Li Gang had known about Zhao Huan's crazy behavior for a long time, but when Zhao Huan opened his mouth, Li Gang still had a gloomy look on his face, thinking to himself, what kind of prince is this? He is worse than a street kid.
Li Gang originally had some respect for Zhao Huan, after all, this guy did do a lot of practical things.
But at this time, his good impression of Zhao Huan disappeared in an instant.
He clasped his hands behind his back, and his eyes instantly showed disdain: "Li Gang, the young minister of Taichang Temple, is just a fourth-rank official. I'm afraid he won't be able to get into the eyes of the prince."
"But it doesn't matter. Now in Bianjing City, demons and evil spirits are running rampant. The prince doesn't know how to lower the official. It's not necessarily a bad thing for the lower official to take care of himself."
Li Gang was polite and polite before, but it annoyed Zhao Huan.
But now the words were full of contempt and sarcasm, which made Zhao Huan's eyes light up and he was instantly in awe.
Just because the person in front of me has a deep connection with Zhao Huan.
During the Jingkang Incident, Jin soldiers surrounded Bianjing. It was Li Gang and Zhao Huan who worked together to call on the soldiers and civilians in the city to repel the Jin soldiers.
After Zhao Huan succeeded to the throne, he reused Li Gang and named him Minister of War and Youcheng of Shangshu.
It can be said that Li Gang was one of Zhao Huan's important ministers.
Unfortunately, the city was full of surrender factions, and Li Gang, the main war faction, became an alien. Naturally, he was squeezed out and suppressed. After being dismissed many times, he died with hatred.
Li Gang was the same as Li Xun, who defended Taiyuan Prefecture for eight months during the Taiyuan Defense War, was shot dozens of times, and finally died a heroic death by throwing himself into the river.
It could have turned the tide, but it ended in humiliation because of the capitulationists.
Li Gang was mentally prepared to fight Zhao Huan to the end, but at the next moment, a scene happened that caught Li Gang by surprise.
Zhao Huan, who had bared his teeth just now and wanted to bite someone, unexpectedly closed his hands without any warning and saluted Li Gang solemnly.
"It turns out to be Li Shaoqing, I'm disrespectful."
Every one of the onlookers at the scene was fooled by Zhao Huan.
What's going on?!
Even Li Gang, who was nearly fifty years old and had extremely rich life experience, was almost staggered by Zhao Huan.
He frowned and asked tentatively: "Is the prince trying to humiliate me?"
Zhao Huan lowered his hands, stood straight, and looked at Li Gang with sincerity in his eyes.
"Master Li is an important minister and the backbone of the Song Dynasty. Even if I am a bastard, I will never humiliate Master Li."
"on the contrary!"
"If anyone dares to be disrespectful to Mr. Li, I will be the first to refuse!"
If Zhao Huan had hidden evil intentions, his eyes were extremely sincere, and it didn't look like he was just acting on occasion.
Li Gang was completely confused. He had no idea what Zhao Huan was trying to do.
The Hongyan Pavilion singers, who were originally chirping, also showed expressions of disbelief.
Zhao Huan didn't care about the strange looks from everyone, and said quickly: "I have heard long ago that Mr. Li is a loyal minister, and his heart is for the country of the Song Dynasty."
"At this critical moment, Mr. Li was able to rush back to Bianjing and fight side by side with our Zhao family. I would like to thank you!"
Li Gang frowned, not knowing which words of the crazy prince in front of him were true and which were false.
Just now, this guy was talking dirty like a street kid, but then he turned his face and became so sonorous and powerful again.
This kind of fictitious and unpredictable character really makes people confused.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this unusual personality that Zhao Huan was able to rise to prominence and gain a foothold in Bianjing City, which was like an arena.
"Your Majesty, your words are serious. I have received the favor of my country and stepped forward when the Song Dynasty was in danger. This is my duty. There is nothing worthy of praise."
"On the contrary, it is the prince who can single-handedly block the chaos of demons in Bianjing, which is admirable."
Li Gang is also a happy person. Since Zhao Huan greets him with a smile, he will naturally not treat him with a bad face.
Facing Li Gang's admiration, Zhao Huan waved his hand and said lightly: "I am ashamed to say that I am deeply involved in the political whirlpool and it is difficult to spare my efforts to truly serve the country."
"What the Song Dynasty lacks most now is officials like Mr. Li."
"If only a few more officials with backbone dared to face the pressure of the Jin people, our Song Dynasty would not be in the situation we are in today."
Although Zhao Huan and Li Gang were more than 20 years apart, they seemed to be strangers and had the same spirit.
Maybe this is the year-end friendship.
Li Gang's impression of Zhao Huan became clearer and clearer. The prince in front of him was really crazy. As for whether he was really crazy or not, he couldn't tell.
Zhao Huan noticed Li Shishi being tied up and quickly interceded with Li Gang.
"Master Li has the determination to bring order to things and clean up the filth. I admire him very much."
"But Master Li is the king's confidant. Can I be accommodating?"
Li Gang was not a pedantic and stubborn person. He immediately asked: "Your Majesty wants to protect Master Li. There must be a convincing reason, right?"
"Or is it that the prince is also a hero who is sad about beauty and covets Master Li's beauty?"
"A beauty is a disaster, that's what she is talking about. Please reflect on yourself, Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan immediately understood that Li Gang's coming to capture Master Li was not a personal grudge, but simply a desire to take Master Li's sacrificial flag.
Moreover, His Majesty must have acquiesced to this move, otherwise Li Gang would not have made such a big show of it.
Since there were many people at the scene, Zhao Huan stepped forward directly, whispered in Li Gang's ear, and informed him about the widespread spying.
Li Gang frowned and was amazed in his heart.
It's not because Zhao Huan was training spies under His Majesty's nose, but... this guy actually revealed such an important secret?
"Does the prince trust Xiaguan so much? Aren't you afraid that Xiaguan will expose you in the blink of an eye?"
Zhao Huan shrugged disapprovingly: "I will never make a mistake. Mr. Li is not a Xiaoxiao, but a hero who saves the country!"
Li Gang couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha, the prince is so confident!"
"But having said that, if even the majestic prince is not confident, then wouldn't it mean that everyone in the Song Dynasty has become a loser?"
"Many lower officials have heard about Yizhou's affairs, and they know very well that the prince is eager to save the country."
"In this case, I will betray the prince to save my face and let Master Li go for the time being."
Li Gang waved his hand, and his accompanying men untied all the Hongyan Pavilion singers and retreated voluntarily.
Li Shishi rubbed his sore arm and saluted Zhao Huan: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your rescue. The slave family is grateful."
Seeing that Master Li was fine, Zhao Huan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Master Li, please clean up a room. I have something to discuss with Mr. Li."
After a while, except for Zhao Huan and Li Gang, there was no one else in the room on the second floor of Hongyan Pavilion.
Zhao Huan got straight to the point: "Can Mr. Li win the military power in Bianjing?"