Han Shizu

Chapter 790: Kong's Doubt
It was still early, the sky was still dark, and the visibility inside the house was very low, and the faint smoke permeating the air could be faintly seen.The movement of Li Tao getting up alarmed the lady beside the pillow.

Madam sat up and looked at Li Tao with concern. Even though her vision was blurred, she could feel his heavy heart. She couldn't help asking: "What's wrong with you, you've been restless these past two days, and you haven't slept well!"

After regaining his senses, Li Tao shook his head, gently pressed his wife's warm hand, and comforted him: "It's okay! I'm getting old, and I can't sleep even if I want to sleep more!"

"Go back to sleep! I'll get up first, and there are still a lot of things that I need to deal with!" Li Tao said, and he wanted to get down and get dressed.

"Don't hide it from me! We have been husband and wife for so many years, and you can't hide from me the changes you have made in the past two days!" Madam took Li Tao's hand and said seriously.

"It's just that the government has been busy recently!" Li Tao said after pondering for a while.

"No matter how urgent the matter is, is there still time left?" Madam was dissatisfied, paused, and asked hesitantly: "Before the emperor returned to Beijing, although you were busy, you were not like this. Is it related to the emperor?"

Staring at Li Tao but seeing no reaction, Mrs. Li immediately said, "This emperor of the Liu family is really hard to serve!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Hearing his complaints, Li Tao scolded.

"Am I wrong? How many chancellors in the Han Dynasty had good results? Wang Zhang died in depression, and Yang Bin is still suffering in Bianzhou. After Feng Dao, is it your turn?" ?”

"Shut up!" Li Tao seemed to have broken his guard, and said angrily: "You are a woman, talkative, dare to talk about government affairs, and make such wild remarks, are you going to kill my whole family?"

Seeing Li Tao's reaction, Madam couldn't help but sighed, and said: "I don't care about the government, I only worry about the safety of our family. In the past two years, your power has grown, and you have made a lot of promises in the court. But don't forget, you are The descendants of Li and Tang, after Jingzong, there has never been a lack of villains in this world, if the emperor starts to suspect you, he is afraid that villains will hurt you."

"You've been a chancellor for so many years, that's enough. Otherwise, this official should quit and go back to his hometown to raise him. Maybe he can learn from Feng Dao and have a good death."

"How can you understand the wisdom of the present!" Hearing his wife's worries, Li Tao said insincerely: "That's all! I have my own cares about this matter, so don't worry about it. What you said just now, never let it happen again." carry!"

"I go first!"

The courtyard in the early morning is quiet, the autumn wind brings coolness, the dew condenses between the grass leaves, and the mist that permeates the circles makes people feel the obvious chill.

Pack up and eat, wait for Li Tao to enter the palace, the genius just dawns, the world is still gray, and the mist is deep, just like Li Tao's mood.Fortunately, after the prison gate guards changed their shifts, the gate of the palace was already opened.

"My lord, the Jinghu case has progressed. Fan Xiang personally sits in the court for trial, and has dug out [-] internal and external officials. If this continues, there will be turmoil!" Before the court case, a trusted official said, Whispered to Li Tao.

Li Tao, who was writing official documents, paused and put down his pen. Li Tao looked calm: "Your Majesty was furious and ordered a strict investigation. Fan Wensu has a temperament of hatred and hatred. How can this matter be easily exposed. The emperor was angry and buried his body Millions, bloodshed for thousands of miles, political turmoil in a mere district, what's the point? Besides."

The real change and turmoil are probably still to come.Li Tao didn't say the last sentence.

Seeing Li Tao's reaction, the staff couldn't help but said: "President Fan and Mr. Xiang are at odds, I'm afraid they will take the opportunity to make trouble and implicate Mr. Xiang."

Li Tao smiled: "I know Fan Wensu's character. He may have different political views, but it's not enough to retaliate!"

After hesitating for a while, the staff members continued to lower their voices: "I heard that this incident happened because Zhao Pu from the Chongzheng Palace slandered His Majesty and deliberately exaggerated the matter."

Hearing what he said, Li Tao's expression became a little cold, and he immediately told him: "There are some things that should not be inquired about, and some things should not be said too much. Next, do your duty well! Go down!"

"Yes!" Seeing Li Tao's serious expression, the staff hurriedly calmed down, put down a few official documents, and bowed away.

Picking up the pen again, looking at the words between the pages of the album, Li Tao suddenly lost interest in reviewing.

"My lord, someone is coming from Chongzheng Hall, Your Majesty is calling!" While Li Tao was in a daze with heavy thoughts, his subordinates went inside to report.

"Yeah! I got it!" Li Tao responded, "Let someone wait a moment, I'll leave right away!"

Sitting behind the desk, Li Tao took a deep breath, calmly packed up a few important memorials and took them with him, and headed to the Chongzheng Hall. His slow pace gave people a sense of heaviness, as if he was carrying a weight on his body.

"Sir Li Tao, see Your Majesty!"

Inside the Chongzheng Palace, the emperor Liu Chengyou was still immersed in the government affairs of this chapter. When he saw Li Tao, he smiled and said with a very friendly attitude: "Li Qing is here! Don't stand still, please sit down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Li Tao thanked him, "I don't know if Your Majesty is calling for your ministers, what can you order?"

Liu Chengyou took out the topmost memorial stacked on the side of the case, opened it, and said, "I find this memorial very interesting, but I also have some doubts. I invite Li Qing to clear up my doubts!"

Paying attention to the emperor's demeanor, he could not help but feel a little suspicious about the memorial that he could describe as "interesting", and said respectfully, "Please show me, Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengyou said: "Kong Renyu, the Duke of Wenxuan and the magistrate of Qufu County, died. Li Qing plans to use his son Kong Yi to succeed Duke Wenxuan and the magistrate of Qufu County?"

Hearing this, Li Tao was really a little puzzled. He didn't understand what the emperor meant, so he replied: "Kong Renyu is the 43rd generation grandson of Kong Sheng, the Duke of Wenxuan. Since Tang Dynasty, it has been hereditary from the Kong family to represent The respect and respect for Confucius and the world's scholars is a system, and there is nothing wrong with Kong Yi's success!"

"Hehe!" Liu Chengyou smiled: "Can the Kong family represent the scholars of the whole world?"

Facing Liu Chengyou's question, Li Tao really wanted to answer, yes.But seeing the emperor's playful expression, Li Tao said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Kong family in Qufu is, after all, the direct descendant of Kong Sheng. Although it has declined due to troubled times, it still has an irreplaceable position in the hearts of scholars all over the world. If Your Majesty wishes to improve cultural governance and bring peace to the world, he should treat Kong family with courtesy, in order to promote education."

Listening to his explanation, the smile on Liu Chengyou's face showed a little sarcasm, and he said: "I have heard that there are two and a half families in the world. The Millennium Kong family is indeed extremely respected!"

Li Tao's complexion changed drastically, and he bowed down suddenly: "Why did your majesty say such a thing! This must be someone with ulterior motives, talking nonsense!"

Seeing his nervous look, Liu Chengyou waved his hands: "I won't take such prophecy rumors seriously!"

"However!" Listening to the emperor's words, he was afraid of a turning point. Liu Chengyou said leisurely: "This Kong Renyu, who was a nobleman when he was young, was diligent in learning and thinking, he became a talent. He took office in Qufu, governing public and private affairs, and the government was smooth. He died, why? I plan to use his son Kong Yi to take over. If it is correct, Kong Yi is only sixteen years old. Why should he be entrusted with the county office? This mere young man can manage Qufu well? Or, simply suggest that I give Qufu directly to Kong , let it be hereditary?"

"Your Majesty has no such intentions!" Li Tao panicked, buried his head in excitement and said, "Your Majesty, please punish me for not thinking properly!"

"That's all!" Seeing his panic, Liu Chengyou's cold and serious expression melted like ice and snow, and said: "I also respect Confucius, and reading "The Analects of Confucius", the descendants of Confucius should also be treated with courtesy, otherwise, the scholars in the world may be really happy." They will blame me and say that I don't respect the sages."

"How about this, Li Qing proposed that Kong Yi should succeed Duke Wenxuan, as for Qufu, which is a big county in Ludi, the imperial court will send another talented person to take up the post!"

"Yes!"

In the past dynasties, the status of the Kong family in Qufu was not considered low. Of course, in this era, it has not been elevated to that level.Moreover, because of the war at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the decline was severe. Kong Renyu's father, Kong Guangsi, even lost the title of Duke Wenxuan.

As for Kong Renyu, in the original history, he was also honored as the "ancestor of Zhongxing" of the Kong family. He was widely praised by later generations and revered for thousands of years.

Today, in the era of Liu Chengyou, although he has gone through troubled times and revived the reputation of the Kong family, he has the intention of rejuvenating, but he does not know whether after a hundred years, future generations will make up another legend.

(End of this chapter)