Does discovering a new grain qualify you for promotion?
This is a very controversial issue. Most of the courtiers present remained silent. In fact, silence can be regarded as their attitude.
Not all were opposed, many people forgot to speak in shock.
You must know that Li Qinzai is only in his twenties this year, and the titles he has been granted in recent years have been rising like free cabbage.
In which year was Li Qinzai first granted the title of County Prince?
The second year of Longshuo. That was the year before last.
So, in just two years, Li Qinzai was promoted from county son to county prince?
I have to say, it’s a bit excessive. There are so many courtiers present who have worked hard for the Tang Dynasty all their lives. They are getting old and have not even been able to get into the county. How can this young boy become a county official in two years?
This is not a question of how much merit one has made, but a question of seniority.
A county prince in his twenties was unheard of since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. If the world knew about it, at best it would be called eclectic promotion of talents by the emperor, and at worst it would be called nepotism.
There is a poem by later generations, "At dusk, candles are passed around the Han Palace, and light smoke disperses into the houses of the five marquises." It tells that an emperor in the Eastern Han Dynasty made five of his closest relatives marquises in one day.
If Li Qinzai had been promoted to the title of Duke in his twenties, he might have been written into poems and become the object of bitter satire for future generations.
This is one of the reasons why Li Ji and Li Qinzai took the initiative to stand up and firmly oppose it.
How could Li Ji, who had always been prudent in life, allow his grandson to get into such limelight and give clues to his political opponents for no reason, thus affecting the entire Li family's reputation?
Grandfather and grandson have the same attitude and a surprisingly tacit understanding.
"Your Majesty, please think twice. The promotion proposal is not advisable. The veteran's family is already prominent enough. How can he receive the emperor's favor again and add it to his body? It's so frightening."
Li Ji's tone was very firm. He said that he could not be promoted to a noble rank this time. It seemed that he had unlimited glory, but in fact it did more harm than good.
Li Qinzai also said: "Your Majesty, if I want to be promoted to a noble title, I can only get the title on a horse. If I am promoted to a noble title because of sweet potatoes, not only will the world laugh at me for getting this title, but I will also feel ashamed and embarrassed. I can't hold my head high after receiving this title." chest."
Li Zhi sighed and said: "You two are really... why don't you accept the title given to you for free? Everyone present knows how important the sweet potato is. In the future, everyone in the world will benefit from it. I will reward and punish you." Obviously, who dares to refuse to accept the promotion because of this matter?"
After speaking, Li Zhidan glanced at the ministers present. The ministers seemed to feel Li Zhi's oppressive gaze, and they all lowered their heads and remained silent.
Li Ji stroked his beard and said slowly: "Your Majesty, Qin Zai has made a small contribution to the Tang Dynasty. However, the title given by the emperor must be matched by virtue and conduct. Only those with high merit and virtue will be awarded. If the virtue is not worthy of the title, he will be punished. Qin Zai I am still young and have not cultivated enough virtues. If I am in a high position, I may be disadvantaged."
Li Qinzai was a little unhappy after hearing this.
Of course I understand what it means. Not only must you have merit, but you must also be virtuous. Does Li Ji mean that he lacks virtue?
If you refuse, just refuse it properly. No one cares about being a bastard, so why are you still scolding people?
Li Qinzai couldn't help but whispered: "Grandpa, my grandson's moral character is also quite noble. Apart from other places, Ganjing Manor is well-known by all ages and is especially loved by the disciples..."
Li Ji gave him a cold look: "Shut up, are you showing off?"
Li Zhi chuckled: "I have witnessed Jingchu's noble character with my own eyes."
After the monarch and his ministers joked for a while, Li Zhi saw that his grandfather and grandson were indeed very resistant to the promotion, so he stopped mentioning it.
…………
That night, a banquet was held in the Li family courtyard in honor of Li Zhi and his ministers.
Today, the old master Li Ji came to Zhuangzi in person. The servants in the other courtyard were both excited and nervous. From the stewards to the cooks, they were all doing things with trepidation, fearing that they would be picked on by the old master if they failed to do something well.
Li Qinzai couldn't help but feel angry when he saw the trembling looks of the servants in the mansion.
Why the hell are you so relaxed when I'm at home? Not only did I not appear to be walking on thin ice, but everything came to disturb my sleep.
Compared with Li Jiyi, the young master Li Qinzai seems to be very unpopular.
At the night banquet in the other courtyard, Li Ji and Li Qinzai, the grandson and grandson, unsurprisingly became the protagonists.
Taking advantage of the wine, the courtiers came forward one after another to toast Li Ji and Li Qinzai, and they were even more attentive to Li Qinzai. They praised Li Qinzai in every word, and they were very grateful to Li Qinzai for his contribution, as if they had done their homework in advance. Li Qinzai himself didn't even remember it so clearly.
Come and try it quickly. 】
Most of the people present were elders, so Li Qinzai had no choice but to welcome all comers and drink until the wine was dry. Fortunately, the wine in this era was not strong and tasted almost like fruit wine. In the first half of the banquet, Li Qinzai drank a lot and won applause from the whole room.
Li Qinzai also saw it. When he refused the promotion and Li Zhi stopped mentioning the matter, the courtiers breathed a sigh of relief.
From the bottom of their hearts, they probably didn't want to see such a young minister suddenly promoted to the title of Duke. That would be too scary.
If Li Qinzai really accepts it, most of the people present will have to take the initiative to bow down when they see him. With the emperor's favor and trust in him, as long as this guy doesn't make any stupid mistakes in his life, it is not impossible to be crowned king before the age of forty. .
Even out of naked human jealousy, no one is happy to see Li Qinzai promoted to a noble title today.
Li Qinzai doesn't mind either. The title is enough. Is there any difference between a county marquis and a county duke? Is it because the bowl I eat with is bigger, or is it because I wear warmer clothes?
Since there is no difference, why should I be a bird in the lead, standing on a high branch to be beaten down by others with a slingshot?
After showing off as a hero in the first half of the banquet, Li Qinzai gradually started to feel drunk, and started to act stupid in the second half.
Just like the heroes in later movies and TV dramas showing off, even though a jar of wine was poured on the lapel of his clothes, others still applauded loudly, saying that the hero was ordinary in appearance, but it was rare for him to have a good capacity for drinking, and so on. I didn’t know those people. Is he really blind, or is he afraid of the hero's revenge?
Li Qinzai also did the same, but what he got was the contempt of everyone present.
It’s fine if you’re not blind, it doesn’t matter if you despise it, just accept it indifferently and do your best.
After feeling that he was not good enough, Li Qinzai decisively withdrew from the battlefield.
After sneaking out from behind the screen in the front hall, Li Qinzai went to the backyard and summoned Cui Jie, Jin Xiang and Qiao'er, and the four of them gathered in the east courtyard of the backyard.
According to Li Qinzai's instructions, several maids brought several kilograms of charcoal from the kitchen. Li Qinzai lit it with fire and waited for the charcoal to burn red.
Cui Jie had a big belly and yawned from time to time. Jinxiang moved a chair for her to sit on and gently massaged her shoulders and thighs.
"My husband is not entertaining the emperor and the courtiers in the front hall, so why did he call me and others here?" Cui Jie yawned.
Pregnant women tend to feel sleepy, and it was actually the time when Cui Jie fell into a deep sleep.
Li Qinzai smiled mysteriously and said: "I have a good thing, husband, please eat it. Keep a low profile and don't make any noise."
