"That's it!" Liu Chengyou looked at Li Tao and said gently: "Speaking of which, I haven't seen anyone from the Kong family since I succeeded to the throne. In this way, please prepare a book and send it to Qufu. After Kong Yi’s mourning period is over, he will come to Beijing..."
"yes!"
Paying attention to Li Tao, Liu Chengyou leaned forward slightly and said with concern: "I heard that Li Qing has been working very hard as a director these days. Today, even before dawn, he went to the palace to sit in charge of government! It's too hard. Of course, state affairs It’s important, you still need to take care of your body!”
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!" Li Tao responded: "I have insufficient qualifications and shallow moral character. I have been entrusted with a heavy responsibility by Your Majesty and am in charge of the center. I am walking on thin ice. I am afraid of neglecting political affairs and harming the country and the emperor. I can only spend more labor. There have been many troubles at home and abroad recently. I don’t dare to delay!”
"Li Qing is so humble!" Liu Chengyou said with emotion at Li Tao's words.
"However, one thing is true. The country is indeed troubled! This just proves that the world is uneasy, and we still have many things that we have not done well. We are even disturbed by such secular affairs and cannot relax for a moment!" Liu Chengyou said.
He looked at Li Tao, pointed at the case, and said, "I have been away from Beijing for several months, and I have accumulated a mountain of memorials. After reading them one by one, I am exhausted and feel exhausted!"
"Your Majesty is diligent and hands-on, and has always been admired by his ministers!" Li Tao paid tribute.
"If I didn't have capable ministers and officials like Li Qing to relieve me of my worries, I wouldn't be able to sit on the dragon's bed and rule the world!" Liu Chengyou said.
"Your Majesty is ridiculous! I don't dare to accept it!"
Li Tao raised his eyes and looked at Liu Chengyou. A complex emotion flashed across his face. Li Tao bowed down and said, "I have been a political director recently, and my thoughts and concerns are often inappropriate. I am really scared. Your Majesty, please hold me accountable!"
Seeing his performance like this, Liu Chengyou was slightly surprised, and then smiled: "Why is Li Qing like this? That's serious! Human energy is always limited, and you are old and have heavy national affairs. It is inevitable that you will make some omissions. It’s understandable, don’t worry!”
Liu Chengyou's words seemed to be comforting, but to Li Tao's ears, they were really unpleasant. Noticing the gentle and easy-going expression on the emperor's face, a touch of bitterness lingered in my heart, lingering, and he lowered his head and clasped his fists and said: "Your Majesty's words make me ashamed!"
After paying attention to the time, Liu Chengyou stood up, greeted Li Tao, and said, "It's time to eat. Li Qing will be sent back to the hall first. Come, eat with me!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Unable to refuse the warm welcome, Li Tao followed.
"On this tour, I have tasted all the local delicacies and found that folk dishes have many characteristics and are not inferior to those of the palace. Today, I specially ordered someone to cook some famous Tokyo dishes. You should share them with me... ..”
The weather was refreshing, and the afternoon autumn sun released a soft light, shining on Li Tao. Walking between the palace rooms, Li Tao felt a little dazed, and in his dazed state, he felt a deep sense of frustration.
The emperor's words and expressions still appeared in his mind, and his gentle voice still seemed to linger in his ears, and the bitterness in his smile could not be concealed. The emperor's words were like knives, cutting into his heart one by one. The hints, no, should be taken as clear indications, and he had already understood what he meant.
To be honest, Li Tao still couldn't understand why he aroused the emperor's suspicion. Compared with Yang Bin back then, he was much more humble and submissive. As for age, is 58 very old?
Perhaps it can only be explained by the unfathomable nature of the Sacred Heart...
From the relocation of brother Li Huan, to the Guanzhong incident, and then to the Jinghu case. And what happened with Kong just now was clearly a way to beat myself up...
"Ms. sir!" Li Tao walked to the staff department in Nanya, and was immediately greeted by a minister.
"Where is Minister Shen?" Li Tao asked.
"We are in the hall! I will go and report it immediately!"
"No need!" Li Tao waved his hand to stop the attentive Si Lang, and ordered: "I'll go by myself!"
"yes!"
Stepping into the official office of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, all the arrangements are so familiar. He has been in charge here for many years, and his imprint is imprinted on everything up and down, inside and out.
The moment he stepped into the hall, Li Tao finally realized something, and his old face showed a little surprise. Perhaps the word "official administration" was the problem...
Thinking about how many people he has promoted over the years, and how many disciples and old officials he has made, it seems that it is countless. However, he is determined not to admit that he has formed a clique for personal gain or harbored different ambitions.
"Why is your husband here?" After the public case, Shen Wenbing was handling official documents and drinking tea. He looked up and saw Li Tao and hurriedly greeted him: "Here, please serve tea quickly!"
"Please take a seat!" Shen Wenbing pointed to the main case and said humbly: "If my husband has any instructions, I can send someone to inform you or call my subordinates to come. Why do you have to do your job and come in person?"
However, Li Tao found his way to the guest table and sat down. The depressed mood was no longer on his face. He pointed at the big case and said to Shen Wenbing: "Guohua, this case will officially belong to you from now on. It is well deserved!"
"What does Mr. Xian mean by this?" Shen Wenbing was slightly stunned.
Looking at Shen Wenbing, Li Tao said: "I am already old. I am no longer capable of handling internal and external affairs and cannot bear the burden, let alone manage the civil affairs. Just now, I have proposed to His Majesty that I should resign from the post of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. And recommended you to take over to His Majesty, and His Majesty also agreed, and under the imperial edict, it will be done in just one or two days!"
Shen Wenbing had a slow temperament. When he heard the news suddenly, he didn't react for a while. He was stunned for a while, and then he realized it later and said: "How can I be a low-ranking official and be worthy of being a high-ranking official?"
"Guohua, there is no need to be modest!" Seeing his reaction, Li Tao said calmly: "You are originally the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and you have been in charge of the civil affairs for some time. Your reputation has always been praised by others, so it is natural for you to take over! "
After thinking about it for a while, Shen Wenbing just finished digesting the news. When he noticed Li Tao's expression, he was filled with doubts, a little uneasy, and his intuition was unusual.
Probably aware of Shen Wenbing's doubts, Li Tao said with a smile: "You don't have to worry about anything, just do your job well!"
As he spoke, Li Tao's expression became more serious, and he warned in a solemn tone: "The responsibilities of the civil service department are the most complicated among all the ministries, and they involve a lot of ups and downs. When Guohua is in charge of his affairs, he should uphold the public spirit and be prudent. First!"
"Your Majesty, please remember your father-in-law's teachings!"
After pondering for a while, Li Tao smiled again and said: "In my opinion, Guohua, in the court, your qualifications and abilities are not inferior to those of Fan Wensu and others, but your temperament is too peaceful and you have not shown your talents. This time, Your Majesty will use With the appointment of heavenly officials, you can also look forward to worshiping the prime minister in the future!"
Hearing this, Shen Wenbing looked calm: "This official is self-aware and doesn't dare to hope!"
"You are just too generous and humble!"
When Li Tao left the official department, his expression showed relief. Returning to the political hall, he behaved as usual and sat on the board of directors, as if nothing had changed.
There was no overtime work, so I drove back to the mansion in the evening.
"Father!" To his surprise, his son Li Chengxiu was already waiting in the house.
"Why did you come back home?" Li Tao looked at him.
Welcoming Li Tao into the hall, Li Chengxiu said with a bit of joy on his face, "My son has been transferred to the Ministry of Water Affairs. My father is finally willing to let me be promoted?"
Listening to his words and observing his appearance, the fleeting surprise on Li Tao's face was not noticed by his son, and he said calmly: "Do you think I arranged it for you?"
"Isn't it?" Li Chengxiu hesitated.
A look of contemplation flashed across the old man's face, and Li Tao waved his hand and warned: "The waterway project, boats and bridges is a top priority for the country, and His Majesty has always attached great importance to it. If you can fulfill your duties, perform well!"
"Yes!" Li Chengxiu said with his hands raised, immersed in the joy of promotion, and did not notice anything strange about his father.
At night, after dinner, Li Tao went to his study and sat behind the desk for a long time. The flickering lights reflected on his face, making his expression more profound and calm.
After a long time, he sighed, spread out a blank memorial, poured water and ink himself, dipped his pen in it, made some ideas, and wrote: Li Tao, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Pingzhang Minister under Zhongshu Menxia, Fuqi Your Majesty. I am a mediocre person, but I was expelled from the imperial court and favored by Your Majesty. I have occupied a high position for ten years..."
This is a glossary! After careful consideration, Li Tao finally decided to retreat and avoid disaster. Everything the emperor did was short of directly telling him that it was time to retreat. If he didn't know what he was doing, it would be too disrespectful to the emperor. He, Li Tao, was not Yang Bin after all, and he did not have the courage or strength to confront the emperor head-on.
Li Tao's literary talent is good, and he usually writes many articles and poems that have been handed down from generation to generation. This time, he expresses his feelings and expresses his true feelings. When I finished writing the last word, my eyes turned a little red.
"Alas..." The old minister's sigh was filled with sadness.
