Chapter 6
In the Cheng Mansion, the early morning sunlight has quietly crept over the eaves, and the golden light shines on the bluestone slabs, giving the ancient mansion a warm coat. The flowers and plants in the courtyard seemed to be awakened by the morning light, exuding a faint fragrance, intertwined with the occasional bird song in the distance to form a melodious morning song.
"Li Qingge! What time has it been? Why are you still lying on the bed?" Cheng Yaojin's voice was filled with anxiety as he hurriedly walked through the corridor towards Li Qingge's room. His figure elongated in the morning light and looked particularly burly.
"Oh, Dad, don't worry, let me lie down for a while." Li Qingge turned over lazily, not even bothering to open his eyes, as if the whole world had nothing to do with her and just wanted to be immersed in it. In your own little world.
"His Majesty is coming today, don't look so lazy in front of him!" Cheng Yaojin raised his voice, with a hint of helplessness and worry in his tone. He knew that Li Qingge had become more and more lazy since he awakened the "Inaction Salted Fish System", doing nothing all day long, but he could always obtain various rewards and abilities for completing some trivial daily tasks. This made him feel confused and helpless.
Everyone in the Cheng Mansion was ready at this moment, with servants busy in every corner, cleaning, decorating, and preparing to welcome the arrival of distinguished guests. Only Li Qingge, the girl who was adopted by Cheng Yaojin, was still lying on the bed, not even bothering to open her eyes. Her room is simple and plain, but it is particularly different because of her unique temperament. There are several landscape paintings hanging on the wall, and the bookshelves are filled with all kinds of books, which look both literary and heroic.
"Dad, don't be anxious, don't be anxious. Your Majesty will come as soon as he comes, there is nothing to panic..." Li Qingge stretched out and slowly started to get dressed. Although her movements were lazy, every movement revealed an indescribable grace. Ever since she awakened to the "inaction salted fish system", she has started her own salted fish life. As long as you complete some small daily tasks, you can obtain various rewards and abilities. In other words, as long as she continues to live her salty life, she will continue to reap benefits! Salted fish can also become stronger! What could be happier than this? Her heart was filled with satisfaction and enjoyment of this life.
Cheng Yaojin looked at Li Qingge like this and sighed inwardly. Although Li Qingge is a woman, she is known to the outside world as Cheng Yaojin's "adopted son".
The surname Li was also given by Li Shimin.
She originally had a bright future, but her salty attitude made Cheng Yaojin very helpless. Li Qingge has a strong physique, but he does not look tough at all. Instead, he has a handsome temperament. This is very different from the image of a tough man in Cheng Yaojin's mind. There was a heroic spirit between her brows, yet still soft and beautiful, as if she was a strange woman who had the aura of heaven and earth combined into her.
What left Cheng Yaojin speechless the most was that his son was good-looking and in good health, but he just idled around all day and didn't look like someone from a famous family. If His Majesty sees this, I'm afraid he will be unhappy! He remembered that ten years ago, when Li Qingge was still young, it was not like this. Although she was naughty and mischievous at that time, she was always full of energy and curiosity, and was interested in everything. And now... Cheng Yaojin felt that his old father's heart was about to be broken.
So today His Majesty is coming to the Cheng Mansion. Cheng Yaojin is very nervous and specifically tells Li Qingge not to look like a salted fish. He hoped that she could show her due style and temperament like other queens from famous families.
......
In front of the Cheng Mansion, the carriage slowly stopped. Li Shimin always traveled in a low-key and simple manner. A simply decorated carriage stopped in front of the Cheng Mansion, followed by dozens of Yulin guards wearing armor. They looked serious and stood upright, as if they were unshakable fortresses.
Li Shimin on the carriage looked calm and looked around. The power of the emperor was self-evident. His eyes were deep and sharp, as if he could see into people's hearts. He gently raised his hand to signal the attendant to open the curtain, and then slowly stepped out of the carriage. His steps were steady and powerful, each step revealing an invisible majesty.
"I respectfully welcome Your Majesty!" Cheng Yaojin, along with Li Qingge and other members of the government, stood in front of the door and bowed to greet him. Their movements were uniform, as if they were a carefully rehearsed ritual. Cheng Yaojin's face showed a respectful look, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart. He knew that Li Shimin must have something important to discuss during his visit.
Although Li Qingge didn't like this kind of etiquette and style, there was nothing he could do if his father dragged him out. She stood lazily in the crowd, with a hint of helplessness and perfunctory expression in her eyes. After all, this is Li Shimin, the Khan of Heaven. He not only laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, but also made future generations proud of the Tang Dynasty. Although she was dissatisfied, she did not dare to show it.
"Cheng Zhijie, no need to be polite." Li Shimin's voice was very calm, but vaguely tired. His eyes swept over everyone, and finally rested on Cheng Yaojin, "Cheng Aiqing doesn't need to be polite. Now, only the Turkic thieves are my worry! They make it difficult for me to sleep and eat well."
His tone Although it is plain, the worry and anxiety contained in it are impossible to ignore. There was a deep worry in his eyes, as if he was telling an unspeakable secret.
Li Shimin did not put this matter in the court for more civil servants to discuss, because he did not want to intensify the war with the Turks again when the country was not yet stable. So he made a special trip to visit the generals. Before coming to Cheng Yaojin's residence, he had already gone to the residences of Qin Qiong, Yuchi Gong and other military generals to discuss it. He hopes that in this way, the best solution to the Turkic problem can be found.
As Li Shimin said, if the threat of Turkic thieves at the border is not eliminated, Datang will never be able to achieve real stability! His heart was filled with worries about the country and expectations for the future. He knew that only by solving the Turkic problem could the Tang Dynasty truly prosper and prosper. And all of this requires the joint efforts and struggle of him and his generals.
Just when Li Shimin was feeling irritable and troubled by the things that kept him awake at night, he suddenly heard a voice in his mind. The voice was a bit joking, but it seemed to contain profound meaning.
"Huh, what is it about this little thing that you are so concerned about? Those little Turks, wait until you, Li Shimin, have a few years of recuperation, won't you be able to capture them? By then, you will be able to defeat the Western Turks easily. , the Eastern Turks will be scared and flee to Europe to harass those white-skinned foreigners!"
When Li Shimin heard this, his eyes widened and he looked at Li Qingge in disbelief. This kid actually knows what I'm thinking? Could it be that the Weishui Alliance is really for recuperation? A wave of panic surged in his heart, and he felt a little dazed for a moment.
He looked carefully at Li Qingge, the girl he regarded as his adopted son, who was standing lazily aside at the moment, as if it had nothing to do with him. Her eyes were clear, but a little cunning, as if she could see into people's hearts. Her figure is tall and straight, yet soft and graceful, giving her a unique temperament.
For a moment, Li Shimin felt like he had found a soulmate. Although the Wei River Alliance was not a disastrous defeat, it was indeed an embarrassing thing for Li Shimin and his ministers who had never suffered humiliation after unifying the Central Plains. Therefore, many people complained and felt that this was Li Shimin's shame. However, Li Shimin didn't expect to hear the words he wanted to hear and looked forward to most from Li Qingge today.
There was a surge of excitement in his heart, as if he had found the way forward. But he had another question in his mind. Is what Li Qingge said about the defeat of the Western Turks and the great defeat of the Eastern Turks true? If it can really be done, how should it be implemented? The Turkic cavalry are brave and good at fighting, and they are familiar with the grassland terrain, so they are not so easy to deal with.
"Cheng Aiqing, you can speak freely today. I want to know what you think of the Turks and whether you are sure of defeating them?" Although Li Shimin had doubts in his heart, he still asked Cheng Yaojin to express his opinion. After all, Cheng Yaojin had experience in leading troops in war, so who could know whether Li Qingge was just talking nonsense?
Cheng Yaojin paused for a moment, his eyes were deep and firm, as if he could see through everything. He said slowly: "Your Majesty, I think it is not good for the Tang Dynasty to fight the Turks now. It is better to recuperate and wait a few years before launching a large-scale battle." Although his voice was not high, it was full of strength and determination. .
Although this answer was quite satisfactory, Li Shimin also nodded slightly. Although this was not the answer he most wanted to hear, it was not far off. He thought about Cheng Yaojin's words secretly and felt that they did make some sense.
"That's right! That's what I planned too. Recuperate first, but don't let up on military training!" Li Shimin's voice was firm and powerful, as if he was declaring his determination to everyone.
However, at this moment, another voice came from Li Shimin’s mind. The voice was somewhat helpless and self-deprecating: [Recuperation is of course a good thing, but now, a severe drought is coming. If we do not prepare in advance, famine may rage and countless people will starve to death. The most urgent thing now is to store more food and develop productivity. Alas, I am just a salty fish anyway, these have nothing to do with me. 】
Li Shimin was surprised when he heard this voice. He looked up and found that Li Qingge was yawning, looking leisurely. There was an indifferent attitude in her eyes, as if everything in this world had nothing to do with her. Li Shimin muttered to himself, Li Qingge looked carefree, could he have other plans in mind?
"Li Qingge." Li Shimin shouted, with a bit of majesty and expectation in his voice.
"Huh? Your Majesty?" When Li Qingge heard this, he raised his head in confusion. There was an innocence and confusion in her eyes, as if she didn't know Li Shimin was calling her.
[You haven’t finished speaking yet? Can you let me go back first? I am just a transparent person, please finish your sentence quickly, I still want to go fishing! ] Li Qingge's voice came again, with a bit of helplessness and complaint.
Li Shimin was so angry that he gritted his teeth when he heard this! This guy didn't even tell the truth! He was secretly thinking about how to deal with this Li Qingge who seemed to be carefree but was actually secretive.
"Let me ask you, if you follow Cheng Aiqing's advice and recuperate first, what should you do?" Li Shimin asked, with a bit of majesty and expectation in his voice. He hoped to get some useful advice from Li Qingge.
Li Qingge looked at Li Shimin in confusion, muttering to himself: [What the hell, you are talking about yours, why are you asking me? I’m not an official, so if I say something useful, am I still considered a lying fish? ] Her heart was full of helplessness and complaints, as if she didn't want to participate in this topic.
Li Shimin's mouth twitched slightly when he heard this unmotivated voice. Other ministers wanted to make suggestions in front of him in order to obtain rewards. You, Li Qingge, are quite good. Are you afraid that you can’t be a salty fish? However, complaints are complaints, and Li Qingge could not remain silent when faced with Li Shimin's questions.
Cheng Yaojin on the side was sweating even more. My own boy doesn't even bother to read books, so how can he know how to recuperate and govern the country? He was secretly worried about Li Qingge. However, Cheng Yaojin then thought about it. Although his son didn't like reading, he had a lot of clever ideas. The things he tinkered with all day made Cheng Yaojin's eyes light up. Just like the dried sweet potatoes mentioned before, I don’t know how this kid got it, but it tastes extremely delicious!
"Your Majesty, Qing Ge is not very talented and has no good strategy. But in other aspects, he may have some unique ideas. So please don't blame Liang'er for his nonsense." Cheng Yaojin said. , signaling Li Qingge to behave well with his eyes. There was a hint of pleading and anticipation in his voice.
Seeing this, Li Qingge felt helpless: [Dad, you didn’t cheat your son like that, did you? I haven't done anything to deceive my father. Aren't you making it clear that you want to deceive me? ] Her heart was full of helplessness and complaints, as if she didn't want to be involved in this topic.
Li Shimin wanted to laugh vaguely in his heart, but he didn't expect that Li Qingge, who seemed taciturn, could be so cute. He coughed lightly and said, "Li Qingge, I won't blame you, just tell me what you think." There was a hint of gentleness and encouragement in his voice.
Li Qingge hesitated for a moment. She raised her head and looked at the expectant eyes of Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin, and then at the curious eyes of other courtiers. She sighed helplessly and said: "Your Majesty, the common people think that...my father is right. Now we just need to recuperate and let the people live and work in peace and contentment, and have enough to eat and drink." There was a hint of helplessness in her voice. Perfunctory.
Cheng Yaojin and Li Shimin were speechless. Isn't this nonsense? Li Qingge, what exactly did you say? Eat and drink well? The key is, how can people eat and drink well? ! And from what Li Qingge said before, there might be a severe drought this year? It is even more necessary to think of ways in advance to obtain more food!
Li Shimin's eyes widened, and he was almost so angry that he dragged Li Qingge out to beat him. But soon, another voice sounded in his mind. The voice was a bit joking and serious: [Recuperation is easy, it just depends on whether the emperor is willing to let it go. Collect less taxes and let people save more food. To control the merchants who resell grain, it would be best if the state treasury pays for the grain collection. This should have some effect, but the most fundamental thing is to develop industry and improve agricultural efficiency...]
Li Shimin didn't quite understand some of these words. But compared to Li Qingge's nonsense, these words are obviously more valuable. His eyes lit up slightly and he thought: I have heard of this Li Qingge too. I have nothing to do all day long, have no ability, and have no good reputation. But now it seems that he is hiding his clumsiness?
Thinking of this, Li Shimin nodded with a smile and said: "Recuperate and recuperate. We really want to let the people eat and drink well." There was a bit of satisfaction and appreciation in his voice.
This time, it was Cheng Yaojin and Li Qingge's turn to be a little dumbfounded. Anyone who is not a fool can hear it! Li Qingge’s words must be as deceptive as possible! But now, why does His Majesty seem to be very satisfied?
"Gulu." Cheng Yaojin swallowed his saliva, feeling a little doubtful for a moment... Could it be His Majesty? Something went wrong? He was thinking to himself, but he didn't dare to ask easily. After all, this is what the emperor wants!
The setting sun hangs slanting on the horizon, and the afterglow falls on the ancient city wall, giving this historic city a golden glow. Li Shimin stood in front of the city gate, frowning slightly, thinking secretly in his heart. At this time, a childish but somewhat impatient voice sounded in his mind: "What does this mean? Did Li Shimin's brain get kicked by a donkey's hoof?"
Hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but curl up the corner of his mouth. He gave a wry smile. He looked around and saw the servants with their heads lowered, not daring to look him in the eyes. There was only one child, Li Qingge, standing there with undisguised dissatisfaction and laziness in his eyes.
"It's so annoying. Why don't you leave? Is there someone willing to look at your face all the time, Li Shimin?" The child's inner words were like a barrage of words, making Li Shimin feel helpless and funny. He thought to himself that as the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, he was respected by all the people, but in front of this little child, he seemed to have lost all his majesty.
"Even if I can't go fishing, I still want to go home and lie down, facing your dull face all the time. It's really boring!" Li Qingge's voice came again, with a bit of childish complaint.
Li Shimin looked up at the sky. The sunset was like fire, dyeing the sky into a brilliant red. A gentle smile appeared on his face, but he secretly thought in his heart: "Although this child is unscrupulous in his words, his words reveal some extraordinary insights. Maybe I can get some inspiration from him."
"The sky It's late, I feel a little hungry, I don't know what the dried sweet potatoes that Cheng Qing mentioned just now are, I'm very curious." There was a hint in Li Shimin's words, and he looked at Cheng Yaojin with a gentle look and the corner of his mouth. Wearing a meaningful smile.
When Cheng Yaojin heard this, his heart trembled, and he hurriedly poked his son Li Qingge beside him, signaling him to hurry up and get ready. Li Qingge curled his lips and secretly cursed in his heart: "This Li Shimin, the majestic emperor of the ages, never expected that he would go back on his promise. Just now he said he didn't need it, and now..."
"Oh, it seems that I have to serve him again. Oh, how annoying!" Li Qingge thought as he walked helplessly into the house. He was thinking about various countermeasures in his mind, but he had no idea that these thoughts were clearly heard by Li Shimin.
Li Shimin smiled secretly in his heart, but he felt a little proud of his ability to understand Li Qingge's inner voice. Those rebellious words no longer sounded harsh, but made him find this child more interesting.
"Your Majesty, please." Cheng Yaojin bowed slightly in a respectful gesture of invitation. The three of them walked towards the inner palace of the city one after another. Along the way, Li Qingge kept complaining in his heart, while Li Shimin silently kept these words in his heart.
"Seeing that a severe drought is coming, Li Shimin, why don't you hurry up and stock up on food, so as not to starve to death all over the country." Li Qingge's words were full of anxiety and dissatisfaction, and he was thinking about various responses in his mind policy, but completely unaware that these were all heard by Li Shimin.
Li Shimin couldn't help but feel a little moved when he heard this. He was well aware of the sufferings of the people and the importance of stocking up on food. However, the treasury was empty and it was difficult for him to do anything for a while. However, what Li Qingge said next made his eyes light up.
"Productivity is also a top priority. Today's plows are slow and rough. It is better to improve them and cultivate more intensively. Only in this way can we harvest more food. Why bother eating and drinking here." Li Qingge's There was a bit of dissatisfaction and complaint in the words, but they revealed some extraordinary insights.
Li Shimin was a little dissatisfied with his complaints, but was very interested in what he mentioned about improving the plow. He thought that if he could improve the farming methods, make full use of the land, and cultivate intensively, it would be of great benefit to the country and the people!
"Li Qingge, I think what you just said makes sense. Do you have any good strategies for the specific implementation of recuperation?" Li Shimin asked in a casual tone, with a calm face but extremely excited inside.
Li Qingge looked at Li Shimin in surprise, feeling unhappy inside. He wants to grow old in obscurity and live a free and undisciplined life, and does not want to get involved in these things. However, when faced with Li Shimin's inquiry, he couldn't help but complain: "No wonder your name is Li Shimin, you are really stupid. What else can you do? Of course, reduce taxes and improve production."
"Since the current plow is so rigid, let's be more flexible. Installing a freely rotating plow disc on the shaft can save at least one or two people's effort. The depth of the plowshare can also be adjusted, so that the depth of plowing can be consistent, and the harvest can definitely be doubled." Li Qingge's words. He looked a bit impatient, but revealed a bit of extraordinary resourcefulness.
Li Shimin was even more surprised when he heard these inner words. These complaints are simply living sketches of reform! Changing the straight plow to a curved plow is a bold idea! He silently remembered this improvement method, and thought to himself: The country must be stabilized as soon as possible, so that the country and the people can be peaceful and peaceful, so that no one will worry about not having enough to eat.
"What a great idea! Cheng Aiqing, you have really trained a genius!" Li Shimin praised excitedly. His eyes shone with admiration, as if he saw hope for the future.
Cheng Yaojin and Li Qingge both looked at him in surprise, wondering where this compliment came from. What Li Qingge said just now was basically the same as nonsense, but His Majesty the Emperor seemed very happy.
"Your Majesty, the dried sweet potatoes have been prepared, as well as some light tea and snacks. I hope you won't dislike it." Cheng Yaojin put aside these strange thoughts and respectfully asked Li Shimin to enter the main hall again. Li Shimin sat in the upper seat, with some snacks on the plate next to him. These snacks look like candied fruits, but they are in the shape of long strips and the color is brighter and more translucent. He was really curious about such a rare thing.
"Is this the dried sweet potato that Cheng Aiqing said? It looks so drool-worthy!" Li Shimin told the truth. The bright red and exquisite appearance really makes people appetizing at first sight.
"Back to the emperor, this is exactly the dried sweet potato. This is what Quanzi made when he was bored at home. Try it and see if you like it? If it doesn't taste good, I will change it to something else." Cheng Yaojin respectfully replied.
And Li Qingge secretly cursed in his heart: "Eat quickly, and leave quickly after eating. I don't want to wait on you all the time. When did the majestic Emperor Zhenguan become so greedy? It's just a sweet potato."
< br>However, his words revealed a bit of helplessness and compromise. After half a day of "torture", Li Shimin was able to calmly accept the incredible thing of hearing Li Qingge's heartfelt voice, and he was able to hear it in his left ear and out his right ear.
He nodded slightly, ignored Li Qingge's complaints, and directly picked up a piece of dried sweet potato and tasted it. As soon as he took it in, his mouth was filled with a sweet taste, and the sweet and glutinous texture slowly melted in his mouth. It was indeed a good taste experience for him.
Unknowingly, Li Shimin picked up another piece and started eating it. He thought to himself: "Although this child speaks freely, his words reveal some extraordinary insight and wisdom. Perhaps, I should really listen to his opinions and seek more benefits for the country and people." "
"Well, not bad. Cheng Qing, I didn't expect the son you trained to have such high attainments in food," Li Shimin praised, his eyes shining with admiration, as if he had seen the future. hope.
Li Qingge, on the other hand, was secretly proud in his heart: "Hillbilly, have you never eaten it? It's delicious! Not many people can resist the things I, Li Qingge, have developed!"
"It's just this little gadget. Are you full of praise? If you knew that I could not only make various delicacies with this thing, but also increase the yield per acre, wouldn’t you be shocked to death?”
Thousands of kilograms! What a surprise! "When Li Shimin heard this, he had a look of surprise on his face, as if he had heard something earth-shattering, and he couldn't help but take a breath of air. His eyes flickered, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said, "This dried sweet potato tastes so good. Okay, I've never seen anything like this before. Cheng Aiqing, where did you get this treasure? "
After saying that, he still had a smile on his lips, but his eyes secretly glanced at Li Qingge, as if he was searching for some secret.
Li Qingge muttered in his heart: "Oh, this is really annoying. ! As soon as Li Shimin arrived, something was definitely going to happen. No, here it comes again! Why don't you let me serve him, serve him tea and water, and leave when he's full? Now he actually asked about the origin of sweet potatoes. With Li Shimin's character, he might have to ask me to teach him how to grow them. It's really annoying. When Li Shimin is around, trivial matters just keep happening. "He kept smiling on the surface, but he had already rolled his eyes in his heart.
Although Li Shimin heard Li Qingge's slander, he was only slightly unhappy in his heart. He was really helpless towards this boy. He could always guess what this kid was thinking, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Cheng Yaojin saw this and quickly explained: "Your Majesty, this is an ingredient that my boy got by chance when he went out to play. It is available in the backyard, and it looks pretty good." At this point, he I couldn't help but feel proud. Li Qingge has never let him down when it comes to studying rare objects.
Li Shimin raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashing with surprise. He couldn't help but glance at Li Qingge, as if looking for an answer. Li Qingge bowed slightly and smiled cooperatively, but he was still muttering in his heart: "Li Shimin is really annoying. A majestic king actually wants to explore such a trivial matter! If you have this time, you might as well care about national affairs! The situation is not right now "Stable, you still have time to eat sweet potatoes."
Li Shimin glanced at him displeased, but he didn't expect that in this kid's eyes, he turned out to be a glutton! In fact, he was not concerned about the sweet potatoes themselves, but was curious about how they could produce thousands of kilograms per acre. If this can really be achieved and planting is vigorously promoted, what will the people have to worry about being hungry?
So, he decided to go and see for himself. When we arrived at the backyard, a green patch of green came into view, which made people feel very comfortable. Cheng Yaojin asked someone to pull out a few sweet potatoes to show off, and saw huge sweet potatoes growing under each one. Based on this output, a family of six might not be able to finish a full meal.
"Okay! Okay!" Li Shimin patted Cheng Yaojin on the shoulder and said, "Cheng Aiqing, you are indeed my founding hero, and you have actually cultivated a genius!" His tone was full of appreciation and surprise.
"It's just a coincidence!" Cheng Yaojin said modestly, but he was very happy in his heart. His eldest son used to always hang out in the land of fireworks, but now he was finally appreciated by the emperor, which made him feel extremely proud and proud.
"I want to promote such a good thing across the country. In this way, there will be fewer and fewer people hungry due to poor harvests!" Li Shimin said with bright eyes, looking very excited. He seemed to have seen the future. The people were laughing and laughing because of the bumper harvest, and the country was more stable because of sufficient food.
He looked at Li Qingge again and said, "Li Qingge! From now on, the matter of promoting planting will be left to the Cheng family!" His tone was full of trust and expectation.
"Your Majesty, this is just something I planted in my spare time. I'm afraid it won't be able to take on such an important responsibility!" Li Qingge bowed and refused. But he was muttering in his heart: "You are kidding! Planting this kind of thing is laborious and laborious. I have no ambition to be an official, so why would I want to promote this kind of thing? Let whoever is willing to do it do it! Time is running out now. It's early. After Li Shimin leaves, my plan to have a drink with someone will probably be ruined! It's so boring. A good day has been wasted like this. I don't know when he will leave."
Li Shimin became accustomed to his slander after hearing it, and automatically blocked these words. With a smile on his face, he patted Li Qingge's chest gently and said, "You are so humble! I know you can do it!" His tone was full of encouragement and trust.
Then he said solemnly: "The Cheng family has been fighting with me for many years, and this time I will definitely live up to my expectations!" His tone was full of majesty and expectation.
"Yes! I will definitely work hard with Quanzi to handle this matter!" Cheng Yaojin quickly agreed after feeling the gentleman's majesty. He knew that this was the emperor's trust and expectation, as well as the honor and responsibility of their Cheng family.
Although Li Qingge also saluted after his father, his expression seemed careless. He was still muttering in his heart: "Oh! There is one more thing. Why is it so difficult to be a quiet fish? Li Shimin, please leave quickly! Don't tell me what to do anymore, I don't want to Waste time here. It's getting late, hurry up and leave!"
Although Li Qingge was upset, his expression did not change at all, and he still maintained a respectful and lazy attitude. He lowered his head slightly, his eyes showing helplessness and exhaustion.
Li Shimin looked at him with a smile and said: "Sure enough, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead! You are a malleable talent. Your father is a general and prime minister, and you will definitely not be worse than him." His tone was full of appreciation. and expectations.
After he finished speaking, his smile became even stronger, "When I go back, I will designate you as General Xuanwei, a fourth-grade official, and you will come with me to the morning court tomorrow morning!" His tone was full of excitement. Majestic and solemn.
Li Qingge looked at the emperor blankly, not understanding what was going on. He just ate a roasted sweet potato and was made a general? He felt dizzy, as if the whole world was spinning.
He cursed in his heart: "Li Shimin, are you out of your mind? Why did you suddenly make me a general? I don't want to be a general. I have to go to court in the morning and get up before dawn. Isn’t this torturing me? You must have been kicked in the head or have some serious illness! Why is it so difficult to be an idle fish?”
Although Li Qingge was cursing in his heart, his There was still a respectful expression on his face. He lowered his head slightly, his eyes showing helplessness and exhaustion. He knew that he could not refuse the emperor's canonization and could only silently accept this sudden "honor".
Although Cheng Yaojin looked rough on the side, he was cheerful in his heart. He had always dreamed of raising his son to be a general, but he didn't expect that this dream would come true. He felt extremely proud and proud, as if he had seen his son's brilliant future.
However, he was also a little surprised and uneasy. He looked at Li Shimin straightforwardly and said: "Your Majesty, thank you for your love for me, but Quanzi has never been on the battlefield, nor has he made any achievements. I am afraid that his sudden appointment will cause dissatisfaction in the court!" His tone filled with worries and anxieties.
Is this guy Li Shimin really crazy? I have clearly expressed my displeasure, but you still insist on me becoming a general! I really don’t know what he is thinking. Do all emperors have such strange habits? Do you like to push people into high positions who don't want to?
Forget it, now that you are here, just stay calm. I'm not doing this for the title of general, I'm just regretting the time I spent sleeping in. For the rest, I can still continue to be my Xianyun Yehe, carefree and at ease.
"I am grateful to the Emperor for his grace." Although Li Qingge kept complaining in his heart, he still agreed meekly. He understands that now is not the time to show off his temper. After all, this is in the court, and every word and deed is related to the honor and disgrace of the family.
The next day, in the court hall, the officials saw the newly promulgated imperial edict and Li Qingge standing in front. The expressions on their faces were rich. Needless to say, they understood that they must be muttering in their hearts: What kind of virtue is this Li Qingge? How could he be named a general?
"Your Majesty, please take back your order, this imperial edict is absolutely unacceptable!" Changsun Wuji stood up with a serious face.
"Your Majesty, please think carefully! Although Li Qingge was born in the Duke of Lu's palace, he has not made much contribution to the country. I'm afraid it's inappropriate for you to favor him like this!" Du Ruhui also echoed.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please take back your order! This imperial edict will probably chill the hearts of the frontline soldiers!" Fang Xuanling also stood up and said with a worried look on his face.
Other officials also spoke out. For a while, there was a lot of discussion in the court, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
[You nerds, why are you making so much fuss about the position of a small general? ] Li Qingge complained secretly in his heart. He looked around and saw officials looking dissatisfied, whispering, or staring directly at him, as if they wanted to see through him.
[Although I have a bad reputation, I have never done anything harmful to the country. How could I chill the hearts of the frontline soldiers! 】 He felt unhappy in his heart, but he still maintained a calm and jade-like expression on his face.
[Why are you all staring at me? This official position is not what I want. It’s because Li Shimin has his own way. ] He sighed helplessly, muttering to himself.
【Do I still care about the position of this general and go to court with you? To be honest, I would rather lie leisurely at home, study food, fish, and taste wine. It’s so comfortable! ] He secretly cursed in his heart, but still stood respectfully on his face, waiting for Li Shimin's response.
Li Shimin looked at everyone with gentle eyes, and he thought to himself: Although these ministers are loyal, they are all diehards who don't know the situation. They only saw Li Qingge's reputation and past laziness, but did not see his potential and possible contributions to the country.
He cleared his throat and spoke slowly: "Everyone, I know all your concerns. In terms of merit alone, Li Qingge does not reach the level of General Xuanwei. But I discovered the sweet potato he developed yesterday at the Duke of Lu's Mansion. The yield per acre is two thousand kilograms, and the taste is sweet. Everyone must know that food is a necessity for the people and the foundation of the country. The Cheng family has asked for help yesterday and wants to promote sweet potatoes in large quantities, which will be of great benefit to the country and the people. "
At this point, he glanced at the ministers in the court with a solemn expression: "Although this is not as significant as the frontline military exploits and requires the joint efforts of the whole country, it is still an outstanding contribution. So. , he deserves the position of general. "
[More importantly, I can understand Li Qingge's thoughts. Although he often scolds me, his suggestions are all beneficial to the development of the country. Li Qingge's role is far greater than you think. ] Li Shimin silently added in his heart, but naturally he would not say this out loud.
"Your Majesty, but..." Changsun Wuji wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Li Shimin.
"Okay, that's it for today's morning meeting. I'm tired, I'll talk about it tomorrow if I have anything to do! If it's about Li Qingge, let's skip it for the time being." Li Shimin waved his hand and motioned for them to leave.
The eunuch next to him cleverly announced loudly: "Retreat!"
Although the officials were helpless, they also knew Li Shimin's style, so they retreated silently. Just as Li Qingge turned around to leave, he heard Li Shimin say in the Jinluan Hall: "Li Qingge stays."
[Oh, I didn't expect that Li Shimin had so many things to do and had to get off work overtime even after work. I was really speechless! ] Li Qingge muttered secretly in his heart. He sighed helplessly, turned around and walked back to the center of the court.
【I don’t have any requirements, I just hope I still have time to go fishing today. ] He prayed secretly in his heart, hoping that Li Shimin would not waste too much of his time.
"I obey." He promised, but he was a little reluctant in his heart. After all, he would rather go home, lie down and enjoy his leisure time.
Li Shimin looked at Li Qingge's somewhat unhappy look, and remembered that he had complained so much recently, and couldn't help but feel a little happy. He pointed to the seat next to him and motioned for Li Qingge to sit down and talk.
Li Qingge was not polite and sat down directly. Then he cupped his fists and said softly: "I wonder what the emperor's orders are for leaving the minister alone?" There was a hint of helplessness and perfunctory in his tone.
【This Li Shimin, does he want to arrange a lot of trouble for me again! ] He muttered secretly in his heart. He could already foresee a series of troubles that might happen next.
【I don’t want to give advice to your regime, and I don’t have the ability. The sweet potato thing has already kept me very busy. Li Shimin, please don't get sick again and arrange other things for me! 】 He prayed secretly in his heart, hoping that Li Shimin could let him go.
However, Li Shimin seemed not to hear his voice. He looked at Li Qingge tentatively and said, "Cheng Aiqing, I'm here to see you because I really have something I'm unsure about and want to discuss with you." There was a hint of sincerity and expectation in his tone.
[There are so many people supporting you during the Xuanwu Gate Incident. If you want to discuss things, just find someone! 】 Li Qingge secretly cursed in his heart. He felt that Li Shimin's actions were completely unnecessary.
[None of Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, and Fang Xuanling are just ordinary people. None of these founding heroes can be discussed! 】He muttered secretly in his heart, feeling that Li Shimin's doing this was a complete waste of time. However, he could not refuse Li Shimin's request and had no choice but to agree.
(End of this chapter)