Although it was not yet known whether a war would begin, the atmosphere in Chang'an City immediately became tense. The left and right six military mansions of the Qin Prince's Palace counted their soldiers, rectified military affairs, and actively prepared for war.
"If only Prince Qin's palace goes to fight, the food and grass will be safe." Changsun Wuji looked at the account book and shook his head, "But if the palace soldiers are deployed, there will be a lot of shortfalls."
"Can Zhong Mi get some food and grass?" Xue Shou frowned and thought hard, "He is the doctor of the Daxingtai branch of Shaanxi Province, and the inspector Zuo Cheng."
Zhong Mi refers to Yu Zhining, who also serves as the lieutenant of the Prince of Qin's palace.
Changsun Wuji did not comment and sighed: "It's a pity that Duke Yun has passed away."
Duke Yun was Yin Kaishan, and he had served as Li Shimin's chief official. He followed Xue Rengao, Wang Shichong and Dou Jiande and was Li Shimin's deputy. Unfortunately, he died of illness during the expedition to Hebei at the beginning of the year.
Yin Kaishan was the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Daxingtai, Shaanxi Province at that time, and he had great power. After his death from illness, the East Palace was acquired. Now, there is great chaos in Daxingtai, Shaanxi Province. Representatives of the Qin Palace, Qu Tutong and Yu Zhining, have lost power.
After a busy day, Changsun Wuji stretched himself, got up and prepared to go back home. He was still thinking about it. The Turks had invaded Bingzhou and divided their forces to attack Yuanzhou and Lingzhou, which were already under the Guannai Road.
War or peace, we should come to a conclusion.
"Auxiliary engine."
Changsun Wuji paused in his steps, smiled and held his hands in his hands: "Brother Guest."
Li Keshi's wife Changsun is Changsun Wuji's cousin, and the two families have always had frequent contacts.
The two exchanged a few polite words, and Gao Shilian, who was walking over, said with a smile: "I heard that I posted a message for Li Shan?"
"Uh..." Changsun Wuji's face darkened, and he forced a smile and said: "Da Langxia's post..."
Helping a fallen horse was a life-and-death friendship. Changsun Chong had already officially visited to express his gratitude, and later posted a message inviting Li Shan to the banquet... Changsun Wuji couldn't fault him.
Thinking about it made him panic, so Changsun Wuji thought it would be better to go back later.
Keshi Li thought about it for a while... quickened his pace, and ordered his entourage as soon as he left the house, "Tell Shiro that Li Shan is going to the family of Chang Sun for a banquet today."
When Li Kai rushed to Changsun's house in a hurry, he happened to see the servants of the family next door busy.
"Li Langjun, please." The concierge of Changsun's family explained while leading the way: "The next door is Prime Minister Pei's Mansion. For some reason, there was a lot of commotion in the afternoon."
Li Kai coughed twice and said, "Have the guests arrived?"
"The guests have arrived." The concierge remained calm, thinking that this person had come uninvited.
It was still a step too late... Li Kai breathed a sigh of relief after patiently probing for a few words. He was really afraid that Li Shan would go to the banquet and bump into Li Dewu next door before he entered the door.
The corner of Li Kai's mouth moved, and he was about to go in when he suddenly heard a noise. He looked sideways and saw a servant from the Pei Mansion next door with a happy look on his face, handing out rewards.
Faintly hearing Nong Zhang's congratulations, Li Kai quickened his pace and walked all the way to the main hall. He smiled and cupped his hands and said, "I'm here uninvited today. It's rude."
Except for Li Shan, everyone present was a descendant of the Changsun family and the Gao family. Changsun Chong smiled and apologized, "It was my fault that I forgot Brother Demou. Please don't blame me."
It's natural to invite Li Kai, because he is the intermediary between Li Shan and the Qin Palace, but it makes sense not to invite him. Those present today are all descendants of the Changsun family and the Gao family.
After exchanging a few words and sitting down, Li Kai sat down next to Li Shan, thinking that Zhang Sun Chong was indeed to blame today, otherwise Li Shan wouldn't be so embarrassed.
Li Shan raised the wine cup and looked at Li Kai, "Brother Demou, there is no need to say more, I have written it down."
The two looked at each other and drank.
He was afraid that he would bump into Li Dewu and his identity would be revealed, so he rushed over. Li Kai was a good friend... Li Shan had mixed feelings in his heart. He didn't expect that after getting off the carriage, he turned around and saw the gate of Pei Mansion, and even talked to Wu Zhong. He crossed his eyes and admired the horrified look on his face.
Although Li Shan was a guest today, he did not overwhelm the guests. He rarely spoke and only listened quietly.
Changsun Mou, Changsun Jiaqing, Changsun Xiang, Changsun Chong, Gao Jixiong, Gao Zhixing and others present here are talking loudly. They are all from the Qin Palace, and naturally they are discussing the most urgent topic today.
When the Turks move south, will it be war or peace?
This topic has not spread among the outside world and among the people. After all, Turks go south every year, but this topic is not a secret among the children of wealthy families.
To Li Shan's surprise, he basically chose to seek peace. Are all the descendants of Prince Qin so weak?
But after listening to it for a long time, Li Shan also understood that the Turks claimed to control 400,000 people, and they could easily organize an army of 100,000 to go south, at least two or three times a year, and they also supported warlords such as Liu Heitai and Yuan Junzhang. .
In short, at this moment Li Tang was still squatting with his head in his hands and being beaten.
"Brother Li, what do you think?"
Hearing Gao Xinghao's question, everyone looked over. Li Shan declined and said: "It is a major military and national matter. I am privileged to listen to it. How dare I speak nonsense."
Changsun is the eldest son of Changsun Shunde. He has always been arrogant, and he is a generation older than Changsun Chong and others. He mocked: "Dongshan Temple has always practiced closed-mouthed Zen."
Changsun Chong and Gao Xingyi both had unswerving expressions on their faces. This matter was not a secret in the Qin Palace, and many people knew about it.
Li Shan only smiled and didn't say anything... He had shown his face enough during this period, and there was no need to shine any more. Could it be that he was worried that the neighbors wouldn't notice?
The eldest grandson was about to speak, but a servant outside reported, "I just came to report that the lady of the Pei family next door is having fun."
"Prime Minister Pei's grandson... no, no, grandson."
"It's not easy."
Amidst the buzzing discussion, Changsun Chong took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it over, saying with a smile: "When the moon comes to a full moon, I will come to congratulate you, so please send this jade pendant over."
The so-called "Zhang Zhi Xi" originally refers to jade.
"I've never heard of such good news..." Li Shan said with a low smile.
Li Kai, who was sitting next door, looked over worriedly. Generally speaking, the husband's family was the main party when announcing the news, but today it was mainly the woman's family.
Li Shan raised his glass and said with a smile: "Brother Demou, please drink all you can... Madam of the Pei family, Madam of the Pei family... I think he will not be having a hard time either."
Li Kai drank with her and remained silent. Logically speaking, it should be the Pei family of the Li family. The name of the Pei family's wife was not yet in the cabinet, which was vaguely meant to belittle Li Dewu.
Last year's reunion was also a key topic of discussion among the wealthy families in Chang'an. After some discussion, Chang Sun looked at Li Shan and asked, "Brother Li, do you still want to practice silent meditation?"
Li Shan sneered twice and shook the empty wine jar on the table, "Brother Zhangsun, can you drink all the wine?"
The servant immediately brought a jar of wine, and Li Shan poured it for himself. After three more bowls of wine, his cheeks were slightly red, and he stood up with his hands on the couch, staggering a few steps, as if he was pouring but not pouring.
"Whether it is war or peace, this is a major military and national matter, how can we decide it with just one word?"
"But such a major event has been planned for a long time, but now we can get a glimpse of it and know the whole story."
Li Shan leaned over and picked up the wine bowl, his steps swaying, "The Turks go south every year, why are they invading in large numbers this year?"
"But because Liu Heitai of Hebei Province is resurrected?" Gao Xingcheng asked loudly.
"That's right." Li Shan wandered to the table of Chang Sun, "It has been nearly two months since Liu Heitai returned to power, but Guanzhong has no intention of sending troops, and the sage sent King Qi back to Guanzhong. What is the purpose of this?"
"In the Battle of Luoshui, Liu Heitai led more than a thousand remnants of his troops to flee north. Now that they are fighting again, Turks must intervene."
Li Shan drank all the Sanle pulp from the bowl in one gulp, and Li Kai blurted out, "Thousands of Turks have entered Hebei... Two months ago, it was revealed that the Turks were planning to move south in a large scale."
"The cicadas will wake up before the autumn wind blows..." Li Shan poured another bowl of wine, "The noble man has already seen this moment, so he stayed still and gathered his troops to prepare for the Turks."
“Last year, when buying grain at the end of the year, it cost four yen per dou of rice. Two months ago, the price rose to six yen per dou of rice, and now it’s eighty or nine yen.”
Gao Xingcheng slapped the table and realized: "The imperial court must be storing grain to prepare for war."
"Remember the last time we were in the restaurant, who mentioned... Li Dayen..." Li Shan was already a little slurred in speech.
"Li Dayen?" Changsun Chong was confused when he heard this.
"Li Da'en, the king of Dingxiang County, reported that the Turks were famine-stricken and could attack Yuan Junzhang, but unfortunately he was defeated and died." Li Kai said loudly: "Therefore, it is inevitable that the Turks will move south in large numbers this autumn."
The hall fell silent for a moment. Although the people present were all younger generations, they were all children of aristocratic families. They knew that although Li Shan was drunk, what he said was coherent and logical.
Gao Xingyi was secretly shocked. Such a person really deserves the praise of King Qin.
Changsun thought blankly for a long time and suddenly asked: "War or peace?"
"Plop."
Li Shan finally couldn't hold on anymore and sat down on the ground, barely opening his sleepy eyes, "You can only make peace if you can fight, and you can force peace with war..."
"Brother Li, Brother Li?"
Li Kai hurried over and was about to help Li Shan up, but the latter had already fallen asleep and murmured: "I'm drunk and want to sleep, please go away..."
