Jiuxi

Chapter 621 Chapter 619 [Not by the Autumn Wind]

"The older people get, the more innocent they become, which is why people often say that old children are like old children."

The laughter stopped and the old man sighed leisurely.

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "If it were someone else, I wouldn't have any doubts, but you are different."

"What is the difference?"

"Over the past few decades, every choice you made was both unexpected and reasonable. Back then, you and Lord Han held up the sky for His Majesty, but you were not a loyal minister in the traditional sense. You had many selfish motives. The Jinlin Li family thrived under your leadership and became the leader of the nine major families in Jiangnan. Under your protection, the power of the various families expanded rapidly and even threatened the imperial power. However, in several of the most critical changes, you resolutely stood by the late emperor, not caring about being regarded as a traitor by those people."

Li Daoyan fell silent for a long time before he said with a sigh: "It's nothing more than wanting more than others. Some people are good at making choices, while others are always in a dilemma. I happen to belong to the latter."

Lu Chen pondered for a moment and said with emotion: "If others were faced with such a situation, they would probably be at a loss. Only the old prime minister could find a way out of the thorns. It was really not easy."

"You have been in the capital for a long time, and your ability to flatter others has improved by leaps and bounds."

Li Daoyan showed a teasing look on his face, and then said with a smile: "Well, considering your sincerity, I will agree to Yao Chong's request."

Although Lu Chen did not reveal any flaws, this kind of thing still could not be hidden from the old man's eyes.

Lu Mo remained silent.

Li Daoyan said softly, "In fact, I can understand your concerns. Yao Chong is indeed a capable official, but he is not determined enough and can be easily influenced by external forces. At the beginning, he was forced by Ji Ximing's words and instigated by the powerful families in the south, so he detained your father in the governor's mansion. This is a knot in your heart that you can't forget. I thought you would find ways to drive him out of Huaizhou, but I didn't expect that you have never taken any action."

Lu Chen said calmly: "My father doesn't care about that little thing."

Li Daoyan nodded slightly and said, "Your father is a wise man, otherwise he would not have been able to cultivate a talent like you. The reason why you suddenly have this idea is nothing more than that the current emperor is different from the previous emperor, and some of his actions make you feel insecure. If Yao Chong receives some secret orders in the future and does something that makes you angry, you will definitely not continue to endure it. So let's do this, Yao Chong will be transferred back to the capital, and I will ask your majesty for permission to send a reliable official to Huaizhou."

This time he did not ask for Lu Chen's opinion.

Lu Chen said tacitly: "Thank you for your care, old prime minister."

Li Daoyan smiled faintly.

The two men walked into the pavilion, where servants served them fragrant tea, and they bowed and left.

Li Daoyan sat on a stone bench, one hand on the stone table, the other hand rubbing his thigh, and sighed: "Old people don't rely on muscles and bones to be strong, the ancients really didn't deceive me."

Lu Chen said sincerely: "The old prime minister will surely live a long and prosperous life."

"I accept your good words."

Li Daoyan looked at the ripples on the surface of the pond and changed the subject, "What do you think of the commanders of the various camps of the Beijing Army?"

The soldiers of the Beijing camp who rushed to support the Jiangbei battlefield have returned, and the organization of each camp is being adjusted.

Han Zhongjie temporarily leads the Xiaoyong Camp, Zhang Xu leads the Wuwei Camp, and Chen Lanyu leads the Jinwu Camp. All three are ministers of military affairs.

After the previous emperor's reform, the three major camps of the capital's army now each have three soldiers with nearly 40,000 troops, with a total force of 120,000, responsible for guarding key points throughout the capital.

The capital city was guarded by four armies of the Imperial Guard, with a total force of 50,000.

Normally, civil officials were not allowed to interfere in military affairs, and even the prime minister was no exception. However, Li Daoyan asked openly, and Lu Chen did not evade the question.

He replied calmly: "Zhang, Han, and Chen are all capable generals, long-tested and loyal and reliable. I don't think there will be any problem with them leading the Beijing Army to protect the capital."

"The previous emperor's arrangement will not be wrong."

Li Daoyan pondered and said, "When Duke Rong returns to Beijing in the future, he will be the head of the Military Academy, with Shen Yulai inside and Zhang Xu, Han Zhongjie and Chen Lanyu outside. The capital will indeed be safe and secure. However, I remember that the two commanders of the Jinwu Camp, Ye Jitang and Liu Yin, are both powerful generals you brought from the border. How do you plan to place them? Let them continue to stay in the Beijing Army, or take them back to the border?"

Lu Chen thought about this question and asked calmly, "What do you think I should do, old prime minister?"

Li Daoyan thought for a moment and said slowly: "Take them to Dingzhou."

Lu Chen frowned slightly.

Li Daoyan explained, "The capital is the most prosperous place in the world. It can make people soar to the top, but it can also make people fall off a cliff. Although I have never met Ye and Liu, I have a rough understanding of their life experiences. They are very young and have lived in the bitter cold of the border for many years. It is hard to guarantee that they will not be blinded by this ten-foot soft red. You will naturally have no worries when you are in the capital, but if you live in the border for a long time, how can you discipline them in time?"

Lu Chen said solemnly: "Old Prime Minister, your advice is good and I know what to do."

At this moment, he seemed to have a heartstring suddenly touched.

It was a very strange feeling, vaguely appearing in his mind, but he could not grasp it.

Maybe he sensed something was odd, but couldn't figure it out in a short period of time.

Li Daoyan saw this and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lu Chen suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind and shook his head, saying, "I just thought of some things and felt that people's hearts are hard to predict." "Since ancient times, the most difficult thing to see through is the human heart."

Li Daoyan did not doubt him and continued, "You are only in your twenties. You still have plenty of time to appreciate the world. There is no need to rush."

"Not young anymore, I'm twenty-three this year."

"It's time to deal with the big things in life."

Li Daoyan changed the subject and said with a smile, "Are you really not planning to hold the wedding in the capital?"

Lu Chen said earnestly: "The Lu family has lived in Guangling for generations, and I don't live in the capital all the time. Besides, the things of welcoming and seeing off are too complicated. It would be easier and more convenient to get married in Guangling, and it would save so many people running back and forth. The only thing I owe is that I can't treat the old prime minister and a few elders to a glass of water and wine."

Li Daoyan said gently, "Although I cannot go to Guangling, I will definitely send the gift there, and the palace will surely do the same. When the time comes, let Zhiyuer represent the Li family to congratulate you, Mr. Li. By the way, has the wedding date been set?"

Lu Chen replied, "I received a letter from my father a few days ago. He and the two Taishan masters have already discussed and decided that the wedding date will be the sixth day of August."

Li Gongxu, who had been standing silently nearby, couldn't help but laugh quietly.

Li Daoyan also praised: "The county lord's actions are indeed extraordinary, even Mount Tai has two of them."

Lu Chen showed a rare bit of embarrassment.

Li Daoyan certainly would not dwell on such a matter, and immediately said leisurely: "Let's not talk about your Lin family's Taishan for now. Prince Wang is not an ordinary person. Although the Wang family had some dishonest behavior in the past, what they have done in recent years is enough to wash away those shames. No matter how the officials in the court view it, Prince Wang will definitely enter the central government. With him and Duke Rong staying in the capital, I believe you can rest assured."

Lu Chen said calmly: "Your Majesty has discussed this matter with me. For the sake of the Wang family, I think it is not appropriate for Lord Taishan to hold real power."

Li Daoyan's old eyes lit up slightly, and he said approvingly: "It's not easy for you to figure this out. In fact, as long as you walk steadily, the status of the Wang family will rise, and they don't have to rush for success. I believe that the prince can also understand this truth."

At this point in the conversation, Lu Chen could already vaguely feel the old man's pulse.

The current court is in a delicate balance, with the emperor and officials, the central government and the border troops, interdependent and mutually restraining, and no party can break this balance at will.

The biggest variable is Lu Chen, because he is too young.

Even if his title does not increase in the next twenty or thirty years, he can still weave a huge net that covers the sky and the sun relying on his existing power and status.

This is what Li Daoyan is really worried about.

However, being able to see hidden concerns does not mean being able to solve them. There are many things in this world that are beyond our ability to solve.

After the departure of the previous emperor, Lu Chen's power gradually grew. His position is no longer shaken by a few idle words. As long as the emperor and his ministers in the capital do not go crazy, as long as the aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River still dream of a peaceful life, and as long as Lu Chen himself does not show any rebellious thoughts, no one in the court dares to overturn the table and destroy everything.

Of course, Li Daoyan would never be as rash as the young emperor. He calmly asked, "When will the second northern expedition be launched?"

Lu Chen took a long time to think this time, and said slowly: "From the bottom of my heart, I don't agree with the forced northern expedition. Before the 14th year of Jianwu, our border troops could only take a defensive stance, and the Jing army still held the absolute initiative. After the great victory in Yongqiu, this situation has changed, and the Jing army will inevitably implement a strategic contraction. The switch from defense to offense is certainly gratifying, but it also means that the risk will increase, because the difficulty of attack is much higher than that of defense."

Li Daoyan looked relieved.

Lu Chen continued, "If the imperial court intends to launch a second northern expedition, my suggestion is to target Heluo."

"Return to the old capital and then plan for the north?"

"Yes."

Li Daoyan did not look excited, because he knew the meaning of the four words "return to the old capital" and he also knew how difficult this task was.

With this in mind, he slowly said, "Then let's follow your plan. First, train the troops, stabilize the current results, and then plan slowly in the future."

Lu Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. What he was most worried about was that some people in the court were blinded by the previous victories. Only when the old man in front of him could see the pros and cons clearly could he feel at ease on the border.

Li Daoyan said, "You will leave for your new post in a few days, so I will not see you off."

Lu Chen bowed his head and said, "I dare not trouble the old prime minister."

"Before you leave, I have something to say to you."

"Please give me your instructions, old minister."

Li Daoyan was silent for a moment, a gentle look appeared in his deep eyes, and he said earnestly: "Those with great virtue will shine, while those with little virtue will be humbled. Without the words of good historians or the momentum of flying, their reputation will be passed down to future generations."

Lu Chen savored these few words, stood up, bowed solemnly and said: "Junior will remember this."

The old man looked up at him, with a look of reluctance and endless expectations in his eyes, which eventually turned into a look of vicissitudes.

"Go."

(End of this chapter)