Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Your Majesty, we cannot make a northern tour!"

"Your Majesty! We can't go!"

……

Every day, a large group of people would kneel and kowtow in front of the Zhao Song imperial palace.

These people are all here to persuade Zhao Ji.

Of course, they couldn't see Zhao Ji at all, because Zhao Ji was now refusing to see anyone who tried to persuade him, and the palace gates were always closed.

However, among those who came to offer advice were some famous figures, such as Li Gang, the current Censor-in-Chief and Acting Palace Attendant Censor.

Li Gang has been kneeling outside the palace gates for several days in a row.

He has submitted several letters regarding the issues raised during this northern tour, but to no avail; they have all been ignored.

So Li Gang later decided to kneel outside the palace gates himself; he was determined to see the Emperor!

"Lord Li, please stop kneeling. His Majesty has said that he will not see anyone."

The palace gates slowly opened, and a young eunuch came out. Seeing the court officials still kneeling, he felt helpless.

You say these court officials keep saying they want to share the Emperor's burdens, but is this really sharing the burdens?

You're all kneeling here, not eating or drinking, you're putting the Emperor on the fire!

What if a few people die from kneeling? How will history books describe the emperor then?

No wonder the Emperor doesn't like you. Who could like the way you've done things? You should learn from the Grand Tutor and the others!

"Your Excellency, we must see the Emperor. The Northern Tour is of utmost importance. The Emperor must have been misled by treacherous officials!"

Li Gang's lips have become chapped from kneeling for so many days.

"Lord Li, His Majesty knows in his heart who the villains are and who the virtuous ministers are."

The eunuch felt a pang of pity seeing Li Gang like this, after all, he knew that Li Gang was a good official.

"It's not that whoever speaks the loudest is right, Lord Li!"

"Your Excellency, please pass this memorial in for me. I have written down everything about this northern tour in great detail. I believe in His Majesty's wisdom, and I'm sure His Majesty will stop the northern tour after reading it!"

Li Gang trembled slightly as he pulled a letter from his pocket. The letter looked quite thick, indicating that he had indeed written a considerable amount of text.

"Lord Li, please don't make things difficult for me. I've worked my way up to where I am today, and it hasn't been easy for me..."

The eunuch looked troubled. He was just a minor eunuch official, not someone like Yang Jian, Tong Guan, or Liang Shicheng. He didn't have the ability to submit memorials to Li Gang.

“Sir! Everyone must die, but some deaths are heavier than Mount Tai, while others are lighter than a feather! Don’t you wish to be respected like those who are remembered in history?”

Li Gang was anxious. If things continued like this, the Emperor would never hear the right advice! What should he do?

"Lord Li, the problem is, I want to live a few more years. I don't want to die so soon." Hearing Li Gang say that death is as heavy as Mount Tai, the young eunuch could only shake his head helplessly.

You civil officials are really good at flattering people. You always spout grand principles and morals.

But have you ever thought about this? The Emperor simply doesn't like your way of doing things, or rather, the Emperor simply doesn't like having to listen to you in everything!

Don't take what others say about the Song Dynasty being a system where "the emperor and the scholar-officials jointly governed the country" seriously.

Because Zhao Ji hated this sentence the most!

"Those civil officials always criticize me for this and that. I just want to ask, am I not the Son of Heaven? Can a group of ministers judge whether the Son of Heaven's actions are right or wrong?"

"Is it that I am truly in the wrong, or is it because I have affected their interests that they feel I am wrong?"

Because he already had his own thoughts on the criticisms of these civil officials, Zhao Ji pretended not to know that many civil officials had come to advise him not to send troops.

That's right, he "rebelled"!

I won't do what you aristocratic bunch say! I'll make you all furious! I'll make you all furious!

Li Gang had repeatedly run into obstacles with the eunuchs. Just as he was about to try a different approach to persuade them, he found that the eunuchs were ignoring him!

"Father-in-law! Father-in-law! Don't go! Don't go!"

When Li Gang saw the eunuch about to leave, he quickly called out to him.

“Lord Li, if I were you, I would go back to my residence now instead of continuing to kneel here.”

The eunuch warned Li Gang:

"His Majesty is in a bad mood, Lord Li, don't make things worse."

The eunuch's words made Li Gang pause, as he had indeed been about to try to persuade him again.

"Lord Li, you've come here today, are you truly here for the sake of the people, or for the sake of your reputation? You should think this through carefully."

However, the eunuch didn't say much. After leaving those words, he turned around without looking back, leaving Li Gang and a group of people kneeling behind him.

Then, the palace gates closed once again.

"Lord Li, what should we do now?"

Those who came out to kneel and offer advice this time were basically centered around Li Gang, so now they all wanted to hear Li Gang's thoughts.

"Don't panic, keep kneeling!"

Many ideas flashed through Li Gang's mind, but he rejected them all in the end. He felt it was better to just kneel down obediently.

"But what that old man just said was..."

"Gentlemen, we have no other choice."

Li Gang shook his head helplessly.

"If we retreat now, it will confirm that we came here to gain a good reputation for ourselves. In the future, not only will our reputation be ruined, but it will also be ruined among the common people, let alone the emperor."

"If we don't withdraw now, even if we are punished in the end, we can still maintain a good reputation among the people."

"You gentlemen can choose for yourselves which is more important."

After saying this, Li Gang closed his eyes and stopped responding to the questions from the people behind him.

Regardless of who chooses behind him, Li Gang will never back down!

Even if it costs him his future, Li Gang is determined to enlighten the Emperor!

Your Majesty! You must not go on a northern tour!

Li Gang ignored the people behind him, and they panicked. They looked at each other, then at Li Gang kneeling silently and the closed palace gates.

A moment later, these people began to make their own choices.

Some people sighed and, imitating Li Gang, closed their eyes and continued kneeling.

Some people took off their official hats, placed them on the ground, cried for a while, and then got up and left.

Some people tore off a corner of their clothes to cover their faces, then turned and left.

……

Li Gang knew that his colleagues behind him had made many choices, but he did not look back, nor did he dare to look back!

In the palace.

"Are they still kneeling?"

Emperor Huizong of Song was holding a short sword and gesturing in front of a suit of golden armor, which he had specially commissioned to be made for this expedition.

"Your Majesty, although some officials have left, there are indeed a few still kneeling."

"Hmph, you think you can get away with this? Since you like kneeling so much, then don't bother standing up."

Emperor Huizong was very unhappy.

I've given you all plenty of time to get out, why aren't you leaving? Are you still trying to build a good reputation for yourselves here?

Do you really think I'm easy to bully?

"Who's in the lead?"

Zhao Ji poked the armor with his dagger and then asked.

"Your Majesty, it is Li Gang, the Supervising Censor and Acting Palace Attendant Censor."

"Li Gang... I never expected him to be the kind of person who would go to such lengths to gain prestige."

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) clearly remembered Li Gang, and after hearing the eunuch's words, it was obvious that he was angry!

"He wants fame, doesn't he? Fine! Then I'll grant him fame!"

Zhao Ji threw the dagger forcefully to the ground, making a clanging sound.

"Draft an imperial edict: Li Gang is a fraud, a charlatan! He is unworthy to serve as an official in the Censorate! Remove him from his post as Censor! Send him to the Imperial Secretariat as a court attendant!"

"The rest of you who are kneeling today will be demoted three ranks!"

"Those who return today will be promoted one rank!"

"I want these people to know that their fame and status were given to them by me!"

"If they displease me, they will have no good days!"