Chapter 475 The bell-breaker

As a member of the royal family of the previous dynasty who had known Li Yuanhui for a long time and had a very deep connection with him, Murong Wuji actually had very few opportunities to choose.

His father, Murong He, King Gaoyang of Former Yan, was Li Yuanhui's sponsor and matchmaker.

Everyone knows about these two relationships, so even if he chooses to join the Eastern Palace or Prince Jin's men, he will still be suspected because of these relationships, or it is possible that he will be suspected of being a secret agent of Prince Qi's mansion.

As for the Prince of Qi's Palace, Murong Wuji was always on the outside. Although his official position was noble, he did not have much actual power.

So Li Yuanhui's words actually have another meaning besides praise: I remember your contribution and I know your ability. "Making decisions and assisting in life" is undoubtedly a very high evaluation, and only officials at the prime minister level are qualified to bear such expectations.

It's also a kind of wish.

Murong Wuji was naturally polite and said, "It is hard to accept such praise from the king."

In fact, I was very excited in my heart, and had a feeling of being valued. As the saying goes, a man will die for his confidant, and a woman will dress up for the man who pleases her. It's roughly like this.

Many high-level talents are naturally proud, so as a senior leader, you should show that you understand your value, know your abilities, and are willing to give you corresponding high positions and generous salaries. This will win people's hearts and make them work hard for you or even work for you.

And this ability and vision are not only possessed by Li Yuanhui himself.

At this moment, the East Palace and Prince Jin's Mansion were brightly lit and everyone was discussing strategies.

The officials in the Eastern Palace included Fang Qiao, Du Keming, Xue Shou, Xue Yuanjing, Su Xu and others.

The people from the Jin Palace included: Cui Xiaotong, Zu Junyan, Yao Lian, Liu Yuanjing, Liu Sui, Yang Yin and others.

During the years that Li Sanlang spent in Hedong and later in governing Guanzhong, he recruited many aristocratic families from Guanzhong and Hedong to join his Jinwang Mansion and Tianzhu Shangjiang Mansion. Their influence was no less than that of the so-called "Eighteen Scholars" who had already been formed during the Qinwang period.

Li Yuan was not idle either. Older people don't like to stay up late, but there is always time during the day.

The next day, Pei Hongde, Pei Ji, Sima Xiuye, Wen Daya, Yuwen Chengye, Yang Sui and Dou Mao were all summoned to the Taiji Hall and questioned by Li Yuan.

These seven people are now all prime ministers.

Yang Sui and Dou Mao were important personnel appointments made by Li Yuan after he signed the "Golden Casket Alliance" in Luoyang. Dou Mao was the cousin of Empress Taimu. Yang Sui was Li Yuan's relative and was from the Hongnong Yang family. The two were also the only two prime ministers added in recent years.

Yang Sui was able to become prime minister entirely because Li Yuan liked to ask him for advice. Dou Mao had served as a county governor in the previous dynasty. After the establishment of this dynasty, he served as the governor of Yizhou and Liangzhou successively. He had made outstanding achievements in recruiting people. In addition, with the blessing of his status as a relative of the emperor, it was reasonable for him to be promoted to prime minister. His promotion to the position was actually more to reconcile the conflict between the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Jin's Mansion.

In general, the struggle between the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Jin's Mansion was relatively restrained, and there was no complete factionalism.

In fact, the prime ministers usually did not intervene in the disputes between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin. They would wait until both parties reached a consensus and then be responsible for implementation.

This undoubtedly brought the dispute to a very controllable situation.

But this time is different. The King of Qi's return to Chang'an will inevitably turn the two parties that originally reached a delicate balance into three parties.

Although the Palace of Prince Qi did not have many roots in Guanzhong and was far inferior to the Eastern Palace and the Palace of Prince Jin, all the ideas and actions of unifying the country and foreign wars in the Tang Dynasty court could not be separated from the approval and support of the Prince of Qi.

So both sides wanted to gain the support of the Prince of Qi's Mansion. It was almost like the four most powerful people in the Tang Dynasty, with Li Yuan as the nominal arbitrator and no voting rights.

Now the second and third men are in opposition, and each has one vote. Whoever Li Si votes for will win.

But what if Li Si also came forward to propose another solution? That would be a mess.

Li Yuan is now a little worried that the situation will get out of control. If the current balance is broken, no one can predict what the next struggle will turn out like.

"The Crown Prince and the King of Jin are now each holding their own opinions. The King of Qi has just returned to Chang'an, and his attitude is unclear. I wonder what suggestions you gentlemen have?"

Li Yuan looked at everyone with great concern.

Sima Xiuye, who has always acted fairly and is respected by the Crown Prince and the King of Jin, said: "The dispute between the Crown Prince and the King of Jin now concerns the safety of the world. The strategies of the two princes have their own strengths, but we still need to choose the best one to implement. I think this should be done as soon as possible. Since the King of Qi has returned to Chang'an, it is better to hold a court meeting as soon as possible and formulate a strategy."

Sima Xiuye's meaning was clear: this matter could not be delayed any longer. If it was delayed any further, it would directly turn into a factional dispute.

It may cause greater division and conflict. When things have reached this point, this problem must be solved as soon as possible. The needs of all parties must be balanced as soon as possible, otherwise the internal friction will continue endlessly.

Li Yuan naturally understood what Sima Xiuye ​​said, and he also thought it was correct, but how to calm the situation?
Wen Daya also said, "I think what the Right Prime Minister said is very true. There is a tendency of factions to unite and attack dissidents in the court. I hope Your Majesty will hold a court meeting as soon as possible and discuss the matter with the Crown Prince and the other kings."

"I agree with what Lord Sima and Minister Wen said, but what about the Crown Prince and the Prince of Jin now?"

Li Yuan meant that I can't control anything now, and these two people have to listen to me. Although the prime ministers in the court are still ministers appointed by Li Yuan, a large number of officials in the court and the generals at all levels in the army are all the people of the crown prince and the King of Jin.

In other words, not only Li Yuan, but the prime ministers were also in a state of being sidelined at any time.

This is the root cause and underlying logic behind Li Yuan's loss of power. Without the support of a large team of executors, the upper echelons would be in a hollow state.

The prime ministers could all feel Li Yuan's helplessness, but they could not speak freely about such matters.

Yang Sui said: "Your Majesty, since the King of Qi has returned to Chang'an, you might as well let the King of Qi ease the dispute between the Crown Prince and the King of Jin. This is something only the King of Qi can do."

Li Yuan nodded when he heard this. Indeed, it was actually Li Er and Li San who wanted Li Yuanhui to come back.

Neither of them is willing to give up control of the war and wants to use it to expand their own reputation and power.

But the Eastern Palace and Prince Jin's Mansion are now almost evenly matched.

This is what makes me anxious.

This requires a very important person to pull the Crown Prince and the King of Jin to formulate a strategy that can satisfy both parties, or even all three parties. The only person in the Tang Dynasty who can do this is the King of Qi. He is the only one who has this weight.

After some discussion, the prime ministers left one after another, but Pei Hongde, who left last, left behind a meaningful remark.

"Your Majesty may have to open the door to welcome the thieves."

(End of this chapter)