[Li Cunxu’s test]
Li Kening, Li Keyong's only remaining younger brother, is a veteran figure in the Hedong Group. He has worked hard and achieved great prestige. His existence makes the transfer of the highest power of the Hedong Group uncertain, and it is still unknown whether Li Cunxu can successfully assume the throne.
There are several famous stories about Tuogu in history, among which the most widely circulated is Liu Bei’s Tuogu in Baidi City, which fully reflects Liu Bei’s political wisdom:
When Liu Bei was dying, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang had high prestige and directly posed a threat to the succession of his young master Liu Chan, so Liu Bei directly proposed to Zhuge Liang to replace Liu Chan.
Can Zhuge Liang dare to agree? Zhuge Liang must say "no" to both public and private matters, emotions and reasons, and Liu Bei does not need to be polite again. Since you are inappropriate, then help my son.
Before Liu Bei died, he placed a moral curse on Zhuge Liang. In the future, even if Zhuge Liang overcomes his psychological barriers and has the intention to stand on his behalf, he will not be recognized by the civil and military officials. A false politeness paved the way for his son.
In contrast, Li Keyong directly designated his son Li Cunxu to succeed him. On the surface, he was thinking about his son, but in fact, he left his son with a huge hidden danger.
At that time, the Hedong Group was facing a huge threat from the Houliang army. Li Cunxu had not yet established his merits and was young. Most of the generals in the group had serious doubts about Li Cunxu's abilities and wanted to hire an older and experienced man. People with high qualifications and high prestige...such as Comrade Li Kening, lead everyone out of the predicament.
Li Keyong had many adopted sons and organized them into the "Independent Regiment of Godsons" (Yierjun). They are all older than Li Cunxu, and they have fought with Li Keyong for many years, made countless meritorious deeds, and have heavy troops in their hands. When they heard that their godfather had handed over the military and political power to Xiao Cunxu, everyone expressed dissatisfaction. Why should they listen to this little brat? Who is he? When I followed the king of Jin to conquer the north and south, he even wore crotchless pants!
At Li Cunxu's inauguration ceremony, they either claimed to be ill and refused to attend; even if they attended, they refused to salute Li Cunxu, openly defying Li Cunxu's authority.
In short, Li Cunxu's support rate is almost zero. The calls for Li Kening to take over have become louder and louder than ever. The undercurrent of the Hedong Group is surging, and Li Cunxu's position is in jeopardy.
Li Keyong did not follow Liu Bei's example, so Li Cunxu had to make up lessons for him.
Li Cunxu offered to give up his throne to his uncle Li Kening, "My nephew, I am young and ignorant, and I am too embarrassed to hold such a big responsibility. Uncle, please come."
Li Kening glared, "Nonsense! You are the eldest son and should inherit. Besides, there is an order from the late king. Who dares to disobey?"
Civil and military officials were waiting outside, but Li Cunxu lacked confidence and did not dare to come out to face him. He just cried loudly in front of his father's coffin to cover up his shame with filial piety. Zhang Chengye, the eunuch who oversaw the army, entered the mourning hall and said: "The greatest filial piety is to fulfill the last wish of the late king. What's the use of crying?" Then he helped Li Cunxu out and faced the officials and officials.
If there had been a camera back then, a photo would have been produced that would have won the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism. It was a historic moment with political metaphor: Zhang Chengye helped Li Cunxu to the throne.
The reason why Li Cunxu was unwilling to come out was because he had no confidence. He was very worried about this embarrassing situation: the officials stood up but did not kneel down, and collectively refused to recognize Li Cunxu's status.
His worries are not unnecessary.
Sure enough, everyone looked at Li Kening in unison. It seemed that as long as Li Kening looked at him, everyone would pull Li Cunxu off the throne and recommend Li Kening to take the throne.
At this critical moment, Li Kening lifted up his sleeves and was the first to kneel down, kowtow to Li Cunxu and swear allegiance. Afterwards, everyone knelt down and kowtowed.
Let us call the Sha Tuo nobles headed by Li Kening the "Gang of Remaining Old Men". They are of noble birth (Shatuo tribe), have deep qualifications (entered the customs with Li Keyong), have outstanding achievements, hold heavy troops, hold real power in Hedong, and have absolute say in the Hedong Group. They can be said to be the founders of the Hedong Group. , original shareholders. However, they were often arrogant and lawless, and were unwilling to surrender to Li Cunxu.
The new generation of leadership represented by Li Cunxu can become the "Prince Gang". In front of the "Lao Gang", their disadvantage is particularly obvious. They have almost no real power in their hands and only rely on the majesty of Li Keyong's last words as the basis for their existence. .
Comparing the two, we can see Li Cunxu's dangerous situation of walking on thin ice.
Since ancient times, heroes have emerged from youth.
Li Cunxu struck while the iron was hot, paying tribute to Liu Bei's Baidicheng Tuogu while Li Keyong's bones were still cold and the lingering sound was lingering. He temporarily stabilized Li Kening, the representative of the "Yilao Gang", and smoothly passed the first level: the power transfer ceremony.
Next, Li Cunxu began to dismantle and weaken the "Yilao Gang".
It’s still the cliché: once the emperor, there are only courtiers. However, due to the huge disparity in power, Li Cunxu did not dare to directly clean up the "Yilao Gang", so Li Cunxu adopted the method of borrowing strength and appointed Li Cunzhang as Hedong Military City Envoy and Ma Budu Yuhou, equivalent to the captain of the military police. , captain of the urban management brigade, senior official Ji.
Li Cunzhang, one of the "Shouyi Founders", the adopted son of Li Keyong, supported Li Guochang with Kang Junli, Xue Zhiqin and others, and Li Keyong launched the rebellion in Yunzhou. He was a direct descendant of the Hedong Group, and now he is one of the loyal ministers of Tuogu. Hedong Group has a very high reputation and right to speak. At the same time, he is upright and strict in enforcing the law.
Li Cunxu's intention in arranging this job for Li Cunzhang is very obvious, which is to use Li Cunzhang's hand to attack the arrogant and domineering "Yilao Gang".
The nobles of Shatuo have used their power to bully others and do evil for a long time, but Li Keyong has always adopted a conniving and acquiescing attitude towards them, which has fueled their arrogance. When "Surrounding Taiyuan", Li Cunxu warned his father Li Keyong that he must restrain them, but Li Keyong clearly refused. The reason is very simple. First, because they are the backbone of Hedong Group and important employees and cannot be dismissed; The second is that their merits are outstanding and their merits outweigh their faults; the third is that the group is undervalued and if the discipline is too strict, they will quit without hesitation.
Now, Li Cunxu placed his hope in Li Cunzhang, showing great righteousness, and asked Li Cunzhang to help rectify military discipline and uphold justice.
Li Cunzhang lived up to his expectations, was selfless, and had zero tolerance for criminals (especially the "Yi Lao Gang"). He attacked tigers and flies together and imposed strict and heavy sentences. The more outstanding the merits, the heavier the sentence (death). As a result, in less than a month, the unhealthy trends in society came to an abrupt end. People did not pick up lost items on the road and did not close their homes at night. Everyone abided by the law and a harmonious society was built.
Li Cunzhang is known as the "Big Master of Qingtian", while Li Cunxu, who is hiding behind the scenes, has quietly weakened the "Yi Lao Gang".
