The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 140 Calculation
"It's all thanks to my third brother. He was just so angry that he fainted. Otherwise, with your talent and knowledge, you would have seen through it long ago." Li Lin praised Li Heng and said, "I hope my third brother can calm down and spend a lot of money to win over Li Shizhi and others."

"Yeah." Li Heng agreed.

Although Li Heng agreed, he had his own plans in mind.

Ever since his last gift to Wang Zhongsi was rejected, Li Heng has understood that winning people's hearts depends on the individual. If someone loves money, give money; if someone loves beautiful women, give beautiful women; if someone hopes to be treated as a national hero, treat him as a national hero.

However, it is easier said than done to tailor things to different people, because the prerequisite for doing so is to understand each person's characteristics, which requires a lot of information and accurate judgment. If it is not handled well, it will backfire.

Take Li Shizhi for example, he is a good guy and behaves honestly. For such a person, excessive flattery would make him uncomfortable.

Therefore, Li Heng felt that his best strategy for dealing with Li Shizhi was to have the "style of a ruler" himself, so that Li Shizhi would support him based on the legal principles of respecting seniority and not losing talent and virtue.

Li Lin thought that Li Heng had adopted his strategy, and he was more confident in himself, saying: "Third brother, it is only a matter of time before you become the master of the Eastern Palace. However, you are in Chang'an, and you lack a minister who can protect you."

"Oh?" Li Heng looked at Li Lin and said, "Then according to what Sixteenth Brother said, what should I do?"

Li Lin said: "Since Prince Shou can be sent out, I will also try to request to be sent out. I hope that Third Brother will recommend me. Once I can leave Chang'an to make achievements, I will definitely do my best to protect Third Brother Qingtian."

Li Heng was stunned.

There were many comprehensive factors that led to Li Heng being sent away, and Li Lin might not necessarily follow suit. Even if Li Lin could really follow suit, by then Li Lin would have the military power in his hands, and not only would he not necessarily be loyal to him, but he would also be very likely to become his competitor.

Li Heng thought of these two points instantly, but he did not speak out. He just smiled slightly, came to Li Lin, took Li Lin's hand, and said: "Since Sixteenth Brother has such a vision, Third Brother will definitely support you."

When Li Lin heard Li Heng's agreement, he said happily, "Thank you, Third Brother."

The two brothers talked about their friendship and had dinner together before Li Lin left.

After Li Heng sent Li Lin away, he came to Zhang's room.

Li Heng came to find Zhang because he had just married her not long ago, and now Zhang was of great help to him.

After the two had an in-depth discussion, Li Heng said, "Now the throne of the Crown Prince is vacant, and my father has ordered the ministers to recommend a new crown prince. I wonder who Mr. Zhang favors?"

The Mr. Zhang that Li Heng mentioned was Zhang Quyi.

Zhang Quyi's mother and Li Longji's mother were sisters, so Zhang Quyi was considered Li Longji's cousin. Their Nanyang Xi'e Zhang family had a lot of say in Li Longji's opinion.

Zhang listened to Li Heng's words and smiled, "Who else can Master love besides Your Highness? I have already told Master that you should join forces with the court officials to recommend Your Highness."

"That's great." Li Heng caressed Zhang's face and said, "If I become the crown prince, I will definitely make you a concubine."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhang smiled like a flower, revealing two lovely dimples on her pretty face. She blinked her big eyes and said, "Your Highness has only favored me recently and neglected Concubine Wei. Please treat Concubine Wei equally and get closer to her."

Zhang was very smart. She already knew the affair between Li Heng and Jiang Caiping. She also knew that it was after Li Heng sent Jiang Caiping into the palace that Li Longji allowed Li Heng to take her as a concubine.

In her heart, she had already determined that she was just the compensation given to Li Heng by Li Longji after he had snatched Jiang Caiping away.

Her marriage was not only a political marriage, but also full of substitution implications.

So from the very beginning, she did not have good expectations for this marriage, but she also knew that she could not change anything. She felt that what she could do was to continue to add chips to this political marriage.

Therefore, becoming Liangdi was not her ultimate goal.

However, she also knew that now was not the time to worry about whether to be a concubine or a crown princess. She had to unite all the forces she could and do her best to push Li Heng to the position of crown prince. Therefore, she asked Li Heng to favor Concubine Wei, not because she was generous, but because Concubine Wei was from the Jingzhao Wei clan. If Li Heng could win over the Jingzhao Wei clan through Concubine Wei, it would also be a great help.

Li Heng had no idea that this girl with clear eyes had so many calculations in her mind. He thought that Zhang, like Jiang Caiping, was conquered by his charm and was willing to consider him.

Li Heng felt even more fond of Zhang and said, "It's a pity that you married me later, otherwise..."

The second half of the sentence that Li Heng omitted was saying that otherwise you should be the Crown Princess.

Zhang understood what Li Heng meant. If it were another girl, she would most likely let Li Heng finish the second half of the sentence, but Zhang was different.

Zhang felt that these words were just to coax children. She didn't need to rely on such vague words to get what she wanted. She had to get it on her own.

Zhang said, "Your Highness, please don't say that. If others hear it, they will think that I am trying to offend my superiors. As long as Your Highness really cares for me, I will be satisfied."

"How could I bear not to pity you?" Li Heng smiled knowingly.

The two had another in-depth exchange.

……

……

……

Li Ying rested in the mansion for two days, and then "ignored his illness" and went to mourn for Yuanshi. During the mourning period, Li Ying met Wang Zhongsi, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Wang Zhongsi came to the capital this time not specifically to pay tribute to Yuanshi, but because Dong Yanguang had sued him, and Li Longji summoned him to the capital to report on his work and explain the matter.

Coming to pay tribute to Yuanshi is just a side trip.

Wang Zhongsi felt very welcome when he saw Li Heng, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, and came forward to pay his respects to Li Heng.

Li Heng returned the greeting, and seeing Wang Zhongsi's sad face, he smiled and said, "I still remember that when I said goodbye to General Wang in Hexi last time, General Wang looked like this. It's been so long, has General Wang still not resolved his worries?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me for making a fool of myself." Wang Zhongsi shook his head and smiled bitterly. He remembered that it was Li Ying who gave him advice last time, so he wanted to ask for advice again. He said, "Your Highness, can I have a word with you?"

"Of course." Li Heng did not refuse.

When the two men came to the inner room, Wang Zhongsi said frankly: "To be honest with you, Your Highness, I returned to Chang'an this time because Dong Yanguang reported me."

"Oh?" Li Heng was puzzled. "Why did he complain to you?"

Wang Zhongsi said: "He, the minister, did not fully cooperate with him in attacking Shibao City, and he put all the blame for the failure of the attack on Shibao City on me."

Li Heng asked, "Did the general send troops to support him?"

"I sent them." Wang Zhongsi sighed. "Although I have always been reluctant to attack Shibao City, I have to obey the order of the saint. But Your Highness should also know that Shuofang and Hedong have to face the pressure of the Turks, Xi people, and Huihe. How can we send all our troops to Hexi?"

Li Heng understood that Wang Zhongsi supported it, but not with enough force.

(End of this chapter)