Chapter 947: Then Let's Speak Openly

The royal horse carriage was still moving.

No matter how Liu Zheng tried to help him up, this Li Tun simply would not rise.

"Your Majesty, to save the Li Dynasty, you must at least get up before we can talk, right?"

Liu Zheng sighed.

Only then was Li Tun overjoyed; his corpulent body climbed up with great difficulty, and he looked at Liu Zheng eagerly: "How does Vice Minister Liu intend to instruct this Mandarin?"

Liu Zheng smiled faintly.

Just a moment ago, he had been a bit confused as to why Li Tun would suddenly act like this toward him. Because before, he had still wanted to kill him. Now he understood: this Li Tun was still the same old Li Tun, with no great enlightenment, and certainly no firm stance.

Keep it simple.

He wanted to test the waters.

First, Liu Zheng had already passed five passes and slain seven generals, so it was no longer easy for Li Tun to kill Liu Zheng. Because if Liu Zheng met with an accident on the road, that would be one thing. But if he met with an accident in Hancheng, the Longyan Army currently on the Yalu River would no longer show the Li Dynasty even half a shred of face; if they said they would strike, they would strike.

Since that was the case.

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Li Tun could no longer care about his own face; if he had to kneel, he would kneel.

Second, Liu Zheng had already become a god in the hearts of the people of the Li Dynasty across all social strata. The crushing weight of public opinion forced Li Tun to lower his head.

Third, the Li Dynasty was currently in great danger.

Li Tun looked at Liu Zheng nervously.

Liu Zheng smiled: "Is Your Majesty intending to speak heart-to-heart with me?"

Thinking of this, Liu Zheng still sighed in his heart.

As the ruler of a country, Li Tun could be considered quite pitiable.

"What?"

Li Tun was greatly alarmed.

Li Tun was covered in tears: "I have already come to this, can Vice Minister Liu still not trust me?"

Liu Zheng shook his head: "Liu Zheng is afraid that once I propose my policies, Your Majesty will immediately have my head chopped off!"

Liu Zheng asked: "Save the Li Dynasty, or save this country?"

"Wh, what?"

Liu Zheng looked at him with burning eyes: "May Your Majesty answer a few questions for Liu Zheng?"

"Speak your mind!"

If one wants to save this country, must the Li Family lose their throne and state?

Liu Zheng watched him quietly, saying nothing.

This first question caused Li Tun's expression to change drastically.

What did that mean?

Liu Zheng nodded and asked again: "In Your Majesty's opinion, among the Southern Faction and the Westerners of the Li Dynasty, who is capable of taking on great responsibilities?"

This question was once again incredibly sharp.

Li Tun pondered for a moment, his eyes filling with tears again, and he gritted his teeth: "Li Tun wants to save the people of the world; as for the ancestral temples, as long as the territory remains, Li Tun will have the face to see his ancestors!"

Enough.

During the time Liu Zheng had been in the Li Dynasty, he had given opportunities to both the Southern Faction and the Westerners. Relatively speaking, the Westerners had at least stabilized the situation. It was just that it still wasn't enough; Li Tun felt it still wasn't enough—he wanted a peaceful and prosperous age, a prosperous age as flourishing and united as Liangzhou.

Thus, he did not answer.

Li Tun did not even know how to answer.

Who could take on great responsibilities?

Liu Zheng asked again: "How about Li Xuanya as Regent?"

"What?"

Liu Zheng laughed out loud: "Liu Zheng believes that both can be used!"

Li Tun's eyes lit up.

Liu Zheng wanted to create a Regent in the Li Dynasty? Wasn't this a slap to his own face? And it was his own daughter, too!

However.

At this, Li Tun could no longer hold back; he stood up directly, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant.

Regent?

Liu Zheng smiled and took a sip of tea: "Now, let Liu Zheng answer these questions for Your Majesty."

"First, the Li Dynasty will not disappear, and the state and ancestral temples will not disappear. It just requires Your Majesty to relinquish power. Liu Zheng believes this is not a difficult task for Your Majesty, because the Li Dynasty has always been this way."

If the country did not exist, if the imperial court did not exist, what meaning would there be in being a monarch or a Regent? Li Tun continued to grit his teeth and nodded: "As long as the Li Dynasty can be saved..."

"Good."

Indeed.

The Li Dynasty had existed for over a hundred years, and it had always been this way; either the Westerners held power, or the Southern Faction held power.

Liu Zheng spoke in an understated manner.

Yet in Li Tun's heart, an endless bitterness surged.

What was the difference?

Liu Zheng tapped the tabletop and continued: "Your Majesty should have some understanding of the Cabinet System in Liangzhou and Longyan. If Your Majesty agrees, then take those Westerners and Southern Faction members who are capable of handling matters alone and add them all to the Cabinet! It would be best to break the pattern of them forming cliques for private gain!"

Although he was the monarch, when had he ever truly held power? He could only pin his hopes for state affairs on these two factions.

Therefore.

This statement was naturally an analysis of Liu Zheng's second question. Which of the Westerners or the Southern Faction could be used? Since neither could be used alone, and since both could be used, then mix them together! Use them all, but from now on, there must no longer be any talk of Southern Faction or Westerners.

It is all the Cabinet!

"What?"

Li Tun's eyes lit up as he listened.

The more chaotic, the better; the more chaotic, the better.

Until interests take precedence, making them no longer think of themselves as Southern Faction or Western Faction.

Liu Zheng truly could not understand it.

Just because they lived in different parts of Hancheng, they had to divide into so many factions? He thought this was like playing house and held no real meaning. Use interests to make them mix together. He believed that in this world, there were no solid groups; to put it plainly, everything was interest-first. For example, the Western Faction could manage the Ministry of War, the Southern Faction could manage the Ministry of Personnel, the Southern Faction could manage the Ministry of Justice, and the Western Faction could manage the Ministry of Works.

As far as the current group of civil and military officials in Hancheng were concerned, everyone was profit-driven.

Every single one of them.

This was achievable.

Moreover, this was also an open conspiracy that others could not resolve.

If it were only the Cabinet, it was very likely that they would still split into two different stances.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Therefore, it is not just the Cabinet, but a Parliament!"

Isn't Zhang Xuan just such a fence-sitter? He follows whichever side has profits to be gained.

Li Tun pondered for a moment, nodded, and agreed with Liu Zheng's viewpoint, but he still said: "I fear that if it is only the Cabinet..."

Liu Zheng nodded: "Since you are still worried about them forming cliques for private interests, then Your Majesty might as well devolve all power! Let's see if these people can still restrain themselves!"

"What?"

"Parliament?"

Li Tun listened with a bewildered expression.

He looked at Li Tun with burning eyes: "Your Majesty, only in this way can the Li Dynasty be saved!"

"This is called a Constitutional Monarchy!"

Li Tun's face changed drastically.

Ignoring his shock, Liu Zheng continued: "The third issue: Li Xuanya must act as regent! Only then will these people believe that Your Majesty intends to step behind the scenes and bring forth the new; at this time, it will be easier for Li Xuanya to gain their recognition and make them lower their guard!"

Liu Zheng took another sip of tea and smiled faintly: "Once the Parliament is established, these two alliances will inevitably be broken!"

"Your Majesty, break then establish!"

"Limit royal power, promote democracy!"

"Simply put, it is to use power to break the current pattern of the so-called Southern Faction and Western Faction in the Li Dynasty, allowing every elite class of society to participate."

"Only then will the ancestral temples and the state of the Li Dynasty have more resilience for survival! The situation in the Li Dynasty will immediately stabilize! The people of the Li Dynasty will be united as one!"

"If Your Majesty dares to be the first in the world..."

"The people will know how to be grateful!"

Liu Zheng had already cupped his hands, stood up, and bowed deeply.

Li Tun slumped down, his face blank.