Chapter 135: There is a life in the heart, and peace for all eternity
The side hall seemed a little empty and lonely. Liu Duan was silent and thoughtful, not knowing what he was thinking about.
Su Ling thought about striking up a conversation, but she really didn't know what to say, so she had to lower her head and fiddle with the straps of her cloak.
After a long time, Liu Duan finally raised his head, with melancholy eyes, and sighed: "Qi Banban, go get the booklet from my desk."
Qi Shizhai was stunned when he heard the words, his face changed, and he said urgently with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, this story involves military and national affairs. Except for His Majesty Long Mu Zhi, others may..."
"Bring it!——"
Liu Duanhu's voice was much louder, with a little anger.
Qi Shizhai's body trembled, and he had no choice but to walk tremblingly to the Long Shu case and get the papers.
Liu Duan glanced at it, took out three folds, handed them to Su Ling and said, "Su Qing, take a look."
Su Ling was startled at first, feeling that it was indeed a bit inappropriate for him to read the booklet, but Liu Duan had already said it, so he didn't feel any pressure, so he took it over and read it without any politeness.
It turned out that they were all documents for appointing officials, and they were all signed by Sikong Xiao Yuanche.
Su Ling knew in her heart that this must have been ghostwritten by a staff member of the Sikong Mansion.
He looked at it briefly and handed it back.
"How?..." Jin Emperor Liu Duan looked at Su Ling with deep meaning and asked slowly.
Su Ling expressed his thoughts directly: "I have seen it, and the officials appointed here are not of high rank, but they are all important positions with real power in important links such as military, civil servants, and households."
Liu Duan secretly approved in his heart, nodded and said: "You can see the mystery after just looking at it for a while..."
Liu Duan asked with some expectation: "Besides these, what else did you see?"
Su Ling did not hide anything, and said with a smile: "The candidates for these positions are all direct descendants of Cao Sikong's close relatives, not the candidates in His Majesty's heart!"
When Qi Shizhai heard this, his voice trembled and he shouted loudly: "Bold Su Ling..."
Liu Duan glared at Qi Shizhai and said in a deep voice: "Qi Banban, just wait on the side..."
Qi Shizhai hurriedly whispered: "I understand..."
Liu Duan seemed to be very satisfied with Su Ling's directness. He nodded and said, "Su Ling, you are very candid!"
Su Ling smiled and said: "The Holy Emperor gave me the order today because he wanted Su Ling to speak his mind. Now that Su Ling is here, why should he bother to hide it to please him?"
Liu Duan nodded and said: "Listen! Listen! This is the attitude that a minister should have. It's a pity that the whole court..."
He suddenly stopped talking, slowly shook the few folds in his hand, and asked as if in consultation: "Tell me, am I correct or not?"
Su Ling looked as usual and said loudly: "Your Majesty is the emperor, and the appointment of the assessment officials is naturally the emperor's decision. If your majesty sees the candidates in this list, he will be right. If they are not, he will reject them."
Liu Duan was even more satisfied. It seemed that this person was really not Xiao Yuanche, otherwise he would not have spoken like this.
What a blessing! What a blessing.
However, Liu Duan was helpless. He suddenly raised his head and smiled softly and said: "No? I hope not to be accurate at all, but can I really be inaccurate?"
Suddenly Liu Duan stood up suddenly, walked to Qi Shizhai's side in two or three steps, and picked up the booklets one after another from his hand, shaking them and sneering.
"This... this... and these... are all the tricks of Sikong's house, don't talk about these..."
Liu Duan suddenly looked at the long book table, and said with disgust: "Of all the information on this book table, which one can I make a decision just by reading it? I think I have read it, and I want to send it to Zhongshu
There goes...there is nothing but
Xiao Yuanche's back garden, Zhongshu wants to see it, and Xiao Yuanche wants to see it too! I just put a big seal on it! They don't mind the trouble, but I don't mind the trouble. I went into the palace to get the big seal myself.
Won't it be better to cover it and use it however you want?"
Liu Duan was shaking all over as he spoke, with grief and anger in his eyes, and he suddenly wiped it away from the desk with all his strength.
"Clattering -" All the folding papers fell to the ground, scattered everywhere, in a messy pile.
Qi Shizhai turned pale with fright, fell to his knees on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please calm down, Your Majesty, please calm down..."
Su Ling's heart shivered, and he felt a little pity for the emperor. From Liu Duan's conversation with him, Su Ling could see that he was not a foolish king, and he understood the stakes behind these tricks.
But he knew that he couldn't save him even with his own abilities. He didn't dare, didn't want, couldn't, and wouldn't save him.
Su Ling sat expressionless, motionless.
It seemed as if Emperor Jin's rage and endless sadness had nothing to do with him.
There was none in the first place, he was just a spectator.
Liu Duan didn't know why, but he gradually calmed down, gently closed his eyes, and said slowly: "Qi Banban, please put these away."
Then he walked to sit opposite Su Ling, closed his eyes and leaned on the chair, and stopped talking.
There was no sound in the main hall, except for the sound of Qi Shizhai arranging the paper, rustling. Although he was light, the sound seemed to hit people's hearts, and every time he hit it, it became heavier.
After Qi Shizhai finished collecting, Liu Duan slowly opened his eyes, sighed and said, "Su Ling, I have something to say to you."
Su Ling then said seriously: "Your Majesty, please speak!"
"I know that the world is no longer the world of strong Jin. Shen Jizhou is called my Jin minister, but I still know what he is doing secretly. He and Xiao Yuanche will have a battle. No matter who wins or loses, I have nothing to do with it.
Relationship..." Liu Duan looked a little bitter.
Su Ling's heart was shocked, and in an instant, he looked at Liu Duan again.
This person has a strategy, but he is helpless...
"Besides that, the Liu family only cares about consolidating their own territory, and there is no hope at all. There is only one Liu Xuanhan, who may be loyal and loyal, but is weak and difficult to support..."
Liu Duan paused, and a strong sense of helplessness filled his body.
"As the emperor, who can I count on..."
When he said this, tears were already flowing down his face. If it weren't for the emperor's dignity, he would have shed tears in front of Su Ling.
Su Ling also sighed secretly in his heart. Hearing Liu Duan's words, he also felt a little sad for Liu Duan. Since the second emperor before Liu Duan, the Jin Dynasty has been hard to recover. The government is dark and the national power is declining.
And this Liu Duan has been the emperor since he was a child. Now he is in his twenties. He has a thorough understanding of the current situation and seems to have some talents.
He was just born in prison, what could he do?
Su Ling remained silent and lowered his head, unable to see his expression clearly.
Liu Duan's reaction seemed to be expected, and he was not angry. He sighed and said: "Actually, I know it is useless to tell you this to a little Cao Ping. However, you have just entered the official career, so I still believe it.
You don't have too much preference for anyone, and I told you, I'm not afraid of causing any trouble..."
Su Ling secretly praised Liu Duan for his great ambition, which is enough for him to be an emperor. "I don't want to achieve anything, but I only have one hope. The country and country of the Jin Dynasty for hundreds of years will not be buried in me."
Just have it in your hand..."
Liu Duan's words seemed like he was talking to himself or to Su Ling.
Qi Shizhai was listening, sweating profusely in shock, and knelt down on the ground, kowtowing and saying: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, be careful what you say! Be careful what you say!
Liu Duan waved his hand and said, "Eunuch Qi, don't be afraid that walls have ears. What if other people hear what I say? Or if I don't say anything, they can't do anything to me?"
Liu Duan slowly turned around and said to Su Ling with hope in his eyes: "Su Ling, tell me what should I do..."
Su Ling didn't expect Liu Duan to ask so directly, and was speechless for a moment.
What can he do? He can't tell Liu Duan that this is a dead end for you. It would be good to be the emperor for a few more days, enjoy more blessings, have more concubines, and live in a dream.
Su Ling thought for a long time, then sighed and said: "Your Majesty, maybe you shouldn't ask me, which of the civil and military officials in the dynasty is not more talented than Su Ling? How should they go about the road to the Jin Dynasty? It should be what they need to do...
..."
Liu Duan gave a bitter smile and said lightly: "The civil and military dynasties? Who can I ask? Guo Baiyi, Xu Wenruo, Cheng Gongshao? Or Huang Kuijia, Xu Jinghu, Xia Yuanrang? Or Liu Ziyang, who is from the same clan as me? Which one?
I can ask, and I asked, which one dares to say it? Which one really dares to say it, and what he says is the truth!"
Su Ling said calmly: "Since it is something that even the ministers in the court cannot say, Su Ling, a mere Cao Cao, will not dare to say it casually."
Liu Duan smiled faintly, stared at Su Ling suddenly, and said with a bit of imperial aura: "I want you to say it, you can say it, I forgive your innocence."
Su Ling had no choice but to think to himself, would you forgive me for being innocent? Will Sikong forgive me?
He had no choice but to take the ball kicked by Liu Duan and then thought about it and said: "This Jin Dynasty is your Majesty's Jin Dynasty, and the subjects of this world are also your Majesty's subjects. Your Majesty should cheer up, clean up the rules and regulations, reverse the decline, and surely the world will be better."
The crowd gathered in the scenery instead of asking my little Cao Cao."
Although Su Ling drew a big cake for him, she also wanted to remind him.
The implication is that as long as you toughen up your tactics and challenge the powerful officials, there will definitely be someone in the world who will take up the banner of being a diligent king and eliminating thieves.
After saying that, Su Ling didn't hesitate, straightened her body and looked directly at Liu Duan.
That look in his eyes clearly told him that to get rid of powerful officials and thieves, the only way to get rid of Xiao Yuanche is to get rid of Xiao Yuanche. But do you, the emperor of the Jin Dynasty, really dare?
Su Ling also deliberately tested Liu Duan. If Liu Duan was really full of energy, Su Ling would really want to help Liu Duan with some ideas at all costs.
Liu Duanwen suddenly stood up, clenching his fists and trembling all over. His eyes gradually turned red.
Qi Shizhai had never seen the emperor with such a look. He was so frightened that he knelt down again, bowed his head and said bleedingly: "Your Majesty, please calm down... Your Majesty, please think twice... If Your Majesty follows Su Ling's words and tells the world
Except for the thief King Qin, I am afraid that the decree has not yet come out of this palace wall..."
Su Ling suddenly stood up, looked directly at Qi Shizhai, and sneered: "Qi Shizhai, you are timid before you fight. Your Majesty is surrounded by you group of timid mediocre people. When will the Jin Dynasty be revitalized?"
He turned his head, stared straight at Liu Duan, and said word by word: "Those who have achieved great things since ancient times have been born to die, why do they need this body? Your Majesty, what should be done, it will be decided with one word!"
Liu Duan's body was shaking and his breathing was rapid, and he was like this for a long time.
But in the end, his eyes became distracted, his body went limp, and he slumped on the chair helplessly.
Su Ling secretly shook his head, it was really sad that the majestic emperor of the Jin Dynasty had lost even the blood of his heroic words.
Su Ling was betting, and he was right.
Although this Liu Duan is pitiful, the poor man must be hated!
He bet that Liu Duan didn't have such bravery and spirit, and it turned out to be true.
"Think about it in the long term... Think about it in the long term..." Liu Duan murmured as if he was talking to himself, with some cover-up.
Su Ling then said calmly: "Your Majesty, when Su Ling was at Mount Liyou, he once heard his master tell a story. I wonder if your Majesty is interested in hearing it."
If you pretend to be X, just pretend to be bigger. Pretending to be in front of the emperor is the highest level.
Su Ling was talking nonsense. When had he been to Liyou Mountain? Even where Liyou Mountain was, he didn't know.
It's just that the atmosphere is here, and I have to cook a bowl of poisonous chicken soup...
"Just tell me..."
"A man caught a bird and locked it in a birdcage. At first, the bird yearned for the unrestrained life outside, and struggled and fluttered in the birdcage every day, screaming. However, this man did not do anything for it.
All I have to do is provide the birds with three meals a day.”
Su Ling glanced at Liu Duan secretly, and saw that he was still sitting there speechless, with a lost look in his eyes. He did not feel that Su Ling was angry because he compared him to the bird in the story.
He then added: "As time goes by, this bird gets used to eating the food given by people. Even if people open the bird cage and drive it out, it will not fly away."
After Su Ling finished speaking, she closed her eyes slightly and said no more words.
Liu Duan smiled sadly and said lightly: "Am I that bird?"
Suddenly, Liu Duan straightened up, his eyes became a little sharper, and he said in a deep voice, Su Ling, do you know your guilt?
Hearing this, Su Ling secretly thought, Wucao! You were fine just now, but you're going to fall out at once? You can't afford it!
At this point, Su Ling could only smile lightly and said, "Isn't that disrespectful?"
Liu Duan's eyes were burning and he said in a deep voice: "Since you know, aren't you afraid that I will deal with you?"
Su Ling laughed loudly and said indifferently: "Su Ling has a humble life, so naturally he is not as noble as the Holy One. Su Ling is willing to give up what the Holy One cannot spare."
"It's just that Su Ling is willing to give this miserable life..."
"How dare you, Your Majesty?..."
Su Ling stared at Liu Duan as he spoke, his eyes still calm and calm.
The killing intent flashed through Liu Duan's eyes, and then he slowly waved his hand and said softly: "That's it! Loyalty is hard to hear, and I am not a tyrant... People say that Su Ling is Chi Ji's talent...
..”
"Su Ling, I want to use you, are you willing?"
Su Ling was noncommittal and said calmly: "I don't know how your Majesty can use me?"
Liu Duan said word by word: "Civilian and military officers, all grades, you can choose..."
Lidya Su was not tempted at all.
This thing is like picking it up for free on the street. If someone else throws it away, he still picks it up?
It might make you look sexy.
Su Ling waved his hand and laughed and said: "Su Ling is just a wanderer. He has never thought of becoming a high-ranking official, and he has no talent to help the world. I still go to sell food and medicine, and be a leisurely Cao Cao.
, come at ease.”
Liu Duanyu refused to give up, stared at Su Ling and said, "I don't believe it. You didn't come to Longtai, Kyoto, to fight for a future? Now that the future is given to you, can you not take it?"
Su Ling remained indifferent and said in a calm voice: "To be honest with you, Your Majesty, Su Ling is originally from Sujia Village in Wanyang. If Wanyang hadn't been fighting for years, Su Ling would not have left his hometown and came to Longtai, Kyoto...
..”
He paused and then said: "Su Ling just made a good cup of meat, caught a good medicine, and wrote a few crooked poems. Being a little Xiocao is exactly in line with Su Ling's abilities. If you really want to stand up
In the court, firstly, his virtues are not worthy of him, secondly, his talent and learning are not worthy, and thirdly, his reputation is not enough. Therefore, Su Ling has no delusions about being a high-ranking official and receiving a good salary."
Liu Duan said, if you don't want to be an official, are you still thinking about Sikong Mansion?"
Su Ling was noncommittal and said nothing.
Liu Duan's voice dropped and he said: "It's just Su Ling, you came to see me in the palace today, do you think Sikong can still be as unsuspicious of you as before?"
Su Ling then solemnly raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Su Ling came to see Your Majesty because Sikong passed down the Holy Majesty's decree. Your Majesty understands the whole story, and Sikong also understands..."
Su Ling suddenly smiled and said: "In the future, if Sikong doesn't doubt me, I will continue to do business in Longtai. If Sikong doubts me, I will just leave. Could it be that Su Ling still can't let go of this little Cao Peng?"
His voice suddenly became much louder, and he said loudly: "Also, Your Majesty made a mistake. Su Ling is not from the Sikong Mansion, but Lord Sikong has some business dealings with Wei Chen. As for Dong Si's matter, it is actually Su Ling who
It was unintentional.”
Liu Duan heard this and followed his words: "You said you are not from Sikong? Are you serious?"
Su Ling nodded without thinking.
Seeing this, Liu Duan nodded slightly.
"Okay, I believe you, but Su Ling, can you guarantee that when you leave the palace, no matter what happens in the future, you will never help Xiao?"
Su Ling laughed loudly and said: "Your Majesty, haven't you always asked me why I came to Longtai? And you think it's a pity that I am full of talents and don't stand in the temple..."
"Then Su Ling will tell you the truth!"
Su Ling stood up suddenly, with a distant look on his face, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, sometimes, not standing in a temple does not mean that you can't do something. Those people in the temple are doing things for Your Majesty, or they may be forced to do things for Sikong due to the situation.
work."
"And those who stay away from the temple do what they do - only for the common people in the world!"
"The imperial court belongs to the Holy One, but there is more than one Holy One in the world!"
"There are still so many people in the world, so why should the people deserve it?"
Su Ling's voice sounded like morning bells and evening drums to Liu Duan's ears, faint and majestic.
"Nowadays, warlords are fighting in a melee. Who is the good guy and who is the bad guy? How can there be a consensus? Not to mention Sikong, even Shen Jizhou, Liu Jingsheng and others, Su Ling will not help!"
After Su Ling said this, there was a stern look in her eyes.
Since he trusts me not to tell Xiao Yuanche what he said, I will open my heart for once.
These days are so depressing...
When Su Ling thought of this, he became more free and easy, and suddenly said: "Your Majesty, since I express my sincerity, Su Ling dares to send you a few words."
"What......"
Su Ling stood up suddenly, his voice was solemn and full of sonorous meaning.
"Those who are born as human beings should establish their minds for the heaven and earth, establish their destiny for the people, carry forward the unique teachings for the saints, and create peace for all generations!"
Looking at Liu Duan and Qi Shizhai, they both looked solemn and silent.
Su Ling then cupped his hands towards Liu Duanyi and said calmly: "It's getting late, it's useless for Su Ling to stay any longer, so take your leave!"
After saying this, Su Ling suddenly turned around, held his head high and strode towards the outside of the hall.
There is a wind blowing outside the palace, and the walls are white with snow and red.
The figure of a young man in white clothes hunting.
"Su Ling..." Liu Duan suddenly called softly.
There seemed to be reluctance in his eyes, and he knew that this young man had left this hall.
Perhaps, it will no longer be of use to him.
Su Ling did not turn around, but slowly stopped and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, is there anything else?"
"I just need you to remember what you promised me..."
"The Holy Spirit has made it clear."
"At any time, do not help Xiao, and at any time, do not rebel against Jin."
Su Ling shrugged his shoulders, raised his right hand in an OK gesture, and left the hall in large strides without stopping.