At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 703
(Note: The title is Crack.)
Li Shimin returned to Qin Wangfu, and the next day he summoned the important advisers and generals under his command to meet, including: Fang Xuanling, Changsun Shunde, Zhang Gongjin, Yin Kaishan, Hou Junji, Liu Hongji, Wang Junkuo, Duan Zhixuan, Qu breakthrough.

It is said that since Li Shimin was dismissed from the military, these talents under his command also returned to sit on the bench in Prince Qin's mansion. After a few months, Li Shimin bought [-] war horses from Turkic, which is equivalent to making a new contribution. Happy.

"His Royal Highness Qin Wang, will the emperor agree to send troops to attack Li Gui in Xiliang?" Hou Junji asked impatiently, and the rest of the crowd also looked eagerly.

Li Shimin shook his head and said: "The emperor seems to be interested, but he didn't agree to this king immediately, and only let this king concentrate on preparing to marry Princess He Min in the near future."

Everyone couldn't help being disappointed when they heard the words. If Li Gui was attacked, the king of Qin could use this to regain his military power. Unfortunately, the emperor did not agree.All of you present here are subordinates of Prince Qin's Mansion, and their future and fate are tied to Li Shimin's. All of them are prosperous and all of them are hurt. Naturally, they all hope that Li Shimin can regain the military power, and even become the Ninth Five-Year Planner.

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard thoughtfully and said, "Then His Royal Highness King Qin should not get involved in military and political affairs in the near future, and just concentrate on marrying the Turkic princess, so as not to offend the emperor."

Li Shimin's heart moved, he nodded and said: "It should be like this, by the way, Mr. Fang, have you thoroughly studied the flying thunder used by the Qi army?"

In the Battle of Hanoi, the Qi army used a large number of flying thunders, which caused great damage to the Tang army. Li Shimin ordered people to take back the dumb mines he picked up on the battlefield for special research, hoping to imitate them. This matter was specially entrusted to the chief counselor Fang Xuanling, which shows how much he attaches importance to it.

Fang Xuanling nodded with a smile and said, "Basic research has revealed that the black powder in Feitianlei should be a mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur."

Li Shimin said happily: "That is to say, we can also make Feitianlei?"

Fang Xuanling nodded and said: "Yes, my subordinates have already ordered craftsmen to make a batch, but the power is much smaller than the Qi army's. After several improvements, the power has improved, but compared with the Qi army's Feitianlei, It’s still not as powerful.”

Li Shimin frowned and said: "It must be that the formula is wrong, but it doesn't matter, since we already know the ingredients, we can slowly experiment and improve it, and sooner or later we can get it out. Next time, let them try this The smell of firearms."

Changsun Shunde said calmly: "The emperor has already signed a peace treaty with Gao Changqing. All Tang troops will return to Guanzhong and will no longer step into the border of Henan. Therefore, I am afraid that there will be no conflicts with Gao Qi in the past two years."

Li Shimin sighed helplessly when he heard the words: "One step behind, step by step behind, this time Gao Changqing took the lead in capturing Luoyang, taking advantage of the opportunity, and now our Tang Kingdom can only develop in the Western Regions and Bashu in the south."

Changsun Shunde said meaningfully: "The emperor has ordered Li Xiaogong and Li Xiyu to attack Bashu in two ways. Li Xiaogong made rapid progress. Wherever our Tang army arrived, more than [-] prefectures and counties in the Bahan area have already surrendered. Li Xiyu Responsible for the management of Western Shu, the progress is also good, I believe that within the year, the land of Bashu will be included in our territory of the Tang Kingdom."

"So the only chance left to me is to fight Li Gui westward?" Li Shimin sighed.

The eldest Sun Shunde took out the wine gourd and took a sip, as a tacit consent, and said after a while: "His Royal Highness asked someone to look for his subordinates recently, and he must have looked for other people as well."

A flash of surprise flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, and he looked at the others present. Zhang Gongjin, Duan Zhixuan, Yin Kaishan and others all lowered their heads, while Hou Junji said bluntly: "His Royal Highness has also looked for his subordinates, and I hope that his subordinates can come." The Prince's Mansion served, but the subordinate declined."

Li Shimin clenched his fists slightly and released them, smiled and said: "Whether you are serving the king or the prince, you are serving the Tang Dynasty. If any of you want to work in the prince's mansion, this king will never block."

Liu Hongji hurriedly said: "My subordinates don't know what other people think, and I can't control it, but I, Liu Hongji, am loyal to King Qin and will never go to the Prince's Mansion."

Others also expressed their loyalty one after another. Li Shimin breathed a sigh of relief, and said emotionally: "I, Li Shimin, have nothing to repay you for your love, but I will not be responsible in this life."

Li Shimin is bold and righteous, magnanimous and tolerant, and has a great talent. This is the reason why everyone present is willing to work for him. Li Shimin's vigilance, from this moment on, a rift officially appeared in the relationship between the two brothers.

Some things have happened and cannot be reversed, just like a cracked wall, no matter how much cement mortar is used to smooth it, the internal cracks will always exist until the wall collapses.

At this time, Hou Junji said with a serious expression again: "Recently, there has been a rumor outside that is very unfavorable to King Qin."

Li Shimin's heart trembled slightly, and he hurriedly asked, "What rumors?"

Everyone present looked a little unnatural, and Li Shimin felt even more uneasy when he saw this, and urged: "What are the rumors?"

Only then did Hou Junji falter and say: "Rumors say that King Qin is not the emperor's own."

Li Shimin's complexion turned gloomy in an instant, and his fists were clenched tightly. This rumor is too vicious. It is likely that it was concocted by Li Yuanji, a bastard. Why did he have such a nasty brother... Wait, wait, Could it be Big Brother?

When Li Shimin thought of this, he couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat. He was in doubt. If it was Li Yuanji who made the rumor, it was probably just venting his personal anger. Moreover, he would not take a fool like Li Yuanji in his eyes. But if the mastermind behind the scenes It's the eldest brother Li Jiancheng, so the nature is different!

"Impossible, big brother can't do such a thing." Li Shimin repeatedly denied in his heart, trying to convince himself, but he couldn't help doubting.

In fact, Li Shimin has always respected his eldest brother Li Jiancheng. Since childhood, his eldest brother has not only been very friendly to him, but also given him a lot of care and care. He is a qualified elder brother. It's just that as the two grow older, the relationship has become weaker. However, Li Shimin's respect for his elder brother has not diminished. Even if he just learned that his elder brother poached his corner, he is only vigilant, not angry, and even less hostile.

But... If the big brother Li Jiancheng released this vicious rumor, or if he instigated Li Yuanji to do it, then the problem is serious, which means that the big brother Li Jiancheng has already regarded his younger brother as a potential threat, and is about to abolish him. Get rid of yourself, or even get rid of yourself.

Li Shimin's thoughts turned and he found that everyone was looking at him. He woke up suddenly, his expression returned to normal, and he smiled and said: "Who is so boring? Is this king born by my father? Doesn't the emperor not know? Is that so?" The means of sowing dissension are too clumsy."

Seeing Li Shimin's ease, everyone felt relieved, Zhang Gongjin reminded: "Although the method is clumsy, but the words are formidable, the King of Qin has to guard against it."

Fang Xuanling also said solemnly: "That's true, it's best for King Qin to go up to the emperor, and let the emperor come forward to face the audience, so as not to be taken advantage of by those who want to."

Li Shimin nodded and said: "Okay, then I will ask the emperor for an explanation, so that I can teach those young people that I, Li Shimin, are not easy to mess with."

…………

Qin Shubao took Nanyang County, but he failed to capture the ogre king Zhu Can, and let him escape to Xiangyang County (in present-day Hubei). It is said that Liang Emperor Xiao Mian took him in and named him General Longxiang.

Well, this is tantamount to giving Gao Qi eye drops, Qin Shubao reported the matter to Qi Wang Gao Bufan, Gao Bufan immediately appointed Xu Shiji as the marching commander of Jingxiang Road, led Qin Shubao, Pei Renji and other Qi generals, commanded [-] troops to crusade against Xiao milling.

Tsk tsk, [-] troops, this is undoubtedly the largest use of troops since the founding of the Qi State. Even when he went south to fight against Li Mi, Gao Bufan only led [-] troops. This time, directly using [-] troops is really unprecedented. This is clearly the rhythm of destroying Liang Guo in one fell swoop.

Of course, Qi’s troops are now well-stocked with food, and the number of troops has expanded several times. The total strength has already exceeded 300,000. If Gao Bufan is willing, it’s no problem to pull up 600,000 troops, but the financial burden is a bit heavy, and it will affect production, so according to 30: 1 ratio, it is very wise for Qi to control its military strength within 300,000.

In Xiyang County, [-] Qi troops gathered on the edge of the Dan River, but the banners covered the sky and the sun, the guns were like forest knives like the sea, and their murderous aura shot straight into the sky. As long as Xu Shiji gave an order, the army could go down the Dan River, The Han River went straight to Xiangyang.

At this moment, Gao Bufan rode the big green horse of Shen Jun, and marched side by side with Xu Shiji, the chief of the army, and came to the Danjiang River.At this time, it was the high water season in summer, and the water on the Danjiang River was surging, and the waves were turbulent, which was very shocking.

Gao Bufan frowned and said, "Shiji, is this trip sure to wipe out Xiao Xian?"

Xu Shiji said solemnly: "If you send troops now, there will be no problem in taking Xiangyang, but if you want to eliminate Xiao Xian, the subordinates are not sure."

Gao Bufan's eyes flashed, and he asked, "How do you say it?"

Xu Shiji said bluntly: "The water systems in Jingxiang and Yuzhang are well developed and there are many rivers and lakes. The navy under Xiao Xian's command is very powerful, occupying dangerous positions in various waterways. If we don't have the assistance of the navy, it will be difficult to completely eliminate him. .”

Gao Bufan's heart moved, and he asked: "If there are enough warships, how long will it take to train a navy?"

"It will take half a year at the earliest!" Xu Shiji said truthfully.

Gao Bufan nodded and said: "Okay, the Tang army's warships captured on the Luoshui last time had thousands of bows. Shiji captured Xiangyang first, and then the king will send the warships here. We will train the warships on the Han River in Xiangyang." Master, when everything is ready, we will wipe out Xiao Xian in one fell swoop next year."

Xu Shiji nodded and said, "That's not a problem, but the Tang army is currently attacking Bashu. Bashu is located in the upper reaches of the Han River and the Yangtze River. Once the Tang army completely controls Bashu, we will be very passive in the downstream."

(End of this chapter)