The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

"According to what you said, isn't there nothing left between the monarch and his subjects?" Li Shimin asked.

"So it depends on whether you are loyal to the monarch or to the country. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong of Qi said that loyalty to the country is higher than loyalty to the monarch. If the country is gone, the subjects can die, but if only the monarch is gone and the country is still there, the subjects are just sad."

Li Shimin looked at him sarcastically, and then said, "Oh~ Then I understand, the former prince is dead, you are just sad."

Everyone laughed again after hearing this.

"Because the Tang Dynasty is still here." Wei Zheng said, "Just now when we talked about Qi, the Duke of Qi asked the Prime Minister Yan Zi what a loyal minister was. Yan Zi said that when the country is in trouble and the king flees, he will not follow him.

The Duke of Qi said that the ministers usually accept the king's fiefdom and title, but treat the king like this in times of crisis. Can this be considered a loyal minister? Yan Zi said that if the king listens to the loyal ministers, how can the country be in danger and how can the king flee!"

After Wei Zheng's remarks, the officials of the Eastern Palace present fell into deep thought, and their faces were no longer as contemptuous as before.

This Wei Zheng is really something.

Then, Wei Zheng said, "On the contrary, if the king does not listen to the loyal ministers, why should the loyal ministers follow him to death?"

Li Shimin stared at Wei Zheng with a sharp gaze and a bit of danger.

"I know that your advice is to persuade the former prince to kill me."

"That's right." Wei Zheng responded openly: "Because your highness and the former prince are fighting, the world is uneasy and the country is not at peace, so one of the two should be killed."

Wei Zheng's tone was still firm.

"So, if the former prince had listened to me, there would be no disaster at Xuanwu Gate."

"After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, I did not flee because I was a loyal minister like Guan Zhong and Yan Zi who were loyal to the Tang Dynasty!"

Some people in the hall heard Wei Zheng's remarks and spit on him.

"Shameless!"

"That's right!"

Wei Zheng's remarks caused a lot of controversy. Most people thought that he was trying to make himself look good in order to survive.

He actually compared himself with Guan Zhong and Yan Zi.

"No need to kneel." Li Shimin raised his hand.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

As soon as Wei Zheng finished speaking, Li Shimin spoke again.

"But what if I only recognize loyal ministers who are loyal to me?"

Wei Zheng swallowed nervously after hearing this.

"Your Highness, I think that in ancient times, good ministers were more important than loyal ministers in governing the world. Good ministers are useful talents, especially now that the general trend of the world has been determined. Good ministers should be used to govern the world. As for loyal ministers, if they have no talent, it is just their duty."

......

In the Jingyang Palace, Xiao Tao was fiddling with the flowers planted in the yard, and they were blooming beautifully now.

Lao Zhao was ordering the servants to water the flowers, plants and trees in the yard.

Li Fu was sitting on a recliner under the tree, eating grapes, leisurely.

"My dear, such a long time has passed, and there is no movement in the East Palace. Wei Zheng, could he have been killed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Lao Zhao didn't believe that Wei Zheng could survive. After all, a former crown prince was still a counselor, and the current crown prince would definitely kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

"No, Lao Zhao, if I say Wei Zheng can survive, he will definitely survive." Li Fu said, "When you have time, read more books, learn about the court affairs, and broaden your horizons. Now we are not small landlords in the village. Knowing more about the court affairs can save our lives when necessary."

"What you said is right." Lao Zhao smiled and said, "It's just that I have seen so many years. Anyway, you are here, and I will do whatever you say."

Li Fu smiled and waved his hand, "No, you also need to use your brain."

"For example, why am I sure that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will not kill Wei Zheng, just because Wei Zheng is talented?"

"What else can it be? I haven't heard that Wei Zheng has any family power behind him." Lao Zhao said.

"Before Wei Zheng came to Chang'an, he was Dou Jiande's staff." Li Fu said.

Wei Zheng's career was bumpy. Whether he was with Dou Jiande or Li Jiancheng, the strategies he proposed were useful, but they didn't use them.

It wasn't until he came to Li Shimin that he was able to show his talents.

It's also a pity that a talented person who wants to stand out must meet the right master.

Wei Zheng was an official under Li Shimin. If he changed the emperor, his life would not be enough for him to cause trouble.

"Dou Jiande is very popular in Hebei." Li Fu said.

Lao Zhao nodded.

"Yes, my dear, I have heard about this. Later, Dou Jiande died, and his former subordinates in Hebei raised an army to avenge him." Lao Zhao responded.

"Dou Jiande's subordinatesThere are many talented people. "Li Fu said: "Moreover, he is popular in Hebei. Wei Zheng has no aristocratic family behind him, but he has the Hebei Dao behind him."

"When Dou Jiande was captured alive, he told the former prince that Dou Jiande must not be killed. Moreover, Dou Jiande's power has been returned to the Tang Dynasty. What impact does it have to kill Dou Jiande?" Li Fu laughed and said: "But the prince didn't listen. He thought that Dou Jiande, a commoner, rebelled. If he was not killed, it would not be enough to deter people. What was the result? He was killed, and the old subordinates rebelled. "

"Such a big thing happened in Chang'an City. The former prince died and the King of Qin became the prince. How many people are waiting for the current prince to settle accounts. "Li Fu said: "Now, Hebei is not stable. Many talented people are afraid of being affected and are unwilling to serve. In this regard, they still have to rely on Wei Zheng to lobby. He is familiar with Hebei. "

"So that's it. No wonder you are so sure that Wei Zheng will not die. He is still very useful. "Old Zhao suddenly realized.

"Have you found the person I asked you to find?" Li Fu asked.

"Yes, I sent you the notes and drawings you sorted out. The drawings will be ready in two days. We will check if there are any omissions then. Then we can go to the manor to choose a place." Old Zhao said.

"Not only the map of the workshop, but also the map of the entire manor. We need to hurry up and get them all. "

Li Fu found that being a leader is good. As long as he puts forward an idea and speaks, the people under him can do anything.

If he is in a bad mood and the people under him don't do things well, it is quite comfortable to scold them to vent his anger.

He has just become a local landlord and still has some conscience. He can't do such things as beating and killing people.

What Li Fu can think of, Li Shimin also thinks of. When Li Fu was in the East Palace, he told Li Shimin that Wei Zheng could be used and mentioned the saying of buying horse bones with a thousand gold coins. Li Shimin should have understood it in his heart.

So he arrested Wei Zheng, just to see whether Wei Zheng's talent is as great as Li Fu said.