I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 339 Li Zhi's Plan

"Ji Jin, in a few days it will be the third year of Longqing's reign, and not long after that will be the Wanshou Festival. It is said that Xiyuan will hold a grand celebration."

After listening to this, Wang Lin stroked his beard and said, "Holding a grand birthday celebration? He still knows that he is the crown prince, a son, and a minister!"

Zhang Siwei replied with a smile: "The prince is the emperor's son and subject, but he is our king."

Wang Lin glanced at him and replied coldly: "The ruler is the ruler, and the subject is the subject!"

Zhang Siwei didn't want to argue with him, so he asked, "Brother Jijin, have you prepared any gifts for your birthday?"

"Didn't the Western Garden issue an order? It said that all officials receive salaries and perform their duties for the country. On the emperor's birthday, there is no need to send gifts. Performing your duties diligently on weekdays is the greatest reward for your service.

Now that things have come to this, who would dare to prepare a gift? At most, they would write a congratulatory letter and compose two poems to present. You, the Hanlin Academy, have already rolled up your sleeves and prepared to get to work."

"We are all poor scholars in the Hanlin Academy. We don't know anything except the word 'literary'. But we have put a lot of thought into writing congratulatory poems. After we present them to the emperor, he has to be free to read them!"

Wang Lin also laughed.

The emperor in the Forbidden City really doesn't have time to look at these things.

Slowly, his smile turned into a wry smile.

In the minds of these people, they now realize that although the emperor is extremely licentious, he is a wise ruler because they obey his orders.

Before leaving, Zhang Siwei said to Wang Lin: "It is impossible to do this. Please take care of yourself, Ji Jin."

Stop making trouble and just live your life in peace, can't we?

Li Zhi hosted a banquet for the two of them at his home.

It was Wei Jianping and Gao Ce who came to Beijing from Liaodong to report the victory.

"Xiu De, Chang Ce, you two braved the heavy snow and traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to report the victory. Thank you for your hard work."

"Mr. Zhuowu, you are too polite. The situation in Liaodong was urgent. Tumen Khan suddenly invaded with 100,000 troops. The situation was critical. Fortunately, Deputy General Zhou held on to the isolated city and blocked Tumen Khan's attack. This is when things turned around."

After hearing Wei Jianping's words, Li Zhi stroked his beard and nodded, then turned to Gao Ce, "I never thought that Liaodong's turning point would depend on 10,000 Jurchen soldiers.

Duke Que'an (Wei Xuezeng) said it very well, the people feared his power, but admired his virtue, and could not help but follow him. It was really because His Royal Highness used both kindness and power towards the Jianzhou and Haixi Jurchens that this turning point came about.

Sushen Camp, what a good name! "

Gao Ce smiled and didn't answer.

"Where is Changce originally from?"

"Mr. Zhuo Wu, I am a military household in Shanxi, and my native place is Yanmen."

"Yanmen and Daizhou are home to many heroes. Changce and Xiude are of similar age, and it seems like they can get along well?"

Gao Ce and Wei Jianping looked at each other and replied, "In reply to Lord Zhuo Wu, Brother Xiu De is three years older than me. We fought side by side under the city of Fushun and captured Zhuangtu Taiji together. Then we joined forces and attacked Kaiyuan. We lived and died together. Together with Brother Bang Ding, we became brothers of different surnames."

"Bong Ding? Deputy General Zhou?"

"Exactly."

"Okay." Li Zhi nodded and suddenly asked, "Does Changce have a family?"

Gao Ce was stunned for a moment, then replied: "Mr. Zhuo Wu, my parents died early, and I was lucky to have the help of my father's comrades and friends. I joined the army at the age of sixteen, and then traveled to many places. I was so busy with the military that I had no time to start a family."

Li Zhi's face lit up with joy, he stopped asking questions and stretched out his hand to circle the table.

"Xiu De, Chang Ce, please eat some food. I've prepared some simple dishes. Please don't mind."

Wei Jianping and Gao Ce looked at each other and smiled bitterly. "Master Li, you kept asking questions as soon as we sat down at the table. We have to have some time to eat."

"Mr. Xie Zhuowu!"

At the dinner table, Li Zhi talked about this and that, and was very intimate. Wei Jianping and Gao Ce listened more and spoke less. The two were very perceptive and always felt that someone was watching them in the next room.

What do you mean?
They had only eaten halfway when the steward of the Li residence hurried in to report.

"Sir, the followers of General Wei and General Gao came to report that someone from the West Garden had come and wanted to see you two."

Li Zhi was startled and immediately stood up and said to Wei Jianping and Gao Ce: "His Highness has been busy with the Wanshou Festival recently. It seems that he has time to summon you. Go quickly and don't keep His Highness waiting for a long time."

"Yes! Mr. Zhuo Wu, we'll take our leave!"

After seeing off Wei Jianping and Gao Ce, Li Zhi returned to the backyard from the mansion gate, and his wife Huang grabbed him.

"Master, you have a very good eye. I liked these two handsome men at first sight. My eldest and second sisters also like them very much."

Li Zhi shook his head, "Even if we like it, it also depends on whether the other person likes it."

Huang said, "I don't care. I just like these two and want them to be my sons-in-law. My elder sister and my second sister have suffered so much with us and almost starved to death. As a father, you must find a good in-law for them so that they can live a good life."

"I know, otherwise how could I choose these two and invite them to dinner at my home."

"Master, you have a very good relationship with Mr. Zili and Mr. Wenchang. If you ask them to act as matchmakers, won't this matter be settled?"

Huang came up with an idea.

Li Zhi replied, "Let me think about how to open this up to Zi Li and Wen Chang."

Huang asked curiously, "Master, in the past two years, many people have introduced good matches to my elder sister and second sister. Why did you choose Wei Xiude and Gao Changce at first sight?"

"Go inside and talk."

After entering the room and seeing that there was no one around, Li Zhi slowly spoke.

"In the past few years, I have promoted new learning and laid the foundation for His Highness's new policies, and have gained a lot. However, the official career is like walking on thin ice. If you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss.

Now that I am famous, I have become the target of public criticism and have made many enemies! When I was alive, it was easy to deal with. With His Highness taking care of you, nothing would happen to you.

I am just worried that once I pass away, people will forget about me and I will not be able to take care of you. By then, my enemies and their followers will hate me to the core and will probably put the blame on you.

I want to find good matches for my eldest sister, second sister, and eldest brother.

For the eldest and second sisters, I chose Wei Xiude and Gao Changce. For the eldest brother, I chose the youngest daughter of my fellow villager Zhifu Gong (Yu Dayou). Last time he came to Beijing to report on his work, I shamelessly tried to test him, and he readily agreed. "

Huang asked curiously, "Master, you are now a famous scholar in the country. Some people even say that you are the master who founded a school. Why don't you choose from the families of scholars and Confucian scholars? Why do you choose military merits for the three of them?"

"You don't know. Scholars look down on each other and are the most mean. I choose among famous scholars and great Confucian scholars. If I choose the high one, they will look down on me as a heretic; if I choose the low one, we will feel sorry for our children. I can't get the high one and I can't get the low one. It's better to think of another way.

The prince has great ambitions and will not stop expanding territory and building achievements in the next few decades. The noble family with military merits is highly valued by him. As long as he is cautious, he can prosper for generations.

After careful consideration, I have chosen Wei Xiu De, Gao Chang Ce and the Yu family. They are all loyal and virtuous people. They can be good matches for my eldest sister, second sister and eldest brother.

The other three sisters, four sisters, two brothers and three brothers are still young, so I will take my time to choose them."

"What the master says is what it is. They are all your flesh and blood, especially the eldest sister and the other three. They have followed you and me for so many years and have suffered so much. It's time for them to live a good life."

"I know, I know you have suffered so much during those miserable days." Li Zhi's eyes sparkled. He turned to look out the window, towards the direction of Xiyuan, and sighed.

"It's time, it's fate, it's luck!"

(End of this chapter)