The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Li Shimin, he wanted to be a real emperor who had the final say.

After returning from the palace, in the evening, Li Fu received a visiting card from Zhao Deyan.

He wanted to visit the mansion tomorrow afternoon.

Li Fu was in the study, looking at the visiting card with interest.

"Your Majesty is really good at predicting things. Now that the commotion in Chang'an City is so big, Zhao Deyan is getting more and more restless." Li Fu smiled and said, "Promise it."

"Yes." Old Zhao responded.

"By the way, Old Zhao, find a secluded house in front, clean it up and decorate it." Li Fu said, "Use it as a study."

"My dear, the study here..."

"It's used to entertain some guests. This study in our house is not suitable." Li Fu explained.

There are many things in this study, and they are very important. On weekdays, only Xiao Tao can come to clean it. When Li Fu is not there, only Old Zhao and Xiao Tao can go in and out.

Even Shitou can only come to the study when Li Fu summons him.

Naturally, it is not suitable to receive other people.

And if other people come to visit the mansion, some people are not suitable to meet in the hall. It is okay once or twice, but if they come again, it will be too unfamiliar to receive them in the hall.

The study is also a place to receive people.

When someone comes to visit, let them go to the study. When the two sides meet, the relationship and distance can be shortened.

Otherwise, some "intimate" words will not be so easy to say.

For example, Zhao Deyan.

Last time we met in the hall, this time, we have to let him go to the study to show closeness and chat better.

But we can't let Zhao Deyan come to this study.

Therefore, we must set up another study suitable for chatting in the front yard.

As soon as Li Fu said it, Lao Zhao understood.

"Don't worry, my lord, the study will be set up before tomorrow morning."

Li Fu nodded slightly.

"Thank you for your hard work. By the way, a batch of books will be sent from Da'an Palace in the next two days." Li Fu said, "Find a few people. I need to copy all the books sent from Da'an Palace with our new paper. After copying, bind them into books. This matter must be done by trusted people. From copying to binding, everything must be completed in our house and cannot be spread out."

Old Zhao thought for a while.

"My dear, there are several accountants in our house, all of whom are trustworthy family members. How about setting up a yard in the house and letting them do this?"

"Okay." Li Fu responded, "In addition, find a few craftsmen with superb carving skills. I want to meet them the day after tomorrow."

"Yes."

Old Zhao retreated to arrange things, while Li Fu was in his study, looking at the books on the bookshelf.

Some of them may overlap with the books in Da'an Palace, so they will have to be selected at that time.

Most of the books on Li Fu's bookshelf are bamboo slips.

Copying with new paper will save trouble in the future, whether reading or carrying.

The next afternoon, Zhao Deyan came to the Jingyang Palace as promised, and the housekeeper Zhao politely invited Zhao Deyan into the "study".

Zhao Deyan was very happy to see the housekeeper being so polite to him, and he was even happier after following the housekeeper to the study.

His Royal Highness Jingyang treated him as his own.

Last time he was in the hall, but this time he came directly to the study.

Li Fu had been sitting in the study waiting for Zhao Deyan.

"Your Highness, I greet you."

"No need to be polite, come and sit down and talk." Li Fu entertained Zhao Deyan with a smile, and then said to Lao Zhao: "Housekeeper Zhao, let someone bring some food."

"Yes." Lao Zhao withdrew.

Not long after, the servants of the mansion brought tea and cakes.

"Your Highness, the matter of official assessment..."

"Ah, don't worry about this. I have already mentioned it to His Majesty. When you were an official in Beizhou, you also had political achievements. You have been listed in front of His Majesty, and it's settled." Li Fu smiled and said, "Your Majesty said it himself, and you have an official position."

"Great, great!" Zhao Deyan got excited.

This is stable, stable. As expected, King Jingyang mentioned it in front of His Majesty, which is better than anything else.

What is the assessment of officials? Isn't it still about who has the most connections?

"This is actually the grace of Your Highness to me." Zhao Deyan bowed his head quickly.

Li Fu smiled: "It's good to know."

"I am willing to serve Your Highness." Zhao Deyan climbed up the pole like a big snake.

Zhao Deyan was also very perceptive and served tea to Li Fu.

"I wish Your Highness a prosperous network in the court."

"Hahahaha, you said it well."Li Fu praised.

"Recently, officials from the capital and prefectures are all in Chang'an, and people are in a panic because of the court's assessment and layoffs. Zhao Deyan, now you are safe and not in a hurry, but you were a casual official before, and the court's official positions are all filled. If you want to have a position, then you can't..."

"What does your highness mean?" Zhao Deyan looked at Li Fu in confusion.

"Of course, this matter is like this, and the current situation is also like this. Now you are also considered to be His Majesty's man. His Majesty hopes that this matter can go smoothly. There can be some chaos, but not too much chaos." Li Fu lowered his eyes and said, "Because there are some people in the court who don't want the court to go smoothly, and they always think about getting something for themselves in it.

This king knows that this is human nature.

As for personal connections and relationship networks, what you have is mine. When it comes to a certain point, everyone will fight for their own interests, don't you think? "

Zhao Deyan nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, your highness is right."

"Assessment, what is it in plain words? You know it."

Zhao Deyan's eyes rolled around.

My current connection is the King of Jingyang, and the King of Jingyang is on your side.

Then whoever stands opposite your majesty is on my side.

Why did your majesty make such a scene of dismissal?

Zhao Deyan thought about the King of Jingyang's hesitation.

Then, as his mind turned, he realized it.

Wu De's old minister!

The King of Jingyang is on your side, but he is also the nephew of the retired emperor and is also filial to his majesty. The Emperor.

The King of Jingyang is between the two His Majesties.

Wude, the old minister, was promoted by the Emperor.

And now in the new dynasty, the people of His Majesty and the people of the Emperor are competing in the court... The King of Jingyang is caught in the middle, he can't speak or act openly.

Then he can only rely on himself! !

Zhao Deyan's eyes lit up.

Such important and secret things have been figured out by himself.

This time, he is really going to become the confidant of the King of Jingyang The rhythm of the pulse.

Good, good.

Great.

Zhao Deyan's heart was already excited and boiling.

If I help King Jingyang solve this trouble, I will also help His Majesty solve this trouble.

Then won't my career in the future soar to the sky?

Be His Majesty's "own man".

Good, good, good, I really found the right way.

Fortunately, I was smart at the beginning and figured out the way from the words of the Minister of the Central Secretariat. Otherwise, what is the difference between me now and those local officials in Chang'an City? I am still anxious like an ant on a hot pot, and I have no clue at all.

And now, I have sorted out this mess and embarked on a road to heaven.

"You said that there must be some people in the capital and local officials who cannot pass the assessment and are dismissed, but the Tang Dynasty still needs officials to manage affairs, so they must not all be dismissed. So, what kind of people do you think are good to be dismissed? "

After Li Fu finished speaking, he stopped talking and just drank tea quietly.

Let Zhao Deyan, a smart man, taste it himself.

Zhao Deyan looked at Li Fu with bright eyes and nodded repeatedly.

"Your Highness, I understand, I understand."

Li Fu smiled and raised his hand to point at Zhao Deyan.

"You are smart, I will not treat you unfairly.

"Hehehehehehe" Zhao Deyan also laughed.

"Your Highness has a good eye and uses my strengths."

"Hahahaha." Li Fu laughed loudly.

After receiving Zhao Deyan, Li Fu sat in the study.

"Xiao Tao." Li Fu called out to the outside.

"My dear." Xiao Tao walked in.

"There are so many Beijing officials and local officials in Chang'an City recently. Where will they gather after they come to Chang'an City?" Li Fu asked.

Xiao Tao thought for a while and said, "My dear, there are only two places, a teahouse and a wine shop. If you want to watch them get together, you can go to our teahouse."

Li Fu showed a genuine smile on his face.

"Xiao Tao, sure, you are smart."

"I am not stupid." Xiao Tao said, "My dear, are you going out now?"

Li Fu nodded.

"Go out, change clothes, and let's go to the teahouse. You ask someone to go to the teahouse in advance to find the shopkeeper and prepare a tea room for me." Li Fu said, "Tell the shopkeeper that I am going to the teahouse to listen to the news."

"Yes, I will ask someone to arrange it now." Xiao Tao responded.

The news was to be delivered by others, and Xiao Tao was going to choose a suitable dress for Li Fu.

Since it was going to the teahouse to eavesdrop,You definitely can't dress up in a flashy way.

Xiao Tao picked out a clean cloth suit and an ordinary black servant's hat for Li Fu.

Li Fu changed his clothes and brought only one guard, Wu Liangye, with him.

The other guards followed him all the way and protected him secretly.

When he arrived at the East Market Teahouse, Li Fu entered from the back door, went upstairs directly, and sat down.

After opening the window of this teahouse on the second floor, there was no sound insulation from the downstairs and corridor, or even the teahouse next door.

This place is perfect for listening to people chatting outside, and you don't have to join them, just listen.

In the teahouse, in the hall downstairs, everyone sat together drinking tea and chatting.

Judging from their attire, most of them are officials. Take a closer look.

Oh, acquaintances.

Zhao Deyan was quick enough. He came to this teahouse right after leaving the Jingyang Palace.

What a coincidence.

Instead of going to the wine shop, I came to the teahouse.

"You said, there were so many things before the assessment, and there are still so many things after the assessment, why do we need to assess? Really."

"That's right."

"For promotion, there is nothing wrong with assessment, but why do we need assessment for daily official duties?"

"That's right."

"Oh, for promotion, I think it depends not on assessment, but on connections. Those who rely on big trees have probably found a way out long ago."

Everyone drank tea and moistened their throats.

"It was easier to be an official during the Wude era. The new Zhenguan era doesn't necessarily require any changes. This change will cause chaos."

"You said that the court affairs now, various disaster relief, official assessment, are nothing but chaos. If the Turks on the grassland come to cause trouble at this time, it will be even more chaotic."

"Alas, who said it's not? I haven't thought it through until now. The emperor granted me an official position. Although I have no political achievements, I haven't made any mistakes. I heard that this assessment is to lay off officials. If I can't pass the assessment, it means that the official position granted to me by the emperor will be gone?"

"I heard that the people in the Qin Palace wanted to make a name for themselves."

Li Fu drank tea calmly.

These people chatted and chatted, and they really talked about something.

No wonder Changsun Wuji was under such great pressure.

The news can't be concealed. There is no wall that is impenetrable in the world.

He was the Right Prime Minister, in charge of this matter, and the final spearhead was directed at him.

Li Fu also understood what Li Shimin meant.

For management assessment, those who are capable will not worry about not being able to pass the assessment.

On the contrary, those who are incapable and have no political achievements are most worried about being dismissed.

These people can become officials because they all rely on the official titles and wishes of the retired emperor and the protection of their parents.

They are worried that they can't get over this hurdle.

Instead of passive chaos, it is better to give a fuse and let these mediocre people form a group. When the time comes, when it comes to dealing with them, they will know who to deal with and how to deal with them.

Don't miss it.

Once this group of people start to form a group, then Changsun Wuji's workload can be reduced a lot in disguise.

There is no need to read their articles and policy papers one by one.

Just do it directly.

They are all "old ministers of martial virtue" who are useless, so they can be dismissed.

"I heard that the person in charge of this matter is the You Pushe of the current dynasty. The You Pushe is your majesty's brother-in-law. I also heard that Empress Changsun doesn't like her brother interfering in politics. Maybe your majesty doesn't understand this matter."

"You are from another state, but you are well-informed." Zhao Deyan looked at the official in surprise.

"Being an official is just about listening and talking. Especially when you are in the capital, the news is faster and you almost know everything."

"So, does the You Pushe want to replace his own people?"

"Hiss~ Isn't that right? This is to change the connections, the people of Wude, and replace them with people of Zhenguan." Zhao Deyan said: "I was an official in the Wude period. In the Zhenguan period, I became an idle person."

Zhao Deyan did not follow the words and point the spearhead at Changsun Wuji, but "inadvertently" separated the Wude and Zhenguan dynasties.