First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 470

...

After Xue Wanche left, Li Shimin pondered for a long time, and ordered Wang Junkuo to be summoned. After much deliberation, Wang Junkuo was indeed the right person.

Not long after, a slender, long-bearded general arrived.

After meeting and saluting, Li Shimin said with a smile: "Jun Kuo, your beautiful beard really took a lot of thought."

Although Wang Junkuo was born as a thief, his appearance was quite mighty. When he was king in Jingxingguan Zhanshan, Taihang Mountain, he was known as the handsome green robe and the handsome man with a beautiful beard.

It's just that those who are familiar with Wang Junkuo know very well that although Wang Junkuo looks heroic on the outside, he is actually deep-minded and unscrupulous in his actions, which is very treacherous.

Wang Junkuo was lonely and poor since he was a child, and he was brought up by his uncle. During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Wang Junkuo persuaded his uncle to sell his property and gather people to join the army, but his uncle refused, so Wang Junkuo accused his aunt of having an affair with his neighbor, and instigated his uncle to kill his aunt and neighbor together. This gathering is a thief.

Later, Wang Junkuo repeatedly defeated the Sui army's encirclement and suppression, and successively defeated the governor of Hedong County Ding Rong, Hu Yalang General Song Laosheng and others. The methods used were without exception, all of which were false surrenders. A trick that has been tried and tested.

Hearing Li Shimin's words, Wang Junkuo twitched his beard and smiled, "I have nothing else to love, but this beautiful beard is my favorite."

"Oh?" Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Don't Jun Kuo love the army?"

Wang Junkuo's mind was so clear, he was pleasantly surprised when he heard the words: "I love you, what are your orders? But there is a battle coming?"

Li Shimin laughed when he saw this, and said directly: "Recently there have been many changes in the Turks, but the king of Lujiang in Youzhou doesn't know the military strategy. I intend to let you take charge of the military affairs in Youzhou to defend against the Turks. Are you willing?"

"Youzhou?" Wang Junkuo was taken aback, but he quickly realized that there was no one around, and said directly: "Your Highness, I can go to Youzhou, there are no outsiders here, and my loyalty can be learned from the sun and the moon. Let me ask, Your Highness's intention is probably not in Turkic, but in Youzhou Dudu's Mansion?"

After all, anyone with a discerning eye understands the truth of this. If there is any change in the Turks, they have always invaded Guanzhong, Taiyuan and other places. Youzhou is barren, and even if the Turks plunder, they will not gain much. Everyone knows.

Seeing that Wang Junkuo was so alert, Li Shimin felt that he had found the right person, and nodded immediately, "Since Junkuo understands, then I can rest assured, remember, Youzhou must not be chaotic."

Wang Junkuo readily agreed.

The two talked in detail for a long time, and when Wang Junkuo left, Li Shimin immediately ordered that Wang Junkuo be appointed Sima of the Governor's Mansion of Youzhou to assist in military affairs.

The left gate of the East Palace, Fengyi Gate, Gao Chong was about to go in to find Li Shimin, when he saw Wang Junkuo leaving the palace full of ambition.

"Hey, Mr. Peng, you look pretty good, your beard is even brighter."

The two are also old acquaintances, they fought side by side in Hulao Pass back then, although their character was contemptuous, but Gao Chong couldn't show it, he just crossed his hands and greeted with a smile.

"Yu Zhi ah".

Wang Junkuo is very tactful in dealing with people, and he is very enthusiastic about Gao Chong, who is young but has made great achievements, "I haven't seen you for a while, and my brother will leave Beijing in a few days. How about going to the Hero Pavilion tomorrow night for a few drinks. I called Lao Cheng and them."

Coming out of Wagang, the relationship between Wang Junkuo and Cheng Zhijie and others is also very close.

"It's rare for the beautiful bearded man to invite you, so you have to go," Gao Chong laughed.

"Okay, then it's settled like this," Wang Junkuo said with a smile, "Brother is going to the Wei Mansion for a handover, so I'll go first, see you later."

Looking at Wang Junkuo's back, Gao Chong was thoughtful, and left Beijing...handover?Could it be that Wang Junkuo is going to be released?
When he came to Cheng'en Hall, Li Shimin plunged into the mountains of memorials and wrote vigorously, without raising his head, he said: "You just wait a moment, I'll just approve these few books."

Gao Chong nodded in response, made tea on his own, and handed Zhang Anan a cup by the way. Zhang Anan looked at Li Shimin, who was working hard, and waved his hand after drinking the cup, signaling that he dared not drink any more. Chong grinned.

He and Zhang Anan have also known each other for many years. When they attacked Xue Ju back then, they were the first to attack the city. They were bold and carefree.

It's just that the root of life was injured, and after becoming a servant, he was completely transformed. From a brave warrior to a prudent and cautious servant, this is really a twist of fate.

"Why are you two winking?" Li Shimin put down his pen, looked at Gao Chong baring his teeth and couldn't help laughing and cursing.

"Your Highness, what are you doing to Brother Ananda?" Gao Chong said with a smile, "I'll just pour him a cup of tea, let's see how frightened he is."

Li Shimin was a little speechless, rubbed his brows, and said angrily: "He is strictly abiding by etiquette, unlike you, a dignified third-rank official, who has not been doing anything right all day long."

Gao Chong raised the teacup in Zhang Anan's hand and smiled, "I'm just looking at His Highness's case, to liven up the atmosphere."

"Okay, let's talk, what's the matter?" Li Shimin took the tea offered by Zhang Ananda, "If you have something to do, you can just write a playbook, why don't you make a trip?"

"Your Highness, you have enough memorabilia here, I'd better take a trip." Gao Chong said with a smile: "By the way, I can let you have a rest."

After exchanging pleasantries, Gao Chong said directly: "This morning, Dali Temple received the criminal officials sent by Cizhou Jie. They are the ex-Prince Qianniu Li Zhian who fled and the former Qi Palace guard Li Sixing. , but these two people were arrested by the prefecture and county before that, they did not turn themselves in, and they should be executed according to the law."

Now people in the world call Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji the second murderer, and the former princelings are collectively referred to as the second murderer.

Li Shimin frowned when he heard the words, "Li Zhi'an is fine, he has no merits, but Li Sixing is Taiyuan Yuancong after all, and he made great contributions in breaking the Song Dynasty."

Gao Chong nodded and said, "This is the second."

Seeing Li Shimin looking over, Gao Chong said directly: "Your Highness pardoned all the guilty officials of the East Palace and Prince Qi's Mansion, and did not hold them accountable. This is magnanimity.

If Li Zhian and Li Zhian were to be executed now, then other people might doubt the pardon order, lest it affect the credibility of the East Palace decree, after all, other people would not know the specific situation of Li Zhian and the two."

Li Shimin nodded in agreement. The credibility of the order is what Li Shimin cares most about. What he is most worried about now is that officials from all over the country will not accept him, so he is eager to invite names.

"Then pardon them," Li Shimin said decisively: "Even if you pardon them, there will be no troubles.

In addition, Yauzhi, what you said reminded me that the amnesty order is real and effective, but I am afraid that the people in the following states and counties will violate it, or use it to ask for credit and reward. I intend to send a commissioner to appease the states. What do you think? how? "

After Gao Chong heard this, he agreed very much, nodded and said in agreement: "His Highness has not long been in power, and many local officials are attached to the two evildoers. Sending envoys to appease the states can quickly stabilize people's hearts."

(End of this chapter)