Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

On October 16, the day Li Shan returned to Chang'an, more than 10,000 Turks who were trapped on the north side of the Jinghe River made three consecutive fierce attacks, but they never succeeded in breaking through.

The Tang army that besieged the Turks now had more than 60,000 troops, densely surrounding the Turks.

On October 17, Dubu Khan asked for a speech in front of the battle line. Chai Shao was in the rear. Li Jing, the deputy general manager of the Jingzhou Road March, ignored him.

For Li Jing, what he urgently needed was to strangle this Turkic force and capture or capture Dubu Khan alive.

If it weren't for Chai Shao, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Ling Jing and others, it would be difficult for Li Jing to command the generals under his command... Although people like Su Dingfang and Liu Heier were not here, there were many generals who were unhappy with him.

While the war was in full swing, Prince Li Shimin, who had been in Jingyang County, finally returned to Chang'an and dismounted directly at the gate of Prince Wei Si's Mansion in Yanshoufang.

After Li Shan bowed, he asked first, "Where is the third sister?"

Li Shimin's mouth twitched and he snorted angrily, "Third sister has entered the palace...otherwise my father should have summoned you to the palace for an audience."

"After all, the third sister still feels sorry for my little brother." Li Shan laughed, extended his hand and said: "Your Highness, please."

Li Shimin first met Mr. Zhu according to the ceremony, and praised his son in front of a mother as unparalleled in heaven and earth. Mr. Zhu did not want Li Shan to go to the battlefield again, so he couldn't help but smile.

"The old lady is quite like my mother." Li Shimin said this immediately after sitting down in the side room.

Although Li Shimin's mother, Empress Mu Dou, died young, she had extraordinary knowledge at an early age, was famous far and wide, and had a strong temperament. She was indeed somewhat similar to Zhu.

In the side room, Li Shimin and Li Shan sat opposite each other, and Ma Zhou sat next to him.

"I've heard the story about the bird screen." Li Shan smiled and said, "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are both good at shooting."

When the Dou family was choosing a son-in-law, Li Yuan was the only one who caught the eye of a peacock on the screen.

"Isn't Huairen good at shooting?" Li Shimin chuckled and said: "Back then, Guji shot down the Khan flag with an arrow outside the town, which was amazing."

The topic changed... Li Shan gave a helpless smile and said sincerely: "Your Highness, rest and recuperate. The Turks will be destroyed in three years. Why rush?"

The worst thing is to let Dubu Khan go. As long as he goes back, Tuli Khan will not be able to completely control the Turks. After this battle, the Turks can be said to be seriously injured, and Xue Yantuo has the ability to resist the Turks.

This is the safest strategy to sit back and watch the civil strife in the grassland, recuperate before sending troops... But if Dubu Khan is strangled, and then the army goes to the east of the river with the intention of defeating Tuli Khan, the chance of success is really slim.

Not to mention capturing Tuli Khan, the odds are almost lottery level... Yanmen Pass and Feihu Trail are still under the control of the Turks. It couldn't be easier for Tuli Khan to escape.

"Gu Ye thinks so." Li Shimin said with a sad look on his face, "But my father doesn't think so."

Li Shan was a little confused. In terms of military affairs, Li Yuan absolutely believed in Li Shimin, so why did he insist on it?

But the next moment, Li Shimin told the reason, "Within two years, there was Renshou Palace first, and then Renzhi Palace. The eldest brother and the four younger brothers all plotted rebellion. The father was heartbroken. He has been quite tired recently and intends to abdicate in the next few years."

Li Shan understood now that Li Yuan was going to abdicate to become the Supreme Emperor and let Li Shimin ascend the throne... It was indeed true. Now Li Shimin's power had entered the court, and even the prime minister had taken two positions. Not only did Li Yuan not have any way to stop him , even adding fuel to the flames.

Under such circumstances, what Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, wanted was nothing more than that in the history books. If he could capture and kill Dubu Khan and Tuli Khan, even if he could destroy the Turks after Li Shimin ascended the throne, what would happen? Part of the credit still goes to Li Yuan's head.

Li Shan was a little bit dumbfounded. He didn't expect that there would be a change in the Xuanwu Sect in this life, and after the change in the Xuanwu Sect, Li Yuan would still be the Supreme Emperor.

Li Shan scratched his head and asked, "How would your Highness respond?"

"Natural rejection." Li Shimin said very politically correctly: "It is not filial piety for a father to avoid his son."

Until the Tang Dynasty, there were seven Supreme Emperors in history. One of them cannot be counted, that is the father of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty. This man was never an emperor but was revered as the Supreme Emperor. He was unique in history.

Some of the other six emperors were forced to give up their positions, and some took the initiative to give up their positions, but except for a few resets, most of them ended badly.

There was even someone who was revered as the "Supreme Emperor", but his country perished four days later... That was a bad thing done by the last emperor of the Northern Qi Dynasty.

Hearing what Li Shimin said, Li Shan couldn't help but stretched out his hand and touched his nose... Now it is said that "it is not filial piety for a father to avoid his son." I don't know what you said in history.

"No matter what, I have to give it a try." Li Shimin whispered: "My father is obsessed... In the early years, the Turks were very powerful, and my father was depressed. Fortunately, Huairen defeated the Turks repeatedly, and this time the Turks entered Beijing..."

"Follow the prince's order." Li Shan was a little helpless, "But I'm afraid that Tu Li will be far away just after sending out troops."

"It doesn't matter." Li Shimin said with a smile: "And Huairen leads the army, and if he escapes quickly, he can break the siege of Shuozhou."

"I hope it is as the prince said."

Li Shan insisted on not agreeing yesterday. On the one hand, he felt that it was meaningless. Of course, he did not know that Li Yuan was about to abdicate. On the other hand, it was also because he wanted to communicate with Li Shimin.

Li Yuan knew that there was a connection between Li Shimin and Li Shan, but he did not know that the relationship between the two was so close.

Now that he knows the inside story, Li Shan doesn't care anymore. He just went to Hedong for a tour. Tuli Khan has been in Bingzhou for nearly a month. He has grabbed everything he can and cannot capture the city that cannot be captured. The troops should be withdrawing soon.

All in all, there is no danger to me.

After the matter was settled, Li Shimin's eyes fell on Ma Zhou and said with a smile: "Huairen has repeatedly recommended me, which will be of great use in the future."

"Your Highness, think about it for yourself." Li Shan laughed, "King Ma Bin is indeed talented. Although he is not good at military strategy, he is quite capable of managing domestic affairs. I was in charge of the Prefectural General Manager's Office back then, and it was thanks to his strength."

"I will join the civil service for the time being and wait until later." Li Shimin gave me a guarantee and would wait until I ascend the throne.

Although Li Shan had Er Zhuhuan as an internal agent during the Xuanwu Gate incident, it is hard to say whether he could have broken through the Xuanwu Gate without Ma Zhou controlling Chang He. After all, Er Zhuhuan only had three or four personal guards around him. Going into battle together may not open the city gate.

"By the way, Huairen and Duke Dai this time..." Li Shimin sighed: "He will lead the army out of the fortress in the future. Does Huairen have the desire to lead the army?"

Seeing Li Shan shake his head, Li Shimin smiled bitterly and said: "This time the Duke of Dai has lost a lot of face. Even Wei Chigong and Qin Qiong are very angry with him..." "Back then, I discussed with Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to go out to the fortress, and we should send out all the troops together." Li Shan very nonchalantly said: "Li Yaoshi can lead the army alone, and Zhang Gongjin can be his deputy."

When Li Shan seized the army and defeated the Turks three times, only Zhang Gongjin among the generals followed Li Jing. Later, Li Jing served first as the general manager of Daizhou and then as the general manager of Yanzhou Road March. Zhang Gongjin was always his deputy.

In fact, in history (when Li Jing destroyed DTZ), his deputy was Zhang Gongjin.

Li Shimin smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had private discussions with Ling Jing, Fang Xuanling and other staff. They all felt that Li Shan was acting half-publicly and half-privately this time. They were angry that Li Jing failed to go south to rescue Jingzhao at the critical moment, causing him to fight with a weak force. Hu Qi, who was twice as powerful as Li Jing, also intended to make enemies with Li Jing to avoid the disaster of cliques in the future.

Li Shan knew it in his heart. After Li Jing destroyed DTZ in history, he stayed behind closed doors for a long time to thank guests, and he could finally start well and end well.

Among the famous generals in the world, Li Shimin deserves to be the leader, followed by Li Jing and Li Shan.

However, Li Shan was a close friend of Li Jing's nephew Li Kai, and had a close relationship with Li Jing's two younger brothers, Li Keshi and Li Qianyou, which forced Li Shan to cut off from Li Jing.

This was what Li Shan had thought about a long time ago, and what Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Li Jing all knew... But Li Jing didn't expect that Li Shan would go so far this time.

In fact, Li Shan was not expecting the current situation. He did not like Li Jing, and he did want to cut off from Li Jing. He even really did not want Li Jing to succeed in this battle.

But it was really not Li Shan who instigated Duan Zhixuan, Zhang Shigui, Liu Hei'er, Hu Yan and other generals to treat Li Jing as a fart... The generals below were mutinied and did not listen to Li Jing's command at all. This was really not Li Shan's idea. .

After Li Shan arrived, Du Ruhui supported Li Jing, and Li Shan naturally would not give up.

"Huairen is going to Hedong..." Li Shimin raised his fingers and tapped his knees. After thinking for a while, "We really can't capture Dubu Khan."

Obviously, no matter how good Li Shan is at fighting, the chance of sending troops to Hedong to capture and kill Tuli Khan is almost negligible.

Li Shan nodded, "It's just that this time the Hu Qi raided Jingzhao. If Dubu Khan is captured alive and released... I'm afraid the court will have some objections."

"And I'm afraid my father won't nod." Li Jing knew very well what Li Yuan was thinking about now. When he was about to abdicate, to capture a Turkic Khan alive and then put him back... Li Yuan would definitely not do it.

Li Shan chuckled and said, "But I'm afraid that I will go all out on behalf of Duke Li Yaoshi..."

Li Shimin's mouth twitched. If he wanted to let Dubu Khan live, he must inform the two generals Chai Shao and Li Jing... Chai Shao must be indifferent, but Li Jing is afraid that he will become resentful.

The Turks have been trapped on the north bank of the Jing River for almost two days, and Dubu Khan wants to talk to the Tang army... After all, Tuli Khan is still there!

In the battle at Jingzhou last year, you were able to let Tuli Khan go, but can't you let me go this time?

But Li Jing obviously wanted to take the credit... After waiting for several years, he finally got a chance to defeat the Turks in Lingzhou, but a black pot fell from the sky and hit him on the head.

Finally, Li Huairen left, and Li Jing naturally would not let this credit slip away from his hands.

"Later, when I come to the palace to see you and take the initiative to ask for a royal tassel, Dubu Khan... then I have to hand it over to His Highness the Crown Prince." Li Shan wanted to laugh, but suddenly paused and said in a low voice: "Yesterday I refused, but today I took the initiative to ask for a tassel." …”

Li Shimin rolled his eyes and came over, "Don't worry, I have made arrangements."

After receiving the report from Li Yuan's attendant at dusk yesterday, Li Shimin was very satisfied... Li Yuan regarded Li Shan as his direct descendant, but he also regarded Li Shan as his direct descendant.

Li Shan did not agree to Li Yuan, obviously waiting for his decision.

It was already noon, and Li Shimin was having dinner at Li's house. Li Shan arranged a small hot pot. Sun Moon Lake had launched hot pot in the West Market for several years, and the restaurant was still used by Du Ruhui.

In the past few years, the base ingredients have improved greatly, and the various condiments have become better and better. The table is filled with all kinds of beef and mutton fillets, fish fillets, duck intestines, and duck blood.

Li Shimin also ate with gusto. Li Shan on the side couldn't help but said: "I heard from Prince Zhongshan that the food in the East Palace is really hard to eat. I think Prince Zhongshan has lost weight."

"Huairen just calls me Dalang." Li Shimin said casually: "Most of the officials in the East Palace are in charge, but the palace servants and servants cannot all be dispersed, but I can't worry about it. Originally, the cook in Tiance Mansion was outside the palace, but inside the palace , there are many obstacles.”

Li Shan nodded. This makes sense. Many condiments and dishes are not allowed in the palace.

"Yesterday, I rejected His Majesty and the Twelve Guards General. Let's wait until His Highness ascends the throne." Li Shan said casually: "At that time, Zong Zhengqing can also resign, and I guess His Highness does not expect me to manage the government... I will finally be able to live a leisurely life. "

"Don't be so lazy." Li Shimin laughed and scolded: "The world has been unified for only a few years, and everything is waiting for prosperity. Huairen was only a few years old in Daidi, Hedong prospered because of it, and the Turks are still there, Xue Yantuo is getting stronger and stronger, Goguryeo, Goguryeo, Western Turks and Tuyuhun may not bow their heads..."

"The prosperity of Hedong is nothing more than Guyanmen." Li Shan shook his head, "His Royal Highness has many heroes. Yesterday, I commented in front of His Majesty that there are few outstanding generals in the Tiance Mansion. In fact, it is His Highness's fault. Now His Highness is in charge. It is not suitable to go out to fight in the East Palace, as Zhang Shigui, Zhang Gongjin, Li Shiji, etc. all have handsome talents."

The corners of Li Shimin's mouth were almost crooked, but thinking about it, what Li Shan said seemed to make sense.

After finishing the hot pot, the two went out and went straight into the palace to have an audience. As soon as they entered the Zhuque Gate, they saw He Lou Xingshu coming up to them.

During the Xuanwu Gate Incident, He Lou Xingshu led his troops to confront Wang Junkuo, and later joined the army to break the siege of Tiance Mansion. He was later promoted to Zhonglang General of Zuojian Gate Guards, stationed at Liangyi Gate and Ganlu Gate, and often accompanied the emperor.

"Meet His Highness the Crown Prince." He Lou Xingshu saluted and said, "Your Majesty summons the Crown Prince and Alang to see you."

"Ahem, cough!" Li Shan glared over.

Li Shimin was open-minded and said with a smile: "He was originally your personal guard, so there is nothing wrong with calling him Alang."

"I dare not agree with the prince's words." Li Shan said seriously as he walked away: "Is it possible that this post of Zhonglang, the guard of the left prison, was given by me?"

Li Shimin smiled and said nothing more, just thinking that although Huairen was also from a noble family, after all, he was the descendant of the former Duke Shen of the Sui Dynasty, but his family was in decline and was once depressed, so his character was quite different from that of the children of the noble family.

A moment later, in the Liangyi Hall, Li Yuan handed the memorial to Li Shimin with a gloomy expression, and glared at Li Shan, "Why don't you take the initiative to ask for the imperial examination?"

Li Shan took the memorial and glanced at it for a few times, and couldn't help turning his head to look at Li Shimin... Bingzhou was defeated. Is this the excuse you prepared?

Li Shimin didn't look good either. He didn't know that this memorial was originally prepared because Duke Qu Tutong was seriously ill.