The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 154 A last resort
Li Longji looked at Li Heng who was lowering his head and thought of Queen Wang.

In the case of pacifying Princess Taiping, Queen Wang made a lot of efforts, and her brother Wang Shouyi personally participated in the operation.

But later, because of the evil omen, he demoted Queen Wang and ordered the death of Wang Shouyi.

Although the demotion of Queen Wang was more out of political considerations, when he asked himself, he was also somewhat moved by the fact that Queen Wang's beauty had faded.

Recently, especially after Li Ying was sentenced to death, he would always think of the past inadvertently. Those who once fought alongside him left him one by one, and he felt more and more lonely.

Therefore, he always wants to make up for it in other ways.

Being nicer to the filial Li Heng can be considered as a kind of compensation to Queen Wang.

Li Longji immersed himself in his emotions for a while, and then thought about it rationally.

According to the system of primogeniture, Li Cong was the first choice for the position of crown prince. However, Li Cong was not only disfigured, but also had no children.

A disfigured man cannot be accepted into the upper class, and without children, how will the imperial lineage be passed down in the future?
He adopted Li Ying's son to Li Cong. If Li Cong really became the emperor, the better outcome would be that Li Ying's son would inherit the throne. The worse outcome would be that the successor to the Tang Dynasty might not have the surname Li.

If this is true, he will be the eternal sinner of the Tang Dynasty.

Therefore, Li Cong could never become the crown prince.

Since Li Cong couldn't do it, Li Heng would be next in line.

In terms of talent, he liked Li Heng the most, but Li Heng had a serious illness and was not suitable to be the crown prince.

Next were Li Heng, Li Wan, Li Lu, and Li Lin. In his mind, the talents of these people were not much different, and he did not have a favorite candidate.

Compared to others, Li Heng also has a grandson whom he loves very much.

To sum up, Li Longji had already decided in his heart that Li Heng must be the crown prince.

Li Longji was waiting for a suitable opportunity to announce to the world that Li Heng would succeed him as the crown prince.

Li Longji was silent for a while, then said, "Yu'er will be fifteen next year, and it's time for him to be crowned a king. I will personally take care of things for you then."

Li Heng was overjoyed when he heard this.

Li Yu was also very happy, but his face remained calm, and he said, "Grandson, thank you, old man."

Li Longji smiled slightly and strode away.

Li Heng followed Li Longji and finally had the courage to secretly take a look into the house.

When he glanced over, he saw Jiang Caiping, whose face was still flushed.

Jiang Caiping looked at Li Heng from a distance in the room with mixed emotions in her eyes.

Li Heng only dared to take a look and left in a hurry.

……

In the government hall, Li Linfu was not in a good mood.

There were two military reports in front of him, one was that Dong Yanguang had been defeated again in Shibao City, and the other was that Wang Zhongsi had just won a great victory over the Xi tribe in Shuofang.

The defeat of his confidants and the victory of the enemy were a double blow to Li Linfu.

The cow ox next to him also looked very bad.

However, Niu Xianke's poor mental state had nothing to do with the war, but because he was already sixty-six years old. When he was young, he fought in battles for many years and suffered from many illnesses. Now that he was old, he was always feeling unwell.

The two of them sat facing each other in silence when suddenly footsteps were heard outside the door.

When Li Linfu heard the footsteps, he was startled and quickly made a gesture to salute.

A moment later, Li Longji walked in.

As soon as Li Longji entered the room, he saw Li Linfu, who had already saluted, and said with a smile: "The one who knows me is the right prime minister."

Niu Xianke, who was standing next to him, was impressed by Li Linfu's "hearing ability". Li Linfu said, "The sage walks like a dragon and gaits like a tiger. I don't think I don't know him."

"Yes." Li Longji was even happier. He sat in the hall and asked, "How is the border war going?"

Li Linfu picked up one of the memorials and presented it to Li Longji, saying, "General Wang Zhongsi attacked the Xi tribe and won a great victory."

Li Longji took the memorial and read it, then said happily, "Since he was young, I have seen that Zhongsi has the demeanor of Huo Qubing. If he doesn't make a move, it's fine. But if he does, he will live up to my expectations. How about Shibao City?"

"Shibao City..." Li Linfu presented another memorial and said, "The war is not going well."

Li Longji's mood turned from joy to calm. He took the memorial and took a look at it, saying, "Dong Yanguang once boasted to me that he would take Shibao City, but now he has been defeated in battles. It seems that I have put my trust in the wrong person."

Li Linfu said: "Dong Yanguang is indeed arrogant, but the stone fort is steep and it is not something that can be taken down by the Hexi town alone. Now that General Wang Zhongsi has gone to the north, Dong Yanguang is also a little bit stretched."

"Really?" Li Longji glanced at Li Linfu and said, "If that's the case, there's no need to attack again. Send him back. If we fight again, not only will we fail to capture Shibao City, but we're afraid that Hexi will also be lost."

"Yes." Li Linfu accepted the order and asked, "Does Shibao City give up now?"

Li Longji did not answer Li Linfu, but fell into deep thought.

As a monarch who wants to expand his territory, Stone Castle must be captured, but ordinary people simply cannot chew this hard bone.

Dong Yanguang is the best example.

The first two candidates in Li Longji's mind were Wang Zhongsi and Li Heng.

But Wang Zhongsi refused to fight, and Li Heng was somewhat on guard, which led to the current situation.

Now, he had to make a choice, whether to appoint Li Heng to take over Shibao City, or to give up the strategy of expanding territory.

Li Longji was silent for a while, then made up his mind and said, "The most urgent task is to cooperate with Wang Zhongsi to attack the Turks. I have my own plans for Shibao City."

After saying that, he left the government hall.

Li Linfu and Niu Xianke respectfully saw Li Longji off. After Li Longji walked away, Li Linfu asked Niu Xianke beside him, "Mr. Niu, do you think, given the current situation, who still has the confidence to capture Shibao City?"

Niu Xianke said honestly: "Of course I can't. If there is anyone else, I'm afraid it can only be His Royal Highness Prince Shou."

Li Linfu nodded and fell silent.

……

Xingqing Palace.

Wu Huifei was playing the piano alone when Li Longji's voice suddenly came from outside the door: "I haven't seen you for a few days. Your skills have improved again."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Wu Hui hurriedly stood up to greet Li Longji.

When Li Longji saw Concubine Wu Huifei, he smiled and said, "I haven't heard you play for a while. Please finish this piece first."

"Yes."

Concubine Wu Huifei replied respectfully and sat down to continue playing.

Li Longji listened carefully, and when the song ended, he clapped his hands and said, "There is some Buddhist music in it, which adds a bit of tranquility and peace."

Concubine Wu Huifei said: "The Kucha music and dance presented by Ying'er earlier contained many Buddhist sounds, and I have learned some of them."

"Ying'er is a good child." Li Longji followed up, "I wonder how he is doing now?"

Concubine Wu Huifei said, "She wrote a letter a few days ago saying that she is fine for now."

"That's good." Li Longji nodded. "I didn't want to add more burden to him, but the recent battle in Hexi was a failure, and Ying'er is an expert in marching and fighting, so I want him to advance to Tubo from Hexi. You won't blame me for not being considerate of him, right?"

"How dare I?" Wu Huifei replied quickly, "Sacrificing my life for the country is what I want. If Sanlang can entrust me with such an important task, I will be grateful and will do my best until my death."

(End of this chapter)