Traveling through the early Tang Dynasty starts with hanging

Chapter 163
Li Kai rushed to Beijing non-stop for three days, and at the most critical moment he tried his best to prevent the crown prince's personal conquest. It can be said that he made a great contribution and was praised by King Qin and many aides of Prince Qin's residence.

Although he was tired, Li Kai didn't go to rest, arranged all kinds of things properly, and didn't go home after that, but turned out of the city and went to Zhujiagou.

Before leaving Beijing that day, Li Kai came to visit Mrs. Zhu, and his words faintly revealed Li Shan's whereabouts... At least it was confirmed that Li Shan was still alive, and this time, Li Kai came to announce the good news.

After Li Kai narrated everything he could say in detail, the Zhu family heaved a long sigh of relief. At the beginning, she only thought about her son making contributions and becoming an official. Worrying.

Zhu Wei next to him smiled and said, "Although he is young, he has pride."

"This time he was able to capture and kill Liu Heitai and pacify Shandong. Huairen has made a lot of contributions. When he returns to Beijing, he will definitely be rewarded."

"That Mr. Ling took the characters for Da Lang?"

"Yes, Ling Jing is a famous scholar in Shandong. In the future, he will move to Zhujiagou with Su Dingfang and more than [-] people." Li Kai said with a smile: "I came here today, firstly to make my aunt feel relieved, and secondly to speak for Huairen. Zhujiagou needs more Build a house."

Zhu Wei nodded slightly. There was no shortage of manpower, craftsmen, money and goods. This was not a difficult task, especially since there was a large amount of grain and rice stored in Dongshan Temple.

Zhu Wei asked about some trivial matters about Li Shan in Hebei, as well as the personal guards formed by Zhujiagou's young and strong, and Li Kai picked up what he knew.

Thirty personal guards joined the army with Li Shan. Although Su Dingfang deliberately prevented them from participating in the frontal battle in the next few battles, but when they attacked the enemy camp at night, except for Zhu Ba and other three or four people, the rest of the personal guards entered the enemy camp. , two people were killed on the spot, and one was seriously injured and died.

After Li Kai left, Zhu Wei clicked his tongue twice, "Although it is difficult for Da Lang to fight in person, he is quite like an ancestor in planning and making decisions."

Zhu's eyeballs moved, but he didn't answer, but instead said: "Go to the city tomorrow and ask..."

"Let's forget it." Zhu Wei sighed: "Wei County won a big victory, Liu Heita lost, and the crown prince was forced to come back from the expedition, and now the East Palace is bound to be in chaos...not to mention that Shi Wanbao, the former Duke, is actually dead. "

"Even if we enter the city tomorrow, we won't be able to find out what's going on."

Glancing at Mrs. Zhu, Zhu Wei emphasized his tone, "Wei Xuancheng, the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, appreciates Da Lang quite a lot. It's only logical...Unexpectedly, Li Dewu entered the Eastern Palace..."

The reason why Zhu Wei was able to inquire about the news repeatedly was because there was an old man working in the East Palace, so both he and the Zhu family hoped that Li Shan would pass the scientific examination to become an official and then enter the East Palace.

After all, Li Jiancheng is the eldest son, and the position of prince seems to be quite stable.

But unexpectedly, Li Dewu suddenly entered the East Palace, and also served as the prince Qianniu Beishen... If they knew that this was Li Shan's instigation and promotion, they would probably slap Li Shan in the face.

Mrs. Zhu gave a long sigh. The other backgrounds of her and her elder brother don't matter now, and they won't cause any trouble. Originally, she planned to tell Li Shan after he returned to Chang'an... Now it's all right. It is very likely to enter the East Palace.

Uncle and nephew might become rivals... After all, what Li Kai said today is very clear, when Li Shan returns to the capital, the King of Qin will definitely reward him heavily.

"I always feel..." Zhu Wei said in a low voice, "I always feel that Da Lang looks at King Qin differently..."

"It's not just because of King Qin's military achievements..."

Mrs. Zhu felt the same way. In the case of Changlepo a few months ago, his son and the children of Prince Qin's mansion had an enmity, but it didn't take long for them to turn enemies into friends... It's easy to say, but it's not that easy. My son also put a lot of thought into it. .

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Xiaoman came in cautiously with a snack in his hand, "Ma'am, do you have any news about your husband?"

"Don't worry, I'm safe and sound." Zhu Wei said with a smile, "One or two months at the earliest, and at the end of the year, he will definitely return to Beijing."

A look of joy appeared on Xiaoman's face, "Thank God, tomorrow I will go to Dongshan Temple to offer some more incense sticks to Langjun."

Zhu Wei laughed loudly, got up and said: "It's late at night, let's rest, presumably the two days in Beijing are full of excitement, it's better for us not to join in the fun."

Zhu Wei's words are so correct. In the current Chang'an City, it is like the lid of a teapot being lifted up by boiling water, and there is no moment of rest.

The two battle reports, one morning and one night, caused a sensation in Chang'an.

Some people are lamenting the luck of Li Jiandong, the prince of the current dynasty, how unlucky he is... After finally suppressing the king of Qin and obtaining the permission of the sage to conquer in person, the result has not yet left Chang'an, and the edict has not even been announced. People in Hebei have already The finishing touches are beginning.

Some people are lamenting that Li Daoxuan, king of Huaiyang, actually cheered up after suffering a big defeat in Xiabo, and led his disabled soldiers to defeat Liu Heitai, which is quite like the battle in Qianshuiyuan back then.

Some people are lamenting that Yuan Guogong Shi Wanbao has the guts to pretend to be a sage's edict... Such a serious crime, no wonder he should commit suicide in shame.

But the confidantes of the East Palace and Prince Qin's Mansion are very clear that this matter is not that simple.

In Chengqian Palace, Qin Wangfei carefully brought tea soup, Li Shimin sipped a few words of praise, and said with a smile: "There is news that the East Palace envoy will leave Beijing in the afternoon and order Sanhu to go north in the name of Shi Wanbao."

This is the news that surprised Li Shimin, and it is also the news that makes Li Shimin laugh... Who would have thought that Li Jiancheng was so impatient?

Princess Qin pursed her lips and smiled, "The prince is tenacious and never gives up easily."

"That's right, so even if you can't do it yourself, you still have to take the credit." Li Shimin thought and thought, and couldn't help laughing again, "I don't know who gave the advice, Daoxuan killed it with his own hands ten days before the victory in Wei County." Shi Wanbao was the leader, but he kept it hidden and didn't report to Beijing until after the victory."

"Daoxuan doesn't have such thoughts, is that Li Huairen?"

"I'm afraid it's Ling Jing." Li Shimin shook his head and said, "If there is a vacancy in the military of Cao Shen, the only soldier in the Cefu, Ling Jing can make up for it... But I don't know if this person is willing to join the Tiancefu."

Qin Wangfei was extremely intelligent, she said in surprise: "Don't your Highness take Li Huairen under his command?"

"Li Dewu has already entered the East Palace. Without His Highness' protection, I'm afraid there will be something unbearable."

"Ok?"

"The third sister entered the palace today and privately mentioned that Li Huairen told Demou that the escort of food and grass to the north that day... was secretly instructed by Li Dewu."

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, and said with a sneer, "Tiger poison still doesn't eat its eggs."

Concubine Qin carefully looked at her husband's expression, pondered for a while and did not continue to persuade.

Li Shimin was thinking about the letter that Li Kai brought... Li Shan mentioned in the letter that he hoped to participate in the scientific examination in the spring of next year, which obviously hoped to become an official through the scientific examination, rather than being recommended to the Qin Palace.

They rescued Li Daoxuan, helped Tian Liuan and Qi Shanxing defeat the enemy, and recruited Cheng Mingzhen, Ling Jing, and Su Dingfang on their behalf. Li Shimin naturally would not doubt Li Shan's sincerity, but was just thinking... this one What kind of role will the pawns, which were originally insignificant but now have some weight, play in the future.

At this moment, Li Shimin was very leisurely, Li Jiancheng was still furious, and the sage Li Yuan did not turn over his cards, but leaned on the couch alone, his face full of sadness.

The second battle report almost blocked the possibility of the East Palace sending troops to seize merit... Without the name of Shi Wanbao, the deputy commander of the march, it is impossible for King Qi to lead his troops northward no matter how thick-skinned he is.

But this is not the most important thing, or this is not the reason why Ling Jing specially arranged this battle report after the victory in Wei County.

The truth of it may not be obvious to many people at first, but it can be figured out after a little thought.

After all, Li Daoxuan was a descendant of the clan, and he was also the commander of the army in Hebei Province. Although Shi Wanbao was favored by the sage, he was still a courtier and Li Daoxuan's deputy.

The sage gave the edict not to coach Li Daoxuan, but to Shi Wanbao... This is too incomprehensible.

Moreover, the sage Li Yuan is not the kind of monarch who was born in a deep palace and raised in the hands of a woman. He has rich experience in leading troops in battle all his life.
What's more, does Shi Wanbao himself have the guts to imitate the edict of a sage?
This possibility is almost non-existent!

Therefore, many people would speculate that Shi Wanbao was a direct descendant of the Eastern Palace, and that Prince Li Jiancheng probably asked the sage for this edict in private, in order to control the entire army at a critical moment and check and balance Huaiyang King Li Daoxuan, who was in the lineage of King Qin.

In the final analysis, it was because of seizing the heir.

Li Yuan sighed for a long time, and secretly cursed for shame.

Although he once regretted that his nephew Li Daoxuan was unknown, but if Shi Wanbao controlled the entire army and put Li Daoxuan in the battle, and he could turn defeat into victory... Li Yuan could admit the existence of this edict half-heartedly.

And now?

What an embarrassment... This not only refers to Shi Wanbao, but also refers to Prince Li Jiancheng.

(End of this chapter)