Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 664: Stupid and Bad
After the Lantern Festival comes the new year and a new beginning.

But there was an ominous atmosphere in the city of Kaifeng.

Li Lin's former aides and confidants, now central government officials, such as Xue Liu, Li Taiqing, Cai Yan and others, were arrested and imprisoned on the charge of "participating in treason" and were jointly interrogated by officials from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice.

After only one day of trial, at noon the next day, these people were beheaded in public at the market outside the city of Bianzhou!
Relatives were exiled, and their property was confiscated. The money would be given to the teachers who gave free lectures to the people of Bianzhou and taught them to read and write. They would be provided with some daily living allowances. While providing food and accommodation, these teachers could also have some meager income.

In addition, what happened in the palace on the Lantern Festival also gradually fermented.

For example, the emperor attempted to poison his ministers, but was saved by a "righteous man" who reminded him. Or the emperor recruited a group of desperate criminals and wanted to kill them during the Lantern Festival, but they were moved by the emperor's righteousness and turned to the light.

In short, they were basically rumors that were extremely unfavorable to Li Lin.

The stories sound so convincing that they don't seem false, and many people claim to have seen them with their own eyes.

Since Bianzhou did not restrict speech, no one would report you as long as you did not rebel. Therefore, the merchants and travelers who came and went basically believed in these seemingly exaggerated but very credible rumors.

If it weren't true, how could these things have caused such a stir?

The government does not prohibit speech, so there must be all kinds of rumors. Then why did the rumor that Li Lin was a cruel, incompetent waste who did things without considering the consequences spread so widely?

In short, everyone talked about it with great relish, and no one came to defend Li Lin.

That night, in a secluded courtyard in Bianzhou City, an oil lamp was still lit in a bedroom.

At this moment, Mrs. Zong was washing Li Bai's feet.

In the early spring when the chill is still there, soaking your feet before going to bed is very comfortable. But at this moment, Li Bai frowned and seemed to be worried.

"Alang is hiding something in his heart."

Madam Zong wiped Li Bai's feet, helped him lie down on the bed, and asked softly, "What happened?"

"Alas, it's nothing serious, it's just that disaster is about to happen."

Li Bai sighed and said with a look of despair. He was like this, like a child when he was excited, and as depressed as a dead bone in a tomb when he was frustrated.

"Alang is now a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy and a close confidant of His Majesty. I wonder where this disaster will come from?"

Mrs. Zong asked tactfully. She had actually guessed one or two of the questions.

"Xue Liu, Li Taiqing, Cai Yu and others were all my former staff members in Prince Yong's Palace. Yesterday, they were all dragged outside the city and beheaded in public, and their property was confiscated. It was so miserable.

As the emperor's confidant, I will follow in their footsteps. How can I be happy about such a disaster? "

Li Bai sighed.

How can I put it? Li Bai felt that he was unlucky. He just didn't want to "sell out his master for fame and fortune", so what was wrong with that?
"How about this, I'll go to Kaifeng Prefecture and plead for Alang."

Madam Zong comforted Li Bai.

Looking at his aging and ugly wife in front of him, Li Bai smiled bitterly, shook his head and said nothing.

Even if Madam Zong dressed up and wanted to sleep with him, he would not look down on her! Not to mention that Madam Zong had given birth to two children, she was already more mature than a middle-aged woman.

And I heard that Fang Qing doesn’t like this either.

As if she had guessed Li Bai's thoughts, Madam Zong smiled and said, "Alang, you are just scaring yourself. I have also read your poem, it is harmless. I will go and plead for you, and I think it will probably help resolve the situation."

Ok?
Li Bai was stunned when he heard this. Hearing what Madam Zong said, the other party seemed to be really confident.

"Really?" Li Bai was a little unsure. Although he looked free and easy on the surface, he was actually very career-oriented.

Madam Zong nodded confidently and said, "Really? It's a sure thing."

"Then let's go. There is no other good way now."

Li Bai sighed.

"Then I'll change my clothes and go."

Mrs. Zong smiled and bowed to Li Bai.

"It's so late, can't we go tomorrow?"

Li Bai asked with some dissatisfaction.

Madam Zong shook her head and said, "For things like this, it is better to deal with it sooner rather than later. If they had gone to see the emperor earlier, Alang's colleagues would not have been beheaded."

When Li Bai heard this, he was so frightened that cold sweat broke out on his back. He seemed to understand why these colleagues were beheaded.

Although Mrs. Zong is a woman, she sees many things more clearly than I do.

While Li Bai was discussing important matters with Madam Zong, Li Lin and several princes were also discussing important matters in the imperial study in the Bianzhou Palace. However, compared to the tenderness between Li Bai and Madam Zong, the atmosphere between Li Lin and several princes was a bit solemn.

One can even say that the smell of gunpowder is very strong!

"Father, now that things have come to this, why don't you abdicate? You can save the family if you abdicate. If you don't abdicate, the emperor may let Prince Chenliu take the throne. There's no point in wasting time like this."

The eldest son, Li Wei, also known as the crown prince, took a deep breath and spoke bravely.

Of course he had selfish motives in saying this, because Li Lin had abdicated and he, as the crown prince, would be the right person to inherit the throne.

Although he is a puppet emperor, who knows if there will be a turning point in the future?

Li Lin glanced at Li Wei and said nothing. He looked at his second son Li Yan and asked, "What about you? What do you think?"

Li Huan lowered his head and said nothing. To be fair, if Li Lin abdicated, it would not benefit him directly.

However, if Li Lin did not abdicate, the harm to him would be obvious.

Nowadays, the "bad man and bad deeds" about Li Lin are everywhere. If you ask any dog ​​on the roadside in Bianzhou, they will all say that Li Lin is neither virtuous nor has any moral integrity. He is simply a typical "stupid and bad" person.

If he continues to be the emperor, I'm afraid the reputation of the Li family will be ruined by him. By then, people will lose their hearts and everyone will side with Fang Qing, just like the story of Zheng Bo's defeat of Duan, and the dynasty will change soon.

Instead of that, it would be better to let Li Lin step down from the throne. This would at least improve the image and reputation of the Li family, and they could continue to survive for a while.

"Father, I think so too."

Li Xuan said while gritting his teeth.

After the Lantern Festival, the news about Li Lin spread like wildfire and became a big deal. Even the eunuchs in the palace would discuss these things in private. Li Xuan was neither deaf nor blind, so he could certainly feel the attitudes of the eunuchs and palace maids towards him.

"I will not abdicate, absolutely not! Just give up on this idea!"

Li Lin said with gritted teeth.

Li Wei and others remained silent and said nothing more.

Because you can never wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Fortunately, Fang Qing was the kind of person who cared more about his table manners, otherwise, based on what happened on the Lantern Festival, it is very likely that they, father and son, would have died together.

"I am tired. You all should go back. Go back! Do not come to me again without being summoned!"

Li Lin waved his hand tiredly. Li Wei carefully observed that there were many more white hairs on the other person's head, and he looked unusually old.

"Everyone, please come back."

Gao Shang bowed and said to Li Wei and others.

Seeing that he could no longer persuade him, Li Wei could only sigh and bow to leave. Li Lin's other sons also left the imperial study.

After Li Wei and the others left, Li Lin angrily threw the paperweight to the ground!
Since several white jade paperweights had been smashed before, they were replaced with a bronze paperweight. The solid copper block hit the ground, and a dull sound came from the room!

"Thieves, they are all thieves! I will not abdicate, I will never abdicate!"

Li Lin shouted with his neck stiffened.

His face had an abnormal flush, and his eyes were bulging and bloodshot.

Gao Shang didn't know what to say, he could only say... There must be something hateful about pitiful people. Li Lin's current situation was all caused by himself.

He squatted down, silently picked up the paperweight and put it on the table.

"Why are you all forcing me?"

Li Lin suddenly picked up the sword hanging on the wall, pulled it out, pointed at Gao Shang and cursed: "Why are you forcing me! I just want to be an emperor, an emperor with great power. Is there anything wrong with me?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down first. Things haven't reached that point yet." Gao Shang said in panic, sweating coldly.

"Fang Qing! You have undermined my authority and treated me as a puppet! You deserve to die!"

Li Lin rushed towards Gao Shang and stabbed him with a sword.

My name is not Fang Qing! Gao Shang was so frightened that he almost died.

Fortunately, he usually ran errands everywhere, and his agility was much better than Li Lin's. Gao Shang dodged Li Lin's stab.

"Your Majesty, please calm down first!"

Gao Shang held Li Lin's sword-holding wrist with one hand and patiently persuaded him.

The sword strike just now also helped Li Lin to relieve a lot of his anger. He threw the unsharpened sword in his hand, which was used for etiquette, to the ground, then sat down at the table and panted.

His eyes flickered, and I didn't know what he was thinking.

……

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It was late at night, but Fang Chongyong had not yet slept. He was still discussing military strategies and analyzing battle examples with Li Quan.

Today, he devotes himself to his career, which makes his close associates feel safe and reliable, and also makes them alert and dare not slack off.

"Li Lu and Yan Zhenqing's surprise attack on Guanzhong failed and the losses were not small. This was really unexpected."

Fang Chongyong sighed with some regret.

Originally, he also thought that after Li Baochen entered Guanzhong, he would have great difficulty acclimatizing to the local climate and it would be difficult for him to integrate the forces in Guanzhong.

But no one expected that Marshal Baochen actually went to practice Taoism.

Li Baochen's retreat just gave him the space for power. The Guanlong family would help him take care of things that he didn't care about.

There is no need for both sides to fight to the death.

As a result, Li Lu's entry into Guanzhong was very cost-effective for the Guanlong families.

The Guanlong families' support for Li Lu did not gain them anything. Instead, it maintained the status quo, which was more conducive to their expansion of power.

The forces in Guanzhong were temporarily united, so naturally they would not be polite to Li Yu. Thinking back on this incident, it is really quite sad.

"If a lone army goes deep into the enemy's territory, it will surely fail. If there is no inside support in Guanzhong, Li Baochen will win no matter what.

But the ambush on Li Yu at Xiong'er Mountain was indeed a brilliant fight."

Li Quan said with great confidence.

"We must also expand our army as soon as possible. We must recruit 50,000 elite soldiers in a short period of time and then slowly train them. In the next two years, we can slowly advance southwards and southwestwards and train a navy that can defeat any opponent on the Yangtze River."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice.

Now all parties are resting and developing production. It is estimated that in a few years, they will start to annex territories. It is impossible not to train troops.

"Bianzhou City is also under construction. We can build the weapons and ordnance workshops first."

Li Quan reminded Fang Chongyong.

Da Congming was taking notes on the side, writing very quickly and without missing a word.

To build a strong army, it is not enough to just recruit soldiers, but also requires a lot of detailed logistical work. Otherwise, if you can't even get enough leather boots for the soldiers, how can you fight a war?

Just as the two were discussing the matter, Zhang Guangsheng said from outside the door, "Sir, Li Bai's wife Zong wants to see you."

"Zong's grandfather, Zong Chuke, was also a prime minister in his time."

Li Quan reminded him in a low voice.

"Well, let her in."

Fang Chongyong gave an order to Zhang Guangsheng, and Li Quan and Da Congming retreated from the back door of the study.

"Meet the official."

After Zong entered the study, the other party bowed to him bravely.

Although this woman looks to be nearly 50 years old, she is well-mannered and graceful. As expected of a woman whose family has produced a prime minister, her upbringing is evident.

"please."

Fang Chongyong motioned for Zong to sit down.

"I came here today to plead for my husband, Li Taibai."

Zong said calmly, with a hint of pleading in his tone.

"Oh? Why do you say that, Madam Zong?"

Fang Chongyong asked with interest.

This woman is no ordinary person. Her political sense is stronger than that of many incumbent officials.

"When the emperor was the Prince of Yong, he had more than ten aides in his residence, including Li Bai. Now, except for Wei Zichun who was imprisoned and a few others who were sent to other places as provincial governors, all the others were beheaded outside Kaifeng City in recent days, their property was confiscated, and their relatives were exiled.

I am deeply afraid that Li Bai will meet with such an unexpected event, so I came to the government office to plead for Li Bai. "

Zong said it very tactfully, but Fang Zhongyong understood it.

Why were all of Yongwang Li Lin's former aides purged one by one?

Because, so much time has passed, and those people have not come to Fang Zhongyong to "pay their respects". In other words, Fang Zhongyong has given these people a chance, but they did not seize it.

Political struggle is brutal.

Many times, you can't have it all, and you have to take sides. If you don't stand on my side, I will treat you as an enemy.

Such are the rules of politics.

Mrs. Zong hinted at why those people died, but she came to visit herself. It was very clear what she wanted to express.

She came to pay her respects on behalf of Li Bai.

"The poem written by Li Bai in the tavern warned me and saved many lives.

Madam Zong can rest assured that the former Yongwang Mansion staff were beheaded because of their own faults and crimes, and it had nothing to do with other things. "

Fang Zhongyong waved his hands gently and laughed.

Madam Zong heaved a sigh of relief and secretly sighed in her heart: He sees everything but doesn't say it out loud. Fang Qing's heart is really as clear as a mirror and nothing can be hidden from him.

She also knew what the other party's attitude was.

Killing Li Bai seems to be the elimination of a person who disagrees with oneself politically, but in fact it tarnishes one's reputation.

For someone like Li Bai who is simple-minded and has a big mouth, you might as well be more generous and let him speak to show your magnanimity.

Sparing Li Bai can win the hearts of many people, which is a conspiracy. Executing others but not Li Bai is not something Fang Qing missed, but it is intentional.

He even found an excuse for Li Bai.

This man is more than a hundred times stronger than Li Lin!
Mrs. Zong sighed in her heart.

"In that case, I will thank the emperor on behalf of Li Bai."

Mrs. Zong bowed deeply to Fang Chongyong.

"I'll ask Zhang Guangsheng to take Madam back."

Fang Zhongyong nodded slightly and made a gesture of invitation, which meant he was seeing the guest off.

Madam Zong stood up, bowed again, and turned to leave. She already knew why Li Lin lost so badly.

Because Li Lin's opponent was so powerful, he really didn't give this puppet emperor any chance at all.

How can you possibly win when you are inferior in ability, mind, means, and power?
(End of this chapter)