Li Yuan has been living in Taiji Palace since his abdication. Now that Li Yuan died, his coffin was moved to the Taiji Temple for rest, and Taiji Palace was finally vacated. Li Shimin moved in, and the court meeting was held in the Wude Hall of Taiji Palace.

At this time, Li Shimin was seen sitting on the throne of Wude Hall with a stern expression. Civil and military ministers were lined up on the left and right, everyone looked solemn, and the atmosphere was depressing and strange.

Now Qi State's 200,000 troops are approaching the city and surrounding the city of Chang'an. The Tang army has suffered frequent defeats, and the counties in Guanzhong have fallen one after another. Now the imperial court's decrees can't even leave Chang'an City, and the emperor's edicts are limited to Chang'an City. There is internal turmoil.

, there are no soldiers, horses and diligent kings outside, so the life of Li Tang's country is hanging by a thread and is in danger.

And now there are rumors circulating in the market, claiming that King Wei Li Xuanba is not actually the late emperor's biological son, but a descendant of the Northern Zhou royal family. He not only killed the late emperor Li Yuan, but also controlled the emperor Li Shimin with sorcery.

Conspiracy, so he was killed. The prince-in-law Chai Shao was angry and defected to Gao Qi, and led the Qi army into the pass to attack Chang'an.

Although Li Shimin had issued an edict to calm the people, and even clarified it in public, pointing out that this was a conspiracy deliberately spread by Gao Qi to create chaos and unrest within the Tang Dynasty, he still could not completely quell this "rumor". After all, this "rumor"

"It's well-founded and well-founded, and Chai Shao did join Gao Qi and personally led his men to attack Chang'an. As a relative of the emperor, the consort suddenly rebelled and took the initiative to let the Qi army in, and personally led the army to attack.

The city plundered the land, showing that he was indeed filled with rage.

Back to the subject, Li Shimin glanced majestically at all the civil and military ministers present, and said in a deep voice: "As a prince-in-law, Chai Shao betrayed the trust of the late emperor and me. He first lost the Hangu Pass, and then betrayed the country and surrendered to the enemy, causing the Qi army to break through the Tong Pass."

We have marched straight in. Now the Qi army is approaching the city. Our country, the Tang Dynasty, is in danger. This is the autumn of life and death. Do you have any good strategies for retreating from the enemy? You may wish to speak freely. "

All the ministers present bowed their heads and lowered their eyebrows. For a moment, no one dared to speak rashly. It is no wonder that the situation is really difficult now. In the battle of Huoyi, Li Shimin defeated all the elite troops of the Tang army, and Changsun Shunde,

Hou Junji, Liu Hongji, Yin Kaishan, Wang Junkuo, Qu Tutong and other capable generals either died in battle or were captured. Then Chai Shao betrayed the country and surrendered to the enemy, Tongguan fell, Huai'an County Prince Li Shentong was defeated, and the Yellow River defense line was lost.

The remaining 50,000 Tang troops were completely defeated, and only a few thousand remnants fled back to Chang'an.

Although there are still tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Chang'an City today, most of them are old, weak, sick and disabled, and their morale is low and people's hearts are floating. How can they withstand Qi's army of 200,000 tigers and wolves? Can Chang'an City be defended for a month?

What’s unknown!

When Li Shimin saw that no one was saying anything, his expression became even grimmer, and there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. He thought that at first he had many soldiers and generals around him, and many counselors. Now he has only a few soldiers, few counselors, and even the chief counselor Fang Xuanling is ill.

After death, there are not many ministers in front of me who can be of great use, how desolate it is!

At this time, someone finally came out. It was Zhang Gongjin, the former counselor of Tiance Mansion, and one of the heroes of the Xuanwumen rebellion. Li Shimin felt slightly comforted in his heart, and looked at Zhang Gongjin with a slow expression, who bowed respectfully and said

: "Your Majesty, the Qi army is now powerful and unstoppable, and more than half of the counties in Guanzhong have fallen. The only plan for now is to rely on Li Xiaogong, the king of Hejian County, to return to Shiqin Wang."

Liu Zheng's face turned pale, and he touched his forehead to the ground and said tremblingly: "I am loyal to the Tang Dynasty and to the Emperor. I have no different intentions. I just want the Emperor to clarify the facts and appease people's hearts."

Liu Zhenghui was immediately frightened and fell to the ground. All the ministers present also had pale faces, including the old ministers of Tiance Mansion. The former King of Qin was so magnanimous that he would never kill ministers because of their words. Now he beheads them if they disagree with him.

, too cruel.

Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a trace of blood, and he said coldly: "I have already said that this is a conspiracy deliberately spread by Gao Qi. It is nothing more than an attempt to mess up the Tang Dynasty from within. The Liu Qing family also used it to spread rumors.

What is your intention to confuse the public? Could it be that you have also rebelled and surrendered to the enemy like Chai Shao?"

Liu Zhenghui's words undoubtedly expressed the sentiments of most people present, and some even couldn't help but nod.

Li Shimin quickly said: "Liu Aiqing, please speak."

The two brothers knelt down in front of the throne and kowtowed, trembling and frightened, saying: "The son of the guilty minister kowtows to the Emperor."

"Your Majesty, the people of the Tang Dynasty are currently unstable and morale is low. Only by cleaning up the internal affairs, stabilizing the people's hearts, uniting and working together can we defeat the Qi army." Liu Zhenghui said loudly.

A cold light flashed in Li Shimin's eyes, and he interrupted coldly: "Does the Liu Qing family think that I have been bewitched?"

This person was none other than Liu Zhenghui, the Minister of Punishment, who was very loyal and upright. He said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I think there is only one way to save the country of the Tang Dynasty."

Liu Zhenghui lifted the hem of his official robe and knelt down in the tunnel: "There are now widespread rumors, claiming that His Royal Highness King Wei was not born of the late emperor, but was actually a remnant of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. He killed the late emperor, controlled the emperor with sorcery, and tried to usurp the Tang Dynasty.

Jiangshan, because Princess Pingyang found out about this, she was killed, and Huo Guogong Chai Shao was forced to rebel because of this..."

Upon hearing this, the guards immediately pushed Liu Zhenghui out of the hall and slashed his head with a knife. Immediately, his head fell to the ground. The smell of blood drifted into the Wude Hall with the wind. All the ministers in the hall were silent and deathly silent.

Li Shimin sneered and said: "I have clarified it a long time ago, and even issued a special edict to inform the world. If you don't believe it, what's the use of clarifying it a thousand times or ten thousand times? I think you are just deliberately confusing people and disturbing people's hearts with your evil words.

It is intended to cooperate with the Qi army to break the city. Come, take down Liu Zhenghui, the traitor, and behead him to set the record straight!"

Zhang Gongjin retreated, and Li Shimin looked at Li Shentong. The latter immediately lowered his head to avoid the situation with a guilty conscience. Not long ago, he suffered a huge defeat and lost the line of the Yellow River. He finally managed to escape back to Chang'an with his life. Now he heard Li Jing's words.

His name makes him tremble, but he still dares to come forward.

After giving the order, the guards in front of the palace immediately rushed in and captured Liu Zhenghui.

Li Shimin was not moved at all, and said coldly: "I have long said that anyone who discusses this matter will be punished for treason. Liu Zhenghui made lies in front of the public and deceived the public. The crime will be increased to one level, and he will be pushed out and executed!"

Just when Li Shimin was extremely disappointed, an old minister with a gray beard next to him gritted his teeth and stood up.

Li Shimin sighed and said: "I am a close friend of Sichang Naifa, and he is my brother-in-law. I never expected that he would betray me, so why don't you go out to the city to persuade him? If he can truly find his way back from his lost ways, I will certainly commit his crimes and make meritorious deeds."

Let bygones be bygones."

Li Shimin frowned and looked at Tang Jian, who was also one of the main advisers of Tiance Mansion, but at this moment he said nothing, as if an old monk was in trance, and ignored Li Shimin's gaze at all.

There was a trace of gentleness in Li Shimin's eyes, he raised his hand and said: "Pingshen!"

Liu Zhenghui bowed his head and said: "Old minister, you can't see the mortal body with the naked eye, but it must be empty. Moreover, on the first seven nights of the late emperor's first year, someone did see King Wei leading troops to blockade the Duke Huo's Mansion. After that, Princess Pingyang guarded the Jianchun Gate.

It is also true that he escaped from the city with the help of Jiang Tong. I hope the emperor will bring King Wei to confront him, so that we can calm public suspicions, appease people's hearts, and achieve internal unity."

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers present looked wary.

Li Shimin's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly: "Bring the people up."

Soon, two children walked into the Wude Hall tremblingly. The older one was about ten years old, and the other was about seven or eight years old. They were the two legitimate sons of Chai Shao and Princess Pingyang, named Chai Zhewei and

Chai Lingwu.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "What does the Liu Qing family mean by this?"

Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "How to clean up the internal affairs and stabilize people's hearts? The Liu Qing family might as well say it clearly!"

Liu Zhenghui said loudly: "As the old saying goes, you must first calm down the inside when fighting against foreign forces. The biggest threat now does not come from Gao Qi, but from within us."

Chai Lingwu immediately lowered his head, and Chai Zhewei said respectfully: "Your Majesty, my father only took refuge with Gao Qi out of confusion. I beg your Majesty to allow Zhewei to go out of the city to see my father. I will definitely persuade my father to know how to return when he is lost."

Chai Zhewei was a little older and looked a bit young and mature. He knelt down and said, "I don't dare."

Upon hearing this, Chai Zhewei said happily: "Thank you for your grace, if the father refuses to look back, the child will die in front of him."

"The emperor's sword will save someone!" Tang Jian, who had been silent, was the first to come out to plead for mercy. Others also came out to ask for Liu Zhenghui's rescue and pardon.

Chai Lingwu, on the other hand, cuddled up next to his eldest brother and shivered.

Li Shimin quickly waved his hand and said: "No, everyone has his own ambitions. If your father is unwilling to change his mind, you can stay with him and serve him. You can't let the third sister lose her bloodline."

"Second brother, don't talk nonsense!" Chai Zhewei scolded in a low voice.

Li Shimin was immediately disappointed when he heard this. Li Xiaogong had lost to Xu Shiji in Bashu. Now that he could not save himself, he had no energy left to return to the army to rescue Chang'an. Therefore, Zhang Gongjin's words were in vain. He waved his hand and said calmly: "Zhang Qing's family, please retreat."

.”

Only then did the two brothers dare to stand up. Chai Lingwu asked aggrievedly: "Uncle, where are my father and mother? Why did you arrest us?"

"Get up." Li Shimin said softly.

Chai Zhewei was even more moved when he heard this, and vowed to persuade his father Chai Shao to change his mind.

All the ministers in the palace couldn't help but look at each other. The emperor had just brutally beheaded Liu Zhenghui, but now he was so merciful to Chai Shao, who had truly betrayed the country and surrendered to the enemy. This huge contrast made people feel unreal, and it was unclear what the purpose was.

The Chai brothers were young and not deeply involved in the world. They thought the emperor only cared about family ties, so they ignored him and left Wude Palace happily.

Next, Li Shimin indeed ordered people to send the two brothers out of the city to meet his father Chai Shao. Before leaving, he also gave them a lot of food and supplies, which was so considerate that the uncle was speechless.
Chapter completed!