The boat had been floating on the sea for a day and a night, and the shore was no longer visible. Between the sky and the earth, there was a vast expanse, and I completely lost my sense of direction.
Li Mu was thrown to the bottom of the fishing boat, next to the disgusting fish basket. The fishy smell emitted made Li Mu almost retching his breakfast three days ago.
He was not restricted from freedom. It was probably because the man in black had predicted that he would not be able to pull off any tricks on this vast ocean.
Li Mu was hunched over in a corner a little away from the fish basket, breathing in small sips, trying to reduce the fishy smell entering his mouth.
His head was resting on a piece of wood, and the speed of sound propagating in solid materials was much greater than that of air. Although there was the sound of waves hitting the fishing boat, he could still clearly hear the voices of Li You and the men in black above the partition.
chat.
"...Where are we going?" Li You looked a little irritated: "What plans does uncle have? Why, can't he explain it to me?"
"Your Highness, please be patient. You will know when you get to the place." The tone of the man in black was not very polite. For these 'death warriors', except for the masters they were loyal to, everyone else in their eyes was the same as
They are no different from ordinary people. Even if Li Shimin is here, they are not allowed to give face. Li You has developed a arrogant character over the years. Unless he can't afford to offend people, otherwise he will offend him even a little bit.
Can't accept it.
His temper rose, and he forgot about the situation at this time, and said angrily: "If you don't explain where you are taking me, then turn around and go back! At worst, your father will kill me, and I will admit it! Turn around and go back
!”
The man in black didn't even care about life and death, so how could he care about Li You's temper? Hearing the words, he said: "Now that things have come to this, we can no longer listen to His Highness. We are executing the master's orders. When we get to the place, we will naturally kill ourselves."
, now please please calm down, Your Highness!"
"If you ask me to calm down, I will have to calm down? Then do I still have face? You--"
The words ended here, and all that was left was whining. Apparently the man in black got tired of hearing it and blocked his mouth.
Li Mu shook his head and thought that his guess was indeed correct. This group of people would not give Li You face. What happened before had already shown that Li You's words had no binding force on them at all.
How is this kind of dead warrior made?
Li Mu was really a little curious.
As a person of later generations, it is difficult for him to understand how a group of people can be so stupid and loyal. If you want to say that it is one person, it is very possible. After all, there are always a few strange people, but a group of people are all
Strange, this is very strange, there must be a special way.
While he was thinking about it, suddenly the hatch partition opened and Li You was pushed in. Then the hatch was closed. Li Mu looked at Li You and saw that his hands were tied and his mouth was gagged, and he couldn't help but feel a little gloating.
.
How could it be worse than being a prisoner like myself?
"Uh-huh--"
Li You was so smoked that he wanted to vomit, but his mouth was blocked and he couldn't spit it out. He swallowed a mouthful of dirt and held back tears.
Li Mu couldn't bear to look at him and said, "Come here and I'll help you."
Li You glared angrily, but he couldn't help the nausea caused by retching, so he finally gave in and moved next to Li Mu. Li Mu stretched out his hand to help him untie the rope from his wrist, and Li You quickly pulled the cloth in his mouth and took a mouthful of stolen goods.
Wow, I spat it out all at once.
"These bastards -" Li You took a long time to get used to the smell of the cabin on the bottom floor, and his face turned pale with vomiting: "I can't let them go, I must kill them!"
Li Mu smiled and said: "Hey, you know the inside and outside. You are with them, and I am an outsider. Shouldn't you order them to kill me now?"
"There's no need for them, I'll kill you too!" Li You was already on the verge of collapse. Hearing Li Mu's words, he felt ridiculed and immediately rushed over. But with such a little guy, he was no match for Li Mu.
After struggling for a few times, Li Mu punched him in the eye socket and gave him a black eye.
Wow, I cried.
I don’t know what he thought of, but the crying became louder and sadder. Li Mu was still on guard, but when he saw such a scene, he didn’t know what to do. He felt upset and shouted: "Be honest!
Why are you crying! What a whimpering bitch!"
"Who are you calling a pussy?"
"What are you talking about!" Li Mu was already convinced that Li You could no longer order the man in black. Then he didn't have to worry about anything, and he spoke boldly: "What's the use of crying? You should think about how to get out!"
"Escape?" Li You sobbed: "How to escape? You didn't see that this vast sea is surrounded by water on all sides. Even if they are dead now, can we still swim back?"
"We can-" Li Mu was about to say, but suddenly realized that the man in black might hear what he said, so he changed his words: "I'm too lazy to talk to you, stay away, or I'll beat you if you cry again!"
"Me," Li You gritted his teeth in anger, but in the small space of the bottom warehouse, he really couldn't beat Li Mu, and the man in black didn't come to help. If he messed with him again, he was destined to be beaten. His lips moved, and he finally chose
A compromise.
The two of them each occupied a corner of the cabin, and they did not interfere with each other and had their own thoughts.
…
With the cavalry stampeding, the group entered Chang'an at high speed.
It looked like they were a group of captains from Zhechong Mansion, but they were all dusty and seemed to have traveled a long way.
Soon, they arrived in front of the imperial city. There was an official letter from General Li Ji, and the news was quickly delivered to the palace. Li Shimin, who was reviewing the memorial in the imperial study, saw Li Ji's memorial, his face changed greatly, and he immediately ordered to be summoned.
When the group of people arrived at the Tai Chi Palace, Li Shimin retreated. Except for the team of guards who came from a distance, there was almost no one else. Of course, Eunuch Gao was there, but he was hiding in the secret passage of the agency, and people outside could not see it.
Without seeing him, he could hear the sounds outside. If Li Shimin was in danger, he could jump out to rescue him immediately.
The person sent by Li Ji was a eloquent man. He told Li Shimin exactly what happened during this period, just like telling a story. It was vivid and vivid, as if it was happening before his eyes.
Of course, it is inevitable to add a few words about Yuan Tiangang.
Li Shimin had read Dongchang's secret report and Yuan Tiangang's secret report before, and already had a rough idea of what happened. When he heard this man wash himself in detail, his face was really unsightly.
The plan can't keep up with the changes! Who would have thought that Yin Hongzhi would actually collude with the Baekje people!
He originally thought that the person who colluded with the Baekje people would be Jisitang. But now, the facts are exactly the opposite of what he imagined. Jisitang did not collude with Baekje, but Yin Hongzhi had colluded with him for a long time. The Baekje people were
His back-up men, or perhaps those so-called dead men, might themselves be Baekje people!
Everything Li Mu did once again proved his loyalty. Otherwise, how could he have sacrificed his life for Li Chengqian? He didn't have to do this. After discovering that he was being plotted, he had enough reasons not to do so. Compared with
Suddenly, Li Shimin felt that his behavior paled in comparison.
Use the heart of a villain to read the belly of a gentleman!
Now Li Mu is being held captive at sea, and he does not know whether he is alive or dead. If he has any shortcomings, Li Shimin himself will not be able to forgive himself.
What's more, there is now a crazy woman who wants a son from her again. Mrs. Lu wrote a handwritten letter and was also brought here. Mrs. Lu told Li Shimin bluntly that if something happened to Li Mu this time, she would immediately launch an heir.
It doesn't matter whether all the trump cards in the Tang Dynasty are successful or not, they will definitely stir up chaos in half of the Tang Dynasty!
Li Shimin nodded slowly and said: "Li Mu, you have contributed to the country! You have contributed to me and to the country. I will never leave him alone. You guys have a day of rest first. I have a letter for you to take back tomorrow. Credit to me."
Remember, I am a person who will reward you for your merits. You can go down and wait for this case to be concluded. I will reward you heavily."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Everyone retreated, and Eunuch Gao came out of the secret passage and stood beside him with his hands tied, waiting for Li Shimin's instructions.
Li Shimin sat alone in the imperial study for a long time, and then whispered: "Instructions have been sent to summon Sun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Xiao Yu, Yuchi Gong, and Cheng Yaojin to have an audience!"
Eunuch Gao asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, if you summon so many important ministers at once, what do you mean -?"
"Fight Baekje!"
…
About an hour later, everyone gathered in Tai Chi Palace. After listening to Li Shimin's thoughts, Changsun Wuji was the first to stand up and said: "Your Majesty, no!"
"Why not?"
"To conquer a country, one must have a famous army. Although Baekje is small, it still needs a famous army. May I ask, Your Majesty, what is the name of the army?"
"Baekje raises dead soldiers with the intention of assassinating the Tang Dynasty prince and kidnapping me, the Tang Dynasty Marquis of Luoyang! Isn't such a crime enough?" Li Shimin said fiercely: "If Li Mu loses even half of his hair, I will destroy Baekje for him.
revenge!"
Changsun Wuji really wanted to say, now that he has become ruthless, what did he do when he was planning? As a person who participated in the whole planning process, no one knows the details of this matter better than him. But this cannot be said now.
It's like slapping Li Shimin in the face.
"Your Majesty, this name won't work!" Changsun Wuji retorted: "Not only will it not work, it will make the world laugh!"
Li Shimin's eyes widened and he asked: "What?!"
"Your Majesty, no one knows whether the thieves have really gone to Baekje now that they are out to sea. These are just Li Ji's guesses. In the vast sea, maybe the fishing boat has capsized? Or is their destination a Japanese country? Silla? These are all
You can’t say for sure! If we attack Baekje at this time, Baekje will say, ‘There’s no need to blame others if you want to.’ How will all the countries in the world view the Tang Dynasty?”
Mature and prudent people, such as Fang Xuanling and Yuchi Gong, all nodded in agreement. This approach cannot withstand scrutiny.
But rough people like Cheng Yaojin didn't have so much delicate thoughts, and said angrily: "You people are extremely rotten! What time is it now? Not to mention how much contribution Li Mu has made to the country.
What is obvious now is that he is trying to save the prince. And his old mother is that crazy woman. I don’t need to tell you who she is?” He looked at Changsun Wuji and others and said, “It’s you.
Don’t you recognize it, or you don’t recognize it?”
Everyone avoided his sight, Cheng Yaojin spread his hands and said: "That's right! Everyone knows what kind of strength that crazy woman has when she goes crazy. If something happens to Li Mu this time, and she takes revenge, she will really lose half of the world.
What are the consequences of that? You think about it yourself!"
Changsun Wuji retorted: "Then you can't be led away by that woman!"
"Yeah, I think so too." Cheng Yaojin asked: "You want to be tough, right? Then you can think of a way to get the best of both worlds?"
"I can't help it!"
"How else can I say that you are farting?" Cheng Yaojin said, he was so angry that he would not pay for his life. Also, as a senior, he had no scruples even in front of Changsun Wuji. When Changsun Wuji met him,
Just as he said, when a scholar encounters soldiers, he cannot explain why. He simply kept silent, looked at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, please make your decision!"
Li Shimin was not someone who just acted out of heed, and Changsun Wuji's words were not completely unreasonable. He hesitated for a while, looked at Fang Xuanling, and asked: "Prime Minister, what do you mean?"
"Your Majesty." Fang Xuanling is good at planning, but not good at making decisions. Whenever he encounters an issue, it is his specialty to analyze and sort out the pros and cons. He was silent just now, just calculating this matter in his mind: "I am now
I’m not thinking about Madam Lu or Baekje, what I’m really worried about now is Goguryeo!”
Cheng Yaojin shouted: "You are talking nonsense again. What is there to worry about in Goguryeo? Does this matter have anything to do with others?"
Fang Xuanling realized the true meaning of "a scholar meets a soldier" earlier than Changsun Wuji, and ignored Cheng Yaojin at all, and continued to say to Li Shimin: "I look at Baekje's behavior, and it doesn't seem like he dares to do such a big thing. Baekje
Elementary school, even if they tried all the men in the country, they would still have less than 200,000 available people, and there would not be enough food and grass. There is no way they could cross the sea to offend the Tang Dynasty. So the driving force behind this incident is most likely still
Goguryeo. It is impossible for Goguryeo to dare to do this without a backup plan. Your Majesty, the enemy is hidden and we are clear, so we should not act rashly!"
Cheng Yaojin shouted: "But if we don't make a decision now, what will happen if Boy Mu is in danger?"
"You idiot!" Fang Xuanling couldn't stand listening anymore and asked: "Even if something happens to the boy Li Mu now, what can you do? This place is more than a thousand miles away from Qizhou. The news we have received now,
It was already three or five days ago. Deployment of troops and generals is a waste of time. In less than two months, can the troops reach Qizhou? By the time your troops arrive in Qizhou, Li Mu will be dead, and he will be dead long ago!
"
"Then what do you think we should do?" Cheng Yaojin stared and asked, "Then we won't save you? Don't care?"
Changsun Wuji took the words and said: "So we have to think about it in the long term - as for now, he can only seek happiness for himself."
"You can say this kind of thing!" Cheng Yaojin knew in his heart that Changsun Wuji was right, but psychologically, it was still difficult for him to accept it. Li Shimin had not yet expressed his stance, and Cheng Yaojin was speechless.