amaotonovel Chapter 850 The brothers are all here
Chapter 850 The brothers are all here
Li Zhi was leaning on the imperial couch. The dragon robe embroidered with the twelve chapter patterns seemed particularly loose and hung loosely on his thin body, making him look even more emaciated.
His pale face was flushed with a sickly color, and his violent coughing made him tremble constantly. Every cough seemed to cough out his heart and lungs.
"Zhi Nu, could it be that there are no real men available in the Tang Dynasty, and we can only rely on a woman?"
Li Tai's aged voice boomed in the silent hall. His beard trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes were filled with unwilling doubt.
"When a hen crows at dawn, it will bring chaos to the country!"
"Since ancient times, there has never been a reason for women to rule the country!"
The voices of advice grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the hall.
Li Tai subconsciously tightened the jade ruyi in his hand.
As the most beloved son of Emperor Taizong, he experienced many ups and downs in his life and was once only one step away from the throne. Although he is now over 60 years old with gray hair, the innate majesty still shines in his eyes.
At this moment, Li Tai looked at his weak brother lying on the imperial bed. He felt mixed emotions in his heart, and a heavy sigh overflowed from the depths of his chest, as if he wanted to spit out all the helplessness and fatigue that had accumulated for decades.
"Fourth brother, who should we give it to? We brothers are all old."
Li Zhi finally caught his breath, his voice hoarse and tired.
He struggled to stand up and leaned against the cushions of the dragon couch. His eyes slowly swept over everyone in the hall, "I am already fifty-six years old this year."
His eyes fell on Li Tai. "Fourth brother, you are sixty-three years old. Third brother is sixty-five. We are all old."
Back then, under the rule of Emperor Taizong, the Tang Dynasty was prosperous.
The brothers were once young and reckless, galloping on horseback in the streets of Chang'an and discussing state affairs in the Taiji Hall.
At that time, they were full of vigor and vitality, dressed in fine clothes and riding horses, and full of longing for the future.
But now, the vicissitudes of life have already turned their temples white, and illness is always with them.
Li Ke has been bedridden for many years, with no medicine to cure him. He can only count the days in bed.
Li Tai himself often felt chest tightness and shortness of breath, and even simple steps required the support of servants.
He himself was exhausted by the heavy workload and illness, and no longer had the vigor of his youth.
The brothers who once galloped across the battlefield and were full of talent have now become old men, and can no longer fight for the Tang Dynasty as they did in the past.
"My children are still young. Who can you trust to take care of this world?"
Li Zhi's voice was trembling, full of helplessness and anxiety.
He struggled to get up.
"My children are all born to Mei Niang. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. There is no reason for a mother to harm her son in this world."
A strange light flashed in his eyes. "Even if the Queen Mother is in absolute power, what does it matter? No matter who governs this world, as long as the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the world is peaceful, that's all that matters. Fourth brother, don't you understand this?"
There was earnestness and a hint of firmness in his voice as he tried to convince everyone.
Li Tai looked at his brother, a complex wave of emotions welling up in his heart.
Didn't he understand Li Zhi's difficulties?
"Today, I will make it clear here."
Li Zhi took a deep breath, forced himself to sit up straight, and glanced at the four important ministers in front of him one by one.
"You are all my brother's trusted ministers, managing the Four Capitals for me. This is the homeland of the Great Tang."
He paused, his voice becoming deeper. "The late emperor once said that the position of envoy to the capital can only be held once. He was afraid that future rulers would not be able to control this vast territory. Therefore, you are the last envoys to the capital. From now on, I'm afraid you will have to return to Chang'an and the imperial court."
The four capitals sent envoys to the capital, who controlled the military and political power of one side and were the most solid barrier of the Tang Dynasty.
Li Tai recalled the days when he served as the envoy to the capital. At that time, he had 100,000 soldiers under his command, dispatched food and grass from all over the world, and was very majestic.
He knew clearly how much power he held, and he also understood the responsibilities and dangers that came with power.
The previous emperor established such rules to prevent local forces from becoming too powerful and threatening the central government. However, breaking this balance and reintegrating and transferring power will inevitably trigger a series of turmoil.
"After I leave, you must understand this principle."
Li Zhi's voice suddenly rose, carrying the majesty of an emperor. "Only when power is concentrated in the hands of the court can the world be stable."
"I wouldn't trust anyone else except you to guard the four directions."
His gaze fell on Li Tai again, a trace of reminiscence flashing in his eyes. "Thinking back to the time when my fourth brother and I served as envoys from Tokyo to Beijing, I knew how much power they held. Even a prince couldn't match that. Sometimes, I admire my brother's courage and his ability to trust those he doubted and not employ them."
At that time, they worked day and night to manage the area in an orderly manner.
They rectified the administration, developed the economy, trained the army, and made Tokyo impregnable.
But with greater power comes greater responsibility, and also greater suspicion.
Li Zhi was not as decisive as Li Chengqian. In his opinion, choosing the next envoy to Beijing was undoubtedly a gamble, and he could not afford to lose.
If we are not careful, it may lead to the separatism of local forces and plunge the Tang Dynasty into chaos.
"Unfortunately, I don't have the courage. Not only can I not choose the next envoy to the capital, I don't even dare to choose one. I, apart from the people left behind by my royal brother, I don't trust anyone else."
Li Zhi's voice gradually choked up, "If it weren't for my brother letting Mei Niang take the position of envoy to Xijing."
"Even if I still have feelings for someone, I will never ruin national affairs for my own selfish desires."
When Wu Meiniang was mentioned, there was another commotion in the palace.
That talented woman from Ganye Temple rose step by step to the position of queen and gained a firm foothold in the court. Her methods and courage made many men ashamed.
During her tenure in Xijing, she implemented new policies, rectified the administration of officials, developed the economy, resisted foreign enemies, and managed Xijing in an orderly manner.
But in this era of male dominance and female inferiority, allowing a woman to control the world is undoubtedly a huge challenge to traditional ethics.
"Even if you don't believe me, you should at least trust my brother's judgment. He's an envoy from Xijing!"
Li Zhi slammed the imperial couch so hard that memorials flew everywhere. "Everyone, please help me to smoothly transfer power."
His eyes were filled with pleading, "Fourth brother, I am so tired of sitting on this throne."
"Now that it's finally coming to an end, you should let your brother put down his burden and take a good rest. Okay?"
As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, the longing for relief of an exhausted emperor.
Li Tai looked at Li Zhi, his younger brother who once needed his protection, but now was struggling in the vortex of power and was covered in wounds.
He remembered his brother's words to him: "Qingque, take good care of Zhinu, he is our younger brother."
Tears unconsciously blurred his eyes.
He also thought of how Li Zhi had devoted all his energy to the Tang Dynasty over the years, toiling day and night and exhausting himself.
Finally, he slowly stood up and walked in front of Li Zhi.
"As ordered, Your Majesty, don't worry, my brothers are still here."
"The Tang Dynasty will get better and better."