The fourth day of October.
The sky was a little gloomy. Li Shan was riding a tall horse, followed by Wang Junhao's bodyguards. He just moved forward slowly, no matter how urged by the palace supervisor Su Zhi beside him.
Li Shan did not expect that Li Yuan would summon him to the palace for an audience on the second day after Li Shimin set off.
Hey, there is no way, basically everyone is playing cards now, the prince, Pei Shiju, Li Shimin, himself, Princess Pingyang, Chai Shao and his wife, there is only one person who can't see the cards in other people's hands... Li Yuan.
It's a bit pitiful.
While thinking about it, Li Shan drove his horse close to the city gate. He looked around and saw someone who looked familiar. Well, at least the city gate was fine.
After entering Chang'an, Li Shan went all the way west, passing Dongshi and Pingkangfang one after another. He turned his head and glanced sideways. Fan Tu, the scout who was ordered today, nodded slightly to indicate that there was nothing unusual, so Li Shan speeded up slightly.
As early as a few days ago, Fan Shiyi followed Li Shan's instructions and released the scouts in his hands, burying them on the road from Sun Moon Lake to Pingkangfang. He was responsible for the investigation. He did not need to deliver the news, he only had to stand on the ground. On both sides of the road, there are problems on the north side, but nothing unusual on the south side.
Passing by An Shangmen, he happened to meet the disciple Wan Xuandao who was on duty. He was now also in the Beiya Forbidden Army, subordinate to the You Qianniu Guard, and preparing for the Qianniu Guard.
"Disciple pays homage to teacher."
Li Shan dismounted and helped Wan Xuandao up, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen many people recently. Where are you hanging out?"
Wan Xuandao smiled awkwardly. He used to be indifferent. However, after the Battle of Phoenix Valley, a large number of grassroots generals of the Bei Ya Forbidden Army died in the battle, so Wan Xuandao had no choice but to go to the Yamen.
As for going to Sun Moon Lake... let's forget it. Before Li Shan led his personal guards to Renzhi Palace last time, he sent people into Chang'an to inform Princess Pingyang, and by the way, he tied up the guy and threw him in Zhuangzi.
As a result...as a result, Li Shan forgot about it, and he didn't think of this unlucky guy until Li Yuan returned to Beijing.
"It's not peaceful recently, please be more honest." Li Shan whispered: "If there is anything wrong, don't tell outsiders and inform Concubine Wan Gui."
"Yes, yes." Wan Xuandao nodded repeatedly, "My sister also explained it last time."
After passing the Anshang Gate, there was the Suzaku Gate. Li Shan carefully looked at the guards guarding the Imperial Guards. Well, there were a few familiar faces. The most important thing was that Qu Shilang was waiting here.
After entering the imperial city, Li Shancai ignored the urging of Su Zhi on the side and walked slowly on Chengtianmen Street and went to the Beiya Imperial Guards Office. Chai Shao and Wang Junkuo were chatting.
After chatting in a low voice for a few words, Li Shan finally felt relieved and then entered the palace and went to Liangyi Hall.
Hey, I have to be so cautious. It would be funny if the boat capsizes in the gutter at this time... Although he has risen to a high position in a few years, Li Shan will never underestimate anyone who has left a mark in history.
"Why are you here so slowly?" Li Yuan frowned and looked at Li Shan who was saluting. Several other prime ministers and assistants had already arrived.
"I accidentally caught wind and cold the past two nights." Li Shan coughed a few times, his face was a little sallow, and he looked listless.
Li Yuan's expression gradually softened, probably because of that night in Tiance Mansion. Without saying anything else, he motioned to the palace attendants to hand over the battle report.
Pei Shiju and Li Jiancheng looked at each other, both of them knew that this guy was taking advantage of his illness to act like a coward.
Li Shan quickly read the battle report, thought for a while and asked: "Your Majesty, the King of Qin should know, how to deal with it?"
Liu Hongji, the Duke of Ren, clung to Lingshi, but was defeated again. It had been raining continuously in Hedong for the past few days. Tuli Khan selected thousands of elites and personally led his troops to raid. The unsuspecting Tang army lost Jiahu Fort and Fenshui Pass one after another.
Liu Hongji fought to no avail, so he had to lead his army to retreat south, defend at Gaobiling, and make the infantry retreat to Huoyi. In other words, in just two or three days, the Tang army lost control of Queshu Valley. This is undoubtedly It's adding insult to injury.
Li Yuan did not answer Li Shan's question, but asked: "Looking at it from Huairen, how should we deal with it?"
Li Shan hesitated for a moment, then thought for a moment and then said: "The King of Qin crossed the river from Fengling Ferry. He might send thousands of generals to advance to Jinzhou and station troops in Fenxi to control the Turks from a distance. The King of Qin would lead the main force to delay the advance. , in Jiangzhou or Jinzhou, set up strongholds along Jiangshui and Fenshui to ensure smooth grain roads."
"Haha, Huairen is not bad." Li Yuan smiled, "Erlang sent his personal guards to Huoyi to boost morale, and sent Fan Xing and Zheng Rentai to lead three thousand cavalry to rush north to prepare to station in Linfen or Hongdong. Erlang We are still at Fengling Ferry, and it is not easy for the army to cross the river, but we have already submitted a letter asking for the deployment of troops from Shaanxi Province."
Li Shan had visited Queshu Valley once or twice that year. After thinking about it, he asked, "His Royal Highness the King of Qin sent his personal guards north. Can he meet Duke Ren?"
Although the terrain of Lingshi County is dangerous and the roads in Queshu Valley are narrow, Huoyi is different. The terrain is quite flat and can accommodate tens of thousands of troops galloping around. When Li Yuan and Jinyang raised troops to go south, the two sides fought outside Huoyi, each with tens of thousands of troops. Now that the Turks have broken through Queshu Valley, can the messenger get into Huoyi City?
"Huairen doesn't know something." Pei Ji on the side explained: "The road in Queshu Valley is difficult, so we have to take a circuitous road near the mountain. This is a thousand-mile path. If we can't walk a thousand-mile path, we can still take the waterway to Tongjunchuan. His Highness King Qin If you have been in Hedong for a long time, you will not know it."
Yang Gongren added: "Although Tuli Khan has come personally, it is now humid and cold in autumn and winter, and there may still be flash floods in Queshu Valley. The Turkic army seizes the spiritual stones and may not dare to cross Queshu Valley with heavy troops. The messenger should be able to enter the city."
Li Shan was a little unsure. After all, Puzhou and Jinzhou were separated by Jiangzhou, and Huoyi was due north of Jinzhou, not far from Fenzhou.
But one thing is certain, even if the messenger did not enter Huoyi, Liu Hongji should have the confidence to stand firm and wait for help. After all, he already knew that Li Shimin was leading the army. With the consistent style of the King of Qin, he would not ignore it, let alone What's more, Liu Hongji can be said to be one of the first batch of founding heroes to join Li Shimin's command.
"I'm stupid and ignorant of geography. It's really hard to explain. Now His Highness the King of Qin is out on an expedition, and the war situation is changing rapidly. He can only deal with it easily." Li Shan looked at Li Yuan, "I didn't know that Your Majesty summoned you today..."
Li Shan's words were very clear. Li Shimin had already gone to war, so he could only make the decision. Didn't you, Li Yuan, always do this in so many years and so many battles?
In that case, why did you call me here?
At least on the surface, Li Shan was not qualified to enter the Liangyi Palace to discuss matters. Apart from a few prime ministers and assistants, the only ones who could be here were Prince Li Jiancheng, King of Qin Li Shimin and King of Qi Li Yuanji.
At most, Li Yuan would summon other ministers to the Liangyi Palace for specific events, but this was not a regular occurrence.
Li Yuan took a memorial from the case and asked the palace servant to hand it over. Li Shankai only took one look and knew that he had guessed correctly. It was indeed from the Lingzhou Army.
In the previous month, Li Shan frequently entered the Liangyi Palace. On the one hand, it was because he was familiar with Daizhou, and the Lingzhou Army commander Zhang Zhongjian was his direct descendant. On the other hand, there was a large-scale Turkic invasion, which required Li Shan. The famous general-counselor with the most glorious record against the Turks.
After reading it quickly, Li Shan couldn't help but look back at Pei Shiju's expression.
