"Wang Junkuo?!"
Pei Shiju was greatly surprised. No wonder the prince had confidence in controlling the Beiya Imperial Army during the previous secret discussions, and actually managed to win over Wang Junkuo.
Wang Junhao's qualifications in the Qin king's lineage were not very high, and he was not very popular, but he was rare to be granted the title of Duke very early. During the Battle of Luoyang Hulao in the fourth year of Wude, Wang Junhao led his army to attack Luokou. He cut off Zheng's army's food route, then plundered Xia's army's food and grass, and captured Dou Jiande's general Zhang Qingte. After the war, he was given the title Peng Guogong.
But now, Wang Junkuo is regarded as a very important chess piece in Chang'an. Now he serves as the general of the right prison guard. He is the most powerful general in the Beiya Imperial Army after Chai Shao and can be regarded as Chai Shao's deputy.
Pei Shiju reasoned in his mind that Wang Junkuo might have joined the prince's family long ago... Otherwise, now that the King of Qin is in power, there is no reason why Wang Junkuo would be driven by the prince.
It is very likely that after the Battle of Hulao in Luoyang, the prince tried his best to win over Shi Wanbao. This was done openly, but Wang Junkuo probably did it secretly... Because after Shi Wanbao was attracted by the prince, the King of Qin quickly removed him. He was driven out of Daxingtai, Shaanxi Province, and Wang Junkuo served as Shangshu of the Ministry of War of Daxingtai, Shaanxi Province for a long time before he became the governor of Youzhou.
Although he was suppressed by the King of Qin Li Shimin, although he had various flaws in his character, and even couldn't control his own crotch, after all, Li Jiancheng, who had been in charge of the East Palace for nearly ten years, was by no means a mediocre person, and the targets he chose to win over were all There is a reason.
The reason for wooing Shi Wanbao back then was largely because Shi Wanbao was considered an old man from the Sui Dynasty, and the big difference between Dong Palace and Tiance Mansion was the old man and the newcomer.
I chose Wang Junkuo because he is a person who only cares about interests and benefits.
Wang Junkuo behaved badly in his youth and was despised by his fellow villagers. Later, he gathered people as bandits, plundered everywhere, captured Jingjing Pass, and became a powerful force.
Later, Li Yuan raised troops in Jinyang and sent people to surrender. Wang Junkuo agreed, but he regretted it after bargaining. He sent troops to attack Li Yuan's subordinates, plundered grain, grass and weapons and surrendered to Li Mi in Wagangzhai, who offered him better conditions.
A year later, Wang Junhao, who had not been reused by Li Mi, sent someone to contact the Tang Dynasty. Li Yuan gave the conditions for becoming the Duke of Shangzhu State and Changshan County. Wang Junhao immediately turned around and surrendered... At that time, Wagang Village was at its strongest.
This fully illustrates Wang Junkuo's character. Whoever gives him more benefits will go to him.
This was also the reason why Li Shimin was relieved to leave Wang Junkuo in Chang'an. He believed that when he was about to take over the East Palace, Wang Junkuo had no reason to betray him.
But Li Jiancheng had no choice but to see Wang Junkuo's character clearly early on, and secretly won him over a few years ago... Of course Pei Shiju knew that Li Jiancheng must have some clues or letters, witnesses, etc., so that he could Wang Junkuo did not dare to rebel.
Obviously, if Wang Junkuo chooses to betray the prince again, even if the King of Qin can successfully ascend the throne, Wang Junkuo will not be reused... No superior will reuse such a villain who is courting Qin Muchu.
And if Wang Junkuo can successfully assist the prince to ascend the throne, then no matter what, he will definitely be an extremely important general under Li Jiancheng... Even if Li Jiancheng doesn't like him, there is nothing he can do.
"Actually, it's very simple." After Li Jiancheng mentioned a few words about Wang Junkuo, he whispered: "Wang Junkuo detained Chai Shao and Qu Silang, and Zhang Pinggao didn't have to worry about it. As long as he can stop the Beiya forbidden army from moving, open the Xuanwu Gate, and let Chang Lin Jun enters Tai Chi Palace!"
"Even if you succeed, so what?" Pei Shiju shook his head slightly, "As long as King Qin returns to attack, does His Highness expect Wang Junkuo, Er Zhu Yichen, and Li Gaoqian to defeat many famous generals in Tiance Mansion?"
"Why doesn't the lonely king know?" Li Jiancheng said irritably: "Now that my father has made up his mind, it's just a matter of death!"
Pei Shiju said softly: "Su Zhi sent a message. Your Majesty first summoned Yuchi Gong, then Chai Shao, then Li Huairen, and finally only summoned the Duke of Yidu County."
"Yidu County Duke?" Li Jiancheng was a little confused. There were too many people with titles in the early Tang Dynasty.
"Master Duan Yan." Pei Shiju saw that Li Jiancheng was still a little unresponsive and added: "The father of Guzang County Duke Duan Zhixuan."
"Oh, he is the former justice of Taiyuan County in the Sui Dynasty who joined the army. He had a close personal relationship with his father in his early years." Li Jiancheng's heart skipped a beat, and then his face changed drastically, "What does Mr. Pei mean?"
"An hour ago, I met Master Duan Yan at Zhuque Gate, and later found out that he was riding out of the capital, heading east."
"Father wants to call his second brother back to Beijing!" Li Jiancheng's breathing became heavy, his body became stiff, and his hands and feet were a little cold.
"Your Highness, isn't it a good thing?" Pei Shiju's eyes were bright. "This is why we don't take action tonight. Yesterday, King Qin sent a letter. He is still in Huazhou and is about to cross the river from Fengling. If he returns, will King Qin bring his army back to Beijing?"
"Isn't it?" Li Jiancheng rolled his eyes, "It is indeed possible that he is not. My father will not inform Duan Yanshi about such secrets, so the second brother may only return to Beijing with his personal guards..."
"But there is Yuchi Gong." Pei Shiju continued: "We will start tomorrow afternoon. Don't cause a commotion in the imperial city. We just need to restrain His Majesty, and then summon Pei Ji and Yang Gongren to see him. When the King of Qin arrives, these two people will leave the capital with the palace supervisor Su Zhi. Welcoming King Qin to the palace for an audience."
"With the two prime ministers and assistants and the palace eunuch, will the King of Qin order Yuchi Gong to mobilize all his troops and enter the capital?"
"No." Li Jiancheng said flatly: "Although my father now trusts his second brother, he is so powerful in the army that he must be careful not to overstep his bounds."
"That's right." Pei Shiju chuckled and said, "As long as King Qin enters the palace, it's just a matter of swordsmen and axes."
Li Jiancheng's hands curled up unconsciously and he thought about it in his mind, "Yesterday's letter sent me that my second brother was still at Fengling Ferry. Duan Yanshi was traveling day and night and would not arrive until at least tomorrow. My second brother rushed back to Beijing and it should be early the day after tomorrow. We can’t arrive in Chang’an until the eighth or even ninth day of the lunar month.”
Although Li Jiancheng is far inferior to Pei Shiju in terms of qualifications and thinking, he also knows that this plan does seem feasible, but it is very difficult and risky.
Basically, it is a chain of links. If there is an accident in any link, it will lead to failure.
The most dangerous part is that even if Wang Junkuo detains Chai Shao, Ma Sanbao, and Qu Silang, can he completely control the Beiya Imperial Army?
If a general loyal to the King of Qin in the Beiya Imperial Army discovers something strange and the news is leaked, then the second brother may lead three thousand elite troops under Yuchi Gong to attack the city.
On the contrary, if he can control his father, Pei Ji and Yang Gongren may cooperate... The other prime ministers are either dependent on the second brother, or have strong personalities, and may not be able to persuade him.
Pei Shiju had a calm expression on his face, but he was very indifferent in his heart. I don't care whether you succeed or fail... Success is the best, failure doesn't matter, as long as you can kill Li Shan.
But Pei Shiju was not afraid of Li Jiancheng and did not dare to take action. How long has it been since you slept with your concubine and made the fetus knotted? If you don't take action, are you waiting for death?
The Northern Qi royal family has a lot of scandals. Those people don't care, but His Majesty definitely cares... Well, in fact, the Tang Dynasty did not let Northern Qi excel in this regard.
After a while, Li Jiancheng whispered: "Summon Wang Gui, Wei Ting, and Xu Shimo."
Wang Gui is the chief adviser of the East Palace, Wei Ting is Li Jiancheng's best friend, and Xu Shimo persuaded the prince to immediately launch an army during the incident at Renzhi Palace. These three people are all Li Jiancheng can absolutely trust.
With Qiao Gong Mountain in front of him, Li Jiancheng didn't believe that King Qin only arranged a dark room in Qiao Gong Mountain.
