Chapter 1157: Stratagem (seeking a monthly ticket)
Taishi Mansion.
The Taishi Mansion, which used to be bustling with people, has immediately become deserted since Zhao Kai took the throne. Even the servants of the Taishi Mansion rarely come in and out. You must know that Cai Jing has not abdicated yet. He is still the prime minister and the third in the dynasty.
one person.
Even before Cai Jing took office several times, it was never as deserted as it is now.
Because everyone knows that you, Cai Jing, belong to the Emperor and were promoted by the Emperor. You can be said to be the Emperor's confidant. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, you will definitely not stay in this position for long. Instead of fawning over you, I would rather
To curry favor with the popular people around the current emperor.
This morning, Cai Jing half-closed his eyes and lay under a big tree in the backyard to enjoy the cool air. In the entire Taishi Mansion, perhaps this big tree was the only one of similar age to him.
Nowadays, there are undercurrents and storms outside. Everyone is busy inquiring about information and moving around in order to save their lives. However, Cai Jing has been sick at home since Zhao Kai came to the throne. He has never left the house and has been busy for most of his life.
He finally had a moment of leisure now.
What a blessing in disguise!
After a while, a servant came over and said respectfully: "Sir, King Yanyun is outside the door asking to see you."
Cai Yong snorted: "It makes no sense, he still has the nerve to come here!"
"It seems that the emperor can't wait any longer." Cai Jing slowly opened his eyes, waved his hand and said: "Yongzi, go and invite him here. Oh, don't let Sui'er and the others know about this. And
, don’t let anyone disturb us.”
Although Cai Yong was angry with Li Qi, he did not dare to disobey Cai Jing's order. He nodded and said, "Yes."
After a while, Cai Yong came over with Li Qi, but he didn't give Li Qi a good look. However, Cai Yong was pretty good to him at the beginning, so Li Qi didn't care about it.
"Boy Li Qi has met the Grand Master."
Nothing changed. When Li Qi saw Cai Jing, he still bowed respectfully as before.
Cai Jing smiled with relief, raised his hand, pointed to the chair next to him, and said, "Sit down."
After Li Qi sat down, Cai Jing said to Cai Yong and the others: "You all can go out."
Cai Yong glanced at Li Qi slightly worriedly, but still left with a group of servants waiting nearby.
Li Qi asked with concern: "Is Grand Master in good health recently?"
"I'm old, I went to Jiangnan for a lot of trouble, and I've only recovered in the past two days." Cai Jing shook his head, looked at Li Qi with a smile and said: "I heard that you have made great achievements in Yanyun, I am really happy and congratulated!
"
"This---it's all thanks to the cultivation of the grand master that Li Qi is what he is today."
When he said this, Li Qi's expression seemed a little unnatural.
Although Cai Jing's eyesight is dim, he is like a mirror in his heart. He seems to be smiling but not smiling: "Why? Don't you feel sorry for me?"
Li Qi didn't expect Cai Jing to say it so bluntly, so he couldn't help but smile awkwardly. He didn't answer, and he didn't know how to answer, because later he would have to do something that would hurt Cai Jing even more.
Cai Jing chuckled, "It seems like your father-in-law doesn't look down upon you."
Li Qidao: "That's not true, because I haven't seen him at all."
Cai Jing waved his hand and said: "You must not worry about this. Your father-in-law is of this surname. He values the worthless face more than anything else. If he becomes like me,
Ups and downs, I guess he has died eight hundred times."
At the beginning, Bai Shizhong also relied on Cai Jing to get up, so Cai Jing knew Bai Shizhong's character very well.
This ginger is still old and spicy, the truth! Li Qi chuckled twice and did not answer. After all, Bai Shizhong is still his father-in-law. No matter what he thinks in his heart, he can't say it with his mouth. This is a matter of politeness and has nothing to do with it.
other.
Cai Jing asked: "Li Qi, on your way back, did you feel that the situation in the capital was much more difficult than fighting the Jin army?"
Li Qi nodded and said: "To be honest, that's exactly what it is."
"You are confused!" Cai Jing said very frankly: "If it were me, I would rather face a situation that is a hundred times more complicated than this, rather than go to war with the Jin people."
As he spoke, he raised his eyelids slightly, looked directly at Li Qi, and said: "What are you guilty of? What are you guilty of? You yourself once said that in the court, there are no absolute friends and no absolute enemies.
Those with the same interests are friends, and those who want to infringe on their own interests are enemies. We old guys were your stumbling blocks back then. Of course you had to get rid of us. There is nothing wrong with this. On the contrary, you did it very beautifully. Even
I have to admire you."
Li Qi was shocked when he heard this, and said cautiously: "Master, what you said is not irony, right?"
Cai Jing said angrily: "You are as smart as a monkey, do I need to say anything sarcastic?"
What he said makes sense. Li Qi said in confusion: "But no matter what, I am indeed sorry for you, or I have hurt your interests."
Cai Jing laughed out loud, but then he coughed loudly.
Li Qi quickly patted him on the back gently.
After a while, Cai Jing calmed down and said: "Don't look down on me too much. I have been working in this court for decades. There are more than a thousand people who have wronged me, and even more people I have wronged."
Countless.”
He said this very boldly, and he was fully qualified to say this. He said that there were really a mountain of politicians who died in his hands, but he had also been completely defeated and almost lost his life, but he
In the end, he survived, and almost all of his enemies died or were sent to the frontier. Without exception, even if he is dead now, he is still a big winner in this life.
Cai Jing continued: "But if I were like you, I would have died of guilt decades ago. Take Zhao Tingzhi as an example. I and he spared no effort to eliminate the Yuanyou Party, including his in-laws
Li Gefei, but do you know that regarding Li Gefei, I specifically asked him if he would be lenient. Zhao Tingzhi told me at that time that Li Gefei was a member of the Su family and a student of Su Shi.
If I spare him today, it is inevitable that he will not come to me for revenge in the future, even Li Gefei's name was written by him himself."
Li Qi was silent as he listened, but thought in his heart, this is the cruelty of politics!
Cai Jing continued: "You should be very clear about what happened later. After clearing out the Yuanyou Party, Zhao Tingzhi coveted my position, so he began to plan to seize me as prime minister. He also did it, but it was a pity that he failed to eradicate the root cause.
It's not that he didn't want to, but that the emperor was lenient with me at that time. It was precisely because of this that I was able to turn around, but I would not give him this opportunity. If he had not died of illness, I would not have let him stay in the capital. In fact,
When the Yuanyou Party was eliminated, our relationship could be said to be as close as brothers. We worked late into the night, slept in the same bed, and talked by candlelight. However, within a year, we both wanted to kill each other. Why, because
There is no room for two tigers in one mountain. But if you ask me if I feel guilty, I can tell you that I don’t feel guilty at all. Even during the Yuanyou party membership incident, many people called me a tyrant and a traitor, but I ignored them because those nerds
Who knows, if I don't demote them away, then I will be the one who leaves. If that's the case, then the Su family may become these rebellious officials and traitors."
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, patted Li Qi's shoulder, and said: "Li Qi, being a person and being an official are two different things. If you are not an official, you should feel guilty if you hurt others, but if you
If you are an official, you must be hard-hearted, especially in your current situation, because if you don't kill others, others will never be grateful to you for it. Once they have the opportunity, they will try their best to kill you, because who
Everyone wants to be the King of Yanyun."
Li Qidao: "But Grand Master, have you really never regretted it?"
Cai Jing was stunned for a moment and sighed: "The only thing I regret is that I was too greedy for power and did not think about the future of the Cai family after my death. It is all thanks to you who reminded me of this. I am
I am grateful, even at this time, I am still like this. If you had not suggested that I found Taishi College, I am afraid that the Cai family would be over today. At this point, you have done much better than me, and, until now, you have
To be hard-hearted, if you were worried about Bai Shizhong, me, or the Supreme Emperor, you would never succeed. Since you have come this far, why don't you continue on."
Li Qidao: "The grand master's intention is for me to be hard-hearted in my next actions."
Cai Jing smiled and nodded: "You can teach me, but you can use my words as a reference. I know that you have your own way of doing things, and I also agree with your style. I believe you can weigh this yourself.
Don’t be too influenced by others.”
Li Qi groaned, but he was filled with doubts in his heart. He thought to himself, at this time, your Cai family is also in danger, and you still make me hard-hearted. Aren't you afraid that I will encourage the emperor to uproot your Cai family? This old guy
What are you planning again?
Cai Jing glanced at Li Qi and said hehe: "You don't want to uproot my Cai family and avoid future troubles."
Said, in front of this old guy, he really can't leave at all! Li Qi was slightly startled and said hurriedly: "How is it possible? I have no intention of doing this. It's just---."
He hesitated to speak, but Cai Jing didn't know what he wanted to say, so he said: "It's just that you are wondering why I would say this to you at this time?"
Li Qi nodded and said truthfully: "Yes. I am indeed doubtful about this."
Cai Jingdao: "Let's put it this way, if I were twenty or thirty years younger, I would never say these words to you."
Li Qi immediately understood. Today, the Cai family is still supported by Cai Jing alone. Once he falls, the Cai family will not be so scary. Although Cai Jing is powerful, he is old and may die at any time.
passed away, so neither Zhao Kai nor himself would regard him as a threat. Coupled with the existence of Taishi Academy, he would be even more at ease.
Another point is that he must now express an attitude to Li Qi, that is, I can understand everything you do, it is normal, I do not blame you, and I do not regard you as an enemy.
The implication is that he is showing his kindness to Li Qi.
In fact, Cai Jing understands Li Qi's character very well. As long as the Cai family does not pose any threat to Li Qi, Li Qi will definitely remember his old kindness and will not kill him. Therefore, he hopes that after his death, Li Qi can take care of Cai.
Home, this is his real purpose.
Li Qi also understood Cai Jing's intention, so he said: "I will always bear in mind the kindness that the grand master showed me in the past. If Li Qi is needed in the future, Li Qi will be obliged to do so."
"I hope you can remember what I said today." Cai Jing was greatly relieved and said, "Actually, there is another reason why I said this."
Li Qi asked in astonishment: "What?"
"That's why you came today." Cai Jing chuckled and said, "I have already expected that you are here to be a lobbyist today, but there are some things you find difficult to say. In fact, if you just say it, I can understand it.
, just treat this as a business, tell me first, what can I get from this?"
PS: Please give me a monthly ticket...(To be continued.)