Li Gongde sighed and looked at Hsu Fengnian. He said sincerely, "Your Highness, with that, although it wasn't Li Gongde's fault, I admit that my reputation has been ruined. I don't have the face or heart to be an official anymore. I hope that Your Highness can allow Li Gongde to return to his hometown and be a farmer in Hwangnam County. Actually, when Your Highness came to Lingzhou, Li Gongde already had this thought. In the great river, each new generation surpasses the previous one. The hearts of the people in Beiliang had already reached the level of scholars. Li Gongde knew that his talent was shallow and his reputation was extremely bad. Not to mention the position of primary second-grade administrator, even the position of Lingzhou Provincial Governor was not enough to convince the people. In the beginning, when Your Highness became the general of Lingzhou, Li Gongde wanted to help Your Highness for a year or two before retiring. That would fulfill his wish of being an official for two dynasties in Beiliang. It was for the public good, but there were also selfish motives. Who would have thought that the moment Your Highness moved into the general's manor, the Lingzhou officialdom under Li Gongde's eyes would become chaotic. At that time, Li Gongde knew that he was old, his abilities were too small, and his experience was shallow. Rather than being scolded away shamelessly, why don't I ask Your Highness to be merciful and let Li Gongde return to his hometown to live out his remaining years? "
Hsu Fengnian lowered his head and blew on the steam from the tea. He smiled but did not say anything.
The light in the study was dim. Li Gongde held the teacup with both hands to warm it up. The steam rose and the expressions of the old and young were blurry.
Li Gongde chose his words carefully and slowly said, "Your Highness, Li Gongde resigned from his position not because he wanted to avoid arousing suspicion, but because he knew that it was difficult for him to take on such a big responsibility. Being the first Administrator of Beiliang was like forcing a duck onto a perch. As for Li Gongde's well-known addiction to being an official, he was almost satisfied. Now that the structure of Beiliang has expanded and the atmosphere is brand new, Li Gongde did not read much and was miles away from scholars like Wang Xihua. However, a few days ago, when he saw Fuzhen replacing old talismans with new peaches, he figured out a principle that he did not understand before. No matter how good the old Spring Festival couplets were, after a year of exposure to the wind and sun, they were unbearably old. Let's not talk about other things, just looking at them did not feel festive enough. It was not as pleasing to the eyes as the new couplets. Moreover, Beiliang is currently full of vitality and talent. Your Highness has the intention to reform the Beiliang officialdom. In the end, the study of officialdom is nothing more than the essence of the three words' moving one's position '. Therefore, as long as Li Gongde leaves, it is possible that everyone in the Beiliang officialdom will be promoted by a rank. At the very least, the scholars that Your Highness has chosen can all be moved up a rank.
Hsu Fengnian interrupted, "Let's not talk about this first. Uncle Li is still young. It is too early to talk about retiring from his position and living leisurely in the forest."
Li Gongde wanted to say something but stopped.
Hsu Fengnian could not help laughing and said mischievously, "I guess that Zhang Julu will at least give Uncle Li the title of Minister and Grand Secretary to the imperial court. Otherwise, he will be too petty."
Li Gongde smiled and said, "Li Gongde has not opened the secret letter, so I don't know the contents."
Then the Administrator placed the secret letter in his bosom on the table. Hsu Fengnian casually glanced at it and heard Li Gongde laugh heartily for the first time that night. "If it were up to Li Gongde, he would look down on a Minister with the same rank as the Administrator and a Grand Secretary who can't make money out of thin air. It would be more appropriate to let Tantanon give up the position of Huan Wen to Li Gongde. Of course, if the Grand Secretary is willing to give up the position, Li Gongde won't mind kindly accepting it. If that is the case, Li Gongde can go back on his word once. Your Highness, please don't stop Li Gongde.
Hsu Fengnian drank a mouthful of tea and laughed out loud. "If the son of the Zhao family has such courage, ha, I really won't stop Uncle Li. It would be nice if the news of an official trained by Beiliang became the Grand Secretary of the imperial court in the end. In the future, wouldn't countless scholars flood into Beiliang to become officials? Because Beiliang is a prosperous land, I would be happy to see them all work hard in Beiliang for 20 to 30 years and accumulate enough hard work. Then, they would run to the imperial court to politely accept them for their retirement. They would comfortably enjoy a high position for a decade or so. After they die, they would all be bestowed posthumous titles by the Emperor. How good would that be? The Xu family of Beiliang would benefit, and the Zhao family of the imperial court would gain fame. Everyone would be happy. "
Li Gongde smiled knowingly.
Hsu Fengnian withdrew his smile and said, "Uncle Li, you can continue to be the Administrator with peace of mind. As for Hanlin, I promise to send you back to Lingzhou unscathed."
Li Gongde still wanted to say something, but Hsu Fengnian closed the cup lid and placed it on the table. His expression was one that did not allow rejection. He said, "Uncle Li, then it's settled. We'll talk about everything when Hanlin comes back!"
Li Gongde could only stand up and say goodbye. He silently left the study.
Hsu Fengnian walked him to the door of the study. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
If this secret matter spread out, it would be enough to shake the entire court. He had planned the entire situation single-handedly. Xu Weixiong and Wutongin were in charge of every detail. The Golden Silk Weaver Li Xifeng had made a deal with Beiliang. His children and grandchildren were kept in the capital as hostages. If he wanted to leave Beiliang alive and not arouse the suspicion of the imperial court, or more accurately, the Emperor, he had to come up with a flawless plan. Thus, it was true that Li Xifeng was a loyal and responsible spy. It was also true that Zhang Julu wrote the two letters that Li Xifeng got from the imperial court. It was also true that Li Hanlin was sent to the southern court of Beimang. True and false, it was tangled and complicated. During this period of time, the interests intertwined. Everyone's actions, big and small, were enough to dazzle one's eyes. Beiliang could not afford to make a single mistake. Liyang could afford to lose, but Beiliang could not afford to lose. If they won, the Golden Silk Weaver would go from an organization of the imperial court to Beiliang's private property. Large amounts of spies hiding in Beiliang and around Beiliang would be tracked down. Many of the Liyang spies who had infiltrated the military at the border would also be uprooted. In this way, the mud in Beiliang could be cleaned up. When Hsu Fengnian became the general of Lingzhou, his ambition was not in the military affairs of Lingzhou. Instead, he wanted the Beiliang officialdom to be completely free of worries. Only then could those scholars be at ease and settle down. If Li Gongde resisted the temptation, then Hsu Fengnian had told him before that he would let this Uncle Li enjoy his official life. If he did not, then it would be the worst situation. Even with the Yan family's betrayal first, Hsu Fengnian still had no plans to destroy the Li family. He would only nominally let Li Gongde resign and return home with the excuse that he was unwell and peacefully be a rich man in Hwangnam County. Just as the Administrator had said tonight, once he retreated, the Beiliang officialdom would do its best to act according to His Royal Highness' wishes. Whatever Xu Hun did, it was Li Xifeng's wishes. And Li Xifeng's guidance to Xu Hun was Hsu Fengnian's intentions. As for crossbowmen and marksmanship leader Li Hanlin, he had a large group of Beiliang's most elite Eagle Guard following him. There were also six Master Realm retainers from the Wang Manor mixed in. Those Zhaogou death warriors who were in charge of receiving him outside the pass were destined to die. However, Hsu Fengnian knew that if this happened, the four brothers who grew up together, went to brothels, and took the blame together, none of them would be left.
The Administrator brought his trusted retainer and slowly walked out of the General's Manor.
Li Gongde turned his head and looked at the slightly eerie official residence in the night. He smiled and asked, "What kind of person do you think His Royal Highness is?"
The Master Realm retainer hesitated and said, "An expert."
Li Gongde laughed and did not force this careful Jianghu expert. He muttered to himself, "Although a great man has to be ruthless, but it doesn't mean that he isn't a hero."
The retainer did not dare to say much.
Li Gongde walked to the door of his own manor and was about to step onto the steps. He suddenly retracted his foot and smiled, "Let's take a walk. It's rare for Apricot Street to be so peaceful."
Li Gongde walked to the empty and lonely street and sighed, "Everyone is suffering, it's all about finding joy in the suffering. Others may pity you, but you don't know that you are suffering. That is true ability. "
"I, like the General, am old. No matter what I do now, it is for my descendants. "
In the study room.
Hsu Fengnian reached out and grabbed the teacup.
The white porcelain cup shattered.
Half of the tea splashed all over him.
They were set to arrive at the Lingzhou General's Manor on the third day of the first month.
He purposely mentioned the three secret letters in the corridor.
Hsu Fengnian gave the Li family time and time again.
At this moment, there was still only one secret letter on the table.
In this game of chess, Beiliang who had the geographical advantage would not lose no matter what. It was only a matter of winning more or losing less.
However, to Hsu Fengnian, he would lose no matter what.
He asked for it. He was alone!
Xu Beizhi said it well.
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