Chapter 372 Qingping Diao

If Lai Zhen had not been with Li Heng for so many years, he might have listened to Lu Jing's advice, but after he followed Li Heng, his mentality had already changed.

Lai Zhen said: "We are a benevolent and righteous army. How can we learn the style of rebels and bandits? If we burn, kill and plunder like the rebels, how can the people welcome us wholeheartedly? The court has not withheld our food and wages. The brothers have received what they deserve. We must not alienate ourselves from Your Majesty and the world because of greed. Don't mention such things again in the future."

"Yes." Lu Jiong replied awkwardly.

Lai Zhen said: "Pass on my military order. Those who participated in the rebellion of King Ying and surrendered voluntarily will not be investigated further. If they are lucky enough to conceal the truth, or flee and become bandits, they will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes!" The generals took the order.

……

The time was already 755 AD, the second year of Ji De.

February, Chang'an.

Lai Zhen personally brought Li Lu and his important followers to Chang'an to report the victory. Among Li Lu's important followers was Li Bai.

Li Heng held a banquet for Lai Zhen, and put Li Lu and his followers into prison first, and let the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate and the Dali Temple convict them.

Li Ying was quite satisfied that Lai Zhen could personally present his victory, because in history, Lai Zhen had staged several attempts to persuade the people to keep him in order to avoid entering Chang'an, and it was precisely because of this that Lai Zhen was killed.

Li Guangbi became even more wary of the imperial court because his fellow military general Lai Chen was killed. He became alienated from the imperial court and finally died with hatred in his heart.

However, now that Li Heng had suppressed the Anshi Rebellion, he had great military achievements and his own army. In addition, these generals had been under his command for a long time and they were not prone to bad tempers. He had solved the problem of disunity between the court and the generals.

Li Ying hosted Lai Zhen for a banquet that day, and the next day, Du Fu came to plead for Li Bai.

As a fan of Li Bai, Du Fu gave two reasons for being lenient towards Li Bai.

First, he said that Li Bai was forced to participate in Li Lu's rebellion. The evidence was that when Li Bai was under Li Lu's command, he wrote several poems expressing his feelings.

The second reason is that Li Bai is extremely talented and his talents can be put to good use.

Li Ying was skeptical about Du Fu's statement, but he didn't want to do anything to Li Bai, so he asked Du Fu to invite Li Bai to see him.

In Tianshan Pavilion (formerly Taiye Pavilion), Li Bai paid a visit to Li Heng and Yang Yuhuan.

Li Heng glanced at Li Bai and said, "Since we parted at Qujiang, I have never seen Li Bai again."

Li Bai was at a loss and said, "I have no blessings as a sinner, and it is difficult for me to see your majesty."

Li Ying smiled slightly and said, "Du Zimei pleaded for you, saying that you followed Li Yu because you were coerced?"

Li Bai said honestly: "When I first followed the King of Ying, I didn't know he had evil intentions. By the time I found out, it was too late to turn back. I should say I was coerced."

Li Ying said: "Du Zimei also said that you are talented and can be used."

Li Bai said: "Du Zimei's praise is too much. I feel ashamed to accept it."

Li Heng glanced at Yang Yuhuan beside him, and he had an idea. He smiled and said, "Write two poems for the Queen. If one satisfies me and the Queen, I will pardon you. If both poems satisfy me and the Queen, I will give you an official title."

When it comes to writing poetry, Li Bai's confidence increases greatly, and he takes the initiative to ask for an increase in difficulty, saying: "Your Majesty, please give me the rules."

Li Ying didn't know much about rhythm, so he immediately told out the rhythm of "Qing Ping Diao".

Li Bai looked at Yang Yuhuan respectfully, and after a moment's silence, he said, "The clouds are like clothes and the flowers are like beauty. The spring breeze blows over the threshold and the dew is thick. If we had not met on the top of the Jade Mountain, we would have met under the moon on the Jade Terrace."

Li Ying couldn't help laughing when he heard the familiar verses.

Li Bai hurriedly asked, "I wonder if Your Majesty is satisfied?"

Li Ying nodded and asked Yang Yuhuan, "Is the Queen satisfied?"

When Yang Yuhuan saw Li Ying testing Li Bai's poems, she knew that Li Ying intended to let Li Bai off, and smiled, "Very satisfied." Li Ying turned to Li Bai and said, "Li Taibai is really quick-witted. I am also very satisfied. Your crime can be forgiven. Write another poem."

"Yes." Li Bai accepted the order, thought for a moment, and immediately composed another poem. However, the poem Li Bai composed this time was different from the other two poems he wrote in history to praise Yang Yuhuan.

Li Ying didn't care and asked Yang Yuhuan again, and Yang Yuhuan smiled and nodded.

Li Ying smiled and said, "Very good, your words are not joking. I will give you an official title and let you be a Hanlin scholar."

When Li Bai heard the words "Hanlin scholar", he was slightly stunned.

Because he had served as a Hanlin scholar during the Tianbao period, he was arrogant and unwilling to be a court writer. Therefore, Li Longji did not call him to court, and later alienated him. Li Longji gave him gold and released him.

In history, people said that Li Bai was released because he asked Gao Lishi to take off his shoes, which caused Gao Lishi to hold a grudge against him. Li Heng didn't know whether this was true or not, but in the time and space he was experiencing now, this did not happen.

After all, with the power of Gao Lishi, who had to be called "Aung" by the Crown Prince whenever he saw him, Li Bai would not seek his own death.

Du Fu, who was standing by, saw Li Bai was stunned and said hurriedly: "Taibai, why don't you thank me quickly?"

Li Bai reacted, knelt down and thanked the emperor, saying: "I bow to thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Ying said, "Okay, you guys go back first."

"Yes."

Li Bai and Du Fu bowed to Li Heng and withdrew.

When the two were halfway there, Du Fu said to Li Bai, "You don't know, Taibai, the Hanlin scholars today are not as good as they were during the time of the retired emperor."

"Oh?" Li Bai was startled and asked, "Why is that?"

Du Fu said: "In the early days of the Retired Emperor, Hanlin scholars were able to enter the inner court and review memorials. Later, because the Retired Emperor was greedy for pleasure and Li Linfu monopolized the government, Hanlin scholars were reduced to literati who entertained the Retired Emperor. But now, Your Majesty is not a person who is greedy for pleasure, and has strongly promoted the imperial examination. Hanlin scholars are once again playing the role of reviewing memorials and can draft important proclamations. They are Your Majesty's close ministers."

"So that's how it is." Li Bai suddenly realized and said, "Thank you, Zimei, for telling me."

Du Fu said: "However, there are many people working in the Hanlin Academy. Whether he can be employed by Your Majesty depends on Taibai's performance in the future."

Li Bai said: "I understand."

The titles of officials in ancient times cannot be judged solely by their names and ranks. Their duties and powers were completely different depending on the era.

Take the Hanlin academicians for example. In the middle and late period of Li Longji's reign, they were just court writers who accompanied him in entertainment. However, in the late Tang Dynasty, they were the emperor's advisory secretaries and were known as the "internal ministers". During the Niu-Li factional struggle, Bai Juyi served as a Hanlin academician and became an important figure in the Niu party.

Li Heng didn't know what Du Fu and Li Bai said next, but he didn't want the Hanlin scholars to become too powerful. He just wanted to put these people where they should be.

Yang Yuhuan waited for Li Bai and Du Fu to walk away, and said with a smile: "If you want to release Li Bai, you don't have to let him write poems for me. Wouldn't it be better for him to write poems for you?"

Li Ying said, "My merits and demerits should be left to history to answer, but your beauty can be praised by everyone. I will ask Li Guinian to turn it into a piece of music someday."

Yang Yuhuan smiled and said, "Thank you very much, my dear."

Li Ying nodded and said, "It's quite appropriate to come to Zhen to do the work this time."

Yang Yuhuan said: "What the emperor likes, the people below must welcome. My lord is a sage, and the people below are naturally mostly wise ministers."

Yang Yuhuan's words were a compliment to Li Heng, but they also implied the issue of feudal monarchy.

Under an absolute monarchy, the emperor's influence on a country is crucial, which requires the emperor to have extremely high self-awareness, otherwise it will cause disaster.

Li Heng did not dwell on it. He chatted with Yang Yuhuan for a few words and then got up and went to the Council of State.

(End of this chapter)