His Majesty Li Er stretched out his hand to support him until Changsun Wuji sat down on the chair beside the writing desk. Looking at his pale face, he couldn't help but sigh: "As you get older, you should pay more attention to your body and bones. During these thousands of miles, Those who trek will inevitably be acclimated to the climate. It’s no joke if you get sick, so you need to get more rest recently.”
He was naturally aware of Changsun Wuji's illness in the past two days, but he didn't think too much about it. He just thought it was caused by his age and his acclimatization, so he expressed some gentle condolences.
Although the monarch and his ministers are not as united as before, after all, they are veterans who follow him to conquer the world, and they have a relationship with Queen Wende, so this concern is sincere.
Of course, if Changsun Wuji dies in the army due to illness, everyone in the government and the public may think that he, the emperor, did it secretly, and his reputation will be severely damaged.
After all, he had forced Sun Wuji, the eldest son of the family, to come to Liaodong with the army. But something happened and he couldn't wash himself off...
Therefore, in both public and private matters, His Majesty Li Er did not dare to let anything happen to Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji said gratefully: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will pay attention to it."
Immediately, his face showed a sad look, he wiped away a handful of old tears, and choked with sobs: "It's just because someone from home came to report his death, saying that Saburo contracted malaria in the Western Regions, and the treatment failed, so he has passed away..."
His Majesty Li Er was startled and said in surprise: "How could Sanlang go to the Western Regions?"
This is a big deal.
Now that Changsun Chong is in exile, even if he is allowed to return to Chang'an in the future, there is no possibility of inheriting the title or family business. Changsun Huan committed suicide in front of the mansion. Among the remaining sons, Changsun Dan has long since died, and Sanlang's eldest grandson Jun is the real heir to the family head.
To die so silently is like a thunder to the Changsun family...
Changsun Wuji was so sad that he burst into tears and sighed: "In the past two years, the family has been in trouble and cannot make ends meet. Many clan members have to run business as merchants to make up for the expenses. Sanlang couldn't bear that the old ministers were working hard for the family, so he traveled back and forth from home. The caravan from the Western Regions was organized. It was out of filial piety, but who would have expected that this time when I went to the Western Regions, I suffered from malaria and died in a foreign country... This father of the old minister is so ashamed of him, it breaks my heart!"
As he spoke, he started to cry.
His Majesty Li Er opened his mouth, wanting to say some comforting words, but he could only sigh: "You are... after all, you are also the legitimate son who will inherit the family business in the future. How can you let him go to the Western Regions to take up humble business? Alas! That’s all, people can’t be resurrected after death, don’t cause excessive pain to the auxiliary machine, be sad and accept the change.”
Since ancient times, merchants have been a humble business.
Even Guan Zhong, who achieved great success in dominating the world by attaching great importance to economy and developing commerce, once said that "scholars, farmers, industry and merchants" ranked merchants at the bottom of the four peoples.
Throughout the ages, among all the famous family members, who would let their direct descendants go into business? What's more, the eldest son is about to inherit the family business and become the head of the family...
Changsun Wuji burst into tears: "Old minister, it's too late to regret this!"
He had to expose the news of Chang Sun Jun's death.
The next head of the Sun family, the dignified eldest son, died in a daze. How could we not give the most perfect explanation possible? He didn't believe that his Majesty Li Er didn't have the eyes and ears installed in his house. Changsun Jun had been missing for many days and could not be seen. As a result, news of his death suddenly spread. If there was nothing strange in it, how could it be possible?
Once Damascus invades the Western Region, who knows whether they will simply tell the story of Chang Sun Jun going to Damascus to increase the civil strife in Datang?
If Changsun Jun were alive, this kind of unsubstantiated thing would not be credible. All he needed to do was explain it. No one believed that the Changsun family would collude with foreign enemies to invade the border. But now that Changsun Jun has died in the Western Region, the meaning of this is puzzling, and even if you want to explain it clearly...
What if His Majesty Li Er really believes those "rumors"? How will the Changsun family deal with themselves?
Therefore, he must plant a preconceived idea for His Majesty Li Er now, so that even if this matter is really reported in the future, he will have room for maneuver and justification.
After all, His Majesty Li Er still misses the past...
His Majesty Li Er was indeed filled with emotion. He stroked the bookcase with his hand and sighed: "The two of us fought out of adversity and built this beautiful land. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are outstanding people in the world. However, when it comes to educating children, , but it was a complete failure.”
Not to mention that the descendants of the eldest son's family are now withering away, and the sons are dying one after another. Is it possible for His Majesty Li Er to live well? Back then, the King of Wei and the Crown Prince were competing for the crown prince. The King of Wu was coveting him, the King of Qi was flirting with him, and the King of Shu was violent. Now, the King of Jin is seeking to be the crown prince again... Was there ever a moment of respect between brothers and sisters?
Of course, he never realized that it was his ambiguous acquiescence and indulgence in the reserve that had caused the situation of resentment between his siblings.
However, this also shows that he is indeed poor at educating his children and cannot detect the crux of the problem at all...
After thinking for a while, he said: "This grief is heartbreaking, coupled with the long journey and physical exhaustion, that's why I have this serious illness. Otherwise, the auxiliary machine can simply return to Chang'an now to take care of Saburo's funeral, and also to take care of Saburo's funeral." Stabilize your family. Speaking of which, if I hadn't asked you to follow me to Liaodong, maybe Saburo wouldn't have gone to the Western Regions to handle business in person, and it wouldn't have ended like this."
Changsun Wuji was brought to Liaodong in the first place to prevent him from staying in Chang'an to fight with Fang Jun and stir up trouble. As a result, it indirectly led to Changsun Jun's death. It would be impossible to say that he had no sympathy at all.
After all, Changsun Wuji's achievements are there, and Queen Wende's instructions before her death are also there. How can His Majesty Li Er seriously be cruel to Changsun's family and let the entire family suffer?
Suppression must be suppressed, which is related to the integrity of the imperial power, but he will never pick up the butcher's knife and kill everyone.
His Majesty Li Er not only misses the past, but also cherishes his reputation and feathers...
Changsun Wuji cried for a while, wiped away his tears, and said with choked sobs: "As a minister, I should devote myself to myself until death. Your Majesty trusts my veteran, how can I delay your majesty's Eastern Expedition because of family affairs? He is already dead. , there is nothing to be redeemed, so I will let the old minister serve your majesty, fulfill his duty as a minister for the last time, and assist your majesty to achieve a great cause. But after returning to Chang'an, I kindly ask your majesty to allow the old minister to retire in office and enjoy the happiness of family."
Changsun Jun's tragic death in the Western Regions caused a great change in Changsun Wuji's mentality.
Instead of fighting blindly, why not give in? His Majesty's protection of the imperial power has reached an unprecedented peak. If you continue to fight stubbornly, there will be no other outcome except that the past feelings will be wiped away bit by bit and eventually become a roadblock in front of the imperial power.
Taking a step back does not mean that he will seriously give up his ambition to control the government, but that he will make progress by retreating.
As long as something changes in the Western Region, Tubo, Tuyuhun, Turks, and even the remnants of Xueyantuo will surely take advantage of the opportunity, and the entire Guanzhong will be turbulent. And if there is even a slight negligence, the responsibility will inevitably be borne by the prince. He has the power to supervise the country, but cannot stabilize the country. What is the use of such a prince?
His Majesty Li Er was already dissatisfied with the Crown Prince. As a result, there are still variables in the change of the throne.
After he retired from office and retired, he put aside the struggle between the DPRK and China and devoted himself wholeheartedly to assisting the King of Jin in his fight for the throne. After three or five years, the situation would have greatly improved, and it would not be impossible to seize the throne in the opposite direction...
His Majesty Li Er didn't know what Changsun Wuji had in mind. He just thought that after losing his son, he was devastated and disheartened, and wanted to retreat bravely, which was reasonable.
After thinking for a while, he said: "That's fine. Now that the army has received supplies, it is coming from Jian'an City in a steady stream, and the general offensive is about to begin. At this critical moment, it is also a good thing for you to stay with me and give me advice and military aircraft. As for retiring from official service, we will discuss it in the long term after we return to Chang'an."
Speaking of this, he said with emotion: "On the first day I sat on the throne, I made a vow to myself that I would share wealth and honor with you and other humiliated ministers, and I would never do anything like that. , the rabbit died and the dog was cooked, the friendship between our monarch and his ministers complemented each other, leaving a story that will last forever in the annals of history. It’s a pity that Mr. Hou’s collection of profits made him stupid and blatantly rebelled, so that I had to break my oath, and I really hate it in my heart! Now we are all gradually getting better. As I get older, my past ambitions have faded a lot, and I am starting to hand over the things at hand to my children and grandchildren little by little. My vows back then seem to be sound, and I feel really relieved. Of course there have been things between us. There have been disputes, but I have always remembered the merits of the auxiliary aircraft and the words that Queen Wende entrusted to me before she died, so..."
He suddenly heard a sentence that Fang Jun once said, which was very suitable for the current environment, so he smiled and continued: "...Just do it and cherish it."
He really thought so in his heart, and he had been doing so.
Although killing is a necessary method for emperors, there are still some beautiful things in the world, which can make the world full of admiration and yearning for these turbulent years...
