end song

Chapter 1054 Change
Several people were carried into the post house on stretchers.

Zhou Mi, who had already fallen asleep and was startled, hurriedly put on his robe and rushed to the hall, holding a candle and leaning over to have a look.

"Hands so hard?"

"Mr. Cao Chuang, the students have offended the big shot!"

Among the few scholars who had a drink together tonight, Fang Zongchang was the only one who was not injured and could speak.

"The student really didn't expect that the person who urinated in the alley would be a general, otherwise he really wouldn't dare, so he had to disturb Mr. Cao Chuang in the middle of the night..."

"Don't worry." Zhou Mi raised his hand and said, "Take your time, don't worry."

Only then did Fang Zongchang calm down a bit, and said: "The students had a poetry meeting tonight, but they didn't drink too much alcohol. When they passed by the lotus root alley, they met a man who was urinating on the side of the alley, so he said a few words to him. I didn't want the other party to blame the students for being troublesome, scolded a lot of obscene words, and then he beat the students. But I didn't expect that the other party was Li... General Lu, the favorite general of Emperor Tang."

"Is there such a thing?"

Zhou Mi was taken aback, and his face changed a little.

It wasn't because he was afraid of Li Xia, he was famous in the southeast, and it was impossible for Li Xia to dare to touch him.It's that he cherishes his talents and worries about these students from Jiangling Prefecture School.

"Students really don't know it's General Lu." Fang Zongchang cried: "It's dark at night, who would have thought that the majestic general would relieve himself by the alley."

"You hurt him?"

"No...no..." Fang Zongchang said: "We were the ones who were beaten, and we didn't fight back. But General Lu was taken away, and a few soldiers under his command refused to let us go, and wanted to trouble us."

Zhou Mi's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

After a while, other scholars rushed over, and when they saw a few classmates on the stretcher, they refused.

"How dare the rebel army be so domineering, we must ask for an explanation!"

"Ask for an explanation?" Fang Zongchang shouted, "How dare you ask for an explanation?"

After being beaten up, his attitude changed completely.

These scholars used to fight among themselves, but it was completely different from when Lu Xiaoyou beat someone up tonight.A swing of Lu Xiaoyou's fist can really kill someone.

That murderous aura, people who have never been on the battlefield will never have it in their lives.

Fang Zongchang felt terrified when he thought about it at this time, and said again: "Didn't you see it? The city is full of rebels. If you want to ask for an explanation, who can give you an explanation?!"

"Changqi? You forgot, who said you're not afraid of Li Ni?"

"I said we can write articles to scold him."

"The students are all injured like this, we must let him give an explanation, otherwise I will write an article to teach this rebellious notoriety."

Fang Zongchang said: "Then you can write it now, he won't explain it to you."

"..."

It is useless for these scholars to be noisy, but Zhou Mi in the hall is indeed capable of asking Li Xia for an explanation, or writing an article can ruin Li Xia's reputation.

At this time, Zhou Mi took a few steps, thinking about it, and first sent someone to inform Wang Yinglin and some famous people in Jiangling City.

After that, he sent his disciples to the government office to ask to see Li Xia.

No matter what, he couldn't wait here. If the rebels came to capture those students, nothing would happen.

Although generally speaking, this is not the case, after all, Li Xia needs Jiangling's support.

In short, you have to meet Li Xia first to see his attitude.

If he is a Mingjun, he will definitely put on a gesture and punish the warriors under his command... This is the result that Zhou Mi is somewhat looking forward to. If so, he is willing to continue talking with Li Xia about how to govern the country.

After that, he will write a few more eulogies and contact some old disciples, which will greatly enhance Li Xia's prestige.

And if Li Xia is a mediocre gentleman, or just a traitor who can't get things done, he will know it when he sees this.

In short, Zhou Mi's appeal this time could be to seek justice for these students, or to intercede for these students.

Seeking justice seems strong, but it is the test of the literati to the king; intercession seems to be obedience, but it is the literati who distance themselves from the arrogant traitor.

Not long after, the disciple came back and said, "His Majesty the Tang Emperor invites the teacher to come tomorrow morning."

Zhou Mi was a little disappointed.

Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty was able to visit the thatched cottage three times to invite Zhuge, but at this important time to regain Jiangling and stabilize the throne, Li Xia refused to see him overnight.

Whether it is Ming Jun is still not sure, but it is certain that he is not very diligent.

~~
The next day, Zhou Mi, Wang Yinglin and several famous Confucian scholars waited outside the government office.

The few scholars who were beaten were also carried over with their wounds wrapped up.

Before Chen Shi, they were invited into the office.

Unexpectedly, this time Li Xia did not greet them in person, but Shi Jun received them in the hall.

"Zi Pang." Zhou Mi was not polite to Shi Jun, he stroked his beard and sighed after greeting each other, "Last night some students offended General Lu, today the old man came to intercede for them."

"Mr. Cao Chuang must not be like this. Please wait in the hall." Shi Jun cupped his hands, turned to Wang Yinglin, and said, "Mr. Shen Ning, please go to the second hall to see Your Majesty first."

"This……"

"Today, Lord Shen Ning and Lord Cao Chuang are invited to meet with His Majesty alone."

Zhou Mi shook his head slightly, feeling increasingly disappointed with Li Xia.

It was originally a very simple matter. Li Xia only needed to come forward in person, punish the vulgar warriors under his command, and show his respect to the corporal by posing.

At least they must have this kind of respect for famous Confucian scholars and officials, so that they can do things for him wholeheartedly.

Emperor Taizong of Tang smothered a kite eagle in his sleeve because he was afraid of Wei Zheng; Taizu of Song Dynasty liked to shoot birds with a slingshot, and he was both afraid and happy after being persuaded.

Walking upside down to greet each other, visiting the thatched cottage three times, Taizong holding a harrier, and Taizu playing a sparrow, is it true that the king loves these courtiers?This is attitude.

What Zhou Mi wants is not to give him a personal attitude, but an attitude to the scholars in the world, to knowledge, etiquette, general principles, and order.

For example, literati are elegant and warriors are vulgar, and the imperial court should be oriented toward literati, which is also an order.

"Young people have some conflicts, what does Zi Pang think?" Zhou Mi still asked Shi Jun, making a final test.

"I'm afraid it's not just a fight." Shi Jun shook his head, and said: "These scholars slander the emperor and attack the Tang soldiers. According to the law, it is a felony..."

In a word, everyone in the hall changed color.

Shi Jun turned to those scholars, his tone became stern, and he shouted: "It is because His Majesty has promised Duke Cao Chuang that you have been pardoned. Otherwise, they would have been arrested and imprisoned last night! Since they are all here today, go to Lu The general apologizes, and the matter ends here!"

"This……"

Although Shi Jun didn't say it to Zhou Mi, it seemed like he was scolding Zhou Mi.

No one expected that a newly established dynasty that was supposed to be thirsty for talents would not show any face to such trivial matters.

In their eyes, Li Ni's structure and demeanor are in a mess.

How far can a new Tang Dynasty go if it builds a country with martial arts but doesn't know how to govern it with literature?

Zhou Mi's expression couldn't hold back anymore.

Now in the city of Jiangling, he has nothing to do, but his writing is like a knife, his views on Li Ni will inevitably affect the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River...

At this time, someone came and said: "Your Majesty summoned Mr. Cao Chuang to have an audience."

Audience?

Zhou Mi thought to himself, but a traitor who is difficult to get things done, how can he be called "audience"?
Led by others, they walked all the way to the second hall of the Jiangling government office.

The door was opened, Zhou Mi looked, and was surprised to find that Li Xia was not there, and Wang Yinglin was the only one in the empty hall.

What surprised him even more was that Wang Yinglin was actually kneeling there, leaving behind a back that trembled slightly.

Zhou Mi took two steps forward, only to hear a "squeak" sound behind him, but the door had already been closed.

Only he and Wang Yinglin were left in the hall.

"Mr. Shen Ning."

Zhou Mi stepped forward to help, but was startled, and said: "Mr. Shen Ning, this is..."

As far as he could see, Wang Yinglin's eyes were red with tears streaming down his face.

"What's the matter? Mr. Shen Ning? Li... is he threatening you?"

Faintly, he could hear Wang Yinglin muttering something.

Not very clear, it seems like "I am ashamed of my kindness to the late emperor..."

He couldn't help him, so Zhou Mi just stood there in a daze. After waiting for a while, Wang Yinglin came to his senses and said slowly, "The pillar of heaven cannot be broken, and the pillar cannot be broken. The nine tripods cannot be overturned, and the tripod overwhelms people." Don't carry it."

Listening to this poem, Zhou Mi felt much more at ease.

"I understand that Lord Shenning doesn't want to be rebellious."

"Yes, it is irreversible." Wang Yinglin murmured, "I have decided to submit to the Emperor of Tang Dynasty."

"what?!"

"How long do you think Song Guozuo will last?" Wang Yinglin asked, "There is such an emperor sitting on the throne of Lin'an, Guozuo has already been exhausted, how can we make the people of the world suffer from misfortune?"

"I don't understand." Zhou Mi took two steps back in disbelief, and said, "Mr. Shen Ning? How have you been threatened? I don't believe you will change so drastically in a blink of an eye."

He never believed it.

However, Wang Yinglin stood up and turned to look at Zhou Mi. Although his eyes were full of sadness, they were very sober.

"You have to believe me... the Great Song Dynasty is over, and the prosperity of the world lies in the Tang Dynasty."

~~
Another room in the office where official documents are processed.

Shi Jun walked up to Li Xia slowly, saluted, and asked, "Your Majesty, Zhou Mi?"

"no need."

Li Xia was processing official documents, without raising his head, he said: "I have already convinced Wang Yinglin, and he will take care of the rest of this matter."

"Your Majesty is wise. However, Zhou Mi is famous after all..."

"I can be courteous to corporals, but when I don't want to put on a show, no one can force me."

Shi Jun tightened his body, bowed again, and said, "I understand."

He could faintly feel that Li Xia in front of him seemed a little different from usual, as if the city was a little deeper, making it harder for him to see through.

"If Wang Yinglin can return to his heart, the matter of Jiangling will come to fruition in a few days. Is this subject ready to go back to Chang'an?"

"can."

Shi Jun stepped back slowly, his movements more respectful than before.

Li Xia sat there alone and continued to correct the documents, and no longer rubbed his forehead or sighed when he was alone.

He has begun to bear the pressure of being emperor.

This time he learned to be thick-skinned and tell some lies. With the hypocrisy and unscrupulousness of the emperor, he made a compromise and change, but he also retained a part of his persistence.

"When you learn to be an emperor, you always have to make progress..."

(End of this chapter)