Daming: I, Yang Xian, really govern Yang!

Chapter 306: Don’t take heaven’s merit for your own merit

Li Shanchang, who was on the hospital bed, looked at Hu Weiyong kneeling on the ground and said, "Okay, get up. I have never doubted you. And you did a good job this time."

Hu Weiyong raised his head, glanced at Li Shanchang first, and then stood up after confirming that the other party was not making sarcastic remarks.

I still feel a little uneasy inside.

Hu Weiyong is now also a political advisor in Zhongshu Province and a well-known and powerful figure in the court, but he is still used to this in front of Li Shanchang.

At least that's how it looks on the surface.

Li Shanchang said: "Your Majesty is determined to take back the power from the scholar-bureaucrats this time. Even if you continue to oppose it, it will be useless. You are just using your arms as a chariot."

"That's good now. If I fall, at least you'll still be here."

"Enxiang, you have had a relationship with His Majesty for more than 20 years, and you are the most important contributor to the founding of the Ming Dynasty. You will be fine. This country cannot do without you." Hu Weiyong said.

"The number one hero?" Li Shanchang smiled.

"Listen, the more I oppose you, the more assured His Majesty will be of you, and the greater the possibility that you will take over as Prime Minister Zuo of Zhongshu Province, do you understand?" Li Shanchang said.

Li Shanchang's actions not only allowed Hu Weiyong to accept his kindness, but also paved the way for his escape.

And he has almost no shortcomings.

"Students know."

Based on Li Shanchang's understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang, it is impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to put such a person in phase.

Hu Weiyong knew that his thoughts could not be hidden from Li Shanchang. No matter whether he concealed it or pretended to be humble, it had no meaning at this time. In this case, it was better to reveal it directly like now.

After Li Shanchang's analysis, Hu Weiyong finally felt relieved.

"It won't be long before His Majesty touches me."

Hu Weiyong bets right.

According to him, it was like walking on thin ice, but it was a pity that even so, he still could not successfully reach the other side.

Hu Weiyong raised his head and looked directly at Li Shanchang. There was no longer any anxiety or fear in his body, and he said directly: "Me! Hu Weiyong, who else can I do?"

His ability to lead troops in battle is not inferior to that of Xu Da.

His ability to govern the country surpassed that of Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen.

It can be said that Li Shanchang is Zhu Yuanzhang's living Xiao He.

"It's not as shameful as Yang Xian. Not only are you not as good as him, but I am not as good as him. But precisely because of this, it is impossible for him, Yang Xian, to sit in the position of Prime Minister Zuo of Zhongshu Province." Li Shanchang stretched out his hand to touch his beard and said smiled.

"After Enxiang retires, will His Majesty really choose me instead of Yang Xian?" Although Li Shanchang said so, Hu Weiyong was still a little worried.

Since the rebellion, Zhu Yuanzhang has always asked Li Shanchang to stay in the rear when he led his army on expeditions. The grain, grass and other military supplies needed by the army were all managed by Li Shanchang. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang never worried about insufficient military supplies when attacking cities and forts.

"Yes, I am the number one hero, but so what."

If Yang Xian only excelled in one of the civil and military aspects, then Hu Weiyong would not be able to compete with him for the position of Prime Minister.

Therefore, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Li Shanchang became more and more cautious.

After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Li Shanchang also did a series of things. Basically, Li Shanchang handled all the matters after Zhu Yuanzhang came to the throne.

They say that people become better with age, and that is absolutely true.

Wen can bring peace to the world with his pen, and martial arts can set the world on horseback.

For a civilian official, who has no outstanding military achievements, but can achieve this step, it can be seen how important Li Shanchang was to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Thank you, Prime Minister!" Hu Weiyong said with tears of gratitude.

Later, Zhu Yuanzhang led the ceremonial officials to formulate the rituals of the suburban community and ancestral temples. The emperor toured the country, and Li Shanchang still guarded the capital. Li Shanchang could handle all matters flexibly without asking for instructions. This was equivalent to the power of supervising the country. This shows Zhu Yuanzhang's trust in Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang Since he became the Prime Minister of Zhongshu Province, he has formulated a system of six officials, and participated in the compilation of important books such as "The Collection of Rites of the Ming Dynasty" and "The Records of Taizu". Zhu Yuanzhang entrusted Li Shanchang with the execution of many affairs.

Li Shanchang was starting to prepare for the handover, and this was also the last question he prepared for Hu Weiyong.

All kinds of fantastic ideas and novel inventions are unprecedented.

If that's the case, then Li Shanchang can only be regarded as a logistics minister at best, but he can not only do a good job in logistics support and military food planning, but also serve as a good military staff and personnel staff.

"Wei Yong, the teacher told you one last thing today, that is, this court and this world can function normally without anyone except Your Majesty. Don't think that it's all because of your great merits, and don't take the merits of heaven for your own merits!"

"Enxiang, what should I do in the next period of time?" Hu Weiyong asked.

"Wei Yong, who do you think is qualified to take over the position of Prime Minister Zuo after I retire?" Li Shanchang suddenly asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang forcibly crossed the Yangtze River, conquered Taiping, and went straight to Nanjing. It was he and Li Shanchang who planned and succeeded together. In Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, Li Shanchang was his right-hand man in assisting the government, and he became Prime Minister Zuo after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Hu Weiyong hesitated for a moment, and then replied truthfully: "Although I don't want to admit it, the students are indeed not as good as him."

It's a pity that he is too perfect.

Li Shanchang looked at Hu Weiyong with a gratified smile on his face: "Okay, I like your willingness to give up on me. When the time comes that I retire, His Majesty will definitely ask me who is suitable to take over the position of Prime Minister Zuo of Zhongshu Province. , when your Majesty asks me, I will mention Zhang Sanli Si, but will not mention your name. In the end, when your Majesty will have to ask me how Hu Weiyong is doing, I will repeatedly oppose your appointment as Prime Minister Zuo."

"Do you think you are not as good as Yang Xian?" Li Shanchang looked at Hu Weiyong and smiled, then asked.

First, he eliminated the bad policies of the Yuan Dynasty and formulated the Salt Law, Tea Law, Money Law, Fishing Law, etc., which helped Zhu Yuanzhang restore and rebuild the social and economic order, and made great contributions to the economic improvement of the Ming Dynasty.

After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang granted a large number of meritorious officials, including a total of six dukes, with Li Shanchang ranking first.

"Benefactor!"

Li Shanchang smiled. He had mastered too many military secrets and personnel secrets. In the war years, military affairs were complicated and the enemy and we were fighting to the death. Zhu Yuanzhang had little energy to doubt his "close comrades" and would only favor him more and more. But in times of peace, knowing too much is not a good thing.

"From this moment on, just keep a certain distance from me and slowly distance yourself from me." Li Shanchang said.

He didn't wait for Hu Weiyong's reaction.

Li Shanchang called the housekeeper to the house and "bombed" Hu Weiyong out.

And this scene happened to be seen by the Jin Yiwei who was hiding outside the Korean palace.

Li Shanchang had a keen sense of politics, and the day he expected came soon.

After the previous reform of subordinate officials, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that it was time to mobilize the power in the hands of the scholar-bureaucrats and let them know that this was not cowardice of the Song Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty. hand.

As the old saying goes, to kill a snake, dig out the roots first. This Li Shanchang is the seven inches of the entire civil service system today, and is their root.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a long time and prepared to give Li Shanchang a banquet to celebrate his recovery and return to Zhongshu Province.

Li Shanchang came to the palace. There were only him and Zhu Yuanzhang at this royal banquet.

He glanced at the royal banquet table in front of him. It was extremely luxurious and sumptuous.

It can be said that the highest standards are used, including steamed lamb, steamed bear paws, steamed deer tail, roasted flower duck, roasted chicken, roasted goose, braised pig, braised duck, sauce chicken, bacon, Songhua tripe, dried meat, sausages It has everything you need.

The little eunuch singled out the silver chopsticks to test the poison.

Now we enter the main table.

Li Shanchang's uneasiness was clearly revealed. He had followed Zhu Yuanzhang for more than twenty years. Even if he could not smell what Zhu Yuanzhang was eating when he farted, he knew in his heart that this imperial banquet was not a good banquet.

He knew that this time he represented the scholar-bureaucrats and civil servants and challenged the imperial power, which had already violated Zhu Yuanzhang's taboo.

Because in Lao Zhu's heart, this world can only belong to his Lao Zhu family.

"I heard from the imperial doctor that Mr. Li has recovered." Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine now." Li Shanchang quickly put down the chopsticks in his hand and thanked him.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand and motioned to Li Shanchang to continue eating. It was treated as a family banquet and there was no need to be so polite.

"Mr. Li has been ill for more than half a month, and the Ministry of Education has been in chaos." Zhu Yuanzhang took a mouthful of vegetables and put it in his mouth, without looking up, and then said. "I heard from the imperial doctor that Mr. Li was suffering from anxiety attacks, and he usually gets better in seven or eight days."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, looked at Li Shanchang, and said with a smile: "To be honest, Mr. Li, are you lazy and deliberately staying at home instead of going to court?"

"I don't dare to do this. My illness really recovered yesterday. Doctor Wu can testify for me." Li Shanchang quickly apologized.

"It's a joke, Mr. Li, you don't have to take it so seriously." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and then said. "As people get older, their illnesses heal slowly. I remember that I was stabbed by those Tatars in Yuanting, leaving such a big gash in my back, but within two days I was fully recovered. Now I can't do it either. , ordinary colds and colds need to be cured for a long time. When I was young, these diseases could be cured with just a drink of wine. We are only fifty years old this year and we are already like this, let alone you, Mr. Li."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused and suddenly said: "Let us remember that you are already sixty-seven this year."

Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment, then replied: "I am only sixty-four years old."

"Oh, that's because we remembered it wrong." Zhu Yuanzhang didn't take it seriously and continued to eat with his head down.

With Zhu Yuanzhang's ability, he could even remember the birthdays of his old brothers. How could he miss Li Shanchang's age? Moreover, during the half month he left, there was no chaos at all in Zhongshu Province. Under the acting leadership of Hu Weiyong, it was running very well.

Li Shanchang knew in his heart that Zhu Yuanzhang was nodding him and it was time to step down early.

As the saying goes, don't take the merits of heaven for your own merits. No matter how high you climb, never take yourself seriously.

Being capable is ability, being able to retreat is wisdom.

After Li Shanchang drank a glass of wine, he suddenly reached out and patted his head, and said with a smile: "My brain is really old and confused. I am indeed sixty-seven this year."

"As we get older, our memory deteriorates."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Shanchang with a smile on his face.

At this royal banquet, the monarch and his ministers talked happily.

There are some words that the monarch and his ministers are comfortable saying.

At the end of the banquet, when leaving, Zhu Yuanzhang also gave Li Shanchang a pair of reading glasses.

"This is the latest product from Yangzhou Glass Factory. The prince just sent it."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Li Shanchang thanked him.

After leaving the palace, Li Shanchang looked at the pair of reading glasses in his hand and murmured: "Although my eyes are old, my eyes are not dim."

This royal banquet has set the tone.

It was only a matter of time before Li Shanchang left Zhongshu Province.

It was impossible for him to resign immediately after attending the imperial banquet. This would not only expose Zhu Yuanzhang to a certain degree of criticism. After all, Li Shanchang was standing up for the world's scholar-bureaucrats this time. He did not want Lao Zhu to lose a bad reputation, and most importantly What's more, Li Shanchang still wants to use this last bit of time to pave the way for Hu Weiyong.

In the following period of time, Li Shanchang deliberately made things difficult for Hu Weiyong in Zhongshu Province.

In this way, to outsiders, Li Shanchang had a grudge against Hu Weiyong because of his "betrayal" last time.

Moreover, he is no longer cautious and low-key, and his behavior has become extreme and irritable.

In a short period of time, he offended many people.

Then after things calmed down this time, it was a peaceful afternoon.

Li Shanchang entered the palace alone and submitted his resignation to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

"Your Majesty, I have a resignation letter here. Please approve it." Li Shanchang knelt on the ground, raised the resignation letter in his hand, and said loudly.

Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward to take it. Looking at the resignation submitted by Li Shanchang in his hand, he felt a little emotional in his heart.

He patted Li Shanchang on the shoulder and helped him up personally.

Yes, it was Zhu Yuanzhang himself who forced him to abdicate, but it doesn't mean that the two of them have no feelings.

You know, before Zhu Yuanzhang joined the rebel army and gained power, Li Shanchang was his assistant.

Recalling the meeting in Dingyuan, Li Shanchang told Zhu Yuanzhang to follow Liu Bang's example, "If he does what he does, the world will be settled" and become the second civilian emperor. It was Li Shanchang's words that gave Zhu Yuanzhang firm confidence!

Even if Guo Zixing seizes Zhu Yuanzhang's military power and wants to transfer Li Shanchang away, he will not leave!

It is recorded in "The Chronicles of the Ming Dynasty": Zi Xing was confused and slandered, and he seized Taizu's soldiers and wanted to take Li Shanchang under his command. Shan Chang held the shares and cried and complained to himself, refusing to do it. In other words, he hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's lap and cried, refusing to leave! This is a sign of loyalty, and Li Shanchang has positioned himself as the "Emperor"!

You must know that at that time, Zhu Yuanzhang was only the leader of Guo Zixing's command.

After Guo Zixing's death, Zhu Yuanzhang became the leader of the Red Turban Rebels, and Li Shanchang has always been the head of the civil service under the policies he set.

Zhu Yuanzhang's practice of benevolence and righteousness made Zhu Yuanzhang stand out among all the rebels.

After establishing a foothold in Jinling, Li Shanchang presided over government affairs wholeheartedly.

Zhu Yuanzhang was able to conquer all directions in a bold and decisive manner and establish the country.

(End of this chapter)