has been destroyed, the next step is to
It's my turn, Da Song. You had already predicted it at that time, how could you not know now."
Li Qi chuckled: "I just fooled you casually. I forgot about it after I said it. Besides, nothing has happened yet, so it would be too arbitrary for you to draw a conclusion now."
Zhao Jingyan said: "Arbitrary? Do you think I am arbitrary? This matter has been settled. A battle between the Song Dynasty and the Jin Kingdom is inevitable. If you want to incriminate yourself, there is no need to hesitate. This time you can kill the Jin Kingdom.
I gave you an excuse to go back, next time, next time, when the time comes, the Kingdom of Jin will definitely send troops without hesitation."
Li Qi quietly sipped the tea, and after she finished speaking, he said: "Is this why you came to me today? Okay, I remember it, and I will seriously consider it. If there is nothing else, I will leave first.
.”
Zhao Jingyan slowly closed her disappointed eyes. After a moment, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of her mouth and said: "I didn't expect that today, you still have reservations about me."
Li Qi stood up and said, "Sorry, I have reservations about everyone. Farewell."
"Wait a minute!"
Zhao Jingyan stretched out her hand and said.
Li Qi glanced sideways, rubbed his forehead, and said, "If I had known this, I should have brought Ma Qiao with me. Just tell me."
Zhao Jingyan sneered and said: "I believe that I am the person who knows you best in the world. It is impossible for you not to have a sense of crisis now. However, you appear to be so calm. Therefore, you must be carrying out an unknown conspiracy."
, maybe it started a long time ago." When she said this, her eyes kept staring at Li Qi's eyes, but unfortunately she gained little.
Li Qidao: "I still say what I said, I never answer hypothetical questions. Can I go?"
Zhao Jingyan put down her hand in disappointment.
Li Qi walked to the door, suddenly turned around and said: "What I said just now is also the reason why I still treat you as a friend. Oh, let me correct you again. The person who knows me best in the world is not
you are me."
After saying this, he left the tea shop.
Zhao Jingyan's eyes flashed with panic, but soon her face became calm and calm as before. She sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, took a sip, held her chin in one hand, and said with a sneer in her eyes: "You...
This is also the reason why I regard you as an enemy now."