"Auntie, don't worry. With thousands of elite troops on this expedition, and Duke Qiao holding the battle, we will definitely return with a great victory."
"Brother Su has the appearance of a famous general. He will definitely make great achievements this time. When he returns to the court, he will be rewarded by the court... Auntie will marry Brother Su a daughter-in-law..."
After hearing this, Ling Jing, who was sitting aside, frowned.
Faced with Li Shan's consolation, Su's mother, who was frowning, relaxed a little, shook her head and sighed: "I don't expect a reward, I just hope that Da Lang returns safely."
Li Shan persuaded him a few more times, but he was not too worried about Su Dingfang's safety.
Chai Shao's expedition was well-equipped, and even if it was difficult to win, he would not be defeated... The most important thing was that Li Shan remembered clearly that Chai Shao lived into the Zhenguan period and was ranked among the 20th in Lingyan Pavilion. Among the four heroes, even if he was defeated and fled, Su Dingfang, who was accompanying the army as Chai Shao's personal guard, should be safe.
Watching Li Shan go out, Ling Jing was silent for a moment, then turned around and said, "Do you want to decide whether to become an official?"
Mother Su hesitated for a moment before nodding, "The older man is twenty-four. He should have started a family long ago. If he didn't become an official..."
Although the Su family is not a famous family, they are also a wealthy county. Naturally, Su's mother will not agree to her son marrying a peasant girl... In recent times, many of the people who moved from Shandong with Li Shan and Zhu A person from the same clan, or from a neighboring village.
"Li Huairen is a man of deep scheming, but he does have benevolence and righteousness." Ling Jing raised his eyebrows and said: "As early as when he was in Shandong, he said that he regarded Dingfang as his elder brother. Later, when he moved to Chang'an, he mentioned Dingfang several times in private... so he will Talent should not be buried, let alone confined."
Mother Su's old face turned red, and she explained in a low voice: "Da Lang has a stubborn temper. He promised to be a slave that day, and later joined the Li family... I'm afraid he won't leave."
"How to leave?!" Ling Jing sneered: "Do you know how important Li Huairen is in Chang'an now?"
"Dingfang and Huairen have been one and the same for a long time, regardless of each other!"
After all, Su's mother was grateful for Li Shan's life-saving grace last year, but she did not want to see her only son serving as Li Shan's personal guard leader without being able to make contributions. Therefore, Su's mother immediately agreed with Su Dingfang's joining the army this time.
Li Shan was not surprised, he understood a mother making such a choice.
Mother Su whispered: "I heard that Princess Pingyang and Duke Qiao were interested in recruiting a few months ago, but Li Langjun flatly refused..."
"Someone also knows about this matter." Ling Jing frowned and said, "The current situation in the court is in chaos. Although Huairen has no position in the court, his weight is not small. Dingfang and Huairen are actually one, so we cannot rush into official positions."
"Dingfang is well aware of this matter."
"As for the marriage, wait, wait... If everything is fine, Huairen will never lose Dingfang."
Ling Jing stood up and gave a slight salute with a calm expression. Before turning around and leaving, he said softly: "If you have any other matters, please speak up in front of Huairen."
A quarter of an hour later, in the side hall of Li's house, there was a table of delicious food gathered around. Li Shan smiled and said with a chicken drumstick in his chopsticks: "Uncle Ling, why are you doing this?"
Ling Jing smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Huairen has a quick mind, I'm afraid he has noticed it already."
"Isn't it right what Auntie is thinking about?" Li Shan put his mouth to it. It was a real native chicken. It had been simmered on low fire for two hours. He felt that with just a slight inhale, the chicken was sucked into his mouth like liquid.
Ma Zhou, who was holding a wine cup at the side, chuckled and said, "Su Dingfang is like a cone in a bag. He can show himself and has the ambition to make great achievements. If Huairen is confined to his side, even if he has kindness, he will be hard to find." .”
What he said... Li Shan and Ling Jing looked at each other, not knowing whether to nod or shake their heads.
Ma Zhou had a sharp vision and his judgment was very accurate...but what he said always sounded off-putting, and he analyzed it entirely from the perspective of interests.
Li Shan was not easy to express his position... Although what Ma Zhou said was true, he could also see that Su Dingfang couldn't sit still.
It's not that Su Dingfang has any intention of drawing a clear line with Li Shan. He also knows in his heart that he will stand on the same side as Li Shan in this life, but Su Dingfang also has the hope of making great achievements.
But Su Dingfang also knew that now was not the time... Li Shan then gave it to Chai Shao.
Ling Jing couldn't express his position even more. He could only blame Su's mother secretly in his heart. He said it openly and roundaboutly... How could he hide it from Li Shan? It was simply a joke.
Ma Zhou drank another drink and asked with a smile: "What if Su Dingfang returns with his success this time?"
Li Shan and Ling Jing still remained silent.
After a moment of silence, Ma Zhou poured his own wine and muttered: "It's been a few months... Will Princess Pingyang really be in charge of the imperial army in Beijing?"
"I heard today that nearly half of Princess Pingyang's troops have been transferred back to Guanzhong." Ling Jing said in a low voice: "Even if he is not in charge of the imperial army in the capital, he must be the target of the East Palace."
"Nearly half of them were transferred back to Guanzhong?" Li Shan asked curiously: "Isn't Princess Pingyang's army soldiers?"
Logically speaking, Princess Pingyang was stationed in Jinyang, the place where Li Tang was prosperous, and her troops should be local soldiers, so it was unlikely that she would follow her into Guanzhong.
Ling Jing explained: "Back then, Princess Pingyang traveled across the Guanzhong and conquered Chang'an. She had more than 80,000 troops under her command, but only 8,000 veterans were selected..."
"The rest dispersed into the army?" Li Shan clicked his tongue: "No wonder..."
In other words, these nearly 70,000 old troops became the prototype of the Tang Army in the future. It is no wonder that Princess Pingyang has such a deep foundation in the army.
Ma Zhou was not very interested in this and asked, "Then Su Dingfang still remains under Chai Gong?"
"General Zuo Wuwei..." Li Shan thought for a moment, "It would be feasible if Chai Shao had been fighting outside."
Seeing that Ma Zhou still wanted to ask, Ling Jing abruptly changed the subject, "By the way, I heard that Prince Xi Ma sent me a post just now?"
"Well, Brother Xuancheng invites you to a banquet tomorrow." Li Shan paused and added: "No outsiders."
"That means you are planning to go?" Ling Jing nodded, "You haven't shown up for a long time. It doesn't matter if you go or not. Although Wei Xuancheng is not an upright person, he can still be friendly."
Ma Zhou didn't say anything, just snorted. Both he and Ling Jing had experienced the chaos in Qinghe County that day, and they knew very well what Wei Zheng had done and what he was trying to do.
Li Shan said casually: "I will go to the palace to see you at noon tomorrow, and go to the Wei Mansion for a banquet before dusk... Uh, how about a visit to the Fang Mansion?"
"You have both sides." Ma Zhou sneered, "There is a reason. Fang Xuanling's thumb is really broken?"
Ling Jing patted the table gently and scolded: "Luo Yi, this guy is so unscrupulous!"
These days, Luo Yi is the most prosperous person in Chang'an City. Except for the sage and the King of Qin, there is almost no one he dares not quarrel with.
But Luo Yi is not only good at fists and kicks, he is bold and quick-tongued... Those heroes in Tiance Mansion, from Yu Wenshiji to Feng Lun, from Du Ruhui to Changsun Wuji, from Cheng Yaojin to Qin Qiong, basically have no What advantage did Fang Xuanling take? Fang Xuanling was the worst!
Li Shan was a little hard to understand. In his impression, the King of Yan County did not play a very important role in the history books. Except for his son Luo Cheng, who ranked seventh and was good at the Five-Hook Divine Flying Spear, he left no trace for future generations. What a deep impression.
Luo Yi defected to the Tang Dynasty in the first year of Wude, and he was basically a separatist force. His nature was similar to that of Du Fuwei, who defected to the Tang Dynasty in the second year of Wude... Why is there such a big difference?
Li Shan was very puzzled. Is it because Luo Yi was attached to the East Palace?
But there are many officials attached to the East Palace. How many of them have the courage and confidence to confront the heroes of Tiance Mansion head-on?
