The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 159 The Imbalance of Power

As they turned the corner of the corridor, the gentleness on Li Yi's face gradually faded.

The morning light was still out, and the copper bells on the eaves tinkled in the autumn breeze. He paused and gazed at them, letting out a long sigh as the white mist slowly dissipated in the cool air.

Since returning from the campaign and learning of Fu Erniang's pregnancy, Li Yi deliberately avoided sleeping in the same bed with her, moving to a side room not far from the master bedroom, and the couple slept in separate rooms for the time being.

Last night's drunken, hazy absurdity seemed like a long-suppressed desire finally finding an outlet.

As for taking Xian'er as a concubine, I suppose Fu Erniang wouldn't object—it was her idea to begin with.

The initiative was actually in Li Yi's own hands; as long as he nodded, there wouldn't be any problems. But the thought of discussing this with his wife face to face still made him feel a little awkward.

The image of Fu Erniang's smiling face flashed into his mind. Li Yi subconsciously rubbed his forehead; the lingering effects of the hangover, combined with last night's revelry, left him somewhat exhausted.

Then he remembered Guo Shi and Zuo Ling'er; their affair was still being kept from Fu Erniang...

He felt he was treating Fu Erniang with sincerity. But to treat someone with sincerity, one must first be genuine in order to gain their trust and reciprocate with equal sincerity.

Without sincerity, no matter how clever the methods, resentment will inevitably arise over time.

Therefore, it was wrong to deceive Fu Erniang.

Li Yi took a deep breath and decided to take advantage of the pretext of taking Xian'er as a concubine to first confess Zuo Ling'er's matter to Fu Erniang.

As for my relationship with Guo... I can only let her suffer for a few more months until Fu Erniang gives birth.

Seeing that it was still early and Fu Erniang was probably not up yet, Li Yi didn't rush to see her. After washing up, he went directly to the front yard.

Zuo Congtan got up early and was practicing Taoist health cultivation exercises in the side courtyard. He stepped on the Tiangang Step, his body moving like a dragon playing in the water, and his wide robe sleeves fluttered in the morning breeze.

Li Yi did not interrupt Zuo Congqin, but stood quietly by the pillar and observed. Seeing that the other party's posture and footwork were indeed quite skillful, he thought that he could learn and practice them when he had time in the future.

Putting aside everything else, Zuo Congqin, who is over fifty years old, looks ten years younger, which shows that his health preservation skills are quite commendable.

Of course, now is not the time to talk about that. Li Yi came to see Zuo Congqin mainly for two things.

First, we should discuss with him the matter of taking Zuo Ling'er as a concubine. After all, he is Zuo Ling'er's biological father, and we should inform Zuo Congtan about the matter of taking a concubine.

Secondly, he wanted to ask Zuo Congtan for his views on the government. Ever since he learned that the emperor might not send him to Huainan to lead troops in battle for the time being, Li Yi felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Considering that Zuo Congqin had traveled extensively in his early years and had interacted with influential figures such as Zhu Wen and Li Cunxu, his vision and knowledge were far beyond what ordinary people could match.

Li Yi felt he couldn't quite grasp the emperor's will, so he took this opportunity to ask Zuo Congqin for his opinion, hoping to gain another perspective.

"General Li." Zuo Congqin finished his stance and finally stood up.

His gaze swept over Li Yi's slightly tired face, and he suddenly said meaningfully, "The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic says, 'The balance of Yin and Yang is important, and the key lies in maintaining the middle way.' General Li may have gone a bit too far."

"You can see that?" Li Yi was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "Master Zuo truly lives up to his reputation as a highly accomplished cultivator. You are indeed insightful. I admire you!"

I was drunk and had sex last night, so I'm definitely a bit exhausted. But it's only temporary. With my physical condition, I can recover after a day's rest.

As for romantic love between men and women, it's simply human nature. Li Yi wasn't embarrassed about it at all, and openly admitted it in his words.

To everyone's surprise, Zuo Congqin shook his head and remained silent upon hearing this, instead pointing to Li Yi's collar with his finger.

Li Yi looked down and saw a faint crimson stain on the inside of his collar, presumably left by Xian'er last night. He suddenly realized: Had he inadvertently confessed?
This old Taoist priest has quite sharp eyes...

Zuo Congqin, with an air of nonchalance, chuckled and said, "I refined a batch of Qi-replenishing pills the other day. General Li, please feel free to take them if you need them."

"Qi-boosting pills?" It sounded pretty amazing, but considering what Zuo Congqin had just said, Li Yi was a little suspicious that what he was talking about was probably not some kind of blue pill.

What a joke! Do I even need that thing?

Furthermore, the elixirs refined by the Taoist priests contained excessive levels of heavy metals, so Li Yi dared not consume them indiscriminately; he still hoped to live to be a hundred years old.

"No need," Li Yi quickly waved his hand and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Master Zuo. I just drank a little too much last night, but I'm fine."

Zuo Congtan did not press the matter upon hearing this, but stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Since General Li says so, I will not force you."

After saying that, he walked to the stone table in the courtyard, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Li Yi, "This is a refreshing tea made with herbs, which is best for relieving hangovers and nourishing the stomach."

This time, Li Yi didn't refuse and took the porcelain cup, drinking it all in one gulp. The tea, with its faint herbal fragrance, did indeed clear his drowsy mind.

"This tea, Master..." Li Yi savored the taste, "is more to my liking than any elixir."

Zuo Congqin smiled slightly, turned around and went into the house, taking out a cloth bag about the size of a palm.

"This is..." Li Yi took the bag, his fingertips touching the coarse linen fabric, feeling the light and soft material. He untied the rope, and a refreshing herbal fragrance wafted out.

"This is my 'Heart-Clearing Tea'," Zuo Congtan said, stroking his beard. "It is made with three qian of Hangzhou chrysanthemum, two qian of dried tangerine peel, and supplemented with white peony root and licorice root. It is excellent for calming the mind, nourishing the stomach, relieving hangovers, and refreshing the spirit."

Li Yi accepted the bag without hesitation. He put the bag in his pocket and suddenly said seriously, "Master Zuo, I have come to bother you because I have something to discuss with you."

The soft morning light filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the stone slabs. Upon hearing this, Zuo Congtan seemed to understand something, and gestured for Li Yi to sit down at the stone table.

Li Yi tapped the stone table lightly with his fingertips, "First of all, it's about Ling'er..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zuo Congtan interrupted, "General, are you planning to take Ling'er as a concubine? There's really no need to ask me about this. As long as Ling'er is willing, everything is up to her."

Li Yi hadn't expected Zuo Congqin to be so agreeable, but thinking about it, it made sense. He had already brought the person back, so taking a concubine was only a matter of time. He had only mentioned it out of respect.

Otherwise, if it were one of the martial artists of the same era, who would care whether you wanted to or not?
Of course, respect and sincerity are ways to win people's hearts. Zuo Congqin is of great use to Li Yi. It is better to treat him with gentle means than to use power to intimidate him.

Just then, a morning breeze swept by, stirring up a few fallen leaves.

Zuo Congqin gazed at the scattered withered leaves, his tone gradually lowering: "Originally, I only wanted Ling'er to live a peaceful life, even if it was poor. But everyone in this world has their own destiny. Since she met the General and received his protection, perhaps it is her good fortune." At this point, he suddenly turned to look directly at Li Yi, his gaze intense, as if trying to see into the other's heart. "I can sense that General Li truly has sincerity towards Ling'er. I only hope that the General will treat Ling'er well in the future, and not abandon her after starting something, thus betraying her."

Li Yi met Zuo Congqin's gaze with a solemn expression, neither flinching nor avoiding it. He solemnly promised, "Rest assured, Daoist Master, I will certainly not let Ling'er down. Otherwise, I will surely be struck by lightning."

"Such a solemn oath is unnecessary. I trust the general's character." Zuo Congqin nodded slightly, then changed the subject, "I suppose the general's visit to me is not entirely for personal matters?"

"The Taoist priest truly has discerning eyes."

Li Yi did not deny it and immediately said, "Our dynasty is currently waging war against Jiangnan, but the war has recently been going badly. His Majesty may personally lead the expedition, but it seems that he intends to leave me idle and does not plan to send me south... I wonder if Master Zuo has any insights?"

Zuo Congqin shook his head and chuckled upon hearing this: "I am just a Taoist priest, not a strategist. General, you are asking me about matters of state and military affairs. Aren't you asking the wrong person?"

Li Yi said earnestly, "Daoist Master, you are too modest. You served under Zhu Wen in your early years and personally experienced the rise and fall of the world since the chaos began. Your insight into the general situation of the world is beyond that of ordinary strategists. Please, Daoist Master, do not hesitate to enlighten me!"

"That's too kind of you, General. But since you've asked, I'll take the liberty of offering my humble opinion..."

Zuo Congtan stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "General, do you know the story of 'the snipe and the clam fighting'?"

Li Yi frowned slightly: "What the Taoist priest means is..."

"Many principles in the world are interconnected, whether between countries or between people."

Zuo Congqin stroked the stone table with his fingertips and pondered, "I have only been in Tokyo for a short time and do not know much about the Zhou court. However, I have heard from rumors that the commanders of the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guard are at odds in private... I wonder if this is true?"

Seeing the questioning look in the other person's eyes, Li Yi nodded and said, "The two of them do indeed have some misunderstandings."

"That's right." Zuo Congqin smiled slightly. "And what is the relationship between General Li and those two?"

Li Yi replied truthfully: "I am from the same Palace Guard as Zhang Fuma, and we are quite close. As for Li Chongjin of the Imperial Guard... I have not had much contact with him, but for some reason, he seems to be dissatisfied with me."

Upon hearing this, Zuo Congqin immediately understood and said meaningfully, "Originally, the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guard were mutually restraining. Although the commanders of the two sides did not get along, as long as it did not affect the army's operations, the emperor would naturally be happy to see it happen."

“However…” Zuo Congqin changed the subject, “General Li conquered the four prefectures of Qin and Feng in just two months, and with the achievements of the previous two major battles of Gaoping and Xinkou, your ability is beyond doubt, and now you hold a high position in the Imperial Guard.”

"If Prince Consort Zhang gains the general's support, how can Li Chongjin possibly stand in his way? In other words, how could the emperor allow the Palace Guard to grow so powerful?"

Li Yi fell silent. Zuo Congqin's words were straightforward, but they were indeed very reasonable.

In fact, he had also made this guess, but he was not quite sure what the emperor was thinking. Now, after listening to Zuo Congtan's analysis, he was certain of his own thoughts.

Li Yi bowed respectfully: "Please enlighten me, Master Zuo, on how I should respond."

Zuo Congqin took a leisurely sip of tea, the tea reflecting his deep smile: "Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. General Li is caught in the middle of it all, yet he is inevitably overly worried."

"The world is not yet unified, and the emperor still needs the military men to contribute. There will be many more battles to be fought in the future. It is far from the time to discard them after they have served their purpose. With General Li's ability to fight, would the emperor be willing to abandon him?"

Li Yi nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought.

Perhaps it was because he was constantly restless, always thinking about what he should do after Chai Rong died. To put it bluntly, it was a sign of some guilt, so he couldn't help but be overly nervous about the emperor's every move.

But upon closer reflection, the emperor was unaware of his own thoughts, and he had always been loyal. If Chai Rong didn't even have this much tolerance, how could Zhao Kuangyin have risen to power in history?

Of course, this is all on the premise that the emperor is still in good health... Once a person knows that he is not going to live much longer, especially a creature like an emperor, he is capable of doing anything.

However, at least for now, I don't need to worry about this happening.

"Those whose merits overshadow their ruler are in danger; those whose fame spreads throughout the world are slandered." Zuo Congqin picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Since the current emperor of Zhou ascended the throne, there have been several battles in which generals have participated, and each time they have achieved great merits. Throughout history, how many military generals of your age have had merits and status comparable to yours?"

"Given your current status and position, General, there's no need to rush to advance further. Instead, it's more important to consolidate your foundation. This time, when the Zhou Kingdom attacked Jiangnan, the Emperor personally led the campaign without taking you with him. This may not be an intentional neglect, but rather an important mission entrusted to you."

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master." Li Yi solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Zuo Congtan waved his hand and said, "I am just chatting idly. I am not good at politics and military strategy. Otherwise, I would not have failed in my career and ended up with my family ruined. It's just that I have lived a long life and seen more things. I have some understanding of people's hearts and the world, and I can make some inferences based on that."

Li Yi said, "Master, you are too modest. Today, I have benefited greatly from your guidance, which has been like clearing away the clouds to reveal the sun."

In fact, Li Yi had thought of many of the things Zuo Congqin said, but there were also some things that Zuo Congqin mentioned that served as an extra reminder to him.

Especially the relationship between himself, Zhang Yongde, and Li Chongjin... Li Yi had previously been judging this matter by the historical perspective of Zhao Kuangyin.

But after Zuo Congqin's reminder, he suddenly realized that his situation was already different from Zhao Da's.

Because at this moment, he was far superior in status and position to Zhao Da of the same historical period. Moreover, the current Palace Guard's military strength was much greater than when the Imperial Guards had undergone reforms in history.

To truly be on par with the Imperial Guard... in this sense, the configuration of generals on both sides becomes crucial.

There is no doubt that Li Chongjin has more seniority and prestige than Zhang Yongde. But if we add Li Chongjin himself, who is also related to the emperor by marriage, it is obvious that the balance of power is becoming fragile.

The emperor's transfer of Shi Yanchao from the Imperial Guard to the Palace Guard may have been partly for this purpose, intended to counterbalance Zhang Yongde and himself.

However, as Zuo Congqin said, among the two commanders of the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guard, as well as the four commanders of the cavalry and infantry, he seemed too young, several years younger than Zhang Yongde.

Once he rises to a higher position, he will inevitably break the balance of power, and it will be very difficult for Li Chongjin to fight against two opponents at once.

The emperor could either suppress himself or readjust the power structure... For Li Yi, both options had their advantages and disadvantages, but he preferred the latter.

It's impossible for the emperor to kick himself out of the main force of the Imperial Guard in order to adjust the power structure, right?
Just as he was pondering this, a maidservant hurried into the courtyard and curtsied at the porch: "My lord, the mistress has asked me to invite you to have breakfast."

Li Yi responded and cupped his hands in greeting to Zuo Congqin, saying, "I will come to seek your guidance from the Daoist Master when I have some free time in the future."

Zuo Congqin smiled and returned the greeting: "This humble Taoist priest will be waiting for you at any time."

(End of this chapter)