"Brother Lu, judging from yesterday's situation, the relationship between the Wang family and the Marquis of Yong'an is indeed quite shallow~!"
In an inn in Qizhou, Yongxian County, Li Jingxuan and Lu Chengqing, who had woken up from a hangover, met in a private room to drink tea. The tea was the finest fairy tea. Naturally, such tea was not available in a small place like Qizhou. That was Li Jingxuan. He brought it with him when he came to Qizhou. He used to like money, power, and beautiful women. Since the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce launched Immortal Tea, he has another hobby, and that is Immortal Tea!
The aroma of tea lingered, and after the two were silent for a while, Li Jingxuan spoke.
"Is it more than that? Brother Li, please don't forget that Wang Yu is still the emperor's consort and has only a limited relationship with the royal family. Now he has close contacts with Li Zexuan, and Li Zexuan is the pioneer in the emperor's suppression of the aristocratic family. Tell me. , now the Wang family, do their hearts lie with the emperor, or with the aristocratic family?"
Lu Chengqing gently fiddled with the tea cup with one hand, and gently shook the folding fan with the other hand, acting like a handsome young man, just listening to what he said casually.
Li Jingxuan's eyes darkened slightly and he said: "Li Zexuan is already so difficult to deal with. If the Wang family colludes with Li Zexuan again, then won't our Five Surnames and Seven Hopes have no chance to restore their past glory~?"
Lu Chengqing raised his head and said calmly: "Jingxuan, the world has changed now. Instead of five surnames and seven looks, there are only three surnames and four looks left. Among them are the Li Tang royal family and the ambiguous Taiyuan Wang family. From then on, In terms of strength, we are already at a disadvantage. In the past, the Cui family was the leader of the seven great families, but now, with the support of the emperor and the help of Li Zexuan, the Wang family may be ranked above the Lu family and the Li family!"
Li Jingxuan picked up the tea cup and drank all the tea in the cup. He frowned and said in annoyance: "The imperial power is strong, but the family is not united. From what Brother Lu sees, our Li and Lu families will not be together in the future." How should I handle myself~?”
"How to deal with yourself? How you deal with yourself all depends on the attitude of the elders in our family. You and I can't make the decision now!"
Lu Chengqing smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly.
He and Li Jingxuan are now just the descendants of the Lu and Li families who are most likely to become the next generation heads of the family. They are still far from officially taking power. Their current situation is actually similar to Wang Renbiao, except that Wang Renbiao relies on Princess Tongan and Li Er's aunt-nephew relationship has already secured the position of governor of Yizhou, but the two of them have not yet entered the official position!
"Alas! What Brother Lu said is true!"
Hearing this, Li Jingxuan couldn't help but darken his face. He put down the tea cup in his hand heavily, stood up and looked out the window, and said with a worried look: "Now our two families are surrounded by enemies from both sides, but neither you nor I have real power in the clan. So what if I have nothing left to seek revenge? I can only hope that the elders in the clan can lead the family through the difficulties!"
"It's difficult! It's difficult!"
Lu Chengqing frowned and thought deeply for a moment, then shook his head and said: "A year ago, there would have been a third chance that the six major families would unite to fight against the imperial power. But now, even the Cui and Zheng families, who are the most powerful and have the deepest foundation, have been suppressed by the imperial court. If it is destroyed, even if our Lu and Li families try their best, I am afraid it will be difficult to make any splash!
For now, all we can do is protect ourselves! Since the Battle of Guancheng, the Grand Duke of the Lu family has been strictly restraining the children of the clan, telling us not to act arrogantly, bully the people, or violate royal laws. This is because he is worried that we will follow in the footsteps of the Cui family! "
Li Jingxuan nodded and said: "My family is the same! Previously, my second uncle's eldest son occupied the daughter of a tenant family. When the Taigong learned about it, he directly ordered the punishment hall to break his legs and send him to the county government! After this incident, the family members Those promiscuous children in the past are now all in danger and dare not do whatever they want outside!"
"It's the right thing to do!"
Lu Chengqing said thoughtfully: "How did the Cui family's house in Chang'an City be besieged by the common people in the first place? Didn't Li Zexuan make the dirty things that the Cui family has done in recent years public to the world? What if our two families If you don’t want to make the same mistakes as the Cui family, you can only restrain the children of the family!
After the Battle of Guancheng, the people of the world, as well as the civil and military officials, saw that the five surnames and seven hopes were not invincible. Now the censors in the court are all staring at the aristocratic family! Once a member of a noble family does evil, they will definitely impeach him as soon as possible. Firstly, he can gain the appreciation of the emperor, and secondly, he can also gain praise from the people among the people! Therefore, Taigong’s decision was correct! "
"Hmph! These ungrateful villains! How many of those censors have not received any favors from the family? Now that the imperial power is at its peak, they are just sitting on the fence, with very ugly faces!"
Li Jingxuan couldn't help but snorted and said angrily.
What he said is quite right. After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Yang Guang's old system was followed to hold imperial examinations and recruit talents. However, in this era, if scholars wanted to participate in the imperial examinations, they needed to be recommended by nobles or celebrities. The five surnames and seven looks are known as the Millennium Clan. Each family has a large number of disciples. Why do those scholars want to be disciples of aristocratic families? Isn’t it because the aristocratic family has the right to recommend and the means to recommend
Nowadays, a considerable number of the civil and military officials in the Tang Dynasty have been recommended by aristocratic families!
"How can there be eternal friends in the court? There are only eternal interests!"
Lu Chengqing shook his head and said very rationally: "To put it bluntly, if you and I were to change places with them, I'm afraid we would do even more excessive and ruthless things than they did!"
Li Jingxuan was suddenly choked up, and he said with a depressed look on his face: "Brother Lu, you still speak... you are still so upright~!"
He was depressed, but Li Jingxuan also knew that Lu Chengqing was telling the truth, but the truth was a bit too hurtful!
"Haha! I'm just telling the truth!"
Lu Chengqing smiled, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and couldn't help but praise: "Good tea! Good tea! Putting aside his stance, Marquis Yong'an is really a person who knows how to live! Although you and I have been young, We are well-dressed, well-fed, and enjoying all the splendor, but to be honest, our life now is not as good as that of Marquis Yongan Wanyi!"
When Li Jingxuan saw Lu Chengqing starting to taste tea, he quickly poured himself another cup. He had managed to get these tea leaves, and he was usually reluctant to drink them!
"Chengqing, what you said is true! Who in the family doesn't hate Marquis Yong'an? But everyone is still using things made by Marquis Yong'an, such as new carriages, bicycles, toilet paper, fairy tea, fairy mirrors, I don't know Before we knew it, he had made all our money!"
After drinking another cup of tea, Li Jingxuan said a little annoyed.
"So what? Qiquge and Qiquge Workshop are now irreplaceable in Datang. If we want to make this money, we can only choose to cooperate with him!"
Lu Chengqing narrowed his eyes and said without any surprise.
Li Jingxuan's eyes widened and he said with a look of disbelief: "What? Cooperation? Chengqing, are you crazy? If the elders of the Lu family hear this, they will definitely reprimand you again!"
The aristocratic family has the pride of the aristocratic family. Even though the aristocratic family is now at a disadvantage in the face of the imperial power, they are still arrogant in their hearts. Cooperating with Li Zexuan is equivalent to cooperating with the imperial court and bowing to the imperial court!
Lu Chengqing said: "The situation is stronger than the people. Now, no matter whether the elders admit it or not, it is difficult for the aristocratic family to compete with the imperial power. For the current plan, we should focus on self-protection. Only by surviving will there be infinite possibilities in the future. If Like Cui and Zheng, everything will stop! The Wang family can climb up to the Marquis of Yong'an, why can't we? At least so far, besides cooperating with the Marquis of Yong'an, do you have a better way to deal with him? Those who have given him Grass grows on the graves of those who caused trouble!"
Li Jingxuan swallowed. The content revealed in Lu Chengqing's words was too exciting and crazy, but when he thought about it carefully, he felt that Lu Chengqing's words made sense. He couldn't help but sit up straight, stared at Lu Chengqing and said, "Brother Lu , is this your intention or your father’s intention?”
This question is very critical, because it concerns whether the Lu family will defect to the court like the Wang family!
If this is what the head of the Lu family really means, then the only ones who still stick to the "aristocratic family camp" are the Li family of Zhao County!
Lu Chengqing pondered for a moment and said, "This is my father's intention, but it is not the intention of the elders of the Lu family! Before coming here, my father once told me that I must not quarrel with the Wang family. It is best to get along with the Wang family through the Wang family." This relationship with Marquis Yongan! Whatever the Wang family can do for Marquis Yongan, the Lu family can do the same!"
"It turned out to be what Lu Shibo meant!"
Li Jingxuan was stunned on the spot.
Lu Chengqing stood up and said, "I am leaving for Chang'an today. Do you want Jingxuan to go with me?"
Li Jingxuan finally recovered from the shock. He asked strangely: "Going to Chang'an? Brother Lu, why are you going to Chang'an?"
Lu Chengqing stood with his hands behind his hands and said quietly: "Tomorrow afternoon, there will be a fund-raising meeting held by the Yanhuang Chamber of Commerce in Lantian County. I really want to go and see it. Although I am afraid it will be too late, I happen to be going to Chang'an City to visit some people. That’s the way to go!”
"The fund-raising meeting? The Lu family actually wants to attend the fund-raising meeting?"
Li Jingxuan's face was even more incredible. It was true that the family had money, but it was absolutely impossible for them to give the money to the court! Anyone who knows who the fund-raising meeting is for will know it well, and according to Lu Chengqing's words, how can he not be surprised that the Lu family actually wants to participate in the fund-raising meeting
"The Lu family does plan to attend the fund-raising meeting. My father sent a letter to the manager of a store in Chang'an the day before yesterday. And if I can catch up tomorrow, I will naturally go to see it! After all, this fund-raising meeting is from Yong'an Marquis. If the Lu family can contribute, not only will Marquis Yongan remember our good deeds, but His Majesty will also remember us! Jingxuan, do you want to go with me?"
Lu Chengqing smiled calmly and asked.
Hearing this, Li Jingxuan's face was filled with uncertainty. After thinking for a moment, he cupped his hands and said, "This is a serious matter. I don't dare to be good at it. I have to ask my father for instructions!"
Lu Chengqing shook his head and said: "But the fund-raising meeting will start tomorrow. Qizhou is not close to Zhao County, so I may not be able to make it in time!"
"this… "
Li Jingxuan also knew that what Lu Chengqing said was reasonable. He hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! Then I will go to Chang'an with Brother Lu first. Flying pigeons will pass the message home on the way. If it is too late, there is nothing we can do! "
Lu Chengqing chuckled and said, "Haha, that's good! Let's pack up and set off!"
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