First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 417 A Promise

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Qian Jiulong and others on the front line were blocked in Ningzhou, and Yang Wenqian occupied the two states of Qingning and Ningzhou to show off his might. On the contrary, the Tang army's internal strength was shaken.

It has to be said that Li Jiancheng has been the crown prince for seven years. He has never lost his morals.

Since Li Jiancheng was imprisoned, there have been one after another pleading memorials from Chang'an and other places, and Li Yuan's desk has piled up like a mountain.

Li Shimin adopted Gao Chong's suggestion, retreated as an advance, and joined the courtiers to plead for mercy. Prince.

Even so, no one thought that Yang Wengan would brazenly raise troops, which Li Yuan could not accept anyway.

To put it another way, Yang Wenqian didn't know about Li Jiancheng's smuggling of soldiers, and he didn't intend to rebel at all. He still didn't know about it until the incident happened.

If Yu Wenying was ordered to investigate, wandered around Qingzhou, and then came back and reported to Li Yuan truthfully, Li Yuan might put down his guard, Li Jiancheng would be reprimanded, and the matter would be over.

But it happened that Li Yuanji was so clever that he ordered Yu Wenying to tell Yang Wenqian the truth, and told Yang Wenqian to act according to circumstances.

Li Yuanji is really a good brother of Li Jiancheng.

Now that Yang Wengan raised his troops, he secretly got the support of the princelings and stuck to Qingzhou and Ningzhou. Seeing that this rebel who dared to rebel was still arrogant, Li Yuan couldn't bear it, so he immediately summoned Li Shimin.

"Erlang, I'll give you half a month to annihilate Thief Yang, is it possible?" Li Yuan's complexion became worse after two days of absence, and he asked in a sullen voice.

Li Shimin was startled, and pretended to be relaxed and relieved: "Aye, don't worry, Yang Wengan is a clown, Qian Yongye and the others can wipe him out in a short time. It's important that you take care of the dragon body."

Li Yuan was expressionless, and did not answer directly, but said: "I have sent an order to the capital to cut off all communication with Qingzhou."

Li Shimin bowed his head and remained silent. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the reason why Yang Wengan was so "brave" must be that some people secretly supported him.

"Yang Wengan's defeat is a matter of time, but if this matter is involved in the East Palace, it will have a worse impact if it is delayed for a long time, so I want you to go there, at most half a month, to fetch Yang Wengan's head."

Although Li Yuan was heartbroken and angry, his thoughts were still extremely clear.

Once Yang Wenqian is allowed to form a climate, those who wait and see, those who support the orthodoxy of the eldest son, must respond one after another. At that time, the scope of the war will inevitably be expanded, causing even worse consequences.

Li Shimin heard the words and had no choice but to promise, "Aye, don't worry, I will definitely wipe out this thief as soon as possible, and control its influence to a minimum."

Seeing that Li Shimin understood the main points, Li Yuan nodded, and praised with relief: "You always consider the overall situation when doing things, and this is what I admire most about you as a father."

Speaking of this, Li Yuan's face was gloomy, and he said in a cold voice: "It's not like that rebellious son. As a prince, he does things completely regardless of the overall situation and is short-sighted. It's hard to be a big responsibility."

Li Shimin's heart was beating wildly, and he bowed his head in silence.

"Erlang, come here", after a long time, Li Yuan said softly, "I kicked you and hurt you, did you let the imperial doctor see it?"

Li Shimin's heart became hot, he raised his head and said with a smile: "Aye, you are serious. My son has been strong and healthy since I was a child. I haven't been hit by you for a long time. This kick reminds me of my childhood."

As he spoke, his eyes were slightly red, "Aye, don't be angry with your elder brother, we fellow countrymen, I know his temperament very well, he absolutely has no other intentions."

This is Li Shimin's sincere words, extremely sincere, without any falsehood, because Li Jiancheng really has no intention of rebellion, Li Shimin knows this very well.

Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin fixedly, saw his sincerity, and felt the sincerity.

Li Yuan sighed, leaned back on the couch, his face was very complicated, it seemed that he was struggling and hesitating, it seemed that his anger was rekindled.

Suddenly he said: "Let's go out today. After your class teacher returns to the court, I will issue an imperial edict to make you the prince."

As soon as this remark came out, the old face of Wang Degujing, the regular attendant behind him, was full of shock, and Li Shimin in front of him staggered and couldn't stand still.

"Aye, no, the crown prince is the foundation of the country, how can it be changed?" After reacting, Li Shimin suppressed the ecstasy in his heart, and hurriedly knelt down and begged.

"You have been waiting for this day for a long time." Li Yuan waved his hand wearily, "Stop talking, go out."

"Aye..." Li Shimin panicked and hurriedly defended himself.

"Go out," Li Yuan closed his eyes and said in a deep voice.

Li Shimin had no choice but to get up, "Aye think twice".

Turning around and leaving slowly, at this moment, he only felt that his footsteps were extremely heavy, and his heart was inexplicably restless.

Suddenly, Li Yuan said: "I can't do what the former Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty did to kill his son. I'm sorry for your mother. Afterwards, I will change your eldest brother to be the king of Shu. Shu is remote, so you can rest assured."

Li Shimin paused, remembering Gao Chong's secret letter, sighed, turned around and said: "Brother has not lost his morality, the subjects respect him, and if he abolishes the establishment for no reason, he may shake the foundation of the country. The current peace of the Tang Dynasty is hard-won. Please think again, Aye. ".

After the words fell, Li Shimin bowed deeply, turned and left.

After getting out of the palace gate, Li Shimin took a deep breath, he was very dangerous, facing such a temptation, he almost lost control just now.

Now Li Shimin is very puzzled, this doubt is aimed at Gao Chong, why did Gao Chong guess right again, why did Gao Chong conclude that Li Yuan must have such an astonishing promise.

Of course Gao Chong knew, because this promise was well-documented in the history books. It can be said that it was precisely because of this promise that it directly led to the change of Xuanwumen, and gave Li Shimin a decent and reasonable excuse to rebel and rise to power.

After all, a gentleman's words are hard to follow, let alone a sage's golden words.

After Li Shimin left, Li Yuan frowned and thought for a long time before asking: "Wang De, is he telling the truth?"

Wang De, who was like a shadow, was shocked when he heard the words, bowed and replied: "This old slave doesn't know, I only know that His Royal Highness has no second thoughts."

This is the truth. Li Jiancheng has no reason to rebel. This is well known. Even though King Qin has great military achievements and great influence, at least Li Jiancheng was still firmly seated as the prince before the occurrence of private possession of soldiers.

Master and slave have been together for decades, and Wang De has never kept secrets about Li Yuan.

Li Yuan nodded slightly, his eyes were inexplicable.

With Li Shimin's order, the Prince Qin's Mansion will be mobilized quickly, and the [-] troops will be dispatched in just one day, and they will go directly to Ningzhou.

(End of this chapter)