amaotonovel Chapter 789 When did I say that I would deal with Pei Aiqing?
Chapter 789 When did I say that I would deal with Pei Aiqing?
The city of Chang'an was shrouded in a dense curtain of rain. The copper bells on the eaves of the Liangyi Hall swayed gently in the wind, making a crisp and cold sound.
Inside the hall, twenty-four coiled dragon candlesticks illuminated the gilded beams and pillars, but the lingering candle smoke was like a layer of mist, blurring the face of Li Zhi sitting on the armchair.
Among the mountain of memorials on the desk, the one impeaching Pei Xingjian was deliberately placed on the top. The vermilion impeachment comments hurt people's eyes. In comparison, the report of the victory of the Western Expedition was curled up in the corner, wrinkled badly.
"Your Majesty, Minister Li requests an audience."
The voice of the Yellow Gate Minister came from outside the door, echoing in the empty hall.
Li Zhi's fingers holding the secret report tightened slightly, his nails almost digging into the paper.
He stuffed the secret report into the rosewood box beside him, and the gilded lock made a crisp sound when it collided.
"Xuan." He said in a deep voice.
The carved lattice door slowly opened, and Li Jingxuan walked in quickly, dragging his official robe soaked with rain.
The frost on the old minister's temples contrasted with the crane patch embroidered with gold thread on his official uniform, and the jade belt around his waist swayed gently with his hurried steps.
There was sweat on his forehead, obviously he had come in the rain, his eyes were full of worry, and when he looked up, his eyes met Li Zhi who was sitting on the dragon throne.
"Minister Li, I've been working hard these days. Are you here to see me because of General Pei's matter?"
Li Zhi stroked the warm Hetian jade paperweight on the desk.
His eyes swept over Li Jingxuan's slightly trembling hands, and he secretly thought about the long-standing friendship between this old minister and Pei Xingjian.
Li Jingxuan sighed deeply, his robe sleeves sweeping dark water marks on the blue brick floor. "Your Majesty is very perceptive. I have known Pei Xingjian for decades, and I know that he is cautious by nature and always makes decisions after careful consideration."
"Not following orders to return this time must have been a helpless move after careful consideration."
Having said this, he suddenly lifted up the corner of his robe and knelt down on the cold blue bricks with a "dong". His old knees hit the ground with a dull sound, and tears welled up in his turbid eyes.
"Thinking back to the time when he accompanied Emperor Taizong in pacifying the Western Turks, riding single-handedly into the enemy camp to persuade them to surrender, he was truly so loyal and brave! Now, he's been framed by a villain..."
Before he could finish his words, he was choked with sobs and couldn't continue.
Li Zhi looked at the old minister's hunched back, and in a trance he saw the young general standing with a spear in his hand on the Xuanwu Gate Tower during the Zhenguan period.
At that time, Pei Xingjian was full of heroic spirit. He followed Emperor Taizong in his campaigns and made great military achievements.
Li Jingxuan in front of him, whose once upright figure has been bent by the years, but his friendship for his old friend has never changed.
He stood up, and the hem of his robe swept past the bronze crane-shaped candlestick, creating a swaying light and shadow.
"Lord Li, please stand up."
"Kneeling is not customary in the Tang Dynasty!"
Li Zhi reached out to support him, his fingertips touching the bony bones beneath his sleeves. A pang of bitterness welled up in his heart, "When did I ever say I would punish Pei Aiqing?"
Li Jingxuan raised his head, his cloudy old eyes filled with surprise: "But... those memorials..."
"It's nothing but the petty intrigues of the court."
Li Zhi helped the old minister sit down, his tone gradually colder, "After the great victory of the Western Expedition, how many people became greedy? Some wanted to share the credit, while others were afraid of losing favor, so they fabricated false accusations."
"Lord Pei conquered thousands of miles of territory, but he blocked the financial and career paths of some people. Naturally, they would try every possible means to bring him down."
Li Jingxuan stood up, straightened his official robe, and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Although General Pei did not fully comply with the order this time, it was also to preserve military strength and consolidate the newly occupied territory."
"Besides, the three railways leading to Constantinople are extremely expensive. If we continue the war, I'm afraid the logistics will be unsustainable."
"How could I not know?"
Li Zhi walked slowly in the hall with his hands behind his back, his dragon boots making crisp sounds on the blue bricks. "When a general is away from home, he may not obey the king's orders. I understand this principle."
But in the court, various forces are intertwined and intertwined. If I don't make some gesture, how can those people wholeheartedly help me in the Western Expedition?"
He stopped, his eyes fixed on the rain that was still falling outside the window. "I urgently summoned Pei Aiqing back to the capital this time just to temporarily remove him from the center of the storm. I'll make a decision after the storm subsides."
"Your Majesty is so thoughtful and considerate. If General Pei knew, he would surely be moved to tears."
Li Jingxuan sighed.
Li Zhi smiled wryly and shook his head: "So what if I'm touched? What I want is a stable court and a lasting foundation for the Tang Dynasty."
"I have no choice but to use the Bad People to monitor various forces."
"Nowadays, many people appear to be respectful to me on the surface, but secretly they form cliques for personal gain and attempt to influence government affairs."
"Besides, I don't have any children yet."
"If I don't check and balance them, they will sooner or later take over my position."
"Your Majesty, although employing the Bad Men may have a temporary effect, they are of humble origins after all. Their sudden rise to power will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the ministers."
Li Jingxuan said worriedly, "And if used improperly, it could cause disaster."
"I know that too," Li Zhi said solemnly, "but this is a risky move, but also a brilliant one."
"Only by breaking the existing balance of power can I truly win over the people."
"It's just that at this critical juncture, Pei Aiqing's matter has become a complication, making the situation even more complicated."