Xue Rengui took the lead, and the veterans beside him also hurriedly agreed as if they were waking up from a dream.
Only Li Ji was calm and stroking his beard without saying a word, as if he was asleep.
This is understandable. It would be too shameless to help your grandson ask for a reward from the emperor.
Other veteran generals did not shy away from this and asked the emperor for merit, asking him to reward Li Qinzai.
Amidst the calls for merit, Li Zhi looked at Li Qinzai with a smile, and Empress Wu also looked approvingly.
"Your Majesty, talents are rare. Li Qinzai presented the god with a bow in front and horseshoes in the back. Both of them have made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty. It is unjustifiable not to reward him." Empress Wu glanced at Li Qinzai and said with a smile.
Li Zhi nodded and said with a smile: "What the queen said is true. Not rewarding meritorious service is not the behavior of a wise king."
Li Qinzai frowned secretly.
Being an official was not his intention.
The family is already prominent enough. As long as the Li family does not seek death in the future, Li Qinzai can lie under the big tree and enjoy the cool air. There is no need to get an official position for himself, and there are many official restrictions for no reason.
It's obviously a Erha running freely on the grassland, why do you need to put a rein on yourself? Wouldn't it be nice to be a wild dog on the loose?
Moreover, becoming an official means entering the officialdom, which will inevitably be involved in all kinds of disputes, big and small. Li Qinzai doesn't think his IQ can compare with those old foxes whose names are written in history books.
In general, being an official does more harm than good and must be rejected.
While he was secretly worried, Li Ji suddenly said: "Your Majesty, my grandson is incompetent and behaves absurdly. It is his duty to occasionally do legitimate things. It can only be said that his small merits are used to offset his past bad deeds. This son should not be rewarded." "
From Li Ji's position, it was appropriate to say this, and at this moment, he could only say this.
Li Qinzai immediately glanced at him gratefully and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, what grandpa said is reasonable. I have been ridiculous and misdeeds for many years. The city of Chang'an is notorious. I cannot be entrusted with an official position. It will ruin the reputation of the Tian family and damage the royal dignity."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was laughter all around.
Su Dingfang laughed so hard: "The boy is a real person. It is rare for him to understand himself so clearly, and what he said is the truth."
Li Ji was so angry that his face turned green, and he couldn't help but kicked him away.
You can be self-effacing as long as you are self-effacing, but you don’t have to be so self-effacing.
The Tian family couple also laughed uncontrollably. Empress Wu held Li Zhi's arm and laughed until tears came out.
After Li Zhi laughed, he shook his head and sighed: "Even if Li Qing refuses to be an official, there is no need to talk about herself in such a bad light."
Li Ji was ashamed and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, my family is unfortunate..."
Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said: "It can be seen that Li Qing is unwilling to be an official. His temperament needs to be tempered. However, merit must be rewarded. He can be appointed as the captain of Zhiguo, so he can leave his name in the court first."
Li Qinzai blinked, not knowing what kind of official this "Zhiguo Colonel" was.
But Li Ji suddenly slapped him and said angrily: "You still don't thank me!"
Li Qinzai had no choice but to bow and thank him: "I thank God for his kindness."
Empress Wu looked at Li Qinzai with a smile and said: "The Li family's Qilin'er is indeed extraordinary. I have seen it with my own eyes today. If you have any new ideas or things in the future, you must bring it out and don't cover it up. The Tian family will not treat you badly."
Li Qinzai responded awkwardly.
…………
The emperor's command of troops was just a formality. After the soldiers of the Beida camp went through the process, Li Zhi and Empress Wu left with satisfaction.
On the carriage back to the city, Li Qinzai finally couldn't help but ask: "Grandpa, what does Captain Zhiguo do? Do you have to answer questions every day?"
Li Ji snorted and said, "Those who are ignorant and incompetent can't even understand the official system of the court."
"Chief Lieutenant Zhiguo is a seventh-grade military attache, and he is a military casualty officer. He does not have to join the army. He just gives you the false title of a seventh-grade military officer. Your Majesty has said that he will first leave a name for you in the court. I probably saw your unwillingness to become an official and didn’t force you.”
Li Qinzai breathed a long sigh of relief.
Wu Sanguan, it's okay, okay, I can handle it myself.
Li Ji glanced at him and said, "I'm surprised, why don't you want to be an official?"
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "My grandson has no ambitions and just wants to be a waste..."
Li Ji's eyes widened in anger, and Li Qinzai immediately changed his words: "My grandson's ambition is not in the temple, but in the mountains and rivers. He wants to imitate the elegant scholars of the Wei and Jin Dynasties and hide in the mountains. He will be indifferent throughout his life and only ask about the way of heaven."
Li Ji said coldly: "Isn't this still a waste?"
"Grandpa, what you said is wrong. My grandson can at least be a more refined piece of trash."
Li Qinzai looked at him curiously and said, "My grandson just noticed it. Grandpa doesn't seem to want his grandson to be an official. Why?"
Li Ji sighed deeply and said, "The Li family is already prominent enough. If you want the family to survive for a hundred years, you should know that 'hiding your clumsiness' and being too prominent may not be a good thing for the Li family or you."
After hesitating for a moment, Li Ji added: "After the beginning of spring this year, I heard that Your Majesty suffered from wind-dizziness. He often lost his sight and could not sleep at night. The memorials to the three provinces were often written and reviewed by Empress Wu..."
With a deep sigh, Li Ji said worriedly: "It is said to be a 'ghostwriter'. Who knows whether the memorial is the intention of His Majesty or Empress Wu? If a woman is in power, how can she be so different from Si Chen? If things go on like this, the DPRK may be worried. Something big has happened.”
"The achievements of the Li family in three dynasties will inevitably attract the wind. At this turbulent time, we must be more careful to hide our clumsiness to avoid trouble. Therefore, I really don't want you to be in the limelight as an official. If Your Majesty has a stubborn illness that cannot be cured, I am afraid that the court will be uneasy. ”
Li Ji looked at him and suddenly smiled with approval: "But it's a good thing that you have the ingenuity to make the divine arm bow and horseshoe. A true man should serve his family and country. I don't mind that you are in the limelight. You can not be an official, but you must Serve the country, do you understand what I mean?"
"My grandson understands."
Li Qinzai was silent for a while and said: "Grandpa, hiding one's clumsiness and being cautious is not a foolproof strategy. You cannot avoid trouble when it comes."
Li Ji nodded, unconsciously showing a twilight look, and sighed tiredly: "I am old..."
To end the affairs of the king and the world, to gain fame both before and after his death, all misfortune happened in vain.
Li Qinzai looked at Li Ji steadily, feeling sad in his heart.
This famous military general is indeed getting old. He has been carrying the rise and fall of his family on his shoulders for a lifetime, and he can no longer carry it.
What should an old man who is almost seventy years old do?
They should be playing chess, taking care of their grandchildren, doing Tai Chi for a walk, and tasting all the delicious food in the world.
There are many things that can be done, but he should no longer be asked to bear the responsibility for the rise and fall of the family. That is what the younger generations should do.
After a long time, Li Qinzai suddenly said: "Grandpa, in addition to the magic arm bow and horseshoe, my grandson is actually more powerful because he has created a few good dishes. I will cook them for grandpa tomorrow, okay?"
Li Ji was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, okay."
…………
When we returned to the Duke's Mansion, it was time to light the lanterns.
As soon as the person entered the door, the housekeeper, servants and servants all came to greet him and congratulated Li Qinzai one after another.
Li Qinzai, the Peking University camp leader, made a big splash today and made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty. The news had already spread back to the Li family before he even entered the door.
Butler Wu Tong diligently dusted Li Qinzai, and kept talking with joy on his face: "I have said before that the Fifth Young Master is not a human being, and those unpleasant things that happened in the past were all caused by the anger in your body..."
Li Qinzai couldn't stand this weird butler who liked to get involved in everything to make him angry.
"Butler, my urine today is still very yellow..."
