Song Jing smiled and said without concession: "I don't agree with Zhang Guogong's statement, there are many skilled craftsmen in Wannian County, and the chance of winning the lantern in Wannian County this year is very high." ”

"It seems that it is Song Xiang who is overconfident." Zhang said that the tip of the needle said to Mai Mang.

"Isn't it that the winner of the championship as Zhang Guogong said is from Chang'an County?"

Seeing the two important ministers arguing, Li Longji immediately came forward to appease: "Victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers, and the two Aiqing are both important ministers in the DPRK and the pillars of the country. ”

"The minister is guilty."

"The old minister is guilty." As soon as Li Longji spoke, Zhang Shuo and Song Jing hurriedly confessed.

Li Longji helped the two of them up one in one hand: "It's just a casual discussion, what is the crime of the two Aiqing, you and others support one side, just use this to gamble, the winning side, I have a heavy reward, as for the losing side..."

Li Longye, who was on the side of the "emperor", opened his mouth and proposed: "Zhang Guogong is a master in the literary world, and Song Xiang is also a recognized talent in the literary world. ”

"The emperor's proposal is good, so let's do it." Li Longji made the final decision.

Li Longji spoke, and Song Jing and Zhang Shuo didn't dare to go against his will, so they hurriedly responded.

A dispute dissipated invisibly, but everyone present knew that the struggle had only just begun.

Yao Chong and Zhang said that they had made great contributions when Li Longji ascended the throne, and Li Longji planned to appoint Yao Chong as the prime minister, so Zhang Shuo instructed Zhao Yanzhao, the imperial historian, to impeach Yao Chong, but without success, and asked Jiang Jiao, the eunuch of the palace, to propose that Yao Chong be appointed as the governor of Hedong to prevent Yao Chong from entering the court to worship the prime minister.

After being unable to prevent Yao Chong from taking the position, Zhang Shuo made another trick and went to the mansion of Li Fan, the king of Qi, to express his sincerity, but was denounced by Yao Chong and demoted to the history of Xiangzhou Assassin, and soon, Zhang Shuo was implicated in other matters and then demoted to the history of Yuezhou Assassin.

However, at this time and at that time, Yao Chong and Song Jing became more and more influential in the court, and they have been trying to persuade Li Longji to change the crown prince, to know that Li Cong, the king of Qing, is the eldest son, and the prince Li Ying is the second son of Li Longji.

If Li Ying successfully ascends the throne, an advocate will become the queen mother of the world, it is definitely a joke, Yao Chong and Song Jing have been trying to dissuade the emperor, Li Ying and his biological mother Zhao knew about it, but they kept it hidden, until Yao Chong's son caused a big disaster, so they united with the forces to support Yao Chong in one fell swoop.

Li Longji is good at balancing the forces of the DPRK and China, and seeing that Yao Chong is sitting big, he intends to recall Zhang Shuo back to Chang'an to check and balance Yao Chong.

Zhang Shuo and Song Jing, one supports Chang'an County and the other supports Wannian County, the reason is very simple, Chang'an County Ling Huang Ping is Zhang Shuo's student, and Wannian County Ling Tang Hai is from Song Jing's disciple, so the two are-for-tat.

In addition to the gap between the two, there is another reason, Li Longji, who is the emperor, likes to control the overall situation, is obsessed with playing power games with mutual checks and balances, and as a courtier, he is also willing to "cooperate".

A simple lantern dispute, behind which the two forces of the DPRK and China fought each other, the emperor of the Suzaku Gate Tower, the ministers, the princess, the relatives of the emperor and the envoys who came to congratulate him, set up more than 30 tables on the city wall, except for Li Longye, the king of Qi, no one could speak.

As for those missions, it would be good to let them go up to the city wall to eat and feast and enjoy the lanterns, which one dares to say more.

The most feared thing is the immortal fighting method, and the little ghost will suffer.

There was no dispute, the atmosphere of the scene also eased up, the monarchs and ministers frequently raised their glasses, wine is the best medium to stimulate the atmosphere, and after a while, it was Zhang Shuo and Song Jing, who were blushing, occasionally telling jokes.

Li Longji drank a little wine, left his seat, walked to the guardrail of the city tower, raised his eyes to look at Chang'an City under his feet, and couldn't help muttering: "My Chang'an, my country, how magnificent and prosperous, this is what makes the country picturesque." ”

Looking down from the high tower of the Vermilion Bird Gate, it seems that the entire Chang'an City is stepped on under the feet, Chang'an City is neatly divided into one hundred and eight squares, from a high place, the streets are like criss-crossing chessboards, a building is like a chess piece on the chessboard, neat and tidy has a wordless beauty, at this time it is the Shangyuan Festival, every household hangs lanterns, every street, every corner is no exception, Jingzhao Mansion unified planning, implemented by the county government layer by layer, and finally hung by the Wuhou shop, it seems to be extraordinarily coordinated.

Looking at Chang'an City from the height of the city tower, one by one, it is orderly; A lantern, beautiful and bright; Faces are smiling, and the squares, people, and lanterns are just right together, looking from a distance, it seems that a beautiful picture scroll is slowly unfolding in front of Li Longji.

The elaborate lanterns embellished the dark night sky of Chang'an, ignited the enthusiasm of the subjects of Chang'an to enjoy the lanterns, and lit up the heroism in Li Longji's heart.

When Li Longji looked over the railing, Zhang Shuo and Yao Chong had a tacit understanding to follow behind one left and one right, and when they heard the emperor's sigh, the two glanced at each other, and Yao Chong opened his mouth to echo: "The Tang Dynasty is peaceful in all seas, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, all of which are Your Majesty's wisdom, which is the luck of the Tang Dynasty and the blessing of the people." ”

"Yao Aiqing, this picturesque country also has the credit of Aiqing, without Aiqing's ten strategies in the past, and there is no prosperity today."

"Your Majesty Xie praised him, and the old minister didn't dare to be ashamed." Yao Chong was overjoyed in his heart, but he still said respectfully on his face.

As long as the emperor remembers his goodness, it doesn't matter what position he is in, the reason is simple, the emperor's order restores its former glory.

The heroism in Li Longji's heart made him can't help but ask: "Zhang Aiqing, what do you think of Chang'an City tonight?" ”

"As Your Majesty said, it is beautiful and picturesque, and the heavenly fairyland in Weichen's heart is nothing more than that."

"Oh, how does that compare to Sadakan?" Li Longji asked with interest.

Every emperor hopes that he can become a generation of famous monarchs who will be admired by future generations, Li Longji is no exception, among the kings of the Tang Dynasty, Taizong Li Shimin is the most famous, and the rule of Zhenguan is the result of Li Shimin's rule, seeing that Chang'an is so prosperous, Li Longji as the emperor also compared with Li Shimin.

Let's see who does a better job as emperor.

Zhang Shuo just thought about it, and soon said respectfully: "Back to Your Majesty's words, just from a subjective point of view, it is difficult to distinguish between the superior and the inferior, and if you really want to divide the superior, the most direct thing is to refer to the various data, if Weichen is not mistaken, whether it is population, territory, grain reserves, treasury surplus and military force comparison, Your Majesty is comprehensively superior." ”

This is not an exaggeration, the prosperous era of the Kaiyuan Dynasty is indeed the peak of the national strength of the Tang Dynasty.

"Hahaha...."Li Longji couldn't help but look up to the sky and smile.

If Zhang said that he had won by opening his mouth, Li Longji would be suspicious, but Zhang said that it was difficult to distinguish subjectively, but all items were better than those of Taizong, which seemed more real and credible.

"Your Majesty" At this time, Gao Lishi came over and reported: "The primary election of the lanterns has been completed, as long as Your Majesty gives an order, you can parade." ”

The lanterns made by the people are selected by the relevant officials first, which is called the primary election, and the lanterns that successfully pass the primary election can participate in the lantern parade, and the route of the parade passes through the Suzaku Gate, and Li Longji handpicks the best as the "lantern leader", that is, the winner.

Li Longji waved his hand and said, "Let's start." ”