Li Congjia was carrying a heavy burden, so Luo Youdu naturally opened the door for him.
Li Congjia took the boat going south and had a smooth journey.
It goes south from Bianjing to the Huaihe River, and then goes all the way south through the Huaihe Stork Water Canal to Yangzhou.
The Grand Canal in the Sui and Tang Dynasties was easily blocked, and even blocked up to the level of the bank.
The salt and grain from the Jianghuai River were very important to the Central Plains imperial court. Luo Youdu sent people to dredge and remove silt many times to ensure smooth water transportation.
Therefore, Li Congjia went down the river and arrived in Yangzhou in just one day and night.
Li Congjia did not stay in Yangzhou, but took a boat directly across the river and rushed to Jinling.
Stepping into Jinling again, there was actually light snow falling in the sky, but the prosperity of Jinling remained the same.
However, Li Congjia had other feelings. He looked at the proud literati holding umbrellas on the left and right, looked at the slightly numb people wearing thin clothes, running in the snow, and thought about the scene in Bianjing, that unspeakable feeling.
A feeling of depression came over me.
All the way to the palace, Li Congjia was favored by Li Jing the most, and had the privilege of entering and leaving the palace at will in Jiangnan.
He went directly to the main hall of Li Jing's palace and waited.
Upon entering the main hall, Li Congjia felt comfortable all over, and the coldness dissipated instantly.
There was no one else in the main hall of the palace except him, but the charcoal fire was still burning, making the main hall as warm as summer.
Li Congjia thought about Zhou Zong's words and felt even deeper.
Li Jing played songs all night and is still sleeping.
When I learned that my beloved son was back, I was so happy that I didn't even bother to put on my clothes. I just put on a coat and left the bedroom and went to the main hall of the palace.
"You kid, you are finally... willing to come back!"
Li Jing couldn't bear to say harsh words, and looked at Aiko who was slightly darker, his eyes were a little red.
"The child is unfilial and has met his father!"
Li Congjia also knew that he was hiding in the Central Plains and was guilty of filial piety, so he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.
Li Jing frowned slightly, the father and the father were two different concepts.
But seeing Li Congjia's dusty face and traces of melted snow on his body, knowing that he didn't go back to his house to rest, but came directly to see him, Li Jing's heart softened again. He didn't blame him, helped him up, and said seriously
Looking at his beloved son, he said: "My father appreciated the poems you wrote in the Central Plains one by one, and he was very happy. Whether you go out for a walk, at least you gain more knowledge, and the poems become more majestic. Especially the poem "Climbing Mount Tai"
It’s no less impressive than Du Shaoling’s “Wang Yue”.”
Li Congjia said: "Father, I am here to attend to state affairs. The Central Plains court has already sent troops to Jinghu, and to the south of the Yangtze River, I am afraid they are also planning to do so."
Li Jing's face instantly turned pale, his body swayed, and he almost fell over. He said in a trembling voice: "I, Jiangnan, have done nothing disloyal. Why don't the Central Plains let me go?"
Li Congjia said: "My son personally met with the Emperor of the Central Plains for this purpose. Emperor Luo bluntly said, how can a unified dynasty have the principle of a state within a state?"
He sighed and said: "Father, the great unifier, the six continents have the same style, and the nine states are unified. The emperor of the Central Plains is determined to unify, and there will be no room for maneuver."
Li Jing grabbed Li Congjia and said, "My son, tell me, if the Central Plains moves south, can I, Jiangnan, take over?"
Li Congjia shook his head and said: "No. The emperor of the Central Plains has the style of Taizong of our dynasty. With the current strength of the Central Plains, he can destroy our Jiangnan without even using a large army. Only one brigade of partial troops is enough."
The Li family in Jiangnan claimed to be descendants of Li Tang, and Taizong of our dynasty naturally refers to Li Shimin.
Li Jing was even more frightened.
Li Congjia said: "Father, my son and I are here to persuade our father. Rather than hitting an egg against a stone, it is better to submit to the Central Plains in order to seek wealth and honor."
Li Jing had a look of surprise on his face. Looking at Li Congjia, he realized that his son was actually working as a lobbyist for the Central Plains.
What's happening here?
Li Jing said solemnly: "Xiu's nonsense, as the heir of our Jiangnan Emperor, how can you say such treasonous words?"
Li Congjia knelt down and said: "Father, it's not that children are afraid of death, the situation is really irreversible!"
Just as Li Jing was about to speak, he heard Prince Li Hongji asking for an audience.
Li Jing felt angry instantly and was about to drive him away, but thinking of the seriousness of the matter, he suppressed his anger and had someone summon Li Hongji into the house.
Li Hongji entered the palace to say hello and said impatiently: "Father, the Central Plains has sent troops to Jinghu. We cannot sit back and wait for death. We must contact Wu Yue and Bashu. Only by forming an alliance and uniting with the outside world can we have a chance of victory."
Li Congjia shouted anxiously: "No, brother, the power of the Central Plains is beyond your imagination. This is the way to death."
Li Hongji was a little shocked. Xiao Laoliu, who had always been a coward, dared to refute him. Was he beaten too lightly?
Although Li Hongji claimed externally that he was drunk and made a mistake, in his heart he never believed that he was wrong.
This eldest brother is like his father. What's wrong with beating his disobedient younger brother?
Li Hongji stared at Li Congjia and said: "How powerful is it? There is a natural moat of the Yangtze River in the south of the Yangtze River, which can block hundreds of thousands of troops. Didn't Cao Cao overpower Sun Liu in the past? It was not the same. He was defeated at Chibi and his army was wiped out."
Li Congjia was still a little guilty at first, but thinking about what he had seen in the Central Plains, he loudly said: "Sun Liu has Zhuge, Zhou Lang, how can such a person be in our court? Cao Cao is not used to water warfare, and the Central Plains navy is even better. The middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River are all in the Central Plains
Control, where is the natural moat? Brother, out of concern for the thousands of people in the south of the Yangtze River, it is better to surrender..."
"Bastard!" Li Hongji was furious. If the Jiangnan officials heard that the Jiangnan royal family took the lead in surrender, it would definitely shake the morale of the army. In anger, he raised his fist and wanted to beat his younger brother.
Li Congjia was so frightened that he jumped away like a rabbit.
Li Jing was in a state of confusion, but no matter what, he was unwilling to surrender.
After all, with this surrender, the Li family's Sheji Ancestral Temple could not be saved.
Although there was endless money to spend, what was the meaning of wealth at that time?
The wealth he wants is to be surrounded by stars, have the literati from Jiangnan sing his praises, and enjoy the feeling of being above all others, rather than sleeping with a bunch of dead things in his arms.
As for the people in Jiangnan that Li Congjia was talking about?
What does it have to do with them?
But even though Li Congjia was wrong, it was not Li Hongji's turn to teach him a lesson.
"Stop, what do you want to do? I'm not dead yet!"
Li Jing glared at Li Hongji.
Li Hongji was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and did not dare to speak.
Li Jing said angrily: "Even if Liu Lang is wrong in all kinds of ways, all he needs to do is teach him a lesson. Why do he take action?"
Li Hongji said sadly: "Father, once Liu Lang's words are spread, the morale of the army will be greatly damaged, and they will be even less able to resist."
Li Jing glanced at the anxious Li Congjia and said to Li Hongji, "How do you plan to deal with it?"
Li Hongji said: "The power of the Central Plains is great. Our power in the south of the Yangtze River is unmatched. We can only win by uniting Wu Yue, Lingnan Han State, Bashu, Wuping, and all the southern forces to deal with the Central Plains."
Li Jing frowned and said: "Wu Ping is easy to talk about in the Han Kingdom in Lingnan, and Meng Chang of Bashu is as timid as a mouse. He was scared out of his wits by the Central Plains. As for Wu Yue, he has a close relationship with the Central Plains. He has been invited by the Central Plains many times to become our enemy in Jiangnan.
,How can they agree to the covenant?"
Li Hongji said: "Father, don't worry. Previously, it was because the Central Plains had no intention of going south. They could stay out of the matter. Now, everyone knows that the Central Plains are determined to go south. At this critical moment, I believe they dare not stay out of the matter."