The Lord who use immortals as food

“You dog!”

The filigree jade cup was thrown against the pillar, the clear sound of tinkling was broken into a chain, a tea stain was soaked on the warm and soft carpet, in the deep hall there was only the old man's rough and angry breathing, the maids in green clothes bowed their heads and knelt to serve, as quiet as statues.

Li Du had not taken off his official uniform yet, his angry face and beard were like an old cat, he threw himself on the couch, the tea on the table next to him was overturned, it was the mess he had just made with his sleeve.

Even though the wind direction in the court had changed, Li Du never felt that he was defeated.

All the government offices were still firmly in his hands, and although Yuanzhao had stabbed some disgusting nails into many passes, the name of the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty was still Li Du, and it would last for at least two years.

The new prime minister's foundation was of course unstable, and his followers were all weak scholars. At least 70% of the things in the court were still influenced by him, Li Du.

As the saying goes, a frozen ice three feet thick is not formed in one day. The Li family has been rooted in the court for so many years. It is impossible that they will be burned down by a fire just because a surnamed Yuan came to power. Even if it is the so-called two heavens, isn't it also the same two days coexisting?

It is common sense for the Shangshu Province to have the left and right servants coexist. When two ministers coexist, it is easy for a saint to have power. The name of Yuan Youjing is being called in the trend of Shenjing. The political center of gravity is indeed shifting to the new prime minister, but few people think that Prime Minister Li will step down.

He has been in the court of Shenjing for too long. He is noble, dignified, and indifferent, like an old and unbroken jade tree.

The Li family does not need a fierce political proposition like Yuan Zhao, and even Li Du does not need any political center of gravity. Let anyone do it. He just needs to recite scriptures and Buddha as before, and live a life of drunkenness and dreaming in the illusion building. This flag standing here can stabilize a large area of ​​water and soil in the court.

Li Du had a gloomy face on the Winter Sword Platform for half an hour, because he really felt very embarrassed. He foresaw that some disgusting things would stand side by side with him in the court for a long time, just like the word "Xu" ten years ago.

Even though he had lived more than half of his life, he rarely encountered things that went against his will.

For three days, he stood silently at the head of all the ministers, watching indifferently those mud-legged and low-class people wearing jade belts and court robes, like monkeys in a crown, pointing and going in the court, thinking that he had been insulted... Until today, three impeachment memorials, only the name of Li Du was pointed out nakedly.

The four words "stunned, shocked and angry" are not enough to describe the threat and offense the old man felt at that moment.

Right in the Xuanzheng Hall, in front of all the ministers, in front of the saint, it was not like the previous few times when the humble officials who were desperate for their lives were dragged away as soon as they opened their mouths, but three red robes jointly, Jingzhao Yin Di Jiu, Criminal Ministry Guan Zhiyi, and Rites Ministry Yu Ziqian submitted a thick stack of official documents at the same time.

Among them, there are mainly three major events:

The first is the case of human trafficking in Liguan, which used Taipingcao and Fengshuiwu as minions to harm the people, colluded with Jinwuwei as a cover, set up private prisons, and accumulated huge wealth.

The second is more than 300 cases of injustice in the Ministry of Justice, which were instructed by others. Officials and civilians were harmed, and public laws became private laws.

The third is more than 30 officials of the Ministry of Rites, most of whom are from aristocratic families. They are all in office, or use their power for personal gain, and even bring singing girls to the yamen for fun, turning the dignified Ministry of Rites into a place where rituals and music are broken.

As soon as the three things were reported, all the ministers in the court who knew some inside stories held their breath.

The Ministry of Rites is where Li Du was born, and the Ministry of Justice is one of the places where the Li family has the deepest roots. The reason why Taipingcao and others are harmful is that the Southern Yamen guards are in collusion with them - the power to mobilize these guards is in the hands of the prime minister.

The three incidents actually pointed in the same direction. This must be a case they had prepared well. As long as the saint said he wanted to investigate, the three government offices would be able to produce a solid chain of evidence in a very short time, and at the same time point to the purple-robed man who had been sitting back and relaxing for ten years.

The saint was silent. After three memorials, Yuan Zhao said in a voice: "Your Majesty, the harm to our court today is not the sparrows with gray feathers, but the termites with purple skin."

Li Du turned his head and looked at him coldly. Only on the third day, this man with a rat-like face and a rat-like face, who was clearly still unsteady on his feet, showed him his undisguised fangs.

The memorial was very thick and was not approved immediately. The saint said he would take it back to have a look.

It was at this time that Li Du realized that this huge storm had really swept over him.

"The layman has not violated the precept of anger for a long time, but has violated it twice in the past month. I hope the layman can cultivate his mind and not lose the Buddha spirit." The old monk said kindly, and he and ten white-robed monks sat around silently counting the rosary beads, and the incense and candles drifted away quietly.

Li Du was silent for a while with a gloomy face, slowly stretched his brows, and turned into his usual calm expression. He picked up the Buddhist beads on his wrist, nodded and bowed slightly: "Thank you for your advice, the monk, I am really disturbed by the world. I will hand-copy another hundred volumes of scriptures and donate ten thousand silver coins to restore my sincerity and peace of mind."

"The world is turbulent, and many people who cannot see their true nature are trapped in their own prison. The layman's life is determined by the will of heaven, and he should seek transcendence early to avoid letting his clear mind be contaminated by the dust."

Li Du nodded slowly, his face was clear, and he glanced at the mess in front of him: "Please take it."

Two green-robed people lowered their heads and walked over. When they picked up the broken porcelain on the ground, their hands were still trembling slightly.

Li Du closed his eyes and twisted the Buddhist beads one by one, thinking about the memorial that had just brought the turmoil in the court to a new peak. Obviously, the storm was coming towards him.

But in fact, Li Du had never been ready to step down, and he had never thought about stepping down.

He liked the huge and prosperous city of Shenjing, the exquisite Buddhist teachings and the gentle girls here, the position above everyone else, and the comfortable climate with distinct four seasons...

However, as the brother of the head of the Li family, and as the fulcrum of the Li family in Shenjing, he can also keenly sense the real threat coming.

The change of Tianlu was a major event. He had thought about the consequences of failure, and he had also roughly expected the extent to which the branches of the Li family would shrink, but the reality may not necessarily be as expected.

The Yuan faction is aggressive, and the details of the memorial are still pending on the imperial case. When the matter reaches this level, he may not be able to control the situation. In other words, the fact that this document can be handed over to the imperial court is a signal in itself, which means that he can no longer ignore it. As for the next step, he should first confirm the attitude of two aspects.

"Prepare ink." Li Du closed his eyes and spoke two words on his lips.

Two more waiters stood up, and soon the fragrant fine ink, paper and pen were placed on the table. Li Du gently lifted his cuffs and wrote this letter with his own hand, carefully considering it.

Send it westward.

Then the waiters helped him bathe and change clothes. His body completely relaxed in the warm water vapor. He held the prayer beads and went out to the eaves. He was wrapped in a purple cloak. The two maids held up a large umbrella with a warm array painted on it. , and in the court, Zhezi and Shangshu, who had been invited, were standing in the snow chatting.

"Hello, Prime Minister Li." Lu Chunshui, who had neat sideburns, turned around and bowed to the old man.

Next to him is Li Hanfei, the Minister of Punishment, who is also his nephew and the brother of the current queen.

"What beautiful plum blossoms." The minister sighed and turned around, "The flowers and plants in my uncle's courtyard are more energetic than those in Yuzhong."

"The plum blossoms become more beautiful as they get colder." Li Du walked down the steps and said quietly, "Your punishment department taught people to drill so deeply, which caused me a lot of trouble."

"It's my nephew's fault."

"You can put it somewhere else, but the Ministry of Punishment should try not to put it." Li Du explained, "I think they have also made some moves recently."

"It's been there for a long time, and the action is not small. It's like a bug gnawing here and there. Even the position of a jailer has to be fought for." Li Hanfei said.

"We should fight for everything here, don't be reluctant to work hard." Li Du looked at the dimming sky, "Now there are so many cases in hand, and there is a big fuss in the court. They probably want to take advantage of this storm to clean up the Criminal Department. Layer, you sit here firmly and bear what you deserve."

"There is no such thing as taking advantage of others."

"I have something for you to use."

"Um?"

"Xu Ji's case ten years ago." Li Du picked a rather tender plum blossom and crushed it in his hands. "That day, the saint agreed to clear his name. This matter started to be promoted yesterday. At that time, all the people in the court belonged to him. If you want to reverse the charges, you have to go to the Ministry of Punishments.”

"...That's it." Li Hanfei pondered for a while, nodded, and continued to appreciate the plum blossoms.

"Hello Brother Lu, is there any good news for me from Tianli Academy?"

"The Theory of Two Heavens is still immature, but 'Haotian is the only one' is indeed untenable." Lu Chunshui showed a faint smile, "The Tianli Academy can help Prime Minister Li very simply. It is just to suppress the young successor. But that’s all.”

"I once heard Brother Chunshui say that the sky does not have two days, it cannot be two days." Li Du said.

Lu Chunshui was silent for a moment: "Yes, the theory of heaven must never be touched, especially now."

He sleeved his hands and looked to the north: "This matter touches the foundation of the Five Surnames. The Five Surnames are the pillars of the Tang Dynasty... Fortunately, your Majesty can now support the Tang Dynasty with one effort. I will enter the palace tomorrow to discuss this matter." Your Majesty will discuss this in detail."

"Then please ask Brother Chunshui to hand over a memorial to me." Li Du took out a memorial from his warm cloak, and it was obvious that he had just written it himself.

Lu Chunshui didn't ask, just nodded and took it.

"It's getting late, it's rare to see the first snow, and the plum blossoms are so beautiful, let's eat some tender mutton." Li Hanfei said with a smile.

"I don't commit the crime of killing, so I'll sit with you for a while." The old man sat down quietly, and the maid behind him held the umbrella steadily, just enough to cover the evening light.

…

…

It was getting late, and many people who had taken off their court uniforms gathered around the fireside and talked about the same topic.

Many people think that they will face the situation of the second prime minister coming to court for a long time. The new prime minister will take the opportunity to expand his power as quickly as possible. People must balance or choose in this situation.

However, unexpectedly, before his steps were firmly established, Yuan Zhao once again set off the fiercest storm, pointing directly at the old prime minister who had been in the court for ten years. When the news spread, the scholars of Shenjing expressed their support one after another.

This was not an attack to take a piece of meat from him, leaving no room for maneuver. This was clearly an attempt to completely force Li Du to step down.

The collision of huge waves at this level is often no longer intense, or in other words, the stage of their fierce fighting has passed. When the game reaches the end, only the exchange of a few key pieces is left, which is actually only a few moves.

The current atmosphere is depressingly quiet. Everyone knows that according to the style of today's saints, this matter will have a result soon, but no one is sure what the result will be.

Only the so-called Yuan Party was not too surprised by this direction. This was exactly what they were promoting. At the very beginning of the confrontation, a few months ago, what the woman said was: "I want to change the prime minister."

In the Jingzhao Yamen, the newly-appointed Yuan Pushe sat across from the long desk. A lamp was burning on the desk. The files rustled under the lamp. His sleeves were stained with ink. The new ink was piled on top of the old ink, which looked like he had been writing for a long time. .

Yuan Zhao calmly picked up a bowl of rice with vegetables, stared at the moving pen tip, and suddenly said: "It doesn't have to be so detailed, and I won't take this step."

Di Jiu paused for a moment, but still copied it word for word. The original handwriting was clear and sharp. It was a text carefully compiled by Xie Chuantang. Now it was about the investigation of a carriage used by Qiu Tianyu. The woman gave two direct evidences and five. According to circumstantial evidence, it is speculated that the Prime Minister's Mansion also used this carriage for a period of time.

This is the excerpt from the memorial to the emperor. In fact, there is no need to mention the carriage, or just one sentence, "It is also related to daily use" will be enough.

"I'm 70% sure about this." Yuan Zhao said, "According to your habits, I'll be conservative."

"What if we don't be conservative?" Di Jiu asked.

"Ten percent." Yuan Zhao finished swallowing a bowl of rice and put down the bowl and chopsticks.

"Li Du has always been an old and big rotten tree. He doesn't hold any authority himself. All authority comes from the word 'Li'." The candle flickered and Yuan Zhao said slowly, "So should he leave? In fact, it’s just a matter of attitude in two directions.”

"Big Li and Xiao Li."

"Yes. I am submitting this document because the sage allowed me to try this. In the past few days, we have continued to exert pressure. After about two or three days, there will be a result in the west, and your Majesty will also have a result." Yuan Zhaodao , "It's just a small fight these days, but then it will be the time to really spread your wings. Tell me what you want first, and I will remember it for you."

Having said that, the new prime minister's face was not entirely confident. He silently looked at the flickering candle shadow on the case. Just as Li Du may not be able to control the situation, at this level, Yuan Zhao was also cautious about every step.

"I have just been promoted, and I don't want much... In fact, I am willing to be a Jingyin for the rest of my life. I will do a solid job." Di Jiu sighed softly, put down his pen and looked at the shadow on the wall, thinking about the silent and neat female officer for the past few days. Ask him with difficulty.

——"Master Di, I would like to... take the liberty to ask Li Du... can he go to prison?"

——"Just kidding."

--"……Um."

At this time, Di Jiu turned his head and said with an expressionless expression: "I really want to deal with him."

"...joking."

"Yes, just talking." Di Jiu sighed softly, picked up the pen, turned the page, and continued writing.

That's of course just political pressure, and that's just political pressure.

If they don't respond, they will continue to push the matter forward. If they accept it and exchange it, there will always be a solution to the matter, which is exactly the political success that the Yuan faction seeks.

Do you really want to send such a real core figure of the Five Surnames to the execution stand? There is no rebellion or disobedience... just because he likes to spend money, enjoy life, worship Buddha and practice pure cultivation? Where is Lu Yugu?