Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 673 The Wolf Smelling Blood
Li Huaiguang defecated a large amount of stool and then smeared it directly on Wei Jian's face.

It was the coldest time of the year, and in the meeting hall of the Daming Palace in Chang'an, the prime minister was furious when he saw the memorial sent by Li Huaiguang. If he hadn't been concerned about the crowds of people here, he would have wanted to smash the signing room.

Li Huaiguang said in his letter:
I have received the imperial edict and will certainly act in accordance with the military order. From now on, I will set out from Zezhou to Huaizhou (i.e. Qinyang, with its capital in Henei City), and station there, waiting for an opportunity to attack Yecheng and punish the traitor Li Guiren.

As for switching defense with An Shouzhong, that is naturally impossible.

Since the imperial court wants me to go and attack Li Guiren, how can I switch positions with An Shouzhong? Or this is also OK, you let An Shouzhong attack Li Guiren, and I will switch positions with him after the attack, it won't be a problem.

As for whether the imperial court has issued an imperial decree, there is no doubt about it. After all, the imperial decree is in my hands. If you don't believe it, you can come to Huaizhou to verify it in person.

Li Huaiguang disgusted Wei Jian so much that he also slapped the Guanzhong court in the face. The imperial court's orders must be obeyed by the people below in order to enforce the orders. If the central government does not have strong control measures, then the local vassal states will pretend to obey but disobey, and there will be many excuses.

Li Huaiguang was deliberately calling a horse a zebra. Could Wei Jian go to Huaizhou to supervise the war?
As for whether the imperial court issued an edict to attack Li Guiren, it was no longer important. It was just a fig leaf. Even if Li Huaiguang said so, he could just stand by and watch in Huaizhou and do nothing.

Simply put, Wei Jian's "exquisite" strategy was nothing in front of the powerful military force of the local vassal. Li Shiyu had been with Li Baochen for a long time and was very familiar with the ins and outs of the vassal state, knowing that it was useless to play tricks with these soldiers!

People have a knife in their hands, and they will only use it to make sense.

"I heard that Li Huaiguang wrote a very powerful memorial to Wei Xianggong."

Just as Wei Jian was sulking at the desk, Li Shiyu walked into the council hall with his hands in his sleeves and a smug smile on his face.

There is no lack of sarcasm in the words.

"This thief has become powerful, and I can't do anything to him."

Wei Jian sighed, but did not respond to the argument with Li Shiyu.

If you lose, you lose. It is shameful to make a bad move, but it is even more shameful if you refuse to admit your mistake.

"Mr. Wei is very kind-hearted. I will go to Huayin tomorrow to supervise the battle at the front. Without using force, we cannot deal with An Shouzhong.

Prime Minister Wei could probably hope that when An Shouzhong was attacked by the government troops, Li Huaiguang could take advantage of the situation and occupy territory in the name of the court.

I think you can help us a little bit.”

Li Shiyu spoke the truth.

Wei Jian nodded silently. He had to admit that this aide to Li Baochen was a wise man. Although the other party did not have any "brilliant plans", he had a clear view of the situation.

To deal with disobedient vassal states, you cannot be gentle or use tactics, you must be tough!
We must respond with force!

"In that case, I congratulate Mr. Li on his victory."

Wei Jian sighed, not interested in chatting with Li Shiyu, and walked out of the Council Hall on his own. He was a little tired and wanted to go home for the New Year.

After Wei Jian left, Li Shiyu called Li Baochen's eldest son Li Weicheng.

Li Weicheng was a kind and honest man, and he was popular in the army and could win the support of the people, but his second son, Li Weiyue, was the legitimate son. If he had not entered Guanzhong, similar situations would not have been a big problem. Without becoming emperor, the issue of succession would not have been so obvious.

But now it seems that Li Baochen's situation is not very optimistic.

Li Shiyu took Li Weicheng to a secluded residence in the Daming Palace and ordered his confidants to guard outside the door.

"Mr. Li, are we going to go to war?"

Li Weicheng asked with some doubt. Li Shiyu was not a nosy person. If it was not an urgent matter, he would not come to summon him.

"That's right. Tomorrow the Prime Minister will go to Huayin County. Marshal Li...are you still practicing Taoism?"

Li Shiyu asked with a conflicted look on his face.

"It's still there, and even ten cows can't pull it back."

Li Weicheng shook his head, he was also full of grievances. Marshal Baochen knew how to fight, but whether Li Weicheng could or not, his ability had not been tested, and no one was sure.

This was a huge blow to military morale.

"How about this, you come with me to Dongming Temple."

Li Shiyu sighed.

Li Weicheng didn't say much, he put a cloak on the other person, and the two walked to Dongming Temple. Their footprints were left on the white snow, one deep and one shallow.

As the Spring Festival approaches, there are few people on Chang'an Street. Even if there are people, they are in a hurry. Chang'an today is no longer as prosperous as it used to be.

The superficial structure is still there, the streets are still as wide, the 108 districts are still scattered across the city, and they are still magnificent.

But even a fool can see the desolation and desolation. If there are no people, what is the point of having such a big city?
"I came to Chang'an to take the imperial examinations in my early years, but I failed many times because I could not find a powerful person to support me. Every time I had to watch others pass the exams, and I can tell you how hard it was.

But now, Chang'an can't even hold the imperial examination.

Although Wei Jian wants to start the imperial examination, the people behind him do not support this. What do you think? "

Li Shiyu asked Li Weicheng a very strange question.

"Why are those people unwilling to hold the imperial examination? The Tang Dynasty has held the imperial examination for more than a hundred years. It's not something new."

Li Weicheng asked curiously.

"If you sit for a long time, you will realize that lying down is more comfortable. If you can be an official while lying down, who would be willing to stand up to do it, or even run around?"

Li Shiyu laughed loudly, but this smile was somewhat meaningful, and Li Weicheng couldn't understand it. His mind was now completely focused on sending troops, hoping that his father Li Baochen would be "more serious" this time.

Dongming Temple was not far from Daming Palace, so the two went straight in. In a quiet room, they saw Li Baochen, who was wearing a Taoist robe and holding a whisk, meditating on the bed.

He closed his eyes and muttered something to himself.

Anyway, Li Shiyu didn't understand.

It seems that Li Baochen is now no different from a real Taoist priest.

Of course, in the Tang Dynasty, at least after the Zhenguan period, the so-called "Taoists" and "female Taoist priests", "monks" and "nuns" were just an identity.

The key is to see how the individual thinks. This is just a skin, which can be replaced at any time. Even if Li Baochen wants to become a monk now, he can do it immediately and seamlessly.

"What do you want? Don't disturb my meditation."

Li Baochen opened his eyes and looked at Li Shiyu and Li Weicheng, with a hint of impatience in his tone.

"General, the imperial court wants to send troops to Luoyang to deal with An Shouzhong, but we don't have any good generals.

It is still necessary for the Marshal to lead the troops in person."

Li Shiyu crossed his arms and bowed to Li Baochen and pleaded.

"Father, you have to take care of this matter. If you can't handle these worldly affairs, you won't be able to continue your practice."

Li Weicheng made it even clearer.

If Li Baochen did not take action, then the Guanzhong expedition to Luoyang would definitely not end well. Even if someone could win, he would still get involved in the military power.

Li Baochen must still remember how he came to Guanzhong. At least it was not through practicing Taoism.

"That's fine too."

Li Baochen did not refuse, but nodded and said.

This broken bird Taoist priest is useless. In the past two years, Li Baochen has neither achieved immortality nor ascended to heaven. He even feels that life is boring because of his bland diet.

The three-year period has not yet arrived, but Marshal Baochen does not want to wait any longer.

"Father, do you agree?"

Li Weicheng asked with a look of surprise. If Li Baochen could take action, then this time the troops would have at least a 30% chance of victory.

"Well, let's deal with these first."

Li Baochen nodded. He finally figured it out. He was not cut out for cultivation. Xing Hepu's method was too slow to work.

Li Baochen still wanted to eat the "immortal pills", the kind that would make him immortal after eating a few, rather than the tepid ones like now. Xing Hepu taught Li Baochen a lot of knowledge about the Book of Changes, as well as a lot of yin and yang magic.

But Li Baochen was a wooden-headed person and could not remember much at all. He would learn when he forgot, and forget again when he learned, wasting a lot of time. However, his interest was not in this. Li Baochen had only one purpose in practicing Taoism, and that was to become an immortal!
What does it mean to become an immortal?

Li Baochen didn't care about riding on clouds, calling the wind and rain, etc. Specifically, his requirements were not "high", just immortality.

As a result, after these two years of repairs, he found that he was still the same as before!

"Marshal, a lot of things have happened in the past two years..."

Li Shiyu hesitated to speak.

"I have a rough idea. Let's talk about it after we deal with An Shouzhong."

Li Baochen nodded and walked out of the quiet room.

When they arrived at the courtyard, they saw Li Baochen's master Xing Hepu practicing swordplay. After all, they still had two years of friendship between master and apprentice. Li Baochen stepped forward and saluted Xing Hepu, saying, "Master, I am going to lead my troops out of Guanzhong and will not be back."

As if he heard Li Baochen's words, Xing Hepu stopped and put the sword back into the scabbard.

He looked at Li Baochen seriously, his Adam's apple moved, and finally nodded and said, "Have you thought about it?"

"I have been thinking about this for a long time."

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Li Baochen said woodenly.

Leaving the Taoist temple today, or "returning to secular life", seems to be accidental. In fact, Li Baochen has thought about many issues while meditating in the quiet room in the past two years.

The conclusion he came to was that he was not cut out for cultivating immortality.

"You will be in danger of bloodshed this time, so it is better for you to stay in the Taoist temple. I will ask you again, have you really thought it through?"

Xing Hepu asked again without saying any nonsense.

Li Baochen was stunned, then just nodded silently.

"Go ahead. I won't see you off."

Xing Hepu turned around and went straight into another quiet room, then closed the door.

No instructions.

There was no regret, no sadness, and even no elation. Xing Hepu felt as if he had seen a leaf fall to the ground.

Calm, natural, without any emotion or expression.

Li Shiyu and Li Weicheng were stunned as they watched from the side. They wanted to say something but felt it was unnecessary.

"Let's go."

Li Baochen sighed, threw his whisk on the ground, and walked towards the exit of Dongming Temple.

After he left, Xing Hepu came out of the quiet room and picked up the whisk on the ground.

"It's time to leave Chang'an."

He shook his head in disappointment and muttered to himself.

……

After receiving a shipload of salt from Fang Chongyong, Li Guiren did not make any clear statement, but he sent his second son to Bianzhou.

This surprised Yuan Zai, who was in charge of the mission to Yecheng.

Either refuse explicitly or surrender directly. Doing such half-hearted things, neither advancing nor retreating, is simply a way to death.

Yuan Zai was very disdainful in his heart, but he didn't say anything in front of Li Guiren.

Yuan Zai took Li Guiren's second son back to Bianzhou. Fang Chongyong did not say a word and directly gave the "second young master" a nominal official position, such as a Palace Attendant, and then arranged a residence for him in Kaifeng County.

That's it.

Everything was calm and there was no apparent disturbance. There was no incident of Li Guiren giving up his military power and directly calling Fang Chongyong "Lord".

However, those with a keen political sense have already sensed that something big is about to happen.

The unfinished city of Bianliang was being built day and night. In various workshops in Bianzhou, arrowheads, spear shafts and spearheads for crossbows, wooden frames for grain transport carts, and so on were being made.

A scene of great excitement.

When the canal freezes in winter, these things can only stay in the warehouse and cannot be transported anywhere else.

Therefore, the purpose of rushing production is self-evident.

Military intelligence from Hebei was also sent to Bianzhou one after another. Shi Siming sent his general Tian Qianzhen to lead 20,000 troops from Youzhou to Xingzhou (a criminal name), as if a hungry wolf smelled blood.

Tian Qianzhen sent another 5,000 vanguard troops to station in Handan, less than a hundred miles away from Yecheng.

If we also take into account the news that Li Huaiguang has stationed troops in Huaizhou, then Hebei has almost reached the point where the arrow is on the string and has to be fired.

With such important military intelligence, Fang Chongyong called all his staff to the Privy Council to discuss countermeasures.

The signing room of the Privy Council has floor heating, and it is like spring all year round. But the atmosphere here is very solemn, not at all warm and lively like spring.

"Isn't Shi Siming afraid that Youzhou will be taken over by his son Shi Chaoyi?"

Li Quan asked in some confusion.

In fact, this question was on everyone's mind, he just asked it out loud.

How could Shi Siming dare to do that?
Li Quan was very good at military strategy, but he could not guess the nature of people like Shi Siming.

"Shi Siming saw an opportunity, or rather, in a time of great contention, those who do not fight will die."

Fang Zhongyong, who was sitting in the main seat, waved his hand with a look of disapproval. The person sitting here was the real controller of the court in Bianzhou. As for the emperor Li Lin, he was not qualified to be present here, not even to listen in.

Shi Siming's intrusion was an accident, but it was normal to think about it, after all, Yecheng was a springboard for attacking Youzhou, and there were not many obstacles in between.

If Shi Siming can't even see this, then there's no point in his career.

Li Huaiguang is not the only one hoping to take advantage of the fire.

"Li Guiren still had illusions about the situation. He hoped to replicate the miracle of the past. However, Shi Siming was fooled once, but not necessarily the second time.

Marshal, why don't we leave Li Guiren alone first, and let Shi Siming or Li Huaiguang catch him and beat him up.

This guy became obedient after being beaten."

Yan Zhuang sneered.

His words attracted attention, and many people present nodded slightly.

"Li Guiren is not stupid, he sent his second son to Bianzhou in the hope of stabilizing us.

Leave him alone and let him suffer a little.

only……"

Fang Zhongyong paused and continued, "But if we act too late, we may lose the initiative and the situation will get out of control, and there will be no way to recover. When to intervene is the biggest problem."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence in the signing room.

Yes, everyone understands the principle, isn’t it just about striking back after being attacked?

But thinking is one thing, and actually doing it is another. Yuan Shao had suffered a lot in this regard before the Battle of Guandu. Didn't he know these principles?

Of course I know it, I just didn't do it well.

"Marshal, I heard that the generals under Shi Siming are not united. Why don't we use money to attack them?"

Yuan Zai, who was listening at the last seat, suddenly spoke up.

(End of this chapter)