Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 729
After Li Qinzai finished speaking, he looked a little annoyed.

In fact, his original wording was not so harsh. On the way from Ganjingzhuang to here, Li Qinzai silently typed the draft in his heart, telling himself to be tactful, peaceful, and soft-spoken...

Only eminent monks are qualified to do things that are a big hit. What kind of onion is he, Li Qinzai? Why should he condemn Li Zhi from the commanding heights of serving the country and the people?
But once the topic was brought up, Li Qinzai couldn't hold Huo'er in his arms, and the more he said, the worse it sounded.

Li Zhi issued an edict lightly, he thought it would be easy to enshrine Chan Taishan, from his point of view, the imperial chariot set off from Chang'an City, bringing more courtiers and followers.

He traveled during the day, rested at night, and reached the top of Mount Tai, knelt in front of the altar and said a few words of blessing, and by the way, he had a chance to praise his achievements in governing the world over the years, and finally returned to Chang'an City with satisfaction.

Look, how simple it is. It not only achieved its political goals, but also showed off its own merits. His father Li Shimin never had the opportunity to enshrine Zen in his life, but he did. What does it mean?
It shows that he is more successful than his father, and that he has stepped out of the shadow of Emperor Taizong.

Recruiting some young men and building a few palaces, these things are very insignificant to Li Zhi.

What Li Zhi didn't know was that the trivial things in his mind would have such a bad impact on the people's livelihood of Datang.

Today Li Qinzai lured him to Jingyang County under the pretense of hunting, the purpose was to let him see with his own eyes how bad the consequences were.

Li Zhi stood there in a daze, listening to Li Qinzai's sarcastic words, his face gradually became clouded.

Now that Li Zhi had come to his senses, Li Qinzai took the initiative to invite him to be a hunter and deliberately brought him to this village. In fact, he wanted to let him see the barren farmland with his own eyes, and used this method to satirize Li Zhi and Empress Wu The long-awaited ceremony of enshrining Zen.

A feeling of shame and anger filled Li Zhi's chest.

It is the right way for courtiers to persuade and remonstrate, and it is the emperor's business to accept or not to accept remonstrance. Li Zhi is not a narrow-minded emperor, and he cannot be guilty of words.

But from the standpoint of the emperor, Li Qinzai used his ability to hunt as an excuse to lure him to this village, and then commented on Li Zhi and Feng Chan with very harsh words. Li Zhi could not accept this kind of persuasion.

Offend the emperor's taboo!

"Li Qinzai, you invited me here today, is it a game you set up?" Li Zhi asked with a livid face.

Li Qinzai sighed, and said: "I dare not make arrangements for the emperor. I just think that hearing is worse than seeing. I want Your Majesty to see these abandoned farmlands with your own eyes, and see the villages full of old people, women and children..."

"Look at the year when the weather is good, but the people of the Li people have to face the predicament of survival again because your majesty wants to become Zen Taishan."

"If Your Majesty thinks that the minister's painstaking efforts are for planning, the minister has nothing to say and is willing to accept the crime."

Li Zhi stared at him coldly, and said, "Are you against my enshrining Chan Taishan?"

Li Qinzai lowered his head and said, "Yes, I object."

"Why?" Li Zhi's tone became more and more gloomy.

Li Qinzai smiled calmly, then pointed to the barren farmland not far away.

Li Zhi said indifferently: "Because the spring sowing was delayed?"

"Not only that, Your Majesty, there have been frequent natural disasters in the past few years in the Tang Dynasty, the grain harvest has been failing year after year, and the treasury has been overdrawn. Coupled with several wars, the survival of the common people has really become more and more difficult..."

"I also heard that the three provinces have received His Majesty's instruction, and they plan to discuss adding gifts at the Shuowang Dachao meeting in three days' time?"

Li Qinzai bravely looked directly at Li Healing's gloomy eyes, and slowly said: "Your Majesty, I have no ambiguity towards your Majesty, whether it is public or private. I just can't see your Majesty hurting the country's foundation step by step and losing the Great Tang." Tang's people's heart."

"Perhaps your majesty's merits are qualified to grant Zen to Mount Tai, but this year and next year are not suitable. I ask your majesty to show mercy to the common people and postpone the grant of Zen for a few years. When the treasury and the people recover a little bit of vitality, I will be the first to stand up in favor of your majesty's grant of Zen." Tarzan."

After speaking, Li Qinzai bowed to Li Zhi and stayed up for a long time.

Li Zhi stared at his face, and said in a cold tone: "Li Qinzai, you have indeed made a lot of contributions to the Tang Dynasty, but now you are becoming more and more presumptuous. Are heroes qualified to be proud of their achievements?"

Li Qinzai's heart sank, and he said: "I don't dare, I just persuade His Majesty, without the slightest arrogance."

Li Zhi stared at him silently.

The harmonious relationship between the monarch and his ministers for several years has plummeted at this moment, and it is extremely cold.

Li Qinzai still bowed his body, but there was no regret on his face.

What should be said and what should be done, he has done.

If because of the harmonious relationship between the monarch and his ministers, he did not dare to speak out against Li Zhi's stupid decision-making, Li Qinzai would really regret it, and this regret might accompany him throughout his life.

The stiff and cold atmosphere confronted each other for a long time, neither the monarch nor the minister spoke.

After an hour of silence, Li Zhi finally raised his voice and shouted: "Come on, drive back to Chang'an!"

After speaking, Li Zhi gave Li Qinzai a cold look, turned around and mounted his horse to leave.

Only then did Li Qinzai slowly straighten up, looking at the backs of Li Zhi and Yulin Imperial Guard going away, he sighed sadly.

No regrets, so be it.

If Li Zhi still insists on his own opinion and wants to enshrine Mount Tai, then Li Qinzai doesn't mind that the relationship between the monarch and his ministers is becoming increasingly estranged. Isn't it just right for him to be a rich man enjoying peace in Ganjingzhuang from now on?
Seeing Li Qinzai standing still for a long time, Liu Asi behind him stepped forward. Although he is a rough martial artist, he also understands the truth, so he said softly: "Wu Shaolang, the villain does not understand the principle, but the villain thinks what you did today That's right."

Li Qinzai smiled: "So, it was His Majesty who was wrong?"

Liu Ahsi hesitated for a moment, and said, "I don't dare to talk about the Son of Heaven, but... Anyway, Wu Shaolang is right!"

Not far away, the elder who had been standing still finally moved. He walked up to Li Qinzai and suddenly knelt down on Li Qinzai.

Startled, Li Qinzai hurriedly grabbed his arm and helped him up with all his strength.

"Old man, you can't do this, you are taking my life away."

The old man said with red eyes: "Your nobleman, although I don't know your surname and official position, I know that you must be a good official."

"In front of the Son of Heaven just now, many old people dare not tell the inside story, for fear of causing trouble for themselves and farmers. I don't know what happened to the Tang Dynasty or the state of the country. But I know that everyone has lived poorly in the past few years."

"Last year, there was a severe drought, and people in the village almost starved to death. Those who were lucky enough not to starve to death, but they also borrowed a lot of food debts. This year is a whole year of corvee, and no one takes care of the family's land. Seeing that there will be famine again after autumn, Your Majesty Next year, if we enshrine Chan Taishan, people will die in Zhuangzi..."

"Your Majesty pleaded for the life of me and other worthless people just now. This old man will remember it in his heart. Regardless of whether His Majesty will take back his order or not, at least you are a good person and a good official."

"On behalf of Zhuangzi, the old man, the young and the strong, women and children, must make a big gift to you."

The old man wanted to bow down, but Li Qinzai firmly held him and prevented him from kneeling down.

Under Li Qinzai's hard persuasion, the old man had no choice but to give up the act of saluting.

Turning around and looking at the bright scenery, lush green forests and wheat fields, Li Qinzai suddenly smiled freely.

The feeling of being regarded as a good person... is really good.

Killing is worth it.

Of course, it is best not to kill.

(End of this chapter)