The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 281: Submission
In the next few days, the provincial governors and military commanders of various garrisons in Longyou came to report to Li Heng one after another.

Li Heng deliberately called the military supervisor Bian Lingcheng and focused his questions on the government and military affairs of the provincial governors and military envoys. He did not reveal to these people the fact that he and Geshu Han were not on good terms. However, because Li Heng asked in great detail and each state and army had some problems to some extent, most of the people who left Li Heng's mansion seemed to be worried.

Geshu Han had been secretly observing these people, and seeing that everyone had a serious expression after meeting Li Heng, he became even more suspicious.

Then Geshu Han asked around, but he didn't hear anything about Li Heng's intention to deal with him.

If it were someone else, Geshu Han would feel relieved.

But the person he was facing was Li Heng.

Geshu Han thought of Li Heng's previous investigations into Gai Jiayun and Huangfu Weiming, and he felt more and more that Li Heng was deliberately paralyzing him and secretly planning how to suppress him so that he could not turn over.

Thinking of this, Geshu Han felt that he could not wait any longer.

So the next day, Geshu Han invited Li Heng and An Sishun to a banquet and took the initiative to propose peace talks with An Sishun.

Geshu Han lowered his posture, toasted An Sishun, and said: "I am too reckless. If I offended General An, I hope General An will forgive me."

An Sishun didn't know whether Geshu Han was sincere or not, but since Geshu Han had said so, he couldn't be unreasonable, so he raised his cup and said politely: "General Geshu Han, you are too polite. Although you and I have had some friction in the past, it was all for the Tang Dynasty. I hope that in the future we can work together to help His Royal Highness Prince Shou win the war against Tubo."

"I really want to follow His Royal Highness Prince Shou to make great achievements, but," Geshu Han turned to Li Heng, "I am old and not feeling well, so I am afraid I am not qualified to be the deputy envoy of Longyou."

What Geshu Han meant was that he wanted to pretend to be sick and retreat.

Li Heng was a little surprised and asked, "General Geshu, what's wrong with you? Do you want to ask Doctor Zhang to take a look at you?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but this is an old illness. It cannot be cured. I can only take care of it." Geshu Han declined Li Heng's proposal and said, "I have already written my resignation. After reporting it to Your Highness today, I will submit it to the court."

Li Heng was slightly startled, and said, "In this case, I can't force you to stay. Wait until you recover and then join me in building a career."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Geshu Han thanked Li Ying, and the three of them raised their glasses and drank together.

Li Ying drank the wine and lowered his head to figure out why Geshu Han made such a choice.

Geshu Han resigned on the grounds of illness. He did not choose to stay in Longyou to swear allegiance to him, nor did he ask to be transferred to the place arranged by Li Heng for him. This was because he did not want to offend either Li Heng or him.

Geshu Han gave in.

Historically, Geshu Han was not so easily submissive. When he was guarding Tongguan, he even dared to kill the rear troops sent by Li Longji.

But now, he is just a deputy governor and has not made much contribution, so naturally his temper is not that big.

……

Geshu Han's resignation letter was quickly delivered to Chang'an. Li Linfu received the letter and immediately presented it to Li Longji.

After reading it, Li Longji said, "Since he is resigning due to illness, then approve it. Let him return to Chang'an and give him a sinecure so that he can rest well."

Li Linfu said, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this matter is not that simple."

"Really?" Li Longji frowned, "Tell me about it."

Li Linfu said: "Before His Royal Highness Shou left, Geshu Han was still full of energy. After His Royal Highness Shou left, he fell ill. This is quite strange."

Li Longji said: "You mean Shibalang excluded him?" "I... this is my guess." Li Linfu replied weakly.

Li Heng turned to Gao Lishi and said, "Take Bian Lingcheng's memorial to the Right Prime Minister and have a look."

"Yes." Gao Lishi took the order and brought Bian Lingcheng's memorial to Li Linfu.

In his memorial, Bian Lingcheng reported to Li Longji everything he knew, including the conflict between Geshu Han and An Sishun, and even detailed conversations between Li Heng and the various provincial governors and military envoys in Longyou, in addition to Gao Shi and the other two.

Li Longji said: "After Shibalang went to Longyou, he spent all his time planning the war with Tubo. How could he have the mind to exclude Geshu Han? And if Geshu Han was excluded, why didn't he say it himself?"

"This..." Li Linfu didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Li Longji continued, "The right prime minister's most urgent task is to raise food and money for Prince Shou and focus on the war against Tubo instead of being suspicious without reason."

"Yes." Li Linfu responded helplessly and then retreated.

Li Longji watched Li Linfu walk away and asked Gao Lishi, "Do you think Shibalang is really trying to exclude Geshuhan?"

Gao Lishi said: "I am not sure, but whether they are honest officials or corrupt officials, if they want to get things done, they need to use people who are convenient for them."

Gao Lishi explicitly stated that he was not sure, but his implication was that he still believed that Li Heng was excluding Geshu Han. He also pointed out that Li Heng was an "honest official" while Li Linfu was a "corrupt official" and that they were also forming a faction to attack dissidents in the court.

Li Longji understood Gao Lishi's meaning and said, "Ge Shuhan was promoted by Wang Zhongsi. Shiba Lang was willing to use his title and official position to exchange for a way out for Wang Zhongsi, but he couldn't tolerate Ge Shuhan. It seems that Shiba Lang is still too partial to An Sishun."

Gao Lishi asked, "Sage, would you like to give Prince Shou a warning?"

Li Longji thought for a while and said, "The war with Tubo is imminent. We cannot disturb Shibalang's heart, but we cannot ignore him either. How about this, demote An Sishun by one level, remove him from the post of Hexi Deputy Jiedushi, and transfer him to Hexi Bingmashi."

Li Longji did not want to warn Li Heng openly, so he demoted An Sishun, whom Li Heng favored, and hinted that Li Heng should be more restrained. At the same time, he told the civil and military officials of Helong that he was the one who decided their life and death.

Gao Lishi asked: "Do you need a reason?"

"Let Li Linfu think of the reason." Li Longji smiled, "Now the Right Prime Minister really wants to fight with Shiba Lang."

"Yes." Gao Lishi agreed, "As the saying goes, if His Royal Highness Prince Shou wins the war against Tubo, he can become the prime minister if he goes one step further."

Li Longji glanced at Gao Lishi and said, "Do you think Shibalang's ultimate goal is to become prime minister?"

Gao Lishi was shocked and said, "His Highness Prince Shou doesn't seem to have the ambition to be the prime minister. From what I know about Prince Shou, he should rest after defeating Tubo."

Li Longji nodded and asked, "If Shibalang becomes the prime minister, can Li Linfu defeat him?"

Gao Lishi said: "In terms of wisdom and strategy, I'm afraid they are equally matched."

"That's good." Li Longji stood up, "Let's go to the Pear Garden."

"Yes." Gao Lishi obeyed the order, but he was curious about what Li Longji meant by "That's good."

After thinking for a moment, he understood what Li Longji meant.

What Li Longji meant was that he had balanced the situation well inside and outside the court, and no one dared to act rashly.

(End of this chapter)