Li Chengqian is a person who does not have many opinions. Fortunately, he is self-aware and knows that he does not have the so-called decisiveness and domineering spirit, let alone strategizing and winning thousands of miles away, so he listens to others' advice.
Even though I am not as good as Emperor Taizong in all aspects, at least I still have the ability to "accept advice with an open mind" without giving in...
But he doesn't listen to everyone. Only those he recognizes as absolutely loyal and capable can gain his absolute trust.
For example, Fang Jun.
In the words of a knight-errant, he believed that Fang Jun was the kind of loyal and righteous man who could "entrust his wife and sacrifice his son"...
These words also aroused the family affection in Li Zhi's heart. Looking back on the past, he felt more and more guilty. He wiped away his tears and choked up: "My brother is guilty. He should not be obsessed with selfish desires and commit treason." What I have done is really worthy of death, and I have no face to face His Majesty."
Li Chengqian took his shoulder and squeezed it, and said with a sigh: "Nine-five Supremes, Yuji Tianxia, how many people can resist this temptation? When there is only one step away from the throne, everyone wants to take a step further... ...This is human nature, so don’t worry about it. We brothers don’t need to avoid talking about it. I think about how much of it was forced by Li Chengqian and Li Yuanji’s aggressive desperation when they launched the Xuanwumen Revolution, and how much of it was due to the desperate situation. Coveting the throne of the king of the empire? Now that times have passed, it is nothing more than a past event and there is no need to mention it again."
When Pheasant Nu launched an army to rebel, how much of it was because he coveted the throne, and how much of it was because he was afraid that he would eliminate the threat and eradicate it after he secured the throne? Changing place, I am afraid that I will not sit still and wait for death.
Fortunately, the mutiny ended here, his throne was not overthrown, and the pheasant slaves did not die in the rebellion...
Everything has not reached the point of no return, so he is magnanimous, leaving a thin line, and showing full brotherhood.
*****
Li Chengqian returned to the Imperial Study Room on the side of Wude Hall, and Wang De stepped forward to announce: "I have an audience with Zheng Rentai outside the Hall."
"Zheng Intae?"
Li Chengqian sat down, took a sip of tea, nodded and said, "Let him come in."
"Here."
Wang De took the order and came out, and took Zheng Rentai into the imperial study room in a moment.
"The guilty minister, Zheng Rentai, comes to see His Majesty!"
Zheng Rentai knelt down on one knee and performed a great ceremony with the courtesy of a military commander.
After writing the book, Li Chengqian looked down at Zheng Rentai and remained silent until Zheng Rentai felt uneasy in his heart and sweat appeared on his forehead, then he said slowly: "Sit down and sit down to talk."
Zheng Rentai suddenly felt relieved: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After getting up, I rested my butt half on the chair on one side, not daring to sit down fully.
Li Chengqian asked Wang De to serve Zheng Rentai a cup of tea, and asked, "I wonder why Lord Tong'an is here to meet you?"
Zheng Rentai took the tea sent by Wang De with both hands. Naturally, he did not dare to drink it. He put the tea cup on the table beside him and said respectfully: "This time the King of Jin was defeated, the ministers were deceived and almost helped the evildoers." Later, although he and Liu Rengui reached an agreement to send troops to Tongguan together, he was actually frightened and begged your majesty to punish him."
Originally, they gathered all the abilities of the Zheng family in Xingyang to form an army to fight with Liu Rengui, and made great achievements all the way into Guanzhong. However, after the King of Jin was captured and the rebels were destroyed, they have been stationed outside Mingde Gate. They have neither rewards nor praises from the court. Not to mention that the emperor's orders and punishments seemed to have been completely forgotten, which made him feel restless and had trouble sleeping and eating. The private soldiers from the clan who came with him to Guanzhong were also unsettled and had various discussions.
The camp outside Xuanwu Gate has begun to dismantle the left and right garrison guards and form the left and right Jinwu guards. Cheng Yaojin is about to lead his Zuowu guards westward out of Guanzhong and rush to Liangzhou. Zheng Rentai really can't sit still. He previously thought of going to the house. Jun paid a visit to inquire about the court's treatment of him. Later, after thinking about it, he simply went to the palace to see the emperor himself.
Be it beating or scolding, punishment or punishment, give it a good time...
Li Chengqian took a sip of tea first, and then said: "It is true that you made mistakes, but you know that you can correct your mistakes, rein in the situation, send troops to assist the navy in capturing Tongguan, and pursue the rebels all the way. The merits outweigh the faults. Today I am with the military plane All the ministers discussed together and decided to appoint you as the right-leading general Wei, what do you think?"
Zheng Rentai's heart was burning, he stood up again and knelt down on one knee: "Your Majesty loves me so much, I shall be shattered to pieces and die before you!"
Although the King of Jin had promised him that he would be allowed to establish a kingdom after his accomplishments, but at this point, instead of holding himself accountable, His Majesty appointed him as one of the sixteen generals and commanded an army to defend Guanzhong. This was beyond his wildest dreams. How can you refuse the good thing you hope for?
What kind of kindness is this?
Sure enough, everyone said that Li Chengqian was kind, and the rumors were true.
Li Chengqian waved his hand and said: "I am not as tolerant as you think. The reason why I appointed you as the General of the Right Army Guard is because I have decided to rebuild the Youxiao Guard and will order An Yuanshou to lead the Youxiao Guard to Panhe Waiting for the reorganization, you need to lead the right army guard out of Qilian City, and work with Lu Guogong who is stationed in Liangzhou to restrain him from the east to the west, and be careful to prevent him from setting up troops to cause chaos and bring disaster to the empire. This matter is related to the long-term peace and order of several governors in Ganliang. You heavy responsibility."
Only then did Zheng Rentai know Li Chengqian's intention.
An Yuanshou led You Xiaowei to leave Liangzhou where he was stationed without the emperor's orders and rushed to Chang'an with the intention of assisting the King of Jin to ascend the throne. However, he was stopped by Cheng Yaojin at Xianyang Bridge. The two sides fought a battle and An Yuanshou had to lead the army. Retreat and return in defeat.
Later, the imperial court did not impose any substantial punishment on him. It could only deprive him of his title of "Dong of Liang" and demote him to "Dong of Panhe". Forgiveness is almost the same as no punishment...
But now it seems that it is not that simple. The An family of Liangzhou has thrived in Liangzhou for many years. It is deeply rooted and powerful. Now it is driven to Panhe and has to reorganize Youxiao Guard. It is obviously intended to pull out all the money from the bottom of the cauldron and destroy the An family in Liangzhou. The power is completely wiped out.
The so-called reorganization is just an excuse. How could An Yuanshou allow the court to remove his confidants from You Xiaowei?
A war is inevitable.
Therefore, Cheng Yaojin was allowed to sit in Liangzhou and block the road from An Yuanshou to Guanzhong. He was also asked to leave Qilian City to cut off An Yuanshou's possibility of escaping to the Western Regions or Tubo along the Hexi Corridor. As long as he rebelled, he would immediately The two armies gathered together from east to west and were defeated in one fell swoop.
Where is Panhe? Backed by the Great Wall and facing the snow-capped mountains, the north of Chang'an City is an endless desert, a desperate place...
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my best to live up to the divine grace!"
Zheng Rentai knew that he had no choice at all. Could it be that if he wanted to retire in office, His Majesty would let him return to Xingyang and continue to lead the Zheng family in Xingyang to grow and threaten Guanzhong? Only by leaving Xingyang and leaving the town can His Majesty be completely at ease and not pursue the Zheng family in Xingyang to the end.
However, he is willing to do so. After all, being able to command a single bodyguard, even if he is far away in the desert of Ganliang region, is far better than taking off his armor and returning to the fields to eat and wait to die...
Therefore, His Majesty's order is not unkind, it is just for everyone to take what they need.
Seeing that Zheng Rentai had agreed, Li Chengqian asked him to stand up and return to his seat, and said with emotion: "I am not a mean and ungrateful person, but I am also willing to live in harmony with you civil servants and generals who are loyal to my father, and write a good story. Aiqing can do this In general, I am very pleased that the imperial court is the most important thing."
He just wants to be an emperor steadily, without being arrogant or extravagant, nor having to dominate the world. He just wants to take good care of the country left by his father, reform some outdated policies, open up the channels for talent promotion, and enrich the national treasury. , enriching the country and strengthening the army, this is enough.
Whether it's about opening up new territories or threatening the world, it's best if you can do it. If you can't do it, then that's okay...
In the final analysis, he is not an ambitious and peerless king who looks down on the world, but a timid, inferior, and weak good old man. He has a fragile mind, is not able to withstand cruel blows, and is willing to be kind to others.
As long as Zheng Rentai is willing to go out to Liangzhou to intimidate An Yuanshou, then he will not pursue the Zheng family in Xingyang to the end...
*****
Almost at the same time, in the British palace, Li Ji received Cheng Yaojin in the flower hall...
"How can this be about leaving Liangzhou and being hereditary? It's clearly killing someone with a borrowed knife! An Yuanshou's ancestors have been rooted in Liangzhou for generations, and now they have not only deprived him of his title, but also reorganized You Xiaowei. Any fool knows what the imperial court wants to do. What, how can An Yuanshou sit back and wait for death? This battle must be fought! There was a big battle at Xianyang Bridge before. Although I took advantage, the losses were not small. If we continue to fight on other people's territory, wouldn't it be necessary? Are you going to bring in all the soldiers and horses under my command?"
Cheng Yaojin banged the table, stared with anger, and complained loudly.
Li Ji drank tea and said slowly: "How did your Majesty promise you back then?"
Cheng Yaojin paused for a moment and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty asked Fang Jun to send a message, saying that he would ennoble Liang Guogong and go out to control Liangzhou for generations... But now he wants me to go to war. This is obviously punishment. It's not at all Not a reward!”
"Ha! You are so thick-skinned..."
Li Ji, who was always taciturn and calm, couldn't help but sneered and retorted: "You are just bullying His Majesty because he is young and soft-tempered. If it were in the time of Zhenguan, how dare you be so bickering and courting Qin, Mu and Chu?" What?"
Cheng Yaojin was speechless.
Who dares to play this trick with His Majesty Li Er? I'll chop off your head when I turn around...
Li Ji sighed and said: "If you hadn't understood the situation clearly at the most critical moment and took the initiative to go to Xianyang Bridge to block An Yuanshou, Yu Wenshi and the Guanlong private army recruited, now you would be a complete rebel and rebellious minister. Not only the Duke of the country, If your position is not guaranteed, do you believe that everyone in the Duke of Lu's palace will have to move three thousand miles for the last time? Your Majesty is soft-tempered and cannot bear harsh criticism. This is your luck, but you cannot take it for granted. Your Majesty can keep his promise and let you leave the town. Liangzhou, not only are you ungrateful but you are here roaring and complaining, what on earth do you think? Do you really want your whole family to be buried with you?"
(End of chapter)
