This Chang'an city was first built in the Sui Dynasty. Yu Wenkai presided over the planning. The palace city was built first, and 108 squares were built later.
The imperial city is naturally headed by the Tai Chi Palace, and the East Palace is located next to the Tai Chi Palace. Princes Yang Yong and Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty and now the crown prince Li Jiancheng all live here.
The first main hall of the East Palace is the Mingde Hall, where the prince summons ministers to discuss matters.
In the side hall, although Prince Li Jiancheng was sitting at the top, he modestly moved his seat slightly because the person sitting at the bottom was Prince Zhongyun Wang Gui.
Many years ago, Li Yuan launched an army to invade Chang'an, proclaimed the acting king Yang You as emperor, and granted the title of King of Tang. His eldest son Li Jiancheng became the crown prince. Wang Gui then served as a counselor in the crown prince's mansion and joined the army. Later, he served successively as crown prince Zhongsheren and crown prince Zhongyun. He was deeply respected by the prince, and his status in the East Palace was also unparalleled.
"The government decrees came from many sources, causing chaos in the court." Wang Gui sighed: "His Royal Highness was making innuendoes in the presence of the emperor."
Among the unified dynasties, the early years of the Tang Dynasty were probably the most chaotic, because the founding emperor was often more capable than his ministers and had unparalleled prestige and even military exploits. However, Li Yuan... even when he attacked Chang'an, he did not directly lead the army into battle.
This resulted in the Prince's Order, the King of Qin's Order, the Order of the King of Qi's Order and the Imperial Edict running in parallel during the Wude period, and in many cases they were based on the time when the official documents arrived.
Li Jiancheng nodded in agreement after hearing this. To him, the two younger brothers were just messing around, Ling could only come from one sect, and he, the prince, was barely qualified to get involved.
"This time the sage summons the King of Qin back to the capital, Your Highness can test it out." Wang Gui said in a low voice: "Ignore the King of Qi for now, you can send the King of Qin out first."
Li Jiancheng's eyes were flickering. He was in his thirties, with fair skin, a slightly elongated face, narrow eyes, and his brows often seemed to be furrowed, making him look worried.
After hearing this, Li Jiancheng nodded slightly. He understood this sentence. Now he lives in the East Palace, while King Qin and King Qi all live in the back hall of Taiji Palace with Li Yuan. Compared with them, he really has no advantage.
If there is a way to expel King Qin from the palace and choose another place, the father-son friendship between Li Yuan and Li Shimin will slowly dissipate. Only if the doubts are darker will there be room to use his methods... After all, Li Jiancheng was no more than three liang in the past few days. In just one sentence, Li Yuan immediately ordered Li Shimin to return to Beijing immediately.
"Your Highness, the prince washes his horse to see you."
Li Jiancheng immediately waved his hand, and a tall official, no more than thirty or forty years old, but with white temples, stepped inside.
"Your Highness, Duke Le'an has just arrived."
"Are you thinking about it?" Wang Gui asked in surprise: "Now that you have arrived at the East Palace, why don't you pay homage to the prince?"
Li Jiancheng smiled and said: "Sanhu is far away in Hebei, and Li Sixing is Sanhu's confidant. If he passes the palace without paying homage, he must be in trouble."
Sanhu is Li Yuanji's diminutive.
"His Highness hit the mark..."
"Xuan Cheng sits down first and then we talk." Wang Gui interjected.
Li Jiancheng immediately stood up and held up his hands, "I'm sorry for being so rude. Sir, please have some tea."
Wang Gui nodded with satisfaction. In the minds of these veterans, this was a gentle and elegant prince who respected his ministers.
There was no expression of gratitude on the official's face, he just thanked him. Li Jiancheng and Wang Gui didn't take it seriously... It has been five years since Wei Zheng entered the East Palace, and everyone knows his temper.
Wei Zheng never talks much, "Li Qianyou, the chief secretary of Prince Qi's palace, wishes to request the Chang'an order."
Li Jiancheng covered his head and had a headache. Although he did not express it explicitly, he had hinted to Pei Longqian, the prince's left guard leader, that the Chang'an order would be taken over by Pei Shiju's son-in-law Li Dewu.
Pei Longqian is also a hero of Conglong and is Pei Ji's nephew.
Now that I am fine, I have just decided to form an alliance with my third brother. Do I have to refuse this matter?
Wang Gui thought for a moment and asked: "Longxi Li? Zhaojun Li?"
If it is Li from Zhaojun, it may be Li Sixing's personal choice. If it is Li from Longxi, it may be the choice of Prince Qi's palace.
"Li Danyang's House in Longxi."
Wang Gui glanced at Li Jiancheng. The most famous person in Li Danyang's house in Longxi is Li Jing who led the army to pacify Lingnan.
Li Jing was praised by Yang Su and Han Qinhu in his early years. After joining the Tang Dynasty and being idle for many years, he followed Li Xiaogong in the Jiangnan and Shu territories. He made outstanding military exploits and was granted the title of Duke of Shangzhu State and Yongkang County.
Li Jiancheng weighed it in his mind. It was common for the children of aristocratic families to serve several masters. There were also people from the Li clan in Longxi and even brothers from Danyang in the East Palace.
Having just formed an alliance with Sanhu, I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to refuse categorically, but Pei Shiju was nominally the prince Zhan Shi, so he asked for permission in private, and he acquiesced... Li Jiancheng was hesitant.
"Why is Your Highness so hesitant?" Wei Zheng suddenly spoke in a loud voice, "Pei's family is bipolar..."
"But the King of Qi is not weak yet, and his temperament is unstable." Wang Gui interrupted: "If I refuse categorically, I'm afraid there will be discord."
Li Jiancheng smiled bitterly and nodded. Sanhu's temper was such that he would fall out with him at any time. He took Li Shimin back to Chang'an and asked General Sanhu to lead the Hebei armies to stand directly on the front line against the Qin Palace. But later on, he didn't even have the honor of Chang'an order. Give……
"Let's talk to the lower officials." Wang Gui sighed, "We can send Li Dewu to Hebei."
Wei Zheng snorted, but did not focus on this matter anymore. Instead, he mentioned Hebei, hoping that Li Jiancheng would advise the King of Qi to be gentle with Hebei and stabilize the place.
"The King of Qin followed the policy of Huairou, and Liu Heitai swept across Hebei three months after he raised his troops. They were all Dou Jiande's old troops." Wang Gui shook his head in denial, "If the King of Qi Huairou followed the path of benevolence and righteousness, I am afraid that war will start again."
"Liu Heitai raised his troops because Dou Jiande was captured alive and brought to Beijing and was..."
"Sir, be careful what you say." Li Jiancheng suddenly interrupted.
"Xuan Cheng has a straightforward style and serves His Highness with the same intention." Wang Gui smoothed things over and said, "It's just that you need to be careful with your words..."
In fact, everyone knows the reason why Liu Heitai raised his army. Li Shimin captured Dou Jiande alive, and after returning to Beijing, he urged the saint Li Yuan to be gentle to Hebei.
As a result, Li Yuan promised well, then turned around and beheaded Dou Jiande... Unfortunately, Wang Shichong, who surrendered with him, was only exiled to Shu.
When Dou Jiande died, the old troops were frightened. Half a month later, they supported Liu Heitai as the leader and launched an army... If Hebei was in such trouble, at least 50% to 60% of the blame should be placed on Li Yuan.
Li Jiancheng said softly: "Sir's intention is known to Gu Jin, but my father has already made a decision on this matter."
Wei Zheng stood up and saluted, and sighed: "Since the beginning of the 13th year of the great cause of the previous dynasty, Xiaguan has traveled to many places. He has seen continuous military disasters, people have been displaced, and the fields are deserted."
"I only hope that Your Highness will be benevolent and righteous, and serve the world and all peoples."
Li Jiancheng stood up and supported Wei Zheng, "I have little knowledge and little experience. Please give me more teachings in the future."
Wei Zheng was a little disappointed. He didn't want to hear this. He had heard enough such polite words around Li Mi.
Wei Zheng knew very well that just because the King of Qin wanted to be gentle with Hebei, the prince did the opposite. Even the saint had similar thoughts in his heart.
In the final analysis, it was because King Qin's military exploits were so great that his father and brother could not lift their heads... Wei Zheng wondered in his mind, could King Qi stabilize Hebei?
If there is further chaos in Hebei, I will persuade the prince to fight in person no matter what.
The news spread quickly. At dusk, Li Zhaode, who was full of food, entered the city with Li Kai and Wang Renbiao and heard the rumors.
Three days later, King Qin Li Shimin returned to Beijing and immediately went to Tai Chi Palace to pay his respects.
The next day, in the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Shangshu Province, Chang'an ordered Wang Xu to be promoted to the director of Yizhou to appease the local area, and Li Qianyou, the chief secretary of the Qi Palace, was transferred to the Chang'an order.
At this time, only eight days had passed since Li Dewu carried the coffin and left Beijing.
