Let’s get straight to the point and simply say “Meet Your Highness”.
Li Shimin, who had just walked in, was stunned, and a smile appeared on his face... As the saying goes, you can know autumn by seeing a leaf, and you can know the whole leopard by peeking at a spot. He knew that this was Li Shan making his position clear.
In the past two months, Li Shan had often met with Li Shimin in the palace, but both of them knew that this was their first official meeting... Li Shan made his position clear immediately before Li Shimin opened his mouth.
"Sit down." Li Shimin stretched out his hands and said with a smile: "Everyone says that Li Huairen of Dongshan is kind to others and willing to do good deeds. But I remember that when I first met him in Changlepo that day, he had sharp words and awe-inspiring character."
Li Shan looked as usual, but a little uncomfortable... The so-called charity was because Wang Renbiao's story spread. For this, he and Princess An Chang were very angry, and even said small things about Li Shan in front of his brother Li Yuan.
"More than a month ago, the general manager of Weizhou, Daoguo Gongtian Liu'an, came to Beijing to give a full account of the war in Shandong." Li Shimin sighed: "Others only know about Huairen's plan."
"But they didn't know that Huairen tried hard to persuade Daoxuan before the war. During the war, he not only prepared the wounded barracks to boost morale, but also took care of Tian Liuan's internal affairs and assigned errands. After the war, he was kind to the prisoners and killed Cui Bo to protect Shandong.
"
"Years ago, I built the Qin Duke's Palace, then the Qin Prince's Palace, and then the Tiance Palace. I wanted to attract the world's heroes, but unexpectedly I lost generals like Li Yaoshi."
"Therefore, a person like Huairen is always thirsty for talents."
After Li Shimin's long speech, he narrowed his eyes slightly and said seriously: "But there is one thing I don't understand. Why did Huairen come to surrender?"
After thinking for a while, Li Shan smiled and said: "Your Highness knows everything about my life experience, so where can I leave the Prince of Qin's Mansion?"
"Prime Minister Pei is attached to the East Palace, and Pei Hongda is also the Prince Zhanshi. That person is more prepared for the Prince Qianniu. Your Highness should understand."
Li Shimin shook his head and said: "It's definitely not just that. Supervisor Pei is indeed attached to the East Palace, but during the Shandong War, Li Dewu entered the East Palace...Huairen should not know that Pei Hongda, although he is also the prince Zhan, is actually wavering."
"Huairen could have held on to Guantao and Prince Hou sent troops to help, but he wanted Zhang Wenguan to rush to Chang'an and plot secretly."
"The battle of Wei County looks like a great victory, but it is actually a dangerous move."
"In several battles in Guantao, Su Dingfang first defeated two thousand Turkic light cavalry, and then went out of the city twice to sweep away the Liu bandits. Huairen also planned to build a camp for wounded soldiers to boost the morale of the army. After the war, merit will inevitably be judged. Huairen should not be so unwise and take risks.
Go to war."
Li Shimin paused and added: "I heard... Huairen followed Sanhu to garrison Wuling. Hearing that the war in Hebei collapsed, he once said that the East Palace might send troops."
The implication of this sentence is obvious. In Li Shimin's view, the main reason why Li Shan sent Zhang Wenguan to Chang'an to secretly communicate with the Qin Prince's palace and risked going to war was to prevent the prince from conquering the country himself.
Or maybe Li Shan doesn't want to see the East Palace sending troops to relieve Weizhou's difficulties... In that case, Li Shan will undoubtedly be labeled as the East Palace.
Therefore, Li Shimin was very sure that Li Shan came to vote sincerely, but he didn't quite understand why?
The room became quiet. This was a private residence of Li Shiji. Last year, Zhang Wenguan rushed to Beijing and it was here that he met Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling.
After a moment, Li Shan, who was slightly bowed, raised his head and looked directly at Li Shimin, who was sitting opposite him.
"Your Highness guessed wrong."
"What?"
"Although I'm not 100% sure that day, that person should enter the East Palace and the Crown Prince values him." Li Shan sneered and said: "That person is valued by the Crown Prince because of his father-in-law, but there are also other reasons... Your Highness should know the inside story. .”
Li Shimin leaned forward slightly and said with a chuckle: "Huairen has a meticulous mind and checks for all the leaks."
Li Shan only looked back with a clear look... That day in Wuling, he concluded that the prince would invite himself to go to Hebei. Later, Wei Zheng informed Li Jiancheng that this matter was only spread in a small area in the East Palace. Li Shimin knew that it was natural that there was an insider. of.
"The East Palace has decided that the crown prince will personally invite him to conquer Shandong. He should have already made plans for it." Li Shimin said softly: "But it was presented by Chang'an County Lieutenant Li Dewu."
Li Jiancheng would not decide to go out because of Li Dewu's words, but Li Dewu took the title and analyzed the situation for the prince to choose the time to send troops...waiting for the Turks to return north before sending out troops.
In fact, the actual effect of these words was very limited. Li Jian was originally afraid of Turks. The reason why he win over Li Dewu was more because of his identity as Pei Shiju's son-in-law.
Li Shan did not avoid Li Shimin's probing eyes, and said in a nonchalant tone: "That day, I followed Chang'an's order and went south to Shaanxi Province. I stopped in Wuling and took care of food and grass matters in the county government. Unexpectedly, my letter was snooped by Xiaoxiao."
Li Shimin's face froze, his mouth opened slightly and he didn't close it for a while, and he stuttered a little, "You... it's you... so, you..."
The atmosphere in the room was a little strange. Li Shimin looked at the young man opposite him with strange eyes. He didn't expect that the truth was like this... It seemed that the prince summoned Li Dewu to the East Palace to win over Pei Shiju, but in fact it was Li Shan who secretly manipulated it. .
Therefore, Li Shanyuan was in Shandong and there was no news, but he was very sure that Li Dewu had entered the East Palace.
"That man has long wanted to cling to the East Palace. I just gave him a ladder." Li Shan smiled gently and said, "What kind of person is Pei Hongda?"
"A famous minister of the former dynasty has been in high and low officialdom for decades, and he has recently come to join him. Although he has been awarded the position of prime minister and assistant by a saint, and he also serves as the prince, he will not make a bet easily."
"Perhaps... since I am serving the crown prince's affairs, I should send my relatives to attach myself to His Highness. This is not a double-minded move, but is just a plan for future generations."
Li Shimin nodded in agreement, "The Zheng family in Xingyang belongs to the prince's wife family, but Zheng Rentai surrendered to Gu in his early years."
As soon as he finished speaking, an idea flashed in Li Shimin's mind, "Pei Shiju wants to send Li Dewu to Tiance Mansion?"
After a long sigh, Li Shan nodded and bowed down, "I have long admired His Highness's grace and style. I want to assist the Holy Lord and create a prosperous age. If he enters the Tiance Mansion, how can I get along with myself?"
Li Shimin didn't seem to see it and just squinted his eyes and thought carefully.
First, Li Shimin lamented that Li Shan's methods were able to find out such inside information... and he did not doubt that Li Shan was lying.
The fact is that Li Dewu threw himself into the East Palace, and Pei Shiju quickly selected Pei Huaijie from his clan to join the Tiance Mansion.
Secondly, Li Shimin knew that Li Shan had not finished what he said. If Pei Shiju asked his son-in-law to join Tiance Mansion, would he still take Li Shan under his command?
Precisely because Pei Ji is attached to the East Palace, Li Shimin will not doubt that Pei Shiju is sincere in letting Li Dewu join the lineage of the Qin King... Facing the Pei family in Hedong, will he still choose Li Shan?
This was the doubt that existed deep in Li Shan's heart... Li Shimin thought to himself that this was probably the main reason why Li Shan finally chose to become an official through the imperial examination after returning to Beijing.
Thirdly, by bowing down like this, Li Shan was actually apologizing... In any case, using such covert means, even if there are unspeakable secrets, is something the superiors don't want to see.
Li Shan also proved his sincerity and willingness to be congenial to Li Shimin... Sending Li Dewu to the East Palace was a sign of sincerity.
Other members of the Pei clan can enter Tiance Mansion, but Li Dewu cannot. This is Li Shan's bottom line.
After a while, Li Shimin helped Li Shan up with both hands and said seriously: "Although he uses cunning methods, he is ultimately on the right path."
Well, helping you is the right path, and not helping you is going astray.
In fact, both parties were just performing. Li Shan apologized for the past, and Li Shimin deliberately showed mercy, acting as a monarch and his ministers helping each other.