Chapter 4705 Incense and Love
A thought suddenly arose in Liu Ji's mind: Could it be that Fang Jun deliberately clashed with Li Ji to show the outside world that the "committee" was internally fighting for power and was inconsistent, in order to dispel His Majesty's fears?
Li Chengqian pondered for a moment and then said slowly: "Tell me, is this a deliberate deception by Fang Jun?"
Although there are shortcomings in his character that cannot be ignored, Li Chengqian is very talented and has been taught the "Emperor's Art" for many years. He is definitely an emperor above the level, so he subconsciously doubts Fang Jun's intentions.
Liu Jie couldn't speculate casually: "I don't know, even I don't know, but based on Ying Gong's character and Fang Jun's usual behavior, it seems unlikely."
It's not that he can't slander Fang Jun, but he can't talk nonsense, otherwise His Majesty will come back to him later and his trust in him will be greatly reduced.
We must create an impression of "fairness, integrity, and seeking truth from facts"...
Li Chengqian nodded, very satisfied that Liu Jie did not add insult to injury by slandering Fang Jun behind his back. This is the behavior of a gentleman. He said to Pei Huaijie: "Don't talk too much over there, let alone conflict with the Duke of Yue. Just watch and listen." Okay, just have a meeting every three days and report back what was discussed at the meeting.”
He was afraid that when Pei Huaijie was targeted by Fang Jun again in the future, he would not be able to spare his face and directly conflict with Fang Jun. In other words, Fang Jun had become more and more stable with his age and status in the past few years. In the past few years, people like Pei Huaijie would It is an obvious "undercover" behavior. If you are afraid, it is not humiliation, but being pushed to the ground and beaten...
Pei Huaijie was overjoyed and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely do my best and live up to your Majesty's expectations."
Being able to enter the palace to report at any time is a ladder to the sky. He has been away from the center for too long. As long as he gains His Majesty's trust, relying on his past political achievements and his relationship with the Henan family, he can expect to become the prime minister...
< br>
*****
Li Ji returned to the mansion and learned that Zhang Liang had been waiting in the side hall for a long time...
After washing, Li Ji went to the side hall to meet Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang was very respectful. After saluting, he did not sit down. Instead, he stood in front of Li Ji and begged Li Ji for his support...
"Sit down and talk first."
Li Ji waved to Zhang Liang to sit down, took a sip of tea, and asked: "How do you want me to support you?"
Only then did Zhang Liang sit down, and then with a sad face, he recounted in detail the humiliation he suffered when he went to serve as the Youjinwu Guard. He was especially jealous of what Wang Xuance did. At the end, he begged: "The prestige of the British Duke is unrivaled in the army, if you Only by controlling Wang Xuance and others can the final general be able to secure his position as General of the Right Jinwu Guard. Otherwise, even if he goes to take up his post, he will be constrained everywhere in the future and will inevitably be left empty-handed. "
Li Jiqi said: "The Left and Right Jinwu Guards were formed by Fang Jun. The team members all come from the original Left and Right Tun Guards. They are either Fang Jun's subordinates or opponents who were convinced by him and obeyed Fang Jun." Yes. Since you have made up your mind to go to Youjinwu Guard, are you not mentally prepared for this? ”
How can you be willing to accept that the troops that Fang Jun has worked so hard to build are being plucked by you? If you want to pick this peach, you have to be prepared to be pricked in the mouth by peach hairs. How can you ask for help and complain everywhere when you encounter setbacks?
Zhang Liang blushed and said angrily: "But who would have thought that they would be so domineering, even turning a blind eye to His Majesty's orders and the coaches appointed by the court? The general will suffer humiliation due to his carelessness. If he cannot re-establish his prestige, he may not be able to do anything in the future. The law leads the troops.”
When he and Li Ji surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, he served under Li Ji for a long time, and his love for him was extraordinary. Although they have drifted apart over the years, this friendship is still there after all, and when they are desperate, they can only look to Li Ji for support.
As for Liu Jie, he only has an appearance. He seems to be the prime minister and assistant of the dynasty and holds great power, but he has no foothold in the army and his influence is extremely limited...
Li Ji took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and said calmly: "If you don't serve as a good minister of the Ministry of punishment, you have to return to the army... Times have changed, and today's army is very different from the past."
< br>
Seeing that Li Ji wanted to refuse, Zhang Liang hurriedly said: "No matter how you change your words, you are still a hero. More than half of the generals in this army have served under you. Who will not listen to your words?" < br>
If Li Ji hadn't helped him re-establish his prestige, it would have been difficult for him to continue his military career. Just thinking about Wang Xuance's seemingly humble and submissive face, but actually domineering and arrogant, gave him a headache.
Li Ji put down his tea cup and looked at Zhang Liang strangely: "Do you think that Fang Jun and I were at odds with each other in the Ministry of War Yamen, so I should help you gain a foothold in Fang Jun's territory in order to retaliate?"
Zhang Liang said with a smile: "Is this what I mean? I just feel that I have been following you for many years, and this love has become stronger over time. Now that I am in trouble, I think you will miss my old friendship and support me."
The most important thing in the army is loyalty. They have been together in battle and through life and death. The trust that can be left to their comrades in the younger generations is far beyond the comparison of the comradeship in the court.
The commander relies on his subordinates to fight to the death to accumulate military exploits, while the soldiers rely on the commander to obtain better rewards. They complement each other and have different natural friendships.
Li Ji pondered for a while, sighed softly, and said: "You still don't understand the situation in the army today. You have been away from the army for too long... That's all. Since you came to visit today and mentioned your past feelings, how can I? How about watching indifferently? I will say hello to Fang Jun and let you carry out your duties smoothly, but I can't do anything about what happens after that. It depends on your own ability."
Zhang Liang's heart skipped a beat, and his expression suddenly changed.
He could hear the meaning behind Li Ji's words. I will help you this time because of the friendship in the past, but it is only this time and will not happen again...
Zhang Liang regretted it.
With this favor, I can ask Li Ji to come forward for help in the most difficult times in the future. But now I have lost this favor in order to hug Liu Ji's lap and control Youjin Wuwei. Is it worth it?
"Your Majesty, this..."
Li Ji waved his hand, stopped Zhang Liang's words, and said seriously: "Today is different from the past. I haven't led an army to fight for a long time. Even I don't know how much prestige I still have in the army. It's not that I don't want to I'm afraid I won't be able to help you even if I want to in a few years. The relationship will eventually end. From now on, it's up to you to manage your own connections. "
Since you rely on Liu Ji, you should obey his orders honestly. As for whether your career will be smooth sailing or full of setbacks, that is your own choice.
Zhang Liang understood and opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to say.
When he came out of the British government residence, the sky was already dark, and his stomach growled a few times. Zhang Liang finally realized that Li Ji saw off the guests without leaving any food...
He looked back at the tightly closed door of the British Duke's Mansion. The copper door nails were dimly shining under the light of the lantern, but Zhang Liang knew that he would have little chance to enter after this door. He sighed softly. The carriage you came from.
He clung to Liu Jie in order to control Youjinwu Guard. As a result, he now only had the title of "General of Youjinwu Guard", but he didn't have half of the rights he should have. He even had to use up his previous friendship to enter the military camp openly. Fulfilling duties...
The gain outweighs the loss.
Moreover, he had also heard about Pei Huaijie's encounter in the military office hall today. It was almost the same as the humiliation he suffered at the Youjinwuwei barracks two days ago. The result was a loss of face and a great loss of prestige.
It can be seen that the faction represented by Liu Jie not only has no influence in the army, but even above the court and among the ministries, there is no good way to face Fang Jun's unreasonable sniping.
The so-called "civilian leaders" are far less powerful than they seem. Compared with the past when Xiao Yu and Cen Wenwen were in power...
I thought that by joining Liu Jie, I could use his power to advance to the next level, but now it seems that it was a bit hasty.
*****
Early the next morning, as soon as Fang Jun had breakfast, a servant came in to report that it was Li Siwen, the second son of the British Duke, who was visiting, and even presented him with a famous assassin in a serious manner...
"Hehe, night owls come to the house for whatever they want. If this guy is so polite, he must be up to no good."
That being said, it cannot be ignored.
When the servant took Li Siwen to the side hall, Fang Jun said calmly before sitting down and before taking a sip of tea: "If you have something to say, just say it and fart it. I'm still waiting to go to the Minting Bureau to supervise the printing of banknotes."< br>
Li Siwen was stunned: "Am I so unpopular?"
Fang Jun said: "Look at your night owl-like head, what good things can you do?"
Li Siwen was speechless and said helplessly: "Well, it's really not a good thing. Yesterday, Zhang Liang came to the door. With tears streaming down his face, he begged his father to remember the past and give him a hand. My father has always been nostalgic, so he could only agree."
Fang Jun asked curiously: "What does it have to do with me if you go to maintain your love for me?"
Li Siwen smiled apologetically and said, "What Zhang Liang wants is to serve as the Youjinwu Guard, which naturally has something to do with you."
Fang Jun looked cold: "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense. I have nothing to do with Youjin Wuwei. Whether Zhang Liang fulfills his duties is none of my business?"
"Hey, are you serious about what you said? Don't pretend to be confused because you understand. Who doesn't know that all the Jinwu guards on the left and right are your people? I came here today on the order of my father. Please raise your hand and give me When Zhang Liang steps down, there will be consequences for the British government.”
Fang Jun was noncommittal and asked: "Since it's your father-in-law who has something to ask for, why don't you come in person?"
Li Siwen asked curiously: "Do you really think you have such a big face that your father can come to you?"
Fang Jun took a sip of tea and said, "He is Shangshu Zuopushe, and I am Shangshu Youpushe. They are only half a level apart. How can I not be worthy of his personal visit?"
Li Siwen sneered and said: "If father comes here in person, the conversation will not be about Zhang Liang, but about my younger sister's marriage."
"Poof!"
Fang Jun spat out a sip of tea and waved his hands repeatedly: "Okay, okay, my lord, open your mouth. What's the point of just Zhang Liang? Don't talk nonsense about the rest."
Li Siwen glared at Fang Jun: "Okay, are you really jealous of my little sister? Otherwise, why would you react so loudly!"
Fang Jun spread his hands helplessly: "As the sun shows, if I have even the slightest bit of treachery, I will die badly!"
It was Li Siwen's turn to sigh: "I hope you are a little bit evil..."
Li Siwen felt heartbroken when he thought of his little sister's resistance to the marriage since her divorce, and her thoughts were all about the stick in front of her... Fang and Li are now at the top of the empire's power, and they must avoid suspicion, so today The problem is that he comes to the door, not the eldest brother who is responsible for the family affairs. My little sister is afraid that she won’t be able to get what she wants.