Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 148 The chess pieces still have value

Chen Qingsi's appearance was naturally fake, as the most taboo thing in official circles was transgression.

It's not your doing, you rush to do it.

No matter how well you do, you will never end well.

Li Zhi's current most important issue is to break the gentry's blockade on the imperial examination, but he can't do it for the time being.

The aristocratic clans have good educational resources, and the elites they send out are all top-notch people in talent and learning. The common people and poor families are inherently deficient, and there are only a few who can surpass them.Occasionally, a few people with outstanding talents will suffer a big loss in rankings due to insufficient connections.

Historically, Li Zhi later came up with the idea of ​​palace examination. Through his own interview, he selected talents by himself and broke the situation.As a result, later generations forced this credit to Wu Zetian...

Obviously, Li Zhi didn't think of this move now.

Chen Qingsi came up with a method for the mixed situation of nobles and common people in the Imperial College, which can be applied to the imperial examination.

Seeing Chen Qingsi's confused look, Li Zhi asked, "Ai Qing, do you think this method can be used in the imperial examination?"

Chen Qingsi reacted very quickly and said hurriedly: "The imperial examination is a major matter of the country, I dare not say anything."

When Li Zhi reached this stage, how could he let Chen Qingsi go and said, "I will pardon you for not committing the crime."

Chen Qingsi did not answer, but pondered for a moment and said, "It's feasible."

Li Zhi took two steps back and forth, then sat down and said, "I think it's feasible, but I'm afraid someone will gossip."

Chen Qingsi said: "The emperor personally selects talents for the country in front of the palace, which shows that His Majesty is eager for talents. Who dares to gossip."

Li Zhi asked a few more key questions in detail.

Chen Qingsi answered them all.

Li Zhi nodded with satisfaction and made up his mind, saying: "I will appoint Aiqing as the Examiner Wailang, who will be fully responsible for the imperial examination in the coming year. Are you confident that you can do the job? Can you withstand the pressure to change the system?"

When Chen Qingsi heard that there was such unexpected joy, she said without any hesitation: "I serve the Tang Dynasty and your Majesty, so I have nothing to fear."

"Okay!" Li Zhi clenched his fists, feeling relieved and his eyes blazing.

As the Son of Heaven, how can I be controlled by others?
The two also discussed the matter of the imperial examination.

Chen Qingsi did not mention anything about Lai Ji during the whole process, nor did she plead for Lai Ji.

It was not until dusk that Li Zhi mentioned Lai Ji and asked, "Has Ai Qing heard about Lai Xianggong's collusion with Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang in his early years to rebel?"

Chen Qingsi said: "I heard about it."

Li Zhi asked: "What do you think?"

Chen Qingsi said seriously: "I have never thought about whether this matter is true or not. Your Majesty has sent people to investigate. As your Majesty, you will be able to figure out the right and wrong."

Li Zhi had a look of understanding on his face, how could he not know that the minister in front of him, who had been in office for only two years, was an old slippery man in the officialdom, very measured in his words and deeds when dealing with things and people.

Li Zhi said: "I want to know Aiqing's own opinion."

Chen Qingsi bowed and said: "I am not familiar with Mr. Lai, but I am fortunate to have the respect of Mr. Zhuang of Qingxi County and have a relationship with him. I have a preliminary understanding of Mr. Lai. He is an upright man and not a treasonous person."

Li Zhi didn't answer, nodded, and waved away Chen Qingsi.

With his fingers tapping on the case table, Li Zhi took out a memorial written jointly by Xu Jingzong, Xin Maojiang, and Yuan Gongyu. The content was exactly the investigation results of Lai Ji, Han Yuan, and Chu Suiliang.

There is no doubt that the crime of treason was established.

This result is not surprising.

Li Zhi was the mastermind behind everything, and this was the result he wanted. The people below were just trying to figure out the holy will.

Let alone Lai Ji and Han Yuan, even if Chu Suiliang conspired to rebel, Li Zhi didn't believe it.Company commander Sun Wuji didn't have the capital to plot a rebellion, so how could Chu Suiliang have the qualifications.

The reason why the rebellion was established was because he, the emperor, needed it.

There are false accusations on the left and right, and adding one more person will not affect the outcome.

As for the extra help, Li Zhi was indeed a little surprised at first, but it was within his acceptance range.

It was true that he promoted Lai Ji. When he deposed the king and established Wu, Lai Ji did not support him. Instead, he said seriously: "When a king establishes a queen, in order to inherit the ancestral temple and mother the world, it is appropriate to choose someone who is famous for etiquette and righteousness, and who is quiet and courteous. "Watching the whole world, it means calling the gods." Later, the example of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty was brought up, saying that Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty used a maid as his queen, which led to the decline of the imperial line, and this was the disaster.

He nakedly accused Wu Mei of being of low status and not qualified to be a queen.

Li Zhi now makes Empress Wu very comfortable. Where can she find such a considerate empress who has no family background and doesn't have to worry about relatives?

Li Zhi was very satisfied with Queen Wu's performance, and was slightly displeased with Lai Ji's rebellion against Wu, but not to the point of disgust.

Li Yifu came to help with this plan.

Li Zhi didn't have any extra thoughts. There were people on the left and right who didn't like it. If it was gone, it would be gone.

As an emperor, he has no shortage of chess pieces.

It's just... things are a little different now.

Chen Qingsi's performance once again impressed the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Previously, he was attracted by his talent and arranged to enter the Imperial Academy as a way of protecting him.

After all, in Li Zhi's view, although Chen Qingsi was talented, he was still young and lacked experience in temple fighting.

Compared with the intrigues in the temple, the Imperial College, which is responsible for education, is independent and can avoid many overt and secret fights, and can also accumulate official reputation very well.

Today, I discovered that Chen Qingsi was young and mature, and was born to be an official. He was able to shoulder heavy responsibilities, and his dexterity was far better than he expected.It does its job without polishing and can be used directly.

but……

Li Zhi didn't hesitate too much. He took the red pen on the case table and wrote his own imperial approval in red pen.

"Han Yuan and Chu Suiliang are guilty. There are still doubts in Lai Ji. We must not let the meritorious ministers feel cold and continue the investigation."

This continued investigation is undoubtedly a guarantee.

Chen Qingsi's biggest problem is that she comes from a low background and has nothing to rely on.

Now that he has decided to reuse Chen Qingsi and use his fame to attract poor families from the common people, he needs someone to escort him and make up for his own shortcomings.

Laiji is the best choice.

Li Zhi will not give up any useful chess pieces.

The rejected memorial reached the hands of Xu Jingzong, General Xin Mao, and Yuan Gongyu immediately.

Xu Jingzong is such a smart person. After noticing Li Zhi's change of mind, he started to wash away Lai Ji's stain without considering the reason at all.

Xin Mao will follow Xu Jingzong's lead.

Yuan Gongyu did not dare to disobey, but after acquiescing to Xu Jingzong and General Xin Mao's actions, he immediately found Li Yifu and informed him of the situation.

The smile on Li Yifu's face was slightly stiff. He had tested Li Zhi's attitude before. Li Zhi didn't care about Lai Ji and whispered: "Why is this happening?"

He didn't wait for Yuan Gongyu to answer, but he had already reacted: "It's him!"

Li Yifu has been sending people to keep an eye on Chen Qingsi's movements, hoping to see if Chen Qingsi would overstep his bounds. As a result, Chen Qingsi has been working diligently in the Imperial College, until today, he passively entered the palace.

(End of this chapter)