The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 114 Li Yao discusses the situation, the prince will not last long

"Oh?" Li Longji looked at Li Linfu and said, "If the Turks are completely eliminated, Anxi will lose a powerful enemy, but will have to face the threat of the Arab Empire. At that time, a war between the Tang Dynasty and the Arab Empire will be inevitable. Prime Minister Li, do you think that the Tang Dynasty is ready for a war with the Arab Empire?"

Li Linfu said: "I think it may not be the right time yet."

Li Longji turned around and asked Niu Xianke who was standing beside him, "What do you think, Prime Minister Niu?"

Niu Xianke said, "I also think that it is not appropriate to go to war with the Arabs now. Anxi is too far away from Chang'an. Even if we conquer the Arabs, we will not be able to control them. Moreover, Tubo is eyeing Hexi covetously. Now Shibao City is in Tubo's hands. If Tubo relies on Shibao City to attack Hexi, then no matter how large our territory is in the Western Regions, it will be cut off and we will lose control."

When it comes to military deployment, Niu Xianke has his own ideas.

Li Longji nodded and praised, "Prince Niu is right. So it is wise for Prince Shou to temporarily support the Huang Tuqishi and use them as a buffer between Anxi and Daqin. The biggest threat to the Tang Dynasty in the west has always been Tubo, and the first step to curb Tubo is Shibao City."

After Li Longji sighed, he continued, "Regarding the Tuqishi matter, we will follow Prince Shou's wishes. Prime Minister Li and Prime Minister Niu must prepare all the supplies and food that Prince Shou wants."

Li Linfu and Niu Xianke replied in unison: "Yes."

"Also," Li Longji hesitated for a moment before making up his mind and said, "Wang Zhongsi has stayed in Hexi long enough, let's transfer him to Shuofang."

Li Longji originally wanted Wang Zhongsi to capture Shibao City, but Wang Zhongsi didn't want to fight. Since he didn't want to fight, he had to change.

"Yes." Li Linfu replied first, and then asked: "Who is the best person to be appointed as the governor of Hexi?"

Li Heng defeated Tubo in Xiaobolü, and his strategy against the Turgesh now pleased Li Longji, so Li Longji wanted to let Li Heng attack Shibao City.

However, the location of Hexi was too critical, and Li Longji was unwilling to hand over Hexi to the prince unless it was absolutely necessary.

After weighing the two options, Li Longji still suppressed the idea of ​​letting Li Heng attack Shibao City and said, "Let the ministers recommend someone."

"Yes." Li Linfu and Niu Xianke accepted the order and retreated.

After the two walked away, Li Longji asked Gao Lishi, "What has the prince been busy with recently?"

Gao Lishi said, "I stay with Prince Guang and Prince E all day."

"Didn't you do anything?" Li Longji asked.

Gao Lishi hesitated and said, "A few days ago, the three of them met this year's Jinshi."

"Is Xue Xiu with you?" Li Longji asked again.

Gao Lishi said, "Prince Consort Xue also went with them."

"Okay!" Li Longji's eyes turned cold.

……

……

……

Li Linfu's residence.

Moon Hall.

"Right Prime Minister, you told me before that it is better to divide and support the Turgesh now rather than completely annex them. Why did you reply to the emperor today in the court and ask for annexation?" Ji Wen asked puzzledly.

Li Linfu said, "I can say anything completely in accordance with the saint's intention, except this matter."

"Why?" asked Jiwen.

Li Linfu said: "As long as it involves His Royal Highness Prince Shou, I must disagree with His Royal Highness Prince Shou."

Ji Wen wondered, "Will the saint think that the right prime minister is incompetent?"

Li Linfu shook his head.

Everything has its priorities. When it comes to Li Heng's affairs, Li Longji's biggest concern is that he opposes Li Heng.

Therefore, as long as his position was not problematic, Li Longji would not blame him no matter how stupid his actions were.

Li Linfu understood Li Longji's thoughts.

Seeing Li Linfu shaking his head and not saying anything, Ji Wen did not want to ask any more questions, so he changed the subject and said, "The censor who submitted the memorial was rebellious and offended the emperor. Should I take it directly?" Li Linfu listened to Ji Wen's words, looked at Ji Wen meaningfully, and asked, "What excuse do you have for taking it?"

Ji Wen said: "Rebellion against superiors is the greatest crime."

"Stupid!" Li Linfu scolded, "If you want to charge me with the crime of rebellion, the Saint will issue an order in the Purple Palace. But why didn't the Saint issue an order and let me do it?"

Ji Wen looked confused and said, "I don't know. Please enlighten me, Right Prime Minister."

Li Linfu said, "Zhou Ziliang was demoted for giving advice and died on the way. Because of this, the whole world is saying that the sage does not accept loyal advice. If someone else is punished for giving advice today, will the sage still have a good reputation?"

Ji Wen said: "But don't we just want to use this incident to stop those censors from talking nonsense? And this is also what the saint wants."

"That's the purpose." Li Linfu nodded, sighed, and said, "But the saint cannot be implicated. I have to take the blame for blocking the way of speech. You and Luo Xishi draft a new crime and arrest the two people who wrote the letter. In the future, whenever you encounter such people who write letters recklessly, you should draft other crimes and arrest them. If you arrest more people, others will not dare to write recklessly."

"Yes."

Ji Wen finally understood that Li Linfu gave these two memorials to Li Longji not to ask Li Longji to punish these two people, but to get from Li Longji the power to punish those who submitted memorials at random in the future.

As long as Li Longji tacitly agreed to give Li Linfu this power, then if Li Linfu wanted to target anyone in the future, it would only take a few words.

So even though Li Linfu took the blame for Li Longji, he could still use it as an excuse to do whatever he wanted.

This was a win-win situation for Li Linfu and Li Longji.

……

……

……

Li Ying's Mansion.

Li Ying was drinking with a worried look on his face.

Although Concubine Wu Huifei listened to Li Ying's advice and did not interfere in state affairs and did not take Li Ying's life for the time being, Li Ying's life became increasingly difficult.

If Li Ying participated in government affairs, Li Longji would suspect him of forming a clique. If he did nothing, Li Longji would think he was a waste.

He felt that no matter what he did, he could not get Li Longji's approval.

He even had a premonition that he was going to be ruined.

Thinking of this, Li Ying couldn't help but sigh.

Li Yao heard Li Ying sigh and asked, "Why is Second Brother so depressed?"

Li Ying looked at Li Yao, a little drunk, and asked, "Fifth brother, how long do you think I can remain the crown prince?"

Li Yao said honestly: "I'm afraid I can't do this for much longer."

"Do you think so too?" Li Ying became more worried.

Li Yao nodded and said, "From ancient times to the present, being a crown prince has always been difficult, and being the crown prince of a wise emperor is even more difficult. The First Emperor, Prince Fusu was unable to succeed to the throne, and Emperor Wu of Han, Crown Prince Liu Ju was also forced to commit suicide because of the witchcraft disaster. These two emperors were both men of great talent and strategy, but their crown princes did not end well."

"This..." Li Ying was stunned.

Li Yao asked: "Second brother, do you know why?"

Li Ying shook her head.

"Prince Fusu could not succeed to the throne, not only because Zhao Gao interfered, but also because the First Emperor was on guard against Prince Fusu, which prevented him from competing. Although Liu Ju was framed by Jiang Chong, in the final analysis, it was because Emperor Wu of Han did not trust him."

Li Yao took a sip of wine and continued, "The crown prince is the person closest to the throne. If anything happens to the emperor, the crown prince is the biggest beneficiary. So the emperor can be on guard against anyone except the crown prince. It is precisely because of this that the wiser the monarch, the more he guards against the crown prince, and the more he requires the crown prince to have both talent and virtue, so it is more difficult to be a crown prince. And compared to other crown princes, my second brother has a more dangerous reason."

Li Ying asked: "What's the reason?"

Li Yao said: "Second brother, you have been the crown prince for more than 20 years. It has been too long. Even if you have no talent, there are countless people who rely on you. Besides, the emperor is old now, and he is not as energetic as before in handling government affairs. The world has a lot of complaints about the emperor. At this time, you will become more dangerous."

(End of this chapter)