Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

Chapter 539

By the dim candlelight, Li Shan was the first to take Qin Wutong who was saluting, "Don't salute, please call me brother Wutong."

"Courtesy cannot be discarded..."

"Brother Wu Tong was a close minister of His Majesty in the early years, and he galloped on the battlefield and made great achievements. I heard that your step is related to the Chai family in Linfen?" Li Shan said with a smile: "It counts as an elder of a certain person, why dare to accept the ceremony."

Qin Wutong was startled, and insisted on paying a half-respect before taking his seat, "Xiaguan's sister-in-law is from the Chai family in Linfen."

"It seems to be Huo Guogong's cousin?"

"Yes."

Before Li Shan left Beijing, he heard from Princess Pingyang that in the Battle of Guanzhong, Princess Pingyang led the shogunate alone, and Qin Wutong was her general. After that, Princess Pingyang moved to Jinyang, and Qin Wutongcai and Chai Shao belonged Under Li Shimin's command, the two are both in-laws and colleagues, and their relationship is quite close.

Li Shan guessed that Li Yuan's choice of Qin Wutong may not have taken into account Princess Pingyang... Does this prove Qin Wutong's political stance?
Although Qin Wutong is Li Shimin's old department, he was no longer under his command after two years of Wude, and he did not participate in the most important three battles of Luoyang, Hulao, and Luoshui... and the previous battle of Baibi was related to In the battle of Li Tang's survival, almost all the generals and troops that could be used in the pass were used, and it was not just the Qin Palace who fought.

After that, Qin Wutong returned home seriously injured, and Li Shimin rarely had contact with him, because he was too busy after all, but Li Yuan always gave gifts during the New Year to show his favor.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Li Shan chose to go straight to the point, "The Crown Prince and the King of Qin took over the heir, and it became more and more tragic. The re-establishment of the Daizhou General Manager's Mansion is also a confrontation between the East Palace and the King Qin's Mansion. Now we are trying our best to suppress it. I just hope that the military and state affairs will not be ruined."

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I haven't been to Beijing for many years." Qin Wutong raised his eyebrows thickly, "I got His Majesty's order to help guard Mayi, and I will obey His Highness and Yiyang County."

Li Shan was a little surprised by such a straightforward statement. On the one hand, this sentence showed that Qin Wutong did not and did not want to get involved in the struggle for succession, and on the other hand, it also showed his temperament. Respect to Liu Shirang.

After hesitating for a while, Li Shancai nodded and said, "I also ask Brother Wu Tong for help."

"Your Highness, please give me instructions."

"You haven't been crowned yet, let's call it Huairen." Li Shan didn't care, but he felt heartbroken when he heard the title His Highness, because he was being bullied by Li Yuan.

About the name Li Shan, Qin Wutong had heard about it as early as last year. He was seriously injured and recuperated, and he has been living in Taiyuan Mansion, not far from Daizhou... In just half a year, he has been in charge of four In the land of the state, the speed of promotion is jaw-dropping, but the military exploits made are also enough to boast.

It's just that the young one is really too young... Qin Wutong thought about these things, and listened carefully to Li Shan's explanation. After all, he had just led his troops to Mayi for only a few days.

"Cleaning the army is imperative." Li Shan said in a low voice, "This matter has been approved by His Majesty, and Yuan Junzhang has no objection. Only by disbanding the military power can we be free."

Qin Wutong heard something vaguely... Yuan Junzhang was probably involved in the struggle for the heir apparent.

"But Mayi is located in Shuozhou, bordering Yunzhou, close to the Great Wall, and not too far from Wuyuan County." Li Shan had already made up his mind, and explained: "So, to cleanse the army, don't disturb the morale of the army. Otherwise, without waiting for the Turks to make a big attack, I'm afraid it will bring disaster to Xiao Qiang."

Qin Wutong nodded in agreement, "That's right, if you are close to Turkic, you should focus on Mayi."

"But if you don't cleanse the army, the Turks will besiege the city in the future. I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold on." Li Shan got up and paced, "but if the method is a little cruel, there may be a mutiny."

Qin Wutong also worried about Li Shan when he thought about it. On the one hand, he wanted to cleanse the army and weaken Yuan Junzhang's old army, and on the other hand, he wanted to stabilize the army's morale and prevent chaos in the army. This is almost contradictory.

"The so-called military spirit can actually be divided into two." Li Shan said slowly: "One is the general, and the other is the soldier."

"You can't make an army without generals, and you can't make an army without soldiers."

"Even though the Duke of Yiyang County and Brother Wutong are stationed in Mayi, even if Yuan Junzhang's old troops are cleaned up, it is impossible to replace all the generals and schools."

"But the soldier's heart is already in hand."

Li Shan said with a sneer: "What the generals want is nothing more than power, wealth and honor. Most soldiers want nothing more than a movable type."

"Shuozhou is originally a place of bitter cold. Last year, Yuan Junzhang exhausted the wealth and people of Yunzhou. Since the end of last year, there has been a shortage of food and grass. If it hadn't been for the supply of food and grass on behalf of the state, even if Yuan Junzhang suppressed it, I am afraid that there will be mutinies from time to time."

"Handan... what Huairen said is true." Qin Wutong looked excited, "So, we only need to deal with the general?"

Li Shan nodded, and said in a low voice: "Brother Wu Tong was handpicked by His Majesty, I don't want to treat him like an outsider, I can tell you as soon as I have any plans, and I also ask Brother Wu Tong for help."

"Of course."

Li Shan stopped talking and clapped his hands. A moment later, Wang Junhao, who was guarding the door, led the gray-haired Liu Shirang in, followed by a stout middle-aged man.

"Meet the King of Handan."

"Meet the King of Handan."

"It's windy and snowy, and even if you don't see ten paces, you dare to gallop your horse into battle and defeat the Turks." Li Shan took the middle-aged man by his arms, and said with a smile, "Both Liu Gong brothers have the appearance of famous generals."

"It's just the courage of a man." Liu Shirang smiled rarely.

This middle-aged man is Liu Shirang's younger brother Liu Bao. He has been with him all year round and is his most important assistant in the army. At the end of last year, Yuan Junzhang and Liu Shirang defeated the Turks.

"Although Shuozhou is big, there are no more than three people who can be trusted." Li Shanyan asked everyone to sit down, and suddenly said with a smile: "Brother Wu Tong and the Duke of Yiyang County..."

"I've heard Liu Gong's name for a long time, but I just couldn't hide my face." Qin Wutong is from Taiyuan Mansion, so of course he knows what Li Shan means.

Liu Shirang's temperament is well-known in the whole of Hedong. In the past two or three years, he has had a lot of trouble with Xiangyi King Li Shenfu... and because of his arrogant temperament, he has offended countless people.

Liu Shirang squeezed out an embarrassed smile, but said nothing... Maybe he didn't know what to say.

Li Shan laughed, "Brother Wu Tong came to Mayi for the first time, so I asked Liu Gong to tell me a thing or two."

After Liu Shirang pondered for a while, he said solemnly: "Yuan Junzhang's subordinates are messy. He inherited the old troops of Liu Wuzhou and Song Jingang, and also captured Shuozhou, Daizhou, and Yunzhou. It's a matter."

"No one is the leader?" Qin Wutong was a little surprised.

"About Xi Duo is the leader, but there are also many vacillations in the army." Liu Shirang explained: "Xi Duo, a man from Mayi, was under Liu Wuzhou's account in the early years, and then followed Yuan Junzhang. He rarely led the army and took care of internal affairs. , Raise food and grass, and make suggestions, which are the most important things for Yuan Junzhang."

There is no doubt that this is a key figure.

(End of this chapter)