bastard seizes tang

Chapter 23
No matter how reluctant Concubine Yang is to let Li Ke go north, she will never try to obstruct her, let alone mention a word to Li Shimin.

Concubine Yang is the daughter of Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty in the previous dynasty. She knows the taboos of the royal family, what to say is good and what is not to say, and what to say is useful and what to say will only backfire.

Concubine Yang knew Li Ke's ambitions, and she also knew the reason why Li Ke asked himself to be a hostage. Apart from protecting the Tang Dynasty from the disaster of war, she also had other considerations. The favor of all officials.

As Li Ke said earlier, Li Ke is the third son, and he is the same age as the prince, so he will naturally be involved in the battle for the reserve position, whether he wants to or not.

And even though Turkic is a barbaric state and doesn't know etiquette, Li Ke is the prince's hostage after all. Unless Turkic made up his mind to be enemies with the Tang Dynasty, Li Ke would suffer at most, and his life should be safe.

Concubine Yang is a smart person, she understands the general situation, and she is helping him only if she knows what to do. She will never make things difficult for Li Ke.

The alliance period will be tomorrow. After the alliance, Jieli will return to the north, and Li Ke will also go north with Jieli at that time, so the day when Li Ke will leave the customs should also be tomorrow.

Concubine Yang and Li Ke gave a few instructions, then went into the inner room and packed Li Ke's luggage in person.

Not long after Li Ke left, there was an order from the soldiers guarding outside the hall that Shi Cenwen, the governor of the Prince of Shu, came to Neifang to see him.

Neifang is in the East Palace, next to the Chongwen Hall, ordinary courtiers are not allowed to enter, but because Cen Wenwen and Li Ke have the names of masters and apprentices, they can also enter and leave.

Although it wasn't long before Li Ke asked himself to be a hostage, the news had already spread to most of Chang'an's official circles, and Cen Wenwen naturally came here for this matter.

"Due to an important matter, disciple Cai was unable to explain it to Master Cen in person. I hope Master Cen will not blame you." Li Ke bowed his hands to Cen Wenwen as soon as he entered the side hall of Neifang.

Cen Wenwen stepped forward, helped Li Ke up and said: "Your Highness does not hesitate to plead for the people, even more so than Ban Chao and Zhang Qian in ancient times. Cen feels ashamed."

Li Ke's face turned red when he heard Cen Wenwen's words, and he replied: "If others don't know, it's fine. Master Cen is a wise man, and he knows the ambition of his disciple's life. Master Cen should be able to see that his disciple also has selfish intentions, so how dare he fight with his predecessors?" Ancient sages stand side by side."

Li Ke asked himself to be a hostage, although he meant to save the people from disaster, but it was still mixed with a lot of self-interest. Li Ke didn't even know how much he was for the people and how much was for his own ambition.

Cen Wenwen heard the words and replied: "Your Highness is not a saint, so how can you be too demanding. Your Highness's actions are for the benefit of protecting the country, and the reality of loving the people is enough."

Li Ke sighed: "The future of the proton is uncertain. What the student did today is like a big gamble. If you win, you will be lucky. If you lose, you will probably be buried in Mobei."

Cen Wenwen said in relief: "Your Highness can be relieved. Today's Tang Dynasty is no better than the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the Turks seem to be powerful, but in fact the various ministries in the country are different. The Turks also have scruples about the Tang Dynasty. Your Highness's safety in the Turks should be safe. Besides. Now that the world has been settled, food and grass are plentiful, soldiers are fully prepared, and His Majesty has the intention of the Northern Expedition, there must be an action within ten years, and then His Highness will return to the country."

After listening to Cen Wenwen's words, Li Ke raised his head and glanced at him, a strange look flashed in his eyes.

Now that the Tang Dynasty has not been established for a long time, it has not completely slowed down, and the Turks at this time are still the powerful wild wolves lying in the north. At this time, there are not many people who can bluntly say that the Tang Dynasty will definitely defeat the Turks in the future , not to mention that Cen Wenwen is still a civil servant.

Cen Wenwen looked at Li Ke's face, only thinking that Li Ke was puzzled by his words, so he went on to explain: "The current Turks seem to have 40 soldiers, thousands of miles across, but in fact they have internal troubles looming, and they are strong outside. In the second year of Wude, after the death of Turkic Shibi Khan, the Turkic Khan became brother and brother. The son of Shibi Khan, Tuli, and the son of Chuluo Khan, Osheshe, were dissatisfied with his uncle Jieli. In recent years, Jieli has waged wars and fought for years, and the Khitan, Tuyuhun, and Yu clans who were originally attached to him have gradually become separated, and the Turks have long since lost their former momentum. The Tang Dynasty defeated the Turks, and it will only be a matter of time before His Royal Highness is brought back."

Li Ke listened to Cen Wenwen's explanation and nodded in agreement.

Li Ke is very aware of the current situation of the Turks, and Li Ke knows that the decline of the Turks will definitely be much faster than Cen Wenwen expected.

In the next three years, the Turks will face unprecedented challenges. Snowstorms, famine, Tuli's surrender to the Tang Dynasty, and Xue Yantuo's self-supporting forces of the Turkic Jieli Khan will fall like meteors within three years, and will eventually be defeated in the Northern Expedition of the Tang Dynasty. The qualifications to compete with Datang.And this is why Li Ke considered asking himself to be a hostage.

Li Ke asked Cen Wenwen: "If there are no accidents, the disciple will go north with Shijieli tomorrow as a hostage. I hope Master Cen will enlighten me on how to deal with myself."

Li Ke was young and hadn't gone out to start a mansion yet. Cen Wenwen, the head of the palace, was also a nameless official. What's more, Cen Wenwen still had a side job. According to court regulations, Cen Wenwen could not go north with Li Ke.But it's getting late now, and the palace gate should be closed an hour earlier. Cen Wenwen made a special trip to find Li Ke at this time, so he must have something to say.

Cen Wenwen said to Li Ke: "Your Highness is going to Turkic. If you handle things properly, your life should be safe, but if you want to be safe, Your Highness must be careful about one person."

"Who?" Li Ke frowned and asked in a low voice.

Cen Wenwen replied, "Princess Yicheng."

Cen Wenwen's voice caught his ears, and Li Ke suddenly understood.

Li Ke asked solemnly: "Master Cen is worried that Princess Yicheng will deliberately deal with me in order to force Datang and Turks into sworn enemies?"

Li Ke is the prince. If Li Ke died in Turkic, the Tang Dynasty and Turkic would be in an endless situation. This is naturally what the former Princess Yicheng of the Sui Dynasty wanted to see.

Cen Wenwen nodded and said: "'The humiliation of the inchworm is to seek trust. The sting of the dragon and snake is to save oneself.' The Turkic people are so arrogant. Your Highness is going to take this as a hostage. I am afraid it will be humiliating. Your Highness must not blindly try to be brave. , but hurt yourself.”

What Cen Wenwen said was nothing more than worrying about Li Ke's youthful spirit, acting upright, and easily hurting himself. Li Ke naturally knew Cen Wenwen's intentions.

Li Ke nodded, and replied: "Xie Master Cen for your warning, Master Cen's words, disciples will keep in mind."

Seeing Li Ke's solemn expression, Cen Wenwen worried that he would be startled by his own words, so he continued: "However, Your Highness is not too worried. According to the court regulations, although I can't go north with Your Highness, I still have an old friend who recommends His Highness. Although a person is white, he is very good at vertical and horizontal, His Highness can use it to help."

Cen Wenwen has the talent of Zaifu, so it is not bad for Cen Wenwen to praise him so much. Li Ke bowed his hands and thanked: "Master Cen's caring heart, the student will remember it in his heart. After the student left, the matter of Chang'an is beyond the reach of the disciple. Teacher Lao Cen will take care of everything. This disciple has explained carefully to his mother and concubine before, and when my younger brother grows up, he will be asked to learn literature from Master Cen, and I hope Master Cen will not stop working hard."

After hearing Li Ke's words, Cen Wenwen felt moved.

Li Ke was about to go north, entrusting him like this at this time was equivalent to entrusting his wealth and life into his hands.Why did Li Ke treat Cen Wenwen as a national scholar? This is clearly regarded as a close relative and elder.

The so-called scholar dies for his confidant. Cen Wenwen has always regarded himself as a "scholar". How could he hesitate a bit when Li Ke treated him like this.

Cen Wenwen leaned over and replied: "Your Highness has an order, and Cen Wenwen is willing to die."

(End of this chapter)