Daming: Old Zhu, we agreed not to rush!

In the morning, the first ray of sunshine shines on the earth.

Su Jing had prepared everything early, and at the gate of Renyuan Bo's Mansion, Zhu Biao's motorcade had already arrived.

"Master Su."

Zhu Biao got out of the car and came to Su Jing in person, waiting for Su Jing quietly.

"Prince, you came early, so I asked you to wait for me. I'm sorry."

Su Jing has always been a punctual person, and his original idea was to go to the Prince's Mansion by himself.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Biao arrived a little early.

"Master Su is serious. Master Su is helping me on this trip, and naturally the students are waiting for me."

Zhu Biao said immediately.

He came so early on purpose. It would be a huge mistake to let Su Jing wait for him.

Su Jing was a little helpless, Zhu Biao was a little too respectful to her.

this is not good.

But it was hard for Su Jing to say anything. After all, Zhu Biao's respect was sincere.

Su Jing could only go out quickly and get on the carriage.

There were not many people in the convoy, but there were dozens of people. The most important thing was for Zhu Biao's safety.

Going to Shandong with Su Jing before was no longer possible.

As the motorcade gradually moved away, the capital city seemed to become restless.

But for Su Jing and Zhu Biao in the car, they didn't care at all.

How pleasant it is to be able to travel far away with my apprentice.

What a joy it is to be able to travel with a teacher.

Both Su Jing and Zhu Biao were in a very good mood at the moment.

"Master Su, try this."

In the carriage, Zhu Biao took out an oil paper bag and handed it to Su Jing.

Su Jing took it and slowly opened it. There were several more yellow spherical objects in front of her eyes, which were still hot.

"Is this...a potato?"

Su Jing smelled it and said uncertainly.

Zhu Biao immediately nodded and said: "I can't hide anything from Master Su. This is indeed made of potatoes. It was made after improvements by the royal chef in the palace. It contains the universe."

"Oh."

Su Jing has always been very interested in food.

He took a bite immediately and felt an extremely fragrant smell.

Sesame seeds, date paste, bean paste...

The fragrant aroma of various fruit pulps suddenly spread out.

"It's really delicious."

Su Jing took another bite and finished the whole thing.

Zhu Biao smiled and said: "Master Su, maybe you can guess how this is made?"

Su Jing smiled immediately and said, "Prince, I may not know about other things, but I am still very confident in eating."

"First of all, the outer potato shell must be made by peeling and steaming potatoes, then mashing them into puree, and then adding flour."

"As for the filling, it is made from sesame paste, red date paste, red bean paste, pear pulp and other pulps."

"The specific production process is to use mashed potato flour dough, wrap it with pulp fillings, and then fry it at high temperature, and finally this is the finished product."

Su Jing described the preparation method very confidently. Potatoes were a new thing to Daming, but to Su Jing, they were a delicacy that they had eaten countless times.

Su Jing is very clear about the various ways to cook potatoes.

After all, Yu Chu's innovation is just a recipe that Su Jing has tried before.

"Master Su is really amazing, and what he said is absolutely correct."

Zhu Biao said sincerely.

Su Jing smiled and said: "It's just a trail. Prince, you haven't had breakfast either. Eat something. We'll be on the road for a long time."

"Yes, Master Su."

Zhu Biao nodded and started eating as well.

The convoy headed south in the direction of Wenzhou Prefecture, not very fast. After all, this was not an urgent military situation.

After breakfast, it was inevitable to chat for a while.

"Prince, have you read anything recently?"

Su Jing asked.

As a prince, Zhu Biao had many daily affairs, but Su Jing did not want Zhu Biao to forget to study because of this.

"Students are reading "Book of Tang Dynasty" recently."

Zhu Biao answered seriously.

"Book of Tang" and history books Su Jing has always admired Zhu Biao for reading.

As a prince, if he wants to become an emperor in the future, he naturally needs to understand history.

As a unified dynasty, the Tang Dynasty had a very glorious history.

"That's right, what do you think?"

Su Jing asked again.

Zhu Biao thought for a while and said: "Students believe that the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty lies in the wise governance of the founding emperor Tang Gaozu Li Yuan and his subsequent emperors."

"Politically speaking, the Tang Dynasty inherited the Sui Dynasty's system of three provinces and six ministries, and also carried forward the imperial examination system and selected talented officials. Among them, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty was particularly wise. , is a model for the world! Students hope to be like Master Su in the future."

Upon hearing this, Su Jing immediately said: "Prince, stop it. You are not Li Shimin, and I am not Wei Zheng. You'd better not think about this matter."

Wei Zheng was a remonstrator, but Su Jing had no idea of ​​becoming one. As for Zhu Biao, he is the eldest son of Zhu Yuanzhang and the orthodox prince. Who should he be like Li Shimin?

"Master Su, why? Is Master Su still unwilling to become an official in the court even if his student becomes the emperor?"

Zhu Biao asked in confusion.

He really wanted to achieve a good reputation with Su Jing, and he was very confident.

Su Jing said calmly: "Prince, the relationship between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng is not as simple as you think."

Ok?

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment and asked doubtfully: "Master Su, what do you mean by this? It is a model of mutual understanding between kings and ministers, and is praised by the world. Why does Master Su say this?"

Zhu Biao really didn't understand. At least from the history he knew, Li Shimin and Wei Zheng were the best examples of monarchs and ministers cooperating and promoting each other.

Su Jing said: "Prince, there are some things that we have to look at from the overall perspective. Li Shimin once said one of the most classic words, you should know it."

Zhu Biao immediately said: "Students know that using copper as a mirror can correct clothes and hats, using history as a mirror to know the ups and downs, and using people as a mirror to understand gains and losses."

"Well, yes, you should remember this sentence. It makes sense. This is why I asked you to read more history books."

Su Jing nodded and continued: "After this sentence, Li Shimin also said that now Wei Zheng has passed away, so he died in one mirror."

"When you first hear it, do you think that between Li Shimin and Wei Zheng, one is arguing hard and speaking out, while the other is open-minded and accepts advice, corrects his mistakes when he sees them, and the monarch and his ministers know each other. This is simply the most ideal relationship between monarch and minister."

Zhu Biao looked at Su Jing and nodded, because what Su Jing said was what he thought.

Why does such a good relationship between monarch and minister seem to have other meanings in Su Jing's mouth?

Su Jing smiled and said: "Is this really the case? We are not in a hurry to see if Li Shimin became emperor later. Let's just talk about who Wei Zheng was before, before Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Sect, or in other words, who was he serving?"

"It was Prince Li Jiancheng, that is, Li Shiming, who became the emperor's biggest political opponent. More importantly, when Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng were fighting openly and secretly, Wei Zheng suggested to Li Jiancheng that he should take the initiative to attack Li Shimin, attack first and then attack later. Damn it, you, Li Jiancheng, are now the prince, and you still have the ability to fight back. With Li Shimin's merits and his ability as a general, once he wants to take action, no one in the entire Tang Dynasty can match him. Of course, Li Jiancheng didn't listen. Wei Zheng’s suggestion.”

"This led to the subsequent changes in the Xuanwu Sect. Just with Wei Zheng's previous criminal record, does the prince think that Li Shimin can be so broad-minded that he doesn't care?"

Zhu Biao listened carefully, but at this time he was silent.

He couldn't care less about this kind of thing when it came to him.

However, Zhu Biao still said: "Master Su, Li Shimin is the wise king of the world. Maybe he had a grudge at the beginning, but then he became relieved?"

A temporary grudge was very short-lived for the entire careers of Li Shimin and Wei Zheng.

Su Jing smiled and said: "Prince, what you said is not unreasonable. However, after Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Revolution and became emperor, he immediately summoned Wei Zheng and asked Wei Zheng a question."

"Why do you, Wei Zheng, want to sow discord between my brother and me and turn us against each other so that we can fight each other! Prince, if you were Wei Zheng, how should you respond at this time? Should you immediately plead guilty and beg for mercy? Or should you continue to stand firm and directly curse? Is Li Shimin planning to usurp the throne?"

Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment. He really didn't expect how to answer this question.

Su Jing ignored Zhu Biao and just continued: "Wei Zheng didn't say either, but told Li Shimin that if the prince followed Zheng's advice, he would not suffer today's disaster. To put it bluntly, Wei Zheng felt that there was nothing wrong with him. As a subordinate of the prince, I should have given advice to the prince, but the prince did not listen, so he died today."

"This sentence, at first glance, seems very tough, but in fact, Wei Zheng expressed an attitude in this sentence, or conveyed a message to Li Shimin. Li Shimin was very keenly aware of this message, and then immediately sent it to Wei Zheng I have been promoted to a higher position, Prince, do you know the profound meaning of Wei Zheng's words?"

Another question, and now Zhu Biao is confused.

Are there so many things going on between Wei Zheng and Li Shimin?

"Students don't know, please ask Master Su to clarify."

Zhu Biao answered very honestly.

Su Jing said lightly: "Actually, it's very simple. Wei Zheng said that Li Jiancheng didn't listen to him, which led to the failure. Does this mean that the Prince Li Jiancheng Group has been plotting against Li Shimin?"

"You know, after Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, even though he became emperor, he still had the reputation of killing his brother and imprisoning his father. Even if he is an emperor, it is very difficult to clear his name."

"But Wei Zheng directly confirmed the fact that the Prince Group had conspired against Li Shimin. In this way, Li Shimin's Xuanwumen incident can be said to be a forced self-protection move. In this way, Li Shimin's reputation and the legitimacy of the throne is preserved.”

"Li Shimin, who understood the deep meaning of Wei Zheng's words, naturally did not kill Wei Zheng. After all, Wei Zheng is alive, which means that Li Shimin did not take the initiative to attack the prince Li Jiancheng. Otherwise, how could Li Shimin retain the advisers under Li Jiancheng?"

Su Jing's analysis really made Zhu Biao see something very different.

In fact, it's not that Su Jing has studied it very deeply, but Su Jing has heard too many discussions about the changes in Li Shiming's Xuanwu Sect in her previous life.

Regardless of whether it is a conspiracy theory or not, it is always right to talk to Zhu Biao more.

Zhu Biao was horrified. He really didn't expect that there was such a relationship.

But if it can be seen in the situation where Li Shimin just launched the Xuanwu Gate Revolution and won the throne, what Su Jing said is very correct.

Wei Zheng's words indeed helped Li Shimin solve a rather big problem.

Suddenly, Zhu Biao looked at Su Jing and said, "Master Su, so Wei Zheng's answer is actually to protect himself?"

Wei Zheng's answer was certainly not without purpose.

In this way, it is actually to survive.

Su Jing nodded and said: "Yes, Wei Zheng is a very intelligent person. He was able to give such an answer under Li Shimin's questioning. Almost no one can do it better."

"This statement not only helped Li Shimin confirm the legitimacy of the Xuanwu Gate Incident, but also explained that Prince Li Jiancheng is a fool. He is not worthy of competing with Li Shimin for the throne. It is also a kind of flattery."

Flattery?

Zhu Biao was startled. He didn't expect Wei Zheng, who was so iron-clad, to be flattering.

This has caused great changes in Zhu Biao's cognition.

"Master Su, why did Wei Zheng dare to remonstrate so many times after that? If he is a flatterer, how can he be so upright?"

Zhu Biao was still a little confused. After all, Wei Zheng's direct words of advice were clearly recorded in history books.

Su Jing smiled and said: "Wei Zheng knows very well that Li Shimin will not kill him. His role as prime minister is too great."

"What does Master Su mean by this? The student doesn't quite understand."

Zhu Biao was even more confused. It seemed as if Su Jing had not said anything.

Wei Zheng was a famous minister and prime minister, and he must have contributed to the Tang Dynasty, but what does this have to do with not killing?

If Wei Zheng had been an official in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Biao believed that with his father's temperament, he would have died eight hundred times no matter how successful he was.

Su Jing said calmly: "This starts with Wei Zheng's life experience. Does the prince know what Wei Zheng's life experience is like?"

Zhu Biao briefly recalled: "Students probably remember that Wei Zheng was from a noble family in Shandong, but the details are not very clear."

"Well, you remember it quite clearly."

Su Jing nodded: "Wei Zheng is indeed from the Shandong gentry, and the Wei family is still a relatively core gentry family in Shandong. However, the Shandong gentry at that time was no longer very good. During the Sui Dynasty, the Guan Yin gentry took full power, regardless of the Shandong gentry. The Jiangnan gentry are all relatively in decline."

"The Wei family is even more weak, so much so that Wei Zheng, a son of an orthodox noble family, had trouble eating when he was a boy, and even wanted to become a Taoist priest in order to survive."

"All this shows that although Wei Zheng came from a noble family, his background was actually very weak in the Tang Dynasty at that time."

"Compared with the five surnames and Qi Wang in the early Tang Dynasty, they are completely incomparable and can only be regarded as being from a humble background. This is also an important reason why Li Shimin wanted Wei Zheng to live and serve as prime minister."

"The prime minister of the Tang Dynasty cannot be controlled by the sons of those noble families!" (End of Chapter)