Li Mu said calmly: "My adoptive father must be here to thank me... Yesterday, His Majesty made my adoptive father a British Duke, and I happened to be present."
Li Shimin shook his head and said: "He is not here to thank me. Thanking you is just a cover. He is here to test me."
Testing? Or a minister testing the emperor? This is not a good word!
Li Mu hurriedly said: "Your Majesty must not misunderstand. My foster father's loyalty can be judged by the sun and the moon. He will definitely not be the kind of villain who tests your father..."
"Don't be anxious yet." Li Shimin interrupted Li Mu and said, "Listen to what I have to say first..."
Li Shimin paused for a moment and said: "I have always trusted your adoptive father Li Ji. Otherwise, I would not have ordered him to guard Bingzhou to guard against the Turks at the beginning of his accession to the throne when the four sides were unstable. But your adoptive father...
People are overly cautious by nature. He came to see me today. In addition to thanking me, he also wanted to return to Bingzhou and ask for my permission."
Li Mu was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and realized what he was doing.
Li Siwen is Li Ji's son. Now he has done something wrong, which also leads to the past that Li Ji helped Li Jiancheng more than ten years ago. Although Li Shimin did not punish excessively and even banned Li Ji, Li Ji still felt uneasy. He
It was a tentative move to ask Li Shimin to send him to Bingzhou. Bingzhou is one of the "Nine Prefectures of the Han Dynasty" and is an important military location guarding the Central Plains. Further north or west are the territories that originally belonged to the Turks.
Although the Turks were destroyed, there are still many nomadic tribes, which should not be underestimated.
In such an important place, the emperor will definitely use his most trusted people to guard it. Moreover, the generals who guard the border must be in charge of the military. If the emperor is suspicious of a person, will he dare to use it? Is he not afraid of rebellion?
Li Ji used this method to test his position in Li Shimin's heart. If Li Shimin agreed to him, it meant that the emperor's favor remained, and he could feel at ease. But if Li Shimin refused, even if he had no suspicion, according to Li Shimin's
With Ji's character, I am afraid that I will be in panic all day long.
Li Shimin saw through this and said that Li Ji was testing him.
Li Shimin observed Li Mu's expression and guessed that Li Mu already understood what was going on, and sighed: "Li Mu, I feel very sad. I don't understand why everyone in the world is so suspicious of my words and deeds? Li Mu.
Siwen did something wrong, so I punished him. Did I do something wrong? I was worried that Li Ji would think too much and seal him, but I didn't expect that he still couldn't make him feel at ease. In turn, he would test my mind... I really did
Do you look like a man with a deep city?"
How to answer this question?
Li Mu couldn't help but lament in his heart, this is a question that must be wrong. If you say yes, Li Shimin will be dissatisfied, if you say no, it seems that he is regarded as a fool again.
Li Mu would not answer such a stupid question and said: "Your Majesty, I thought this had nothing to do with the city. As the Son of Heaven, Your Majesty is the Emperor. Every word and deed of the Emperor affects the world. What is fearful in my adoptive father's heart is that
It's human nature. Didn't I lose my temper yesterday? I think, if it were anyone else, I would be worried, right?"
Li Shimin smiled and did not take the compliment, but asked: "I didn't give him an answer right away. Now I'm here to ask you, do you think I should let your adoptive father go to Bingzhou?"
"Well..." Li Mu pondered.
When Li Mu was in the Ministry of Industry, he had seen a geographical map of mountains and rivers in the Ministry of Yu. This land of Bingzhou is a very large area. In ancient times, the world was divided into "Jiuzhou", Yuzhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou,
Liangzhou, Yongzhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou. After King Wu destroyed the Yin and Shang Dynasties, he merged Xuzhou into Qingzhou, merged Liangzhou into Yongzhou, and divided Bingzhou and Youzhou from the land of Jizhou. From then on, there were no Liang and Xu in Jiuzhou, but Youzhou
,and.
In the Han Dynasty, this Bingzhou land included nine counties including Taiyuan, Shangdang, Xihe, Yunzhong, Dingxiang, Yanmen, Shuofang, Wuyuan and Shangjun. Jinyang, the land of Longxing in Li Tang, and the coal-producing
Shuozhou, Taiyuan and other places are all in Bingzhou.
According to the current territory of the Tang Dynasty, Li Ji was appointed as Bingzhou. According to the current territory of the Tang Dynasty, he managed at least one-seventh of the territory of the Tang Dynasty. It was not an injustice to him. But in terms of the court, it was a great disadvantage. In the future,
If there are vacancies in the three provinces and six ministries, the feudal ministers will definitely not be given priority. Li Ji wants to enter the center, which is an obstacle.
But Li Mu could also guess what Li Ji was thinking. If Li Shimin allowed him to go to Bingzhou, it would show that he still trusted him, and he wouldn't have to worry about what happened back then. Secondly, after Dingxiang was taken back,
He was reestablished as Zhechong Mansion, which happened to be under the jurisdiction of Bingzhou. When he took up the post of Bingzhou, he became Li Siwen's boss and could take care of him to some extent.
For Li Mu, in addition to these two items, if Li Ji is in Bingzhou, his mining business will have internal support. Li Mu has always been worried that he will have no influence in the local area and will have no basis for negotiations with the Wang family in Taiyuan.
But if Li Ji was in Bingzhou, things would be completely different.
Li Mu thought for a long time and finally spoke: "Your Majesty, if you ask my opinion, my opinion is that your majesty should allow my adoptive father to go to Bingzhou."
Li Shimin kept his expression and continued to ask: "What's the reason?"
"Your Majesty, there are two reasons for me to submit to the public, one is half public and the other is private. Which one do you want to hear first?"
"Let's talk about Yu Gong first."
Li Mu solemnly said: "Your Majesty, my adoptive father is an upright and loyal man. In his early years, he worked for Li Mi. Later, Li Mi was defeated and had to surrender. His adopted father controlled the troops and territory of Wagangzhai, so he could have been independent.
Or he might offer his troops, horses and territory to the Supreme Emperor as a way to advance his career. But he still insists on counting these soldiers, horses and territory on Li Mi, and plotting rewards for Li Mi. Such a loyal person, I think I can trust him."
"Since my adoptive father returned to the Tang Dynasty, he has never done any rebellious behavior. In the Xuanwu Sect affairs, although my adoptive father did not side with His Majesty, he did not side with Prince Yin either. I asked my adoptive father.
He replied that his allegiance was to the emperor, and the emperor at that time was the Supreme Emperor. Therefore, I did not feel that my adoptive father had done anything wrong. Instead, I felt that your majesty should trust such an official. Now that my adoptive father has made great achievements in destroying the Turks, it is what I thought.
, my foster father is a loyal and upright minister. As long as your majesty trusts him, he will never betray your majesty. But the flaws in his character cannot be made up for. If your majesty does not let him go to Bingzhou, he will be in panic all day long. Your majesty also
If you lose a general because of this, what good will it do to Your Majesty?"
"On the other hand, Bingzhou is a strategic area, and your Majesty also needs someone who can guard it. When your Majesty came to the throne, he used my foster father to guard Bingzhou. Why was he used in the first place but not now? I thought,
Your Majesty's original choice shows that in His Majesty's heart, your adoptive father is the best candidate, and it should be the same now. This is the first reason to submit to the public."
Li Shimin nodded and said, "What is the second reason?"
"mine!"
Li Mu said loudly: "Your Majesty, do you still remember 'coal'? The coal-producing Shuozhou and Taiyuan are both under the jurisdiction of Bingzhou. Although I proposed to cooperate with the Wang family and other clans in Taiyuan, it is a fact that the influence of the imperial court is not as strong as the clan clan in the local area.
, I am originally worried that the cooperation will be deceived. If the adoptive father keeps an eye on Bingzhou, it will greatly reduce the possibility of the court being deceived, and it will also increase the court's bargaining chips during negotiations."
Li Shimin's brows furrowed. This second reason was something deep in his heart. Li Shimin had a natural distrust of powerful families. Li Ji had adhered to neutrality for many years, and Li Shimin saw this.
He believed that Li Ji would not collude with the Taiyuan Wang family, and that this would indeed play some role in the local area.
But he still did not express his position, but asked: "What about the half-public and half-private reason?"
"Uh..." Li Mu was a little embarrassed and said: "If my adoptive father can sit in Bingzhou, he can also facilitate my business. To be honest with you, I have recently bought some gadgets, which are considered luxuries. I plan to sell them to
The 'high-end people' who have spending power, such as young ladies from wealthy families and young ladies from local wealthy families, are useless but very expensive things. Bingzhou has two wealthy families and dozens of wealthy families. For me,
, but it is an indispensable market!”
"Is there something new?" Li Shimin still had great trust in Li Mu's ability to make money, and immediately said: "You kid, don't forget that you are still responsible for the internal fund order now? Don't just focus on making money yourself and forget about me.
Internal money!"
"Of course I won't forget it! Is that why I say it's half-public and half-private?" Li Mu said with a smile, "Your Majesty, please put it down. Your Majesty will have a share in all the transactions I make."
Li Shimin then nodded and said: "That's pretty much it. Okay, I'll give you some face. I'll issue an order to make Li Ji the governor of Bingzhou and take office tomorrow!"
Li Mu quickly stood up and bowed down, saying, "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness on behalf of my adoptive father."
"You... are a loving and righteous child. Li Ji accepted you as his adopted son, so he got an advantage." Li Shimin said, stood up, helped Li Mu up, and said: "Go and do things for me.
And... about this mahjong, I want a jade-carved set for collection. I bet... you won't let me down, right?"
Knock! Bamboo! Bar!
Jade Mahjong, you really dare to ask for it!
Li Mugang wanted to refuse, but looking at Li Shimin's expression, it seemed like something was going to happen if he didn't agree. He hurriedly squeezed out a happy smile and said: "I am naturally happy to serve your majesty. I will arrange it immediately."
I will definitely let His Majesty see Jade Mahjong within a few days."
Li Shimin laughed with satisfaction, patted Li Mu on the shoulder and said, "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
After that, he laughed and left. Li Mu looked at his back, yelled several times, but didn't say anything. Li Shimin walked a few dozen meters, stopped and asked Eunuch Gao behind him, and said: "Gao Gan, please help me."
Look at the expression on that guy Li Mu’s face? Is his face dark?”
Eunuch Gao stretched his neck to take a look, and gloated: "Your Majesty, it's dark. You look like you're distressed. You're stomping there!"
"I'm just happy for trying to rip off Li Mu! Jade Mahjong will definitely cost him a lot of money!"
Eunuch Gao quickly flattered him: "Your Majesty is wise! I can't even think of such an idea."