Was Li Ke's death unjust?
The unwarranted frame-up, the grief and anger that had nowhere to express themselves, the desolation of being a prince but having a lifeless life...it was indeed injustice.
But in Fang Jun's view, it's not necessarily unfair.
Wealth makes people lost, power makes people crazy. When people get involved with these two things, they lose their sense. Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, family affection and integrity all fall by the wayside.
Even in an ordinary wealthy family, father and son would turn against each other and brothers would fall in love because of the struggle for wealth and rights, let alone the family of the Son of Heaven?
When you are born into an emperor's family and enjoy the benefits brought by the supreme power, you should realize that the sword has two edges, which can bring great benefits as well as great harm. We should have long been prepared for unpredictable consequences if we get involved in the vortex of power struggle.
Whether it is psychological preparation or strategic preparation.
There is no doubt that Li Ke was neither mentally prepared nor strategically prepared.
Just like the fish on the chopping board, if it jumps around again, is it still being slaughtered?
Li Ke is the third son of His Majesty Li Er. He is nineteen years old this year. He is tall and tall, with a face like a crown jewel, red lips and white teeth. He is delicate but not weak, handsome but not powdery, which makes Fang Jun feel a little inferior...
Wearing a sapphire blue brocade robe embroidered with a dark pattern of longevity, and a white jade belt studded with pearls, she is extremely luxurious. She is handsome, charming, and full of energy.
Li Ke had just been renamed King of Wu from King of Shu last year and was granted the title of Governor of Anzhou. Governor An followed Wen Miao to restore the military affairs of the five states and the governor of Anzhou, and went to HB to take up his post.
At the end of last year, Liu Fan, the censor, was accused of excessive hunting and damaging crops, so he was dismissed from office, removed as the governor of Anzhou, and reduced the number of closed households by 300.
There is also a good anecdote about Li Ke's dismissal.
His Majesty Li Er favored Li Ke and said to Liu Fan who complained: "Quan Wanji assists my son and cannot correct his mistakes. The fault is his and he deserves to die."
Liu Fanjin remonstrated: "Fang Xuanling and his Majesty were not able to stop His Majesty from hunting. How can we blame Quan Wanji alone?"
His Majesty Li Er was furious and entered the inner hall with his sleeves fluttering. After a long time, Liu Fan was summoned alone and said: "Why do you want to accuse me?"
Liu Fan replied: "I heard that the lord is wise and his ministers are upright. Your majesty is benevolent and wise, but I dare not ignore my stupid uprightness."
His Majesty Li Er finally gave up his anger.
Looking at the rich and handsome third prince in front of him, Fang Jun felt very emotional.
In fact, it was not that Li Ke had no chance to get involved in the supreme imperial power. He had also been infinitely close to that seat.
"Zhenguan Politicians" records that in the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643), due to the backlash of He Qian Chengji, the culprit of Qi Wang Li You's rebellion, the prince Li Chengqian was found to have rebelled, and the prince Li Chengqian was deposed. Taizong promised Wei King Li Tai to make him the prince, but because Changsun Wuji insisted on making Jin Wang Li Zhi the crown prince. Taizong personally interrogated Li Chengqian, and Li Chengqian accused Li Tai of plotting to become a prince. Taizong then imprisoned Li Tai as a general in prison, and made Jin Wang Li Zhi the crown prince.
Soon after, Taizong suspected that King Li Zhiren of Jin was weak, so he said to Changsun Wuji: "You advise me to make the young slave the prince. The young slave is cowardly and may not be able to defend the country. What should I do? King Li Keying of Wu is very brave and brave like me. I want to make him the prince, what do you think?"
Changsun Wuji insisted on fighting and thought it was impossible.
Taizong said, "Are you opposed because King Wu is not your nephew?"
Changsun Wuji said: "The prince is kind and kind, and he is a monarch who can be maintained. The prince's position is so important, how can he change it casually? I hope your majesty will think carefully about it."
Taizong then gave up the idea.
It can be seen that if there was no obstruction from Changsun Wuji, Li Er might actually make Li Ke the crown prince. If history holds true, His Majesty Li Er's Tang Dynasty may have embarked on a completely different path...
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Fang Jun saluted Li Ke and said, "I don't know that His Highness's arrival in person would be disrespectful, disrespectful, and disrespectful."
Li Ke raised his hand from a distance to stop him from saluting, and a half-smile appeared on his handsome face: "Er Lang is exempt from the ceremony. One of the dignified 'Four Young Masters of Chang'an' is visiting XF County. How dare I not come to visit you? If you fail, If you don't follow the etiquette, you may be beaten by Erlang one day."
Fang Jun's face suddenly turned red. He was a little embarrassed by Li Ke's teasing, so he changed the subject and asked: "Your Highness is not in Chang'an City, so why are you here in the wilderness?"
XF County Magistrate Cen Wenshu, who was standing aside, said: "Erlang does not know. The day before yesterday, your Majesty ordered the princes to patrol the counties in Guanzhong on behalf of the emperor. His Highness was assigned to XF County. Fang Jun nodded: "That's it. The weather is cold and the ground is freezing. Your Highness and the Magistrate Cen went inside and sat down, drank a glass of water and wine to warm himself up, and later asked the two of you to taste a certain newly developed food. "
Although I was very unhappy with the two people who came to the door without permission, I had to be polite and say a few words to show off.
XF The county magistrate heard that Fang's family was staying in Zhuangzi, so it was reasonable for him to pay him a visit. After all, Fang Xuanling was once the prime minister and assistant, so it was inevitable for his subordinates to show some attentiveness. Isn't it strange that there were many people paying homage to them?
As for Wu Wang Li Ke, it was just a favor.
As a dignified prince, if Fang Jun knew in advance that Li Ke was in XF County, he would have come to visit him personally. Now that Li Ke came to him in turn, it shows that Li Ke respects Fang Xuanling and does not put on airs because of his status. ——Even when your son Fang Xuanling comes, I personally come to show my kindness. This is called a good family relationship.
Although the form is greater than the reality, it is not easy for a prince to do this.
Of course, then again, with Fang Xuanling's status in the court and the weight he has in His Majesty Li Er's heart, that prince dares not to respect him?
When Li Ke heard this, he turned to the kitchen and asked with a smile: "Was Erlang just in the kitchen arranging food?"
"Exactly, I'd like your Highness to give you some advice later."
Li Ke smiled boldly and said: "In that case, I will be a bad guest and taste the difference in the food prepared by Erlang himself! Magistrate Cen, please?"
County Magistrate Na Cen also laughed and said: "It is said that 'a gentleman is far away from the kitchen', but now Fang Erlangshe is known as a gentleman and cooks the soup with his own hands. How dare you not give me face? Your Highness, please go first!"
Fang Jun rolled his eyes speechlessly, so sad...
However, this Uncle Cen Wen is no ordinary person. Although his official position is only a small county magistrate, he has a younger brother who is a great deity - Cen Wenwen, the Minister of Zhongshu. All the manuscripts of imperial edicts and military and state affairs are written by him. A true close minister of the emperor and a confidant of the emperor.
After leading Li Ke and Uncle Cen Wen into the main hall, Fang Jun said politely: "Please have a seat, please have a seat..."
But as soon as the words came out, he felt awkward.
Looking around, there is no chair, stool or the like in this huge hall. Where can I sit? ?
He was accustomed to it. When he said "sit", he naturally meant sitting on a chair or a stool. He was not used to the "couch" of the Tang Dynasty at all.
Li Ke and Uncle Cen Wen were not polite. They walked into the main hall casually, took off their shoes, and sat on the couch, regardless of their status as guest or host.
Fang Jun had no choice but to follow in. He took off his shoes and went to the hall in his socks. He walked to the couch or banquet, showed some humility, knelt down on his knees, pressed his buttocks against his calves and ankles, and sat upright - I'm going to choke him. Go, it’s really uncomfortable...?
