Chapter 154 Changsun Wuji, Prince of Zhaozhou County

Author: The cat who doesn’t drink water

Chapter 154 Changsun Wuji, Prince of Zhaozhou County

After Li Zhi finished speaking, Wu Zetian was also stunned on the spot.

What did I hear? Changsun Wuji wants to resign from office?

Is this possible?

"Your Majesty, where did you hear this? This matter is not a joke."

Wu Zetian was trembling a little when she spoke, and looked at Li Zhi with disbelief in her eyes.

"Really, it's more real than gold. In just these two days, Changsun Wuji will go to court and ask to resign."

Li Zhi hugged Wu Zetian directly, as happy as a child.

After spinning around for a while, Li Zhi hugged Wu Zetian and fell on the sofa.

"Mei Niang, do you know how long I have been waiting for this day?"

"Nine years, exactly nine years."

Li Zhi leaned on the sofa, looked at the roof, and said to himself.

"Your Majesty, it's not Mei Niang who wants to pour cold water on you. If Changsun Wuji doesn't leave for a day, we can't let down our guard for a day. Is it possible that Changsun Wuji is using it as a deception?"

To be honest, Wu Zetian still doesn't believe that Changsun Wuji would step down so easily.

"No, no way."

Li Zhi shook his head. He had also thought about Wu Zetian's worries, but now that he thought about it, what would happen even if it was a blindfold?

As long as he leaves the position of prime minister, Changsun Wuji will be a toothless tiger and will no longer be a threat to him.

"Your Majesty, since you are convinced, should we consider who will succeed the Prime Minister after Changsun Wuji steps down? After all, the Tang Dynasty cannot be without a Prime Minister for a day.

Moreover, if Changsun Wuji steps down, his forces will also have to be swept away, so we cannot leave anything to chance and let him resurgence."

Although Wu Zetian didn't understand why Li Zhi was so certain, since he said so, he must have a reason.

"I came to you just for this matter. We must discuss it. We can't let the Tang Dynasty be in chaos just because my uncle stepped down."

Li Zhi nodded, that was his purpose.

"Then who does Your Majesty think is more suitable?"

Wu Zetian smiled slightly. If Changsun Wuji fell, her power would be too great.

After all, the emperor is the emperor and will not allow others to share the profits.

Neither Changsun Wuji nor herself, the queen, would be able to do that.

Li Zhi had been with him before, just to support her in dealing with Changsun Wuji.

If you don't take this step well now, it might be your turn.

"How do you feel about Xu Jingzong? This man is talented and virtuous, and he is loyal to the Tang Dynasty."

Li Zhi glanced at Wu Zetian and directly mentioned her number one confidant, Xu Jingzong.

"Your Majesty, Xu Jingzong is talented and loyal to the Tang Dynasty, but he is still not good enough to be the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty."

Wu Zetian shook her head, she would never let her power expand now.

It not only shows Li Zhi's absolute authority, but also expresses his own attitude.

"If Xu Jingzong can't do it, what about Li Yifu? Although he had some conflicts with Du Zhenglun at the beginning, he can be regarded as a loyal person of the Tang Dynasty. If you feel that you can, recall him to Chang'an and make him prime minister."

Li Zhi also mentioned Li Yifu who was demoted to Puzhou.

"This person in Li Yifu is greedy for money and lustful. It is inappropriate for him to be the prime minister. I hope your Majesty will find someone else."

Wu Zetian shook her head again. No matter whether Li Zhi tested her or not, she would not change her strategy.

Anyone can be the prime minister, except Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu.

"This won't work, and that won't work either. Then who should be the prime minister? How about Prime Minister Ren Ya?"

Li Zhi smiled slightly and proposed the third candidate.

"Your Majesty is talking about Prime Minister Renya, the Protector of Yanran who accompanied General Su Dingfang in his expedition against the Western Turks?"

Wu Zetian was also stunned when she heard this name. She had been the prime minister in the government for many years, and she still knew a little about the officials of the Tang Dynasty.

Renya Xiang was capable of literary and military skills. He once accompanied Su Dingfang to defeat the Western Turks. He was indeed a capable person.

But can this person really do it?

"That's right, this person is capable of both literary and military skills. I am very optimistic about him."

Li Zhi nodded. In fact, he was also thinking about the candidate for prime minister on the way back to the palace. The choice of Prime Minister Renya also appeared in his mind.

"If His Majesty is optimistic about it, then let's make the decision. I believe he will not disappoint His Majesty's high expectations."

Although she didn't know how good this Ren Yaxiang was, since it was Li Zhi's choice, she naturally had no objections.

Anyway, the prime minister actually serves the emperor, and major decisions still have to be handed over to the emperor for decision.

"You don't think about it anymore?"

Li Zhi was stunned. He didn't expect Wu Zetian to agree so easily. This was indeed beyond his imagination.

"What's the point of considering this? The person Your Majesty chooses must be the most suitable candidate. Besides, Mei Niang is just a woman, and it's not easy for her to interfere with the affairs of the court. Your Majesty can just make the final decision."

Wu Zetian smiled slightly and expressed her feelings again.

"Mei Niang, you are overthinking, I have no other intentions."

Looking at Wu Zetian, Li Zhi couldn't help but frown, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"Your Majesty, you are thinking too much, and Mei Niang has no other intentions.

Now that Changsun Wuji has decided to go into seclusion, His Majesty's serious worries have been eliminated.

From now on, Mei Niang will be able to concentrate on serving His Majesty and no longer need to think about matters in the court."

Wu Zetian leaned directly on Li Zhi's chest and kept drawing circles on it with her fingers.

"Mei Niang, I am really blessed to have a wife like this, but I don't allow you to rest like this. Without you to help me handle the government affairs, I will be bored to death."

Li Zhi held Wu Zetian in his arms, his eyes full of smiles.

That night, a superstitious letter was quietly sent to Xu Jingzong's house. After reading the contents of the secret letter, Xu Jingzong couldn't help but be shocked.

I glanced at the night sky above my head and didn't know what I was thinking.

"Father, I have already met with Your Majesty and told Your Majesty all the news that you are planning to retire. You, you can submit your speech to His Majesty."

Changsun Yan returned to Changsun Mansion and came directly to Changsun Wuji.

"Well, now that I've said everything that needs to be said, I have nothing to miss."

One day and two days passed, and finally on the third day of the court meeting, Changsun Wuji appeared in the Golden Palace dressed in the Prime Minister's Palace.

Looking at Changsun Wuji's figure, Li Zhi's eyes were full of complexity.

"If the officials have something to do, they will report it early, and if there is nothing to do, they will leave the court."

Ruian cleared his throat and shouted loudly to Wen Wu below.

"Your Majesty, the minister, Sun Wuji, has something to report."

Changsun Wuji glanced at the colleagues around him and knelt directly in front of Li Zhi.

"Prime Minister, why is this happening? Get up and speak."

Changsun Wuji's actions not only surprised all the officials, but even Li Zhi was shocked.

"Your Majesty, I have been working diligently since the late Emperor. I have never neglected my duty in the slightest. Now that I have reached the age of seventy, I find it difficult to maintain my position as Prime Minister."

"Therefore, I have come here for no other reason than to resign from Your Majesty. I also hope to allow Changsun Wuji to resign as Prime Minister and find another worthy successor."

After Changsun Wuji said this, he knocked his head to the ground.

His words were like a hurricane sweeping through the entire Jinluan Palace, and all the civil and military officials looked at Changsun Wuji in disbelief.

No one would have thought that Changsun Wuji, the most powerful official in the Tang Dynasty and who had served as prime minister for such a long time, would take the initiative to resign.

"Prime Minister, have you really decided this?"

Li Zhi looked at Changsun Wuji and asked again.

"My health really won't allow it anymore. I hope Your Majesty can be considerate of me and approve my resignation."

Changsun Wuji kowtowed his head to the ground again, hoping that Li Zhi would agree quickly to clear his mind.

"Prime Minister, you."

Li Zhi shook his head, and finally let out a long sigh: "That's it, that's it. Since the eldest grandson, Prime Minister, is already old, I agree."

"Changsun Wuji thanks your Majesty for your kindness."

Changsun Wuji kowtowed to the ground again and thanked Li Zhi.

"In passing the decree, the eldest grandson Wuji is dedicated to his work, devoted to the country, and has made outstanding achievements. He has contributed to the country and benefited all people.

I specially commend Changsun Wuji as the king of the county, provide food for 5,000 households in the town, reward 10,000 taels of gold, and 1,000 pieces of silk and satin.

His son, eldest grandson Yan, was granted the title of Duke of Duyuan County. He was granted a settlement of 1,500 households and was rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of silk and satin."

Li Zhi had long thought about the reward for Changsun Wuji, who was the only remaining old man in the Tang Dynasty, his uncle, and the strongest promoter of his ascension to the throne.

At this moment, he had decided to withdraw from the court. His reward was indispensable, and since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there had been precedents for people with different surnames to be crowned kings. His uncle deserved it.

"Changsun Wuji thanks the Lord for his kindness."
Chapter completed!