Chapter 24 Li Ji's official career ups and downs

In the fourth year of Yonghui (653 A.D.), immediately following the Fang Yiai's treason case, the top decision-making level of the Tang court also underwent major personnel changes.Before this case, the members of the prime minister's team were: As of December of the fourth year of Yonghui, its personnel composition and corresponding positions have become: From the changes in these two lists, we can find that Changsun Wuji's power has reached its peak, basically completely controlling the government.Because in the previous list, at least four of the nine prime ministers (Li Ji, Gao Jifu, Yu Wenjie, Zhang Xingcheng) were not his cronies; In addition, the other six prime ministers are all people who follow the lead of the elder Sun Wuji.

The changes are manifested in three aspects: First of all, on the new list, three people, Gao Jifu, Yu Wenjie, and Zhang Xingcheng, disappeared.Among them, Yu Wenjie was exiled due to the case of Fang Yiai, Zhang Xingcheng died of illness in September of this year, and Gao Jifu died of illness in December of this year.Here, God seems to be deliberately perfecting the elder Sun Wuji. Anyone he dislikes will either be forced out of the game or die of illness, which really fills him with joy. Secondly, a newcomer has suddenly appeared on the new list, and he is Cui Dunli.We all still remember that this person once represented Changsun Wuji and firmly rejected Gaozong's request to pardon the two kings.In view of his "excellent" performance, his glorious promotion is a matter of course.

In the end, in the personnel changes of the entire prime minister group, basically all the changes were determined by Changsun Wuji's will, but there was still a small change, which was obviously not in the interests of Changsun Wuji.That was Li Ji's position change—from the original Kaifu Yitong Sansi to Sikong, one of the three officials. The person who contributed to this change was of course Gaozong Lizhi.Although this small change may seem inconspicuous, it is of great significance to Gaozong Li Zhi. To see this meaning clearly, we have to start with the ups and downs of Li Ji's official career in the last years of Zhenguan.

As we all know, as early as when Gaozong Li Zhi was still King Jin, Li Ji was his old ministry.At that time, Li Zhiyao was the governor of Bingzhou, and Li Ji was the governor of the governor's office. Since Li Zhi was not in office, Li Ji was in charge of the actual government affairs. It can be seen that the relationship between Li Ji and Li Zhi was extraordinary. It was because of this relationship that Li Ji became one of the three generals who supported Li Zhi during the 17th year of Zhenguan's struggle for succession.It was also because of this relationship that after Li Zhi was registered as the prince, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin immediately appointed Li Ji as the prince Zhan Shi and the left guard leader, and said to him: "My son is the new crown prince, and Qing is the old chief historian. The palace affairs are appointed by each other, so there is this award. Although you are inferior, don't blame it." His trust in Li Ji is beyond words.Not long after, at a banquet, Emperor Taizong told Li Ji again in a solemn tone: "I will be a young orphan, and I will never miss Yueqing. I will not leave it to Li Mi in the past. How can I lose to me now!" "("Old Tang Book · Li Ji Biography")

This is obviously a prank.Facing the trust and respect of the emperor, Li Ji was very grateful, and expressed on the spot that he would never let down the trust of the emperor, and bit his blood to show his perseverance.Later, when Li Ji fell asleep because of drunkenness, Emperor Taizong took off his dragon robe and put it on Li Ji himself. In the twenty-three years of Zhenguan, before Taizong died, he deliberately made a major political arrangement—first demote Li Ji to be the governor of Diezhou, and then asked Li Zhi to promote him to the prime minister after he ascended the throne, to show the kindness of the new king, and to borrow This strengthens Li Ji's loyalty.According to Taizong's instructions, Li Zhi promoted Li Ji to be the governor of Luozhou (now Luoyang City, Henan Province) in the month of his ascension to the throne, and immediately added the third rank of Tong Zhongshu's family, allowing him to enter the prime minister's team; Shangshu left servant shoots.

Looking back on Li Ji’s political encounters in the last years of Zhenguan, we can easily find that Li Ji is the second most important minister in the post-Zhenguan era, no matter in terms of Li Ji’s own qualifications and ability, or from Taizong’s trust and respect for him. .In other words, in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty in the Yonghui Dynasty, Li Ji was not only one of the few important ministers who supported Gu, but also the only one who could be compared with Changsun Wuji and check and balance each other. Examining Taizong's political arrangements during his lifetime, although it is not necessarily intended to allow Li Ji and Changsun Wuji to check and balance each other, this possibility cannot be completely ruled out.Because of his wisdom and wisdom, Emperor Taizong might have expected that the political situation behind him could not always be monolithic.Therefore, finding a Tuogu minister like Li Ji who is absolutely loyal to Li Zhi and can check and balance Changsun Wuji to a certain extent is the best arrangement he can make.

However, to Emperor Taizong's surprise, the pawn he had painstakingly arranged before his death suddenly chose to withdraw from the game shortly after Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, and faded out of the power core of the Yonghui court. In October of the first year of Yonghui, a few days before the case of Sui Liangyi's purchase of land broke out, Li Ji frequently submitted his resignation to Emperor Gaozong.In the case of Li Ji's "fixed dismissal", Li Zhi had no choice but to dismiss him from the post of Zuo Pushe, and still retained the position of the third rank under Tongzhong Shumen, and was awarded the honorary title of "Kaifu Yitong Sansi".

For Li Ji's voluntary retirement, Li Zhi was really puzzled, but in order to respect his own wishes, Li Zhi had no choice but to do so. Although Li Ji still holds the title of prime minister of "Tongzhong Shumen Xia Sanpin", he can still participate in the highest decision-making of the imperial court in name, but in fact he has become the one with the least say among all the prime ministers.Because once you don't hold a real position in the six ministries of the three provinces, it is impossible to come up with practical and weighty opinions when participating in decision-making, and at best it is just a non-voting attendance.In addition, as far as the title of "Kaifu Yitong Sansi" is concerned, anyone who is familiar with Chinese history knows that this is purely a false title, and it is basically used for the retirement of those meritorious officials who have passed away.Whoever holds this title will be completely sidelined politically.But considering Li Ji's age and ability, he really shouldn't have stepped aside so early.

But the problem is that this is Li Ji's own choice, not Gaozong's will. So, why did Li Ji make such a choice? The answer is simple - under the pressure of Changsun Wuji. In the first year of Yonghui, although Changsun Wuji's personal power had not yet developed to the point where he could overwhelm the sky with one hand, but because of his multiple identities-uncle of the emperor, founding father, minister of Gu Ming, and chief prime minister, it was decided that he would be in high school. Unique authority and influence in the imperial court.To be in the same dynasty as Changsun Wuji, you must either take the initiative to move closer to him, or be killed by him sooner or later, the two must be one of them.

Li Ji saw all this clearly than anyone else. So he would rather choose to forbear and give in. However, forbearance does not mean cowardice, and retreat does not mean incompetence. This is a strategy, a tactic, avoiding the enemy's edge and preserving strength! In hindsight, Li Ji's approach is undoubtedly wise.If he hadn't retreated bravely in the first year of Yonghui and stayed away from the vortex of power struggle, it would be difficult to guarantee that he would not be framed and implicated in the subsequent Fang Yiai treason case. Perhaps it was only in the fourth year of Yonghui, when Gaozong Li Zhi realized that Changsun Wuji's power was expanding rapidly, but he was gradually falling into the predicament of being left behind and at the mercy of others, would he suddenly understand that Li Ji had taken the initiative to take the initiative. The difficulty of retiring can also deeply comprehend Li Ji's political wisdom in preserving his strength.At the same time, Li Zhi will of course recall Taizong's deep meaning in arranging this minister for him.

It was under such a situation that Li Zhi resolutely decided to let Li Ji come back and promoted him to Sikong, one of the three princes, obviously hoping that he would form a check and balance on Changsun Wuji.It is true that Sikong is still an honorary title without actual authority, but given that his rank is second only to the grandson Wuji who is a Taiwei, and Li Ji himself is also a hero of the policy and a heavy minister, this appointment is equivalent to restoring Li Ji's status as the second most important minister of the imperial court. At the same time, this change of Li Ji's position may not be a political signal. It means that in the power expansion of Changsun Wuji's triumphant progress and victorious victories, Gaozong Li Zhi finally took advantage of Li Ji's comeback to carry out a political attack on Changsun Wuji. fight back. Although this counterattack is the first time in Li Zhi's life, and the strength is extremely weak (even weak enough to not arouse Changsun Wuji's vigilance), if Li Zhi can't even do this weak counterattack, then the entire empire The highest decision-making level will become an all-elderly grandson team. Therefore, Li Ji's comeback is of great significance to Gaozong Li Zhi. With such a trustworthy and reliable force as Li Ji (although it is the only force that can be relied on in the entire prime minister's team), the emperor Li Zhi can slowly brew his own breakthrough action - from the predicament of falling power and being at the mercy of others, Break through step by step from the giant black net woven by Changsun Wuji! Later facts proved that Li Ji really played a vital role in the emperor's breakout operation, especially at the critical moment when Li Zhi was preparing to appoint Wu Mei as queen. Among the twenty-four heroes of Lingyan Pavilion, Changsun Wuji ranked first, and Li Ji ranked second to last.This difference is obviously huge, because it is not the seat number of the school class, but the seat of the political chair, which symbolizes the qualifications, prestige and status of a politician. It seems that in order to make up for this gap, and at the same time to increase Li Ji's political prestige, Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi deliberately ordered people to repaint Li Ji's portrait in the first half of the fourth year of Yonghui, that is, shortly after Li Ji was promoted to Sikong, and Write the preface in person. In the preface to the portrait, Li Zhi said: "At the age of Qiwan, the first court specially entrusted the public, so I know that the wisdom of the philosopher is the most important thing! Since the platform was built... the old ministers of Maode are only public. Jingjuemei, forever decorated with Danqing!" ("Li Ji's Epitaph") Li Zhi's words are obviously a very strong political signal.Because Changsun Wuji, Xuan Suiliang and Li Ji were all ministers of Gu Ming, but Gaozong said to Li Ji alone that "what you send is important" and "only the public is the only one". Of course, such expressions are meaningful. Li Ji naturally understood this. So, facing the emperor's "eccentric" attitude and words, how does Changsun Wuji feel? Unfortunately, he didn't feel anything. Because he was unaware. At this moment, Changsun Wuji is complacently savoring the wonderful taste of dominating the court and dominating the world.He didn't believe that Li Zhi dared to break through.Even if he believed it, he didn't think Li Zhi had the ability to break through! Changsun Wuji, who was intoxicated by success, didn't realize that not only Li Ji had appeared behind Li Zhi, but also a woman—a woman who was about to explode with infinite energy in the near future. With the strong joining of these two forces, Gaozong Lizhi was destined to break through the political encirclement carefully constructed by Changsun Wuji.