In Chang'an City at the end of June, it was the height of summer. The weather was unbearably hot, the weeping willows were weak, and the only thing that could be heard was the chirping of cicadas.
As soon as Li Shimin entered Chengqian Hall, he threw off his coat, took the wet wipes handed to him by his wife, wiped his face, changed into something lighter, and then said, "Father will go to Renzhiguan to escape the summer heat in two days."
Princess Qin's hand paused for a moment before she smiled and said, "Your Highness has been away fighting for a long time and is just about to show his filial piety."
Li Shimin nodded repeatedly. Both the couple knew very well that when His Majesty went out to escape the summer heat, he would stay in the East Palace to take charge of Chang'an.
Although there are signs that Li Jiancheng will be promoted to the throne, for Li Shimin, it is also a rare opportunity for father and son to be alone... Li Yuanji is still in Hebei.
After chatting for a while, Li Shimin saw the box placed on the table next to the couch and asked in surprise: "Guanyin maid, why are the toiletries placed outside?"
Princess Qin covered her mouth and smiled sweetly, trembling like a flower branch, "Brother Da Lang wants it."
"He has been practicing martial arts very hard recently, but with the hot sun hanging in the sky, he is afraid of the dark."
Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, "Do you practice martial arts diligently?"
"It's not because of Li Shan of Dongshan Temple." Princess Qin laughed again as she spoke, "On the day of my third cousin's birthday, I came to visit at noon and happened to meet Li Shan. He is really a handsome boy, but it's a pity that he is a bit too dark. , the third cousin also gave him a box of powder..."
"Hahaha..." Li Shimin laughed and suddenly raised his bare right arm, meaning that I am not in vain.
Princess Qin reached out and patted it, "My husband was exposed on the battlefield, but Li Shan was born. After all, he was born in Lingnan."
"Is his mother a Lingnan woman?" Li Shimin said casually: "This son looks a bit like a southern barbarian. He is fierce and fierce. It is not in vain for me to lend him his power."
Princess Qin was still thinking about Li Kai's mention that Li Shan's mother, Zhu, was good at cooking tea. Every time she took a bite of the cup, she must not be an ordinary Lingnan woman. When she heard this, she asked, "What do you mean by this, husband?"
"It seems to be that day." Li Shimin said with great interest: "I heard in the past two days that Li Shan and Yuchi Gong's eldest son met in a narrow road and started fighting. Yuchi Baolin was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground when the two met."
Princess Qin frowned slightly, "What I saw that day was gentle and elegant, with a measured advance and retreat, and a cautious attitude. How can I be so inconsistent?"
"The rabbit bites people when it's anxious." Li Shimin was fair and said with a smile: "Yao Jin mentioned it yesterday. Li Shan refused to fight back and was knocked down. But Yuchi Baolin didn't give up and was forced to become anxious. Li Shan and Li Shan both He knocked Yuchi Baolin unconscious when they met..."
Speaking of this, Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh: "Guanyin Maid didn't see... Yao Jin said it with great interest, while Jing De's face was as black as coal!"
Princess Qin also smiled and shook her head. She did not only act as Li Shimin's wife in the Prince of Qin's Palace. She also took good care of the staff of the Prince of Qin's Palace and the generals' nephews. From time to time, she personally visited the female relatives of the older generation. She also took great care of many things in the Prince of Qin's Palace. All understood.
The Xuanjia Army was Li Shimin's trump card. It numbered about a thousand, and they chose tall horses. The cavalry were all wearing black Xuanjia. They were first led by Zhai Changsun, and were later divided into two teams, including Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and Qin Qiong.
Zhai Changsun and Qin Qiong are the principals. Both of them are calm and reserved, and have always been taciturn. The two deputies, Cheng Yaojin and Yu Chigong, dislike each other and often argue with each other.
Well, Yu Chigong was a good talker, but he also made Cheng Yaojin feel embarrassed... This time the latter got revenge.
"It's not shameful to bite the gold!" Li Shimin laughed and scolded: "Being beaten until you can't get out of bed for three days is better than being knocked unconscious?"
Princess Qin also laughed with joy.
"Then Li Shan is considered smart, and he took advantage of the situation to reconcile with Changsun Chong." Li Shimin clicked his tongue, "First to avoid, then to fight back, to establish his authority and reconcile, and with the help of Li Kaixiang... In terms of mentality, this person has a vague shadow of Hongda. "
Pei Shiju, whose courtesy name is Hongda.
Princess Qin thought for a while and then nodded, "I heard from my uncle that when he was young, Pei Shiju was famous for his ability in both civil and military affairs and his ability to make decisions before taking action."
"But this person is too arrogant!" Li Shimin said casually: "He boasted about not getting drunk after drinking, and was attacked by a group..."
"How's the outcome?"
Li Shimin laughed, "Of course he was carried back."
Well, Li Shimin's sources of information were Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong. These two... sons have lost face, so they must make up for it.
Anyway, Cheng Yaojin felt at ease. His son patted his chest in front of him and said that he had made Li Shan drunk and Yuchi Baolin had already fallen asleep.
Li Shimin picked up the soup bowl brought by the maid and drank it in one gulp. He frowned and said, "There is so little ice in the palace that my father is reluctant to use it."
Princess Qin shook her head and said: "It was sent by my nephew. My father and the emperor and the harem will send it as well."
"Chang Sun Chong?" Li Shimin smiled and said, "I haven't heard the auxiliary machine mention it."
Princess Qin was about to speak when rapid footsteps came from outside.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty has urgently called for a meeting in Liangyi Palace."
The most important thing in the front dynasty of Taiji Palace is the Taiji Hall, which is where the government is listened to and the court is viewed. Various canonizations, ceremonies, and banquets are held here, but they are not commonly used. The Liangyi Hall is the main place for discussions between the emperor, the prince, and important ministers. .
Li Shimin stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing. Although he was named Shangshu Ling and actually participated in government affairs, Li Yuan mainly discussed matters with noble ministers and the prince, and Li Shimin's weight was not too important.
Such an urgent call must be a military matter.
A quarter of an hour later, Li Shimin's guess was confirmed.
"Liu Heitai is back again, what can I do?"
His Majesty, Li Yuan, is nearly a year old, but his hair is still black, not silvery. Although he has a kind face and kind eyes, the news he just received made him frown tightly, making his face look full of ridges.
Li Shimin stood up helplessly, "Father, it's the child's fault."
During the Battle of Luoshui, Liu Heitai fled, and Li Shimin did not send troops to pursue him. This led to this resurgence... At least in the minds of a considerable number of people, this logic is established.
The prime ministers Pei Ji, Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu, and Pei Shiju present were silent. They and Prince Li Jiancheng arrived early.
Previously, Li Yuan lamented that Li Shimin failed to eradicate the root cause, and Li Jiancheng mentioned that his second brother had
The story of the overthrow of Liu Wuzhou without taking off his armor for three days.
The implication is obvious, Father, Erlang is trying to support the bandits!
In this regard, Li Yuan remained silent, which also made Li Jiancheng secretly happy. He took a step forward and said, "Father, for this plan, we should send troops to Hebei."
"Sanhu is now in charge of all the armies in Hebei. He should unite the armies together and then mobilize the troops from the Guanzhong Prefecture to select good generals and capture and kill Liu Heitai as soon as possible."
Only halfway through speaking, Li Yuan was already shaking his head. He looked up and found that Li Shimin was also shaking his head.
The two people's eyes collided in the air. Li Yuan was a little embarrassed and secretly hated his eldest son for not being able to see the situation clearly. "Erlang, tell me."
Li Shimin said loudly: "After the battle in Luoshui, I didn't give the order to chase the boy. It was because of the reason. Liu Heitai led more than a thousand remnants to flee north, and they must join the Turks."
"This time Liu Heitai rises again, he will definitely borrow troops from the Turks. In addition, Li Daen was killed in battle, and the Turks are afraid that they will move south in large numbers this time."
Speaking of this, Li Jiancheng also understood, and his face turned green and white. In the case where the Turks may move south in a large scale, Liu Heitai is just a trivial matter.
It would be fine if the Turks only lent troops to Liu Heita to disrupt Hebei, but what if the Turks invaded Guanzhong?
Moreover, it is late June now, and autumn will begin in one month. At that time, the Turks... will go south to plunder the central pass every year.
It is said that Li Yuan was the most incompetent founding emperor in the unified dynasty, but this was not the case. He was keenly aware of the crisis.
If Liu Heita makes a big fuss in Hebei, the Turks will find a good opportunity and may move south with their main force. By then, the Li Tang Dynasty, which was only five years old, may be destroyed.
"Erlang, how to deal with it?"
Li Shimin stood up with emotion and said, "Don't send troops to Hebei. The army should be ready to go."
After thinking over and over, Li Yuan nodded and said: "Summon Sanhu back to Beijing, and the armies in Hebei..."
"Brother Prince Huaiyang has an important responsibility."
Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth secretly. Huaiyang King Li Daoxuan was a descendant of Li Tang's clan. He had followed Li Shimin into battle since he was sixteen, and the two had a very close relationship.
But the problem is that the Li Tang clan conquers the world, and the commander of the army must be a descendant of the clan. This is also an important reason for Li Shimin's military success. Now the actual commander of the Jiangnan war is Li Jing, but he is still Li Xiaogong's deputy.
But Li Jiancheng didn't have the right person to veto Li Daoxuan... He couldn't let his third brother stay in Hebei, right?
"Yes, I will appoint Daoxuan as the general manager of the march to the north of Hebei Province." Li Yuan paused and added: "The former Duke is his deputy general."
Li Jiancheng breathed a sigh of relief. Shi Wanbao was the younger brother of the former general Shi Wansui. He had assisted Princess Pingyang Zhao and was granted the title of Duke of the original state. He later joined the East Palace and was now the governor of Luozhou.
