Early next morning.
Fang Zhengyi and Li Yansong walked side by side on the mountain path. The mountains were lush with vegetation and there was a small stream flowing down the road.
It was still dark, and the surroundings were filled with mist.
Fang Zhengyi was a little confused.
I had just finished interrogating the prisoners yesterday, and before I had time to return home, I was called to this inexplicable place on the outskirts of the city by Li Yansong early in the morning.
He didn't say anything when he arrived, just led him forward.
Halfway through the walk, I took advantage of Li Yansong's breathless break to rest.
Fang Zhengyi finally couldn't help but asked: "Mr. Li, what do you want from me today? Although His Majesty won't go to court in the morning, we should still be on duty, right? I personally interrogated the prisoners yesterday and got some results, and I still want to report to Your Majesty ,"
Li Yansong looked sideways and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "What results did the prisoner's trial yield yesterday?"
Fang Zheng said: "After asking about the other party's situation in general, the church's divine punishment weapon was made by King Wu. When I escaped from his ship, I used gunpowder to blow up one of his ships. I didn't expect that he would use the gunpowder to burn the remains. It is truly remarkable to organize people to research gunpowder.”
Li Yansong nodded: "Awesome, King Wu is indeed talented. When he was young, he was not favored by the late emperor. He was also scolded by the courtiers for his curiosity and skill. If he is today, he must be a wizard, but it is a pity that he was born in the wrong era... Did you find out any other important information?"
Fang Zheng shook his head: "Also, King Wu seems to be in good health. I don't think it will be a problem to live for more than twenty years. But I mainly asked about the issue of firearms in a sideways manner. I now know the level of firearms on both sides. I know this. It's enough."
"How is your Majesty's health now?"
Li Yansong said: "Your Majesty's dragon body is acceptable. His Royal Highness is personally taking care of it today... We are here."
【Mingxi Temple】
When Fang Zheng raised his head, he saw a quiet temple that looked very dilapidated from the outside.
The location here is remote and sparsely populated, so there won't be much incense here.
Just as Fang Zheng was about to ask why he wanted to go to the temple, Li Yansong had already walked to the temple first.
After passing through the temple gate, there is a large courtyard behind, with stone tables and benches, flowers and trees, and the ethereal chirping of birds from time to time, giving it a vaguely earthly charm.
The two novice monks hurriedly saluted when they saw Li Yansong. They seemed to be regular visitors.
Li Yansong waved his hand and walked directly to a stone bench, motioning for Fang Zheng to sit down.
The two sat opposite each other, and Fang Zhengyi admired the scenery: "Why did you bring me to this temple?"
Li Yansong said: "I heard that you don't like monks. Is this true?"
Fang Zhengyi said calmly: "It's all rumors. I did have sex with a monk when I was young, but in fact I admire Buddhism very much. It has gentle teachings and is willing to be beaten and scolded. It advocates forgiveness and is just like an honest person. I wouldn't dare to switch to any other sect." If you really want to provoke me, I'm afraid the other party will lead the believers to fight and kill you, it will be more difficult to deal with than a dog-skin plaster."
Li Yansong smiled, then looked around, as if with some emotion: "This temple is a place for me to cultivate myself. I am busy with family affairs and my thoughts are chaotic, so I have to take a few days to be alone here every month. .”
"In fact, many people in the court are willing to take time to go to temples and Taoist temples to cultivate their minds and nature. I wonder if the Marquis has such a habit?"
"I...have been alone all this time."
The answer was a bit surprising, and Li Yansong was slightly stunned.
At this moment, the young novice brought tea and placed it between the two of them.
Li Yansong picked up the tea cup and looked at Fang Zhengyi with raised eyebrows: "It is the instinct of the strong to be alone, and the Marquis is indeed an astonishing genius."
Fang Zheng had a vague feeling that something was wrong, so he asked, "Didn't Mr. Li come here specifically to praise me today? Is it because the younger generation wants to work in the Jinyi Guards, or someone has done something wrong?"
"I want to arrange people, why do I need you?" Li Yansong said with a smile: "I am not flattering you this time, I am telling the truth. I went to see His Majesty yesterday and mentioned you to His Majesty."
"His Majesty once told me that you are a literary star given to him by God. In terms of talent and ingenuity, there is no other person in the world."
"Actually, I feel the same way. How smart can a person be to have such achievements as you?" Li Yansong leaned forward, "No one can match me in terms of poetry, no one can compare me in terms of creation, and you are also the best in terms of life. clever."
"Sometimes when I'm in this temple, I wonder... do you have wisdom? If you don't know it from birth, how can a person at your age accomplish so many great things that shock the world? You have such an unbridled imagination. , The bohemian conversation, and the way of doing things are different from ordinary people, I am very scared when I think about it carefully."
Fang Zhengyi shrugged his shoulders.
It’s really a man who has matured with age and thinks so much.
But Su Hui wears it from back to front, and I don’t wear it from front to back as Su Hui!
Fang Zheng calmly picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Mr. Li thinks too much. What I have achieved today is definitely not due to my own efforts. There are too many smart people in the world, and it just so happens that some of them are willing to believe in me. Just help me and a little bit of luck."
"Mr. Li, if you have anything to say, just go straight to the point and don't try any more."
Li Yansong twitched the corners of his mouth: "You are as cheerful as ever, so I'll just tell you the truth."
"You should also know something about the situation in the DPRK, especially the cabinet. Including me, Mr. Zheng, and Mr. Zhang, they are all a bunch of old men. Logically speaking, everyone should have resigned a long time ago, but you know why no one is willing to invite Resign?"
"Maybe he's just confused."
Li Yansong almost fell over in a breath: "Can you change your bad-mouthed habit? Can you respect the old man!"
"You said you said..."
Li Yansong took a deep breath, tried to adjust his emotions, and continued: "Everyone can see the efforts you have made and the achievements you have made in the past few years in the court."
"This prosperous age has even far exceeded the imagination of our predecessors. The changes have not been seen in thousands of years. Every ambitious official wants to see a further future born during his term. No one wants to step aside and be a bystander."
"But nothing can defeat time." Li Yansong sighed heavily and slowly opened his arms, "Look, I may not be able to walk in another two years. What else can an old fool do except create trouble? ?If we don’t retreat bravely, we can only leave a name in history.”
"Mr. Li, what do you mean?" Fang Zheng looked at the other party in surprise and uncertainty.
Li Yansong said softly: "That's what you think. Now that I am in the position of the three princes and in charge of the cabinet, I have already become a very popular minister. It is time to retire. Mr. Zheng and Mr. Zhang will not be too late behind me." Long."
"The cabinet needs a minister with extraordinary abilities as its backbone, and no one is more qualified than you!"
Fang Zheng stood up suddenly: "No! Absolutely not! Don't you have a successor? Why should you let me?"
"Hey, if there is someone who can catch up to half of your ability, it won't be your turn, so I decided it's you!"
"No, no, this doesn't comply with the process or the rules at all."
"If you think it doesn't match anything, I'll find someone to correct it for you."
...
