Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

Li Qingzhao eventually agreed to become the examiner for the female officials, which made Ren Yuan very satisfied.

To be honest, Ren Yuan was somewhat uneasy about sending Li Qingzhao out to serve as a county magistrate, mainly because he was afraid that she would be all talk and no action, or unable to properly implement the country's policies.

Li Qingzhao was able to resist temptation, recognize her own limitations, and was willing to take the initiative to learn, which was excellent. This made Ren Yuan look at her with even greater admiration.

Besides Li Qingzhao, there were many other people among these former officials who made Ren Yuan feel that his research on the roster had not been in vain.

For example... Li Gang.

"He's been arrested again?"

Ren Yuan shook his head helplessly.

“Brother, you can’t say that. We didn’t arrest him; we just invited him here.”

Shi Qian said, "Arrest? No, compared to when Lai Guo arrested Li Gang and imprisoned him, this is nothing. This doesn't even count as an arrest."

“I remember that Uncle Lehe let him go back then. I didn’t expect it to turn out like this. You should call Lehe here as well, and then have Li Gang come over.”

"Okay, brother."

Shi Qian understood Ren Yuan's meaning. After all, Li Gang owed Le He a life, and that was a huge favor.

"Li Gang greets... Your Highness."

After Li Gang was brought up, Ren Yuan noticed that he had aged considerably.

"Li Gang, you didn't look this old even in Cai Jing's prison. How come you're eating and drinking here and look so much older? Is the food bad here, or is the room uncomfortable?"

Ren Yuan joked because he actually sensed a sense of agelessness from Li Gang. But according to the age system, Li Gang was only in his thirties. How could he look like a little old man in his fifties?

"Without a home, my heart is dead. I'm not as carefree as the prince."

Li Gang glanced at Ren Yuan, then said somewhat indifferently, "It seems like he's deliberately giving up. Whatever."

"Your home is gone? Who ransacked your house?"

Ren Yuan asked him this question on purpose.

"Your old house is no longer suitable, so we're moving you to a better new one, and you're still not happy?"

"No matter how dilapidated the old house was, it was still mine. The new house may be nice, but it has nothing to do with me, Your Highness. I am just a homeless person. You don't need to say anything more to me..."

"Oh!"

Before Li Gang could finish speaking, Ren Yuan grabbed a bundle from the table and threw it in front of him. Judging from the sound, it was quite heavy.

"You're homeless, aren't you? Here's one hundred taels of silver and a few changes of clothes. Is that enough for your journey home?"

"you……"

Li Gang looked up at Ren Yuan, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

"Don't look at me like that, Li Gang. You are indeed capable, but what Dayi has in abundance is capability."

Ren Yuan stared at Li Gang, his domineering aura beginning to emanate.

"If you are really determined to leave, then I will not force you to stay. You can't force a melon to ripen. Do as you please."

Li Gang had originally thought that Ren Yuan would try to persuade him to stay, but Ren Yuan did not follow the expected pattern, which left him somewhat bewildered.

"Is Your Highness humiliating me?"

Humiliate you? Why would I humiliate you?

Ren Yuan looked completely indifferent.

"Since you want to be a loyal minister of the Zhao family who will be remembered for all time, then I'll grant your wish."

"As for the travel expenses, consider it my assistance to you. After all, the Song Dynasty is gone, and you are a loyal subject, so it is reasonable for me to express my respect."

"Your Highness, you've gone too far."

Li Gang clenched his fist, clearly still feeling resentful.

"What's wrong with me? Li Gang, let me remind you, it was Cai Jing who drove the Zhao Song dynasty out of Bianjing, it was you who lost Bianjing, and it was my Dayi Army that brought Bianjing back. What are you complaining about with me for?"

"It was I who reclaimed Yan and Yun, it was I who destroyed Liao, it was I who pacified Fang La, it was I who surrendered to Song, and the whole world is now unified again, all thanks to my Dayi. Li Gang, what are you resentful about?"

"But this world originally belonged to the Zhao family! How can you, a mere commoner, not think of serving your country but instead plot a rebellion!"

Li Gang couldn't talk about Ren Yuan's achievements, so he could only try to talk about his feelings.

"I long to serve my country, but the Zhao family didn't give me the chance."

Ren Yuanyi shrugged.

"Don't talk about me. Do you know how many generals of my Dayi were originally officers of the Zhao Song dynasty? Are they all people who don't think about serving their country? Is it only you, Li Gang, who serve your country?"

"If I am disloyal, that's my problem. But when the hearts of the people are not with the Zhao family, whose problem is that? Tell me!"

"me……"

Li Gang was speechless after being rebuked by Ren Yuan, his face turning red and white in turns.

"That's why I said it: you so-called scholars have all misunderstood. Aren't you a Confucian scholar? Mencius said that the people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important. Did you listen to that? You don't even listen to the words of the second sage of Confucianism. What kind of Confucian scholar are you?"

Ren Yuan continued firing, giving Li Gang no room to resist.

"You talk about loyalty to the emperor and patriotism all day long, but don't you know how the Song Dynasty came to be? Oh, by the way, it was Zhao Huan who took the initiative to surrender the Song Dynasty. And do you know who captured Zhao Ji and brought him to me? It was him too."

"Come on, according to your logic, anyone disloyal to the Zhao family is a traitor and should be killed. Do you dare to go and kill Zhao Huan?"

"Why would I kill the Emperor! Prince Ren, even if you are the winner, you cannot say such a thing!"

Li Gang expressed his dissatisfaction.

"Zhao Huan deposed Zhao Ji from the throne and even brought Zhao Ji to me to surrender. According to you, he was also rebelling. Why don't you talk about him? Isn't it just because he was Zhao Ji's own son?"

"So you Confucian scholars, you read the classics all day long, but you've all misunderstood them. This world has never belonged to one family, but to the people. When one family only cares about its own interests and ignores the interests of the people, the people can rebel!"

Li Gang was stunned by Ren Yuan's words. He never expected that Ren Yuan, a mere warrior, could be so eloquent!

"Brother, are you looking for me?"

Just as Li Gang was speechless and the atmosphere in the hall was awkward, Yue He's voice suddenly rang out. He then walked into the hall and bowed to Ren Yuan.

"Lehe, an acquaintance of yours."

Ren Yuan lowered his head and began reviewing the memorials. Li Gang was such a stubborn person. If it were before, he would have said a few more words, but now that the country was basically settled, if some people were still stubborn, then let them die.

"Master Li?"

Lehe actually knew that Li Gang was in the palace, but he still appropriately expressed his experience.

"What's wrong, Lord Li? What are you doing here? It's been so long since we last met. I wonder how you've been?"

"Let's have fun, let's all have fun..."

Faced with Le He, his savior, Li Gang was indeed unable to get angry, after all, it was a life-saving favor.

"Lord Li, you haven't let go yet? Zhao Ji is cleaning the Chai family ancestral hall every day now; he's almost let go himself."

"Master Le, after all, I grew up eating rice from the Song Dynasty. If I don't remember the Song Dynasty, then who will?"

Li Gang stated that there are always some people who need to do something.

“Lord Li, I don’t think so. If you were truly good, you wouldn’t need to remember it; the people would remember it all.”

Lehe said, "Li Gang, you're too closed off right now. Go out and see what's going on in the world!"

"Brother, how about I take Lord Li to Bianjing for a stroll first, and then we'll come back later?"

"Go ahead. Oh, and take that bag too. No matter if we ever meet again, at least I've paid for the travel expenses."

Ren Yuan didn't look up and continued reviewing the memorials.

Li Gang is the kind of person who's stubborn and refuses to admit his mistakes, so let him continue for now!

"Li Gang, go with Yue He and take a good look around. Come see me again when you've figured things out..."