If Xue Bai dies, everything Yan Zhenqing does is as it should be, not only to assist Xue Bai's son to succeed to the throne, but also to preserve the stability of the country.
So from a certain perspective, the reason for the current embarrassing situation is that Xue Bai is still alive.
Of course, Sizhou City was captured within two days. Xue Bai couldn't help but question Yan Zhenqing. He couldn't wait for even two days, didn't even confirm the news, and couldn't wait to take Li Zuo back to Chang'an. Isn't it selfish?
"I have no confidence in you."
Faced with such doubts, Yan Zhenqing finally revealed what was in his heart.
"The new laws of inspection and equalization of land have harmed the interests of a large number of powerful people, but you have forgotten how you became the emperor."
"I remember."
"When I heard the news about the Sizhou Incident, what I thought at that moment was 'Sure enough,' but then I remembered that if you were not like Emperor Taizong, you conquered the territory of the Tang Dynasty inch by inch, so why did you equalize the land to the Tang Dynasty?
At the beginning of the founding of the country? You cling to nepotism, make friends with powerful people, flatter and sycophant, and use all kinds of conspiracies and schemes to usurp the throne. Your foundation is not deep and your footing is unstable..."
There are some things that Yan Zhenqing did not say clearly.
From a long time ago, he knew about Xue Bai's attachment to Yang Yuyao.
At that time, he looked down on these things the most, but later Xue Bai became the top pick in high school and did several dazzling things, and the light covered up these dirty things behind him.
The dirty and despicable things that Xue Bai left behind on his way to the throne were far more than that. What was covered under the splendid dragon robe were numerous bones.
It seems that an official slave rose to become the emperor through a counterattack, but in fact, it was inseparable from the speculations of the Du family in Jingzhao, the Yang family in Hongnong, the Wang family in Taiyuan, the Li family in Longxi, and the Lu family in Fanyang.
Those Conglong ministers who appeared to be from the Shu branch, such as Du Youlin, Yang Yuyao, Wang Nannan, Li Sheng, etc., had no relatives or friends behind them. Sometimes Xue Bai himself didn't even know.
For example, if Du Jin's restaurant, bank, and newspaper business can run so smoothly, does the Du family in Jingzhao really have no help? Yang Yuyao holds so many shares, does the Yang family's relatives in Hongnong really get no profit share?
Even if Du Jin didn't think so, she had recruited so many people under her command, and it was impossible to avoid the involvement of family acquaintances. Even the original cook of Fengwei House was Hu Shisanniang, a servant girl of the Du family.
Xue Bai is an extremely confident person. He always feels that his success comes from his intelligence, tenacity and hard work, but it is too easy to ignore the huge and silent sponsors hidden behind him.
Once he touched their interests, the ensuing resistance was like waves threatening to capsize a boat.
When Liu Zhan rebelled and surrounded Xue Bai in Sizhou, Yan Zhenqing faced a situation that was about to fall apart at any time.
One by one, the truth was put on his case through the mouth of the censor. Xue Bai pretended to be the emperor's heir, and Du Jin killed countless people to cover up the matter. There were also various conspiracies, regicide, adultery, incest... Xue Bai
Even if Bai hadn't died on the way out on patrol, these crimes would have been made public.
It was Yan Zhenqing who pressed them down with one hand.
He stabilized the imperial court when the emperor's reputation was on the verge of collapse, and barely kept Li Zuo as the reserve king.
But it was difficult for him to explain the process of this contest clearly to Xue Bai.
The hidden threats in so many people's words and so many unspeakable grievances about Xue Bai had already made him very tired.
"When it came time for the reform, I realized that you and I were not qualified to carry out the reform. Therefore, I lost confidence in you." Yan Zhenqing concluded.
Xue Bai did not flinch and said: "What my father-in-law said is too ridiculous. You said that only the founder of the country is qualified to reform. But it was in the middle and late dynasties that the world began to suffer. Those fatuous and weak emperors dared to seek change. What can we not do? of?"
"No matter how stupid and weak he is, he is at least an orthodox emperor." Yan Zhenqing said with emotion.
Xue Bai then understood and said, "Is it possible that my father-in-law is still worried about my life experience?"
Regarding this matter, Xue Bai knew that Yan Zhenqing arranged for Li Ying's bodyguard Guo Suo to prove his identity at Lantian Station, but he never said anything; Yan Zhenqing never got through Xue Bai.
But both of them more or less guessed that the other had known about it for a long time, and they just tacitly avoided talking about it.
Because once he said it, Yan Zhenqing might not stay in the court to assist Xue Bai.
"good."
This time, Yan Zhenqing did not deny it.
He was very painful about the truth, but unfortunately there was no way to avoid it anymore.
"After all, you are not the emperor's heir. The people of the world might not pursue this matter. However, since the reform affects the interests of all parties, they will inevitably expose this matter and cause great chaos."
"So?" Xue Bai asked, "Because of this, my father-in-law decided to kill me?"
Yan Zhenqing was silent for a long time and said, "I guessed that they would assassinate you, but I didn't stop them."
This answer made Xue Bai a little disappointed.
But he waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter."
After that, his tone became firmer.
"My father-in-law, after going through this, I realized that I was indeed wrong. Clinging, compromising, and exchanging interests, all these methods can help me become an emperor, but I can only be a mediocre emperor. If I want to go higher, I have to break through Weaknesses of the past.”
"I want to be a man of great talent and strategy who is not bound by constraints and is not afraid of difficulties, so I can no longer let them threaten me with a weak point. This time I give in, and I will never achieve anything in my life."
"Therefore, I will continue to fight against the inherent class, the inherent prejudice, and the false supremacy and comfort."
"If they think that my life experience is evidence of guilt, and that my unscrupulous struggle to get out of the humble mud is evidence of guilt, I will admit my guilt."
"I pretend to be Li Qian because I care about the Tang Dynasty, and I want to take it further with my own hands. But if Li Qian can only bow her head, compromise, and be harmonious, then Li Qian is destined not to be able to do this. If so, then I won’t be Li Qian. The worst I can do is change my country’s name and my country’s surname, because what I really care about is the people of this land for generations to come.”
"They can threaten Li Qian, but they can't threaten me."
"Because I am Xue Bai."
"Xue Bai is not the emperor's heir, he is not a prince, he has no family background, and he has no great status...Xue Bai is me."
Whether it was because of his love for the word "Tang" or because of laziness and weakness, Xue Bai chose to usurp power through despicable means. At one point, he realized that this shortcut would not go far, but later he compromised and became too weak.
.
Until he took another step towards the end of the shortcut, he found that he was restricted.
Li Qian is not a dragon that can soar, Li Qian is a chi kiss carved on the roof. Xue Bai is just a fish, but it is possible to transform into a dragon.
It doesn't matter if he doesn't transform into a dragon, he would rather choose to jump over the dragon gate.
Yan Zhenqing's face turned pale and he sighed: "Why bother? Have you ever thought about the consequences?"
"I have seen many people pursue power all their lives, and finally get lost in power and become slaves of power." Xue Bai said, "I warned myself very early on that I can't do that. If I accept anything because I am afraid of losing power,
Threats, temptations, fear of challenges, then power controls me, not me controlling power."
Yan Zhenqing may understand Xue Bai's words, but he doesn't agree.
What he cared more about was the long-term peace and stability of the Tang Dynasty, rather than Xue Bai's mental growth.
So, he shook his head and said, "Don't do that."
Xue Bai knew that this was an unacceptable result for Yan Zhenqing, so he softened his tone and said: "I will continue to implement the new law without any threats. If no one uses my identity as an excuse to oppose me, I don't care about individuals.
's name."
This is the face of a politician. He can easily sigh and then turn around and make compromises and exchanges with Yan Zhenqing.
Having been immersed in power for many years, Xue Bai is an out-and-out villain.
"My father-in-law, be firm and continue to help me implement the new law. Believe me, this is a long-term benefit to our country..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yan Zhenqing shook his head and said, "I regret not killing you on your way back to Beijing."
Xue Bai sighed softly when he heard this, knowing that he could not convince Yan Zhenqing.
"If you want to change the name of the country, just kill me to sacrifice the flag." Yan Zhenqing said, "This is to fulfill me. Kill me and preserve the reputation of the Yan family. It will not be in vain for you and me as master and disciple, and as son-in-law."
.”
"Why so?"
Yan Zhenqing unconsciously straightened her back, which was slightly bent due to fatigue, and regained her former majestic and proud aura.
"No matter how the world slanders me, I know in my heart that I am not assisting you for personal gain, but for the sake of the Tang Dynasty. If I lose this original intention, I will no longer be who I am."
Xue Bai had nothing to say.
He wanted to be himself, but he couldn't force Yan Zhenqing to change beyond recognition.
"Then dismiss from office."
Xue Bai thought for a long time and said, "I will make a decree to remove my father-in-law from all official positions."
Things have developed to this point. If he wants to continue the new method, he must let the world see his determination.
But if he just kills others but spares his teacher and father-in-law who have opposed him, he will definitely not be able to convince the public.
In the eyes of the world, Yan Zhenqing has participated in the conspiracy, which is at least an oversight, so he must be punished.
At the same time, this also fulfills Yan Zhenqing’s wishes.
"Just take care of yourself."
Yan Zhenqing was slightly relieved, but more worried. He pursed his lips and originally wanted to say something, but in the end, he only uttered a few words, turned around and left the hall.
Xue Bai stood there alone, watching his back getting further and further away, feeling a deep loneliness.
In fact, he often feels that he has failed recently, so he is becoming less and less understood, and he is becoming more and more lonely.
The longer you stay in the power field, the more ways you have access to knowledge, and it becomes harder and harder to judge whether every choice you make is right or wrong.
This feeling is like walking in a heavy fog and getting more and more scared. You want to turn back, only to find that the road you came from has collapsed into an abyss. You can only bite the bullet and keep going forward.
~~
Yan Zhenqing walked out of the palace and looked back. The Mingtang was still towering.
For a short period of time, he felt relieved that he had no official position and was light-hearted.
But when he saw the flag of the Tang Dynasty flying in the distance, his eyes gradually darkened again.
The next day, when he woke up from his sleep, he reached for the documents beside the couch as a habit, and then suddenly remembered that he was no longer the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty.
It was inevitable that I felt a little empty in my heart, so I sat there in a daze for a while.
After a long time, there was a knock on the door, announcing that it was Yan Quanming.
"Uncle, the sage has issued an edict to remove you from your official title."
"That's fine." Yan Zhenqing said, "Today I have a clear conscience."
He finally proved to the world that his assistance to Xue Bai was not out of lust for power or selfishness. But thinking about Gao Lishi's instructions that day, he asked himself whether he was really worthy of the country.
"My nephew has also resigned." Yan Quan said clearly, "Although my nephew is reluctant to let go, he doesn't want people to think that the Yan family is just showing off."
"Why care about what others think." Yan Zhenqing sighed.
He also knows the truth, but sometimes he may not be able to achieve the unity of knowledge and action.
After thinking about it, Yan Zhenqing suddenly asked: "Have you convinced Li Mi?"
As early as when Xue Bai proposed the reform, Yan Zhenqing mentioned that he wanted to invite Li Mi to come out again and stated that he would be responsible for the matter.
Unexpectedly, he went to great lengths to find Li Mi and wrote several letters one after another, but he was never able to persuade him to come out.
This time too, Yan Quanming shook his head and said: "He didn't reply to his uncle."
"Prepare your horses, I will go to Jiugong Mountain myself."
"Uncle, it's a long way to go, and right now..."
"Now that I have resigned from my official position, it is rare to invite him in person." Yan Zhenqing raised her hand to stop Yan Quanming's persuasion, "Let's leave as soon as possible."
For him, what worries him most right now is Li Zuo, who is still on his way back.
Of course he wanted to stay and see with his own eyes whether Li Zuo's position as crown prince could still be stable, but after careful consideration, he still had to have someone more capable than him in the court.
Within two days, Yan Zhenqing set off quietly.
It was almost New Year's Day, it was still snowing in Luoyang, and the sunrise was very late. It was still hazy when he set out, and the officials who were asking for an audience outside the gate of Yanzhai were still waiting.
Those people came to see him, still hoping that Yan Zhenqing could persuade the emperor to take back his destiny and stop reforming.
After leaving the city, we headed south and celebrated the New Year on the road.
By the time of the Lantern Festival, Yan Zhenqing had arrived at the Yangtze River and rested for a night in Jiangcheng.
After several years of governance, the people in Jiangcheng are in a stable situation, and it is very lively during the New Year and festivals.
He inquired about it and found out that it was Liu Yan who was responsible for the reform in Shannan East Road. Now he has achieved quite a lot of results, and he has managed the place to make the country peaceful and the people safe.
However, if you inquire in teahouses and restaurants, you can also hear a lot of news from the north. It is said that due to opposition to the new law of the imperial court, unrest has continued in various places.
However, the criticism in the DPRK about the emperor's life experience has resurfaced and has become irrepressible.
Public opinion is abuzz, and a great chaos may be brewing.
After the festival, Yan Zhenqing continued south, crossed the Yangtze River, and went straight to Jiugong Mountain.
He climbed the mountain himself and spent three days walking through the deep mountains and old forests, and finally found Ruiqing Palace on the top of the mountain.
This is already the sixth year of Zhengxing, the Year of Yisi Snake.
There was no snow in the south of the Yangtze River, but the spring was cold and it felt colder than in the north of the Yangtze River. As usual, Li Bi sat on the huge rock on the top of the mountain to bathe in the morning sun.
If someone else came, Li Bi would not see it, but Yan Zhenqing was a different matter.
"Yan Gong is here. It seems that Xue Bai can't hold it in any longer."
"Chang Yuan is well-informed and has guessed it."
Li Mi pointed to Lao Lin at the foot of the mountain and said, "It seems like everyone here is well-informed."
Then he just guessed it.
Yan Zhenqing couldn't help but sigh: "You better understand him."
"When King Zhong died, I knew that he was not someone willing to be controlled and would overthrow the Li family sooner or later, so I resolutely resigned and went into seclusion."
"Chang Yuan knew about his life experience at that time?"
"I don't know." Li Bi said, "What matters is where his heart is. If he identifies in his heart that he is Xue Bai, then he is Xue Bai, and vice versa."
Yan Zhenqing was deeply convinced and told what had happened in recent years, saying: "I am here to ask you to come out and maintain the Li and Tang Dynasties."
There was sadness in Li Mi's eyes, and he said: "Even Mr. Yan can't stop it, how can I do it?"
"You are better than me."
"I am already an outsider. What's more, he won't trust me."
Yan Zhenqing said: "I am here to persuade you to come out of the mountain, not to ask you to persuade Xue Bai."
"oh?"
"I want you to appease those high-ranking families and officials who oppose him."
Li Mi was surprised.
He was able to guess the development of the situation, which was a miraculous calculation, but he failed to guess what Yan Zhenqing was thinking.
"Does Mr. Yan think that the ministers of the world are more persuasive than Xue Bai?"
Yan Zhenqing nodded and said, "He is very determined."
Li Bi said: "No matter how determined you are, how can you fight against a well-dressed and well-known minister with one person? Tell the truth to Mr. Yan, I just sit back and watch, just waiting to see Xue Bai destroy himself."
Yan Zhenqing was silent for a long time and said something he had never said in front of Xue Bai.
"Because of his life experience, I don't have enough confidence in him. But before the new law was promulgated, I talked with him day and night, and I felt deeply. He was not fighting against the nobles of the family on his own. The new law was to stand on the side of the humble common people and the common people.
position."
Li Mi shook his head and said: "The new law is doomed to fail. The land equalization system and the mediocrity of renting complement each other. It is precisely because of the amount of land that we need to reform the land tax. But the new law collects taxes based on the number of acres of land, and on the other hand, it includes all households with acres of land.
Isn’t it self-contradictory to try to equalize land to ease land annexation?”
Yan Zhenqing nodded.
Li Bi said: "The reason for the contradiction is that he was not resolute from the beginning. He knew that just changing the tax law could not solve the merger, and he also knew that equalizing land could not succeed. Therefore, his review was just to ease the merger a little. The reason why the ministers of the family clan
The dissatisfaction is not because of Xue Bai's life experience, but because he sees through his weakness."
This was a perfect statement. Yan Zhenqing did not refute, but took out a thick file from the package behind him and handed it to Li Mi.
"We, the courtiers, are the weak ones. We have been trying to persuade him not to make drastic changes. But this is the reform he really wants to implement."
Li Mi raised his hand and hesitated again.
He was worried that if he took over this file, his days of purity would be over.
"Let's take a look." Yan Zhenqing said.
So Li Mi took it, spread it out on his knees, and looked at it word by word.
He raised his eyebrows involuntarily.
Because the content of the first paragraph in the dossier is to take all the land in the world into public ownership...
The two of them didn't speak again for a long time. Sometimes the sounds of insects and birds could be heard in the mountains, and sometimes the wind blew through the woods and rustled.
The clouds were rolling and relaxing, and the sun was shining on the rocks. The shadows of the two people gradually became shorter and longer, until it was almost dusk, and a tired bird returned to the forest.
"This is Wang Mang."
Li Mi finally closed the document in his hand and let out a long sigh.
Yan Zhenqing, who closed his eyes to rest, opened his eyes and said slowly: "I said the same thing at the beginning, so I strongly opposed it. But recently, I found that times have changed."
Li Mi was a little confused and said, "What's the difference?"
Therefore, Yan Zhenqing explained to him in somewhat jerky terms.
At first, when he heard words such as "the development of productive forces will be rapid and more suitable production relations are needed," Li Bi showed a surprised expression, and then frowned and thought.
He is a very smart person, and he quickly understood the truth and fell into deeper thinking.
"Sometimes I really don't understand how he can think of these things in his mind...that are far beyond the world."
In the end, although Li Mi did not agree with the changes Xue Bai wanted, he still sighed in admiration.
Yan Zhenqing said: "This is what he really wants to do, and he plans to do it in his lifetime."
"madman."
Li Mi commented, but his expression was a little unusual.
People always pay more attention to crazy people and despise weak and compromised people.
"It's because he is a lunatic and has such lofty ambitions." Yan Zhenqing said, "I'm worried that he won't give in again."
Li Mi nodded, knowing that if Xue Bai refused to give in and completely broke with the ministers of the family, the consequences would be another catastrophe for the Tang Dynasty. It was possible that the Tang Dynasty would change its name again, or that Xue Bai would die like Wang Mang, but his reputation would be ruined.
Even if Wang Mang failed, the Han Dynasty was divided into the Western Han Dynasty and the Eastern Han Dynasty with the Great New Dynasty.
These are not what he wants to see.
"Mr. Yan, you didn't stop a lunatic. Instead, you came to persuade me to come forward and ask the nobles of the world to compromise."
Yan Zhenqing said: "I have already persuaded that lunatic to compromise, otherwise what he came up with would not be the new law that you evaluated as 'contradictory', but this. The Gongqing family does not know that the current gradual change is what we have worked hard to maintain.
result."
Li Mi shook his head and said, "I can't convince anyone to give up their interests."
"You are the only person who can make Xue Bai and the Gongqing family sit down and talk again, no matter who compromises." Yan Zhenqing said, "And I can't do it. I am his teacher and father-in-law, and I am not trusted by them."
Li Mi turned around and looked at the heaven, earth, mountains and rivers covered in golden light by the setting sun, as if he was nostalgic for the scenery here and couldn't bear to leave.
"It's getting dark, it's time to go back." Yan Zhenqing said.
"Did Mr. Yan come to me this time for his son-in-law, grandson, or for the Tang Dynasty?"
Yan Zhenqing let out a long sigh, revealed his thoughts, and put the heaviest burden on Li Mi's shoulders.
"When Emperor Xuanzong was still alive, Gao Lishi met with me in private..."
~~
One month later.
In Zhengzhou, in the Li family's mansion, Li Chengyu was burying his head in the papers and writing a letter to be sent to Luoyang.
At this moment, someone outside the door came to report.
"Alang, there is a Taoist priest who wants to see me. He calls himself Li Mi."
"No, I'm seeing a Taoist priest at this time...wait, who are you talking about?"
Li Chengyu immediately stood up, dropped the brush in his hand and went out to greet him.
After a while, he welcomed Li Mi to the lobby.
"Yun Conglong, Feng Conghu, and Changyuan finally came out after hearing that there was trouble in the court."
Li Mi did not lie to Li Chengyu, and nodded calmly to admit it.
"It's not an option for Mr. Li to continue making trouble like this. If you trust me, you can recommend me to become prime minister. When you do, I will persuade your majesty to take back your appointment."