Ma Zhou stared in shock. Li Ji's words contained a lot of information.
Li Ji did not care about Ma Zhou's reaction and continued: "Once Gao Kaidao colludes with the Turks, it will definitely lead the Turks to go south. Not only Youzhou, but also several places near Youzhou will suffer.
Li Yi will definitely be confused by the torment of the Turks and Gao Kaidao. The people of Youzhou and several places near Youzhou will also be tortured and miserable."
Ma Zhou slowly came back to his senses and said thoughtfully: "Your Highness wants me to remind Li Yi to beware of Gao Kaidao?"
After hesitating for a moment, Ma Zhou said again: "Since Your Highness knows that Gao Kaidao has ulterior motives and may betray us, the Tang Dynasty, why not directly report to the saint and capture Gao Kaidao first?"
Li Ji stared at Ma Zhou meaningfully and said: "Because I want the five heroes of the Xue family in Li Yi's hands."
Ma Zhou's eyes suddenly widened.
The amount of information Li Ji said is even greater.
Although the Xue brothers under Li Yi were not as powerful as the Tang Dynasty, they were still well-known figures in Hebei.
He has countless warriors under his command, and he is a first-class warrior on the battlefield.
Li Ji, a direct prince and a person qualified to inherit the throne of the Tang Dynasty, recruits them. Does that mean that Li Ji is determined to compete for the throne?
"Your Highness... Your Highness wants to..."
Ma Zhou hesitated to speak.
He was a little scared.
He felt that perhaps he had been hasty in agreeing to follow Li Ji.
In his opinion, Prince Li Jiancheng had great righteousness and had a reputation as a virtuous person, while King Li Shimin of Qin was famous and had numerous followers.
Li Ji has nothing but a bad reputation. If he competes with these two, his chances of winning are almost zero.
Li Ji is looking for death.
Li Ji saw Ma Zhou's thoughts and sighed: "Don't think too much, I never thought about competing with my eldest brother and my second brother, I just wanted to protect myself.
My eldest brother and my second brother are fighting, and I am caught in the middle. If I don't surrender to anyone, I will easily be regarded as an oriole.
If I vote for either of them, they will immediately use me as a chess piece.
So I have to strengthen myself so that they don’t dare to use me as a pawn."
Ma Zhou said doubtfully: "But after you become stronger, if you don't take refuge with anyone, you will be more likely to be regarded as an oriole."
Li Ji nodded slowly and said: "You are right. After I grow stronger, if I don't seek refuge with anyone, it will indeed be easier for me to be regarded as an oriole.
But after I grow stronger, even if they treat me like a yellow bird, they will still be wary of my strength and not dare to act rashly."
Ma Zhou frowned and said, "But this is not a long-term solution after all..."
After Li Ji becomes stronger, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin may be wary of Li Ji's strength and will not act rashly, and may even try to win over him.
But once the winner is decided between Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, the winner will definitely turn around and deal with Li Ji.
Because Li Ji has so much power in his hands, if he doesn't help at a critical moment, he will definitely be resented.
If Li Ji has too much power, it will also affect the winner's exclusive access to imperial power.
The winner will deal with him no matter what.
Li Ji also thought about this problem, but he was not afraid because he was not fighting alone.
Between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, there are too many people who remain neutral.
For example, Li Xiaogong, such as Li Xiuning.
Whether Li Shimin complies with the historical ascendancy, or Li Jiancheng counterattacks under his influence, the winner has to attack neutral people, and it is a group of people who are attacked, not him alone.
His strength is not as good as Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng.
Even if he catches up now, when Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin meet in battle, his strength may not be able to catch up with Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng.
But including Li Xiaogong and Li Xiuning, their strength is not inferior to that of either Li Shimin or Li Jiancheng.
No matter who comes to power between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, if they are liquidated, the consequences will be serious and the Tang Dynasty cannot afford it.
Li Ji couldn't say these words to Ma Zhou. He could only smile calmly and said: "You don't need to worry about this matter. I have my own plans in my heart. Just do as I tell you. I will keep you safe and give you permission."
A fortune."
When Li Ji said this, Ma Zhou couldn't follow him to get to the bottom of the matter, so he could only bow and say: "I would like to obey His Highness's instructions."
Li Ji nodded, took out the promotion documents and official seal certificates that had been prepared for Ma Zhou, and handed them to Ma Zhou.
He also accompanied Ma Zhou to a sumptuous farewell banquet, sent twenty "bodyguards" to Ma Zhou, and then returned to Luoyang City drunkenly.
…
The next day.
After Li Ji got up, Xie Shufang quietly ran to Li Ji and reported that Ma Zhou had set off.
"knew."
Li Ji rubbed his temples, agreed vaguely, and ordered: "Take someone to the arsenal of Luoyang City, and someone will give you three thousand pairs of armor. You can bring those armors back."
Xie Shufang bent down and said hesitantly: "Your Highness is planning to equip the soldiers of Zuo Santong Army with iron armor?"
Li Ji rolled his eyes at Xie Shufang, "You know what you're asking and you still ask?!"
If Li Ji is planning to build the Zuo Santong Military Mansion, he must worry about the equipment of the Zuo Santong Military Mansion.
The iron armor reserves of Prince Qi's Mansion were simply not enough to arm the soldiers of Zuosan Tongjun Mansion.
Li Ji could only take advantage of Li Shimin's opportunity to steal food to fight against Li Shimin, and also give everyone a reasonable excuse to expand their troops.
I am expanding my troops and horses, not because I have any evil intentions, but because the thieves are too fierce and they are always thinking about my things, so I want to expand my troops and horses to guard against thieves.
This excuse is a bit lame, but it is very consistent with the behavior of King Qi in the past.
Xie Shufang hesitated and asked: "Isn't it a bit extravagant?"
Currently, in the entire Tang Dynasty, there are only six commanders of the Crown Prince, the Xuanjia Army of Prince Qin's Palace, and the guards of Prince Qi's Palace, all of whom are equipped with iron armor.
Li Ji also equipped the soldiers of the Tongjun Mansion with iron armor, which was obviously a bit extravagant.
Li Shimin didn't even do this, nor did he dare to do it.
Once done, Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng will not be able to sleep.
If Li Shimin leads three thousand armors, he can dominate the world. If he leads more than 20,000 armors, no one can stop Li Shimin if he wants to do something in Chang'an City.
Li Ji glared at Xie Shufang, "Is it more important, the armor, or the lives of the soldiers?"
Xie Shufang said without hesitation: "Iron armor is important."
One armor serves as five pawns.
One armor can be passed down to the family.
A pair of armor was precious in the Tang Dynasty, far more than the lives of ordinary soldiers.
Li Ji glared at Xie Shufang fiercely, "In my eyes, the lives of soldiers are more valuable than armor."
Xie Shufang still wants to talk.
Li Ji stared at Xie Shufang and said seriously: "If the armor is gone, it can be rebuilt, but if the person is gone, then it is really gone."
Xie Shufang opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
He was very happy to meet a lord like Li Ji who valued the lives of soldiers more than armor.
But he still felt in his heart that iron armor was really more important than the lives of ordinary soldiers.
"After you go there, remember to keep an eye on it and don't let anyone fool you with some broken armor."
Li Ji glared at Xie Shufang and warned.
Xie Shufang bowed and said, "I understand."
Li Ji waved his hand, and Xie Shufang immediately left the side hall of Luoyang Palace and rushed to the Luoyang City Arsenal with his people.
Until noon, Xie Shufang escorted three thousand pairs of armor back to the side hall of Luoyang Palace.
Also accompanying him was an acquaintance of Li Ji.
Liu Jun, the chamberlain beside Li Yuan.
Li Ji was surprised to see Liu Jun.
While Li Ji ordered Xie Shufang, who had a smile on his face, to send the armor to the treasury in the side hall of Luoyang Palace for storage, he stared at Liu Jun curiously and asked, "Why did you come to Luoyang?"
Liu Jun bowed his hand to Li Jiyi and said with a smile: "I have been ordered to come here to announce the decree."
Li Ji was stunned for a moment and didn't ask any questions.
Liu Jun then smiled and said: "His Royal Highness's close relative, Xie Shufang, has done a great service by presenting his Yuan robe. We have made a special decree to confer Xie Shufang as the Marquis of Pingyao County, and to promote him to the post of General of the Left Chariot and Cavalry of the Prince of Qi's Palace, and to protect the army."
Li Ji looked surprised.
Li Yuan was really generous. He gave Xie Shufang a title in one fell swoop, and promoted Xie Shufang several levels in a row, even raising his honorary title to the third level.
Xie Shufang can be regarded as rising to prominence.
From now on, I can stand upright and speak in front of him.
But...what the hell is Yuan Yi?
"I would also like to congratulate His Highness on the title of one hundred households in Shiyi."
Liu Jun bowed his hand to Li Ji again and announced the good news with a smile.
Xie Shufang is from Prince Qi's palace. If Xie Shufang has made great contributions, Li Ji will also benefit from it.
This is to reward Li Ji for being a good servant, and also to remind Xie Shufang, don't forget who supported you.
Liu Jun specially reported the good news to Li Ji, and Li Ji had to reward him.
After groping around on my body, I found that I didn't have anything valuable on me.
Li Ji immediately ordered the guards around him to get it.
After ten gold cakes were placed in Liu Jun's hands, Liu Jun's smile became even brighter and he talked a lot more.
"To be honest with you, Your Highness, this time your uncle Xie presented Yuan Yi, which relieved the soldiers from the severe cold they had to endure during the winter battles. Everyone was overjoyed and showed it to the ministers during the banquet on Yuan Day.
.
All the officials praised him, and when everyone was happy, they personally named him Yuan Yi."
Li Ji suddenly realized that after a long time of fuss, the Tang Dynasty version of the down jacket turned into Yuan Yi.
That's right, so far only Li Yuan can name things casually.
"In that case, it's a good time for Uncle Xie to present Yuan Yi."
Li Ji sighed.
Yuan Day is Yuan Shuo Day, which is also the first day of the Lunar New Year.
With the new year and new atmosphere, Xie Shufang presented new clothes just in time for the meeting. Li Yuan must be happy.
The ministers also happily praised this matter, which made Bo Li Yuan happy.
When Li Yuan is happy, it is reasonable for him to reward him generously.
After all, there is no title that Li Yuan dare not grant, and there is no position that Li Yuan dare not reward.
In Li Yuan's hands, princes and dukes were thrown away as if they didn't need money.
A mere marquis is not worth mentioning.
If Li Ji remembers it correctly, it was this year in history that after Li Shimin defeated Liu Heita, Li Yuan was so happy that he sealed more than a dozen kings in one go.
Li Daozong is among them.
Liu Jun said cheerfully: "It's indeed a good time."
