Of course, even if your heart is moved, you have to pay something - what Changsun Wuji wants is Li Ji's tendency and stance. Can Zhang Liang come up with these things?
He couldn't take it out.
He was not Li Ji's confidant in the first place, but this time he was given the title of "Deputy General Manager" during the Eastern Expedition. He looked majestic, but in fact he had few soldiers under his command. In addition, all the soldiers in the army were founding fathers. Veteran generals on the battlefield, each with higher qualifications and stronger temper, who can he command?
In fact, he couldn't even get into Li Ji's inner circle, so he could only do the current job of running errands and learning...
But he has his own calculations.
After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "Please forgive me, Mr. Zhao. Unless I tell you, I really don't know anything."
Changsun Wuji didn't take it seriously. It was only normal that he didn't know. If he started boasting about Li Jizhi's plans, he would have to re-examine Zhang Liang's wisdom... With Li Jizhi's deep knowledge of the city and his far-reaching strategies, how could he let people like Zhang Liang be allowed to do so? Can you easily discern what is in his heart?
He asked: "This time Cheng Yaojin sent troops to annihilate the Duan family in Nanyang without permission. Did Li Ji really have no prior knowledge?"
Zhang Liang pondered for a moment, did Li Ji really have no idea? No one dares to say this. Anyone who can reach a certain status is not a good singer and songwriter, and has outstanding acting skills? If they want to completely hide their true intentions, others will simply follow Looking at the surface, it is difficult to find traces of it.
But of course he would not say that. He nodded and said firmly: "I have absolutely no idea. What is Cheng Yaojin's status, qualifications and prestige? Li Ji stripped him of his shirt and whipped him. The humiliation could not be increased. There is no way he could perform to such a degree." . ”
Changsun Wuji thought for a moment and nodded in approval.
If Li Ji really wanted to show off his position by annihilating the Duan family's private army in Nanyang, it would be enough to send a single general. Why would he let Cheng Yaojin go into battle in person and then use flogging to eliminate the situation?
Even if Zhang Liang is sent and whipped to conceal his motives, it is better than letting Cheng Yaojin go...
Totally unnecessary.
Zhang Liang added: "The army withdrew from Liaodong. Donggong and Guanlong sent people there several times to try to lobby. When they arrived in Luoyang, Fang Jun went to Li Ji's tent. His stay must have been longer than any other time in the past. , and at that time, Li Ji's personal soldiers were guarding the tent, and no one was allowed to come near, including Cheng Yaojin, I, Xue Xue Wanche, and anyone else! So I don't know what the two talked about that time, but I always felt that there was something wrong. Something’s wrong. ”
Of course Changsun Wuji remembers that Changsun Anye was attacked and killed by Fang Jun, leaving no intact body. The hatred between the Changsun family and the Fang family could not be washed away even if the water from the Three Rivers was poured out. Now every time he thinks about the tragic death of Changsun Anye, his heart There is still a dull pain.
And that time when eldest son Anye went to Luoyang, he only exchanged a few words with Li Ji and then avoided seeing him. He had to go back home, but Fang Jun had a long meeting with Li Ji?
Especially the fact that "no one is allowed to approach" the Chinese army's tent made Changsun Wuji feel more and more uncomfortable.
Perhaps it was because of some kind of contract that Fang Jun and Li Ji had made privately that they became more and more unscrupulous in attacking the Guanlong army and repeatedly sabotaging the peace talks?
But if so, what was Li Ji's purpose?
Seeing the battle between Donggong and Guan Long, both sides suffered losses. At the critical moment, he sent his troops back to Beijing to determine the overall situation?
Then why did Fang Jun cooperate with Li Ji? No matter which prince ascends to the throne, it is not as secure as the prince sitting in the reserve position. It will be more beneficial to Fang Jun to ascend the throne as emperor in the future. Even if he has a good relationship with Wei Wang Li Tai, I am afraid Li Tai will not be able to do it. To the extent that the prince obeyed his words and favored him to the limit...
Everything in the world is driven by profit, even if it is forced, it is still a pursuit of profit. So what are the benefits of Fang Jun's approach?
Changsun Wuji frowned and was puzzled.
Zhang Liang observed the situation and said: "Furthermore, Li Ji has issued a strict order. No matter at any time or under any circumstances, the private armies that have entered Tongguan will never be allowed to withdraw from Tongguan... In my opinion, Li Ji's purpose It’s obviously with these powerful private armies.”
This is what gives Changsun Wuji the most headache.
It's not that he can't accept the failure of the mutiny, nor can he accept that he will stay away from the court and no longer be in charge of the core of the empire's power. He has seen a lot of the ups and downs in the court and heard more. No one can stand in that position forever. As solid as a rock, dynasties can change, let alone just one person?
As long as the peace talks are completed, the foundation of the Changsun family and even Guanlong as a whole is still there. He has no hope of returning to the court in this life, but there are still descendants. As long as the situation in the court changes, the Changsun family, which still has a strong foundation, will definitely be able to regain its today's glory.
But if the private armies of those wealthy families who were coerced and lured into Guanzhong by him were allowed to be wiped out, damaging the foundation of the world's wealthy families, then the Changsun family would be hated by all the wealthy families. This kind of "people's anger" is something that no family can afford. .
It is conceivable that once the army is defeated, the Jiangnan gentry and Shandong aristocratic families will definitely be able to occupy the court in the future, and the suppression of Guanlong will be inevitable. In addition, if all the private soldiers in these clans are killed by the private soldiers, the eldest family members will make matters worse. What the Changsun family will encounter is The situation is unprecedentedly cruel, and even the phrase "in dire straits" is not enough to describe it. It is prone to overthrowing disaster...
Therefore, Li Ji did not allow the powerful private troops to withdraw from Guanzhong. If the foundation of the survival of the Changsun family was determined, Li Ji had hundreds of thousands of troops garrisoned in Tongguan, making him anxious but unable to do anything.
…
The two talked for a long time, and Zhang Liang told everything he knew without reservation. Even many things may not be his own guesses. As long as he felt that Changsun Wuji might take it seriously, he would follow the other person's tone and speak out.
He is very skilled, and it is impossible to verify the authenticity of many things. However, if the Guanlong Clan can survive in the future, Changsun Wuji will feel that these information are valuable, and it is Zhang Liang who helped a lot.
If the Guanlong clan is completely defeated in the end and has no foundation...then even if Changsun Wuji realizes that what he said today is useless, what does it matter?
Zhang Liang is naturally not afraid of the downfall of Changsun Wuji...
When the sky was already dark and the rain was falling, Zhang Liang said goodbye and left. He walked back to Princess Baling's Mansion along the Moon Gate, left the mansion quietly with his personal guards, left the city from Chunming Gate, crossed Baqiao, and galloped back all the way. Tongguan returned to Li Ji.
In the Tongguan Government Office, Li Ji listened to Zhang Liang's narration of the process and asked: "Based on what you saw, does Zhao Guogong believe this explanation?"
Zhang Liang looked at the expression on Li Ji's face and said: "He has no reason not to believe it. If the commander wants to stand on the side of the East Palace to deal with the Guanlong clan, why does he need to explain? Now hundreds of thousands of troops are stationed in Tongguan. Once The march to Chang'an is a thunderous force, and the Guanlong army is completely unable to resist."
He kept testing his words, but Li Ji remained expressionless and nodded slightly: "Gong Yun rushed to Chang'an in the rain. It was really hard work. He quickly returned to the camp to wash up and rest after dinner. Bar."
"Here."
Zhang Liang, who found nothing, stood up and saluted to say goodbye.
Li Ji was sitting in the government office, with the dim oil lamp beside him and the gurgling rain outside the window, thinking about the current situation and the various changes that might result.
He was well aware of Zhang Liang's character. The reason why he sent Zhang Liang to Chang'an was naturally because he guessed that he must have secretly contacted the Guanlong clan to take advantage of the situation, so he did it deliberately. The Guanlong side was eager to know his identity from Zhang Liang. Position and tendency, I also want to use Zhang Liang to mislead Guan Long...
But after this, will Guan Long regain hope as he thought?
There was the sound of footsteps outside the door. Li Ji frowned and looked up. The only person who could enter the government office without having to report was Zhu Suiliang. This guy may have been frightened too much. In recent days, he has become more and more nagging. He often does this. It appeared as quietly as a cat, startling people...
Zhu Suiliang entered, bowed and saluted, without saying a word, came to sit in front of Li Ji, and then slowly said under Li Ji's gaze: "Guanlong sent someone to come and have a private meeting with me."
Li Ji raised his eyebrows: "What happened?"
Zhu Suiliang whispered: "Confirm whether His Majesty has passed away..."
Li Ji put down the teacup in his hand and snorted. Changsun Wuji was too confident. He was extremely sure that Zhu Suiliang was being manipulated by him and could not escape. He didn't think of the most important thing until now... Smart people think too much and are too confident. , but it is always easy to overlook some obvious things.
Seeing that Li Ji was silent, Zhu Suiliang hesitated for a long time, and finally couldn't help but whispered: "It is not a pity for me to die. If I can save my wife and children, I will be under Jiuquan in the future, and I will thank you for my great kindness."
Li Ji sighed: "If I had known today, why bother at the beginning? I can't do anything."
Zhu Suiliang's face turned pale, and he felt extremely regretful...