The red paint on the courtyard door is mottled and matches the moss on the wall. There are red doors like this one after another, the ones near are large and the ones far away are small. They have a simple texture under the sunlight.
Li Heng sat on the stone steps, waiting for the sound from the red door in the farthest place.
He has been accustomed to waiting in his life, although every time he waits, he always gets bad results.
"I'm still watching, but even if those people succeed, they are just asking the Supreme Emperor to take over the government. What good will it do to you and me?" Zhang Ting walked behind Li Heng.
"It's better than now. At least, you can play dominoes with him again."
Li Heng held Zhang Ting's hand on his shoulder, patted it, and said in an instructive tone: "You are not as sharp as before."
When he talked today, Zhang Ting just listened. Unlike before, he could not give him a lot of advice and inspiration.
"Lately, my thoughts have been on Ji'er." Zhang Ting said, "He is so ill, how can I care about anything else?"
"Whether it can succeed this time depends on whether it can win over the forbidden troops." Li Heng did not look away and murmured: "It is easy to connect the courtiers. Now that the Buddha is banned, the courtiers are panicking and want to stop. But these people
My stance changes the fastest, and maybe it changes once I'm scared. I have some prestige among the Forbidden Army, and if I can meet some people, my chances of winning are not small."
He analyzed a lot and predicted the development of the situation with yearning and expectation.
Gradually, it became dark, and the sound of dusk drums could be heard in the distance.
"Don't worry, opportunities often appear at night." Li Heng said.
Sure enough, the red courtyard door was opened, and a palace official slowly came over. Li Heng was overjoyed and stood up in anticipation.
But the palace man walked up to Zhang Ting and bowed without saying a word.
Zhang Ting remained calm and said, "Follow me."
"Here."
"Wait a minute." Li Heng said in shock: "Where is she taking you?"
"Ji'er is sick. I'll take him to see a doctor."
"Sick?" Li Heng said, "When did you get sick?"
Hearing what he said, Zhang Ting couldn't help but have a sarcastic smile on her face, and said: "Yeah, you didn't know he was sick, it's your fault that I didn't tell you."
"I was too impatient."
Li Heng reacted immediately, took two steps forward and whispered in her ear: "You know, soon, we will hire an imperial doctor for him and supplement him with precious medicinal materials, don't worry."
Zhang Ting looked at him for a while, then suddenly said: "You are not as sharp as before."
Li Heng didn't realize what she meant at first. After thinking about it again, he realized something was wrong. He turned his head and looked at her blankly and asked, "Did I miss something?"
"You missed what I said, 'Ji'er is sick, and has been sick for a long time.'"
Zhang Ting said this and turned to leave.
Li Heng grabbed her, became inexplicably angry, and shouted: "What do you mean? I don't care? I have been praying for him in front of the Buddha!"
"It's hard for you to take time out of your busy schedule to pray for him. Now that you are living here, you are busier than when you were in Lingwu. You can go more than a hundred days without even looking at your young son. It's also the case that our mother and son treated you so well back then.
It was useful, but it’s not worth mentioning now.”
"Zhang Ting! Are you betraying me? At this time, if you take Ji'er away to see the doctor, how can I not be worried?"
At the end of his words, Li Heng's eyes became affectionate.
All day long, Zhang Ting listened patiently to his long talk. At this moment, her patience finally ran out, and she simply said in an impatient tone: "I forgot to mention that you and I should make peace."
"What?!"
Li Heng was greatly surprised, as if he had never heard the word "harmony" before.
He didn't believe that such words could come out of Zhang Ting's mouth. He shook his head and asked, "Who forced you? Is it Xue Ni who threatened you?"
A sarcastic smile appeared on Zhang Ting's face again. She found that Li Heng could always say something to make her laugh today.
The next moment, her hands were held tightly by Li Heng.
"You and I have a deep love and share weal and woe. We have gone through so many ups and downs, how can we let go now?"
"In the past, did you and Wei Shi, Du Shi and Li Shi say the same thing?" Zhang Ting asked.
Li Heng was stunned.
What he saw with his eyes was that Zhang Ting looked so ruthless and indifferent, just like him when he was determined to reconcile with Concubine Wei and Du Liangdi.
But he, like them, couldn't help but shed tears and burst into tears.
"You are different from them." Li Heng held Zhang Ting's hand and refused to let go, "They are just passers-by, only you, you are the love of my life!"
"I'm not even your princess."
"I can……"
"That's enough, don't you feel disgusted?" Zhang Ting took his hand out of Li Heng's hand, sneered and said, "You are a waste, I have had enough of your weakness."
"I will never make peace with you!" Li Heng said: "You want to make peace with me? I can't write a word!"
"It doesn't matter. When the edict arrives, you will write it."
After saying that, Zhang Ting turned around and left.
Li Heng felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He had never dared to think about this, but now he finally understood it completely. The reason why Zhang Ting was like this was because he made a deal with Xue Bai.
Xue Bai's condition was to help her reconcile with Li and allow her to take Li Yi out of the Ten Kings' Mansion. What about her? What did she do?
The first thing that came to Li Heng's mind was a picture of a man and a woman desperately having sex, accompanied by the sound of labored breathing. But he soon realized that it would be better if it was just like this.
What's really scary is that Zhang Ting betrayed him to Xue Bai.
"What did you do to me?!" he yelled angrily.
Zhang Ting stopped, turned around, glanced at him, and replied: "Guess."
"Bitch!"
Li Heng was so angry that he wanted to rush forward, grab Zhang Ting's hair, and slam her head on the corridor.
However, the clang of armor immediately sounded outside the nearest red door, scaring him so much that he had to stop, but his anger still made his body tremble uncontrollably.
"How dare you? How dare you betray me for a letter of peace and departure? You..."
"You are only worth this price."
Zhang Ting dropped these words with a sneer and left without looking back.
Only Li Heng's words "bitch" echoed among the corridors and pavilions.
Speaking of nobility and disgrace, apart from the nobility and disgrace of birth, few people in the world realize that there are also nobility and disgrace in character.
Although Li Heng was a nobleman of the emperor, he divorced his wife twice. So when the same situation was placed in front of Zhang Ting, she only needed to take a brief look at it to realize that this man was not worthy of her sharing the joys and sorrows.
If your character is not worthy, then you are cheap.
…
Several birds on the branches were frightened and flew away.
A group of people left the Ten Kings' House and took advantage of the moonlight to go away. Only the moonlight remained, unmoved by the world.
Li Heng sat slumped on the ground, feeling defeated again.
"Short-sighted bitch, you will regret it one day."
Gradually, he regained his confidence.
He still judged that Xue Bai's position was wrong. Even if it didn't cause turmoil this time, it would be inevitable sooner or later.
There will be opportunities, just wait patiently.
~~
Xuanzheng Hall.
Yang Yan lowered his head, as if he was at a loss, and said slowly, "I have never seen the Supreme Emperor."
"I know." Xue Bai said, "Is it Li Chu who is behind this incident?"
Yang Yan was surprised again, his eyelids twitched, but he didn't answer.
Xue Bai picked up an old newspaper from the desk and handed it to Yang Yan.
Many years ago, when Xue Bai first came to the Tang Dynasty, he did not understand many things. He felt that the most fundamental problem of the Tang Dynasty was the collapse of the tax-tax system. He believed that to solve the problem, the tax law must first be changed, so he handed two documents to Yan Zhenqing, who was the magistrate of Chang'an County at the time.
The tax law plan went round and round and ended up in Li Chu's hands.
After a few years, newspapers were popular all over the world, and people occasionally discussed the tax system in newspapers. During the tenth year of Tianbao, when Xue Baishang was in Nanzhao, a young man published an article in the newspaper, which was appreciated by Li Chu.
It was after Li Chu failed to win over Xue Bai several times that he accidentally discovered this young man named Yang Yan. He then made a rubbing of the newspaper, hung it on the wall for review at any time, and tried every means to support Yang Yan. However, Yang Yan was once
Li Dajian, the magistrate of Shenwu County, insulted him when he was drunk. As soon as he gained power, he took the opportunity to retaliate and killed someone. Li Chu also had no time to take care of himself, so his official career was delayed.
Now that he has returned to Chang'an again, he is grateful for Li Chu's old kindness, so he secretly works for him.
The intersection of fate between several people is contained in this newspaper.
"How did His Highness find me?" Yang Yan couldn't help but wonder, "I was just following the trend and didn't make any big moves."
"I have always been on guard against Li Chu." Xue Bai said bluntly, "Besides, not long ago, Li Xian came to tell me about you."
"He?" Yang Yan was greatly surprised and said, "Why would he support His Highness? He is clearly from the clan..."
"It shows that my identity is legitimate."
Xue Bai responded casually, but with a hint of indifference, and added: "It can also be seen that Li Xian agrees with my approach. Confiscating the temple properties in the world is good or bad for the country. He can see clearly."
"But His Highness caused turmoil."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that the case at Da Ci'en Temple has been closed and did not involve treason."
Yang Yan was stunned. He didn't expect Xue Bai to be so ambitious, or so calm, that he could resist taking the opportunity to suppress his political opponents.
There are still many people who oppose Xue Bai, but Xue Bai has gained the favor of some officials such as Yang Wan and Li Xian. When the attitudes of these people changed, a delicate balance was reached in the court, just like a steelyard.
"Your Highness may not be able to win."
"oh?"
Yang Yan smiled slightly and said: "If we dare to do it, naturally we will not only have this trick."
"I know you are deliberately naming Li Mi." Xue Bai said, "But I have already asked Li Mi to appease the courtiers."
Yang Yan was a man who was willing to admit defeat, so he simply said: "Your Highness, please grant me the death penalty."
"If I want to kill you, I won't talk to you so much."
Yang Yan flatly rejected Xue Bai's attempts to win over him. Since he had received great kindness from Li Chu, he would never serve Xue Bai and harm the clan.
But Xue Bai said: "Don't worry, I don't lack counselors to fight for power, but I lack ministers who can govern the country."
Yang Yan's eyes moved, and he still liked the term "a capable minister in governing the country".
Xue Bai is no longer the unknown person who discussed how to make progress with Yang Guozhong. He has experienced too many conspiracies and no longer needs those intrigues.
"Powerful tactics are nothing but trivial matters. We should do something that can change the world."
Yang Yan was ambitious and wanted to make progress. After hearing these words, two fires of ambition seemed to be ignited in his eyes.
~~
The two of them were sitting by the fire. There was an ordinary pot on the fire with pears boiling in it.
Li Chu's eyes were full of disappointment and he said: "The only thing I didn't expect was that Mr. would be on his side."
"I'm not on anyone's side," Li Bi said, "What I maintain is the stability of the country."
"If he destroys the Buddha, can the country still be stable? The Buddhists talk about retribution and believe in cause and effect. Isn't this the supreme way to stabilize the country?"
Li Bi said: "He is a pragmatic person. He can see the temples annexing the land and hiding and fleeing."
"Because of this, the country will be overthrown in the future because of him, sir, do you believe it?" Li Chu said: "Who will annex more land in the world? Is it just the monks in the temples? Now he is picking soft persimmons and it is still like this, which will cause great chaos in the future.
, isn’t it the country that is being harmed?”
In the final analysis, the reason why he felt that this time could be successful was because Xue Bai moved the land and population and touched the interests of a large number of people. Unfortunately, these people are still short-sighted and think that sacrificing some monks does not matter. Xue Bai paid a little attention to proportion, and their
My heart is broken.
Li Bi said: "In any case, the outcome of this matter is good and will benefit the country."
Li Chu smiled bitterly and said: "Then sir, are you here tonight to kill me?"
He is not afraid of death. On the contrary, his death will be a way to intensify conflicts and may bring opportunities to the Supreme Emperor.
Li Mi naturally did not come to kill him, but had another purpose.
Back then, Li Heng went north to Lingwu and brought a group of forbidden troops to guard him along the way. These people were all led by brothers Li Chu and Li Tan. Although Li Chu no longer has the authority to order them in name, after all, he still has private relations with some generals.
friendship.
This is also Li Chu's biggest reliance.
Li Mi came here precisely to ensure that Li Chu could not contact his old troops while the imperial court was destroying Buddhism and the world was in a state of panic. While he was sitting here, he had sent people to find out all the generals of the imperial army who had befriended Li Chu.
Li Chu actually knew this, but he was just trying to sway Li Mi with words, hoping that he would show his favor.
"Today, the country is in chaos, the people are barren, the treasury is empty, and foreign enemies are watching eagerly. Your Highness has a solution, how can the King of Yu take the opportunity to cause chaos?"
"I thought your husband was a noble man, but I didn't expect him to be rich and charming!"
Finally, seeing that Li Bi was unmoved, Li Chu couldn't help but said a few angry words.
"He talks so much about the common people, society, benevolence, justice and morality. In the final analysis, it's just because he is in power and can worship you as his prime minister! You completely ignored the kindness and righteousness in the past and devoted yourself to your official career. This is what you call a Taoist.
Is it virtuous?!”
"Misunderstanding."
"I didn't misunderstand!" Li Chu stood up suddenly, "Winner or loser, since I lost, I admit it. But since you have become a traitor who betrayed the Lord, there is no need to point fingers with those hypocritical words.
!”
Li Bi was speechless, just silently looking at the pot of pear water boiling on the fire.
This pear water is actually the friendship between him and Li Heng, Li Chu, and Li Tan. It was the most difficult period for them during the Lingwu period. Shuobei was very windy and dry. At that time, they were extremely short of supplies, not much food, and no seasoning.
After discussing military affairs with Cha Ye, even if there was only one pear left, they would boil it until it was dehydrated and eat it.
"I am a rebel and you are the prime minister." Li Chu said: "I believe in Buddhism and you believe in Taoism. My temple is small and I am afraid that I cannot accommodate the prime minister. Please come."
After that, he raised his foot and kicked over the pot that was boiling on the fire. The pear water spilled, and the soft and ripe pears fell to the ground and smashed.
Divide the pears, divide the pears, and eventually they have to be separated.
Li Mi sighed slightly, stood up, and left the hall.
Li Chu stood there, glancing at his figure, secretly hoping that Li Mi would turn around and express his determination to him.
Even if you just say "I don't really support Xue Ni, I'm just trying to make ends meet", that's fine.
But Li Mi actually walked out step by step without looking back, and Li Chu suddenly became more and more disappointed.
He felt that people's hearts were turning towards Xue Bai little by little.
Xue Bai doesn't need to kill him at all. Xue Bai's greatest weapon is time.
This feeling of watching helplessly as he lost everything made Li Chu extremely painful.
But he still told himself in his heart: "Don't worry, Xue Ni will make mistakes. He has already started to make mistakes."
~~
"You said, is it good for the people to feel that the court is doing this for their own good? There will be a war in the northwest this autumn. The court is in urgent need of military expenses for the war, but it has not imposed taxes on them. Why are they still cursing?"
"There is no place to burn incense."
It was midsummer, and Du Wulang and Yan Quanming were riding horses on the official road in the western suburbs of Chang'an, chatting casually while riding side by side.
They were returning from inspecting the confiscation of temple property in Guanzhong on behalf of Xue Bai. They were still dozens of miles away from Chang'an, but it was almost dark.
Tonight they planned to stay in a temple-turned-inn ahead.
Looking from the official road to the mountains and forests to the south, one can gradually see a building showing its eaves.
"It's really big right there." Du Wulang raised his hand and pointed, "It's just not on the official road. Oh, there is a small road to get there."
He saw a separate path built beside the official road, which was quite convenient.
"This temple was originally called Chongguang Temple. It was built during the Kaihuang reign of the Sui Dynasty and renovated during the Wu and Zhou Dynasties." Yan Quanming said, "It is not far from the official road, so it was simply renovated and used as a post house."
Unlike Yan Jiming who was sent to Hedong, Yan Quanming has been in the Chang'an and Luoyang areas for the past two years. As an outstanding son of the Yan family, although he tried not to be ostentatious to avoid attracting attention, he was still regarded as Xue Bai's confidant and kept a low profile.
Many things.
"You have such a good memory, you remember all these." Du Wulang sighed with emotion. After Yan Quanming walked for a while, he suddenly remembered and said, "By the way, Zhang Bian lived in this Chongguang Temple for a while after he became a monk.
?”
"yes."
"What about him now?"
"You may have moved to another temple to practice." Yan Quanming said.
"Huh?" Du Wulang asked: "Is his Buddhist teachings very profound? There are not many monks left in every temple nowadays."
Yan Quanming didn't want to answer these lingering questions and said, "Maybe it's because he doesn't want to return to Princess Ning and is practicing hard."
"Brother Yan is really funny when he talks." Du Wulang said, "Speaking of which, Zhang Bian also said that His Highness's identity is not..."
"arrive."
While talking, the two of them had arrived at the post house converted from a temple. They could see many donkeys, horses, and camels tied up in the stables. When they entered, they could see boxes of goods piled up in the courtyard. A few people were left behind.
The guard was obviously a big businessman.
Du Wulang looked around and booked a private room first.
In the past, most of the post houses were for officials. They were divided into three types: upper, middle and lower rooms, which were allocated according to grade. Now that the temple property has been confiscated, the number of post houses has increased, and the conditions for merchants and common people to live in the post have been relaxed a lot.
Du Wulang and Yan Quanming came for a private visit incognito. They quickly booked a private room without showing their seals. They also bought a newspaper. It was from that year. It was said that after the newspaper was distributed in Chang'an City, someone in the city wanted to bring it with them.
The letters and materials were delivered together, which was very timely.
Du Wulang was not in Chang'an during this period, so he bought several newspapers and ordered some warm baked Hu cakes.
Yan Quanming was talking to a merchant and asked why they were still doing business since the trade routes in the Hexi Corridor were cut off.
"Mr. Lang, you might as well guess where the villain is going."
Yan Quanming said: "I think your goods are all specialties from Guanzhong, not treasures from the Western Regions. They must be starting from Chang'an, but why don't you bring more silk and instead transport heavier porcelain?"
"Lang Jun has good eyesight. The little people have been living in Chang'an for two and a half years. The Hexi passage is blocked and they dare not do business easily. This time they did come out of Chang'an. But they did not return to the Western Regions. Although the Tang Dynasty was in peace talks with Tubo, but
Look at this, I'm afraid the Longyou area will be unstable this year."
Even a businessman knew that there would be war in the northwest, which showed that there were also strange people among the people. Of course, it was related to their livelihood, so they had to inquire carefully.
They were not going back to the Western Regions, so Yan Quanming frowned and thought about where they were going.
"I know where you are going." Du Wulang suddenly said.
"Oh? This young gentleman, please speak."
Yan Quanming was also a little surprised. He didn't even know that Du Wulang, who had never been very smart, actually knew about it first.
"You go to Shu County, sell these goods, buy tea, Shu brocade, bamboo paper, and silk, then return to Chang'an, sell some goods, replenish some goods, and set off for Anxi, right?"
"Haha, Xiao Langjun is really smart."
"That's right, I've always been known for being smart."
Yan Quanming saw through Du Wulang's trick at a glance, so he took the newspapers from his hand and started reading.
Sure enough, many things were published in recent newspapers.
The imperial court now does not allow envoys from various countries, and the business travelers are stranded in Chang'an with nothing to do. They repatriate some of them, make some households into households, and encourage the business travelers in newspapers to purchase tea and sell it to the Western Regions.
The newspaper also said that Datang is currently in peace talks with Tibet, and the results will be available before the spring of next year. By then, the roads to the four towns in Anxi will be opened.
Now making tea has gradually become popular. If the situation is as predicted in the newspapers, it will naturally be a good business, and the business travelers stranded in Chang'an have finally begun to move.
However, Yan Quanming knew very well that the so-called peace talks were only negotiations with Tubo Zanpu Chisong Detsen, but Dazalu Gong would not give up easily. By then, the merchants had purchased tea. If the Hexi Corridor had not been opened, it seemed that
The imperial court broke its promise, but the Hu merchants' eagerness to connect the Western Regions might also contribute to the victory of the Tang Dynasty.
At this moment, a fast horse galloped from the west, raising dust and smoke.
The knight on the horse had not arrived yet, but the voice arrived first.
"Eight hundred miles urgent! Eight hundred miles urgent!"
In an instant, another knight led his horse out of the inn to receive this urgent message from the west...