Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 80 How much is loyalty worth? [Subscribe please]

In order to make Li Shimin give up asking about his purpose of going to Jiangling, Li Chengqian revealed two pieces of information to Li Shimin.

The good news is that Yuan Junzhang, who is in a dilemma, will soon return to the Tang Dynasty.

The bad news is that the Tang Dynasty is about to face a major disaster.

In fact, these two pieces of news are one and the same.

These are the natural and man-made disasters that the Turks are about to experience.

As for this natural disaster and man-made disaster, the natural disaster has already occurred, but the man-made disaster has not yet arrived.

Now seeing Zhao Deyan, Li Chengqian finally remembered that a man-made disaster had occurred.

So why did Li Chengqian praise Zhao Deyan as a hero of the Tang Dynasty?
In fact, this has to start with the prosperity of the Eastern Turks.

One of the main reasons why the Eastern Turkic Khaganate became increasingly powerful since the reign of Shibi Khan was that its government policies were simple and easy to implement.

And it is in line with the simple nature of the Turkic people.

This fine tradition was still preserved until the early years of Jie Li Khan's reign, so the national strength remained strong.

But in the later period, Jie Li favored a man named Zhao Deyan.

After this man gained favor, he abused his power and changed all the fine traditions, policies, systems and laws of the Turks.

This ultimately led to complicated and harsh government policies, which annoyed and greatly dissatisfied the Turks.

In addition, Jie Li Khan was at odds with the Chile tribes and frequently fought with the Xueyantuo, Uighur and other tribes, which led to great chaos in the country and the decline of national strength.

As the saying goes, when it rains, it never rains. Just when the situation in East Turkestan was becoming increasingly serious, they encountered a snow disaster that was rare in a century, which caused the death of countless livestock and a large-scale famine among the people.

The people died of cold and hunger.

Seeing that the national treasury was becoming increasingly empty and the royal court was stretched to the limit in terms of expenses, Jie Li followed Zhao Deyan's advice and levied heavy taxes on the tribes.

This led to an increasingly vicious cycle, which overwhelmed the Turkic people. They went from being a powerful country that threatened the Tang Dynasty to a weak and barbaric country that was easily destroyed by Li Shimin.

Therefore, if we were to say who was the most meritorious official in Li Shimin's conquest of the Eastern Turks, it would definitely be Zhao Deyan.

He is definitely a hero of the Tang Dynasty.

"Hehehe"

Li Chengqian chuckled, then looked at Zhao Deyan and said, "Why is Lord Zhao here at this inn? Are you just passing through, or have you always lived here?"

"Your Highness, I am too humble. I am no longer an official of the imperial court!"

Zhao Deyan knelt on the ground and waved his hands to explain.

After saying this, he glanced at Li Yuan beside him, bowed his head and said respectfully: "I originally lived here, but I just went to Chang'an and just came back."

"Oh, then what are you going to do in Chang'an?"

"This"

Zhao Deyan looked nervous and didn't know how to answer.

But then Li Chengqian laughed again and said, "Don't be nervous. I heard what grandfather said about you. It's nothing serious. You were just tricked by Wei Zheng!"

"what?"

Zhao Deyan's face was full of surprise, as if he didn't expect Li Chengqian to say that.

Even Li Yuan, Cen Wenben and Ma Zhou, who were standing by, looked at Li Chengqian in surprise.

They couldn't understand why Li Chengqian was so close to Zhao Deyan.

You know, people like Zhao Deyan are simply hopeless.

When he was a minor official in the Sui Dynasty, he liked to seek personal gain. Later, by some unknown means, he joined Li Jiancheng's army and was entrusted with important tasks by Li Jiancheng, becoming the governor of Beizhou.

Later, Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, which led to their followers blaming each other. Even the successive decrees of amnesty issued by Li Shimin and Li Yuan were of no use.

In order to surrender to Li Shimin and firmly believe that the decree of amnesty was false, Zhao Deyan arrested Wei Zheng, who was sent by Li Shimin to Beizhou to appease the officials of Beizhou.

In the end, Li Shimin was so angry that he demoted him from governor to commoner.

Now hearing Li Chengqian's words, he couldn't help but be surprised and moved.

Unexpected.

In this world.

The person who knew the matter best and himself best was actually the eight-year-old prince in front of him, whom he had never met.

Zhao Deyan was so moved that he almost cried.

"The prince's words have vindicated this villain!"

After saying this, Zhao Deyan finally couldn't hold back his tears and burst into tears.

Li Yuan and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment.

But then Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Can you tell me now what you did in Chang'an? Maybe I can help you."

"To be appreciated by the prince in this life is a life I have no regrets in."

Zhao Deyan said something with emotion, then wiped away his tears and said truthfully:
"To be honest, Your Majesty, I was unjustly demoted to a commoner by Your Majesty and have been idle at home ever since. However, my loyalty to the Tang Dynasty is evident to all. Therefore, I have given away all my wealth and wished to travel to Chang'an to build my connections, hoping to be re-employed by the court."

"Oh I got it."

Li Chengqian nodded as if realizing something, then glanced at Li Yuan and the other two and continued, "So, what connections did you make?"

"I know that one of His Majesty's trusted ministers is the Minister of the Central Secretariat Fang Xuanling. I also know that he is famous for recruiting talented people, so I prepared a valuable gift and went to the Minister of the Central Secretariat!"

"How is the result?"

"This"

Zhao Deyan hesitated for a moment and said, "The Minister of the Central Secretariat accepted my gift but didn't promise to help me. Later, he suggested that I go to Pei Sikong. Pei Sikong is a veteran minister of three dynasties and has the widest network of contacts. He promised me that he would help me find a solution." "So, you are almost successful?"

"That's hard to say, because the Minister of the Central Secretariat once told me that the court is planning to evaluate officials recently, and the person in charge of evaluating officials is the Minister of Personnel!"

Li Chengqian smiled: "So, you're worried that the Minister of Personnel will remove you?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Deyan made a bitter face and nodded, "The Minister of Personnel is concurrently held by the Right Servant Zhangsun Wuji. He is your Majesty's brother-in-law. I have no connection with him, and I am worried that your Majesty may harbor a grudge against him."

Hearing this, Li Chengqian remained noncommittal and said, "I think you're worrying too much. The court needs people after all. Neither the Minister of Personnel nor Your Majesty will bury talented people!"

"That being said, it depends on who they are!"

"Ok?"

Li Chengqian's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but look at Zhao Deyan in surprise. After a moment, he raised a thumbs-up and praised, "You are a wise man!"

"hey-hey."

Zhao Deyan smiled slyly, then winked and said, "The prince needs to employ sensible people!"

"Ah!"

Li Chengqian snorted, then looked at Zhao Deyan meaningfully and said:

"I was worried that he would become a fence-sitter, changing with the wind. He was clearly one of my own people, but after so many twists and turns, I don't know whose he is anymore."

"what!"

Zhao Deyan was startled and immediately prostrated himself on the ground, stammering, "I, I'm just showing my loyalty to the Crown Prince."

As she said this, she was about to crawl to Li Chengqian's feet and lick his little feet.

Li Chengqian was also startled and stepped back quickly: "No, no, no, don't do this, we're one family, there's no need to do this!"

"Uh"

Li Yuan and the other two twitched their lips and thought, "What the hell are you doing? We are still here!"

Although the three of them were deeply ashamed of Zhao Deyan's behavior, they also had to admire Zhao Deyan's cleverness and wit.

Sometimes, if you want to move up, you have to let go of your pride.

Otherwise, no matter how great your ability is, it will not be reused no matter where you are.

In fact, speculation and intrigue is a profound art.

As for loyalty?

To be honest, how much is loyalty worth?
Even if you are truly loyal today, there is no guarantee that you will be loyal tomorrow.

What's more, who can believe in the loyalty of a man like Zhao Deyan?
"Hehehe"

Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly awkward, Li Chengqian broke the awkwardness with a laugh. He then straightened his posture and asked nonchalantly, "You must be aware of how much my uncle, Zhangsun Wuji, loves me, right?"

"This"

Zhao Deyan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I know, but how dare I trouble the Crown Prince?"

In fact, this was his first time meeting Li Chengqian, so how could he know the relationship between Changsun Wuji and Li Chengqian? The reason he said this was actually an excuse to get Li Chengqian to help him.

Li Chengqian naturally understood his thoughts, so he said very straightforwardly: "It's just a trivial matter, not worth the trouble."

As he spoke, he turned his head to glance at Li Yuan and the other two, and continued, "Later, I will write you a letter of recommendation. You can return to Chang'an with the letter and see You Pushe. He will definitely help you!"

"Ah?! This."

Zhao Deyan was taken aback, as if he had not expected Li Chengqian to really help him, and he could not help but stand there in a daze.

Li Chengqian couldn't help but feel a little amused when he saw him standing there in shock. However, he said in a displeased tone, "Why, you don't want to? Or do you not believe that I, the Crown Prince, can help you?"

"no no no"

Zhao Deyan quickly waved his hands, then kowtowed several times on the ground, saying with tears of gratitude, "Prince, your kindness is so great! I will never forget it!"

"hehe."

Li Chengqian smiled indifferently and waved his hand, saying, "Go ahead and serve the Tang Dynasty well. You are a loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty. Do you understand?"

"I swear allegiance to the Tang Dynasty until death! To His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

After saying that, Zhao Deyan respectfully left the room.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Yuan and the other two with a half-smile and said, "Do you know what it means for one person to destroy an entire country?"

"???"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan and the other two were filled with questions.

Li Chengqian then laughed and said, "I'm sure you've all seen and heard what Zhao Deyan is capable of. He's absolutely harmful to the Tang Dynasty."

"but."

Then he changed the subject and continued, "If I find a way to send him to the Eastern Turks, think about it, with his talent, can those barbarian slaves be his match? Will the Eastern Turks still be the same?"

"hiss"

"hiss"

"hiss"

As soon as Li Chengqian finished speaking, Li Yuan and the other two took a deep breath and their pupils shrank sharply, as if there was a magnitude 9 earthquake.

Damn it!
What a vicious plan!

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(End of this chapter)