The best idlers of the Tang Dynasty

Li Chengqian and Du Rui lived in the barracks for ten days. According to Du Rui's suggestion, Li Chengqian divided the 1000 people into three battalions, each with 300 people, and the remaining 300 people were Li Chengqian's personal soldiers. The captain is that Qiu Zhilei. When Li Chengqian is not around, he is the captain of the army. The captain of the first battalion is Qin Yong, the captain of the second battalion is Luo Tong, and the captain of the third battalion is Gao Zhenxing.

Originally, Li Chengqian planned to promote Princess Changle's son-in-law, eldest son Chong, to be a school lieutenant, but Du Rui dissuaded him. Li Chengqian obeyed Du Rui's advice and didn't ask any more questions.

The chief officers of each battalion have been determined, and the training outline has been promulgated. Under Taizong's edict, Li Chengqian had no choice but to take Du Rui and Henglian to leave the barracks for the time being.

When they arrived in Chang'an, Du Rui bid farewell to Li Chengqian and went home. Li Chengqian first went to Chengqing Hall to greet Taizong. What kind of strong army has been trained, just a few words of encouragement, and then Li Chengqian withdrew.

As soon as Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, he learned that his subordinates had finally figured out the truth about Duan Gui's arrest for selling horses, and that Li Ke was behind it.When Yu Zhining reported the matter to Li Chengqian, the prince's face was livid with anger, and he said angrily: "Let me tell you, Wei Zheng never only asked about military affairs. Someone went out to sell military horses. The Flying Tiger General didn’t even know, so why did he ask him to investigate! It turned out that the youngest ordered someone to report the letter.”

Zhang Xuansu said from the side: "From the recent incidents, it can be seen that the two of them have colluded with each other, and they are working together. Your Highness will have a sad life in the future. We must guard against the King of Shu among the princes. It is not easy for you to be on guard against this critical minister among the courtiers!"

Li Chengqian also nodded and said: "Gu must be careful of these two guys in the future."

While talking, he was thinking in his heart that if Du Rui became an official now, he wouldn't have to worry so much. As long as Du Rui could keep by his side and remind him from time to time, he wouldn't be afraid of any open or dark arrows.

Zhang Xuansu didn't know what Li Chengqian was thinking, but he knew that the East Palace was a bloody place, and he couldn't just be careful.From Li Ke's usual demeanor, he has already seen that the third prince has great ambitions. This reminded him of the fate of Li Jiancheng being overthrown by his younger brother. For a solid long-term solution.

The first thing Zhang Xuansu thought of was the prince's marriage. He stroked his beard and said to Li Chengqian: "Your Highness! I think it is really inappropriate to delay the marriage between you and Hou Junji's daughter. Although the emperor has made a decree, the six rituals have not yet been completed. After all, it’s not right, so it’s better to get married quickly. With that dowry, hmph, it’s not so easy for the King of Shu to shake the big tree of your East Palace.”

Li Chengqian said a little strangely: "Who doesn't know that the Hou family is poor, what kind of dowry can she have?"

Zhang Xuansu dialed him and said: "Don't you see the momentum of Hou Junji? Hou Junji is now in charge of half of the imperial army. In the Tang Dynasty, what woman can bring a more valuable dowry than this!"

Only then did Li Chengqian understand Zhang Xuansu's meaning. He had also met Hou Junji's daughter Haitang twice, and he was not very resistant to the marriage arranged for him by Taizong and Empress Changsun. If Tianxian's wife received such help again, he naturally had no reason to object, so he agreed to Zhang Xuansu's suggestion.

Li Chengqian himself nodded, and Zhang Xuansu began to talk up and down. Empress Changsun wished to marry her daughter-in-law back one day soon, so she used his words to discuss with Taizong.

The friendship between Taizong and Hou Junji's family was so deep, so naturally they would not push back, and the matter soon took shape, and within a few days, an imperial decree came down, allowing Li Chengqian and Hou Haitang to choose a date to get married.

On a good day, Zhang Xuansu brought a couple of horse-drawn dowry gifts, and led a group of drummers to the gate of Duke Luguo's mansion with gongs and drums. Hou Junji had already received the imperial edict, and he was also happy in his heart, so he led him into the living room happily .

After securing the big matchmaker, Zhang Xuansu couldn't stop congratulating Hou Junji, and Hou Junji also thanked Zhang Xuansu a thousand times. He ordered people to put down the matchmaker wine and invite the Tai Tuo to the table.Zhang Xuansu was so happy that he couldn't help drinking a few more glasses. After drinking for three rounds, his face was a little drunk, and he made a joke of Hou Junji: "When the emperor asked me to protect this big matchmaker, I was 1 yuan. I don’t like it. The emperor asked me, you old guy, why are you so pushy when you are a matchmaker? Guess what I told the emperor?”

Knowing that he was joking, Hou Junji deliberately responded with a straight face: "It's not because I look down on Hou Junji."

Zhang Xuansu said seriously: "Where is it, I told the emperor at the time that the old minister was afraid that he would not be able to have a glass of wine in the Hou's mansion."

Hou Junji laughed heartily for a while, and said: "No matter how poor I am, Hou Junji, I'm just such a girl. I have to treat you to the matchmaker wine. I can see that Master Zhang is happy today, so you open your mouth and drink it. Although the wine is not good , but it must be enough.”

After Zhang Xuansu had a drink, he said to Hou Junji: "Junji, you have toasted me so many times, I should also toast you. Come, let me toast you for the billions of people in Datang."

Zhang Xuansu's last sentence was very serious, Hou Junji's face changed when he heard it, he put down his wine glass and said, "Master Zhang, what do you mean by that?"

Zhang Xuansu said seriously: "Because you accepted this marriage, you have provoked a heavy burden for the stability of the Tang Dynasty. The prince is kind by nature, and there are always people in the court who are eager to move and covet the East Palace. He has someone like you Father-in-law, those who are ambitious should naturally weigh it up, right?"

Hou Junji's expression changed, he looked at Zhang Xuansu and said, "You mean Shu~~~~~~"

Hou Junji didn't finish his words, Zhang Xuansu's words made him tremble with fear, he looked at Zhang Xuansu and said: "I also heard about these things when I was in Xiangyang, and now I see it more and more clearly."

Zhang Xuansu moved his face closer and said: "You will soon be the prince's father-in-law, and I am the prince's master, so there is no need to hide these words from you."

Hou Junji also said with a solemn expression: "Master Zhang, I think the king of Shu is a big kid with many tricks, which is not inferior to his grandfather Yangdi. Once his wings are full, there will be no one in the court who can suppress him again." gone."

Zhang Xuansu nodded and said: "You are a smart person, if you wait until the day when the King of Shu flies up, your son-in-law will not be guaranteed to end up with his uncle Li Jiancheng."

At dusk, Li Chengqian arrived at Du Rui's mansion, and he was annoyed as soon as he entered the door. Du Rui was tired of writing and was pouring himself a drink, with only Daiyu waiting beside him.

Seeing Du Rui, he smiled and said, "What's wrong, Your Highness?"

Li Chengqian told the truth about Li Ke's harming him. He came here this time just to ask for attention and how to deal with it. Li Ke is his younger brother after all, and he didn't want to tear his face and make Taizong sad.

Du Rui heard this, and said with a smile: "Why, Your Highness is sad because of this matter? This jar of wine is a good wine that my younger brother has hidden for a long time. Come, my younger brother will have a good drink with His Highness."

Seeing Du Rui's nonchalant expression, Li Chengqian also sat down and said, "Chengming, tell me, how should I deal with it!?"

Du Rui smiled and said, "Isn't Mr. Zhang already making arrangements for His Highness?"

Li Chengqian saw that Du Rui's expression was wrong, and hurriedly said: "Chengming, you think it's wrong for me to be married to the Houfu!?"

Du Rui didn't speak, but picked up the wine cup and poured wine into the glass. The wine overflowed over the edge of the glass, but he still didn't stop.

Li Chengqian saw it and shouted: "It's full!"

Du Rui asked without raising his head, "What happens when it's full?"

Li Chengqian replied: "It will overflow when it is full."

Du Rui put down the jug, picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp: "Well said, it will overflow when it is full. Now Your Highness has a queen, a prime minister, and a reserve in the East Palace, and now there is another support, Your Highness, Do you think this is a good thing? If you regard the imperial court as a cup, the ground will let you stand in the East Palace, and the wine will overflow. The current Long Live Lord is a brilliant son who can call the shots, so he can always look down on it ?”

What Du Rui said was really suspected of alienating father and son, but he was a little worried, so he had to say it out.

Li Chengqian was shocked when he heard the words, and said: "Chengming, you mean that I will arouse the suspicion of my father!?"

Du Rui nodded, then shook his head, and said: "Not necessarily, His Highness is the crown prince of a country after all, the Holy Majesty will naturally pave the way for His Highness's future, but His Highness must remember one thing, you should not be too close with Lord Hou Junji, It can't be too far."

Li Chengqian nodded and wrote it down, and said: "Then Li Ke's side!"

Du Rui said: "The reason is the same. Now the King of Shu thinks he has a plan, but he never thought that before the Holy Majesty ascended the throne, there was already a change in the Xuanwu Gate. Could the Holy Majesty just watch the old things repeat itself on his own sons?" Your Highness can relax, the King of Shu has the blood of Emperor Yang, and the Qin Palace will never allow him to ascend to the throne! As for the King of Shu, His Highness can indulge, as the saying goes, overflow will overflow!"

This sentence was very reasonable, and Li Chengqian was greatly inspired. His eyebrows relaxed, and he also raised his cup and said: "Thank you, brother, for your guidance, for coming to drink this cup."

Du Rui also picked up the wine glass and saluted Li Chengqian, the two drank it all in one gulp, and then the two put aside the dirty things of intrigue in the court, and played poems and songs, Li Chengqian is indeed worthy of being a nobleman of the heavenly family, although He is not as accomplished in poetry as Du Rui, but he often has unique insights, which benefit Du Rui a lot.

The two chatted until dark before Li Chengqian got up to leave. Du Rui sent Li Chengqian outside the door and looked at the carriage going away. He couldn't help sighing again in his heart. Maybe if Li Chengqian keeps the crown prince, this Tang Dynasty can also Less turmoil!