When the high officials who had been conferred titles heard this, they seemed to understand what he meant and left the Taiji Hall tacitly.
The new enthronement will inevitably lead to new adjustments and layouts among the warlords. Many things are waiting for them to arrange, and they really don't want to stay here anymore.
Everyone filed out, leaving only Tian Lingzi, Zhu Li, and some young eunuchs in the Taiji Hall.
"General Zhu Li, do you know why I want to keep you here?" Tian Lingzi looked down at Zhu Li with his eyes slightly narrowed.
"I, Zhu, don't know. Please tell me clearly, Mr. Tian." Tian Lingzi issued the imperial edict, but he did not read out the imperial edict that conferred the title on himself by the Tang court in public. God knows what he was planning.
However, it can also be seen from here how arrogant the powerful eunuchs in the Tang court were. The imperial edict was kept and not issued, but they still didn't care. This eunuch must have done this kind of thing more than once or twice, and it seemed that he was familiar with it and used to it.
Seeing that Zhu Li was not understanding, Tian Lingzi said leisurely, "General, you have been an official for less than three years, and you have been promoted from a small Beikou Guardian to a third-rank official in the court. It can be said that you have achieved success at a young age. I can understand that you may not understand many things about being an official."
"I have discussed the general with the saint. I think the general's rank should not be promoted too quickly, so as not to force the growth of a good seedling. However, Zheng Ting, Li Tao and others believe that when the country is in danger, the right way to quickly correct the chaos is to appoint people based on their merits and abilities. But the general is indeed capable, and I have no doubt about this, so I did not strongly oppose it."
"Now that Huang Chao has been defeated in Chang'an, he is marching eastward to Yanzhou with his remaining troops. It is obvious that he is on the verge of survival. General, don't you think about your future at this time?" Tian Lingzi said to Zhu Li with a sincere voice.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Li narrowed his eyes and thought to himself: In the future, you will die a violent death, and the Tang court will be destroyed by you parasites in more than ten years. I have been working hard for the future, but you, Tian Lingzi, will never know this.
However, he could not tell Tian Lingzi directly about this, so he changed the subject and said, "Master Tian seems to want to give me some advice. What does Master Tian think Zhu Li should do to have a better future?"
"Hehe, I can't give much advice to General Zhu. General Zhu was also a young hero. I have always admired him. Unfortunately, I am old and weak, and there is no one to succeed me. I wonder if the general is willing to acknowledge me as his godfather?" When Tian Lingzi saw Zhu Li humble himself to ask him for advice, he immediately thought that Zhu Li had compromised and spoke confidently.
However, as Tian Lingzi was one of the most powerful eunuchs of the time, he had many fake sons. Those who could be recruited as fake sons by him personally were all local officials or dignitaries in the palace, and no one had ever refused.
After all, in this era, powerful eunuchs have become aristocratic families. Take Tian Lingzi himself for example. His original surname was Chen, and he was able to get to his current position because he recognized a deceased old eunuch as his adoptive father after entering the palace.
There are many people like him, such as the newly-appointed military commander Yang Fuguang, who is the adopted son of the powerful eunuch Yang Xuanjia; the Privy Councilor Yang Fugong, who is Yang Fuguang's cousin, is the adopted son of the former Privy Councilor Yang Xuanyi, and so on. Such things are almost commonplace in the Tang court, just like the later generations.
Just like the unspoken rules, people have become accustomed to it.
If one wants to be valued by powerful eunuchs and use their power to get promoted, the first hurdle is to recognize a godfather or adoptive father. Tian Lingzi thought that Zhu Li had surrendered, so it was natural for Zhu Li to recognize him as his adoptive father. He did not think that doing so would mean anything to Zhu Li, whose soul came from the future, whose background was grassroots, and who had a bit of angry youth sentiments.
Considering the bad reputation that Tian Lingzi had in later generations, how could Zhu Li be willing to acknowledge him as his adoptive father? If so, it would be tantamount to also being infamous for eternity, which would be a complete insult to him.
Tian Lingzi's proposal not only failed to cheer Zhu Li up, but instead made him suddenly furious. Why should a disabled and male-female man like him want to be his father? This was simply ridiculous.
What is a godfather
There is an old saying that a biological father’s sworn brother can be a foster father; but in Zhu Li’s understanding, a foster father is one who acts in the name of his father, fulfills his father’s responsibilities and duties.
What virtue and ability did Tian Lingzi have? He did not raise him, did not teach him, did not set an example, did not contribute to his family, country and society, and did not serve as a role model for him. How could he become Zhu Li's adoptive father
Except for some shameless people who are trying to climb high positions and pursue fame and fortune, and are willing to become Tian Lingzi's adopted sons, anyone with a conscience, knowledge of righteousness, and the ability to distinguish right from wrong would not recognize such a person as his adoptive father.
This man bullies the emperor, oppresses the government officials, cultivates his own clique, eliminates dissidents, and pursues fame and fortune, harming the country and the people. He dreams of becoming Zhu Li's adoptive father. As a eunuch, how can he understand the true meaning of adoptive father? It is simply wishful thinking.
Zhu Li tried hard to suppress his anger that was about to explode, and replied stiffly with his hands folded: "Thank you Mr. Tian for your kindness. Zhu's parents are still alive, and the adults are in their prime. I have no intention of being someone else's fake son."
As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall fell silent. The eunuchs serving Tian Lingzi all looked at Zhu Li in horror. As far as they knew, no one had ever rejected Tian Lingzi so directly.
What's more, even a deaf person could hear the resentment and anger in Zhu Li's tone. Instead of being grateful for Tian Lingzi's suggestion, he was furious.
This situation made Tian Lingzi extremely shocked and speechless. His originally fair face was instantly covered with a layer of dark clouds. He suddenly turned his head and looked at Zhu Li in disbelief. He couldn't believe that this country boy with no birth, no background, and even no foundation dared to reject his "kindness" in person. He was simply ungrateful.
Zhu Li looked solemnly into Tian Lingzi's eyes without changing his expression. If he hadn't killed this man, it might have caused even greater unrest. In Zhu Li's opinion, Tian Lingzi could be killed with a single blow. No, killing this kind of scum with a single blow would be too easy for him. He should be cut into pieces and torn into pieces by five horses. Only in this way could the grievances of countless people be eliminated and the traitor be eradicated for the great Tang Dynasty.
"Hmph, huh, huh, huh... General, think it over carefully. Are you sure you want to do this? Do you know what you have rejected? With this refusal, you are doomed to have no chance of tremendous wealth and extraordinary achievements. Won't you consider it seriously?" Tian Lingzi looked at Zhu Li with gritted teeth and said in a hoarse voice.
Looking at the old face in front of him, which was whiter than his buttocks, Zhu Li stared at him solemnly and indifferently, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Zhu was originally a commoner.
I don’t seek fame and fortune, I don’t seek wealth and honor, all I want is to make my family live a better life through my own efforts.”
"However, even the heaven is unwilling to grant me this pursuit. In the local areas, corrupt officials are rampant; in the government, treacherous officials are in power. As a result, the world is exhausted and wars are everywhere. Fortunately, by chance, I have the protection of my parents and the favor of my teachers. I have acquired the ability to fight on the battlefield. I only want to do something practical for the people of the world and seek stability. As for all the wealth and extraordinary achievements, I have never thought about it. Let's leave your kindness to others. Please forgive me for not being able to enjoy it." After Zhu Li finished speaking, he bowed, turned around and left. He was not even in the mood to accept the imperial edict. He didn't want to see the other party for even a minute. Facing Tian Lingzi's sinister face, he wanted to kill him immediately.
"Okay, okay, very good, ha ha ha, Zhu Li, I hope you don't regret it, you ungrateful thing." Tian Lingzi finally exploded, looking at Zhu Li's back as he walked towards the gate of Taiji Hall, and screamed viciously.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Li suddenly turned around and glared at Tian Lingzi. The rage that could burn everything seemed to be about to burst out and burn the eunuch Tian Lingzi into ashes in an instant.
Such undisguised anger and murderous intent frightened Tian Lingzi so much that his head shrank and cold sweat broke out all over his body.
Although Zhu Li had only been an official for a short time, he had spent most of his time in military camps and on the battlefield since he embarked on this path. His bloody murderous aura, even if he did not deliberately release it, could make ordinary people feel uncomfortable. What's more, now that he had already developed a hint of murderous intent towards Tian Lingzi.
Zhu Li walked out of the palace without looking back, which also announced the failure of Tian Lingzi's plan to recruit him.
Just when Zhu Li and Tian Lingzi were having a quarrel in the palace and parted unhappily, a wounded Dangxiang man came to the gate of a mansion that the new Prince Taifu, Duke of Xia, Li Sigong, had forcibly occupied in Chang'an City.
The Tangut soldiers guarding the gate of the mansion immediately recognized the man's identity. This man was none other than Li Ren, who stayed in Youzhou. He was Li Sigong's biological son. The two of them did not dare to neglect and immediately stepped forward to support Li Ren, anxiously saying, "Mr. Ren, what happened to you? Why are you so badly injured?"
Li Ren's image was indeed miserable. Not only was his clothing tattered, but he was also covered in blood. He looked terrified and anxious. When he saw the guards of the Dangxiang tribe, his eyes were excited, as if a light of relief flashed across his eyes, as if he saw some hope. He grabbed the guard's collar and said in a hoarse voice: "Quick, go, go and inform Alang, tell him, tell him that Gao Su, under Zhu Li of Shuozhou, has broken through Youzhou and completely occupied Hetao. Now, the lands of the six states of Xia, Sui, Yin, You, Yan, and Ling have all fallen into Gao Su's hands. Quick..."
Li Ren seemed to have not finished speaking when he fell headfirst into the arms of the guard and fainted.
For the Dangxiang people, hearing this news was like the sky falling. The two guards almost fainted. You have to know that Youzhou is the base camp of the Dangxiang people. Their wives, daughters and relatives all live there. Now that Youzhou has been lost, the situation of their relatives can be imagined. Aren't they like a group of lambs to be slaughtered, and can only be slaughtered at will? When they thought of this, they couldn't help but be afraid.