Hearing Li Zhi's question, Li Min did not answer in a hurry, but made a waiting gesture to him. Then he turned to the proprietress and asked: "Proprietress, I heard that your store is a time-honored brand. I wonder how many years it¡¯s been open?¡±
The proprietress who was cutting beef and mutton heard Li Min's question and replied without raising her head: "Actually, it's not really a time-honored brand. It started with my great-grandfather, but at that time, my great-grandfather His old man set up a stall in Luoyang. Later, in our grandfather's generation, the family moved to Chang'an. At that time, it was still the Sui Dynasty, and Chang'an was also called Daxing. My grandfather relied on my great-grandfather's savings to start the business. Such a store has been passed down to us and my wife, and it really only counts three generations, which adds up to less than a hundred years.¡±
After hearing what the landlady said, Li Min smiled and said: "The landlady is too harsh. The city of Chang'an is less than a hundred years old. If we talk about the shops in the city, I'm afraid none of them can be as old as your shop. So, It is considered a time-honored brand in Chang'an City, and the current situation of Datang is so good. When your sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons inherit this family business, they will definitely become the leading century-old store in Chang'an!"
Hearing Li Min's praise, the proprietress was also beaming with joy, especially when she thought that the reputation of her store had already been established. If the current situation could be maintained, then in a few decades, her store would really become a It¡¯s a century-old shop, and when the time comes, relying on this brand, as long as the craftsmanship of the descendants is not too bad, it will be enough for them to have enough food and clothing.
Li Zhi next to him heard Sixth Brother and the proprietress discussing some issues about a century-old store, but he was confused and couldn't figure out what Li Min's move meant?
But just when Li Zhi was confused. Li Min suddenly turned to him and sighed: "Ninth brother, a small shop still wants to inherit it for a hundred years. And descendants of Fuze, how long do you think we can inherit our country?"
Although Li Min asked in a soft voice. But when Li Zhi heard it, it was like a thunderbolt, and he couldn't even turn his mind around for a while. This is not because Li Zhi reacted slowly. After all, no one expected that Li Min was chatting with a market woman about the issue of a century-old store, and now he suddenly jumped to the inheritance of the two countries. This kind of jump in thinking is really too big. , anyone else would not be able to turn the corner.
After a while, Li Zhi finally woke up from his brain freeze. Then he looked up at the boss lady who was still busy, and then said in a low voice: "Brother Six, now our Tang Dynasty occupies East Asia and Central Asia, and then develops to the extremely cold places in the north. Da Qi occupies the Pacific coast, and also marches into the Americas. , Seventh Brother and Eighth Brother occupy Tianzhu and are eyeing the African continent, not to mention Third Brother. The Mediterranean Empire also has the tendency to annex Europe. It can be said that the entire world has been carved up by us. As long as we brothers support each other, we will naturally be able to survive for generations to come. , the inheritance continues!¡±
Hearing what Li Zhi said. Li Min stared into his eyes with a smile and didn't speak for a long time. Li Zhi, on the other hand, was staring at him with hair all over his body, and felt a little weak in his heart. Because his answer to Li Min just now was not what he really thought, it could even be said to be a bit perfunctory.
Just when Li Zhi felt that he could not help but take the initiative to apologize under Li Min's gaze. Li Min suddenly said: "Ninth Brother, you have indeed grown up a lot than before. But Sixth Brother came all the way to Chang'an not because he wanted to hear your perfunctory words, but because he wanted to hear what you said from the bottom of his heart!"
Hearing Brother Six point out that he was lying, Li Zhi was a little embarrassed. In addition, he finally guessed a bit of Li Min's purpose, so he thought about it for a moment and finally said frankly: "Brother Six, the whole world has already Divided by our four empires, although there are still countries such as Dashi and Persia that have not been destroyed, they are either dependent on us or lingering in the cracks between our empires. Therefore, there is almost no power outside our four empires. Subvert our rule!"
When Li Zhi said this, he raised his head and glanced at the proprietress behind the counter. When he found that she was still busy and didn't pay attention to them, he continued: "But as the saying goes, Xiao Qiang is the cause of trouble. Although there is no threat other than our brothers, it is also true." In this way, the competition between our four empires has become increasingly fierce, and this competition will inevitably produce conflicts. For example, myna and I had a quarrel last time because of this. Sometimes I am also worried that if this happens If the accumulated conflicts suddenly burst out, the consequences would be disastrous!"
Hearing that Li Zhi finally confided in him, Li Min also smiled. He took out his wallet from his arms and paid off the bill. Then he said to Li Zhi: "Let's go to Qujiang Pool for a walk." Turn, there are some words that I have been hiding in my heart for ten years, and now it¡¯s time to talk to you!¡±
"Ten years!" Li Zhi was shocked. Ten years ago was also the time when their father Li Shimin passed away. That means that Sixth Brother should have expected it at that time.In the current situation, I just don't know whether he, who has always been wise, can resolve the conflicts between the four empires?
"Qujiang Drinking" in Qujiang Pool is one of the eight scenic spots in Chang'an, and the scenery beside the pool is beautiful. Especially in spring and autumn every year, a large number of literati and even ordinary people gather here to visit. However, it is already the twelfth lunar month, and the water in the pool has already frozen, and the green trees beside the pool have turned into dead trees. There is no scenery to see at all. Therefore, when Li Min and Li Zhi came to the Qujiang Pool, there was not even a tourist around. .
Li Min and Li Zhi came to a pavilion that was sheltered from the wind. The guards around them immediately brought a small stove, as well as a kettle and tea sets. After the two sat down, the water boiled quickly. Li Zhi stood up and made tea. Then he poured tea for Li Min and himself.
Li Min took a sip of tea and then said, "Ninth brother, do you still remember what your father said when he passed away?"
When Li Zhi heard Li Min mention this, he sighed and said, "Father, let us remember that no matter what happens, we will always be brothers!"
"That's right!" Li Min said solemnly at this time, "Father has long expected the development of the world structure, and knows that in this world, the only thing that can threaten our four empires is ourselves, so he does not He hoped to see the day when our brothers would kill each other, so before he died, he entrusted me with the task of coordinating and resolving the conflicts between the four countries, but my father was wrong about this!"
"Wrong?" Li Zhi was a little surprised. He didn't know what Li Min's words meant.
Li Min took a sip of tea again, then gently put down the cup and said, "Father was indeed wrong. He saw that there would definitely be conflicts between the four empires, but he only thought of letting me mediate, but he forgot , I also represent one of the four empires. I may be able to mediate once or twice, but if the times are too many, I will inevitably be suspected by a few of you. In the end, I may not only fail to mediate the conflicts between you, but even myself. They may all fall into it, which is why I have watched frequent conflicts between countries in the past few years, but except for the one between you and my eighth brother, I rarely paid attention to them!"
After hearing this, Li Zhi pondered for a moment, then sighed and said: "I see, with your temperament, Brother Six, how could you have allowed so many conflicts between us over the years without trying to find a solution? No. Come to think of it, you have your own difficulties!"
Li Zhi has been the emperor for ten years, and he is no longer the young boy he was before. Moreover, he also knows very clearly that if the conflicts between the four empires are allowed to accumulate like this, they can only be resolved by war. Of course, this war may come very late, at least it will not break out during the lifetimes of these brothers, but what about fifty years later, one hundred years later, or two hundred years later? No one can be sure that their descendants will still take into account the family affection between each other, and once a war breaks out, no matter who loses or wins, it will not be a good thing!
At this time, Li Min smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Ninth brother, do you really think of me as a god? There are some things that I can think of ways to solve, but there are some things that cannot be solved at all, such as the relationship between our four empires. Some contradictions may not seem like big problems and can be solved easily, but they are only treating the symptoms and not the root cause. If you want to completely solve the problems of the four empires, you must find out the root causes so that they can be solved once and for all."
"The fundamental reason?" Li Zhi seemed to be very interested when he heard this. He also put down the teacup in his hand and asked, "Brother Yiliu, in your opinion, the fundamental problem is why there are so many contradictions in our four empires. Where is it?"
Li Min knew that Li Zhi would ask this, so he didn't seem surprised. However, he did not answer Li Zhi directly, but asked: "Ninth brother, don't ask me in a hurry. I really want to know now." , what do you think of this fundamental reason?¡±
Li Zhi used to only think about how to coordinate the relations between several countries, but he never thought about the root cause of the conflicts between the countries. Therefore, after hearing Li Min's rhetorical question, he was stunned for a while and began to think quickly in his mind. But after a long time, Li Zhi raised his head, showed a helpless smile to Li Min and said: "Brother Six, you really stumped me. I really can't think of the root cause of the conflicts between our four countries, and it's getting worse and worse." The more I think about it, the more I think it is almost impossible to completely eliminate the conflicts between the four countries, unless the four countries are merged into one country!"
As soon as Li Zhi finished speaking, he heard Li Min's hearty laughter. Then Li Min's expression changed and he said seriously: "Why not? You have already thought of the answer. If you want to thoroughly There is only one way to resolve the conflicts between the four empires, and that is to merge the four kingdoms into one, which is why I came to you!"
After hearing this, Li Zhi stood up from the stool in fright, then stared at Li Min with a horrified face, his lips trembled a little and said: "SixSixth brother"?Are you crazy? How can this be? "(To be continued)