Xue Bai was actually a little surprised when he heard Li Mi's name, but he didn't have to think about it to know what Li Mi was going to do. He just wanted to persuade him to stop, so he immediately refused the summons.
After a while, Du Youlin hurried over and prostrated himself in front of Xue Bai.
"Your Majesty, minister..."
Xue Bai stopped Du Youlin's words and said: "If my guess is right, Li Mi has come to see you. Today I have made up my mind, you don't need to persuade me anymore."
"I found out that Li Qiyun was not among them. He had already left for Chang'an."
Du Youlin did not persuade Xue Bai to stop, but quickly uttered a sentence.
What he said sounded like what others had taught him to say. He was not calm, and there was a rush that was afraid that if he spoke slowly, he would lose the chance. However, it still attracted Xue Bai's attention.
"So what?"
Du Youlin said: "I'm afraid they have united with Guo Ziyi and are preparing to support King Yan."
Xue Bai said: "In this case, it can be seen that these people are traitors and should be killed."
Du Youlin said hurriedly: "I would like to ask your Majesty to spare their lives for the time being."
"You said they want to support Li Bin, but you want me to spare them." Xue Bai asked, "Then are you threatening me?"
Du Youlin was stunned and quickly confessed.
Li Mi taught him what he said, and he really wanted to use it as a bargaining chip to play a game with Xue Bai, but if he didn't say it well, it would become a threat, and Du Youlin did not have such a superb art of speaking.
When Cui Youfu saw this, he quickly said: "Duke Du must have said that if these criminals could be spared, maybe they could clear up their misunderstandings to Guo Ziyi and avoid going to that point."
"Yes." Du Youlin said quickly: "This matter is just my guess. There is still room for change."
No matter how they tried to persuade them, Xue Bai just turned a deaf ear and stood proudly on the stone steps looking at the killing scene. Even his back looked cruel and ruthless.
Outside the palace, Li Mi was still waiting, getting more and more anxious.
He stood in front of Du Youlin's car, pacing back and forth.
Sitting on the shaft of the carriage was Du Wulang. Seeing that Li Mi, a Taoist priest who was usually calm and gentle, had become an ant on the hot pot, Du Wulang was also very embarrassed and felt that he seemed more calm than Li Mi.
"Mr. Li, I'm actually very anxious too. I just can't help. There's no point in being anxious."
Li Mi stopped and took a deep look at Du Wulang.
Du Wulang was confused and said: "Although I am on your Majesty's side, I still feel that it is not good to kill so many people...it will harm Tianhe."
"Wu Lang is kind-hearted." Li Bi said, "He can help me."
He just had a temperament that seemed to give others a chance when asking for help. As soon as Du Wulang heard that he could help him, he nodded subconsciously.
"Okay, tell me about it."
"You go to see His Majesty and convey a message to me." Li Bi said, "Yan Gong took office and Yuan Zai betrayed me. I am willing to preside over the reform for Your Majesty."
"ah?"
Du Wulang was surprised at first.
Anyway, based on his friendship with Xue Bai, he couldn't say something like "I will be your prime minister, and you obey my request." Only Li Bi had such arrogance.
Only now did Du Wulang deeply understand that it was better to study more, and he would still have to urge his children to study more in the future.
He never thought about making himself more diligent.
"I have some insights here. Please pass them to Your Majesty."
"Why didn't Mr. Li say anything earlier?"
"This method may not work, so give it a try."
At this time, the palace gate had been completely taken over by Lao Liang. The soldiers who followed the minister to "Qin the King" did not receive a clear order to rebel, and they did not make up their minds to rebel. When they saw that the emperor was serious about it, they either fled or fled.
, or surrendered.
Du Wulang walked to the palace gate and saw Zhao Yuliang, the general under Lao Liang's command. He said hello and wanted to enter the palace to see him.
They were all familiar with each other, so he said in a normal tone: "My grandfather has just met with Your Majesty, and I also have something to report."
"What can happen to Wu Lang?" Zhao Yuliang was born with a mud-legged background. He said what he had to say: "There are people killing people inside. Don't be scared, Wu Lang."
"I really have something important to do."
Du Wulang still had face, and no one would really stop him. Zhao Yuliang then asked him to enter the palace from Xihua Gate in the west, bypass Qianyuan Gate Square, pass Zhongshu Province, and then pass through Qiujing Gate to Mingtang.
You can't see the murder scene on this route, but you can hear the screams on the other side through the palace wall. Du Wulang suddenly felt compassion and quickened his pace.
After passing through Qiujing Gate, there was a strong smell of blood in the air. At this time, he was already trotting, and rushed all the way to Xue Bai. He glanced at the situation at the bottom of the steps. His heart was trembling, and he hurriedly saluted and said
: "Your Majesty, Li Mi asked me to tell you that he wants to preside over the reform for you."
This sentence can tell the difference between Du Wulang and others. When he came to speak, he first wanted to let Xue Bai know what was going on, because he was standing in Xue Bai's position.
But Xue Bai didn't even look back, he just said: "Who does he think he is?"
In fact, he does not lack talents for reform. Nowadays, there are Yang Yan, Liu Yan, Wu Qi and other famous economic ministers in the court, which can be regarded as a wealth of talents.
"I also think he is crazy." Du Wulang said, "But this is what he asked me to hand over. He said it was some of his views on His Majesty's new law."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll from his sleeve.
But Xue Bai didn't give any orders, so no servant came to pick him up.
When Du Youlin and Cui Youfu saw this, they were anxious and wanted to speak. Du Wulang was afraid that they would ruin things by talking too much, so he simply went over and handed over the scroll.
"Let's take a look, just in case it's really useful."
Maybe it was because Du Wulang and Xue Bai had different friendships, so no one else would have dared to do such an action, in case they were taken as assassins.
Xue Bai then took the scroll, unfolded it, and slowly read it word by word, not paying attention to the screams in his ears.
Separated by a piece of paper, in front of him was a scene shaped like hell.
…
"Don't kill, don't kill!"
Yuan Zai was on the run, and finally escaped to Qianyuan's sect.
However, there was a closed door in front of him.
"Open the door!"
Previously, Yuan Zai had ordered this door to be opened, but no matter how much he shouted, he could not open it.
Many people around him had surrendered, raising their hands and squatting down while crying. Upon seeing this, Yuan Zai quickly followed suit. After a while, soldiers came over and pushed him down without any reason.
He thought he was destined to die. When he turned around, he suddenly found that after killing many people, no one on the field was shouting against Xue Bai. Everyone was trembling and crawling.
Only Yuan Zai was escorted through the square filled with pools of blood and up the steps.
After taking two steps, he gradually calmed down and said, "I'll walk by myself."
The two soldiers ignored him, but Yuan Zai had regained his composure and said: "I am Yuan Zai, a minister of the emperor's humerus. I was kidnapped by those rebellious people and entered the Qianyuan Gate."
After saying this, although he was still being held captive, his posture remained calm and there was still a look of dissatisfaction on his face.
When he saw Xue Bai, he quickly put away his dissatisfied look and said with a salute: "Your Majesty is safe, I almost missed seeing your Majesty!"
"What's going on?"
"I was following an edict to pacify those rebellious people. I don't know who opened the palace door. The thieves rushed up and kidnapped me. They also threatened that I was their internal correspondent. This is simply ridiculous. I am in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs and inspect the world for your majesty. I found out that
You have committed countless dirty deeds, how can you join them?!" Yuan Zai said sternly.
Today, including Du Youlin, all of Xue Bai's confidants believe that he went too far in killing the killer. Until now, only Yuan Zai scolded the minister and supported Xue Bai's actions the most firmly.
Regarding Yuan Zai's remarks, Xue Bai said nothing and just threw the manuscript in his hand.
"Du Wulang sent me some insights. Take a look and share your opinions."
Yuan Zai passed the test easily. The two soldiers behind him quickly let go of him and allowed him to stretch his muscles. They picked up the manuscript and started reading.
He reads very quickly, but he does not swallow things whole, but he has the ability to read with a photographic memory.
It is precisely because of this talent that although he was born in a poor family and did not have good academic conditions, he was able to become a high school scholar. He is a genius.
After reading it, he immediately guessed that these insights must not have been written by Du Wulang.
In fact, the content in the manuscript is generally similar to the direction of current reforms, but few people can understand it so completely and put forward some key new ideas.
To put it simply, the reform has been reorganized and summarized, and on the surface, it is not as sharp as the inspection of the law.
When people are promoted and deposed, they should govern with strict officials; suppress the influence of the family to limit the abuse of officials; focus on tribute and optimize the imperial examination to select officials; choose officials carefully and choose local governors; be good at farming and mulberry, and use the harvest of the fields as the assessment content of local officials; equalize the land
, Let’s start with the re-division of the official’s job fields. In fact, officials are slightly different from the aristocrats. They really have errands, which are easy for the court to control. Furthermore, by allocating job fields, officials with outstanding ability and character can be assigned.
Feeling grateful...
"Returning to your Majesty, I think it is very appropriate. This manuscript not only understands the profound meaning of your Majesty's reform, but the details are also in line with the actual situation of the court." Yuan Zai pondered and commented: "It is very sophisticated."
He used the word "lao lao" because he felt that Xue Bai's reforms were too drastic and sharp. The same content would appear less sharp when placed here. He must have been made by someone who was well versed in officialdom.
Yuan Zai glanced at Du Jin standing behind Xue Bai, and couldn't help but guess whether this was her handiwork, but it didn't seem like it.
He then felt a sense of crisis.
~~
It was already late at night when we left the palace.
The city of Luoyang is extremely dark tonight. Few households in the city dare to light candles. Only the sparkling lights on the Luoshui River embellish this bloody night.
Li Mi hasn't left yet, still waiting near the Du family's car.
"Mr. Li." Du Wulang stepped forward quickly and said, "Your Majesty will surely summon you soon."
Du Youlin and Li Mitong once served as prime ministers in the Zhengshitang, and their relationship was fairly good. When they met, they were filled with regret.
"I am too incompetent after all. If you, Changyuan, were the one in charge, why would the state affairs be like this?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Du, this matter cannot be undone by human power..."
When Du Jin saw his father and his brothers, who were all close to Li Mi, he seemed unhappy and his face was as cold as frost.
She was deliberately showing off to them, but they didn't realize it until they returned to Du's house. Du Wulang asked, "Second sister, what's wrong?"
"You associate with Li Mi, but you forget that he is on the opposition side. I have conflicting political views with him, and sooner or later I will become a political enemy."
"I am not doing it for His Majesty's benefit, otherwise I would start a killing spree and incite rebellion..."
"If you have no brains, then stop causing trouble to me."
After Du Youlin heard this, he realized that Du Jin was obviously scolding Du Wulang, but in fact he was scolding him. His face showed embarrassment and he said, "The second mother is talking about your majesty's life experience."
Du Wulang was startled at first sight, his face changed and he said: "Again?"
"Yes." Du Jin said, "This matter is endless and Your Majesty is too annoyed. It is better to end it."
"No." Du Youlin said immediately.
On this matter, he indeed had the same stance as Li Mi, so he persuaded Du Jin earnestly.
"Don't be confused. Do you know that if you continue to go down, it will be a fatal disaster? You must advise His Majesty to put the overall situation first..."
Du Youlin didn't even finish what he said. Du Jin didn't like hearing this and had already turned around and walked away.
On this matter, she also has a personal position that is contrary to the Du family.
She extremely firmly supported Xue Bai's restoration of his name and change of his country's name. For her, what made her feel the most was that she and Xue Bai conspired to usurp the Tang Dynasty... She liked this feeling and was willing to do so.
Regardless of the consequences.
When I returned to the house, Du Wei had been waiting there.
"I heard something big happened today."
"Yes." Du Jin wrote lightly, "Your Majesty gave the opposition some color to look at."
Du Wei said: "It's almost the third watch, so you should go to bed early."
Du Jin thought that there would be another court meeting in the palace soon, and Xue Bai would be still busy at this time. She did not want to take a rest, so she thought and said, "There is still one thing that needs to be done."
"What?"
"Tell me to go down and have someone secretly check what happened to Yuan Zai and whether he has betrayed His Majesty."
"Yuan Zai?" Du Mei said, "He is considered the earliest Yang Dang. He has been following His Majesty for a long time and is highly relied upon. Why should he ruin his future?"
Judging from Yuan Zai's demeanor today, it does not look like betrayal, but since it is said that he opened the palace gate, he still has to find out.
What Du Jin didn't expect was that the next day, the truth was delivered to her.
"Er Niang, there is a young lady asking to see you, saying she is here for Yuan Zai."
"Wang Yunxiu is here?" Du Jin asked, "Let's meet her in the flower hall."
"Reply to Er Niang, it's not the Queen who is here."
"No?" Du Jin was surprised, "Who is that?"
"She calls herself Xue."
At this moment, Du Jin was thinking a lot, even guessing whether it was related to Xue Bai's life experience.
Soon, a woman walked into the flower hall.
Du Jin looked around and narrowed his eyes unconsciously.
She hadn't seen such a beautiful little girl for a while. She had a beautiful face, skin as white as snow, and her skin was so tender that not even a pore could be seen. What was even more rare was the youthful aura that only belonged to girls.
In comparison, these beauties are indeed getting older.
Du Jin has had many things in her life, including supreme power, but at this moment, she admitted that she was a little jealous of the young and beautiful woman in front of her.
"My maid, Xue Yaoying, has met Er Niang."
"Who are you from Yuan Zai?"
"This servant is Yuan Zai's concubine."
Hearing this, Du Jin sneered slightly, thinking of the famous love between Yuan Zai and Wang Yunxiu and his wife in the past years.
The most common story told by Yuan Zai at that time was that Wang Yunxiu did not mind his humble background, so she married him, and resolutely broke up with the family and went to Beijing with him to take the exam. The couple stayed with each other and passed the most difficult years.
In the blink of an eye, Yuan Zai's power was overwhelming, and he saw new people smiling again.
"I always thought that Yuan Zai had no concubines."
"In those days, Alang served as the flower and bird envoy for Emperor Xuanzong for a period of time. It was then that I got to know Alang."
Du Jin knew that the flower and bird envoys of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty did not pick flowers and birds, but the beauties in the world. All beautiful people were summoned to the palace regardless of whether they were married or not. Then she looked at Xue Yaoying in front of her and asked: "How old are you?"
?”
"This slave is the fourth born of Tianbao."
"How old were you when Yuan Zai became the Flower and Bird Envoy?"
"The slave was nine years old at the time. Alang saw that the slave was a beautiful embryo, so he raised her in the courtyard for the future."
"It's really a long-term consideration." Du Jin said.
Xue Yaoying said: "Alang is not a womanizer. After the death of Emperor Xuanzong, Alang originally planned to dedicate me to His Majesty...but he was afraid of offending you, Erniang, so he gave up."
"It's ridiculous." Du Jin said, "Who am I? His Majesty has more than one or two women around him. Are you afraid of offending me?"
"Alang said that the only one who can get along with His Majesty is Er Niang."
This may not be true, but it sounds good. Du Jin's heart is like a mirror. After all, she is a woman, and she will be in a good mood because of some good words, so she doesn't bother to argue with Xue Yaoying and says: "It seems that I am a jealous person.
"
"It's not that Er Niang is jealous. There are other reasons why A Lang didn't offer the slave." Xue Yaoying said, "The slave was raised by A Lang and gradually fell in love, so A Lang accepted the slave..."
Du Jin looked at Xue Yaoying's beautiful face, and through her dimples and the shyness in the corners of her eyes, she seemed to be able to see how seductive she looked when she was just having sex.
"You are a beauty. I think Yuan Zai will feel extremely satisfied when he has you."
"I don't dare to be a slave."
Du Jin thought to himself: "Originally, Yuan Zai planned to offer the woman to His Majesty. He enjoyed it himself. At that time, in his heart, Your Majesty was no longer so important."
These words made Xue Yaoying very frightened and she quickly lowered her head.
Du Jin waved: "Come here."
"Yes." Xue Yaoying stepped forward timidly.
"What kind of incense did you use? It smells good."
"Back to Erniang, I don't use incense. My aunt was once a singer of King Qi. She fed the slave with spices since she was a child, so she has contained the fragrance and her body has a fragrance."
Du Jin sneered again, took Xue Yaoying's hand, looked at the jade bracelet on her wrist, and said, "What a jade."
"It's mutton-fat jade from Hotan."
"This red gauze material is good."
"It's made from canary feathers from Goguryeo."
Just looking at Xue Yaoying's outfit, I'm afraid a hundred ordinary families wouldn't have enough savings for a lifetime. Du Jin couldn't see anything else, so she asked: "Yuan Zai asked you to come here to bribe me?"
Xue Yaoying is young and not very courageous, but she seems to be extremely smart. Knowing that she is going to this stop means that Yuan Zai's corruption and perversion of the law has been leaked, and she does not need to say more.
"Alang asked me to bring a message to Er Niang."
"oh?"
"Alang said that although he had shortcomings in small matters, he was loyal to His Majesty. He begged Er Niang to let him go."
"Oh."
"If Alang is dismissed as prime minister, Li Mi will inevitably take charge of the government. Li Mi seems to be serving the country and the people, but he has ulterior motives and wants to harm your majesty. Alang is willing to prevent Li Bi from becoming the prime minister, and from now on he will be driven by his two mothers."
After saying that, Xue Yaoying said: "Alang left the slave with Er Niang to show his sincerity in doing the hard work for Er Niang."
This seems to be a useless approach, but Xue Yaoying came here wearing this outfit, not only as a hostage, but also as evidence of Yuan Zai's crime.
When Yuan Zai handed the evidence of his crime to Du Jin, it was equivalent to handing his life into Du Jin's hands.
It was obvious that he was completely panicked.
He was lost in power and beauty, so he decided to help the ministers enter the palace because of someone's manipulation. Now he probably knew that he was in doom, so he had no choice but to seek refuge with Du Jin.
No matter how high the official position is, it is still difficult to change the swaying behavior of a villain at critical moments.
Although this person is smart, the problem is that he has a weak will.
Du Jin sneered and said, "What's the point of driving such a villain?"
"After all, Alang is Your Majesty's confidant. Regardless of whether His Majesty's surname is Li or Xue, he is firmly loyal to Your Majesty. In the current situation, what I have to deal with are those who oppose Your Majesty. How can I cut off my own arms?"
~~
Li Mi waited outside the Qianyuan Gate for a long time, from dusk to dawn, and finally got an opportunity to meet him.
He straightened his robes, walked through the square where the blood had not yet been swept away, and entered the main hall with as relaxed a look as possible.
"I haven't seen your Majesty for a long time. I wish you well."
Xue Bai was looking at a memorial with solemnity. Sensing Li Mi's calmness, he raised his eyes and glanced at him, then said: "Brother Changyuan has not aged at all in these years."
Li Bi said: "I am cultivating my moral character in the mountains and not being confused by worldly things. Naturally, I will age more slowly."
"You still claim to be a vassal, but I have been exposed. I am not Li Qian, but I have usurped the country of Tang Dynasty under my false name."
Hearing this, Li Mi instead smiled and said, "It's not important anymore. What's important is how people in the world live, not His Majesty's name."
This was an unexpected answer. Xue Bai looked at him carefully and said, "You are trying to appease me and want to persuade me to change my mind."
"I would like to support Your Majesty in restoring his name and changing the country's name to 'Qin'. How about that?"
"Why Qin?"
"At the end of the Sui Dynasty, Xue Ju, the overlord of the Western Qin Dynasty, proclaimed himself emperor in Lanzhou. Since His Majesty's surname is Xue, he must be a descendant of the Western Qin Dynasty. It is only natural and right for him to restore the country now."
Xue Bai knew that Li Mi was talking sarcastically and was too lazy to play such subtle word games with Li Mi. He also had no feelings for Xue Ju, the overlord of the Western Qin Dynasty. The stories he had heard since childhood were how Emperor Taizong Li Shimin defeated the Western Qin Dynasty in the Battle of Qianshuiyuan.
Qin.
"I'll think about it."
"In this way, when Your Majesty defeats Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, Feng Changqing and other Tang generals, and establishes the country, no one will oppose your Majesty's new law."
"Is this sarcasm?"
"I don't dare."
Xue Bai said: "It doesn't matter if Guo Ziyi is against me. I have transferred the army from Fanyang to the south, so what if I give the heroes of Hebei a chance to contribute to the founding of my country and severely attack the Guanlong nobles?"
Li Mi sighed slightly, revealing his worries.
He no longer claimed to be a minister, but instead used the tone used by friends in the past, saying: "The reason why I came out is to maintain the stability of the world. I can support all your decisions and assist you with all my strength. I only ask you to agree to one condition.
.”
"That's not necessary." Xue Bai said, "I may not need your help."
Li Bi said: "You think you are Xue Bai, but in the perception of Prince Li Zuo, he is a descendant of the Li family. You use yourself to judge others, and you cannot force him to change this perception, how about that?"
He sounded sincere and said: "With my help, what you want to do will go much more smoothly. I know what you want to do. The purpose of you and me is to make the world stronger and stronger, isn't it?"