Chapter 147 Lost again in the fourth quarter

After Zhao Gao's visit, Li Si suddenly became depressed.A few cups of turbid wine, several sighs, passed the boring time after another.He was not defeated by Zhao Gao, but defeated by Zhao Gao.His former courage was scattered in the wind and rain, and replaced by the deep twilight of the setting sun. Suffering Zhao Gao's insult and bullying, Li Si was naturally not willing to admit defeat, but when he thought of Zhao Gao's rogue tactics, he couldn't help being timid and flinching.Of course, Li Si refused to admit this.Excuses are always the easiest things to find in the world, and Li Si also found an excuse to excuse himself: I am bearing the burden of humiliation for the future and stability of the empire.This is not lack of courage, on the contrary, it is a kind of courage of a higher level, as the later brother Dongpo said: When a man sees humiliation, he draws his sword and stands up to fight, this is not enough courage.There are great brave men in the world, who approach him suddenly without being surprised, and without reason, but without anger. This means that the person he holds hostage is very large, and his ambition is very far away.

No one knew why Li Si's light suddenly dimmed, and Li Si couldn't tell anyone the reason, including his wife and his son.And with Li Si's depression and autism, the anti-Zhao Gao alliance lost its backbone, so it became in name only.Those colleagues who had placed high hopes on Li Si angrily vented their dissatisfaction and disappointment with Li Si.However, Li Si still stubbornly remained silent, neither explaining nor defending. Li Si couldn't tell anyone, he could only swallow the bitter fruit he had brewed alone.And this bitter fruit was all because of a mistake in his mind when he was in the sand dunes.

On the day of June, the face of the child changes as soon as it is said.The same is true for the political climate in Xianyang, which has changed twice in a row in just a few days.First, Zhao Gao had the upper hand, then Li Si succeeded in counterattacking, and now it is Zhao Gao who regained the lost ground and regained power. On the battlefield ahead, Qin Jun soon fell into a passive position after a temporary victory.The rebel army became more frustrated and courageous, and fought more and more. The empire frequently recruited and transferred soldiers from the Guanzhong, but it was still struggling to cope.Right Prime Minister Feng Quji and General Feng Jie were originally dissatisfied with the series of perverse government policies since Hu Hai took the throne. Now that there are more thieves and the country is about to perish, the two can no longer sit idly by. They visit Li Si and ask for a joint letter to Hu Hai.

Li Si couldn't refuse such a legitimate proposal.To stabilize the country, he is the prime minister, and he is duty-bound.I could only rely on the two of them, and jointly wrote a letter to Hu Hai, saying, "The thieves in the Guandong came together, and Qin sent troops to attack them. Many people were killed, but there are still many. There are many thieves, and they all use Xu Cao to turn things around and pay heavy taxes. Please stop the author of Efang Palace, and reduce the need to turn around." It is not too late to remedy the situation.If Hu Hai could adopt the suggestion of Li Si and others at this time, change course and change course, benefit Buren, and appease the people, then the empire might still have a glimmer of life.

When Hu Hai received the letter, he didn't know how to respond, so he asked Zhao Gao what he meant.Zhao Gaodao, Efang Palace was raised by the late emperor, so it can be lightly abolished!Taxation in Xucao, so it is a pleasure to provide for His Majesty, the benefits are not enough, let alone saving? Hu Hai thought so deeply and nodded repeatedly.Zhao Gao said again, "Prime Minister Feng Quji and General Feng Jie are important ministers of the country. They don't know how to plan for His Majesty, but only know how to please the head of Guizhou. Their intentions are unexpected, and they are now prison officials."

Hu Hai seemed to have been hypnotized by Zhao Gao, and without going through his brain, he issued an edict, saying, "The first emperor raised up the princes, and the world has been established. You have seen the achievements of the late emperor. Now, two years after I ascended the throne, gangs of thieves have risen together. You can't stop them, and you want to stop what the late emperor did. There is no way to repay the late emperor. If you don't do your best for me, why are you in power? ?” So Feng Quji and Feng Jie were arrested, and he was charged with the crime. Feng Quji and Feng Jie were imprisoned. The prison guards tortured them and ordered them to confess their crimes.Poor two people serve the country with sincerity, why have they ever had the heart of disobedience?The two looked at each other with wry smiles, and said, "The general is the pillar of the country, how can he be humiliated by the subordinates with swords and pens." After speaking, they committed suicide in anger.

Three people wrote letters, and only two were imprisoned. It seems that Zhao Gao was lenient to Li Siwang.In fact, Zhao Gao didn't want to catch Li Si and others, but he was powerless.After all, Li Si had been in the court for more than 30 years, and he was deeply rooted and powerful. Unless he was absolutely sure, Zhao Gao would never dare to act rashly.Everyone wants to eat a big fat man in one bite, but most of the time, even if they have such a big appetite, they don't have such a big stomach. Zhao Gao let Li Si go, one is to create Li Si's illusion, let Li Si think that since the last negotiation, the two have signed some kind of non-aggression treaty between the two; the other is to make the officials suspicious, Why was Li Si alone spared, while Feng Quji and Feng Jie were unjustly imprisoned? Could there be something else hidden?As long as the officials became suspicious, it would deal a heavy blow to Li Si's image; Zhao Gao knew very well that it was better to eradicate Li Si gradually than hastily.

Zhao Gao's strategy is: cut off Li Si's wings first, isolate Li Si in the court, and then do it before it's too late.Therefore, killing the Meng brothers first, and then forcing the two old ministers Feng Quji and Feng Jie to death can be regarded as a continuation of this strategy. Not long after Feng Quji and Feng Jie committed suicide, Zhao Gao finally aimed at Li Si, and slandered Li Si in front of Hu Hai, falsely accusing Li Si of rebelling against him, saying, "The conspiracy of the husband Shaqiu, the prime minister is with you. Now your majesty has become emperor. , but the prime minister is expensive and not beneficial, and the meaning is also to see that the land is broken and the king is dead. And the prime minister's eldest son Li You is the guard of Sanchuan, and the Chu thief Chen Sheng and others are all the sons of the prime minister's neighboring counties. Willing to attack. Gao heard that his documents were exchanged with each other, but he did not get his trial, so he did not dare to hear about it. Besides, the prime minister is outside, and the weight lies with your majesty. Your majesty must be on guard."

As soon as Hu Hai was furious, he wanted to bring Li Si to justice.Zhao Gaodao, "The prime minister's merits are high in the world, and his power shakes the country. He is like being imprisoned for no reason. He fears that the government and the people will be shaken, and all the officials will be panicked. Your Majesty should take it easy and send envoys to Sanchuan. After checking that Li You is connected with the thieves, the case will be filed again. It is not too late to rule the prime minister." Zhao Gao said again, "In order not to overwhelm the snake, your majesty can write to the prime minister to ask about the way of peace and happiness. His majesty Li Simeng descended to ask him, knowing that his majesty still attaches great importance to it, so he will not be suspicious."

Hu Hai was overjoyed, so he wrote a letter and questioned Li Si, saying, "I heard that Han Zi said: "Yao and Shun did not scrape the rafters, and did not cut the mausts. It’s sparse and crude. Yu dug the dragon’s gate, opened the Great Xia, cut through the rivers and pavilions, and released it to the sea. He built his own spade and had no hair on his shin. Whoever owns the world, would he want to suffer and exhaust himself, live in the hostel of adversity, eat the food of the prison gate, and hold the work of his subjects? This is not what people encourage, and it is not the task of a sage. The sage has The world also, dedicated to the world is only suitable for oneself, this is more valuable than having the world. The so-called virtuous man will be able to put the world in order and rule the people, but he can't benefit the world now, and he can rule the world by evil! Therefore, I am willing to do whatever I want. , enjoy the world forever without harm, what can I do?"

Li Si took the book, read it, and in an instant, the white hair on his head seemed to be a little whiter.