Outside Xuanwu Gate is the West Inner Garden, to the west is the Forbidden Garden, and to the west is the Fanglin Garden. Although the scenery further to the west is impressive, it is quite desolate.
Li Shimin, King of Qin, galloped towards his horse, bent his bow and set an arrow. The arrow was like a shooting star, but it was nailed to the tree trunk. The hare, which was rare in winter, swished away.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Following behind were Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Changsun Wuji. Li Shimin then reined in the reins and slowed down his horse. In the past, those who hunted with him were Qin Qiong, Cheng Zhijie, Yuchi Gong and other generals.
Reluctantly showing a smile, Li Shimin waved his big bow and said, "I neglected the battle formation. I'm laughing today."
Fang Xuanling and the other three were all confused. They were discussing the war in Hebei with Li Shimin in Chengqian Hall, but the saint suddenly summoned him. When Li Shimin came back, his face was gloomy, and he rode straight to the hunting ground.
Changsun Wuji knew very well that his brother-in-law's temperament had always been calm and moderate, but today, although he did not say anything harsh, he was actually furious.
The four of them rode horses all the way north, with hundreds of personal guards protecting them. Li Shimin suddenly pointed to the west with a whip in his hand, "Does the auxiliary machine know where that is?"
Changsun Wuji squinted and saw that there seemed to be overhanging eaves on the mountain. "When will the palace be built here?"
Fang Xuanling carefully looked at Li Shimin's face and then said tentatively: "It seems to be Chuchu Construction."
"When I returned to Beijing last year, the sage said that he had been fighting for many years, so he should remove his armor and recuperate, and ordered people to build this palace." Li Shimin said expressionlessly: "But at the end of last year, the sage ordered the construction to be suspended until two months ago, when he ordered the construction again.
Construction begins."
The three people around him were all concentrating and did not dare to speak. They were all Li Shimin's confidants, so they naturally understood what he said.
Last year, the Central Plains were settled in Luoyang and Hulao Pass. After King Qin returned to Beijing, he was idle. The saint ordered the Ministry of Industry to build a palace in the name of self-cultivation... It is difficult not to let them combine this with the East Palace's attempt to expel King Qin from the imperial city.
connected together.
The sudden suspension at the end of last year was naturally because Hebei was defeated and all the armies were at a loss, so the saint had no choice but to let Li Shimin lead the army again.
Construction suddenly started again two months ago. That was because the Turks had made peace with their troops and withdrawn... The East Palace started to entertain this idea again.
Changsun Wuji and the others did not dare to speak because of Li Shimin's title...sage.
It has been more than five years since the founding of the country, but the royal family of the Li and Tang Dynasties is different from the royal families of the past and present. Except for formal occasions, they are all addressed as father, son, and brother. In other words, there are more fathers and sons than monarchs and ministers.
But today Li Shimin calls himself a saint.
Li Shimin stared at the palace for a long time, and suddenly laughed and said: "Today, the sage asked me whether it is appropriate to name Hongyi Palace..."
He really wanted to be kicked out of the imperial city... Changsun Wuji's heart trembled violently.
The Changsun family is all attached to Li Shimin. If the family is really driven out of the imperial city, what will be the future of the Changsun family... Changsun Wuji cannot even imagine.
Looking back at the pale Changsun Wuji, and then at the calm Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Li Shimin said softly: "Today the saint asked about the road to Shaanxi..."
Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling looked at each other, and the former asked: "Your Highness, what do you want to ask me about?"
Li Shimin was silent for a moment and then whispered: "The East Palace seems to intend to personally conquer."
Du Ruhui blurted out, "Donggong personally went to Hebei to control Daxingtai of Shaanxi Province!"
Daxingtai of Shaanxi Province was Li Shimin's base, and everyone from top to bottom belonged to him. Major officials such as Han Liang and Yu Zhining even worked part-time in the Prince of Qin's Palace. The East Palace tried to intervene several times but was resolutely blocked by Li Shimin.
His hands were even broken twice.
If Donggong temporarily controls Daxingtai of Shaanxi Province in the name of personally conquering Hebei, who knows what will happen?
If the war continues, what if Li Jiancheng attacks officials in Daxingtai, Shaanxi Province?
If Shaanxi Province is allowed to be taken away like this, and if Donggong personally conquers Hebei Province... Li Shimin's advantage outside Chang'an will be wiped out in an instant.
Yesterday, Li Daoxuan reported his defeat and entered the capital. Li Shimin guessed that his father might not allow him to lead the army again, but he did not expect that the East Palace would actually intervene.
Fang Xuanling thought for a moment and said, "Chiang Guogong, Yu Xueshi, and Han Zhengzheng are all His Highness's confidants, and most of their subordinates are His Highness's old subordinates. The Crown Prince will personally conquer Hebei, and it won't take long. Your Highness should be careful, so it should be okay."
This analysis is quite reasonable. Shaanxi East Road is Li Shimin's basic base. It has been more than two years since he conquered the Central Plains in the third year of Wude. Li Shimin has spent countless efforts and placed countless cronies. This kind of control... is not the East Palace.
It can be destroyed by reaching in.
"Your Highness..."
As soon as Du Ruhui's words came out, Li Shimin suddenly asked: "Li Shan is still in Shaanxi Province now?"
The three of them looked at each other. Du Ruhui, as a descendant of the Du family in Jingzhao, was well-informed. "Yesterday, there was a banquet in the East Palace. Prince Xima Wei Zheng, who followed the King of Qi south, mentioned Li Shan and praised him for his strategy. However, Li Shan escorted the grain and grass north to be punished.
Continent and has not returned yet.”
Li Shimin sighed slightly. He remembered that a few days ago, Yu Wenshiji mentioned that Chang'an County Lieutenant Li Dewu entered the East Palace to prepare for the prince Qianniu.
Back then, he was still calculating the position of that old fox Pei Shiju, but today Li Shimin no longer thinks about that.
At this moment, Li Shimin has deep sympathy for Li Shan.
Sympathize with each other.
Feel the same.
Isn't it good enough that Li Shan has a strategist and is capable of both literary and military skills? Isn't it good enough to impress the children of such an aristocratic family?
This is the Qilinzi who can revitalize the family, but why was he ruthlessly abandoned by Li Dewu?
I, Li Shimin, led the army undefeated, pacified Guanzhong, swept the Central Plains, and surrendered Hebei. Isn't it good enough?
But why does the father who ascended the throne of God want to tie the tiger with a rope?
After a long silence, Li Shimin's expression turned cold, and he put his hands behind his hands and said, "Ke Ming, how should we deal with this?"
Du Ruhui had been thinking for a long time and said: "Firstly, it is not appropriate for Your Highness to ask you to lead troops to attack Hebei again."
This is natural. Although Liu Heitai made trouble in Hebei, it was far worse than last year. If Li Shimin asked himself to lead the army, the saint would not only disagree, but would also become more suspicious.
"Secondly, Daxingtai of Shaanxi Province is under the control of the prince... His Highness cannot shirk this matter, so it is better to take the initiative."
Fang Xuanling's eyes lit up, "The best thing to do is to attack the heart!"
Li Shimin also nodded slightly. The prince asked for control of Daxingtai in East Shaanxi Province by asking for an expedition against Liu Heitai. If the Qin Palace took the initiative to give in, it would probably result in the East Palace stealing the chicken but losing the rice.
Once the prince defeats Liu Heitai, he will definitely plant his cronies in Hebei... A prince of the East Palace holds Shaanxi Road in his left hand and Hebei and Shandong in his right hand. It is probably the prince who is suspected by the saint.
Du Ruhui looked quite pleased with himself, stroking his beard and said: "Third, we should urge the prince to send troops immediately."
Li Shimin's prestige in the military was extremely high, and he had countless cronies. Regarding the battle at Xiabao, the battle report in his hand was much more detailed than that of the Sage, the East Palace, and the Ministry of War.
In the battle of Xiabo, Li Daoxuan made a bold advance first, and Shi Wanbaodun hesitated for the second time. However, the presence of tens of thousands of Turkic cavalry was obviously also an important factor.
If the Prince of Qin's palace simply promised to let the East Palace temporarily control Daxingtai of Shaanxi Province and urge the prince to send troops immediately... maybe he would be able to meet tens of thousands of Turkic troops.
Li Shimin gritted his teeth, thinking that if the prince was defeated at the hands of the Turks... would anyone say that the prince was also handsome?
This sentence was said by Li Yuan a month ago after the prince led tens of thousands of soldiers to repel thousands of Turkic soldiers who invaded Guanzhong.