The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Now everything is really getting better.

It's like a dream, how fast it goes.

In two or three years, life has changed dramatically.

Oh, after the betrothal gift, I must say in front of my wife's spirit tablet that I have not let her down. Now, the family is really getting better, and my husband is about to get married. In the future, there will be a little husband in the family.

Li Fu doesn't care about going to Chang'an with his family, after all, there are big things to do this time.

In addition, I still have to participate in the Laba Festival hunting in a few days, and then I will have to celebrate the New Year in Chang'an.

The New Year can only be celebrated in Chang'an.

With a title and an official position, I can't escape the big court meeting on New Year's Day.

In addition, I haven't seen Li Chengqian and his children for a long time.

As the prince's tutor, I am a little irresponsible.

After arriving in Chang'an, I had only settled down for half a day when a post was sent to the Jingyang Palace.

Old Zhou met Li Fu in the study.

"My dear, this is a letter from Duke Lu's mansion."

Old Zhou handed the letter to Li Fu with both hands.

Li Fu opened it and saw that it was a letter inviting him to his house for dinner and drinks. The last sentence on the letter even said: I can also go to your house for dinner and drinks.

This is probably the last sentence he wrote, and he remembered how delicious the food in Jingyang Palace was.

Li Fu picked up his pen to reply.

I'd better invite him to my house when the time comes.

I'm a bit picky about food. If the food doesn't suit my taste and I can't eat it at Old Cheng's house, it would be too much of a disrespect to Old Cheng.

Li Fu told Old Cheng that he would have plenty of good food and wine when he came to his house for dinner.

After writing, he gave it to Old Zhou and asked him to send someone to reply.

"Tomorrow I will entertain Duke Lu, so prepare the side room in the front yard that I cleaned up before." Li Fu said.

"My dear, are you going to receive Duke Lu in the side room?"

Li Fu nodded.

"The main hall is too formal, and Old Cheng is crazy about good wine. Tomorrow, he will definitely get drunk again. It's best to be in the side room. If he gets drunk, he can just fall asleep. It won't be a problem at all." Li Fu smiled.

"My dear, that's right."

Old Zhou thought of Duke Lu and thought his husband had made a very good arrangement.

After returning here, Old Zhao didn't let himself stop for a moment. The betrothal gifts and other things were already prepared in the warehouse. The betrothal gift list was a thick stack. Old Zhao took the list and checked it one by one, once a day, for fear of any mistakes. He was very nervous.

Xiao Tao was in the ready-made clothing shop in Chang'an City, ordering new clothes for her husband for next year.

Replaced all the old clothes.

Liu Niang did not stop in the kitchen. She had to start preparing for the New Year in advance. She took the kitchen staff and sat on a cart to go to the West Market to purchase early in the morning.

In the side room of the front yard, there was a long table on the kang. Li Fu and Cheng Yaojin sat opposite each other, and the maids and servants kept bringing dishes to the table.

"Hehehe." Cheng Yaojin looked at the table full of good wine and food and couldn't help but laugh strangely.

"It has to be from your family." Cheng Yaojin said: "Just these dishes are a new thing. Every year during the New Year, although you send a lot of ingredients over, my chef's skills are really not as good as yours. It's a waste to make so many good things for him."

Speaking, Cheng Yaojin poured himself a glass of wine and gulped down two big mouthfuls.

"Ah! Comfortable!"

Cheng Yaojin's face was full of satisfaction.

"Today we are just having a small gathering, so we found such a place, secluded, sitting here to drink and chat, it is also comfortable. If you are tired, just lie down." Li Fu smiled and said, "Brother, don't blame me for treating you badly."

Cheng Yaojin waved his hand indifferently.

"What do you mean by treating you badly? This is good. Just like you said, it is comfortable. This is the best. Or I am happy to sit with you to eat and drink. There are not so many rules. It is the most comfortable." Cheng Yaojin said, "That's it. I am very satisfied."

The two ate and drank.

"Huairen, the result of the court's dismissal of officials has come out. Have you received the news at the manor?" Cheng Yaojin asked.

Li Fu nodded.

"I've heard that a lot of people were laid off, but His Majesty had anticipated this in advance. The officials who came to the capital didn't make a fuss. After the assessment results came out, those who failed the assessment went to the Ministry of Personnel to ask, and went to the Minister of the Central Secretariat to ask, and that was the result. Don't they know what the assessment results are?

Sorry for making a fuss."

"That's right, a bunch of useless people, keeping them is a waste"Waste the court's money and grain, do nothing, just take the money, where in the world is there such a good thing?"

"The main thing is that they have not done anything. If they have made some efforts and achieved some results during the Wude period, they will not be dismissed." Cheng Yaojin laughed and said: "Six hundred and forty-three officials of the court have been dismissed. In this way, a lot of money can be saved every year."

"Who said it is not? The court has also distributed a lot of disaster relief in the past two years. Everyone has tightened their belts to live." Li Fu also laughed.

Li Fu was embarrassed to disturb Li Shimin and told him that there would still be natural disasters in the third year of Zhenguan.

Although he could not remember the details, Li Fu knew in general that the early years of Zhenguan were full of disasters.

The money and grain saved by dismissing officials can be used by the court to help the people, which is much better than supporting these redundant staff.

"The old guys in the court are sighing privately, saying that the Wude Dynasty is completely over. "Cheng Yaojin said disdainfully: "I don't know what these guys are thinking. It's almost the third year of Zhenguan, and they are still thinking about Wude Dynasty."

Li Fu smiled.

These are all people who can't tell the difference between the big and small kings.

It can't be said that they can't tell the difference between the big and small kings. It's nothing more than the old forces are constantly being cut, their connections are weakened, and their interests are reduced.

In the end, they put everything on Li Yuan's name.

Do you think Li Yuan will pay attention to them now?

"It's called Wude Dynasty, but in fact, it's nothing more than they are going to end up, and they put all the big black pots on the head of the emperor. Do you think the emperor will pay attention to them?"

"Did anyone go to Da'an Palace to cry to the emperor?" Li Fu asked curiously.

"Yes, of course." Cheng Yaojin said: "If one Pei Ji leaves, there will be another Pei Ji standing up. This group of people is a nest, and one of them will always be pushed out. "

"However, without the relationship between Pei Ji and the emperor, they still wanted to do what Pei Ji could do. The result is predictable. The emperor only indulged Pei Ji. After all, the relationship was there." Cheng Yaojin said.

"When they went to Da'an Palace, they didn't know what they said to the emperor. They were picked up and thrown out by the eunuchs of Da'an Palace." Cheng Yaojin said: "I heard that the emperor was very angry, but being thrown out, although it was a loss of face, it was also considered to save their lives. The emperor was kind and knew what they were thinking. After all, they were old friends and couldn't bear to hurt them."

"So, pretend to show your attitude and let His Majesty see it. At that time, even if His Majesty is unhappy, he will embarrass them, but he will not be too harsh on them. "

"Your Majesty is broad-minded. As long as those old ministers don't go too far, they can all be given a chance to live out their days in peace. Unfortunately, people are greedy. After eating two bowls of rice for a long time, even if they are full and have one bowl left, they are unwilling to eat only one bowl of rice and be full."

Cheng Yaojin took a big sip of wine.

"Your statement is appropriate."

"During the Wude period, the emperor gave these people too many things that exceeded their merits. Now it is difficult for Your Majesty to take them back. After this time is over, it will probably be easier. Your Majesty has a tough attitude. If anyone dares to oppose it, the officials who have been dismissed today will be their tomorrow."

Li Fu also picked up the bowl and took a sip of wine.

"You left quickly last time. Did Wei Zheng accept the beauty that Your Majesty gave to Wei Zheng? "

Li Fu began to ask about the melons that he had not had time to eat before.

He had already eaten the melon of the Minister of the Central Secretariat Fang Xuanling, and he had eaten it in front of him.

"Hey, don't say it, don't say it, Wei Zheng, that stubborn donkey, is comparable to the Minister of the Central Secretariat. He is henpecked. His wife at home does not agree. He refused to accept the two beauties rewarded by His Majesty. He knelt in the Liangyi Hall for a long time before His Majesty let him go."

"Your Majesty has dealt a trick on Wei Zheng. For several consecutive days afterwards, His Majesty's mood has improved a lot. Wei Zheng is like a little quail in the court, and is no longer as arrogant as before."

"However, this situation did not last long. After the incident, this stubborn donkey returned to his true colors. I just don't know that Wei Zheng, a traitor, who always contradicts His Majesty in the court like that, can still be tolerated by His Majesty. "

"That's why I said that Your Majesty is broad-minded. People like Wei Zheng also have their uses. How should I put it? When most people in the court are hot-headed, he is like a basin of cold water that can calm everyone down."

"For example, those of you who lead troops to fight, thinking about fighting the Turks, the battle is high, where is the atmosphere, should we do it?" Li Fu asked.

"Of course we should do it!" Cheng Yaojin responded without hesitation: "Turks, of course we have to fight, we have to fight hard,Let out a breath of anger. "

"At this time, Wei Zheng's importance is reflected. "Li Fu said: "At this time, what can we use to fight the Turks? There are constant natural disasters in the country, and the court has to constantly provide relief to the people. The treasury has no extra money and food. What can we use to support the army's march?"

"One person's food, drink, and defecation are not worth mentioning. In the army, once it marches, it is the food, drink, and defecation of thousands of people. Think about it, think about it carefully, without money and food, let the soldiers follow the commander to drink the northwest wind?" Li Fu said: "Wei Zheng jumped out to oppose, that is based on facts, speaking facts, and reasoning. I have to say that sometimes your majesty is the same as those of you who lead troops to fight. When making decisions, you are prone to impulse."

"When your majesty is impulsive, who can stand up to stop your majesty? Who dares to stand up to stop your majesty?" Li Fu asked: "Wei Zheng, he is too stubborn. "

Moreover, in order to preserve his own reputation, Li Shimin would not kill Wei Zheng when he gave advice.

Li Shimin's mind, reputation as a wise ruler, and his ideals and ambitions meant that Wei Zheng would never be convicted for his words.

So, Wei Zheng was a basin of cold water.

Although it was very disappointing, it was indispensable.

The reputations of the monarch and his minister were mutually beneficial.

Cheng Yaojin heard Li Fu say this and thought it made sense.

"You are right." Cheng Yaojin said: "We must be cautious when marching and fighting. As the saying goes, food and grass must go before the troops move. If there is no food and grass, the battle cannot be fought."

"Changsun Wuji, is the right servant still hanging? "Li Fu asked.

"The matter has just ended, and it has not recovered yet. Your Majesty has really suppressed those stubborn old ministers. The price is to take away Changsun Wuji's right servant. However, this official position can be given to him again in the future, but the officials who were dismissed can't come back, and those old ministers can't stand up, so it's worthwhile. "

Cheng Yaojin is also a man with a mind, and he also understands Li Shimin's operation.

The two sides hedged, washed away the old ministers of Wude and the redundant staff of the court, and washed away Changsun Wuji's right servant.

Who will be the right servant in the court, isn't it Li Shimin who has the final say?

Just promote him in two years.

"In the affairs of the court, both sides come and go, play tricks, and those who can't play can only "voluntarily" withdraw. "

"Aren't you also a person in the court? "Cheng Yaojin asked back.

"When did you see me eagerly looking forward to going to court?" Li Fu said: "Although I have an official position, my official position is nothing more than convenient for taking care of children. I am not a match for the old fox in the court. Let alone others, if the Zhongshu Ling wants to plot against me, they will dig a pit for me, and I will jump into it happily. When I fall into the pit, I may find out that it is a pit dug by others and I have been tricked."

"So, I have to stay away from those cunning people in the court. I am a prince and a relative of the royal family. Anyway, His Majesty will not starve his cousin to death. It's good to build a house on the farm and be a teacher."

"When I have nothing to do, I can spend some money to make the emperor happy and show my filial piety. That's enough."

"With this identity, I can protect myself. "

Cheng Yaojin sighed.

"Huairen, you think too simply. You are a wealthy man now, how many people are jealous of you." Cheng Yaojin said: "Some people will get restless one day."

Li Fu heard this.

Always?

There is no need to be subtle, they can't sit still anymore. In Huizhou, blood has already flowed like a river behind the scenes. He just doesn't see it and doesn't get upset. As long as it doesn't come to him or in public, he will let the Hundred Cavalry Division handle it.

"But... you are going to marry the daughter of the Duke of Yingguo soon." Cheng Yaojin laughed: "In the future, the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion will also be a great help to you. If the Tang Dynasty wants to fight the Turks in the future, the Duke of Yingguo will definitely lead the troops."