The Great Tang General

Chapter 86 Li Shizhi's "Luo Qianji Network"

"Father, are you familiar with Yang Yan, the Junior Official of the Dali Temple?"

Li Xuan asked Li Shizhi first.

"Yang Jiu is very capable, and he has handled many of the backlogged cases perfectly."

Li Shizhi spoke of Yang Jiu with admiration. They both addressed each other by their rank in the clan, which showed that they had a very close relationship.

"Have Yang Yan and father always been so friendly?"

Li Xuan asked again.

"No... Yang Jiu has only recently found out that I share the same ideals as yours. He is also a well-known wine connoisseur among the officials." Li Shizhi didn't know why Li Xuan asked this, but he knew that his beloved son must have noticed something wrong, so he answered honestly.

"Did father ever drink with him?" Li Xuan finally asked the key point.

"His status is not high enough. But he has mentioned to me many times that he has the best Xinfeng wine at home and invited me to taste it! I promised to go there once when I have time." Li Shizhi thought for a while and said to Li Xuan.

"There's something wrong with Yang Yan!"

When Li Xuan heard that Yang Yan seduced Li Shizhi to drink, he knew that there was definitely something wrong with him.

"What do you mean, Qilang?"

Li Shizhi asked hurriedly. He knew Li Xuan's wisdom.

Li Xuan told Li Shizhi about Yang Yan's drunken words in Lingcui Tower.

At the same time, he also told his analysis to Li Shizhi and Li Qian.

"This... Yang Yan is so scheming."

Li Shizhi shuddered after hearing this.

If Yang Yan entered the palace and made false accusations when he was drunk.

Li Longji would definitely think of rebellion at the first moment.

When Li Longji summoned him, he would not deny it outright. Without knowing the truth, he would definitely say that it was just a drunken joke and ask for forgiveness.

It will be too late then.

As a subject, Li Shizhi knew that Li Longji would take seriously such words that would shake his throne.

Not only would he not be able to escape unscathed, but even his beloved son's future would be ruined.

"Before Yang Yan became the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, he always kept a low profile. My father had no grudge against him. Li Linfu must be behind Yang Yan." Li Qian felt scared.

From this point of view, Goro fought well this time, and compared with this huge conspiracy, his face seems insignificant.

"Only this old thief can come up with such a sinister and vicious plan." Li Shizhi also determined that it was Li Linfu who did it.

"Qillang, how do you think we should do this?" Li Shizhi asked Li Xuan again.

This kind of thing is not easy to report to the emperor, and it cannot be reported to the emperor.

"Before I joined the army, I persuaded my father to drink less at the Weishui Bridge. As long as the prime minister stays sober at all times, similar conspiracies and intrigues will not harm my father."

"As for Yang Yan, he leaked such a big secret. If Li Linfu knew, he would definitely not let him go. Tomorrow, father will invite Yang Yan to the residence of the left prime minister. Just like Lai Junchen dealt with Zhou Xing, he will lure him into a trap, coerce and bribe him, and make him completely surrender to father. Maybe he has something on Li Linfu."

After thinking it over, Li Xuan made a suggestion to Li Shizhi.

Yang Yan was obviously Li Shizhi's hidden chess piece. He was trusted by Li Linfu and held an important position as the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple. It was very likely that he had something on Li Linfu.

"Okay, I'll arrange it this way."

Li Shizhi followed Li Xuan's advice and made up his mind that no matter who he drank with, he would stop drinking when he had enough.

After this incident, Li Shizhi had no time to care about the fight between Li Lang and Lingcui Tower.

……

There are still two days left until the New Year.

Yang Yan was preparing for the New Year at home when a servant came to report, "Shaoqing Yang, the Left Prime Minister wants to see you."

"I don't know why the Left Prime Minister wants me to do this?"

Yang Yan was doubtful as to why Li Shizhi would invite him given his rank.

"Zuo Xiang wants to drink, and feels unhappy with others. I ask you to bring Xinfeng wine."

The servant passed on the message.

"In that case, I'll be there right away."

Yang Yan didn't think any more about it. He reminded Li Shizhi many times that he had the best Xinfeng wine.

Li Shizhi was addicted to alcohol, so it was normal for me to think of him.

He couldn't act rashly without the order from that person.

However, this is precisely the opportunity to further enhance the relationship with Li Shizhi.

It took less than two quarters of an hour to put a jar of Xinfeng wine on the carriage from Chongrenfang to Pingkangfang.

"Yang Jiu, you always say that you have the best Xinfeng wine, which makes me lose my appetite. Hurry up and bring out the good wine."

Li Shizhi was as cordial as before and personally went to the gate of the Left Prime Minister's residence to greet him.

"My lord, I am honored that you would invite me to drink before the New Year. This time, the wine will definitely not disappoint you."

Yang Yan looked flattered, and then he personally took the jar of wine from the carriage.

Li Shizhi ordered the servant to take the wine jar, and did not forget to open the lid of the jar and smell it: "It smells good! Changlefang and the East and West Markets may not have such good wine."

"This wine is brewed from the finest ingredients. I still have a lot at home. As long as the Left Prime Minister says a word, I can bring it to drink at any time." Yang Yan said to Li Shizhi.

"well!"

Li Shizhi said hello repeatedly, took Yang Yan's hand and entered the Left Prime Minister's Mansion.

When entering the ceremonial gate, Li Shizhi's five sons, Li Qian, Li Qi, Li Jiqing, Li Lang and Li Xuan, stood in a row.

"Meet Yang Shaoqing."

They bowed to Yang Yun together.

"General Li, there is no need to do this!"

Others paid him a visit out of courtesy.

But it was really inappropriate for Li Xuan to pay him a visit. After all, Li Xuan's official position was one level higher than his, so he quickly returned the gift to Li Xuan.

"Today I am not meeting Yang Shaoqing in the capacity of General Qianniu Wei, but as a junior. In the Left Prime Minister's Mansion, you are my colleague and will always be one generation older than me." Li Xuan stopped Yang Yan from returning the greeting, and his words were well-reasoned.

"The general's demeanor is truly extraordinary."

Yang Yan admired Li Xuan's magnanimity in his heart.

"Wulang, go take the wine. Today, the six of us, father and son, will drink with Yang Jiu to celebrate Yuanzheng's arrival."

As they spoke, Li Qian and others surrounded Yang Yan, and Li Lang took the wine from the servant.

Then, Li Xuan winked at Luo Xing and Xue Cuo, asking them to stand in front of the front hall and not allow anyone to enter.

Yang Yun felt that Li Shizhi's hospitality was too generous, as he even asked his five sons, including the General of the Left Thousand Bull Guards, to drink with him.

There is an illusion that he is also a third-grade person.

"Oh! I didn't know that Lord Zuo Xiang also wanted to drink. I brought too little wine. I will ask someone to go back and get it immediately." After Yang Yan entered the front hall, he suddenly clapped his hands.

"Forget it this time. Although the wine in my Zuo Xiangfu is of inferior quality, it is enough for us to enjoy. Next time when you invite Yang Jiuni over, bring a few more jars of wine!"

Li Shizhi held Yang Yan and prevented him from looking back.

"That's natural."

Yang Yan responded with a smile. It is the New Year now, and Li Shizhi's sons are all at home. After a while, it will definitely not be like this.

"Wulang, you will pour us some wine today as punishment for the fight in the brothel yesterday."

Li Shizhi patted the wine jar and said to Li Lang.

"Yes, father."

Li Lang thought that Li Shizhi would give him a beating yesterday, but he didn't expect it to be so easy to get away with. Isn't it simple to pour wine?

"My husband, young people always make mistakes, so don't take those trivial matters too seriously."

Yang Yun used this to comfort Li Shizhi.

"That's what Yang Jiu said, come and have a drink together."

Snacks and dishes were already prepared on the table. Li Lang opened the wine jars and filled each glass with wine.

Yang Yan was not talking nonsense when he said his wine was of top quality. Li Xuan had never seen such a mellow and delicious wine.

In this cold winter, a glass of wine will warm your whole body.

"Good wine, great fun, really great fun!" Li Shizhi just took a sip and raised the wine glass to Yang Yan, "Yang Jiu, let's have another drink."

Yang Yan didn't realize it and continued drinking with Li Shizhi.

Next, everyone continued drinking. Although Yang Yan drank more, everything went smoothly overall.

After a while, Li Xuan and four others took turns to toast Yang Yan, and Li Shizhi, who was sitting next to him, raised his glass to him from time to time.

The jar of wine was soon empty.

Li Lang went to bring up the Xingyangchun that had been prepared long ago. Among the many fine wines in the Tang Dynasty, Xingyangchun was the most intoxicating.

"Xingyangchun, good wine!"

Yang Yun told the name of the wine as soon as he smelled it, showing off.

"He who can recognize wine by its aroma is truly a wine connoisseur. Let's have another drink."

Li Shizhi praised and raised his glass.

Yang Yan did it!

"As the eldest son in the family, I would like to toast Yang Shaoqing again on behalf of my father."

Li Qian then picked up the wine glass.

Yang Yan wanted to take it easy, but he also felt that Li Yan was right, so he had no choice but to do it.

"My father said that Yang Shaoqing is as good at solving cases as Di Gong. I admire him."

Li Qi picked up a glass of wine.

It was praised so highly that Yang Yan had to drink it.

"I am not good at drinking, but because I have always admired Yang Shaoqing, I drank a few more cups." Li Jiqing did not give Yang Yan time to catch his breath and continued to toast.

When Yang Yan heard that Li Jiqing admired him, he had to drink.

"It's been a long time since I started drinking. Yang Shaoqing is the guest, and I must have a drink with him."

Li Lang seemed unable to help himself and poured himself a glass of wine and toasted to Yang Yan.

"it is good!"

Although he can drink a lot, it's not okay to force him to drink like this. Yang Yan feels that he is more ferocious than the girls in the brothel.

After drinking another cup of Xingyangchun wine, Yang Yan felt a little dizzy.

"Yang Shaoqing is from the Hongnong Yang family, a great family that has been famous since the Han Dynasty. I admire him very much. I respect Yang Shaoqing's generation."

Li Xuan made up a reason and paid tribute to Yang Yan.

Even his ancestors were praised, and it was the General of the Thousand Oxen Guards who toasted him, so Yang Yan had to drink.

Feeling dizzy and disoriented, he had just put down his wine glass and was about to eat some food when Li Shizhi raised the glass in front of Yang Yan with a smile on his face.

When the prime minister toasts you, you must drink.

Soon, the drunken Yang Yan accepted everyone who came, and after a quarter of an hour, he fell headfirst on the couch.

“Yang Jiu, Yang Jiu… hurry up and drink!”

Li Shizhi shook Yang Jiu.

But Yang Jiuru was like a dead pig and did not react.

"Yang Jiu is drunk. Dalang, Erlang, help him back to the guest room to rest."

Li Shizhi gave instructions to Li Qian and Li Qi.

……

Outside the guest room, the father and son waited until the afternoon sun set. Li Lang called out softly, "He seems to be waking up!"

Li Shizhi changed his expression and rushed into the guest room where Yang Yan was together with Li Xuan and Li Qian.

"Where is this? Danu, pour me a glass of water..."

Yang Yan woke up slowly, and while still sleepy, he subconsciously called out to his beloved concubine.

But no one responded...

"Dannu..."

Yang Yan shouted again.

Seeing no response, Yang Yun opened his eyes and saw an unfamiliar house.

When he looked again, he was shocked to see that the Left Prime Minister, the Left Thousand Bull Guard General and the Junior Guard Secretary were all standing in front of him.

Only then did he remember that Li Shizhi had called him to the Left Prime Minister's Residence to drink early in the morning.

Li Shizhi and his sons were all very enthusiastic.

But the next moment, Yang Yan found something wrong.

Because Zuo Xiang had a stern face, as if someone owed him money, he was a completely different person from when he was drinking.

"Yang Yan, I trust you so much. When I came to the Left Prime Minister's Mansion today, I asked my five sons to accompany you for a drink. I didn't expect that you would..."

Li Shizhi suddenly shouted loudly, pointing at Yang Yan, and was heartbroken.

Yang Yan's mind went blank. He didn't even bother to put on his shoes and got out of bed immediately: "My husband, what happened? I don't know!"

"Father, you are so kind and you want to promote him to the position of Dali Temple. You should just report it to the Saint. The crimes he committed are enough to exterminate three clans."

Li Xuan snorted coldly and said to Li Shizhi.

"I don't know what I did wrong."

When Yang Yun heard that his entire clan was going to be exterminated, he became even more frightened.

"What do you say when you're drunk? Don't you know?"

Li Shizhi questioned Yang Yan.

"Your humble servant... I don't know... People often say that people joke after drinking, how can you take it seriously!"

Yang Yan's heart skipped a beat, and all his drunkenness disappeared.

He wondered if he had said something he shouldn't have said after getting drunk.

"Then let the saints tell whether it is true or false. Qilang, please repeat what Yang Yan said after drinking!"

Li Shizhi left the rest of the speech to Li Xuan.

"Yang Shaoqing, you said you would get my father drunk, and then tell the saint that my father said drunkenly, 'It's a pity that my grandfather is not the emperor, otherwise I would be the saint', 'My son is a frontier general, and my father is a prime minister, so there is a chance'. When my father is forcibly taken into the palace by the Yulin Guards, you must say that it was a drunken joke, and there is no way to defend yourself!"

Li Xuan spoke to Yang Yan in a deep voice, word by word.

At this moment, Yang Yan’s eyes widened, as if he was struck by lightning, and he stood still!
This……

These are almost the exact words of his strategy with Li Linfu.

From beginning to end, only Li Linfu and he knew the whole story.

Even Li Linfu's closest son didn't know.

"That's not all. Yang Shaoqing also said many treasonous words, and even the right prime minister was implicated. Father, send him to Xingqing Palace and let him make excuses in front of the emperor."

Li Xuan's words were obscure but meaningful, and he spoke to Li Shizhi.

"Yang Jiu, please consider that we are colleagues. I will ask His Majesty for mercy. Only you will die, and your family will become slaves."

The father and son sang the same tune, and Li Shizhi pretended to be a good guy again.

"Sir, spare my life! Please let me go and don't tell the saint. From now on, I will follow your lead."

Yang Yan's mentality collapsed. He knelt in front of Li Shizhi, hugged Li Shizhi's thighs, and begged bitterly.

Not to mention the secrets he might have leaked, and his corruption.

Just because he revealed Li Linfu's plan, Li Linfu would never let him go.

Li Linfu racked his brains in Yanyue Hall to come up with this sinister and vicious plan, but now he revealed it after drinking.

Is there still a way for him to survive?

Now the only option is to rely on Li Shizhi to protect himself and his family.

"This evil plan came from Li Linfu! How can I bear it if you want to kill me like this? If you, Yang Jiu, can come up with a plan to deal with Li Linfu, I will keep your words in my stomach and forgive you!"

Li Shizhi changed his tone and showed extra leniency.

"I have evidence that the envoys from the Jiangnan provinces bribed officials from the Ministry of Personnel."

Grasping at straws, Yang Yan told everyone what he knew and submitted a letter of surrender.

"Is there any evidence of bribing Li Linfu?" Li Shizhi asked Yang Yan.

"The Right Prime Minister is cunning and treacherous, and the emperor has given him a great reward. I don't know if he accepted bribes. I only know that the several envoys to Jiangnan were recommended by the Right Prime Minister."

Yang Yun said in fear.

"Father, Li Linfu is concurrently the Minister of Personnel and has been promoted to the position of envoy to various regions in the south of the Yangtze River. This alone is enough to make him suffer."

Li Xuan whispered to Li Shizhi.

In his previous life, Li Shizhi completely lost his power because of the bribery incidents among many officials in the Ministry of War.

Historical books believe that it was purely Li Linfu who framed the suspect and tortured him into confessing.

Now Li Xuan's chance had come. He asked Li Shizhi to apply Luo Qianji's network to the Ministry of Personnel and the various envoys.

If it is made into a solid case, Li Linfu will be severely punished if he doesn't die.

(End of this chapter)