Willow Ichijo

As an official, especially an official who can stand in the court and discuss matters in the early court, who is not an old fritter who has been tempered by thousands of tempers, is exquisite, and has a keen mind?

Pondering the meaning of the officials' words, speculating on the emperor's intentions, everything is not explained thoroughly, they can also guess a general outline from some gossip or clues, the so-called listening to the strings and knowing the elegant meaning, if they don't have such a little ability, they will not walk from the grassroots level to the court step by step.

Therefore, as soon as Li Shimin left, most of these people already reacted, why did they leave the dynasty so early? Why did the eldest grandson Wuji, Fang Xuanling, the crown prince, and the prince solemnly read out their huge donations? If it was left on the usual days, if an official or prince came up with a huge amount of money that did not match their money or money, the emperor would have already been furious and would have been thoroughly investigated.

But what about now? Not only did the emperor not pursue it, but he also praised them in the court with a smile that they were loyal and righteous people, is this normal? Under such a huge contrast, if there are still people who don't understand the emperor's intentions, then there is no need for him to stay in this court for a long time.

This is a signal given by the emperor and a plan for Chiguoguo's plan.

Those who donate money and food are loyal and righteous, so what should those who do not donate money and food do, and how should they deal with themselves? The emperor needs loyal ministers, the people need loyal officials, as a courtier, as an official eunuch, you can not have too amazing political achievements, but you must not have a loyal heart.

Now that the emperor has drawn a line, whether you are a loyal minister or not depends on how you behave.

Although the emperor did not say it explicitly, although no one forced you to teach you how to do it, these officials in the court were all like a fire in the house, and they hurriedly went home.

As for the most appropriate amount to donate, different officials have different experiences.

Those who are purifying themselves, even if they only have one penny, are also their own intentions, and they are also loyal and upright, and they are worthy of their hearts, and they believe that the emperor will not punish their sins or never use them again.

Therefore, these people will donate, but only according to their ability, and generally donate no more than 1,000 yuan, after all, there is a limit there, and they have no other way to make money, they are intentional but powerless, and they can't donate too much. Of course, there is an exception for loyal and upright ministers who are honest in government but have a wealthy family and have money to spare.

In their eyes, the emperor has clearly given the bottom line of 100,000 yuan, and he will not investigate the source of money, that is, punish or exonerate them for the sin of being greedy for ink before.

So these people will donate, and it will definitely not be less than 100,000 pieces of silver.

Speaking of which, these talents can be regarded as the main targets that Li Shimin wants to beat today. Li Shimin understood the truth that when the water is clear, there are no fish, and Li Shimin understood it quite thoroughly as early as when he was in the Qin Palace, so although Li Shimin shouted loudly about clean government, he never really made a dead hand.

As long as these people can do practical things, have loyalty, and know how to be restrained, Li Shimin doesn't mind letting them live a better life. And this time, it is Li Shimin's test of them, whether they can grasp it depends on their specific performance.

Therefore, after retiring from the dynasty, Li Shimin has been waiting patiently in the study, waiting for the second report from Di Zhixun, the head of the household department.

However, time passed minute by minute, and when it was almost noon, Li Shimin did not look forward to Di Zhixun, but waited for the invitation of Li Ji, the secretary of the military department.

Just like debt collection, since he was appointed to crusade against the generalissimo of Gaochang soldiers and horses, Li Ji has to come almost every day, and Li Shimin naturally knows what Li Ji is here for.

After all, it has been nearly a month since he came out of Caozhou, and he has no soldiers to bring and no battles to fight.

If it had been left yesterday and heard Li Ji's request to see him, Li Shimin was afraid that he would have been the same as usual, and Li Ran had already sent him back. But today is different, after knowing that the household department got another 2 million yuan of silver and 110,000 quintals of rice grain, Li Shimin was in a good mood, and the matter that Li Ji asked for was also settled, so there was no need to worry about it anymore, so there was no need to avoid it again.

"In the early dynasty, I knew that the imperial court had received more than two million yuan in income, and this Li Ji could bear to come to see me until now, which was already very unexpected by me, go and invite him in." People are in good spirits on happy occasions, Li Shimin said with a smile, and told Li Ran to invite people.

Li Ran whispered yes, turned around and went out, and brought Li Ji in after a while. After bowing down and saluting Li Shimin, Li Ji sat down on the side at Li Shimin's signal.

The palace maid brought the tea, Li Shimin took a sip, glanced down at Li Ji, and asked with a light smile: "But you just came back from the household?" ”

"I know that I can't hide it from the emperor, and the emperor is wise." slapped Li Shimin on the back, and Li Ji replied: "It's a shame to say that Weichen's family background is not as deep as that of Lord Changsun and Lord Fang, and they are inferior to other colleagues in the DPRK and China, so they can only spend 10,000 yuan to fund state affairs, which makes the emperor smile." ”

Thinking of what he saw and heard in the household department just now, Li Ji had to admire Li Shimin's scheming and methods, a list of donations, and several old ministers who left their names in only one morning set off a storm of court officials competing to donate their family wealth in Chang'an City.

There were hundreds of people, all crowded in front and back of the household hall, regardless of official rank, regardless of high or low, all of them rushed to donate their own money, Li Ji, the secretary of the military department, squeezed in the crowd for an hour before he could squeeze in front of Di Zhixun and his party of household officials.

"More money and less wealth, all of them are a heart," from Li Ji's words, Li Shimin had roughly guessed the current lively situation in the household, Li Shimin rolled up a smile at the corner of his mouth, and said softly: "One article is, one hundred wen is, one million guan is, and twenty thousand guan is also, all of them are my heroes of the Tang Dynasty and loyal people." ”

"The emperor is wise!" In response, Li Ji said in a loud voice: "Gather sand into a tower, accumulate soil into a mountain, since the Sanyuan Liu clan, the treasury is becoming more and more full, just as Di Shangshu said in the court, the expedition to Gaochang is enough." Weichen is also ready to travel, I don't know what the emperor thinks, when will it be good to send troops? ”

"Oh?" Waving his hand to signal Li Ran and the other palace maids to retreat, Li Shimin looked at Li Ji with interest and said, "Didn't you Aiqing always guess before that I would send troops after the spring ploughing next year?" Why does Mao Gong think it's not? ”

"Back to the emperor," Li Ji replied: "After spring ploughing, there is no need to worry about the future, and the weather is getting warmer, which is also conducive to marching. However, since the emperor first made it clear that he wanted to attack Gaochang in order to raise money and food, Weichen was a little uncertain. ”

"Oh?" Li Shimin raised his eyebrows slightly, his face remained silent, and he continued to stare at Li Ji, and said, "Why is this?" ”

"Because Weichen thinks," Li Ji also said directly without changing his face, "The emperor should not leave too much time for Gao Chang to prepare. Therefore, Weichen guessed that since the emperor has now made it clear that he wants to use troops against him, the real time to send troops should be in the near future. ”

Li Shimin's complexion changed slightly, he gently put the tea bowl in his hand on the table, and asked Li Ji: "Then according to Mao Gong's opinion, when is the best time to send troops?" ”

"Wechen said in vain," without thinking too much, Li Ji directly replied: "If you want to surprise and give Gaochang an unexpected blow, Wechen thinks that the best time to send troops is when celebrating at the end of the year." ”

"Hehe, what Mao Gong said coincides with what I think." Looking at Li Ji, Li Shimin couldn't help laughing loudly with satisfaction: "If this is the case, what more can the husband ask for?" ”

"The emperor praised falsely, and the ministers were terrified." Li Jisu modestly excused himself for a few sentences, and then said to the emperor again: "Since the emperor intends to send troops at the New Year's Pass, and now that he has enough money and food, I don't know ...... the soldiers who went out to fight."

Speaking of this, Li Ji felt a little depressed, seeing that he was about to go out to meet the enemy's two soldiers, but his subordinates still had never seen a single source of soldiers, but he was pitiful that he had the title of generalissimo of soldiers and horses, but there were no soldiers in his hands, and no generals could be used. came to ask the emperor several times, but every time he was sent aside by the emperor with such and such excuses, which was really helpless.

"In this attack on Gaochang, I am ready to send 100,000 troops." This time, Li Shimin did not shirk his refusal, and said to Li Ji very simply: "They are drawn from the city guards, the Weihu battalion, and the government army guarding outside the city, and as for the generals in each battalion, you will also choose and decide, and you can draw up a list and send it to me." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty! Weichen will live up to the emperor's trust! Li Shimin valued it so much, Li Ji was a little excited, and it could be seen that his performance when he first entered Chang'an, and even his actions at the expense of offending most of the court's ministers had successfully won the emperor's approval.

"Five days before the New Year's Pass, I secretly set out on an expedition," Li Shimin nodded: "I ask Qing to sneak to the northwest at the fastest marching speed, and strive to reach the Gaochang junction within half a month. ”

"One, the emperor has sent the 500,000 yuan of money, and now it is in the uncle's mansion, if your chamber of commerce is short of money, you can come and withdraw it at any time." In the backyard of Sanyuan Yang's Mansion, Yang Bofang pulled Liu Yiyi to enjoy the scenery in the backyard pond, and took advantage of the time when no one was around, and said to Liu Yiyi.

"There's Uncle Lao Yang!" Liu Yiyi bent down and saluted Yang Bofang solemnly, and said, "Uncle Yang can be regarded as a great favor to the little nephew this time. ”

"However, it is better to put this money on Uncle Yang's mansion for the time being," Liu Yiyi said respectfully without withdrawing the money: "If the money is not bad as expected, this fixed money will be returned to the imperial court in a short time." At that time, I will have to bother Uncle Yang to run again. ”

"Actually, Uncle Wei has always been unable to figure it out," Hearing the answers to these dumb riddles, Yang Bofang couldn't help but turn his head and glance at Liu Yiyi, and finally couldn't help but ask Liu Yiyi: "Well, how did you think of selling a batch of horses to the two masters?" Aren't you afraid that both of them will find out about it and come to find our uncle and nephew's bad luck? ”

Selling two goods at the same time, and at the same time collecting a large amount of money, not to mention that they can't afford to provoke these two buyers, even ordinary small families can't cheat like this? Besides, the Liu family, who can donate two million guan at once, really lacks so many hundreds of thousands of fixed money?

It's playing with fire.

Although Yang Bofang was not afraid, nor was he worried that his family would be affected by this, he couldn't understand why Liu Yiyi, who had always been shrewd and capable, would knowingly do something stupid that seemed absurd this time?

A few days ago, if Liu Wuchen hadn't said it seriously when he came, he directly mentioned this matter to the height of the survival of the Liu family, and Yang Bofang didn't know the specific situation of Yantian Ranch, so he left for Chang'an, and implemented this business through Li Jizhi's mouth.

Otherwise, if he had known early on that Liu Yiyi had the intention of selling the goods to the two families, and deceived the two countries of Datang and Gaochang, even if Yang Bofang decided to help, he would never be as hasty as a few days ago, and he would have to ask the specific reason for the matter in advance before he could act.

"Yi Yi is not deliberately deceiving Uncle Yang," Liu Yi looked at Yang Bofang very sincerely, not wanting this elder who had always helped their Liu family unconditionally to have any misunderstanding, and said: "In fact, if there is no better way, the little nephew really doesn't want to take such a risk." ”

"Virtuous nephew doesn't have to feel any guilt, Uncle Wei didn't mean to blame you," Seeing that Liu Yiyi was ashamed, Yang Bofang couldn't help but wave his hand generously, and said: "In fact, when you opened your mouth to explain the truth to Uncle Wei, Uncle Wei knew that you must have a hard time, and now I ask you, I just want to know the reason, and see if Uncle Wei can get started and help some." ”

"Thank you, Uncle Yang!" Knowing that Yang Bofang was not a lie, Liu Yiyi thanked him with emotion, and at the same time felt a warm current surging in his heart.

Although the previous deception was out of good intentions, but concealing it, Liu Yiyi did not expect that before the specific reason was known, in the face of the danger of potentially offending two countries at the same time, Yang Bofang simply chose to believe, chose to understand, and also thought about how to further help.

Ranger, righteous man, even the loyal and righteous Guan Erye during the Three Kingdoms is nothing more than that.

"Let's talk about it, don't hold it in your heart alone," raised his hand and patted Liu Yiyi's shoulder, Yang Bofang said softly: "Although Uncle Yang has no ability, he has experienced much more incidents than you, tell the matter, I can't say that Uncle Yang can still give you a counselor." ”

Knowing that all the burdens of the Liu family are now all on this young man who is no more than ten years old, Yang Bofang sighed in his heart, and felt a little pity, thinking that he also came over step by step like this back then, knowing how hard and difficult it is for a person to support a family, so Yang Bofang can better understand the depression in Liu Yiyi's heart now.

"Uncle Yang's kindness, one to remember." Feeling the strong care in Yang Bofang's words, Liu Yiyi respectfully saluted Yang Bofang again, and his face was resolute as usual: "However, there are some things that I still want to do by myself, and the little nephew believes that he will be able to do his best, and Uncle Yang doesn't have to worry about the little nephew." ”

Because what he had to do after that might be a bit sinister, Yanagichi didn't want to involve other people, especially those who were good to him and their families.

In fact, the reason why there are two later sellers this time is that they want to get out of Yang Bofang's family, and the reason why they were deceived before was that they were afraid that Yang Bofang would reject his kindness after knowing the truth.

"You kid, what does Uncle Wei say about you?" Shaking his head a little disappointed, Yang Bofang said: "Like your father, he has been so stubborn since he was a child. ”

"Well, you can do whatever you want," After sighing a few words, knowing that it was useless to say more, Yang Bofang had to retreat and said: "However, if you really encounter any sadness in the future, and encounter a hurdle that you can't get over on your own, come and tell Uncle Yang, Uncle Yang will help you!" ”

"Okay, if it's a hypocrisy, we don't need it, so don't say more," Seeing that Liu Yiyi still wanted to salute and thank him, Yang Bofang waved his hand to interrupt him, and said: "Let's talk to Uncle Wei about Fang Cai, why do you have to sell two goods, and solve the doubts in Uncle Wei's heart." ”

"Yes." Glancing at Yang Bofang gratefully, Liu Yiyi straightened up and said in a loud voice: "Uncle Yang also knows that the emperor is about to use troops against Gaochang, and now the relationship between Datang and Gaochang can be called the same power and belongs to the hostile camp. ”

"If Yantian Ranch sells all the 30,000 Yili war horses that have been cultivated in the ranch to Gaochang at this time," turning his head and glancing at Yang Bofang, Liu Yiyi said: "If the emperor knows, how does Uncle Yang think the emperor will react?" ”

"Defection to the enemy, treason, and beheading all over the house are possible." Uncle Yang didn't have the frightened look that Liu Yiyi imagined, but his face was still as usual, and he looked at him clearly: "So the virtuous nephew thought of this kind of strategy of selling the goods to the two families, aiming to get rid of Uncle Wei, the nominal master of Yantian Ranch?" ”

"That's what it means." Liu Yiyi nodded happily and said: "Uncle Yang is willing to put on the hat of the master of Yantian Ranch for his little nephew, and the little nephew is already grateful, how can Uncle Yang be put in danger because of this ranch again?" ”

"Then wouldn't it be better for you to sell the horse directly to Datang?" Yang Bofang nodded with satisfaction, still a little puzzled and asked, "Why take the risk of selling it in Gaochang?" ”

"It was Hou Junji who took the lead in going to the ranch and left 300,000 yuan of silver as a fixed money."

"Waiting for the king?" Yang Bofang was stunned for a moment, thinking about the previous grievances between Hou Junji and the Liu family, he was somewhat clear in his heart.

Since they are enemies, why bother talking about business reputation? When you seize the opportunity, you can naturally be black.

"Uncle Yang also understands Hou Junji's temperament." Liu Yiyi continued: "Greedy for money, warthirsty, and notoriously unreasonable, so the little nephew concluded that he would be reluctant to take out three million yuan to buy the thirty thousand batches of Yili war horses, and the previous three hundred thousand was just to make the rancher reassured." ”

"You mean," Yang Bofang seemed to have thought of a possibility, and asked Liu Yiyi with some uncertainty: "Hou Junji wants him, grab it?" ”

"It's not that there is no such possibility," without denying it, Liu Yiyi analyzed softly: "First of all, the ranch is not far from Gaochang, and secondly, Hou Junji now has strong soldiers in his hands, and most of the soldiers and horses in Gaochang are concentrated in his hands, if he wants to make any moves, he can't stop it at all with the thousands of soldiers under Brother Yang." ”

"Take the lead in provoking a war, he will not be afraid of ......" Halfway through the words, Yang Bofang stopped by himself, anyway, sooner or later there will be a war between the two countries, what is there to be afraid of when waiting for Junji?

"This kind of thing, he did it." Liu Yiyi said firmly: "It is impossible for Hou Junji not to see the emperor's intentions, since the war is about to start, if he can grab 30,000 sturdy war horses before the war starts, the little nephew can't think of any reason to let him go." ”

"Since the virtuous nephew expected it in advance, why didn't you report this matter to the imperial court? Or is it okay to inform your brother Yang directly? Yang Bofang said: "At the very least, you can let them be prepared, so that Hou Junji's plan to grab horses will be in vain?" ”

I don't understand, I don't understand, obviously I have already anticipated the enemy first, why would Liu Yiyi let it go and not try his best to destroy and obstruct it?

"Because," Liu Yiyi said in a deep voice, "Because, I want Hou Junji to die a little more miserably." ”

What kind of logic is this?

Giving away 30,000 healthy horses for nothing, so that Hou Junji got such a big advantage for nothing, it will only make his army grow stronger and stronger, how can it make him die even worse?

"Planting blame, intensifying the emperor's hatred of Hou Junji, and then using the power of the Tang Dynasty to destroy Hou Junji in one fell swoop?!" Thinking of the reason for the sale of two horses this time, Yang Bofang suddenly woke up, and his eyes changed a little when he looked at Liu Yiyi again: "This is another purpose for you to sell the war horse to Datang again?" ”

A batch of war horses was sold twice, and after waiting for Junji to lead the troops to snatch away this batch of war horses, it would easily create a false impression that Hou Junji would snatch the imperial court military horses, and it would be easier to arouse the hatred and even hatred of the Tang Emperor and the Tang Dynasty soldiers towards Hou Junji.

"And!" Seeing Liu Yiyi's intention to sell horses, Yang Bofang couldn't help but ask Liu Yiyi loudly again: "The two million yuan of silver and 300,000 quintals of rice and grain you donated a few days ago are also for this matter?!" ”

Donate money and food, catalyze the process of sending troops to the Tang Dynasty, and strive to be able to bring Hou Jun to death as soon as possible.

It's terrible, and his eyes fell on Liu Yiyi's body with palpitations, Yang Bofang really felt the ruthlessness and insidiousness of his eldest nephew for the first time, like such a series of schemes, how did you say that his little head came up with it?

At the same time, he also began to feel sad for Hou Junji and some other people who had offended Liu Yiyi, and provoked such a ruthless character who was calculating them everywhere, and their future was bright.