Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4760 Slippery
Fang Jun and Li Xiaogong were not only close friends regardless of age difference, but they also had many common interests in business cooperation and were the most solid allies. So when Li Xiaogong realized that something was not right, he asked directly without hesitation and also tried to see if he could save Li Chongxu.

Although this kid is a bastard, he is his nephew after all. His brother died in the "Xuanwu Gate Incident" that year. Emperor Li II was grateful for Li Xiaogong's achievements and did not kill them all. Although he has ignored that branch in recent years, he also tacitly allowed several nephews to use his name outside. Due to blood ties, he will naturally not sit idly by and do nothing at this moment.

Fang Jun thought for a moment and whispered, "Don't ask more. I can't say... As for Li Chongxu, it's not a big deal. He was just implicated. This matter will definitely be tried by the Zongzheng Temple and the Three Law Departments. Go back and talk to King Han. He will definitely give you this face."

Li Xiaogong's prestige within the royal family was unmatched, so it was not difficult for him to protect his nephew who was not too deeply involved.

Unexpectedly, Li Xiaogong shook his head and said, "I can't bear to lose my reputation. You go and tell me about this."

Fang Jun looked surprised: "You can't afford to lose face but you want me to lose face to beg others, so my face is worthless?"

"Isn't that your brother-in-law? Your words are more effective than mine. If I ask him for help, he will complain. I don't want to bother to pay attention to him."

"You also said that he is my brother-in-law. How can a brother-in-law listen to his brother-in-law?"

"If he dares not to listen, then you can ride your horse to the Prince of Han's mansion. I heard that the Prince of Han recently took in a concubine. Your sister is the princess and it's not easy for her to speak out. You can go and scare the concubine and vent your anger on your sister."

Fang Jun was worried: "It was just a momentary impulse when I was young and frivolous. It has been so long, how come everyone remembers it so clearly? You high-ranking officials, do you have nothing to do all day long?"

Li Xiaogong asked, "Are you going to tell him or not?"

Fang Jun was helpless: "Since you have spoken, how can I not speak up?"

"That's very kind. I owe you a favor. I'll leave this to you and Ma Zhou. You two can take care of it. I'm old and I get sleepy when the time comes. I'm going back to my house to rest."

Li Xiaogong patted Fang Jun on the shoulder, turned around and walked away. The old fox knew how to protect himself. Since he knew that this was a big whirlpool, the right thing to do was to withdraw from it as soon as possible.

Back to Ma Zhou, Ma Zhou said with some disdain: "See? They are all old foxes, unwilling to get involved in any trouble. When there is benefit, they flock to it and rack their brains to scheme for advantage. When there is trouble, they run faster than rabbits. Only idiots like us would do those so-called loyal duties and things for the country and the people. Not only do we suffer hardships, but we also annoy people and attract bad reputations."

"It's just human nature. After all, the word 'noble' is not something that everyone can bear. Good officials like you who are loyal to the emperor and love the people are like cows. They eat grass and produce milk. It's the so-called 'facing thousands of people's criticism with a cold brow, and bowing your head to serve as a cow for children'. Do what you want to do, and don't be cynical."

"This poem is really good, but I feel very humbled and unworthy of it."

"Then keep working hard, follow your ideals and overcome all difficulties. One day you will be worthy of me."

Ma Zhou blushed. He was a self-respecting and shy person, and would only speak a few words in front of a few familiar people. Now, the more he pondered over this poem, the more he felt that it was meaningful and memorable. He said with emotion, "The "Poem on the Bamboo Painting" you gave me last time is hung in the government office. I look at it every day and reflect on myself from time to time. I am already deeply frightened by it. The artistic conception of this poem is more profound and the intention is more noble. I am afraid that I will never be able to compare with it in my lifetime."

Just one sentence "I am willing to be a cow for children", what kind of state of self-sacrifice and willingness to be broken into pieces and become dust?

It's easy to say, but if you can really do it, you may not be qualified to be called a "sage", but you are qualified to be a "sage", which is what many great scholars admire and yearn for but cannot do in their entire lives...

*****
The study in the Prince of Xiangyi's mansion was brightly lit. Li Shenfu had driven away all his other children and grandchildren, leaving only Li Demou behind. The father and son sat opposite each other on a mat by the window, drinking tea leisurely. Servants came in and out, constantly reporting on the situation in Jingzhao Prefecture.

Because they were full of expectations and too nervous about the situation, the father and son just drank water separately and did not communicate much.

When they heard the news that the Right Jinwu Guards entered the city from the Jinguan Gate and blocked the Jingzhao Prefecture government office, both father and son breathed a sigh of relief. Their expectations were shattered, and the expected chaotic situation did not occur. They felt disappointed but also relaxed.

It is exciting to do something big, but the waiting period is so stressful that even my heart seems to stop beating...

"Huh... Fang Jun really has a firm grip on Chang'an City without leaving any loopholes. If we want to succeed, we must take him down. At the very least, we must make him break away from the control of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards. Otherwise, we really have no chance."

Li Demao shook his head and sighed, regretting his actions.

Li Shenfu's face was solemn. "How can it be easier said than done? Although this guy has had some dirty dealings with Your Majesty recently, his loyalty remains unchanged, and Your Majesty's trust in him has not diminished. Previously, I thought that there was a rift between the monarch and his subjects, which would give us an opportunity to take advantage of it, but Your Majesty still trusts Fang Jun the most at the critical moment."

Even though Fang Jun no longer holds the official position of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards, and both armies have already been appointed generals, His Majesty still acquiesces in Fang Jun's control over the two armies, which shows the trust between the monarch and his subjects.

The city of Chang'an, controlled by Fang Jun, is as solid as a rock.

Upon hearing that Li Jingshu had died suddenly and that King of Han Li Yuanjia had entered the palace to report the situation and begged for permission for the three judicial officials to intervene, Li Shenfu was so shocked that he could not sit still.

He stood up suddenly, his face anxious, "Li Yuanjia is such a bastard, he is cowardly and irresponsible! How can we report this matter directly to Your Majesty? That would force Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and make the matter out of control. By then, I don't know how many royal family members and nobles would be implicated! No, I have to go to the palace to persuade Your Majesty, quickly prepare the car!"

Soon the servants prepared the carriage. Li Shenfu changed into his official uniform and went out with the help of Li Demou. He got on the carriage and left the mansion and headed straight for Chengtian Gate.

When he arrived at Chengtian Gate and asked the guards in front of the gate, he learned that Li Yuanjia had just entered the palace not long ago, so he quickly sent someone to the palace to report and request an audience with the emperor.

Li Shenfu saw that the Chengtian Gate Tower was brightly lit, and elite soldiers in helmets and armor stood on both sides of the palace gate, so he asked, "Is the Duke of Ying on the tower?"

"That's right. Lord Ying was ordered by His Majesty to lead the left and right guards to guard the imperial palace. He has been staying on the city wall for several days and has not returned home."

"Take me up to him."

"Here."

The guards opened the side door and led Li Shenfu inside. They climbed up the stairs on the wall on one side of the doorway to the gatehouse.

"Your Majesty, you are here to see me. Why did you come to look for me? Come, come, I just made a pot of tea. It is said that it is made by the Fang family in Shuzhong. The craftsmanship is unprecedented. I don't understand what 'wet green tea is piled up and dried with pine wood over an open fire' means. But it is easy to store and has a completely different taste from the fresh and refreshing roasted green tea. It tastes pretty good."

He pulled Li Shenfu into the guard room at the gatehouse and invited him to take a seat. Then he waved his hand to send the guards out. He took the teapot from the stove and poured two cups in front of himself and Li Shenfu respectively. Then he sat down and said with a smile, "Prince, have a cup and try it. If the taste is suitable, I will have someone send two tea bricks to your house later."

The tea in the white porcelain cup is amber in color, rosy and translucent. I picked up the cup and took a sip. It was indeed different from the freshness of green tea. It was mellow and sweet with a hint of pine smoke. It went down my throat smoothly. It was indeed an extraordinary product.

Li Shenfu put down his teacup and sighed, "If Fang Er had not been in the imperial court, he would have become the richest man in the world long ago. His ability to amass money is rare in the history. The most rare thing is that he not only does not compete with the people for profit, but also does not steal the national treasury. Instead, he always benefits the country and the people. People like Fan Li and Deng Tong are not comparable to him."

Li Ji agreed with this: "The land of the foreign countries is hard and the weather is hot. Moreover, the foreign people eat beef and mutton every day, which is not easy to digest. After a long time, they have constipation and many people die of suffocation. Therefore, if you can drink rhubarb tea and other things after every meal, it is nothing less than a magical medicine for clearing the intestines. Nowadays, tea has become an important source of income for the empire along with silk and porcelain. However, in the past, tea was fresh but not durable in storage. Once it was a long journey, it would often rot and deteriorate. Once this black tea is released, it will surely become a commodity in the tea trade, and the foreign people will flock to it."

There is no need to explain the benefits of tea. The Yi people and the Hu tribes have gradually realized the magic of tea. A handful of leaves can solve the constipation problem that has plagued the Yi people for thousands of years. How could they not flock to it?

Now the tea trade can bring rich financial resources to the empire. In time, tea may become a strategic material like salt and iron.

If the Yi tribes were obedient, they would be allowed to participate in the tea trade; otherwise, the flow of tea into the area would be cut off…

Li Shenfu's old face twitched slightly, and he secretly hated himself. This man clearly knew that he came here to discuss important matters, but he kept talking about the quality of tea. He was really cunning.

He was impatient to follow Li Ji's polite but meaningless words, so he knocked on the table and said bluntly: "I think Lord Ying already knows what happened in the Jingzhao government office, right?"

Li Ji drank his tea leisurely and said casually: "The prince should know better than me."

Li Shenfu paused, holding back his anger: "What do you think about this matter?"

Li Ji put down his teacup and said in a slightly surprised tone, "It is said that most of the participants are members of the royal family and nobles. I am neither the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs nor the Minister of Justice. What can I say? My opinion is to stay out of it."

This indifferent attitude made Li Shenfu very angry: "But you are the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the prime minister! How can such a big thing have nothing to do with you?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell the prince that I was planning to submit a letter to His Majesty to resign these two days. I am old and have less energy. It is better to abdicate and let others take over my position instead of just sitting there doing nothing."