Hearing that Li Ji had just warned Yuchi Gong, Cheng Minzhen frowned and asked in confusion: "Commander, the Duke of E disobeyed military orders and sent troops without authorization, which is very likely to lead to huge changes in the current situation in Chang'an. How can we let him make his own decisions? ?The general suggested that he should be strictly ordered to return to the Chinese army and punished."
Since Wei Chigong dared to disobey military orders and lead his troops to Dayun Temple, how could he be restrained by a mere warning and ordered to retreat to Baqiao obediently?
Moreover, Yu Chigong's Right Houwei has come into contact with Cheng Yaojin's Zuowu Guard, plus the Right Tun Guard stationed at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. The situation is complicated and changing rapidly. There may be a big fight at the next moment, leading to the erosion of the situation in Chang'an. .
Why not just recall it and completely eliminate the hidden danger?
Li Ji glanced at Cheng Mingzhen and said calmly: "The Duke of E is the commander of the army and a meritorious service to the empire. Even if he disobeys military orders, he cannot be punished rashly. Otherwise, how can he appease the morale of the army? The commander-in-chief has made up his mind on this matter and there is no need to discuss it. You wait. All departments must act in accordance with the prince's edict, and no mistakes should be made."
"Here!"
Cheng Mingzhen did not dare to say anything.
After leaving the Chinese military tent, Cheng Mingzhen was about to return to his base. Zhang Liang chased him from behind and whispered: "General, wait a moment."
Cheng Minzhen slowed down, looked at Zhang Liang with a frown, and waited for Zhang Liang to catch up before walking side by side.
He didn't have a good impression of Zhang Liang. Although this man had outstanding achievements, he had a strong aura of gangsterism. He formed gangs and cultivated influence all day long, and his stance was uncertain. If you have breasts, you are a mother. He was restless. There were not many generals in the army. Get close to him.
Faced with Cheng Mingzhen's indifference, Zhang Liang didn't take it seriously and said with a smile: "Why did the general say that? He knew it was useless, just to make the commander dissatisfied."
Cheng Minzhen said nothing, waiting for him to express his intention.
Zhang Liang glanced around and saw no one nearby, then he said curiously: "General, if you are not curious, why would you say this?"
Cheng Minzhen kept walking and said calmly: "I am just doing my duty to remind my subordinates. As for the commander's decision, how can we question it? If Duke Yun has something to say, it doesn't matter, I will hurry up. Then return to the station."
I can't help but feel suspicious in my heart, what exactly is Zhang Liang going to say?
After turning around a camp, there was no one around, so Zhang Liang whispered: "Young Master is very important in Youtun Guards. If something happens, you will definitely be on the front line. Brother Cheng needs to tell you to be careful." Above, Yu Chigong and Cheng Yaojin are standing behind each other in Guanlong and Shandong. These two powerful men are fighting for power and will not give up. I am afraid that the commander-in-chief may not be willing to see Chang'an safe and sound and the prince successfully ascended the throne... Although we are usually We don't have much contact, but we have to deal with life and death, and we can't just sit back and watch the young master in danger and remain indifferent... Having said this, Brother Cheng is very concerned about it."
After saying that, he cupped his hands, turned around and walked away between the two tents.
Cheng Minzhen frowned and looked at his back, with a puzzled look on his face... What is this? You want to curry favor with the East Palace and believe that the prince can ascend the throne. You just went to the prince to inform him, and spread Li Ji's ambition to the prince's ears through me. How can you Isn't it unnecessary?
At the same time, I was secretly vigilant in my heart. Zhang Liang was not very capable, but he was very good at observing people. He must have noticed something from Li Ji, so he warned him and used him to pass the news to the East Palace.
And what exactly was Li Ji thinking?
Now that the Chang'an mutiny has subsided, the Guanlong clan has no choice but to hope that the prince can survive by using his remaining power to balance the government. The situation can be completely stabilized by waiting for both parties to negotiate terms, and then Shandong aristocratic families and Jiangnan gentry will enter the court in large numbers. Fill the many positions vacated by the Guanlong clan and seize the power of the government in their hands.
Regardless of Li Ji or Cheng Yaojin, the people standing behind them are Shandong aristocratic families. Under such circumstances, going against the will of the prince and trying to eradicate the Guanlong clan, wouldn't it make the prince hate him to the bone?
The prince is a prince after all. He will ascend the throne and become emperor in the future. No matter how generous his character is, once his bottom line is touched, the little sheep will turn into a man-eating tiger...
So what is Li Ji’s intention behind this operation?
After thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't figure out what to do, so he quickly returned to the station, wrote a letter and gave it to the soldiers, ordering them to rush to the Youtunwei camp outside Xuanwu Gate at night and submit it to Fang Jun face to face.
…
Yuchi Gong honestly camped on the east bank of Ba River and paid attention to the movements on the west bank. The right guard blocked the road up the mountain and faced off with the left guard for a long time. The situation was tense, but both sides were extremely restrained and never made any move to cause a conflict...
When receiving Li Ji's military order, Yuchi Gong frowned, puzzled.
The words in the military order are extremely harsh, but if you think about it carefully, it does not strictly order him to withdraw to the east bank of Baqiao. As long as he is determined, this military order will be in vain...Does Li Ji want to withdraw to Baqiao by himself and completely calm down the war? This crisis at the foot of Nanshan?
Yuchi Gong couldn't figure it out, so he had to think about it carefully.
As the flag of the Shandong family in the court, Li Ji undoubtedly represents the interests of the Shandong family. However, the current crisis is because Cheng Yaojin led his army here without permission in the name of hunting down bandits, intending to wipe out all the Guanlong clan members - this No one knows whether it was Li Ji's instruction or not.
However, as the only remaining armed force of Guanlong, Yuchigong did not hesitate to disobey military orders and come to rescue in order to preserve the last bit of Guanlong's vitality. This was obviously contrary to the wishes of the Shandong family. Normally, Li Ji arrived with this military order. There should also be a military Sima who arrested Yuchi Gong and escorted him to the Chinese army for disposal.
However, Li Ji only talked about it and took no actual actions. He obviously allowed Yuchi Gong to continue to stay at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain and confront Zuowu Wei. He might start a war at any time and even involve Youtun Wei in it. It became a melee between the three armies...
So, whose interests does Li Ji represent?
As the banner of the Shandong family, he ignored the will of the Shandong family and even allowed Yu Chigong to prevent Cheng Yaojin from annihilating the Guanlong clan...
Yuchi Gong thought about it for a long time, but he still couldn't figure it out.
Did Li Ji have ulterior motives and secretly colluded with Guan Long, or... Li Ji couldn't make the decision at all? These were two reasons that could explain Li Ji's behavior, but no matter which one, Yuchi Gong found it unconvincing .
With Li Ji's qualifications, power, and status, why should Guan Long bribe him to betray the interests of the Shandong family at a time of life and death?
Similarly, with Li Ji's qualifications, power, official position, and hundreds of thousands of Eastern Expedition troops in his hands, who could make him unable to make the decision and have to deviate from the interests of the Shandong family?
Yu Chigong felt that his mind was in a mess and his hair was falling out from worry. He could only write a letter quickly, explaining the situation in detail, and ordered someone to send it to Dayun Temple to ask Changsun Wuji to make a decision.
…
On the west bank of Ba River and east of Chan River, Cheng Yaojin, who was confronting the Youtun Guards, was also confused. Listening to the scouts reporting back to Yu Chigong, the Youhou Guards showed no signs of retreating, and he was filled with doubts.
Coming to exterminate the remnants of Guanlong is the will of the entire Shandong family and represents the interests of the Shandong family. It is extremely unusual for the Shandong family to go beyond the banner figure Li Ji and issue orders to him. Now he is the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Expedition. However, Li Ji allowed Yuchi Gong to come to rescue the Guanlong clan in violation of military orders, and was unable to recall Yuchi Gong for a long time, making the whole thing even more bizarre and difficult to understand.
Li Ji has abandoned the Shandong family and joined another force?
Jiangnan, Guanlong, Donggong...which party can completely bribe Li Ji and make him obey orders and betray the Shandong family?
Something's wrong...
The soldiers outside the tent walked in quickly and whispered: "Commander, someone wants to see you."
Cheng Yaojin glanced at him and saw him nodding slightly, understanding what he meant, and said in a deep voice: "Invite him in and make a pot of tea."
"Here."
The soldiers withdrew, and after a moment, they introduced Zhang Xingcheng, who was wearing regular clothes, and offered him tea. He turned around and closed the tent door, and stood outside the door to prevent others from approaching.
Cheng Yaojin invited Zhang Xingcheng to take a seat and poured tea for him. Zhang Xingcheng bowed slightly and thanked him.
After drinking a cup of tea, Cheng Yaojin sneered: "You can be regarded as a decent figure in the court of various Shandong families over the years. Why are you wandering around like a scout probing horses, even in the middle of the night?"
Zhang Xingcheng held the tea cup, ignored the other party's teasing, and said with a wry smile: "You think I am willing to be so elusive and communicate with everyone? The situation is urgent and precarious. The principals of various Shandong families in Guanzhong are in chaos, and they are on the verge of overthrowing. Woe to you."
Cheng Yaojin was startled, put down his teacup, and asked in surprise: "What's going on?"
He also vaguely felt that there seemed to be something wrong within the Shandong Aristocratic Family, otherwise Li Ji's actions would be impossible to explain...
Zhang Xingcheng got straight to the point and said bluntly: "Each family gave the British Duke several instructions to wipe out Guanlong, but the British Duke turned a deaf ear and was unmoved. In desperation, he had to ask Lu Guogong to lead his army. Who would have expected that the British Duke It is difficult to understand why Yuchi Gong led his army to rescue Guanlong and condoned it."
Cheng Yaojin took a breath of cold air.
Sure enough, there was something wrong with Li Ji...
As the flag of the Shandong family in the court, in fact, the relationship between Li Ji and the Shandong family is not close under normal circumstances. This person is too deep in the city and has too many thoughts, so it is difficult to grasp. But no matter what, Li Ji represents the Shandong family. interests, so each family can only let it go.
The reason why after the defeat of the Guanlong clan, clans from Shandong aristocratic families and Jiangnan gentry will enter the court to replace Guanlong's official position is because Li Ji and Xiao Yu, two civil and military men, represent the greatest power in the court. Boss.
If Li Ji betrayed the Shandong family, why would the Shandong family enter the court and control the government?
Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened and he couldn't understand: "But even if Li Ji is the first person in the army, without the support of the Shandong family, how can he compete with the Jiangnan nobles in the court? Is it possible that he only has the head of the Prime Minister and Fu? The job title is to be a polished commander?"
Li Ji is crazy. Who can give him more support than the Shandong family?