Li Zhi, don't be a coward

Chapter 1166
Li Ji is now the Duke of England. In addition, he also has a lofty status, that is, among the dukes of many countries in the Tang Dynasty, the Duke of England is the first among the Dukes of the country.

Now that Li Ji has made another contribution to the destruction of Goguryeo, which is a shame for the Tang Dynasty, then the question arises, how should Li Zhi reward such a great contribution?
If the reward continues, Li Ji should be crowned king.

It is a very taboo topic for foreign ministers to make kings, no matter for the emperor or courtiers.

It represents the rise of powerful ministers, the fall of monarchy, the turmoil of the court, and the uneasiness of the people.

If Li Ji really had the ambition to take Li Tang and replace him, becoming king might be exactly the position he wanted.

But Li Qinzai knew very well that it was absolutely impossible for Li Ji to have such an idea, not at all.

So for Li Ji, the achievement of destroying Goguryeo was actually a disaster for the Li family.

When the carriage arrived outside the gate of Taiji Palace, Li Qinzai was lifted off the carriage. Seeing the majestic palace as familiar as his own courtyard in the past, Li Qinzai felt extremely heavy.

I have to admit that he has doubts about this friend Li Zhi, and I am very sorry for him, but as the emperor who is in charge of the empire, who would dare to believe that he values ​​love more than country?
Before entering the palace gate, Li Qinzai felt unprecedented difficulty, as if he walked in that palace gate, and since then the world has lost a friend and gained a pair of monarchs and ministers who can only weigh the pros and cons.

Gathering his mind, Li Qinzai handed over his badge to the guards outside the palace gate. After the guards took the badge and inspected it, they hurried into the palace gate to report.

Li Qinzai waited outside the palace gate for half an hour, the palace gate opened and an eunuch came out.

When they met, they put on smiling faces and saluted. Li Qinzai was an old acquaintance in Tai Chi Palace, and the eunuch knew very well his weight in Li Zhi's heart, so he didn't dare to neglect and be arrogant.

Leading Li Qinzai into the palace, the eunuch said some ingratiating words as he walked. In the past, Li Qinzai might have joked with him a few times, making the eunuch tremble wildly.

But today's Li Qinzai was not in the mood for joking, he just reluctantly agreed to laugh, and finally came to Anren Hall, the eunuch signaled that there was no need to report, and let Li Qinzai go in by himself.

Li Qinzai adjusted his clothes outside the hall, then took off his shoes and entered the hall, and walked into the hall with his head bowed. Li Qinzai bowed and bowed down.

"Your Majesty, Li Qinzai, I pay my respects to Your Majesty." Li Qinzai saluted with unprecedented standards.

From the hall came Li Zhi's surprised voice: "Uh, Jingchu...did you take the wrong medicine? Why do you look like this?"

Li Qinzai raised his head: "The courtesy of a monarch and minister, did the minister do something wrong?"

Sitting in the hall, Li Zhi looked at him in astonishment: "In the past, when you entered the hall, your salute was the most sloppy and sloppy. After the ceremony, did you sit down, eat and drink in front of me and pick your feet..."

Li Qinzai looked at his nose and his heart, and said with a calm expression: "I used to be too rude, and it is a great crime of disrespect to be disrespectful before the emperor. I have decided to change my past mistakes and be a courteous and flawless courtier from now on. "

The astonishment on Li Zhi's face grew stronger: "Jingchu...what's the matter with you? Did your injury get worse, or did you eat something wrong? I'm scared when you look like this, can you recover?"

"Your Majesty misunderstood. The subject is in good health and did not eat anything wrong. It's just that he has come to his senses. Since then, Your Majesty has gained a courtier who is knowledgeable and courteous. Wouldn't it be great?"

Li Zhi blurted out: "I am beautiful, you are a bitch...Jing Chu, there is something wrong with you, do you want me to call the imperial physician to take your pulse? If you are sick, you can't hide from the doctor, and you will be cured sooner."

Li Qinzai said with a wry smile: "I'm really not sick... Well, I'm hungry, can your majesty give me the imperial meal?"

Li Zhi cheered up, and said with a smile: "It's finally back to normal, I'll just say, eating, drinking, and digging your feet is the real you, Jing Chu, you finally returned to your place!"

God is back in place...

Li Zhi immediately ordered the eunuchs to deliver the banquet, and soon the royal meal was brought into the palace by the maids.

The two monarchs and ministers moved the low table to the center of the hall as usual, and they sat facing each other.

Li Zhi was even less appetizing than Li Qinzai, he tore off a chicken leg and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing while saying: "Jing Chu suddenly entered the palace, do you have something to say?"

Li Qinzai had no appetite, put down his chopsticks when he heard the words, and suddenly stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty is the noble of the minister, I am grateful to Mu Tianen, but I have thought about it at home, I am too young, and it is inevitable that I will be envied and hated suddenly." , Sow disaster, so I implore Your Majesty to take back the order and cut down the title of the minister."

Li Zhi's chewing movements froze instantly, and he looked at him in astonishment.

After a long time, Li Zhi said in a low voice: "Jing Chu means that you don't want to be the Duke of the county?"

Li Qinzai smiled wryly and said: "Actually, I don't want to be a county minister. Your majesty's disposition to be a magistrate is actually just a salty fish with no ambitions. My favorite way of life is to enjoy peace and wealth in Ganjingzhuang."

"In my spare time, I go fishing, bake a sweet potato, take my son into the mountains to get some game, and occasionally teach students. Of course, when I am in a good mood, I may also get some original novelties. Maybe it will be useful to Datang, maybe Useless."

Looking up at Li Zhi's eyes, Li Qinzai smiled bitterly and said: "I am actually such a person who does not seek to make progress. It is not important for me to be an official or a knight. I have a great grandfather. He spent his whole life fighting In exchange for the prosperity of the family business..."

"I just want to be a dandy under the shadow of my grandfather. The minimum requirement is not to ruin the family property before death, and leave some for future generations..."

Li Zhi was shocked, his expression gradually became serious, he threw down the half chicken leg in his hand, Li Zhi stared into his eyes and said slowly: "What's wrong with you? What happened?"

Li Qinzai was silent for a while, then said: "I'm fine, I just got a little tired suddenly, maybe after losing half my life on the Goguryeo battlefield, my temperament has also changed..."

Li Zhi also fell silent, and after a long time, he suddenly said: "Grandpa Ying's good news spread to Chang'an, the government and the public were shaken, and the subjects were happy, but I heard the performance of Baiqi Simi, and there seemed to be some bad voices among the courtiers..."

"It's cold in the north. There are some deserters in the Wang division. There are as many as a thousand people who fled. Yinggong has already mentioned it in the report of the victory. I have no intention of blaming it, but I heard that some people in the court plan to make a fuss about it. , in an attempt to discredit Yinggong’s military exploits.”

Li Zhi sighed: "I didn't take this matter to heart, why did Jing Chu take it seriously? Do you think I'm the kind of fool who doesn't know right from wrong?"

"The weather is cold, and the soldiers are wearing single clothes and iron armor. If they can't stand the cold, of course they have to flee. This is human nature. If I were in Goguryeo, I might have escaped too. The Ministry of War has issued an order to severely punish those deserters. Rejected it."

"I forgive the deserters, how can you blame your grandfather? You can turn the tide when the army's morale is getting chaotic, and even break through Pyongyang. Yinggong is already very remarkable."

(End of this chapter)