Li Shimin, one emperor through the ages

Chapter 13 Raising Preparations (1)
2
When Li Yuan heard that the army was defeated in Mayi, he secretly complained, and hurried back to Taiyuan City with Liu Zhenghui and Tang Jian.Right now, although he is dissatisfied with the emperor, he also has objections in his heart, but he deeply feels that his strength is insufficient, so he needs to accumulate in secret.Shimin has recruited more than ten thousand soldiers and is stepping up his training. He himself raises money to support customers, and has made many heroes who are willing to do their best.However, everything is still in progress, and it still takes time to recruit more talents. He really doesn't want to turn against Emperor Sui Yang at this time, and make a target of public criticism.

When Li Yuan returned to the courtyard, he saw Gao Junya and Wang Rengong waiting there. Because of the defeat, Gao Junya had lost her usual arrogance and stood respectfully, waiting for Li Yuan to leave.Li Yuan knew that how to punish Gao Junya and Wang Rengong had to be decided by the emperor.It is very likely that the emperor will not deal with Gao Junya, but may take advantage of the defeat of Mayi to take advantage of himself.Thinking of this, I was startled, but walked up to Gao Junya with a smile, and said:
"Victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs. I can only blame my poor arrangements. When the emperor convicts me, I, Li Yuan, will bear it."

Gao Junya usually insists that she is the emperor's confidant, and secretly entrusts the emperor with the order to supervise Li Yuan, so she doesn't respect Li Yuan very much.This time he defeated Mayi, and he pleaded for his life again.Originally thought that Li Yuan would definitely become angry, humiliate himself, and then hand it over to the emperor.Unexpectedly, Li Yuan didn't blame himself deeply, and said that the emperor's crimes were committed by Li Yuan.Gao Junya was so moved for a moment, her knees went limp, she knelt down in front of Li Yuan, and said in a sobbing voice, "I'm guilty."

"Deputy Gao, stay behind, please hurry up, let's discuss the remedy." Li Yuan said, taking a step forward, reaching out to support Gao Junya.

Wang Rengong listened and watched, feeling deeply that Li Yuan was righteous, so he couldn't help but knelt down in front of Li Yuan.Li Yuan had just helped Gao Junya up, but when he saw Wang Rengong kneeling again, he felt amused in his heart, hesitated for a while, stepped forward to help Wang Rengong up, and said:

"The prefect can return to Mayi quickly, and arrange the defense together with Li Jing. There should be no more mistakes. If the emperor sends someone here to investigate, Li Yuan will try his best to excuse the prefect."

When Wang Rengong heard this, he couldn't help but burst into tears of gratitude, and immediately got on his horse and rushed back to Mayi.Just as Wang Rengong left, the special envoy of Emperor Sui Yang arrived. Li Yuan, Wang Rengong and others knelt down to receive the imperial edict:
"Execute Wang Rengong immediately, and send Li Yuan to Dongdu to face the saint."

After listening to the imperial decree, Gao Junya hurriedly said to the special envoy before Li Yuan could speak:
"Now Taiyuan is extremely unstable, and Li Liushou must not leave. I am willing to go to the Eastern Capital with the special envoy, and face the Holy Lord, and lead Mayi to the crime of defeat."

Hearing the words, the special envoy thought for a while, nodded to Li Yuan, and said, "Stay behind and take care, I will take Deputy Gao to stay behind and go to face the saint."

"Thank you, thank you!" Li Yuan bowed his hands and sent Gao Junya and the special envoy away.

Back in the mansion, Li Yuan summoned Li Shimin, Pei Ji, Liu Zhenghui, and Tang Jian to discuss countermeasures.Li Yuan guessed how Emperor Sui Yang would deal with him in the next step, but he was not very sure, so he first asked for everyone's opinions.

"I think there are three possibilities." Liu Zhenghui said: "First, the emperor wanted to take you to Dongdu, but it was just a moment of anger, which made you a false alarm, and then everything returned to the original state; This will hit you hard and cut off your military power; thirdly, the emperor may take this opportunity to kill again."

"I don't think things will be so serious. Now the world is in chaos and the emperor is surrounded by enemies. He won't do anything to stay behind. It should be the first possibility." Tang Jian took Liu Zhenghui's words.

"Not necessarily, the emperor does not recognize his six relatives, and he was suspicious of his father before..." Li Shimin said, looking at his father.

After hearing this, Li Yuan nodded slightly, feeling that his second son was expressing his worries, he couldn't help but sighed a long time.Seeing him, Pei Ji was about to speak, but was stopped by Li Yuan.With another long sigh, Li Yuan said sadly:
"I don't have any other worries, I just worry that my family will be ruined and I will laugh for the hero."

Li Shimin stood up when he heard this, and said: "My father feels the same. Now Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty is immoral and immoral, the people are poor, and the outside of Taiyuan City is already a place of war. If we only know how to be loyal to the Sui Dynasty, we will not be able to calm down the people. The chaos caused by the incident was punished by Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, which harmed himself and was of no benefit to the country. It is better to respond to the trend, follow the people's will, raise troops and raise troubles, and you can turn disaster into blessing and create some fame."

When everyone heard this, their emotions were high and they responded one after another.Liu Zhenghui, in particular, raised his hands and said:

"What the Second Young Master said is to the point. The most urgent thing at the moment is to raise troops to fight. The reputation of staying behind, with heavy soldiers in hand, only needs to climb up and shout, and there will be like clouds..."

"That's all." Li Yuan glared at Liu Zhenghui, motioning him to stop talking.Then he shook his head noncommittally, and said: "No one needs to mention the four words "raising troops and raising troubles" from now on. No matter where you are, you must remember: don't mention it! Otherwise, don't blame Ben for staying behind and showing no mercy."

2
Li Shimin couldn't persuade Li Yuan to raise troops immediately, worried in his heart, and returned to the mansion without saying a word.When Changsun met, he asked about the situation and said to him, "Why don't you call all your brothers and discuss it together. I believe there will be a good solution."

Li Shimin heard this, and hurriedly recruited Wuji, Liu Hongji, Shunde, Hou Junji, Duan Zhixuan, Yin Kaishan and others to discuss countermeasures.Wuji said: "The problem of staying behind is that the power is not strong enough, so it is hesitant."

"That's right, but now the emperor is going to attack him, I'm afraid it will be too late and he will be more passive." Changsun Shunde said.

"We are all juniors, and we are left behind and have our own opinions. I'm afraid we can't persuade them." Liu Hongji said.

"For this matter, I'm afraid the second son can only do his best to persuade him to stay behind." Hou Junji said bluntly.

After hearing this, Li Shimin didn't groan. After thinking for a while, he thought of Liu Wenjing and said, "Okay, let me think of a way to do this. I want to go to the Taiyuan Prison again to see Liu Wenjing. This person I like I have been in contact with him a few times, and he is very insightful about the political situation. My father has a deep affection for him, and he also knows my father very well. Maybe he can do something to persuade my father to act as soon as possible."

"Okay, I'll go with you." Hou Junji said.

"You, and Wuji all come with me, the three of us are together, so we can discuss things together."

When the sun was about to set in the afternoon, Li Shimin brought Hou Junji and Changsun Wuji to the familiar prison.Because of Li Shimin's greeting, not only did Liu Wenjing not suffer any severe beatings, but the food was pretty good.At this moment, he was slowly chewing a crispy yellow chicken leg, when he saw Li Shimin coming in, he hurriedly put the chicken leg to greet him.

Li Shimin sat down, filled the table with the food and wine he had brought, poured two glasses of wine, handed one to Liu Wenjing and said:

"The county minister is suffering."

"Where, where! Thanks to the care of the second son, it is very quiet."

"That's good!"

"Did the second son come here this time, did something just happen outside?" Liu Wenjing asked, staring at Li Shimin.

"Exactly." Facing Liu Wenjing's gaze, Li Shimin replied: "Half a month ago, the Turkic soldiers surrounded Mayi, and my father led Gao Junya to lead the troops to rescue them. Who knew that they were defeated by the Turks, causing heavy casualties to the troops. The emperor learned that a special envoy was sent yesterday to execute Mayi prefect Wang Rengong, and he also wanted his father to go to the Eastern Capital to accept the crime."

"Why, stayed behind and went to Dongdu?" Liu Wenjing couldn't help asking nervously.

"No, it's thanks to Gao Junya who voluntarily went to Dongdu to face the saint, so father can stay in Taiyuan temporarily."

"Gao Junya volunteered to go to Dongdu?" Liu Wenjing asked Li Shimin.

"Yes, when the special envoy read out the imperial edict, my father was going to go with the special envoy, but Gao Junya stood up and persuaded the special envoy."

"Being a stay-at-home man won the hearts of the people. Even the emperor's cronies would speak for him in this way. He is really a leader!" Liu Wenjing said with emotion.He let out a long sigh of relief.

"However, the Sacred Heart is unpredictable. Gao Junya may not be able to convince the emperor to rest assured of his father if he goes here. Maybe there will be another disaster in a few days." Li Shimin said worriedly.

"It's easy to handle, as long as you don't let the disaster come." Liu Wenjing said confidently: "Now Emperor Yang is far away in Yangzhou, and rebels are everywhere. It is said that Li Mi is leading the Wagang Army to attack Luoyang. If it is true, the emperor will not take care of himself." Ya, how dare you make trouble again? As long as you stay in Taiyuan and raise your arms, within a few days, tens of thousands of troops will be gathered, and when the time comes, they will march into Guanzhong and take over the world with ease."

When Shimin heard this, his face burst into a smile, but then it dimmed again.Liu Wenjing saw her and hurriedly asked:
"Is there anything else?"

Li Shimin nodded and said: "The minister's opinion is exactly what I want. It's a pity that my father doesn't want to fight for a while. I'm afraid that something will happen in time and I will be passive."

"I don't want to be a soldier for a while, what about the people around you?" Liu Wenjing asked.

"They all agree with you and me."

"Where's Jinyang Palace Supervisor Pei Ji?"

"Pei Ji?"

"Yes! Pei Ji. As long as he thinks it's better to raise troops as soon as possible, things will be much easier." Liu Wenjing said confidently.

"If that's the case, I can go and convince Pei Ji first." Li Shimin said.

"Are you sure?"

"It should be possible. Pei Ji doesn't just want to be a palace supervisor. Besides, if something happens to father, he doesn't have to be a palace supervisor."

"Yes, that's right." Liu Wenjing looked at Li Shimin excitedly and said, "Your analysis is very good. I think you will be able to convince Pei Ji. Once you convince Pei Ji, things will be easy. I have known you for so long I know that he has a resolute personality and has his own opinions on everything. It is difficult for others to change him when he considers good things. However, he can listen to Pei Ji's opinion. Even if he has a different opinion from Pei Ji, I believe Pei Ji can still persuade him. "

"Really?" Li Shimin was very happy when he heard that.

"Really, go back quickly, convince Pei Ji, ask him to help you, and convince your father."

"Okay, I'll take my leave now. I'll be the first to pick you up when the army starts. Take care, Shimin is gone."

"Second Young Master, hurry up, I'll wait for your good news here."

30,

When Li Shimin returned to the mansion, he asked Changsun to prepare a lot of food and wine, and went to Jinyang Palace himself to invite Pei Ji to the family banquet.Seeing that Li Shimin was extremely cautious, Pei Ji couldn't help asking again and again: "What's the matter?" Li Shimin smiled but didn't answer, insisting on asking him to go.Pei Ji admired Li Shimin very much, but also hindered Li Yuan's face.He didn't ask any more questions, and followed Shimin to the mansion.

Mrs. Changsun personally took the cup and poured wine for Pei Ji.Pei Ji took the wine, looked at Li Shimin and said:

"What is the matter, the second son needs to explain first, otherwise, this wine will really be undrinkable."

"It's about the life and death of my Li family. I want to ask the palace supervisor to settle it."

"Is it a matter of life and death for the Li family? Can I settle it?" Pei Ji put down his glass and looked at Li Shimin uneasily.

"It's none other than you." Li Shimin said with a smile, "As long as you try your best, you will definitely be able to do it."

"Second Young Master, tell me quickly, what exactly is it? As long as I, Pei Ji, can do it, I will be smashed to pieces."

Li Shimin frowned, slowly put down his wine glass, and said: "Now that Mayi has been defeated, my father has been transferred to the Eastern Capital. Although I have to stay behind Gao Junya to face the saint, I can only postpone the emergency for a while. The emperor may at any time Another murderous plan, my father may encounter misfortune at any time. This really makes people feel like they are sitting on pins and needles, and there is no rush. But on the other hand, it is actually a god-sent opportunity, as long as the father is willing to stand up and raise his arms Huh, there will be a lot of people who will definitely respond. Not only will you be able to avoid being killed by others, but you will also be able to accomplish something earth-shattering. It’s just that my father has too many scruples and is still hesitating. If this continues, the emperor will take action. Father's situation must be in dire straits. It will harm himself, not to mention our family members, but also many good brothers like you who are close friends with him. For this reason, Shimin invited the palace supervisor to explain the matter I implore the palace supervisor to come forward and convince my father."

After Li Shimin finished speaking, he picked up his wine glass again, looked at Pei Ji expectantly, and said, "Shimin's words have been exhausted, if the palace supervisor agrees, please drink this glass of wine."

Pei Ji pondered for a while, then suddenly picked up the wine glass, drank it down, and said: "I admire Liushou as a man very much. I think Liushou, who is not a person in the pool, will do something earth-shattering. However, he has his own way of doing things. Principles and insights, to convince him, you have to devise a plan."

Having said that, Pei Ji raised his head, looked at Shimin, and then at Changsun.

"Retire first for my wife, and ask Pei Gongjian to teach the people a lot so that he can help father out of the predicament." Mrs. Changsun stood up and saluted, and left after speaking.

Pei Ji looked after Changsun, nodded frequently, and then whispered into Li Shimin's ear, telling his plan in detail.Li Shimin listened, nodded with a wry smile and said:

"Although this plan is a bit nasty, but a man should do things in order to achieve his goal, and he should not stick to trifles. What's more, it is for the future of my Li family, so that's the only way to go."

It turned out that Pei Ji and Li Yuan had known each other for a long time, and Li Yuan had nothing to say to him, so he was very clear about Li Yuan's thoughts.From the point of view of being an official, Li Yuan is indeed a decent person, and he is not that greedy for women.But he is a big man after all, when he entered Jinyang Palace for the first time, he acted unnaturally when he met the two beauties who were one of the best in the palace.Pei Ji knew that he was moved, and he didn't dare to reveal the matter to the emperor's face.Now, since he wants to fight against the emperor, why not take his women?Thinking of this, Pei Ji secretly felt complacent.This is a way to kill two birds with one stone, Pei Ji is full of hope for his own ideas.

At noon the next day, Pei Ji hosted a banquet in Jinyang Palace and invited Li Yuan to drink.Li Yuan was upset at first, but Pei Ji persuaded him enthusiastically, and Li Yuan appreciated it.This time, not only was the food and wine particularly plentiful, Pei Ji also specially arranged for Sui Yang Emperor's most favored two beauties, Shuzhen and Shuhui, to accompany him.Li Yuan saw these two long-awaited beauties, although his eyes lit up and his heart was full of enthusiasm, but when he thought of Emperor Sui Yang, he became timid and said solemnly to Pei Ji:
"How can this be done, let them retreat."

Pei Ji pretended to be helpless, and said to Shuzhen and Shuhui, "I can't help it if I don't like you."

"Who doesn't like it, it's just..."

"Since you like it, why make things difficult for Palace Supervisor Pei?" The two beauties were very enthusiastic, hugging left and right, and surrounded Li Yuan in their clouds.Li Yuan felt the sultry woman's breath, smelled the fragrance of their flesh, and heard his heart beating non-stop.While struggling, I heard Shuzhen's Yingying words again:

"Please don't dislike staying behind, it's Shuzhen's voluntary choice. From the first time I saw Liushou, Shuzhen's heart has always been left behind."

Shuhui was more honest, she didn't know how to speak very much, so she took Li Yuan's hand and gently rubbed her breasts.Li Yuan was drunk, but sober again, and boldly said:
"Okay, I will let you two stay with me, and we will drink together. If the emperor blames me in the future, I will accept the crime together with you."

"Look at what you said, there are only the four of us here, and the rest are only heaven and earth. Could it be that Pei Gongjian will betray us?" Shuzhen said with a smile.

"If you want to betray us, we'll say you arranged it." Shuhui pointed at Pei Ji and said.

"I, betrayed?" Pei Ji laughed, raised his glass and said, "Good night, fine wine, beautiful woman. Come on, if you don't drink, God will laugh at us!"

"Drink!" Li Yuan picked up the wine glass and drank it down.

By the time the sun was about to set, Li Yuan was already very drunk.Under Pei Ji's signal, the two beauties helped Li Yuan to their bedroom.Both Shuzhen and Shuhui were selected into the palace by one in a million.They were both 13 years old at the time.In the blink of an eye, five years have passed, only after Emperor Sui Yang passed through Yanmen Pass once.That time, Emperor Yang personally watched them, picked them out of five hundred court ladies, nourished them all night, and left early the next morning.Before leaving, I said like all clients: I will come to see you when I have time!The result is still gone.Although they didn't wait for the emperor, but because of the first time, they felt that they suddenly grew up a lot.At the age of twenty-eight, with the beauty of the sky and the country, she can only be bored in the Jinyang Palace, guarding the empty space alone.Although rich in clothes and fine food, they cannot enjoy human nature.

Feeling panicked, Pei Ji came to discuss with them about serving Li Yuan.After hearing Pei Ji's plan and arrangement, and seeing Li Yuan's handsome appearance, the two of them had already felt like spring water, turbulent.Seeing that Li Yuan was very drunk, he followed Pei Ji's instructions and laid Li Yuan on their bed, embracing and flirting with each other from left to right.Although Li Yuan was drunk, his instincts were not lost.He has just arrived in the year of destiny, and has been very busy with business affairs for a few days. Li Yuan doesn't care about men and women.So he resorted to the horse-riding skills passed down from the Li family's ancestors, turned over, "grabbed" and then "stabbed", and "killed" until the two beauties were in full bloom, shouting heaven and earth.

"Compared to the emperor, how will it be?" Li Yuan asked proudly.

"It's cool, it's ten times better." Shuhui, who was not very good at talking, answered bluntly with half-closed eyes.

Li Yuan laughed out loud when he heard this, then fell down and fell asleep soundly.

When Li Yuan woke up, it was already daylight, and he saw two beauties looking at him with admiration. He closed his eyes and thought, what happened last night was vivid in his memory, and he couldn't help being shocked.

"Pei Ji harmed me, and Pei Ji harmed me!" Li Yuan shouted while hurriedly getting dressed and walking out of the beauty's bedroom.Seeing that Pei Ji was already there to meet him, he couldn't help yelling: "Pei Ji, why did you hurt me?"

"Please stay behind to appease your anger. There is nothing Pei Ji can do about it."

"How do you say this?"

"In the past few days, I saw that the left behind was unhappy, so I had to use this to make the left behind happy."

"Happy, Concubine of the Su Emperor, do you know what crime this is?"

"No crime?"

"You also said that this is obviously a serious crime to kill the nine clans."

"Who else can kill you. If you stay behind and take advantage of this to raise troops, what can the emperor do against you?"

"you!"

"Now the Lord has lost his virtue, the world is full of turmoil, and the country of the Sui Dynasty is on the verge of collapse. The emperor is suspicious of you again, and sooner or later he wants to stay behind to die. When things have come to such a situation, staying behind even if you care about the details will not help the matter. In the end, it will only harm the world and yourself. If you stay behind and raise an army, you can end the turmoil in the world and return peace to the people; Pei Ji urges you to stay behind and don't hesitate any longer."

After hearing this, Li Yuan shook his head and went back to the left-behind mansion, closed the door and thought for three days, then recruited Li Shimin and Pei Ji, and said firmly:

"I have made up my mind, and I am determined to raise troops immediately!"

3
Li Yuan was determined to raise troops, and sent someone to quietly release Liu Wenjing from Taiyuan Prison.In Jinyang Palace, together with Li Shimin, Pei Ji, Tang Jian, Liu Zhenghui, as well as Changsun Wuji, Hou Junji, Changsun Shunde, Liu Hongji, etc., they secretly discussed the matter of raising troops.Li Yuan spoke first and said:

(End of this chapter)