Established a millennium family since King Wu defeated Zhou

Chapter 942 The spider web is spinning!

Yong Hui.

Emblem, beautiful meaning.

After Emperor Taizong established the prosperous Zhenguan era, the Tang Dynasty will always be beautiful. This is the common wish of the emperor and his ministers.

In a sense, this is not the eternal emblem of Li Zhi, the emperor, but the eternal emblem of the old officials of Zhenguan. The civil servants and military officers left by Li Shimin did not think that this was a new era, belonging to Li Zhi's new era.

In the hearts of countless people, this is still the world of Zhenguan!
It’s just that Emperor Taizong is no longer here.

The same is true. Changsun Wuji, Luo Xuanling, Li Ji, Chu Suiliang, and many others did not need Li Zhi to do anything. Countless ministers continued to move forward along the road opened by the Zhenguan administration, and the Tang Dynasty was still in its prime. , and become more and more prosperous.

In the third year of Yonghui, the kings and princes once again sent envoys to visit Li Zhi. This represented that the authority of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had not been lost. In Li Zhi's heart, he had deep feelings for his brothers, especially Yan, who had become more and more powerful in recent years. Wang Like's worries were slightly relieved.

In the court, the monarch and his ministers seemed to get along with each other, and the government and the public seemed to be in harmony.

But amidst this beauty, those who are interested have already seen that a turbulent storm is brewing.

Li Ji could fight and fight big battles, but he could not become the leader of a faction. He simply could not bear the important task of confronting and balancing Changsun Wuji.

Luo Junzhuo, who was always by Li Zhi's side, even told a shocking fact, "The emperor is the child of the late emperor. He is obsessed with power."

Sometimes the ruling prime minister is not strong and arrogant, and indeed cannot suppress the people below him, but if he is so arrogant that he is lawless and has no scruples, then he is really looking for death.

In this relationship, as long as Luo Shi takes action with all his strength, the emperor's power will be activated.

The empress has no children, which is the first instability; the emperor's favorite concubine has the desire to seize the throne, which is the second instability; the empress's virtue is not worthy of the throne, which is the third instability; Wu Zhao's ability is too strong, which is the fourth instability.

Today, the emperor has several direct sisters, Princess Jinyang, who was raised by the late emperor together with the emperor, and is the wife of Luo Junzhuo. Princess Hengshan is the wife of Luo Junlie, Luo Xuanling's son.

"Well, people in this world are like this. There are no perfect people. When people are proud, they will be arrogant.

This is the tacit understanding between Changsun Wuji and Luo Xuanling. Changsun Wuji used smooth governance, a prosperous country, and the Zhenguan administration that has not declined to tell Luo Xuanling, Lord Yong, only I can continue the prosperity of the late emperor.

The reason why Changsun Wuji never touched Luo's family was that he was so simple and unpretentious.

The biggest problem lies with Changsun Wuji. He is naturally very capable. He ranks second in Lingyan Pavilion, which is enough to prove him. During the Zhenguan Dynasty, he served in three provinces and six ministries without making any major mistakes.

Even Luo Shi, the most powerful regent ministers, have been evaluated in history as being humble. Luo Shi never really treated his young prince as a child, but treated him respectfully. A true king comes to treat the young master.

As for the instability of the outer court, it should be on Changsun Wuji and the important ministers arranged by Li Shimin.

Arrogant.

People who are petty and vindictive cannot become the chief prime minister, because politics requires reconciliation and compromise, but Changsun Wuji is one of those people who will kill people who have problems with him whenever he has the opportunity.

Of course, the reason why Luo Shi can talk like this is because in the current Tang Dynasty, no one would touch Luo Shi without a long-term vision.

All the Luo family members present knew who Luo Jungong was talking about. Of course they were Luo Youzhi and Luo Xianzhi, who assisted Liang Guo. They were the two Gusu County Dukes. These two County Dukes left a mark in the history books about "the family members, the dogs". , poor families, and horses all walk under my sect. If the dogs bark and the horses leap in anger, they all deserve to die." Madmen who speak like this are all so crazy recorded in history books, but they usually don't know how crazy they are.

"What is Changsun Wuji so crazy about? Time is on the side of the royal family. He is so arrogant now. Isn't it destined that he will be liquidated in the future?"

Everyone has something they are good at, and most people who are good at politics or military strategy are like this. My ancestors of the two prime ministers of the Jiangnan Luo family in the Liang Kingdom were actually quite arrogant, but not in front of the emperor. Arrogant and arrogant, in front of other aristocratic families and officials, he is really not giving any face. "

If the emperor were in charge, could this prosperous age really be preserved?

The center of an empire is politics. The first priority of a powerful king is to maintain the stability of the political center so that the officials will not be obsessed with fighting for power, because human energy is limited. If energy is used in struggle, governance will be difficult. Problems will arise.

Luo sometimes held family banquets and talked about things in the court. When it came to Changsun Wuji, almost everyone was deeply puzzled. Yes, they just didn't understand.

He's so crazy that he almost doesn't take anyone else seriously, and he shows his awesomeness clearly on his face, and he doesn't feel there's anything wrong with him at all.

Study and study again, and then take charge of the government in person.

The inner court is unstable, and the outer court is also unstable.

But Luo holds the key to the emperor's activation. Now he has the upper hand in the fight with the emperor because Luo does not clearly support the emperor's personal rule.

Luo Xuanling was a military general and had never served in the three provinces or six ministries. Naturally, he had no room to express his opinions on political affairs.

He is actually not particularly afraid of Luo Shi competing for power with him. After all, Luo Xuanye and Luo Xuanchen, the kings of Zhou County who were the real leaders in Luo Shi, have both passed away. Now Luo Xuanling, who is the main leader in Luo Shi, has a similar status to himself.

Beyond being petty, he is arrogant.

In these years, the Luo family members of the Jun generation have entered the political arena. Of course, the most important thing is their huge influence on the emperor.

At this moment, the politics of the Tang Dynasty were in extreme instability.

This actually reflects the reality that Luo Xuanling does not trust Li Zhi's ability. His understanding of Li Zhi is that of the original King of Jin, who governed such a huge empire, Li Zhi must not be as good as Changsun Wuji. Then let the emperor suffer some injustice.

This move is quite effective, because Changsun Wuji knows very well that Luo Xuanling and he are the same people in this regard. They are both ministers of the late emperor. Although they are loyal to the current emperor, deep down in their hearts, as long as they If Zhenguan's government can be preserved, it doesn't matter whether today's emperor can personally govern it.

"Every time I see the Taiwei being so arrogant, I wonder. He is also well-read in history. Didn't he see how many powerful people in history ended up miserable?"

There are only two ways to stabilize the inner court. One is to abolish the queen and establish Wu Zhao; the other is to become the queen's step-son. The emperor and the queen will live in harmony in the future, cut off their evil intentions, and then kill Wu Zhao and Xiao Shufei.

That's right, it's not just about having a grudge. As long as the relationship is not good, he will deal with it to death.

That's right.

All the Luo family members are awe-inspiring. A king who wants to be in power and a powerful minister who holds great power are destined to collide.

But this man has a big problem, which completely widens the gap between him and top prime ministers such as Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui, and that is pettiness and grudge-keeping.

This is a word that has never appeared in the Luo family tradition.

There are many factions inside and outside the government, central factions and local factions, but the Luo family is an independent faction. The Luo family, headed by Luo Xuanling, is powerful but stays out of the matter.

In his dictionary, there is no forgiveness, but those who obey me will prosper, and those who do not will perish. Following Li Shimin for so many years, he has not learned at all the ability of Li Shimin to pardon his enemies and maintain the unity of the court.

Of course Luo Xuanling would not say this directly. He was just low-key and humble, but he would also support Li Zhi and become a reference for Changsun Wuji. The more the emperor hated Changsun Wuji, the more grateful he would be to Luo Xuanling.

No one would have thought that a military commander like Luo Xuanling would be so cunning in this regard and use Changsun Wuji as a tool and shield.

……

There was another hearty blend of soul and body. Li Zhi lay on his back beside Wu Zhao, looking at the bed a little helplessly. Heavy breathing came from his nose, his chest kept rising and falling, sweat dripped from his body. It was dripping from his forehead and everywhere on his body.

Wu Zhao snuggled next to Li Zhi. Her eyes were full of confusion and obsession, but they were somewhat sober. She knew her identity too well.

Li Zhi likes to be around Wu Zhao. He really loves Wu Zhao, which is one of the reasons. Another very important reason is that Wu Zhao is of the same mind as him.

In this palace, the women who come from well-known noble families have countless scheming interests. The queen's uncle is Zhongshu Ling, and Concubine Xiao Shu comes from the same family as Xiao Yu. How could Li Zhi say true words to them? ?
There was only Wu Zhao, nothing, and the only reliance was on himself as the emperor. This feeling of completely controlling a person made Li Zhi obsessed with it, especially the woman he controlled. She was very clever, very clever, not an ordinary woman. The cleverness of a person is not that of a politician.

After Li Zhi gradually realized Wu Zhao's political talent, he was pleasantly surprised to find that he had a political ally he could trust and would hardly betray.

"Recently, I wanted to leave the palace, but I was stopped by the Taiwei. This uncle of mine really took care of me. Then Chu Suiliang also came back. After sitting down, he came back so easily. My uncle face……"

Wu Zhao's eyes lit up when she heard this. In the palace fights in Yonghui's early years, she was still using traditional palace fighting methods at first, but after Luo Junwei's reminder, she decisively stopped using such useless methods. means.

It didn't take long for her to see a real opportunity to kill with one strike, which was to tie the queen and Changsun Wuji together. With her political talent, how could she not see that the relationship between the emperor and Changsun Wuji was The relationship will eventually break down. As long as she ties Changsun Wuji and the Queen together, then with the fall of Changsun Wuji, the Queen will also step aside. Listening to Li Zhi's somewhat resentful voice, Wu Zhao stroked Li Zhi's heaving chest and said, "Your Majesty, don't be angry. I heard that if God wants a person to perish, he will first make him arrogant. Duke Zhao is so arrogant, he The more arrogant you are, the more your Majesty must treat him with sincerity and respect him with etiquette, so that people's hearts will gradually come to your Majesty's side."

Li Zhi was unhappy when he heard this and said: "I have become a yes man now. I can't control the promotion of officials or the censure of officials. Even the edict was written by my uncle. Then I am like a marionette, pulling the emperor's hand." Put the seal on it, if I still give in, my position as emperor..."

Wu Zhao solemnly said: "Your Majesty, please don't say that. There are ministers in the court who are also loyal to you. Although the Taiwei is arrogant, he has no military power. What real threat does he pose to Your Majesty?"
In this struggle, what does a temporary victory mean?

Your Majesty, you are destined to win the final and most complete victory. The one who laughs last is the real winner. "

Wu Zhao's comfort made Li Zhi recover a little, and he said with some distress: "I don't understand why the British Association keeps wanting to resign, and I don't understand why Duke Yong is sometimes dissatisfied with his uncle, but he is not satisfied with his uncle's policies. No objection, I sometimes want to contact Duke Yong, but I don’t dare. I don’t know what Duke Yong thinks.”

Wu Zhao is so smart that she can roughly guess it, but she will not tell the truth. Telling it will hurt the emperor's heart too much, and it will also hurt the relationship between the emperor and Luo. "Maybe the emperor can ask Mr. Junzhuo, he and you, the Emperor, have grown up together and are like brothers. If there is anyone in the Luo family who would say something to you that is inconvenient, it would be Mr. Junzhuo."

Li Zhi sat up instantly and said with a smile: "Mei Niang is right, you should really ask Jun Zhuo, only Jun Zhuo will tell me something that is inconvenient to say.

Let's go, Mei Niang, and I go to Zhoujun Prince's Mansion. No, let Junzhuo and Jinyang enter the palace. Anyway, they often enter the palace, no one will care. "

Li Zhi hurriedly started to put on his clothes, but Wu Zhao's eyes were filled with light and a sharp light flashed across his eyes. It seemed that the emperor's patience with Changsun Wuji was about to reach its limit.

No, you have to endure it. Now is not the time to overthrow Changsun Wuji. The relationship between the queen and Changsun Wuji is not close enough now. It is time to involve Changsun Wuji, the queen, and the future prince.

A finely woven net slowly stretched out from behind Wu Zhao. Her targets were the big shots of the day, the big shots who had exposed numerous flaws.

……

"Husband, I want beef for lunch!"

"Uncle Fu, didn't a cow fall and get injured two days ago? I think it's going to die now. Let the kitchen handle it and bring it to Madam."

"Yes, sir."

In the pavilion, Jin Yang giggled and thrust into Luo Junzhuo's arms, laughing and playing with Luo Junzhuo. She was not particularly old, she had just turned 20 years old, and because she had not yet had children, sometimes She is still like a child, she likes to lie in Luo Junzhuo's arms on various occasions. This is really a habit. She has been like this since she was a child, she likes to hang on Luo Junzhuo, and it is still the case now.

The Li family has been rich and powerful for more than a hundred years, and their genes have been improved from generation to generation. Basically, no one is ugly, especially the daughter of Empress Changsun. Starting from Princess Changle Li Lizhi, there has been no ugly one. The same is naturally true for Princess Jinyang. She has been since she was a child. She was cute and cute, and was deeply loved by Li Shimin and the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty. Now in the Yonghui period, Li Zhi also loved his sister very much, and rewarded her at every turn.

Uncle Fu quickly left and returned, bowing and saying: "Master and Madam, we have already given instructions to the chef, but now a messenger from the palace has arrived, inviting the Master and Madam to come to the palace for a banquet."

"Brother Tianzi?"

Jin Yang jumped off Luo Junzhuo, straightening his somewhat messy clothes, with a smile in his clear big eyes, "Uncle Fu, you can eat the beef, don't waste food. My husband and I are entering the palace, and we should do it today." Let’s eat in the palace.”

After saying that, he took Luo Junzhuo's hand and waved it around, "Husband, let's enter the palace quickly. I haven't seen Brother Emperor for a long time, and I really miss him."

Luo Junzhuo stood up and tapped the flower between her eyebrows, and said with a gentle smile: "You, you, it has been so long. I just entered the palace to meet the emperor seven days ago, and you even ate the cakes prepared for the fifth prince, which made his majesty dumbfounded. ”

Hearing this, Jin Yang was embarrassed at first, and then he put his hands on his hips and said confidently: "Hong'er is sensible. If you have any delicious food, give it to my aunt. I also gave it to Hong'er's candied fruit, which is the fruit candied fruit brought by my second brother from Jiangnan." !”

When Luo Junzhuo heard this, he couldn't help laughing. A twenty-year-old man and a child of several years old were fighting for something to eat. Upon seeing this, Jin Yang jumped directly onto Luo Junzhuo's back, humming and saying: "Husband laughs." I, bad, punish you for carrying me into the palace!”

Listening to Jin Yang's words, Luo Junzhuo seemed to have returned to his childhood, when he, Li Zhi, and Jin Yang lived a carefree life in the palace. He weighed Jin Yang with a smile, and then walked out with her on his back, striding like lightning. .

Of course Jinyang would not let Luo Junzhuo really carry her into the palace. The two were just playing around. If they really did this, Chang'an City would be very lively tomorrow. The Tang Dynasty was indeed open, but It's not open to this extent.

After entering the palace, Luo Junzhuo saw Li Zhi giving him a look and knew that Li Zhi was on business. There were only four people in the banquet, and there should have been five. After all, Luo Junwei was in the palace, but Luo Junwei didn't come herself. She was a female historian and her responsibilities were there. She was afraid that she would not be able to help but make two notes. It seemed that something was going to be discussed. It was better not to know.

Regarding the concubines in the palace, Luo Junzhuo, Princess Jinyang and others actually had no likes or dislikes. However, as for the Queen Wang, both of them knew that Li Zhi didn't like her, so they had no contact with them.

As for Wu Zhao, Li Zhi always brought Wu Zhao alone for almost every small independent banquet in the palace. Princess Jinyang has been very smart since she was a child, and is very good at how to get the love and goodwill of others. She understands that Li Zhi thinking, so he did a very good job of making friends with Wu Zhao and maintaining the relationship.

Wu Zhao has a thick filter for the Luo family, because she has a trace of Phoenix destiny, so she can slightly sense Ji Lingjun's vast presence, which is almost equivalent to half a Luo family woman, so although she She didn't say it, but she was a follower of Ji Lingjun, and she believed deeply in the existence of King Su. Although King Su had not appeared for many years, she firmly believed in him.

Then there were Luo Su and Luo Junwei, the direct descendants of the Luo family who played a huge role in her life. Finally, in those years when she had a low self-esteem and was sensitive, every Luo family son and Luo family daughter she met was... Treating her as an equal, although she knew that even if he met a beggar, Luo would treat her the same way, and he was not special to her, but this made Wu Zhao even more obsessed with Luo.

As early as more than ten years ago, she envied Luo Junwei for being able to freely choose her own life, marriage, or not. What she envied was not Luo Junwei alone, but Luo's mental state. If she used To describe it with a metaphor, it is a bit like the Siyi people's yearning for living in the Tang Dynasty.

After the four chatted for a while, Li Zhi got down to the topic. What he wanted to ask most was what Luo Xuanling's attitude was towards him as the emperor, and what his attitude was towards Changsun Wuji.

When Luo Junzhuo heard this, he knew that Li Zhi was dissatisfied with Duke Zhao. He was probably suppressed a bit by Duke Zhao, so he was dissatisfied and full of complaints, so he asked this question.

Luo Junzhuo was thinking about what to say. It would definitely not work to tell the truth directly, and Wu Zhaoyi was also making looks, but it would definitely not work to deceive the emperor. He never deceived Li Zhi, which was one of the reasons why Li Zhi trusted him. , the so-called sincerity in serving the emperor has always been one of the principles of Luo's ministers.

"Your Majesty, my uncle may advise you, but as long as you insist, he will always obey your will. He is the sword left to you by the late emperor. As long as you give your order, he will hold the sword. Cut off everything for you, everything that stands in front of you, the King of Qin, the King of Yan, the King of Qi, the Duke of Zhao, or the High Priest of the Holy See of the Western Regions."

Luo Junzhuo said what Luo Xuanling meant in another way, that is, Luo Xuanling would not take the initiative, but if you, the emperor, insist on doing this, after he persuades you, he will stand firmly on your side. One side, so Duke Yong Guo, you don’t need to worry.

Li Zhi was immediately relieved upon hearing this. As soon as a smile ignited on his face, he felt Wu Zhao tugging on his sleeve. He turned his ears slightly and heard Wu Zhao whispering: "Master Junzhuo hasn't finished speaking yet." , Your Majesty, don’t worry.”

Li Zhi was stunned, and sure enough he heard Luo Junzhuo continue to say: "But my uncle has also accepted the heavy responsibility of the late emperor, and our Luo family is acting, he will not harm Zhongliang. After all, Zhao Guogong has made great contributions and established a great foundation for the Tang Dynasty." He may have great achievements in this regard, and he is more tolerant to Zhao Guogong. Even if Zhao Guogong sometimes provokes him, his uncle will pretend that he doesn't know about it. "

Luo Junzhuo shaped Luo Xuanling into an image of serving the country and the people, telling Li Zhi, my uncle, sometimes he doesn't care about Changsun Wuji, so if the emperor is a little wronged, my uncle may not care. , I think it’s nothing. If you don’t have a good reason, my uncle may think you are making a fuss out of a molehill, but Zhao Guogong still has merit.

At this moment, Li Zhi thought of what Wu Zhao said when he was in bed before, and he suddenly realized, "It's the human heart. The human heart has not shifted to his side. Many of the things Changsun Wuji is doing now, under the minister In the hearts of us and the people of the world, he has not done anything truly wrong, and he has not done anything truly wrong that will make people in the world think that he is wrong.”

Although Changsun Wuji has been dealing with some political opponents and people who are at odds with him over the years, his biggest enemies, such as the former King of Wei Li Tai, the former King of Wu Li Ke, and those nobles who are at odds with him, have all been After being enfeoffed, they were no longer in the Central Plains at all.

Even if he wanted to use some cases to implicate him, the sky was high and the emperor was far away, so he couldn't be implicated at all.

Especially Li Ke and Li Tai, he knew very well that if he really dared to implicate these two people for no reason, Luo Xuanling and Li Ji would immediately join forces with the emperor to kill him.

These two people are important figures who must not be touched. Changsun Wuji gave up all thoughts on dealing with the two of them after they left town. After all, he still put the Tang Dynasty Sheji first.

Therefore, Changsun Wuji is a little more domineering, but he has never done anything that touches the bottom line of the world. People's hearts are still on Changsun Wuji's side.

Thinking of this, Li Zhi couldn't help but sigh. Luo Junzhuo sighed after seeing this and whispered: "Your Majesty, most people in this world despise young people and value the experience of the elderly, but if young people can make achievements, , it is easier to be recognized than an old man, just like the late emperor, who was already famous in his prime.

If His Majesty can prove that he is right and Duke Zhao is wrong, then His Majesty's prestige will increase, while Zhao Guogong's prestige will decrease, and the call for Your Majesty to take charge of the government will become stronger. "

Li Zhi was a little hesitant when he heard this. His character is indeed a bit weak. He can stir up troubles and conspiracies behind his back, but if he is really allowed to come to the front, argue his case, and resist things head on, he will really Some of them can't be done.

Upon seeing this, Wu Zhao immediately said loudly: "Master Junzhuo is right, Your Majesty, wait for the opportunity. I remember that Your Majesty once said that some of Zhao Guogong's remarks made His Majesty very angry. For example, when he talked about personal affairs in the officialdom, Zhao Guogong didn't care at all. joke and said that this kind of personal relationship is correct.

I remember that I said at the time that Duke Zhao would never say these words to the late emperor. I think that your majesty can start from this aspect. If there is any discrepancy between Zhao Guogong now and the time of the late emperor, your majesty can use this. Question him.

Why did the late emperor use one set of rhetoric, but when it came to your majesty, he used another set of rhetoric? Although the late emperor was a holy king, could it be that your majesty is a Jie and Zhou?

If not, why was the late emperor loyal and prudent, while His Majesty was indulgent? Isn't this a reflection of a saintly king with virtuous ministers, and a cowardly king with treacherous sycophants? "

hiss.

Luo Junzhuo looked at Wu Zhao in surprise when he heard this. Every time he saw Wu Zhaoyi, he could refresh his knowledge. Can your Majesty really outplay his concubine?
Li Zhi was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then burst out laughing. He hugged Wu Zhao directly into his arms, "Mei Niang, I really can't leave you for a moment, so I will do as you say."

Li Zhi seemed to have seen the light of day.

----

A system that operates stably will lose the power of external expansion, and then move towards involution and closure. The political structure of the Tang Dynasty has been an extremely extroverted model since its establishment. This has brought endless glory to the Tang Dynasty, but At the same time, this model also represents extreme instability, which is reflected in the fierce struggle in politics. From the inside to the outside, there is never peace. The bloody prosperous Tang Dynasty is not only a military fight, but also a foreshadowing of the political battle. struggle. ——"The Rise and Fall of the Tang Empire"

(End of this chapter)