Northern Dynasties Imperial Industry

Li Tai was surprised to hear Li Zhihua's tone of entrusting all family affairs to him.

Although he had always thought so in his heart, if we were to judge by facts, the young man Li Licheng at the table should be more qualified to represent the Longxi Li family. Even though they were both from the Li family, Li Licheng's bloodline was much more noble than his.

This kid was the eldest descendant of Li Chong's lineage, and he was also the nephew of Emperor Xiaozhuang of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Yuan Ziyou. In the incident of Emperor Xiaozhuang killing Erzhu Rong, his father Li Yu made great efforts, which could be regarded as avenging the blood of the clan members who died tragically in the Heyin Incident.

This was indeed the case. Li Tai still remembered that when he followed Su Chao to visit Zhou Huida, he regarded Li Licheng as the representative of the Longxi Li family in Guanxi from the beginning.

Even Li Tai himself had to admit that when it came to contributions to the family and the promotion of the current situation, his family was indeed not as good as others. There was really nothing to say about this.

However, Li Licheng was also quite tragic. He was separated from his family when he was young and followed his relatives to Chang'an. Although he was born in a noble family, he was too young after all. At that time, the fate of the Western Wei Dynasty was difficult. Survival was the top priority for everyone, and no one had the leisure to care about this kid, so many people didn't know that there was such a person in Guanxi from the Longxi Li family.

When Li Tai came to Guanxi, although he also encountered the defeat of Mangshan and the situation in the Western Wei Dynasty was not optimistic, it was much better than the early years of Datong. In addition, he dared to speak and act, and was able to take advantage of the popularity. With the support of Heba Sheng and others, he soon became famous in the Bafu, and his popularity had long surpassed Li Licheng who had entered Guanxi several years earlier.

So it is better to come early than to come at the right time. Family background only provides people with a starting point and opportunity, but if it is specific to each person's future, it will inevitably be different due to the situation and their own efforts.

Li Zhihua's words were sincere and earnest. After listening to them, Li Tai felt that this lady had a way of dealing with people and things, and was not stubborn and narrow-minded.

Although he is now the representative of the Longxi Li family in Guanxi recognized by the masses, and even has a small golden seal awarded by the Grand Executive Office as a certificate, it would be annoying if Li Zhihua made trouble with him because of blood relationship and seniority.

Whether a relationship is good or bad, it depends on the attitude of each other.

Li Zhihua's earnest teachings made Li Tai feel the care and warmth from the family elders, so that he did not intend to stay in Chang'an, but decided to stay and participate. He could not let the current laugh at the fact that they had no one in the Longxi Li family.

Although Li Zhihua's attitude made Li Tai feel quite useful, Li Licheng was a little uncomfortable.

Although they were cousins, they had been separated since their great-grandfathers, and their living environment and experience were different. Naturally, there was no blood relationship between them.

Even though there was some feeling of sympathy for each other in a foreign land in Guanxi, as Li Tai became more famous, Li Licheng often heard the current people compare the two of them, and there would inevitably be differences in praise and criticism. Some current people didn't even know him, but only praised Li Tai.

Today, when entertaining Li Tai at the Fengyi Palace, Li Licheng also greeted him with a smile, but it was only out of self-restraint, and there was still some resistance in his heart.

Especially when hearing what Princess Fengyi said, the young man showed a hint of dissatisfaction in his expression, and he said at the table: "The reputation of the Grand Commander's bravery is spread inside and outside, and of course he should be admired and expected. How dare I blame my great-aunt for being so discriminating. But the arrangement of the road sacrifice for the funeral of Taifu Wang this time may not be as you wish. A month ago, I was released from prison and became a clerk. If there are additional clerks in the province, I still have to put public affairs first and private affairs second." Hearing Li Licheng say that he was released from prison and became a clerk, Li Tai couldn't help but look at him twice, and secretly felt that the help his family brought to him was really great. He was only able to become a clerk when he was transferred to another position, and it was also because of Su Chao's support. Compared with Li Licheng's treatment after being released from prison, there is still a big gap. "So Xiaoxie has taken on this noble post, which is really a cause for celebration. Then, since he wrote a biography for Wang Taifu recently, I think he should also participate in the case?"

Li Tai heard that the boy was a little upset, but he just felt a little warmth from his aunt, and he didn't want to make the relationship with his clansmen awkward, so he gave the boy some compliments.

After hearing this, Li Licheng felt quite pleased with himself, but he was not arrogant and forgetful. He just waved his hand and said with a smile: "Brother Boshan, you have been in the government for a long time, and I think you don't know the rules and regulations of other provinces. Especially after the various departments have passed the examination, the matter must be entrusted to a special person, and you can't participate in it casually. I can lead the work, and it is also because of the reputation of the family, not because I have a strong pen, and I am far from having the qualifications and ability to lead the work..."

While speaking, he talked about some personnel rules and regulations of the Secretariat, which was naturally a bit of a show-off. After all, in his opinion, Li Tai, an official of the government, did not serve in the court, so it was inevitable that he was unfamiliar with the rules and regulations of the court. He might be inferior in other aspects, but he could still be said to be slightly better in this regard.

Although Li Tai worked as a writer for a period of time and wrote a biography for Zhou Huida, he never went to work in Chang'an. So when he saw Li Licheng seriously introducing the noble position, he was embarrassed to mention his resume. His work attitude was far inferior to his.

When Li Zhihua heard Li Licheng use official business as an excuse, he could naturally sense that this boy was unwilling to be left behind. After a little thought, he said, "Although I am the eldest among my relatives, I am not the head of the family after all. I am very happy to see that the young people in the family can live in harmony and strengthen the family reputation. You two are young and have a long way to go. It is not just a few things to do now. Remember, don't be greedy for personal convenience and alienate your relatives who should be with you for a long time." Li Licheng often went in and out of the Fengyi Prince's residence, and he could hear that this girl was very happy. Although grandma's tone was gentle, her mood was a little bad. She was a little embarrassed for a moment and hurriedly said, "I will remember my great-aunt's teachings and attend the road sacrifice with Brother Boshan. After returning, I will ask for leave from the provincial government." "There is no need to be so troublesome. I will inform Lu Jian of the provincial government later and ask for some convenience." Li Tai smiled again after hearing this. He was not deliberately showing off his relationship with his superior. It was just a matter of a word. The Shangshu Province in the court had nothing to do, let alone the Secretariat. Li Licheng was just a new official and the novelty had not faded. When he became an old hand, he would learn to slack off. Li Licheng was a little indignant that he was played by this guy again. He sat up and said seriously: "I know that Brother Boshan and Lu Jian have a good relationship, but the official positions are divided in an orderly manner. It is better not to confuse them for personal gain. I will ask for leave after I return, so I won't bother Brother Boshan." Seeing that this kid looked like he was going to compete with others, Li Tai was too lazy to say anything more, and chatted with Li Zhihua and her son in the hall about some family matters. Talking about the living conditions of the clan members who were stranded in Guandong, they couldn't help but sigh with shame. But during this conversation, Li Licheng suddenly discovered a blind spot, stared and screamed: "So Boshan, you were born in the second year of Yong'an, that's wrong, really wrong! I was born in the first year of Yong'an, and I am much older than you, Boshan..." This kid was very happy because he was older than Li Tai, but it made Li Tai and Li Zhihua a little embarrassed. Although they were related by blood, their friendship was not close, and they were too rigid to discuss and ask in detail, so they even made a mistake in the basic question of seniority.

Li Licheng was complacent because he was older than Li Tai, and he changed his address from Brother Boshan to A Pan. Li Tai didn't think it was a big deal, but he was a little annoyed by the silly look on his face. After sitting for a while, he simply stood up and said goodbye.

The Bafu also attached great importance to Wang Meng's death. The Grand Executive was still inspecting the river defense and had no time to return, but he still sent his sons and nephews to Chang'an to handle Wang Meng's funeral as soon as possible. Yuwen Hu was temporarily promoted to the position of Minister of Rites to preside over Wang Meng's funeral.

After the funeral specifications were agreed upon, all matters were carried out quickly, and time soon came to the day before the coffin was carried out.

For the past few days, Li Tai has been living in a manor outside the city for fear of being caught by the prince again, and has tried to avoid entering the city. After the city sent the route map of the Wang family's funeral and the location of the tents set up by each family, he asked his staff to prepare everything, and then led the crowd to the west of Chang'an City.

When the deceased was buried, his relatives and friends set up tents along the way to express their grief, but because of Wang Meng's special status and the prince's instigation, all the fifth-rank officials in Beijing and above were required to participate in the ceremony, which made the funeral very wasteful.

When Li Tai and his party arrived at the western suburbs of the city, the servants of various families had already set up tents along the way. Some were perfunctory, while others were decorated ornately. Although it was up to the person to choose, there were still some underlying rules, the most direct of which was the location of the tents for the road sacrifice.

There was a large tent on each side of the city gate. The one on the left was set up by the royal family. After all, in addition to the relationship between the monarch and the minister, they were also in-laws. The one on the right was set up by the Yuwen family.

Yuwen Hu, who came to Beijing to preside over the funeral this time, was not a person who knew how to keep a low profile. The tent of the road sacrifice was set up higher than the city gate, which made the royal road sacrifice tent on the opposite side pale in comparison.

Li Tai couldn't help but laugh when he saw this scene. The evil man had to be dealt with by the evil man. The prince had been acting in various ways at the Wang family's funeral a few days ago, but when Yuwen Hu entered Beijing, he was completely silent and dared not do anything explicit.

The road sacrifice tents of each family were also arranged outside the city along this way. The distance of the position also reflected the closeness of the relationship and the strength of the momentum, especially the latter.

Since the court did not stipulate the order of each family, it was naturally divided on the principle of first come first served. Of course, if you really want to be awesome, you don't have to care about the order. As long as you have the strength, it's nothing to lift the tents of the Yuan family and the Yuwen family.

Li Tai was naturally too lazy to force himself to show his performance in this matter. After arriving at the outskirts of the city, he saw that both sides of the road near the city gate had been occupied by people, so he went further to find an open space and look for Li Licheng who agreed to meet here.

But before he had walked far, he heard a commotion and turned around to see people fighting over a plot of land. He was just here to watch the excitement, but unexpectedly, a sad and angry voice came from the fighting crowd: "A Pan, you came at the right time. My tent was taken away by someone..."