In the side hall of Shujing Hall, Li Yuan, who had been sitting by the window all night, had some gray hair on his head, and there seemed to be some wrinkles on his already furrowed face.
The sky was already bright, and the East Palace guards who patrolled back and forth from time to time could be seen outside the window. Li Yuan touched the window and felt the cold chill after being wetted by dew, just like Li Yuan's heart at this moment.
I have to admit that Li Yuan, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, did not lack political means and abilities, and he also had the strategic vision for great goals. However, in the original time and space and in this life, he was always hesitant on the issue of establishing an heir. He was unable and unwilling to make a quick decision. The choice of killing Luangma caused him to be placed under house arrest in Tai Chi Palace twice.
In the original sky, Li Yuan stood on the prince's side. Although he was wary of King Qin, he was unwilling to deal with it harshly. His uncertainty led Li Shimin to launch the Xuanwumen Revolution.
In this life, Li Yuan sided with the King of Qin. Although he disliked the prince, he hoped to take a slow approach to the situation due to the changes in the situation and did not deal with it decisively. However, he did not expect that Li Jiancheng launched a palace coup out of fear and despair.
Although it is said that it was because of the rebellion of two key figures, Su Zhi and Wang Junkuo, Li Yuan's own choice was the most fatal problem.
There were slight footsteps outside, and Li Yuan did not turn around. Concubine Wan Gui was sitting next to him. The only one who dared to enter at this time, and the only one who could enter, was his eldest son.
"Father."
Li Yuan slowly turned around with an indifferent expression, "What do you want to say?"
"I don't want to say anything, I just came to see my father." Li Jiancheng sneered: "What the father forced the child to do, what the child did helplessly... these are meaningless, so the child doesn't want to say anything."
"Just came to see me..." Li Yuan had a strange look on his face, "There is no royal court today, but the war has been going on in recent days. I will summon the Prime Minister at Liangyi Palace before noon."
"If you don't summon him, you will definitely become suspicious." Li Yuan suddenly laughed and said: "You can't ask me to come out to appease the prime minister, right?"
Seeing that Li Jiancheng was silent, Li Yuan nodded slightly, "You have to detain many prime ministers and ministers to prevent the news from leaking."
"Pei Shiju has attached himself to you, and Pei Ji will definitely not object. Chen Shuda, Xiao Yu and Erlang are close, while Dou Gui and Yang Gongren remain neutral..."
"If only Pei Shiju and Pei Ji come forward, I'm afraid all the three provinces will be suspicious. Chen Shuda and Xiao Yun both have strong tempers... Do you want to persuade Dou Gui or Yang Gongren to surrender?"
Li Jiancheng's cold face was slightly moved. His father's words basically pointed out his intentions and goals... Li Yuan has never lacked such ability.
After a pause, Li Jiancheng no longer tried to hide it, "It's Duke Guan Guo."
"Well, I guess it's him too." Li Yuan sighed: "After all, Dou Gui is your uncle. No matter who wins or loses between you and Erlang, he can at least save his life, so there is no need to get involved."
"Since we have to detain those prime ministers and assistants, you, the Crown Prince of the East Palace, naturally do not need to come forward. Is that why you came to Shujing Palace?"
Li Jiancheng shut his mouth again. In fact, he didn't know why he came here...perhaps he hoped to see his father regret it?
Li Yuan sighed softly. If Erlang really died, he would have no other choice, or the prince would not give him any other choice...
The hall became quiet. After a while, Li Yuan suddenly asked, "Is Huairen dead?"
"Actually, you don't need to kill him. Huairen is a talented person and has great prestige in the army. He rebuilt both the Daizhou Army and the Lingzhou Army with his own hands. Zhang Zhongjian is now in charge of the Lingzhou Army."
"Even if you succeed in ambushing Erlang, there will be chaos in the court. There are wars in Hedong and in the pass. If you can win over Huairen, you can get through this."
"Huairen?"
"Li Huairen?" Li Jiancheng let out a creepy chuckle, "Doesn't father know that Li Huairen has joined his second brother?"
"To win him over, what can I do to win over him, the heir?"
Li Yuan frowned, "Do you only have this kind of ambition?"
"It seems that father really doesn't know." Li Jiancheng slowly raised his head, "As early as the fifth year of Wude, during the war in Shandong, Li Shan had already joined the sect of his second brother."
Li Yuan was a little stunned, "Five years of martial virtue?"
"On the day of the great victory in Shandong, when Liu Heitai was captured and killed, not only Li Demou, the son of Li Keshi, the commander of the Tiance Mansion, was present, but also the eldest son of Wei Chigong, the general under his second brother's command." Li Jiancheng sneered, "I have been acting well in recent years, and I am really impartial. Don’t rely on it!”
Li Yuan shook his head, "So what?"
"I'm trapped in Weizhou. If I don't count on Erlang, how can I count on you, the Crown Prince of the East Palace, who delayed sending troops?"
To be honest, Li Yuan really didn't believe it. After all, Li Shan really didn't join Li Shimin at that time, or Li Shimin hadn't made up his mind to choose the former between Li Shan and Pei Shiju.
Li Jiancheng didn't care whether Li Yuan believed it or not, "What's more, Li Huairen is truly a hero. He is a unique figure in the world. His military exploits are as great as those of his second brother. His poetry and poetry can overwhelm Chang'an. Even a child can't hold him down."
"Yes, Erlang's military exploits are world-renowned, so he has a big heart." Li Yuan nodded in agreement, "Although you are the prince of the East Palace, you have no benevolence and no big heart, so naturally you dare not win over Huairen."
Li Yuan's skills were not bad when he said these harsh words. Hearing these harsh words made Li Jiancheng blush and almost became angry with embarrassment.
"Is Huairen dead?"
Li Jiancheng, who was angry, opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly stopped. There was a glimmer of hope in Li Yuan's eyes, and he smiled and said: "You're so clever, you actually escaped!"
After a long silence, Li Jiancheng looked a little pale. Last night, Su Zhi led the East Palace guards to carefully search every place in the harem. With Su Zhi as the palace supervisor, there should be no omissions, but they could not find any trace.
After dawn, Li Jiancheng asked Er Zhuhuan to check again, but Li Shan was still not found... Although the Tai Chi Palace was large, there were not many places to hide. Either he had wings and flew away, or the King of Qin was buried in the East Palace. The chess piece was played, and Li Shan escaped with the help of this person.
Such changes have drastically reduced the chance of success in the East Palace rebellion. Although Li Jiancheng discussed emergency measures with Pei Shiju, Wang Gui, and Wei Ting, it is still difficult to guarantee... It is difficult for others to say. For a character like Li Shan, it is very possible. Guessing that King Qin might be on his way back to the capital, if he intercepted King Qin, everything would be over.
"Yes." Li Jiancheng finally chose to speak frankly, "Although the child still doesn't know where the flaw was exposed. Yesterday, Su Zhi summoned him to the palace for an audience at Linhu Palace. Li Huairen broke out and ran away on the way. There is no trace yet."
The guess was verified, and Li Yuan's eyes lit up.
"Renshou Palace and Renzhi Palace came to the rescue twice, and Li Huairen turned the tide at the critical moment." Li Jiancheng sighed: "Maybe it will be possible this time."
"Father, if the child succeeds, it goes without saying."
"If this fails, please ask my father to grant me death, and don't let my second brother take action."
