Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 117 The Cunning Liu Rengui
Li Xian was dumbfounded.

How can I possibly have my own things to do?
Liu Jianjun looked at Li Xian with a "I knew it" expression and said, "The news of your sister-in-law's pregnancy was only reported to Luoyang at the end of August. It took time for your mother to announce it to the world, and it also took time for the news from Yangzhou to reach Luoyang and Chang'an... In the end, it's still because of the inconvenience of transportation."

"Li Jingye is probably dumbfounded right now. How come the news of you giving birth in Chang'an has spread all over the world so soon after you raised your banner?"

Sure enough, the Jiang Lang next door continued, "Everyone knows this is a joke. Just a few days ago, the news that Princess Pei was pregnant with a little prince had just reached Luoyang. The Empress Dowager had just issued an edict to announce to the world that the royal family was harmonious and that she was kind and magnanimous."

"At this critical juncture, this banner is certainly of no use."

"But the Empress Dowager's edict didn't reach Yangzhou so quickly, which allowed the rebels to seize the opportunity."

Liu Rengui chatted with that General Jiang for a while longer. General Jiang was clearly someone who couldn't keep a secret, and said, "Lord Liu is highly respected. I, Pei Yan, have committed such a serious offense. The Empress Dowager still needs to inform you."

Then, as if still feeling unsatisfied, he exclaimed, "Emperor Sizong had long seen through this man's treacherous intentions, and sure enough, he was right!"

It turns out this person's name is Jiang Sizong.

Li Xian felt nauseous upon hearing this; this man was like a pig before the event and a wise man after the event.

If he had known earlier, why couldn't he have taken precautions like Liu Jianjun?
No wonder Liu Jianjun said that his mother's side was full of useless people, while his side was full of elites.

At this moment, Liu Rengui's somewhat mocking voice rang out: "Oh? So General Jiang already knew that Pei Yan intended to rebel?"

Jiang Sizong's boastful voice rang out again: "Of course, I saw through his ulterior motives a long time ago!"

Liu Rengui smiled and praised him, "You are truly a promising young man! I already know about Pei Yan's matter. I also have a letter I would like to give to the Empress Dowager. Please take it to her for me."

At that moment, Li Xian saw Liu Jianjun suppressing a laugh.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you doing?"

Liu Jianjun said, "Old Liu is a sly one!"

Immediately afterwards, Liu Rengui pushed open the door, smiled and glanced at Li Xian and Liu Jianjun, but did not say anything. He simply walked straight to the desk, sat down, picked up a pen, and began to write something.

Li Xian saw Liu Jianjun tiptoe over, glance at the letter, then suppress a laugh and gave Liu Rengui a thumbs up.

Liu Rengui glared at him, shook the letter dry, stuffed it into another envelope, painted it red, and then walked outside.

After Liu Jianjun squatted back down beside him, Li Xian asked curiously, "What did Master Liu write?"

Liu Jianjun lowered his voice and replied, "There's only one sentence on it: Jiang Sizong knew of Pei Yan's rebellion, but remained silent."

Li Xian was taken aback, then couldn't help but chuckle.

Liu Rengui is... a really bad person.

Jiang Sizong's visit was clearly only to inform Liu Rengui about the Yangzhou rebellion and Pei Yan's plot to overthrow him. After receiving Liu Rengui's reply, he got up and left.

When Li Xian heard from the servants of the Liu family that Jiang Sizong had already gone far away, he saw Liu Rengui return to the study and said with a smile, "Your Highness has condescended to let you hide in this humble room and watch such a farce."

Li Xian smiled and shook his head: "How can a gentleman's residence be considered humble? Today, I have personally witnessed Lord Liu defuse a thunderous rage with ease and strategize within a small room. I have benefited greatly from this. How can you say I am condescending?"

He paused, his brows furrowing again. "But... the Yangzhou affair has actually implicated Xian's reputation. Although it was a farce, in the end..."

"Your Highness need not worry."

Liu Rengui waved his hand, his expression calm. "Just as the angel said, the news that Your Highness has an heir is known throughout the land. Li Jingye's claim has already crumbled on its own, becoming water without a source and a tree without roots. How could the Empress Dowager doubt Your Highness because of this? On the contrary, it shows that Your Highness is living peacefully in Chang'an and has no distractions. The most urgent matter now is the livelihood of the people in Guanzhong."

He changed the subject and returned to cotton: "The matter of promoting cotton varieties that we just discussed is just right."

“Through this agricultural activity, Your Highness can further demonstrate your profound and pragmatic mind. I will immediately make arrangements to summon all the officials of Yongzhou and promote this product under the pretext of drought relief, famine prevention, and expanding sources of revenue. Your Highness and Chief Secretary Liu should prepare the cotton seeds as soon as possible.” Li Xian and Liu Jianjun exchanged a glance and both nodded in agreement.

The three discussed the details carefully before Li Xian and his companion took their leave of the Liu residence.

On the way back to the Prince's Mansion, Li Xian remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking: "Liu Jianjun, what do you think will happen to Li Jingye and Luo Binwang?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jianjun didn't even raise his eyelids, lazily saying, "What other outcome could there be? A bunch of scholars plus two spoiled brats, a hastily assembled group. They might be able to fight when things are going well, but once things turn against them, they'll start fighting amongst themselves. When the imperial army arrives, won't they just collapse like a house of cards?"
"As for their fate... haven't failed rebels always met pretty much the same fate throughout history?"

Li Xian fell silent, a complex and indescribable emotion spreading through his heart.

Although Li Jingye's rebellion under his own banner could turn into a farce once the news of the Empress Dowager's proclamation reached Yangzhou, it was a farce.

But the thought that the 100,000 people in Yangzhou who had gathered together because of him would eventually die under the guillotine of the imperial court made Li Xian feel reluctant.

Those were not just 100,000 rebels, but 100,000 lives, the people of the Tang Dynasty.

Liu Jianjun seemed to see through his thoughts. His cynical expression softened, and he sighed, his voice lowering: "Xianzi, I know what you're thinking. You feel uneasy that those 100,000 people died because of you, and that they might die because of you in the future, right?"

Li Xian nodded silently.

"But you need to clarify this matter."

Liu Jianjun, unusually serious, said, "First of all, they didn't really go there for you, Li Xian."

"Li Jingye is using your name because you have enough status to intimidate people and gather those who still have illusions about the Li Tang royal family."

"They responded to the title of 'Prince Pei,' the symbol of 'Descendant of Emperor Taizong,' and may even have been forced by the slogan of 'Rebel against the Empress Dowager' or the reality of not being able to survive, rather than by what you, Li Xian, did personally."

"You're just passively getting caught up in this."

"second,"

He continued, his tone tinged with a cold reality, "Even without your banner, those who are meant to rebel will still rebel, and those who are meant to be suppressed will definitely be suppressed."

"Li Jingye and his group need a banner, not you, but someone else, or they could even fabricate their own 'last edict of the late emperor' or something."

"The fate of these 100,000 people was largely determined from the moment they followed Li Jingye in starting the uprising."

"A mob against an entire state apparatus has little chance of winning."

"Their deaths stemmed from the ambitions of Li Jingye and others, as well as the difficult circumstances of the time. Your borrowed flag was at most a contributing factor, but certainly not the main one. Taking all the blame upon yourself is just asking for trouble; it's foolish."

Liu Jianjun's words struck Li Xian's heart like a hammer blow.

"Third, and most realistically,"

Liu Jianjun looked at Li Xian with sharp eyes, "You are in dire straits yourself, yet you are thinking about protecting this small piece of land in Chang'an, protecting your sister-in-law and your unborn child, and protecting the people who follow us. You are already dancing on a tightrope."

"You still want to travel thousands of miles to save the lives of those 100,000 rebels? How are you going to do that? Go to Yangzhou and tell them, 'Stop fighting, it's all a misunderstanding'? Or write to your mother and plead for them, saying, 'Please, Mother, spare them for your son's sake'?"
"Do you believe that the moment you say those words, your mother will immediately suspect that you are colluding with the rebels?"
"At that point, forget about saving them, we'll all be finished!"

Li Xian glared angrily at Liu Jianjun and said, "How could I be so pedantic and incompetent!"

"I know you don't! Doesn't that serve as a warning? Being kind and compassionate is a good thing, but it can't be used in your struggle against your mother!"

Liu Jianjun's expression relaxed slightly, and then he patted Li Xian on the shoulder with a grin, saying, "Alright, don't look so down. I'll tell you a story when we get back."

……

(End of this chapter)