Chapter 293 Pour cold water on

Shangyuan night.

Calyx Xianghui Tower.

King Qing Li Cong arrived very early. It was still dark at that time, so he saw with his own eyes the afterglow of the sunset dissipating and the lanterns lighting up. They were lanterns, not lanterns. The lanterns would not be lit until the Chouzheng period, but only with lanterns

, the calyx building has been decorated with great splendor.

Li Cong couldn't appreciate this kind of magnificence. He had seen it so much that he had long been accustomed to it.

What he cares about is people.

"Throughout the years of Shangyuan's imperial banquets, only the six years of Tianbao impressed me the most." Li Cong took his wife Dou to the pavilion and said with emotion: "The eight years of Tianbao are the most boring. Do you know why?"

"Missing Xue Bai?"

Li Cong nodded and looked at the palace gate, his eyes like a thief checking the spot, but what he wanted to steal was the throne.

He had lived in the Ten Princes' House for a long time and had very few opportunities to interact with others. From the time Xue Bai sent Yanshi away to the present, he had not communicated with him on major matters for a long time.

He has not been idle in the past two years. In fact, he has done a lot of things...

The sky was getting darker, and officials began to enter the venue. The first to arrive were the lower-ranking officials, as well as the hostages and envoys of the foreign Tibetans who had stayed in Chang'an. One of the meanings of the Shangyuan Imperial Banquet was to show these foreign Tibetans the power of the Tang Dynasty.

and prosperity.

Most of these people's seats were on the periphery, with only a few Tibetan envoys sitting closer. When Abe Nakamaro arrived, he stepped forward with a smile on his face and saluted Li Cong, bowed to say hello, and was full of enthusiasm.

"Shangyuan Ankang, Your Highness Prince Qing, what a wonderful Lantern Festival."

"yes."

Li Cong nodded, watching Abe Nakamaro sit in the second seat of Fanchen, and noticed that the previous seat was still empty.

That was the location of Nanzhao's protégé Feng Jiayi.

At this time, the courtiers also arrived one after another. Among them, a tall figure wearing a green robe instantly caught Li Cong's attention. He then winked at the maid he bribed, turned around and walked through the corridor, hiding.

Into a dark place where no one is paying attention.

The lantern in the corner of the Huacalyx Tower was extinguished by someone unknown, and it became a good place for conversation.

Li Cong bribed the palace officials two months ago just for this conversation, but he was actually not sure whether all the people he was talking to would come.

Footsteps sounded, and someone was coming. A vague figure appeared in the moonlight, and it was Xue Bai.

"We haven't seen you for a long time. You have grown taller and stronger." Li Cong sounded pleased, like a kind elder, "I have been worried about you."

"Thank you, King Qing."

"Just call me 'Uncle' in private. No matter you are Xue Xi's son or adopted son, I will regard you as my nephew."

"Uncle." Xue Bai called immediately.

This surprised Li Cong. Although the two parties had made an agreement long ago, he had seen Xue Bai avoid him in the past two years and thought that Xue Bai was not sincere in helping him fight for the reserve position.

But tonight it seemed that Xue Bai was not afraid of wading into this muddy water.

"I heard that you are in a bad situation." Li Cong said, "I saw you tonight to ask if you need help."

"Uncle guessed wrong." Xue Bai said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish your prestige."

"Oh?" Li Cong was surprised, "I heard that your teacher was demoted. The saint seems to trust Li Linfu more?"

"The cause of this incident was the teacher's impeachment of Li Yanye, and behind it was Li Yanye who helped Tibet block the news that Nanzhao had rebelled. Ge Nu made mistakes again and again, and in the end he was afraid that even if he had to apologize for his crimes, the people would be angry. The teacher spoke uprightly, and the suppression he suffered today is,

It will definitely become his reputation in the future. The so-called famous minister cannot be one who follows the Sacred Heart and whitewashes the peace. A famous minister is one who wakes up alone when everyone is drunk. Even though tens of thousands of people have gone there. This time, it has been accomplished.

Who will be destroyed, King Qing will wait and see."

"You mean, this is an opportunity?" Li Cong said, "But I heard that both Chen Xilie and Yang Guozhong..."

"It is precisely because they are mediocre that we can accomplish things by stepping on them. If they are all capable ministers, who cares about me, the eighth-grade supervisory censor?"

Xue Bai's attitude was completely different from Li Cong's expectation. He didn't appear panicked at all, but felt excited before victory.

"Uncle wants to see the situation clearly. He can't look at the choices of mediocre people." Xue Bai said: "You have to look at the choices of smart people."

"for example?"

"Teacher, Li Mi, Zhang Bian, and me." Xue Bai pointed his finger at himself and said: "Also, Li Heng and Li Linfu still want to win over me. Why? They have long-term plans."

Li Cong suddenly felt pressure.

He had made sufficient preparations, hoping to take advantage of Yan Zhenqing's demotion and Xue Bai's frustration to use this son for his own purposes. Unexpectedly, he had gradually lost the initiative in the conversation at this time.

"You have enmity with them all." Li Cong reminded: "Li Heng, Li Linfu said nicely today, and I will never let you go in the future."

"I understand, so I am willing to assist Abo to ascend to the position of master." Xue Bai said, "I have never forgotten this ambition."

"real?"

"I have recruited some talented people in Yanshi, and they are looking forward to meeting Abo."

Li Cong raised his eyebrows, as if the scars on his face were spreading.

Xue Bai then said: "But this matter is very dangerous. If Abo can't believe my words, then that's it."

"Since I have entrusted you with great things, I can trust you."

"Not only do you have to believe in my loyalty, you also have to believe in my ability."

"letter."

Xue Bai took two steps and then said: "Then if I say that tonight's imperial banquet is the best opportunity for Uncle to compete for the reserve position, will Uncle have the courage to give it a try?"

"What is the opportunity?"

"Nanzhao must have rebelled. I am absolutely sure about this. However, Genu blocked the saint's hearing and delayed military and state affairs. Does King Qing dare to impeach Genu and directly remonstrate with the saint tonight on the Yuan Dynasty?"

"this……"

Li Cong's expression changed, but luckily he couldn't see clearly in the darkness.

Xue Bai said: "This is a great opportunity, but it is also very dangerous. There is a possibility that the saint will be demoted to a commoner in anger. But when the news of the Nanzhao rebellion comes, the reputation this matter can bring to Abo is endless.

"The slaves have exercised their authority, the gentry and the people have been suffering for a long time, the ministers have kept silent, and the saints have not participated in the affairs of the country. At this time, who can raise their arms and call for a cleanup of the country?"

"How can you, sir, not see the standing horse? There is no sound all day long, but if the cud beans of the third grade are heard, they will be deposed." Li Cong murmured in a low voice.

This is Li Linfu's famous saying, standing on a horse to warn the ministers that anyone who dares to talk too much will be deposed. But is this really just Li Linfu's wish? No, this is the wish of the saint. The saint does not want to listen to anyone's outspoken advice.

Xue Bai's suggestion carries too many risks.

Li Cong did not dare to agree and hesitated: "Li Heng likes to have such a reputation, but look at him..."

"I think he is the prince, but Abo is not. Abo is nothing."

After hearing this, Li Cong was stunned and didn't know what to say.

Xue Bai said: "When a saint wants to choose a prince, some people think that Li Heng is good and propose Li Heng. This is prestige. But who can say a good word to Abo? Because you have done nothing, so why fight for the throne if you don't want to do anything?

"

"But if I give advice, even if it is right, if Nanzhao rebels, the saint will only be angry with me."

"Prince Qing is afraid of this?" Xue Bai sneered and asked: "Since Prince Qing only wants to follow the holy will and is not as courageous as the prince, then why don't I go and join Li Linfu?"

As soon as the title changed, he turned around and left without any hesitation.

Doing great things without sacrificing one's own life, a prince who is afraid of hands and feet, rather than seeking the throne, it is better to be honest and live in peace.

"Xue Bai."

Li Cong called out quickly, stood in front of Xue Bai, and said, "You have misunderstood what I meant."

Xue Bai said: "The saint will indeed anger King Qing, and even say that King Qing forced Nanzhao to rebel."

Li Cong said sincerely: "I'm not afraid."

"What's the point of trying to please the saint? Can you give the throne to King Qing? Can you get peace on the border? Can you get Anlu Mountain to stop rebelling? The situation is different. Four years have passed since the Wei Jian case in the fifth year of Tianbao.

Li Heng reconciled with Wei Shi four years ago, if now, let’s see if he still reconciles with Zhang Liangdi?”

At this point, Xue Bai added in a low voice, "The saint is old."

Li Cong was startled and quickly turned his head to look behind him.

"If you want to ascend to the position of crown prince, you should be in front of everyone. See who Yan Zhenqing, Zhang Bian, Li Mi and others in the court support, and see who Ge Shuhan, Wang Zhongsi, Gao Xianzhi and others in the border town support." Xue Bai said: "This

Among them, I chose one person to analyze with King Qing... Ge Shuhan."

"Yes, Ge Shuhan." Li Cong knew that Helong's military power was very important.

"Today Ge Shuhan believes in Ge Nu because Ge Nu once supported him and he reciprocated the favor. What is this? The Hu generals in the border towns surrendered to the prime minister's power. But once Nanzhao rebelled, Tubo's pressure in the southwest was suddenly reduced, and Qinghai

The situation suddenly changed, doesn't Ge Shuhan care? At this time, Ge Nu resigned as prime minister and a wiser prime minister succeeded him. As long as he is willing to win over Ge Shuhan and even stabilize the situation in Nanzhao, can he still not get Ge Shuhan's support?

?So, who does Helong prefer?"

Li Cong nodded repeatedly and said, "Zhang Bian can't do it."

"My teacher."
To be continued...