Chapter four hundred and forty-ninth unshakable reputation
But I teach you that there will be nothing wrong with the wine body, whether it is with flowers or without flowers, the choice is very spring and autumn.
——Excerpt from "Qing Xing'er·Wind and rain replace flowers' sorrow" by Zhao Bingwen (Yuan Dynasty)
…
Huang Zhen replied to Bai Bai: "Brother Fu, I received a tip that someone has started to slander you in front of His Majesty. These people know about the grudge between Your Majesty and Li Linfu, and deliberately revealed the fact that Li Xiangyu betrothed his beloved daughter to you.
Not only that, but he also added fuel to the fire and linked the reason why you assassinated Yu Wenba to Li Tengkong.
We have investigated your enemies and have not yet found the person behind it.
This person comes prepared and has a vicious mind, so you must be careful!"
Huang Zhen originally thought that Bai Fu would be furious. After all, from Yongqiu to Suiyang to the bloody battle at Xiangji Temple, Bai Fu was always at the forefront. Every military achievement was accumulated with scars all over his body. Now he is hated and slandered by others.
No one can stand it.
Unexpectedly, Bai Fu talked calmly and calmly as usual.
Bai Fu nodded and said: "Gang Leader Jiang and you are right to remind me, I was a little careless.
On the day of the military parade, when His Majesty praised me, I should have politely refused and refused to accept it vaguely. To me, the title of "the first striker of the Tang Dynasty" is a well-earned reputation.
Master Zhongsi often warned me, 'It is shameful that fame is better than reality, and goodness is better than reputation. Never let fame and praise exceed your own strength, otherwise you will be in danger.'
Anyone who gets an unexpected reputation often takes the honor that others deserve and takes other people's military achievements to himself, which will inevitably lead to jealousy and revenge.
Even if you don't take the credit from others, but you over-compliment, the court's expectations of you will be higher, and you can only continue to use victory after victory to support your false reputation. If you fail in a battle, you will be beaten back to your original shape, and you will never recover.
General Gao Xianzhi is such an example."
Huang Zhen sighed: "I didn't expect that His Majesty's heartfelt praise would make you the target of public criticism? Brother Fu, do you have any plans on how to avoid disaster in the next step?"
Bai Fu smiled slightly and said: "Mencius said: 'There is a reputation for not worrying about danger, but there is a reputation for seeking perfection.'
When you are famous all over the world, slander will follow. Someone will come to trouble you, and slander and slander are inevitable. If you don't defend yourself, let him destroy you."
Huang Zhen was stunned and asked: "Aren't you going to suffer unjust injustice? Just give up the reputation you fought for with your life?"
Bai Fu stood with his hands behind his hands and said, "Why do you need to have such a good reputation? That is a burden. Not only does it make others jealous, but it also makes you unable to let go.
Sun Tzu's Art of War says: "Integrity can be insulted." If you have a good reputation and self-respect, your opponent will use your reputation to provoke you and force you to die to show your ambition. Is this stupid thing done by a military strategist?
If you don’t worry about your reputation or reputation, you will be able to walk on the snow without leaving a trace!”
Huang Zhen secretly raised his thumb and praised: "Such a demeanor makes you a general!"
…
As Bai Fu expected, a few days later, the Yushitai presented a thick stack of memorials to Suzong, most of which were signed by Bai Fu.
Suzong came to Li Fuguo to inquire.
Li Fuguo smiled and said: "General Bai is the bravest of the three armies. At such a young age, he has achieved unparalleled military exploits. Compared with those old generals who have done nothing, he will naturally make people jealous."
Su Zong said: "Is it true that Li Linfu once betrothed his beloved daughter to Bai Fu?"
Li Fuguo smiled and said: "That's true. During the Yuanxi ball game, Bai Fu helped Prince Qing's princes become kings and resolve a grudge between Prince Ying and the Supreme Emperor.
Li Linfu, that old fox, is not interested in drinking. He just wants to get back together through marriage and get the support of King Qing.
At that time, Li Linfu was the most powerful person in the world. Even so, Bai Fu refused the opportunity to become a dragon and a phoenix, which shows that the hatred between Bai Fu and Li Linfu is as deep as the sea."
Suzong was still worried and asked: "Bai Fu killed Yu Wenba, but did he rise because of Li Tengkong?"
Li Fuguo said: "As far as I know, Li Tengkong has repeatedly expressed his goodwill to Bai Fu in a high-profile way. If Yu Wenba uses despicable means to misbehave with him, with Bai Fu's character, it is indeed possible to kill Yu Wenba.
But now, Li Tengkong has escaped into Taoism and is living in seclusion in Lushan Mountain to practice Taoism. Even if there was love, it is no longer possible for the two of them.
However, there is one thing that I think is strange." Li Fuguo stopped talking.
Suzong glanced at it and said, "Just say whatever you have to say. Don't worry too much. I won't blame you."
Li Fuguo thought for a while and said: "Many people saw the drinking and argument between Yu Wenba and Bai Fu at the spring party in the garden. But no one saw Bai Fu kill Yu Wenba. There was no record of the incident.
The circumstances of the crime.
The person who captured Bai Fu was not a master from the Six Sects, but Eunuch Gao himself. Although Bai Fu was very skilled in martial arts, he was not so good that Eunuch Gao had to take action himself. This matter is too abnormal and full of doubts."
Suzong's face turned cold and he thought: "Eunuch Gao and Bai Fu have no grievances, and their identities are very different. How could he take action personally without someone's will?"
Before his death, King Qing Li Cong strongly recommended five people to assist him, namely King Rong Li Wan, General Wang Zhongsi, Guo Ziyi, Li Mi and Bai Fu.
In November of the 14th year of Tianbao's reign, An Lushan rebelled in Fan Yang. His father immediately issued an edict to appoint Li Wan as the marshal of the expedition and Gao Xianzhi as the deputy marshal. He ordered Gao Xianzhi to march to the river and Long soldiers to garrison Shaanxi County to resist the rebels.
Li Wan was known for his elegant reputation and elegant style. At that time, the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty had high hopes for Li Wan to quell the rebellion. Unexpectedly, a few days after the edict was issued, Li Wan suddenly passed away. Li Wan's unexpected death made the prince Li Heng wary.
General Wang Zhongsi was secretly imprisoned. It was not until the rebels invaded Chang'an that Li Heng learned that General Zhongsi had died in Lihentian Prison.
Li Mi, who was awaiting imperial edict in Hanlin, could not bear to see Yang Guozhong relying on his favor and power, and offended Yang Guozhong. He was immediately expelled from the capital and hid in Songshan Mountain to avoid trouble.
The school secretary Lang Baifu was captured by Gao Lishi and announced that he was executed for the murder of Qianniuwei General Yu Wenba.
Except for Guo Ziyi, who has been hiding in Shuofang and biding his time, the other four people were either dead or expelled, and none of them had a good ending.
Several seemingly unrelated people were removed one by one after the death of King Qing Li Cong. It seemed that there was a big network behind the scenes that was constantly reducing his power and preventing him from ascending the throne.
It is self-evident who is the one who weaves the web.”
Suzong didn't want to talk more about someone involved, so he changed the subject and asked: "Is there anyone from the military in the memorial of Shen Baifu?"
Li Fuguo flipped through the memorials and said: "Reporting to your majesty, most of the memorials here are from the military. These military leaders have been working hard all their lives and have not achieved a few decent military achievements. I guess they are jealous."
Suzong was relieved, as long as Bai Fu didn't get involved with these generals, he still admired Bai Fu very much.
He still remembered Qing Wang Li Cong's evaluation of Bai Fu: "Once the 'Sha Po Lang' rebellion is put down and the world is at peace, we must take away Bai Fu's military power and let him go to Nanshan. He must not be allowed to continue to control the army. Wenwen Township is the Tomb of Heroes."
.Just let Bai Fu become a rich man."
Suzong had made up his mind and said to Li Fuguo: "Give all these memorials to Bai Fu. At the same time, transfer him from the Anxi Army and transfer him to the Ministry of Hubu as an official."