Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 738 Loyal and faithful

Yu Qi refused to accept Li Lu's appointment as Minister of Revenue, and was even more unwilling to clean up the mess left by Lu Qi.

As a last resort, Li Lu had to appoint Zhao Zan, the governor of Xiangzhou, as the Minister of Revenue, with full responsibility for stabilizing people's livelihood.

The culprit, Lu Qi, went to Tangzhou in disgrace. When he left Xiangyang City, he was chased and beaten by local people all the way. He looked very embarrassed and his clothes were torn.

However, no matter how Li Lu operated, the collapse of market confidence and the collapse of people's trust in the government were difficult to rebuild. It was not something that could be restored overnight, not to mention that Li Lu had no intention of spitting out the 300,000 strings of cash.

Probably, that’s all for now, we’ll talk about the future later.

People in Jingxiang, from top to bottom, had similar ideas.

After this incident, Emperor Li Lu's self-confidence suffered a great blow, and he became increasingly distrustful of loyal and upright people like Yan Zhenqing.

Yu Qi refused the emperor, so naturally he could not return to Hongzhou to serve as the governor of Jiangnan West Road. He was appointed as the Minister of Rites, which was equivalent to a promotion in name only and a demotion in reality, leaving him idle and with nothing to do on weekdays.

This appointment may seem abrupt, but it is actually a punishment from the emperor and is not surprising.

In order to fill the vacancy, Li Lu promoted Yao Lingyan, who was born in the army and served as an official in Jingxiang, to go to Hongzhou to assist Liang Chongyi. The latter was also promoted to the governor of Jiangnan West Road, from deputy to full governor.

All these things were reported to the study in Kaifeng government office by spies lurking in Xiangyang at full speed.

However, Fang Chongyong seemed to be concerned about something and did not take any countermeasures that could be seen by outsiders in response to the changes in Jingxiang.

Early in the morning, Fang Zhongyong was practicing boxing in the yard. His upper body was bare, revealing his muscular body. The breath he exhaled formed a white mist in the air.

Suddenly, Zhang Guangsheng was led into the courtyard by a servant in the mansion. The captain of the personal guard reported to Fang Chongyong that He Changqi had returned safely and had also brought back Huo Xianming, the eunuch who was a close confidant of Emperor Li Qi.

After learning this important news, Fang Chongyong put on his clothes and immediately rushed to the Kaifeng government office.

As soon as I entered the yamen, I saw He Changqi waiting anxiously in the courtyard of the yamen, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Let's talk in the study."

Seeing that He Changqi wanted to speak, Fang Chongyong nodded to him and said in a deep voice.

After the group entered the study, Huo Xianming, who was put in a sack to hide his whereabouts, was carried into the room by He Changqi's personal soldiers, and the ropes were untied and he was released.

Disheveled, pale, and in shock, Fang Zhongyong saw everything that happened to Huo Xianming, and his eyes, like knives, swept over him.

Huo Xianming felt his legs trembling and he almost wanted to leave, his mind went blank.

Seeing that the eunuch was already scared, Fang Zhongyong motioned him to sit down and said gently, "I know you are following orders. So don't worry, as long as you tell the truth, I won't touch a hair on your head. And I won't let you write a letter as a scapegoat, and I will let you go afterwards."

How could you be so kind?

Huo Xianming was stunned, a little bit unable to believe that Fang Chongyong was so easy to talk to.

He had been in Bianzhou before and was not a foreigner. How could Huo Xianming, who worked for Li Wei, not know who this "official" in front of him was?
It is certainly not to the extent of being described as insane, but it is certain that they were ruthless and ruthless.

"If the government says they won't kill you, then they definitely won't kill you. Why should you doubt that?"

He Changqi scolded impatiently.

Thinking of what happened on the road, Huo Xianming calmed down and his body stopped shaking. He just twisted his sleeves with his hands and was still very nervous.

It was impossible not to be nervous. No one in the Bianzhou officialdom could remain calm in front of Fang Qing.

Especially someone like him who has done something wrong.

"Tell me exactly what Li Wei's plan is. If it satisfies me, I can let you go."

Fang Zhongyong asked calmly, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"To return to the government, in fact... there is no powerful trick. It is just to detonate the gunpowder workshop during the Lantern Festival, burn down several ferry crossings, and lead the Bianzhou government troops to put out the fire and rescue the disaster.

When the opportunity arises, Li Wei's cronies will find a chance to massacre Fang's mansion or the government office, that's all I know."

Huo Xianming said with a frightened look on his face.

Obviously, Li Wei had a backup plan, and the people in Juye Lake were just cannon fodder to lure the tiger away from the mountain. But this seemed quite normal. If Li Wei thought it was too simple, Fang Zhongyong would not dare to believe it.

But he was not surprised. He Changqi, Zhang Guangsheng and others beside him looked at each other in surprise.

Li Wei's move was simple and practical, and the cost was relatively low. It had to be said that if they were lucky, they could really make some noise in Bianzhou. It was impossible to kill Fang Chongyong, but it was no problem to make the official look bad.

More importantly, Li Wei's true colors were exposed and he no longer concealed his murderous intentions.

"Is that all?"

Fang Chongyong asked a puzzling question.

Isn't that enough?
Huo Xianming opened his mouth wide, and was speechless for a moment. In his opinion, this matter was already a "life and death duel" between the emperor and the powerful ministers.

"Forget it, I will arrange for you to recuperate in the government office first.

As long as you don't run away, I will never do anything to you.

Of course, if you run away, you can pray that you are not caught by me.

You know what I do when I'm angry, so I don't need to explain it, right?"

Fang Chongyong opened his palm, then suddenly clenched his fist and grabbed, scaring Huo Xianming so much that he trembled.

"Don't worry, sir. I won't run away. I definitely won't run away. I'll do whatever you say."

Huo Xianming nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

After Huo Xianming was taken away, Fang Chongyong sent someone to lead Yan Zhuang to the study of the Bianzhou government office.

As soon as they met, Fang Zhongyong said straight to the point: "Li Wei's affair has been exposed. He Lao Hu killed everyone in the caravan, leaving only Li Wei's trusted eunuch Huo Xianming. There was gunpowder and other prohibited items such as fierce kerosene in the car, and even some armor."

"Ah? He's serious! I thought Li Wei was just playing around, but I didn't expect he was willing to risk his life!"

Yan Zhuang was also a little surprised.

I have to say that compared to Li Lin who only knows how to sulk, Li Wei is still quite manly.

Of course, Fang Zhongyong admired such a person a little bit, but that didn't mean he wouldn't deal with him. This had nothing to do with personal feelings, but was purely a political necessity.

Since ancient times, being a powerful official means one has to go through a long road, and there is no way back. Prime Minister Zhuge and Liu Chan were just special cases in special times, and they are not universal.

Fang Zhongyong and Li Wei are in a zero-sum game, and only one party can be the winner. Of course, if Li Wei chooses not to show his cards, it will be like a gambling game that is ongoing but has not been settled, so that the winner can be temporarily undecided.

Fang Chongyong didn't want to do things so drastically.

But Li Wei has now revealed his true colors and is willing to gamble his life.

Fang Zhongyong also has to reveal his cards. It is not a question of whether he likes it or not, or whether he is willing to do it or not.

Politics is so cruel.

There can be baskets of tears in the power struggle, but there must not be an ounce of mercy.

"The official wants to..."

Yan Zhuang made a chopping gesture.

Fang Zhongyong nodded first, then shook his head and said, "Li Wei must be eliminated, but we can't do it. And we only want Li Wei to step down from the position of the emperor. As for the others, someone will naturally deal with them."

"That would be best. It is indeed inconvenient for the officials to do it themselves."

Yan Zhuang nodded without denying it.

There have been many dragon slayers since ancient times, but this title seems to carry a curse. Few dragon slayers have a good ending. It seems that those who kill the king must bear the punishment of heaven. Fang Zhongyong has no intention of "revenge". He is just a political animal who has to carry out necessary political operations.

"Well, you arrange it."

Fang Chongyong approached Yan Zhuang and whispered a few words to him. Yan Zhuang's eyes lit up, then he clasped his hands in salute, turned around and left with a serious expression.

After he left, Fang Chongyong lay down on the soft couch in the study and looked up at the beams.

Being kind to your enemy is being cruel to yourself. Now he truly understands the true meaning of this sentence.

He spared Li Wei's life, but Li Wei wanted to blow him up with gunpowder. This plan was already in full swing before Li Wei's second son "died unexpectedly".

In other words, Li Wei had been planning this for a long time, just waiting for the Lantern Festival to launch the attack.

Quietly destroy the other party's plan and then pretend that nothing happened? The idea is good, but it is not feasible in reality.

This will only encourage Li Wei's arrogance.

When it comes to the question of who is the real "emperor", any warmth and morality are unnecessary.

Li Wei must be eliminated!
And they have to abolish him in a "execution" way! They have to "kill" him completely politically.

A cold light flashed in Fang Chongyong's eyes.

……

As the days draw closer to the Lantern Festival, the outer city walls of Bianliang City are gradually being closed up at a rapid pace, and are expected to be completed before next summer.

As the end of the year approaches, people from all walks of life are busy.

Busy people are particularly busy, and idle people are particularly idle. There are many different kinds of people in the world. Everyone has their own things to do and their own worries.

People who think about collecting debts and people who think about paying debts have different experiences of the same thing, but they are all struggling to survive in the world.

However, not everyone is busy as a dog. For example, Chenliu Wang Li Qi is one of those people who is relatively comfortable and leisurely.

Although he is a member of the Li clan, all the pressure on Fang Qing is on Li Wei. Normally, the intelligence agencies in Bianzhou have lax control over the Chenliu Palace, almost to the point of non-existence.

Li Qi lives in Chenliu County, not far south of Kaifeng. He doesn't have to meet Fang Qing every day and is as low-key as an unknown person.

Therefore, Li Qi lived a carefree life. He was certainly not rich, but he had no worries about food, clothing and daily expenses.

Fang Chongyong was always grateful to Li Qi for peacefully handing over Huainan, so he never made things difficult for Li Qi. The life of this idle prince was much more comfortable than that of the emperor.

However, just three days before the Lantern Festival, Li Qi, who was still on "Spring Break", was invited by someone sent by Fang Chongyong to visit Fang's house, saying that he wanted to have a New Year's dinner with him!
The most powerful official in Bianzhou invited the princes of the royal family to his home for New Year's dinner. This kind of thing seems weird no matter how you look at it.

But Li Qi did not dare to neglect.

Most of the people who neglected Fang Qing died miserably, and there is evidence of this.

Li Qi disguised himself a little and came to Fang's house in Kaifeng with a small entourage. When he was led to the study by the servants in the house, Fang Chongyong was already sitting at the table with a full horse and a golden sword.

There were a few side dishes and a pot of wine on the table, and an empty cushion opposite.

It was obviously left for Li Qi.

I thought there would be a lot of people coming to Fang Zhongyong's house for the "New Year's Eve dinner", at least his close associates would be there, but I didn't expect that I would be the only one!
Li Qi immediately realized that this meal might not be simple.

"I am truly flattered by the invitation from the government."

After Li Qi sat down, the other party saluted with his hands crossed and did not dare to call him "Gu" at all.

"Bring the things here and let Prince Chenliu see them."

Fang Chongyong shouted towards the back door of the study. Soon, Fang Laique came in with a few servants, carrying a large box.

Then he left the study without saying a word.

"Official, what are you doing..."

Li Qi was a little stunned, because he didn't recognize the things in front of him at all: non-standard armor made from an unknown source, broadswords that could be found everywhere on the market, crossbows, and pottery jars of fierce fire oil.

The most important thing is that a stack of letters and receipts are neatly placed in a conspicuous place in the big box.

Li Qi didn't think that these things had anything to do with him, a lazy prince.

"Your Highness, why don't you take a look first?"

Fang Zhongyong made a gesture of invitation, and Li Qi casually picked up a letter that was placed in the most conspicuous place. He had just taken out the letter and read a few pages, and then he subconsciously threw it aside as if he had accidentally pinched a poisonous snake.

Then his face turned pale and his whole body began to tremble!

Oh my God, what had he seen!
The plan of the emperor Li Wei was to burn down the city of Bianliang on the night of the Lantern Festival, detonate the gunpowder depot, and bloodbath Fang's house. The other things should be the notes left behind.

"The emperor will take action in three days. What does Prince Chenliu think? I am having a hard time sleeping or eating!"

Fang Zhongyong asked in a deep voice, speaking directly without any hesitation.

Li Qi remained silent. This matter was too sensitive, and his identity was even more sensitive!
How could a member of the Li clan answer this question?
For a moment, Li Qi didn't know what to say.

Li Wei is very young, about the same age as Fang Chongyong. Youthful and vigorous is often not a derogatory term.

But Li Qi couldn't be optimistic about what Li Wei was going to do three days later.

How reckless!

"Please tell me, Your Highness, is there a way to avoid killing the king, but also prevent the emperor from killing me?"

Seeing that Li Qi didn't speak, Fang Zhongyong looked at him with burning eyes and asked.

"This...it seems that the official asked the wrong person."

Li Qiqiang smiled, with an unnatural expression on his face.

"Your Highness, I actually have a plan, but I don't know if Your Highness is willing to give it a try."

Fang Chongyong said meaningfully.

Li Qi shuddered. This statement had been made so straightforward that there was no need to continue.

"The emperor is unjust. To prevent the country from being overthrown and the people from being in dire straits, Your Highness, please take up the heavy responsibility!
Only you can take on the throne of the emperor!"

Fang Chongyong suddenly knelt on the cushion and prostrated himself before Li Qi.

He knelt on the ground and shouted, and suddenly the study door was pushed open.

Several of Fang Zhongyong's close associates, such as Yan Zhuang, Li Quan, Che Guangqian, He Changqi and others, rushed into the study, knelt on the ground and shouted: "Your Highness, please do not refuse! It is the destiny of heaven, and who else but me, Your Highness should be the Son of Heaven!"

Seeing this, Li Qi's mind went blank for a moment, and then he quickly came to his senses.

If he were to become the emperor, he might be able to retire peacefully in the future.

If he didn't do it, he wouldn't be able to get out of the study room! He would be killed immediately!
Fang Qingdu's true intentions were exposed, and the fight with Li Wei was a life-and-death struggle! How could he retreat at this point?

"My dear ministers, please stand up. I understand!"

Li Qi stood up, helped Fang Zhongyong up, and then helped everyone in the room up one by one.

Fang Zhongyong exchanged a glance with a few of his confidants, and everyone's hearts finally settled down.

(End of this chapter)