Pei Shiju, who suppressed the gloom in his heart, walked slowly on the path. Li Shan beside him looked around with interest and asked a few questions from time to time. Even if he didn't get any response, he was still very interested.
After walking into the house, Pei Shiju waved the servants to leave and asked directly: "Are you here to show off your power?"
Although the Renzhi Palace Incident did not directly fall on the head of the East Palace, judging from Li Yuan's handling afterwards, the King of Qin's lineage achieved a complete victory, and even eliminated a disloyal Feng Lun, while the East Palace family The pulse was severely damaged and almost unsustainable.
Such changes were all due to Li Huairen, the successor king of Wei, so Pei Shiju asked this question so straightforwardly.
"Mr. Pei is rude." Li Shan said with a smile: "Regardless of my position, although I am a junior, I am still included in the clan, and I have been given the title of heir. I have sent a letter to my door, but I don't even have tea?"
Pei Shiju sneered and said, "Why are you pretending between you and me?"
Li Shan laughed and said: "Now that the East Palace is weak, the prince is unstable and seems to be deposed, but Duke Pei has been famous all over the world for decades, and the younger generation wants to see what the elders can do to rejuvenate."
Pei Shiju's face became even more gloomy, but then he smiled and said, "How did you know it was July 15th?"
"Even if you happened to catch a glimpse of Qiao Gongshan leaving Chang'an, it would be difficult to determine his whereabouts...but you can be sure that he went to Renzhi Palace to report!"
"You're not secretly colluding with King Qi, are you?"
"Hahaha, Mr. Pei is joking." Li Shan laughed and shook his head, "Does Mr. Pei not know about this?"
"Um?"
"This junior sent his personal guards to Renzhi Palace to visit His Majesty and my father-in-law, but they were ambushed at Juyuan Bridge..."
"Okay, there's no need to say this anymore!"
"Absolutely true."
"Then hand over the personal guard who fled back to Zhuangzi. I want to see if he will change his mind under the three trees!" Pei Shiju sneered and said, "His heart is to be punished!"
"What did Mr. Pei say?"
"You knew about the Renzhi Palace Incident... Well, you may not have known that Yang Wenqian would raise an army, but at that time, you knew that it could only be Yang Wenqian." Pei Shiju organized his thoughts and said slowly: "You knew that Feng Lun might betray King Qin, and even you Everyone may know that Feng Lun colluded with the King of Qi, so you transferred Yang Wenqian to be the general manager of Longzhou..."
"I had known that someone was plotting rebellion, but I didn't report it, but I escaped in advance, and only led my troops to help at the critical moment. I had to rely on the sky to rescue me, and I was able to play with His Majesty and the King of Qin."
"Li Huairen, I must be impressed by such a method!"
"But looking at it from above, isn't it true that his heart is worth killing?"
The smile on Li Shan's face did not change. He knew that his plan could be hidden from many, many people. With Ling Jing's help, even Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui could not see any doubts, but he would definitely not be able to hide it from the old man in front of him. ...There is nothing I can do, the way people look at me is filled with endless suspicion.
"If Mr. Pei had been born a thousand years earlier, he might have had a family."
"Are you insinuating that I have bad character?"
"What do you mean by this?"
"Home, only people with bad character would do it."
"Hahaha." Li Shan thought to himself that this view had never been heard in later generations. "It's just Pei Gong's unfounded suspicion. No one inside and outside the Phoenix Valley knows the deep friendship between Wei Si and King."
Pei Shiju was startled for a moment, then nodded and said, "Regardless of our hostile stance, you, Li Huairen, do have a deep friendship."
"oh?"
"If it were anyone else, I would definitely think that you transferred Xue Wanche to Daizhou for the sake of a young general from the East Palace who might be of great use at a critical moment." Pei Shiju sighed: "But I know that, but I am just following Wei Xuancheng's example."
"Yes." Li Shan said cheerfully: "Although these two people are separated in civil and military affairs and are the prince's confidants, they should both be famous ministers and generals. The younger generation is just a matter of public and private matters."
Pei Shiju frowned slightly, "Is His Highness King Qin so generous?"
Li Huairen was cautious and would not say anything casually. Xue Wanche could understand. After all, Xue Wanjun was the general of Tiance Mansion, but Wei Zheng was the prince's confidant who had suggested killing King Qin several times.
"The King of Qin has the capacity, and the younger generation also has the capacity." Li Shan finally restrained his smile, "If Mr. Pei writes a letter tomorrow to become an official, he will be able to enjoy his old age in peace."
Pei Shiju raised his white eyebrows slightly and was silent for a long time.
Judging from the reputation of Li Huairen, the successor king of Wei, this sentence is true, and if Pei Shiju chooses to become an official, then even Li Shimin, who ascends the throne and becomes emperor, does not want to see Li Shan kill everyone... Although Li Shan has the intention to kill everyone. reason.
But how could Pei Shiju dare to gamble?
If he loses the bet, can he afford such a price?
There was silence for a long time, and it seemed that no sound could be heard in the quiet courtyard. It seemed that everything, including time, had frozen, until a strong wind blew by, rustling a big tree next to the two of them.
"I remember the last time we met, you said that I was a capable minister first, then a slanderous minister, and one day I might be a remonstrating minister." Pei Shiju stared into Li Shan's eyes and said slowly: "I follow the trend, but I am not ashamed to talk to him. Join the company of those who have won the title of Lun."
Li Shan narrowed his eyes slightly, raised the corners of his mouth, turned around and left without saying another word.
After the Renzhi Palace incident, it was a foregone conclusion that Li Shimin would take over the East Palace. Everything seemed to be settled, except for Pei Shiju who became the only variable... Li Yuan didn't know about this variable, and Li Jiancheng didn't know about it, but Li Shan and Li Shimin were... I know it well.
Even though the situation is like this, Pei Shiju will not give up.
Li Shan said these words sincerely today. Although he was once hunted by Turks in Hebei, once fell into despair in Mayi, and once despaired in Guji Town, if Pei Shiju is willing to serve as an official and return home, Li Shan will Willing to stop.
It's not because of Li Shan's good intentions, but because he doesn't want to see Pei Shiju do anything else when Li Yuan is about to depose the crown prince... Li Shan doesn't know what kind of plan Pei Shiju has, but he is certain that it must be possible to succeed. , even if the probability of success is not high.
The reason is also very simple. It has been more than a month since the Renzhi Palace Incident. If there is no possibility of a comeback, why is Pei Shiju still staying in Chang'an?
Shouldn't he retire early?
Shouldn't we rush to Renzhi Palace early to reconcile with Li Shimin?
You should at least reveal your intentions and meet with yourself... to see if your mind has changed since you have almost won the battle to seize the heir?
But Pei Shiju stayed silently in Chang'an City and went to the Imperial City to attend the Yamen every day... Therefore, Li Shan was very sure that Pei Shiju must have a back-up plan.
No matter whether this back-up plan succeeds or not, Li Shan does not want to see another disturbance. On the one hand, it is difficult to confirm whether he, his family, and friends will be harmed. Pei Shiju, who is on the verge of despair, may not care too much.
On the other hand, Li Shan received a letter late at night when he returned to Sun Moon Lake.
After getting on his horse, Li Shan did not stop. Logically speaking, when he entered Chang'an City today, he should visit the Changsun family, who was also anxious these days, and also visit Li Qianyou, who had been dismissed and returned to Beijing, but he went straight back. Sun Moon Lake.
"Ling Gong is back?"
"Back." Wang Junhao added: "Waiting for Alang in the study."
Li Shan quickened his pace, and while pushing open the study door, he turned around and said, "Zhu Ba."
"Alang?"
"Go kill a duck and stew it. It's an old duck for at least three years. Eleventh Mother loves to drink old duck soup... Forget it, just kill it and I'll stew it myself later."
Zhu Ba twitched the corner of his mouth. Although it was widely spread in Chang'an and Phoenix Valley that "being ruthless may not make you a true hero, how can you not be a husband if you pity your wife", but his own Alang is going too far, right?
I really doubt whether the rumor about Alang washing Lady Cui’s feet is true!
"Uncle Ling."
"Pei Shiju didn't agree?"
"Um."
"As expected." Ling Jing didn't pay attention and his eyes fell on the map hanging on the wall.
This is a somewhat crude map, but it covers a very wide area, from Daizhou and Shuozhou to the west, across the Yellow River, including Yulin, Yinzhou, Yanzhou, Shuofang, Yanzhou, Lingzhou, and then to Longyou Road. To the north, there are also important place names such as Wuyuan County.
"No matter what else." Ling Jing sighed: "With this map alone, Zhang Sanlang has already made a contribution."
"Yeah." Li Shan responded, but this was really not Zhang Zhongjian's credit. Ling Jing had never followed Li Shan in the army, so he didn't know that every time Li Shan sent out troops, he would ask local residents in detail about the map memories of future generations. By comparison, a map was drawn based on the route taken by the caravan.
Su Dingfang was able to defeat Liang Jun in the decisive battle in Lingzhou because of this map.
Of course, Zhang Zhongjian did have merit. Regarding the grassland tribes farther north, the location of a few cities, and the mountains and rivers, they were all completed in the past six months.
"Take Yunzhou as the dividing line." Ling Jing wanted to reach out, but he couldn't reach it.
Li Shan casually picked up a special stick on the side and pointed it on Yunzhou on the map, "With this as the dividing line, including Yunzhou to the east, is Tuli Khan, and to the west of Yunzhou, including Wuyuan County to the west, is the capital. Bu Khan.”
Late last night, Zhang Zhongjian, deputy general manager of Lingzhou's march, sent a messenger to Sun Moon Lake.
The civil strife in the Turks has subsided. Under the threat of a huge and rapidly rising empire, Dubu Khan and Tuli Khan decided to quell the civil strife. The two sides met at the junction of Yunzhou and Wuyuan County to form an alliance. The two sides stopped fighting. About brothers...well, cousins.
Among them, the one who played a key persuasive role was Princess Yicheng of the former Sui Dynasty. After the defeat of the two khans in Jingzhou, this former Sui emperor turned to Tuli Khan who rushed back to Wuyuan County first. , and then quickly moved closer to Dubu Khan, so that the forces of both parties reached a delicate balance. It was this woman who presided over this alliance, which temporarily calmed down the civil strife promoted by Li Shan.
"Hey!" Li Shan sneered: "Thank you for releasing Tuli Khan. This guy is really an idiot. He can't subdue a mere former Sui princess!"
"Princess Yicheng is an extraordinary woman." Ling Jing shook his head slightly, "What's more, everyone in the grassland now knows that Tuli Khan and you, Li Huairen, have a sworn sworn relationship. Back then, they were defeated in the battle at Guji Town, and they were released after the battle last year. And Princess Yicheng hates you Li Huairen so much, how could she form an alliance with Tuli Khan?"
Li Shan was also speechless. He said that he was a butterfly that traveled through time. The flapping breeze had stirred up a storm, but he did not expect that he would also be affected by the storm.
After the battle at Cangtou River, Li Shan sent troops to sack Zuoyun County in order to find a reason to return to the capital and to have people petition for impeachment. Who would have thought that he would kill Princess Yicheng's brothers and nephews.
Later, Dubu Khan was able to successfully kill Jieli Khan with the help of Princess Yicheng. Last year, Tuli Khan returned to Wuyuan County first, but failed to form an alliance with Princess Yicheng... It was all related to that killing. There are relationships.
Li Shan sighed, now within the East Turks, almost everyone wants to kill Li Huairen!
Among the three forces, Dubu Khan definitely wants to kill me. Even if Tuli Khan doesn't want to kill me, he still has to open his mouth to win over countless tribesmen who will die in my hands. And Princess Yicheng... this guy has no hope. If you want to restore the Sui Dynasty again, all you want is my head!
And Princess Yicheng finally turned to Dubu Khan, largely because she didn't believe in Tuli Khan... It wasn't that she didn't believe in Tuli Khan's ability, but she didn't believe that Tuli Khan would chop off Li Huairen's head. .
Li Shan thought maliciously in his heart, didn't Zhang Ailing say that?
You, Tuli Khan, pinned that guy to the bed and couldn't even surrender. You are such a loser. If people of this era didn't understand, I would have given you a bottle of Liuwei Dihuang Pills!
"Hey..." Ling Jing let out a long sigh, turned around and said, "They say King Wei Si is too sharp!"
Li Shan was really upset after hearing this. It was because I fought too hard and defeated the Turks twice, so... Actually, this is really true. If it weren't for the two disastrous defeats on the east and west ends, I'm afraid The Turkic civil strife will not subside so quickly.
But Li Shan still wanted to beep the dog. The Turkic civil strife in history was indeed a little later, but they also reached outside Chang'an City and drank from the Wei River!
Li Shan knew well that the alliance between Tuli Khan and Dubu Khan had led to the quelling of the Turkic civil strife. However, due to the consecutive disastrous defeats in the previous few years, the status of the Ashina royal family on the grassland was gone forever. Many people Tribes all have the image of separation...the most typical one is the Nine Tribes of Tiele who gradually have the image of separatism.
At the same time, because of the heavy snowfall at the end of last year, Yuanzhou suffered such a snow disaster. Li Shan, who had made various preparations, almost failed to reach Xiaoguan... It was even worse on the grassland. A large number of livestock were frozen to death. Wuyuan County, whose main supplier was slave farming, was not much better. This was also a key reason why the two sides stopped fighting and made an alliance.
All of this has a common direction. Tuli Khan, Dubu Khan and even other grassland tribes are likely to invade southward in a large scale and plunder property, population, and food to survive this winter.
This is also the key reason why Li Shan suddenly came to reconcile with Pei Shiju today. There is no way, there is an invasion from outside, and it is likely to be a large-scale invasion with a very wide scope... Because this time the alliance is actually a split, no one can I don’t know where the Turks’ main attack areas are?
In this case, in order to prevent movement, Li Yuan could not immediately depose the crown prince and let Li Shimin take charge of the East Palace.
Nowadays, officials from the Tance Mansion are entering the court one after another, and their generals are gradually being released, such as Li Mengchang, Li Shiji and other generals. If there is a war, it is likely that many of King Qin's trusted generals will lead the army... If at this time Pei Shiju is causing trouble in the rear. If that is not good, the army will be defeated. If it is not done well, the city of Chang'an may not be able to be saved.
avoid disaster
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