Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5125: People’s thoughts are moved
The next morning, Li Junxian arrived at the door of the imperial study early to ask for a meeting. After being summoned, he reported all the information he had obtained from the overnight interrogation.

"Your Majesty, two days ago, Princess Qinghe went to the Duke of Liang's mansion and paid a visit to Princess Gaoyang. During the visit, Princess Qinghe begged Princess Gaoyang to intercede for her, hoping that the tens of thousands of acres of cotton fields that Duke Lu had 'forced' to be 'seized' in Hexi could be registered under Princess Qinghe's name. Princess Gaoyang has agreed and has written a letter and sent it to Hexi."

Li Chengqian would not doubt the authenticity of the news. The "Hundred Cavalry Division" has now resumed its surveillance of civil and military officials in the court. He is not Emperor Taizong, and he does not have the courage to "let anyone who wants to rebel come." He must keep track of the movements of his ministers at all times.

After ascending the throne, there were two consecutive mutinies, which made him paranoid and suspicious. He had to control any disturbance in Chang'an...

"Fang Jun has already gone to the Western Regions, so it is impossible that he has no letters to send back home. Why did Gao Yang send the letters to Hexi instead of sending them to the Western Regions?"

Faced with questions, Li Junxian remained silent.

He is the emperor's henchman, responsible for collecting all kinds of information inside and outside Chang'an, but he can only report based on facts and cannot make any subjective guesses...

Li Chengqian didn't seem to want him to answer. After asking, he hesitated for a moment and then said softly, "So, Cui Shenji has already gotten together with Fang Jun. Haha, this guy is really capable. Cui Shenji just left Chang'an to take up a post in Liangzhou, and he surrendered to Fang Jun and let him drive him."

It must be that Fang Jun's letter was sent to Chang'an. After Gao Yang received the letter and got some instructions, he wrote directly to Cui Shenji in Liangzhou, ordering him to complete the transfer of the cotton fields...

Then he sighed softly: "Everyone in Liangzhou is following the orders of Duke Yue."

However, this is also within an acceptable range. The large-scale cotton planting in Liangzhou was based on Fang Jun's advice, and the largest cotton spinning system in the Tang Dynasty was also under the control of Fang Jun. Without control over Liangzhou, how could the value of the cotton spinning industry be maximized?

The benefits of cotton cloth are already visible today. In the near future, it will almost become a commodity on par with porcelain, silk, and paper, and will be dumped overseas to generate huge profits for the empire.

"No wonder Cheng Yaojin was so reluctant to let me appoint him to guard Chengtian Gate. Fang Jun has something on him, so he doesn't dare to replace him with the Left and Right Jinwu Guards, fearing that Fang Jun will come after him later."

Li Chengqian figured out the key points after a little thought. He also understood Cheng Yaojin's unexpected reaction and felt a little annoyed.

"Who did Duke Lu meet after returning to the city?"

"I don't know what we talked about when I met Yinggong."

"Have you seen Qinghe since returning home?"

"I have met with you. I will discuss this with the eldest son, the second son, and His Highness Qinghe in the study for at least an hour."

"Ok?"

Li Chengqian was quick to notice something was wrong: "Why is his third son Cheng Chubi not here? Was he not in the palace at the time?"

"Cheng Chubi specially asked for leave today to return to the mansion to welcome Duke Lu. I specifically asked him about it. He was in the mansion at that time, but he was not present during the secret discussion in the study."

Li Chengqian pondered in silence.

Cheng Yaojin brought all the important figures of the family to his presence, and he must be discussing major matters concerning the interests of the family, but he excluded Cheng Chubi alone... Cheng Chubi has always been close to Fang Jun, and even follows him closely. Could it be that Cheng Yaojin is planning something against Fang Jun?

He breathed a sigh of relief.

The most feared thing is that Cheng Yaojin will be threatened by Fang Jun and have to obey his orders. Since Cheng Yaojin is unwilling and even wants to fight back, that's good.

Looking at the court, it is not easy to find someone who can check and balance Fang Jun...

As for Li Ji, he didn't worry too much.

Cheng Yaojin obviously went to Li Ji to try to get back or destroy the evidence in Fang Jun's hands, but based on his understanding of Li Ji, the latter would definitely not get involved in this matter.

No one can be so good at "keeping oneself safe"...

"Pay more attention to Duke Lu's Mansion and be fully aware of Duke Lu's next move."

"Here!"

Li Junxian bowed and accepted the order without asking any further questions.

Although he had doubts about Cheng Yaojin's reaction and behavior...

*****
British government.

In the evening, after Li Ji had finished his dinner and was reading in his study, he saw his eldest grandson Li Jingye walk in. After greeting him, he sat on a chair at the side, poured himself a cup of tea and took a big gulp.

Li Ji frowned, put down the book, and asked, "You are not on duty in the army, why did you run back home?"

He has always been strict in military management and discipline, and he is even stricter with himself. He also has very strict requirements for his children and grandchildren. Unless there is a major event in the family or he himself is not seriously ill, he will never allow them to ask for leave from the camp without permission.

Li Jingye did not answer, but asked: "Why did grandfather reject Duke Lu's request? Duke Lu has always followed your lead and obeyed your orders. If he replaces the left and right Jinwu Guards to enter the imperial city and guard Chengtian Gate, it will greatly boost grandfather's reputation, so he should help."

Li Ji looked serious as he stared at the eldest grandson who looked most like him: "Did Cheng Yaojin ask you to ask?"

Li Jingye shook his head: "Cheng Chumo has been away from Beijing for a long time. When he returned to Beijing this time, his comrades came to welcome him. We all gathered together for a feast. After the feast, they left me alone. When we talked about this matter, there were many complaints in our words."

After cooking a meal, he continued, "Our two families are real family friends, and you and Duke Lu have a life-long friendship. Now that Duke Lu is in trouble, why do you stand by and do nothing? The reason why Fang Er is so powerful, even more powerful than you, grandfather, is because his followers are spread across the military and political circles, and there are people everywhere who support him. Grandfather's merits and qualifications are far greater than Fang Er's, but because he is too proud of himself and tries to protect himself, he falls behind and is often ridiculed and bullied by him. Your grandson is indignant!"

In fact, it was not only Li Jingye who felt resentful, but also Li Ji's subordinates.

Think about what kind of status and qualifications Li Ji had? As early as during the reign of Emperor Taizong, he was already the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the top person in the court, with great power and prestige. But after Emperor Taizong passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne, he was often suppressed by Fang Jun, and even his subordinates could not get better jobs...

Everyone follows you and risks their lives for you, obeys your orders and is loyal to you. Apart from the brotherhood and comradeship, isn't it more about following you to get the meat to eat?
But now, seeing that others have eaten all the meat, and I don’t even have bones to chew, I naturally feel resentful...

This is human nature.

But it seems that there is more to it than that…

Li Ji frowned and looked at his eldest grandson. The more he looked, the more he felt something was wrong. He asked in a cold voice, "Is this what you really think, or did someone trick you into saying this?"

Li Jingye said hurriedly: "Of course it is what my grandson really thinks. I am not stupid. How can anyone bewitch me?"

"Humph!"

Li Ji snorted and felt a little headache.

This grandson is skilled in archery and horse riding, and has a lot of strategies in mind. He is a rare young talent, but his personality is erratic and impetuous, almost exactly the same as Li Siwen. The difference is that Li Siwen has been tempered over the years and has changed a lot of his bad habits, but Li Jingye is arrogant and does not take the heroes of the world seriously.

Fang Jun is the most accomplished among the "second generation", with outstanding contributions and great power. Almost all the young generation regard him as a role model and benchmark, and admire him highly and are convinced by him. However, this is not the case with his grandson. He just laments that he was unlucky and did not encounter such a situation, otherwise his achievements would definitely not be inferior to Fang Jun.

There is a sense of "he can replace him"...

I don’t know how high the sky is and how high it is.

"I have my own considerations for what I do. How can I judge the court affairs based on personal relationships? Whether it is the left and right Jinwu Guards or the left Wuwei Guards, whether it is Fang Jun or Cheng Yaojin, that is something your majesty needs to consider. We, the ministers, only need to follow orders. Interfering without authorization is not the way of a minister."

He gave a series of persuasive and earnest words, but seeing that Changsun was not listening, he said helplessly: "You are not experienced enough now, and it is difficult for you to consider the overall situation. Don't interfere in government affairs without authorization. Just remember the instructions to be upright and cautious in words and deeds. If someone says such words to you in the future, just laugh it off and don't be instigated."

Although he was "wise and cautious" and "content with the status quo", he was after all the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, a meritorious official in the Zhenguan period, and the number one person in the military. There were countless people who tried to bring him into conflict with Fang Jun.

If the situation is stable, he and Fang Jun are the only ones in the military who can be compared with each other. If the two sides keep a tacit understanding and even cooperate with each other, then others will have no chance to rise. Only when the situation is turbulent and he and Fang Jun are fighting endlessly, those people will have a chance.

When you are in a high position, it is impossible for no one to come up to you and flatter you. It is also impossible for you to keep yourself clean and ignore everything, but you must know how to see through the intentions of others.

For those who are mixed with benefits, you can give them some appropriate amounts.

People with bad intentions don't necessarily need to be killed, but they must be kept away from.

Li Jingye was silent for a moment, then said, "When my grandson was my age, my grandfather had already fought for the throne of the Central Plains and made great achievements. But now I am just a minor general. Do I have to keep my ignorance and go with the flow? I don't think I am worse than anyone else."

Li Ji said earnestly, "A man should seek fame and honor immediately, just to ennoble his wife and children. I risked my life to fight for a good future for you, didn't I? Now you can follow the routine and make progress step by step, without going through the hardships and dangers I experienced. You can just wait to inherit the title of Duke of Ying. Why should you be impatient and sigh that time is running out? You have already surpassed most people in your starting point. There is no need to be anxious. Just wait patiently and you will have everything you want."

There was one thing he didn't say. His eldest son, Li Zhen, had been sickly since childhood and was not destined to live a long life. In fact, Li Jingye didn't need to wait for many years for the title of "Duke of England"...

By the time Li Jingye is around forty years old, this title will probably be bestowed upon him.

You are young, strong, powerful and have a high status. What else could you not be satisfied with?

Why should you be so petty, impatient and take those risks?