Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

Chapter 1180 Situation

No need to ask, Pei Shiju knew who was coming and could even guess who it was. When he walked into the main room, what he unexpectedly saw was Prince Zhongyun Wang Gui and Prince Zuowei leading Wei Ting. .

"Pei Gong."

"My condolences to Mr. Pei."

The former sentence is Wei Ting, and the latter sentence is Wang Gui.

The so-called mourning refers to Pei Xuanqian, who was beheaded and joined the army in the records office of the Fangzhou governor's office. Because of Pei Ji and Pei Shiju, Wenxi, the Pei family is now headed by the Xijuanfang, and there are no outstanding people in the other families on the one hand, and on the other hand They also died in the turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty. The most typical ones were Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan, father and son of the stable.

This directly led to a large number of Xijuan brothers being able to become officials. There were outstanding ones among them, but most of them just took the name of Wenxi Pei family. Pei Xuanqian was one of them.

Because he was the nephew of the two prime ministers, Pei Ji and Pei Shiju, Pei Longqian was able to serve as the Lushi Minister of Military Affairs. This position had considerable local authority in the early Tang Dynasty.

But in the past four or five years, Pei Xuanyan was first poisoned, then Pei Xuanji and Pei Longqian were killed in Huating, and now Pei Xuanqian was executed. In other words, Wenxi Pei's West Household House now has only two people, Pei Ji and Pei Shiju, supporting the facade. Outside, there is basically no one left.

Oh, there is a clerk in Tiance Mansion, Pei Huaiyi, but among the officials in Tiance Mansion, he is the one with the lowest qualifications, the least credit, and the lowest rank.

Pei Shiju was not concerned about Pei Xuanqian's death. He only mentioned a few words and asked about the details of the Renzhi Palace incident... Although it is now known that King Qi and Yang Wenqian were responsible for the rebellion, the specific circumstances and details are still not clear.

Wang Gui narrated slowly, and Wei Ting on the side added from time to time. Pei Shiju's white eyebrows trembled slightly, and he occasionally asked a few questions.

After listening, Pei Shiju's first question was, "How lucky was it that Li Huairen, the heir to the throne of Wei, arrived just when Cuiwei Palace was about to be breached?"

"Yes." Wang Gui nodded and said: "On the way to Renzhi Palace with the prince, I asked the county officials. Li Huairen led his guards to gallop. After crossing Juyuan Bridge, he met Wei Yunqi, the general manager of Ningzhou, and accelerated the rescue of Renzhi Palace. "

Wei Ting looked as usual, thinking that because of Pei Xuanji's death, Huairen had offended Pei Shiju to death, "Li Huairen sent his personal guards to Renzhi Palace on July [-]th. On the way, he was intercepted by the Qi Palace Guards at Juyuan Bridge. Yu Wenbao intercepted and killed her, but her bodyguards escaped and fled back, so Huairen guessed that there was something going on in Renzhi Palace, so he first asked Princess Pingyang to take charge of Chang'an, and he led his bodyguards to Renzhi Palace."

Pei Shiju glanced at the expressions of the two people opposite him, and thought to himself that it was no wonder that the prince could not defeat the King of Qin. If the king is not kept secret, the ministers will lose themselves. If things are not kept secret, it will be harmed. He does not understand such a simple truth!
When His Majesty set out for Renzhi Palace a few months ago, the Crown Prince promised to deal with Li Huairen himself one day. About this... the Crown Prince apparently informed Wang Gui, Wei Ting, and perhaps Wei Zheng.

Therefore, Wang Gui and Wei Ting were fully prepared for the first question they asked.

But Pei Shiju was very sure that Li Huairen's arrival at Renzhi Palace was planned by him and was by no means an impromptu move.

How could it be so coincidental!
In the battle at Guji Town that year, Li Huairen survived a desperate situation. In the battle at Tiantai Mountain last year, Li Huairen arrived before Liang Jun broke the formation. It is impossible for him to be so lucky every time.

And although Wei Ting and Wang Gui spoke cryptically and were not clear about the details, Feng Lun's death and Feng Lun's being escorted from Zhongshu Province to Renzhi Palace on the same day proved that Feng Lun must have colluded with King Qi.

Pei Shiju thought that during the discussion at the beginning of the year, Li Shan wanted to transfer Yang Wenqian to be the general manager of Longzhou, but Feng Lun refused... Obviously, the Wei Siwang knew the inside story, or at least guessed something.

By understanding the incident at Renzhi Palace, Pei Shiju quickly clarified Li Shan's thinking. It was simply that Shen Sheng died inside and Chong'er was safe outside. At the critical moment, he led a strong battle force and many generals' personal guards rushed to Renzhi Palace. relief.

But there was one thing that Pei Shiju didn't figure out.

Feng Lun, King Qi, and Yang Wenqian could not have rebelled on a random date. There was more than a month between Li Yuan's summer vacation in Chang'an and Yang Wenqian's rebellion. How did Li Shan determine the date?

Pei Shiju would never believe the nonsense that Li Shan sent his personal guards to be intercepted and killed, and then used them as personal guards.

Did Li Shan place people around King Qi?

If this is the case, then it must be Li Shan's own hand, not King Qin's.

Pei Shiju felt a headache, which was caused by the current situation. His Majesty's attitude of hating the prince was no longer concealed. If there were no accidents, the prince should be deposed this year.

Pei Shiju was even more troubled by the young man's handiwork. It seemed that the other party had endless trump cards that he couldn't see clearly.

"Mr. Pei?" Wang Gui asked tentatively.

"How is the prince?" Pei Shiju seemed to want to confirm the prince's condition first.

"I seemed to be discouraged in the past few days, but I have also been inspired in these days." Wei Ting said in a low voice: "In the current situation, we can only give it a try."

Regardless of whether he is discouraged or not, I have a way to make Li Jiancheng give it a fight... Pei Shiju sneered in his heart, but he said: "The death of the former Sui Prince Yang Yong is a lesson for others. The only way to give it a try is to give it a try."

Wei Ting's eyes flickered. Among the three people present, one was the Taiyuan Wang family, one was the Jingzhao Wei family, and the other was the Wenxi Pei family. They were all from well-known families in the country, so they didn't know the mystery behind it.

Just like before the Battle of Chibi during the Three Kingdoms period, Lu Su persuaded Sun Quan, "Su can welcome Cao Er, just like a general, but you can't."

"Why do you say that? Now Su welcomes Cao. Cao should pay Su to the township party and appreciate his reputation. He will not lose his job under Cao."

The centuries-long clan system from the Wei and Jin Dynasties to the present has meant that children of aristocratic families rarely face direct life threats in political struggles, even if they are involved in such disputes.

The bloodshed in the Renzhi Palace incident was actually not due to King Qi, Feng Lun, and Yang Wenqian attacking Renzhi Palace, but to conspiracy.

The conspiracy against Li Yuan, the emperor, made Li Yuan raise the butcher's knife.

As long as the target is not aimed at the emperor Li Yuan, but only at the King of Qin, then he has not left the circle of seizing the direct descendants, and there is no treason.

In other words, if Yang Wenqian had killed Renzhi Palace that day and Li Yuan was not there... No matter who wins or loses, Li Yuan's subsequent treatment will not be so cruel.

Therefore, even if they fail, Wang Gui and Wei Ting may not be exiled to Lingnan, let alone beheaded. At most, they will only be dismissed from office.

All three of them knew this truth, and the prince Li Jiancheng also knew it very well... But he had to make a fortune. If he didn't fight to the death, in all dynasties, was there any former prince who was deposed but could die a good life?
Isn’t the example of former Sui Yangyong’s demise clear enough?
Pei Shiju sneered in his heart, fight to the death, fight to the death, do you think it will still be the same as before?

Your Majesty and the Prince were very close back then, but now they look at each other with disgust. Your Majesty has long stood on the same line with the King of Qin, fighting to the death... The opponent is not only the King of Qin, but also Your Majesty!

If things fail, none of you will be able to escape!
But Pei Shiju himself didn't care. He heard that Pei's name was still there. Do Li Yuan and Li Shimin still dare to order their clan to be executed?
As for myself, I am already in my twilight years...

After a while, Pei Shiju said softly: "Actually, the situation is not yet desperate. Your Majesty used the collusion between King Qi and Yang Wenqian to conspire against the Renzhi Palace incident, which shows that Your Majesty will not change the throne immediately." Wang Gui nodded slightly, and he also saw this. To be clear, "But Your Majesty is afraid that his mind is hard to change."

"I'm afraid it's hopeless to change your mind." Pei Shiju nodded in agreement, "But King Qi was deposed as a commoner, and the oldest of the other princes is only eight years old."

These words are naked enough. As long as the King of Qin is killed, Your Majesty will only have an adult prince... No matter how much Li Yuan despises the eldest son, he has to let Li Jiancheng continue to sit in the position of prince until ten or eight years later. Then select outstanding ones from among the adult princes to replace them.

But such a long time is enough for Li Jiancheng to do a lot of things.

What's more, Li Yuan was injured in the battle at Renshou Palace last year, and Renzhi Palace was frightened this year. He is now sixty-one years old, and it is hard to say whether he can live another ten years.

This strategy is the simplest and most effective. Li Jiancheng, Wei Ting, and Wang Gui have naturally thought of it, but it is also the most difficult way.

Wei Ting sighed: "His Majesty arrived in the imperial city yesterday. King Qin couldn't wait for the next day and immediately moved the whole family to Tiance Mansion in Jinchengfang to stay temporarily."

What Wei Ting meant was, if he was on guard, how could he kill Li Shimin?
"No rush, no rush." ​​Pei Shiju said softly: "Your Majesty will not be able to store it easily in a short time. There is still time."

"Sending soldiers to assassinate?" Wei Ting's eyes flickered, "The story of Emperor Wenxiang of the Northern Qi Dynasty may be emulated."

When Gao Cheng, the founder of the Northern Qi Dynasty, was about to usurp the throne, he was assassinated by his slaves. This was the closest assassination incident to the Tang Dynasty... The assassin was Lan Jing, the son of Nan Liang Yong General Lan Qin, who stabbed him with a knife while delivering meals. Gao Cheng.

It's not that Li Jiancheng can't find similar manpower. Of course, the chance of success is also very low... However, this is the most cost-effective method.

"Assassination of dead men..." Pei Shiju stroked his beard and thought. In fact, the old man ruled out this strategy at the first time. He had never thought of this possibility.

Even if Li Shimin still lives in Chengqian Hall, not far from the East Palace, Pei Shiju is unwilling to do this. Unless he can completely catch them all, there will be endless troubles.

Before, Wei Zheng urged the prince to kill the King of Qin first, but Pei Shiju was the one who stood in the way.

The reason is also very simple. Given the current situation, what can we do if we kill King Qin?
Li Shimin has two legitimate sons. The generals and counselors of Tiance Mansion have a strong centripetal force. They will not accept the fate of being manipulated by the East Palace, and they will not even obey Li Yuan's instructions.

The most likely possibility is that the generals of the Tiance Mansion will support Li Shimin's eldest son to ascend the throne, or establish him as the emperor's grandson, or ask him to grant the land of Luoyang. Needless to say, the weight of Li Huairen, the heir to Wei, who has a very high prestige in the military, will come forward when the time comes. To express his position... Li Yuan had to think carefully.

You must know that Zhang Zhongjian has now served as the deputy marching commander of the Lingzhou Army, and the position of commander is vacant. Li Shanyi married Jinlan's brother Zhang Shigui as the commander-in-chief of Yuanzhou. The Lingzhou Army will be able to march to Chang'an within five days.

In that case, it would be hard to predict the power of the Tang Dynasty. There might even be a bloodbath in Chang'an... It doesn't matter to Pei Shiju, but in this case, not only will his goal not be achieved at all, but it will probably be the other way around. Li Shan can easily solve himself.

Sending dead men to assassinate him would be impossible unless Li Shimin, his sons, and Li Shan could all be killed at the same time...

Neither Tiance Mansion nor Sun Moon Lake is easy to capture.

Wei Ting sighed: "If it were another way, His Royal Highness would have almost no manpower available. How can we expect Feng Li to be alone?"

"It's a pity that Xue Wanche was transferred to Daizhou."

Pei Shiju thought about it and guessed that it was Li Shan's handiwork.

"Mr. Pei?"

Pei Shiju came back to his senses and said softly: "First, the prince must not act rashly. Now that the officials of the Cefu are entering the court one after another, there is no need to stop him. The prince needs to retreat."

Wang Gui nodded in agreement, "It should be so."

"Secondly, the prince should try to win over Luo Yi, the king of Yan County." Pei Shiju explained: "It is too difficult to assassinate a dead man, and Luo Yi does not get along with the King of Qin. If the King of Qin can take over the East Palace in the future, there is no way he can accept Luo Yi."

"The Tianjie Army is currently stationed in Hezhou. They are all elites. They can be selected one after another to go to Beijing and move when the time comes."

Wang Gui hesitated and said: "Attack Tiance Mansion directly... Although King Qin does not have military power, his personal guards are all sharp men in the Xuanjia soldiers, so it will be difficult to attack."

Wei Ting whispered: "Can Changlin Army be used?"

Pei Shiju glanced at Wei Ting admiringly. This guy was quite discerning, "Your Majesty will not immediately withdraw the Changlin Army in case something happens in the East Palace. At that time, you can enter the capital from Fanglin Gate and go straight to Tiance Mansion. The distance is not far." .”

Wang Gui thought about it in his mind. Although the success was not great, there was no other way. He began to carefully discuss the details, the deployment of troops, etc. with Pei Shiju.

Pei Shiju seems serious, but in fact he is casual. In fact, the biggest purpose of the Changlin Army is not to enter Chang'an from Fanglin Gate to attack Tiance Mansion, but to enter Taiji Palace from Xuanwu Gate... If I remember correctly, the guard of Xuanwu Gate is exactly Li Gaoqian's old department.

Who doesn't know that King Qin's personal guards are capable of fighting, so only ghosts would directly attack Tiance Mansion!

Li Yuan asked Li Shimin to move out of the palace because he felt that as long as the King of Qin was still there, his safety would be guaranteed, even if the prince might rebel... So Pei Shiju needed to find a suitable opportunity to raise troops and at the same time control Li Yuan and Li Shimin. .

Pei Shiju doesn't think there will be no such opportunity. Even if there is no such opportunity, he must create it.

After discussing a rough outline, Wang Gui sighed: "We still need to consider Princess Pingyang."

Wei Ting added: "There is also Li Huairen, the successor king of Wei."

Before Pei Shiju had time to speak, deliberately aggravated footsteps sounded outside the door, and a servant cautiously walked over and whispered: "Alang, King Wei Si has sent you a message."

A moment later, at the gate of Pei Mansion, Li Shan smiled bitterly at Wei Ting and Wang Gui who were about to leave. The latter two were also speechless.

Wei Zheng reminded him, and Wang Gui and Wei Ting also reminded him that Pei Shiju has no good intentions towards you... So Li Shan came here specifically to ease the relationship, or to explain the death of Pei Xuanji last year, right?

Well, this is Wang Gui and Wei Ting's idea.

(End of this chapter)