The struggle for the throne had always been the cruelest and most callous affair of all dynasties. It was normal for princes to assign spies to each other to keep an eye on each other, and the dangers involved were not something that outsiders could understand.
The slightest carelessness could lead to a horrible death.
This was probably why the Fifth Prince had sought out Wang Chong to advise him.
"Du Hongjian, Wei Shaoyou, Cui Yi, Lu Jianjin, Li Han …"
Wang Chong listed off a long list of names, causing Li Jingzhong's face to wildly pale.
"What, Marquis, is there a problem with all of these people? Can they not be used?"
Li Jingzhong had only just handed over this list, but he had not expected so many people to be of no use. But Wang Chong's next words took him by surprise.
"Tell His Highness that there's basically no problem with these people and that he can use them. As for the others, there's still room for discussion. "
Wang Chong indifferently said.
"Ah!"
Li Jingzhong raised his head and was instantly dumbfounded. He could understand if there was a problem, but how could Wang Chong be so sure that these people could be used?
"Just do as I say!"
Wang Chong indifferently said, not even turning his head, but he had seen through Li Jingzhong's deepest thoughts. Li Jingzhong's heart thumped, and he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look.
Wang Chong naturally knew why these people could be used. Whether it was Du Hongjian, Wei Shaoyou, or Cui Yi, these people would all be the Fifth Prince's direct subordinates when he ascended to the throne. These people should not have appeared at this time. In the future, they would only be at Li Heng's side because of various opportunities. But since history had changed and the Fifth Prince had the heart to raise his own wings, these people could be arranged at Fifth Prince Li Heng's side ahead of time.
At the very least, in terms of loyalty, there was no problem with these people being of use.
"In addition …"
As Wang Chong spoke, he paused for a moment. With a wave of his hand, a weasel hair brush on the brush rack on the table was pulled by an invisible force. With a whoosh, it flew out of the brush rack and touched the ink stone on the table for a moment before it landed in Wang Chong's hand.
"Tell His Highness that all the people I've crossed off the list are not to be used. Stay as far away from them as possible. Liu Ji, Wang Zeng, Li Yong, no matter how Your Highness likes these people, you must alienate them as much as possible. In addition, the Young Craftsman of the Army Wei Lan, the Vice Minister of War Wei Zhi … "
"How is it?"
Li Jingzhong suddenly gathered his courage and raised his head, his eyes full of hope.
"Hmph, does His Highness value them very much?"
Wang Chong put down the list in his hand, looked down at Li Jingzhong, and sneered.
"This …"
Li Jingzhong hesitated.
"Is it because they're from House Wei?"
Wang Chong said calmly.
"Yes!"
Li Jingzhong knew that nothing could be hidden from Wang Chong and hurriedly nodded.
Among the many noble families of the Tang dynasty, House Wei could truly be said to be the number one noble family. Its status was far above that of House Bai and House Zhao. It was a truly prestigious and invisible noble family.
House Wang was known as a noble family of ministers and generals, and Wang Chong's grandfather was a famous sage of the Tang dynasty, highly respected and renowned throughout the world. He had once made great contributions to the throne and supported the country, and the several generations of friendship with The King of Song's lineage made House Wang a colossus in the capital.
However, even House Wang could not compare to House Wei.
The reason was simple. House Wang had only risen to prominence in the last few decades, while House Wei was an ancient noble family with four to five hundred years of history. As early as the Sui Dynasty, House Wei was known as the number one noble family in the Sui Dynasty.
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty had been able to smoothly establish the Sui Dynasty precisely because he had the help of Wei Xiaokuan, the Grand Marshal of the Northern Zhou Army.
In short, House Wei's foundation was the true number one aristocratic family.
As disciples of the Wei Clan, Wei Lan and Wei Zhi had significant influence, so it was not strange that Fifth Prince Li Heng wanted to recruit them.
"Tell the Fifth Prince that anyone can take this name list, but not Wei Lan and Wei Zhi!"
Wang Chong held the name list in his hand and made a prompt decision.
"If he wants to hear my opinion, then this is my opinion!"
"Why?!"
Li Jingzhong abruptly raised his head, unable to conceal the shock in his eyes.
"Hmph, are you doubting my judgment?"
Wang Chong said coldly. His eyes were cold and emotionless.
It was hard to change the nature of this vile minister. He had a strong desire for power. However, if he was still a little restless, if he still wanted to play politics in front of him, if he didn't put away those thoughts, then there was no need to wait for the future, he could kill him now.
The current Li Jingzhong had not yet established his future contributions to the throne, nor did he have the weight at the Fifth Prince Li Heng's side.
Even if he killed him now, he would just be killing an insignificant middle-aged eunuch. He was confident that Li Heng would not fall out with him because of this.
"This lowly one wouldn't dare!"
Li Jingzhong saw the cold light in Wang Chong's eyes and immediately sensed something. His heart trembled and he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to say anything else.
"I can understand that Your Highness wants to recruit the Wei Clan. After all, the Wei Clan truly is a clan with extremely deep reserves. However, the Wei Clan is the Wei Clan, and Wei Lan and Wei Zhi are Wei Lan and Wei Zhi. I do not want Your Highness to reject the Wei Clan, but Wei Lan and Wei Zhi. "
Wang Chong indifferently said as he held the name list in his hand.
"Marquis … do you feel that these two aren't very useful?"
Li Jingzhong probed.
"You're quite smart!"
Wang Chong did not deny it. As he looked forward, a hint of reminiscence appeared in his eyes.
If he had not intervened, Wei Lan and Wei Zhi really might have joined Li Heng's side. Although these two came from the capital's Wei Clan, they were rash and skilled at messing things up. In this aspect, they were far less steady and composed than their big brother, Wei Jian.
Wang Chong clearly remembered that Li Heng, the master of the resurgence of the Tang dynasty, had taken so long to ascend to the throne because of Wei Lan and Wei Zhi.
It was precisely because these two weren't good enough at accomplishing anything and were good enough at ruining things that Li Heng, who had escaped a calamity in a future political storm, was implicated by these two, incurring the wrath of the Holy Emperor, who believed that Li Heng had plotted to kill his father and was unworthy of inheriting the throne.
As a result, Li Heng's succession to the throne was delayed by at least two or three years, and to the Central Plains, which lacked time the most, this delay was fatal.
No matter how great Li Heng's ambitions were, in the end, he could only die with regret on the dragon throne!
When the leader of the Great Tang's resurgence, as well as the last emperor, died in Taiji Palace, countless people in the Central Plains wept bitter tears and lamented the loss.
Now that Wang Chong had been reborn, he naturally would not allow this sort of thing to happen again!
Wei Lan and Wei Jian had almost caused Li Heng to be deposed as a commoner. If he allowed these two to remain at Li Heng's side, he would truly be nurturing a tiger that would invite disaster.
"Stand up! In any case, tell His Highness that only those who can endure will gain. His Highness's wings are still not fully grown, and he has only just begun to show signs of improvement. For His Highness to get involved with a great clan like the Wei Clan is more harmful than beneficial. There is a saying that goes' too much is as bad as not enough ', and this is precisely the case. "
Wang Chong said.
"This servant understands."
Li Jingzhong stood up with his head lowered, not daring to say anything else. Wang Chong had defeated Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huizang in the southwest, and he had been conferred the title of Young Marquis, the Son of Heaven's disciple … Everyone in the empire, in and out of court, regarded him as a future Imperial Great General!
In terms of weight, although Wei Lan and Wei Jian were known as disciples of the Wei Clan, they were far inferior to Wang Chong.
This was also why Fifth Prince Li Heng regarded Wang Chong with such importance that he would even give Wang Chong a list of subordinates and followers that he wanted to recruit.
In terms of weight, Wang Chong was without a doubt number one in Li Heng's heart!
"Take this list. Soldiers are valued for quality, not quantity. In His Highness's current situation, just these people on this list are enough. It is not advisable to have too many. Otherwise, His Divine Majesty will be displeased. "
As Wang Chong spoke, he handed over the list of names that he had corrected.
"This servant will tell His Highness!"
Li Jingzhong respectfully replied.
Just when Wang Chong believed that he would leave, Li Jingzhong stood in front of him with his head lowered, showing no intention of leaving.
"What? Is there something else? "
Wang Chong asked in surprise.
"Yes!"
Li Jingzhong clenched his teeth and finally spoke.
"This servant has a private matter that Marquis must agree to no matter what!"
"Oh?"
Wang Chong was surprised. This eunuch was quite bold. Even though he knew that this was a private matter, he still dared to ask for his consent.
"Marquis, although this is a private request from this servant, it is not for this servant's sake, but for His Highness the Fifth Prince."
Li Jingzhong gathered his courage and said.
"Fifth Prince?"
Wang Chong was surprised.
"Speak, what is it?"
"His Highness has recently fallen in love with a woman named Du Zhiqi. In private, they exchanged keepsakes and even pledged to marry each other. But Marquis, you know that the descendants of the royal family are different from ordinary people. Whether they take concubines or concubines, they must have His Majesty's approval. They can't pledge to marry an ordinary woman. "
"In the previous dynasty, when the current Sage Emperor was still young, he once favored a Taichang Le Ren, causing the previous Emperor to be furious. He believed that the Taichang Le Ren indulged in women and was unworthy of his position, causing him to almost be stripped of his position as Crown Prince. There are precedents for all of this. "
"His Highness has just started to improve in the palace, but he did such a thing. He is destroying his own wall! Moreover, for the sake of that woman, His Highness has been less diligent in his studies and martial arts recently. Now, even the teachers hired by the Holy Emperor for the princes are quite critical of him. "
As Li Jingzhong spoke, his face was full of anxiety and unconcealable worry.
"Marquis, now the only one who can persuade him and make him listen is you. Please help to persuade His Highness no matter what. Otherwise, he will be in big trouble! "
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