Seeing that Li Shui and Li Xin's conquest of the Peacock Kingdom and the Xiongnu Kingdom became a fact, some courtiers were a little unable to sit still.
Several people coughed slightly and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I think... this matter should be verified again. After all, the Peacock Kingdom and the Xiongnu Kingdom are thousands of miles away from the Qin Dynasty. If someone makes up some random news, Wouldn’t that be...hehe."
Li Shui stared at the man: "Isn't it wrong for you to just say that I am lying about the military situation?"
The courtier did not dare to confront Li Shui, so he shrank his neck and laughed dryly: "I didn't say he was banishing an immortal. It's just that there is no harm in being cautious about things like this."
Li Shui said to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, I have a plan that can resolve the concerns of these adults."
Ying Zheng asked: "What can you do?"
Li Shui said: "It is said that hearing is false and seeing is believing. No matter how I explain it today, these courtiers may not believe it. The only way is to invite them to come and see the peace of the Peacock Kingdom with their own eyes. The situation in the Xiongnu Kingdom is like this, so they will naturally believe it.”
Ying Zheng nodded slowly.
These courtiers were a little panicked: Going to the Peacock Kingdom? Go to the Huns? With such a long distance, wouldn't it be necessary to die on the way?
Someone immediately said to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, I am naturally willing to see the place that Ban Xian and General Li just conquered. However... However, I have an official position and have to deal with many government affairs in the court every day. If I go like this I’m afraid the Peacock Kingdom won’t be able to come back for a year and a half, so won’t the political affairs in the DPRK be in ruins?”
Li Shui smiled and said, "My lord, you are worrying too much."
The courtiers all stared at Li Shui nervously.
Li Shui smiled and said: "Nowadays, the imperial examination is becoming more and more complete, and talents from all over the world are pouring into the court. Those who passed the imperial examination last time have also been studying in the court for a while."
"The positions you have vacated are just for them to take over. They can accomplish multiple things with one stone. Isn't it wonderful?"
All these courtiers stared angrily.
Some people trembled and said, "Are you going to banish an immortal? Are you going to remove us from our official positions?"
Li Shui shook his head: "How is this possible? You have worked so hard, so how can you be punished without guilt?"
The courtiers relaxed slightly.
But they are still a little unhappy. Even if they can keep their official positions, they will probably be sidelined, right? The banished immortal reused those young people who passed the imperial examination. Although he had the title of being an official, he had no real power. What was the difference between that and not being an official?
At this time, Li Shui said to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, I suggest that these adults be sent to garrison the Peacock Kingdom and the Xiongnu Kingdom."
"It just so happens that they are all accustomed to being officials and have quite a lot of experience in governance. Moreover, retaining their official positions and titles does not count as being demoted. It is simply killing two birds with one stone."
Ying Zheng nodded with satisfaction: "Good."
The courtiers were about to cry. Banishing an immortal is really harmful. With just one word, you can send someone thousands of miles away?
They cried out to Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am innocent, why should I be exiled to that barbaric land?"
Ying Zheng said calmly: "It is said that the Peacock Kingdom is not a barbaric land. What's more, I have decided to set up counties in the Peacock Kingdom, and there must be someone to guard it."
In a word, these courtiers had nothing to say.
There is always someone to guard, so... His Majesty must choose a group of people no matter what. And these people are the unlucky ones who were chosen.
Ying Zheng said to Li Shui: "You know the Peacock Kingdom well. Based on the mountains, rivers, terrain, customs and customs there, you can draw up a list to see who should be sent there and what positions they should be assigned."
Li Shui responded with a smile.
Ying Zheng looked at the courtiers and said calmly: "After you go back, you will think about it and see what rewards you should give to the banished immortal and General Li."
Afterwards, Ying Zheng looked at Li Shui and Li Xin with satisfaction and drove back to the palace.
The courtiers did not leave, they kept looking at Li Shui cautiously.
Li Shui coughed lightly and looked at Zhou Qingchen: "Brother Zhou, do you have anyone to choose?"
Zhou Qingchen smiled slightly and took out a piece of paper from his arms: "I happen to have a list here. I wonder if I can use it to banish immortals."
Li Shui took the list and flipped through it, finding that the list was very detailed.
They are all courtiers who have recently presented memorials to the emperor and impeached Li Shui and Li Xin. And according to the number of memorials, they were arranged in order.
Li Shui nodded with satisfaction.
The sharp-eyed person quietly approached Li Shui, glanced at the list, and suddenly turned pale.
Soon, the contents of the list spread among the courtiers.
The faces of the courtiers all changed greatly, and they cried out to Li Shui: "Excommunicate the immortal, you are so noble. I am nearly seventy years old, and I can't bear the ups and downs."
Li Shui smiled slightly: "Don't worry, sir, I have ordered Zhangmen to prepare to build the railway to the Peacock Kingdom."
The courtiers were all dumbfounded.
Build a railway? Can that be accomplished overnight?
A few months ago, the railway to Xianyang City started construction, but hasn't it still not been completed yet?
Wait until Zhangmen has built the railway before going to the Peacock Kingdom? I'm afraid the emperor won't agree either, right?
Seeing that these courtiers were still entangled, Li Shui coughed dryly and pointed to Li Xin not far away: "General Li has the final say on this matter."
Later, Li Shui stuffed the list into Li Xin's hand.
Li Xin looked at the list, then at the introduction behind the list, and his hands suddenly became itchy.
The courtiers surrounded Li Xin and kept saying good things.
Li Xin looked at the courtiers and said quietly: "Everyone, you said that a general led troops to fight outside. Did he do anything wrong?"
The courtiers shook their heads vigorously.
Li Xin added: "This general destroyed two great countries with wits but no strength, and no bloodshed with his troops, and then sent a victory report to the court. Did he do anything wrong?"
The courtiers still shook their heads.
Li Xin said quietly: "Since he did nothing wrong, why do you want to impeach him?"
The courtiers said with a grimace: "We did it. Please be magnanimous, General Li."
Li Xin sighed: "In the past, wasn't I magnanimous?"
"I, Li Xin, have fought all my life and made great contributions to the Qin Dynasty, but what do you do in the court? You make fun of me from time to time."
"It can be seen that magnanimity does not bring respect."
The courtiers asked weakly: "What are your plans, General Li?"
Li Xin rubbed his hands: "Let me slap each of you. Those who have been slapped don't have to go."
These courtiers immediately became furious: "General Li, how could you do this?"
"A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated. I am old, how can I let others slap me?"
"I have been an official for generations, and my hard work has made me great..."
Li Xin waved his hand impatiently: "If you want to be slapped by me, just come to me in the house. If you don't like it, then go to the Peacock Kingdom. Farewell."
Li Xin cupped his hands, put the list in his arms, and left with a smile.
The courtiers looked at Li Shui, who said helplessly: "I can't do anything."
Afterwards, Li Shui walked towards Shangjun's courtyard.
These courtiers gathered for a while outside Xianyang City, looked at each other, and finally shook their heads helplessly and dispersed.
Fu Yao is waiting in Shangjun's courtyard.
When he saw Li Shui coming back, he quickly said, "Master, I haven't seen you for a few months. Why don't you come and say hello?"
Li Shui smiled and said: "Very good. How are you doing in Xianyang City?"
Fu Yao thought for a moment and said in a low voice: "In my opinion, my father may want to make me the crown prince."
Li Shui was slightly startled: "Are you sure?"
Fu Yao hummed: "I have a hunch."
Li Shui asked again: "Where did your premonition come from?"
Fu Yao said: "Yesterday when my father had dinner, he ate a plate of venison and thought it was very delicious, so he specially ordered someone to bring it to me."
Li Shui: "...That's it?"
Fu Yao looked at Li Shui doubtfully: "Isn't this enough?"
Li Shui was stunned for a while, and suddenly remembered that in ancient emperors' homes, many things were particular. Ying Zheng sent venison to Fu Yao, which may be some kind of special hint.
So he nodded and said to Fu Yao, "Are you ready?"
Fu Yao slowly shook his head: "Not yet. I don't know how to lead Da Qin."
Li Shui said: "As a prince, I will study hard by His Majesty's side. Being an emperor is actually not difficult."
"As long as you know how to control your ministers, you can be a good emperor. If you can practice it yourself and understand the world, you will not be deceived by your ministers and you can be a wise king."
Fu Yao's eyes widened: "Is it that simple?"
Li Shui smiled: "It's that simple."
Fu Yao suddenly took out a paper and pen from his arms and wrote down Li Shui's words.
Li Shui coughed dryly, pretended to be absent-minded, and asked, "How is your sister doing lately?"
Fu Yao sighed and looked at Li Shui with a puzzled expression.
Li Shui asked: "What?"
Fu Yao scratched his head: "These days, my sister always has the same expression, as if she is indifferent. She casually asked me: has there been any news about your master's expedition to the Peacock Kingdom?"
Li Shui was overjoyed when he heard this and nodded to Fu Yao: "Well...if I'm sorry to bother you, Princess, I should go to the palace to express my gratitude."
Fu Yao nodded in agreement.
It was almost nightfall at this time. It was obviously not suitable to go to the palace at this time, so we had to wait until tomorrow.
Seeing that Fu Yao had no intention of leaving, he asked curiously: "What's wrong with you?"
Fu Yao said: "I will determine the content of tomorrow's newspaper."
Li Shui said with a smile: "I heard that you hired a group of people to collect strange things in Xianyang City?"
Fu Yao said: "That's right. These people are the ones who record interesting things about the world. My disciple calls them reporters."
Li Shui said: "I will tell you a piece of news. You ask them to guard outside the palace of General Li Xin. Some courtiers do not want to go to the Peacock Kingdom and may take the initiative to receive a slap."
"You took their photos later and published them in the newspaper...the sales, hehe."
Fu Yao's eyes lit up when he heard this.
Courtiers were beaten? And a slap in the face? This is indeed breaking news, and people will definitely like to see it.
However, Fu Yao said with some worry: "However, will this offend those courtiers?"
Li Shui looked at Fu Yao approvingly: "You are indeed better than your master. You have already begun to consider this. Unlike a teacher, you can do whatever you want."
Fu Yao said: "Master is a man in heaven. No matter what he does, he can resolve it. But my disciple is just an ordinary prince. Even if he becomes a prince or an emperor in the future, he must be careful, so he has to consider his ministers. thoughts."
Li Shui nodded with satisfaction.
Then he said to Fu Yao: "There is a way to prevent those courtiers from holding grudges. After the newspaper publishes it, you find an unlucky guy, teach him a lesson, and say it was his own fault."
"Then, you personally visit the courtiers who were published in the newspaper and comfort them with kind words. Believe me, they will be moved to tears."
Fu Yao looked suddenly enlightened: "In terms of cunning, the disciple is still not as good as the master."
Li Shui: "..."
Are these all compliments?
…………
Li Si's mansion.
Wang Wan sat opposite Li Si.
Li Si smiled slightly: "The Prime Minister hasn't been here for a long time."
Wang Wan said: "Master Tingwei has been avoiding suspicion and refusing to see guests. I don't want to be disliked by Tingwei, so I don't dare to come."
Li Si asked: "Then why is the Prime Minister here again today?"
Wang Wan sighed: "I have to come. In your opinion, are the Peacock Kingdom and the Xiongnu Kingdom really destroyed?"
Li Si was silent for a while, then nodded: "It should be destroyed. Although the banished immortal is bold, he does not dare to speak nonsense on such a matter."
Wang Wan said: "It seems that Li Shui and Li Xin have contributed too much. Fu Yao's position as emperor is probably stable."
Li Si nodded and said nothing.
He has fallen into the suspicion of cliques, so most of his thoughts on gaining power have disappeared.
It doesn't matter to him who becomes the emperor.
Wang Wan said to Li Si: "Brother Li, do you really plan to stay depressed like this?"
Li Si smiled bitterly: "What else?"
Wang Wan whispered: "If Fu Yao is established as the prince and inherits the throne in the future, some people will be rewarded. Will you and I still be able to sit down in our position? Whether our family can pass it on depends on us. The choice is now.”
Li Si said quietly: "What other choice can we make? If we didn't have a choice before, it's already too late. Even if we show our kindness to Mr. Fu Yao now, I'm afraid he won't say anything."
Wang Wan said with a smile: "Therefore, I give Brother Li a strategy."
Li Si looked at Wang Wan in confusion: "What's the plan?"
Wang Wan whispered: "Young Master Fu Yao has a sister, Weiyang. They were born from the same mother, and they have a very close relationship."
"Now that Wei Young has reached the age of marriage, if she can marry a princess, wouldn't she be related to Master Fu Yao?"
Li Si was slightly startled: "What do you mean..."
Wang Wan said with a smile: "Li You, the young master of Brother Li's family. He is a talented man, good at both civil and military affairs. Isn't he not married yet? His status, character and ability are all very suitable for the princess."
"If Brother Li is willing, I am willing to help you protect this matchmaker."
Lis eyes suddenly lit up.
