Yuchi Gong was uneasy: "What if your estimate is wrong and Li Ji is too ambitious?"
Yu Wenshiji glared in displeasure: "Now that the matter has come to this, what can I do?"
What is "wolf ambition"? If Li Ji's attack on Chang'an in an attempt to depose the prince was a "wolf's ambition", wouldn't it be even more excessive than "wolf's ambition" when the Guanlong clan raised an army and beat Chang'an to a pulp?
Yu Chigong was speechless. His words didn't sound good, but wasn't that the truth? Saying "ambitious" is an advantage for you, you are simply "rebellious ministers and traitors"...
However, as Yu Wenshiji said, at this moment, You Houwei is in desperate situation, with no way to the sky and no way to the earth. Apart from relying on Li Ji's bluff and having other plans, what else can be done?
*****
Cheng Yaojin was undecided, Yuchi Gong was at a loss, Li Ji's mood was unclear, and the East Palace was tense... But in the Dayun Temple, a group of Guan Long nobles were celebrating with each other's foreheads and hands, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
In the jingshe on the back hill of the temple, Changsun Wuji, Linghu Defen and Dugulan were sitting across from each other. Sandalwood was curling up in the copper beast stove in the corner, and the tea was clear on the table.
Dugu Lan took a sip of tea, exhaled a long breath, and said with a frightened look on his face: "That day, the Sixth Army of the East Palace conducted a large-scale search for the Guanlong disciples. I could not sleep almost all night, and I was so frightened that I was afraid that the Guanlong lineage would be in our hands. Cut off the bloodline and continue the incense in the south. If we really get to that point, how can we have the face to see our ancestors under the nine springs in a hundred years? I am afraid that when I die, I can only cover my face with hair, and even dare not enter the ancestral graves. .”
The other two people nodded together, with lingering fears.
For the clan members, nothing is more important than bloodline inheritance. The clan members have a profound heritage and each family's rich collection of books is enough to ensure that their children are higher than ordinary poor families. Even if they suffer heavy losses and lose their wealth, they will not be able to use it. Three generations are still rising. As long as one outstanding talent appears within three generations, one can easily regain the glory of the ancestors and shine on the lintel.
But if the bloodline is cut off, then everything will come to an end...
Anyone who causes the family bloodline to be cut off will naturally be the eternal sinner of the family.
Changsun Wuji hammered his injured leg, which was still aching, and said with emotion: "There is no end to the road. It is probably because those old guys in Shandong have stayed at home for so long that even their minds are filled with ignorance and decadence. Otherwise, why would they be like this?" Are you rushing to seize power in such a hurry, not even considering the emperor's eyes, so that you give us a chance to breathe? "
Linghu Defen laughed loudly, raised his teacup and said, "Let us use tea instead of wine and give a toast to everyone in Shandong!"
Changsun Wuji shook his head and laughed. He raised his glass with Dugulan and took a sip of tea.
Who would have thought that the Shandong family would be so eager for quick success when they had all the advantages? The death of Cui Yuqing, the Minister of Punishment, seems to be a trap for Guanlong, but in fact, who can't see the bitter plot of the Shandong family? Probably only the Shandong aristocratic family thought they were right, and happily thought that they had sacrificed a descendant of the clan, and put the blame on Guan Long...
The Guanlong Clan was indeed criticized for this, but this move obviously aroused the prince's strong fear. From then on, he began to prepare a way out, let the Guanlong Clan go and win over them, hoping to use the remaining power of the Guanlong Clan to resist Shandong and Jiangnan. The local dynasty powerfully entered the court - no one is willing to be a puppet emperor who is ignored by his ministers, let alone Li Chengqian, who turned defeat into victory in a desperate situation, was ambitious and claimed that he was destined to be his destiny?
In short, it was the rebelliousness and greed displayed by the Shandong family that gave the Guanlong clan a glimmer of hope and escaped the disaster.
For Changsun Wuji, it is just around the corner to receive the prince's pardon and forgiveness as the leader of Guanlong and return to the court.
Who could have imagined in advance that the Guanlong clan, which almost destroyed the East Palace in an uprising, could actually survive after being defeated by the East Palace's reliance?
It’s really amazing how things change.
At this time, the servant knocked on the door from outside and handed a letter to Changsun Wuji.
Changsun Wuji took the letter, opened the envelope, took out the letter and read the lines, his face became serious, and he handed the letter to Linghu Defen and Dugulan for circulation...
On the letter, of course, was the news that Li Ji had commanded the army to cross the Ba River and assemble on the east bank.
The sudden battle report caused silence in the monastery.
Linghu Defen waved his hand to repel the servant, and frowned his snow-white eyebrows tightly, wondering: "What did Li Ji think? The prince ignored the opposition of the government and the public, and even went against the interests of the Shandong and Jiangnan clans. He also wanted to go out of the city to greet him respectfully. "Holy Master" clearly gave Li Ji a step down. All he had to do was hand over His Majesty's body. After the state funeral, the Crown Prince successfully ascended the throne. The general trend of the world was settled once and for all, and Li Ji would not be held accountable for his various rebellious behaviors since the withdrawal of troops from the Eastern Expedition. This Li Ji is so ignorant, could it be that he wants to continue our unfinished business?"
The so-called "unfinished business" in his mouth is naturally to overthrow the East Palace and depose the prince...
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the other two people immediately changed.
When the Guanlong clan clans raised their troops, it looked like a massive force with many generals, but in fact there were not many elite troops. The main body was still the private armies of each clan clan that had lasted for more than a hundred years. It was okay to run rampant in the countryside and boost the lintel of the clan, but the real Confrontations on the battlefield and battle formations are far more ineffective.
Therefore, against the Youtunwei, who had fought hundreds of battles and was unparalleled in the world, and the Donggong Liuliu, who was commanded by a famous commander and had high morale, they finally fell short and were completely defeated.
But Li Ji was different.
Even if not all of the hundreds of thousands of Eastern Expedition troops under his command could obey his orders, countless elite troops would swear allegiance just by relying on the prestige of the first person in the army. At this moment, the Youtun Guards and the Sixth Army of the East Palace had just experienced a battle with the Guanlong Army. They were exhausted and their troops were depleted. Once Li Ji commanded Chang'an to march straight in, it would be difficult to resist...
Dugu Lan's face turned pale, his lips trembled twice, and he said harshly: "Then everything will stop!"
For Guan Long at the moment, the best situation is naturally to be stable. After the prince successfully ascends the throne, he will assist him and recuperate for the future. There will always be outstanding children to revive the family. But if Li Ji also has the intention to depose the prince and establish a new crown prince, and succeeds in one fell swoop, the Guanlong clan will be in dire straits again.
Except for the East Palace, no other force wants Guan Long to continue to exist...
Therefore, not only did Dong Gong hate Dong Gong Guan Long to the core but had to support and rely on him, why didn't Guan Long want to overthrow Dong Gong a few days ago and now he hoped that Dong Gong would be as stable as Mount Tai and that the crown prince would successfully ascend the throne?
People are not saints, they naturally have greed, anger and delusion, but if the interests are present, everything is vain...
When Changsun Wuji saw both of them looking at him, he took a sip of tea and muttered: "Since the withdrawal of troops from Liaodong, all Li Ji's actions have been unimaginable. They are very different from his previous acting style. It's as if he has changed his mind. It's hard to predict. At first, everyone thought that he would quickly return to Chang'an to quell the mutiny initiated by us, thereby turning the tide and stabilizing his position as the number one person in the DPRK. However, he dragged his feet on the march and turned a blind eye to the chaos in Guanzhong. He turned a deaf ear to the life and death of the prince, and allowed the East Palace to collapse and be almost destroyed under our offensive, and remained indifferent. Later, the East Palace reversed and won, and everyone should return to Chang'an to show their loyalty. No matter what kind of thoughts they had hidden before, they were already in the East Palace. They all swore allegiance once the situation was stabilized...but Li Ji refused."
Linghu Defen and Dugulan were silent, and they couldn't figure out what Li Ji did.
In fact, it's not just them? Almost everyone in the government and the public was confused about Li Ji's behavior, thinking that he had committed evil spirits and was possessed by ghosts...
Changsun Wuji's mind was spinning, he subconsciously stroked his injured leg, and continued: "So now when I think Li Ji will send troops to attack Chang'an, who knows if he will do something unexpected again? I always feel that Li Ji's various actions , It seems that it is not out of intention, more like being coerced..."
Linghu Defen said: "Perhaps there really is a 'legendary edict'? Li Ji just acted in accordance with the 'legendary edict', and the 'legendary edict' contains the imperial order that His Majesty wishes to transfer to the throne."
This makes sense. Although Li Ji's various behaviors are strange, they have one core purpose - to sit back and watch the prince's fall without paying any attention.
His Majesty Li Er's intention to be easy to save was well known in the government and the public. However, in the past few years, the prince's performance was not bad, and Fang Jun and other powerful ministers supported him, so his majesty had to put it aside for the time being. But when he was dying, he was always thinking about Yi Chu, so it was not impossible to leave a "posthumous edict" to order his close ministers to act according to the order...
"Posthumous edict? Ha!"
Changsun Wuji snorted coldly. The poison he prepared did not require blood and could seal the throat. In just a few breaths, the whole body was paralyzed, the functions of the organs stopped, breathing stopped, the hands could not move, the mouth could not speak, and it took half a cup of tea. He would be killed. Where would he find the time to leave a legacy?
Nowadays, everyone inside and outside the court speculates that Li Ji acted in accordance with the "edict" and therefore sat back and watched the prince's defeat. Only Changsun Wuji always laughed at it.
But these details can only be brought into the coffin by oneself, and there is no need to reveal them in front of others...
He said categorically: "There can be no imperial edict. This world was brought down by His Majesty. Since Zhenguan, he has been working hard and diligently to care for the people. How can he ignore the empire, the country, and the people of the world just for the sake of easy storage in his heart?" ?That’s not His Majesty’s style.”
No one understands His Majesty Li Er better than him. Even if he has time to leave a legacy, His Majesty Li Er will never give orders to Yi Chu.
If His Majesty Li Er is here, he may be able to put Yi Chu on the agenda in the future. Although it is a matter that shakes the foundation of the country, as long as he is here, everything will be fine; but if His Majesty Li Er dies but still leaves Yi Chu's legacy, it will It will plunge the world into turmoil, with forces from all sides fighting endlessly for power and interests. The great empire of Nuo will fall into decline, and nearly twenty years of hard work will be wasted.
With His Majesty Li Er's wisdom, he would definitely not do such a stupid thing.
Linghu Defen always thought that he was outstandingly intelligent and talented, but now after listening to Changsun Wuji's analysis, instead of being enlightened, he became more confused and puzzled.
"Then what are the reasons for Li Ji's various behaviors?"
You can't really be obsessed with ghosts, can you?
Thinking of this, he shuddered subconsciously...
