Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 280 Li Zhi: I voted too

Chang'an, Hongfu Temple.

Xuanzang listened to the curfew drum and did his evening lessons quietly.

After a long time, he slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the door.

The abbot of Hongfu Temple came and clasped his hands together in front of him:
"Master, there is a guest who wants to see you."

During the curfew, the abbot personally introduced me... Xuanzang did not ask any more questions, but simply replied:
"please."

After a while, a young man came in quietly, bowed quietly to Master Xuanzang, and said:
"Master, you will be in danger of a bloody disaster. Please follow me and leave Chang'an to seek refuge in Liaodong."

If a stranger suddenly rushed in and shouted at him, "You're about to poop", only Xuanzang, who has a high level of cultivation, could hold his temper.

He didn't even frown, and said calmly:

"Everything is false, whether it is Buddhism or worldly affairs..."

Before he finished explaining the law, another person stood up from behind the young Di Renjie.

Xuanzang knew this person. He was the nobleman who introduced him to the palace that day, Duke of Zhao, Zhangsun Wuji.

The first thing Guo Gong said was even more terrifying than the boy's:
"Do you know that you are colluding with my daughter-in-law to overthrow the court and plan to assassinate the regent at the Qingming Festival next month?"

Finally, even the monk who had traveled to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures could no longer hold back:

"???"

…………

The carriage galloped towards the northeast city gate in the cover of night.

The night watchman ignored the carriage that violated the curfew and continued to bang his clapper:

"There is a night curfew. No one is allowed to leave the neighborhood without permission unless they are sick!"

Inside the car, Changsun Wuji looked at the young man Di Renjie sitting opposite him with some surprise.

"Has His Royal Highness the Regent's infiltration of Chang'an's public security reached this level?"

Before Changsun Wuji even showed up, he was able to be escorted all the way to Tonghua Gate with the green light. Is Li Ming's remote control over Chang'an really so outrageous?
"Not really." Di Renjie shook his head calmly.

"It's just that the watchmen on this road 'happen' to be refugees who gathered in the West City at the beginning and have received favors from Brother Ming."

"The cycle of cause and effect leads to unfavorable retribution."

Xuanzang, who was sitting nearby, said something indifferently.

When dealing with the lower classes, the monk was very easy-going and talkative. But when dealing with nobles, he would be as aloof as he is now.

That's what the nobles fall for.

Di Renjie glanced at the bald donkey who was making sarcastic remarks, and couldn't help but whispered to Changsun Wuji:
"Grand Master, why did you bring him along?"

"Of course it's because he was implicated by me innocently. If I abandon him and run away alone, he will definitely be chopped in half by the insects in the court. This is creating karma." Changsun Wuji said with great righteousness.

Di Renjie said nothing, just stared at the old official who suddenly became "warm-hearted".

Zhang Sun Wuji then added reluctantly:
"I want to awaken the Buddha nature of His Highness the Regent to prevent him from changing his mind..."

"..." Di Renjie was choked by Grand Marshal Qingqi's thoughts, and after a while he said:
"With Chang Sunyan here, are you still afraid that Brother Ming will break his promise?"

Who knows? Once I arrive in Liaodong, I will be at the mercy of others... Changsun Wuji didn't say anything, but just looked out the car window dejectedly.

Although there is a wall blocking the way, it still cannot cover up the lights inside the wall.

Looking at the lights of thousands of homes, Changsun Wuji felt an inexplicable sense of sadness in his heart.

After working hard for the Li family all his life, he ended up running away in a hurry at night...

The carriage slowly stopped and we arrived at Tonghua Gate, the northeast gate of Chang'an City.

The gatekeeper general of Chang'an City was also under the charge of the gate guards, and as Changsun Wuji expected, the city gate opened very quickly and efficiently.

There were already guards at the door, but they were the servants of Duke Zhao's mansion.

Zhang Sun Wuji was horrified:

"Have you already extended your hands to my house?!"

Di Renjie looked at him strangely.

"I just informed your servants and asked them to meet here in advance to escort you north.

"Or do you intend to go through the chaotic Central Plains alone without any escort?"

As he said that, Di Renjie opened the car door and jumped out swiftly.

Zhang Sun Wuji was a little surprised:

"You don't plan to monitor me? Aren't you afraid that I might change my mind halfway through?"

Di Renjie slammed the car door for him, turned around and left, leaving behind a sentence:
"You can come and go freely in Liaodong."

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a while.

"That Regent is quite Zen-like." Xuanzang sat upright with his hands clasped together.

Changsun Wuji looked at the monk who was making sarcastic remarks.

"What scriptures did the eminent monk obtain in India? Why did he hide them from His Majesty the Regent, leading to his downfall?"

Xuanzang turned his head and looked at the uncle who looked somewhat resentful, and said calmly:

"Monks do not tell lies. I have not hidden anything. I really have not obtained the true scriptures."

Changsun Wuji: "Did you fail to reach India, or did you lose the scriptures on your way back? Or were all the scriptures in the Buddhist temples in India destroyed?"

Xuanzang shook his head: "Neither, I just didn't take the scriptures back from there."

Zhang Sun Wuji's doubts grew stronger and stronger:
"If it wasn't for the purpose of seeking the true scriptures, why would the monk travel thousands of miles?"

Xuanzang sighed, slowly raised his head, and his deep gaze seemed to penetrate the carriage and look at the sky.

"Where is the true scripture in the world?"

…………

The next day, Li Zhi received explosive news just as he got up and had breakfast.

"My uncle ran away?"

Li Zhi froze in his seat, not moving at all.

Just as the eunuch who reported the news was becoming more and more uneasy, Li Zhi suddenly moved again, calmly shoveling the venison soup into his mouth.

That’s it for now, let’s eat first.

"Well, Your Highness..."

"It's okay, go down first."

Li Zhi dismissed the uneasy eunuch with a casual attitude.

The court meeting that day was naturally very lively.

All the officials knew that the Grand Marshal had "fled for fear of punishment", and they all beat their chests and stamped their feet, filled with indignation.

It was originally just a political attack that was taken advantage of. I didn't expect that Da Sikong would really run away. We were too cautious and it turned out that he really had problems!
Even Changsun Wuji's teachers and students immediately changed their stance and angrily accused the guy of defecting to the enemy in the middle of a battle.

Liu Li, the Imperial Court Minister who first stirred up this political storm, was even more furious and launched a "look at me" offensive against the young regent:
"Alas, Your Highness is too indecisive! If you had listened to the opinions of the ministers earlier and dealt with it decisively, you wouldn't have let the traitor go!
"We should immediately make up for the loss and send troops to hunt him down!"

Facing the boiling excitement among his ministers, Li Zhi changed his previous attitude of humbly accepting advice, or pretending to accept advice humbly, and instead waved his hand in a rather casual manner:

"If it rains, let it rain."

Such an open-minded attitude will actually make things difficult for everyone.

Liu Li was stunned for a moment, then he continued to speak loudly:
"What if Zhangsun Wuji joins forces with the evil forces in the north? What should we do?"

"Yes, yes." Many people agreed.

Putting aside Changsun Wuji's character, no one can question his ability.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for me to serve as the chief civil servant for such a long time under the wise and powerful Majesty.

Then we can’t let him escape to the north!
This will give the evil forces in the north more power and enable them to lead the strange Goguryeo people or Turks into the pass (Tongguan)!
It's simply the end of Heaven!
"Oh, whatever."

Li Zhi still had an attitude of being fearless: "My dear ministers, do you have anything else to report? If not, please leave the court."

Without giving his subordinates a chance to refute, Li Zhi announced the withdrawal of the court.

How could the ministers be so obedient? They refused to leave the hall, looking as if they were determined to make a desperate appeal.

Seeing that he couldn't drive this group of people away, Li Zhi simply got off the dragon bed in front of everyone, and left with his hands behind his back in full view of everyone.

Leaving behind the ministers who were looking at each other in bewilderment.

According to etiquette, the ministers should leave before their lord.

Otherwise, what's the point of leaving the empty dragon bed to the ministers? Are you welcome to sit on it?

All the ministers thought of this meaning at the same time, felt that they had "passively" overstepped their authority, and dispersed in a hurry.

…………

Li Zhi returned to Lizheng Hall feeling refreshed.

It turns out that lying down and doing nothing can be so refreshing.

The escape of the emperor's uncle was the last straw that broke the camel's back for Li Zhi.

This made him realize that, let alone competing with Li Ming and his father, he couldn't even control his own two factions of subordinates.

A group of people wanted to impeach the king's uncle, and he was unable to control them; and the king's uncle fled overnight, and he was unaware of it.

As the regent, he can't even settle the affairs in the Taiji Palace. How is he supposed to pacify the world?
"Even though he looks so miserable, he still dreams of becoming an emperor..."

Li Zhi smiled self-deprecatingly and picked up a letter.

It was the letter sent by Guo Xiaoke, the governor of Xizhou, which angrily accused him of treason and filial piety and advised him to stop before it was too late.

"I am still very obedient. Pull in the horse, I'll do it now!"

He immediately spread out the letter paper and began to write.

He put into writing the details of the civil strife, the reason for not contacting his father in time, the on and offs with Li Tai, his own mental journey, and his serious inadequacy in his ability to govern the country.

After an unknown amount of time, a clear voice woke him up:

"Brother Chi Nu?"

Li Zhi suddenly looked up and found that the sun was setting, and he had written several sheets of paper in a very impressive manner.

"Brother Chi Nu, what's wrong with you?"

Li Mingda walked over with a worried look on his face and touched Li Zhi's forehead.

When the brother who always had a fake smile on his face suddenly revealed a long-lost genuine smile one day, and started typing frantically as if he was possessed.

As a younger sister, of course I would be worried.

Li Zhi stopped writing and looked at his sister with a smile:

"You finally called me by my nickname."

Li Mingda's face flushed, he pouted awkwardly, and bowed exaggeratedly:
"I am guilty of my fault and have offended the Regent..."

"I'm no longer the regent." Li Zhi looked relaxed.

Li Mingda was shocked.

Without waiting for her to ask, Li Zhi continued:

"If what Guo Xiaoke said is true, then we should be able to reunite with our father and others soon..."

…………

Northwest of the Tang Dynasty, Xizhou.

Li Shimin, Li Chengqian, Ashina She'er, Qibi Heli, Guo Xiaoke and other core members of the "New Turks" temporarily left the grassland and gathered in the capital of Xizhou to discuss the next strategic plan.

The marching commander, Ashina She'er, unfolded the map and skillfully introduced the current situation to everyone:

"We have gathered the tribes that originally belonged to the Western Turkic Nanbei Court. The former Eastern Turkic tribes are scattered in the former land of the Xueyantuo Khanate, and are now being divided up by Goguryeo in the northeast and Li Shiji's northern expedition.

"In the direction of the Tang Dynasty, starting from Tingzhou in the northwest, a total of six states including Xizhou and Yizhou responded to our call and surrendered to us. They confronted Li Shiji in the direction of Liangzhou, and friction has already occurred between the two sides."

Having said this, everyone looked at Li Shimin who was sitting at the top of the table.

The development of the New Turks had reached this point and they had collided head-on with the regular forces of the Tang Dynasty.

How to deal with the relationship with the Tang Dynasty?
Whether it was war or peace, it would be very embarrassing for Li Shimin's side.

Let’s fight, Your Majesty, why are you rebelling?
Let's not fight, Li Shiji is Li Zhi's core confidant.

If Li Zhi is a traitor, then Li Shiji must also be a traitor.

How to make contact with the Tang army whose enemy status is unknown, this issue involving the general direction must be decided by His Majesty the Emperor himself.

"Ah."

However, His Majesty Li Shimin just snorted vaguely and nothing else happened.

His eyes were half open and half closed, and his expression was a little dazed.

Qibi Heli asked in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, why have you become like this again? Weren't you fine when you were on the grassland?"

"That's the problem. As soon as we left the grassland, father became confused." Li Chengqian answered in a low voice.

A sense of foreboding flashed through the minds of everyone present, but it was quickly dispelled.

No way, no way, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty would not be unable to adapt to the climate and environment in the Tang Dynasty...

"Ahem." Ashina She'er coughed dryly.
"No matter what, a direct confrontation with Li Shiji's army is inevitable. Even if we don't attack them, they will.

"War or peace? How to deal with it?"

This matter was of great importance, and several people looked at each other, unable to make a decision.

The only leader was incapable at this critical moment, and the pressure of decision-making was equally placed on everyone.

"I find it a bit strange..." Senior General and Anxi Protector General Guo Xiaoke spoke first:

"Why do you think Li Shiji would betray His Majesty? Although he is a fierce general on the battlefield, he is also a man of measure and knows when to advance and retreat off the battlefield."

His meaning was very clear, which was to confront Li Shiji directly and have him take him back to Chang'an.

Li Chengqian immediately objected:
"General Manager Li Shiji is in the same boat with the rebel king Li Zhi. He certainly wouldn't dare to betray Your Majesty in public in front of the officers and soldiers, but there's no guarantee that he wouldn't do something behind your back, such as poisoning or assassination.

"You can only know a person's face but not his heart. Can Lord Guo guarantee that Li Shiji is fine?"

His words made Guo Xiaoke start to wonder.

He is not a worm in Li Shiji's stomach. Who can guarantee that there will be no problems with anyone or anything?
If anything goes wrong, the consequences will be something he and his nine clans cannot bear.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right. This concerns the safety of Your Majesty, so we must investigate it..." Guo Xiaoke gave in.

Qibi Heli looked at Xiao Li and then at Lao Guo.

"If we don't make peace with Li Shiji, then do we have to fight him?"

Ashina She'er rejected it almost immediately:
"The tens of thousands of elite soldiers under his command are all elite troops of the Tang Dynasty, and they are from good families. The death of any one of them is a loss!"

"Besides, the Turks under our command cannot defeat them. If they are defeated, our gathered tribes will scatter like birds and beasts." Guo Xiaoke added dimly.

It's not a war, and it's not a peace either. What should we do?

The people who had lost their backbone started arguing, but after arguing for half a day, no one could convince anyone else.

If we fight, both sides will lose; if we make peace, we will put our fate into the hands of suspicious people. Each side has its own reasons.

Just when a group of people couldn't come to a conclusion.

Li Shimin stood up unsteadily, pushed away the documents and miscellaneous items on the map, and pointed his left index finger at a point.

Everyone fell silent and looked in the direction of the finger.

"Stupid." Li Shimin said incoherently:

"Dafeichuan!"

(End of this chapter)