Li Er pinched Yahuazi and said: "Are you a monster or a fool? In the war between the two countries, the lives of countless people are at stake, but you are as easy as a market hawker to calculate. If it is as easy as you say, then all the civil and military officials in the court will be nothing but wine and rice bags. Now. Don’t they know how to calculate a war?”
"I understand that you, my dear, have always ignored the rabbit before the hawk. If you were not sure of victory, you would not have ordered Luoyang and Youzhou to actively prepare for war. How on earth did you predict that the Tang Dynasty would win?"
Alas, I knew I couldn't hide it from him. Xiao Rui smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice: "Jieli hired someone to assassinate me. How could he not avenge him? So, I prepared two surprises for him."
oh? surprise? Hehe, I like surprises, tell me.
Li Er came up with a surprised look on his face. The father-in-law and son-in-law were just like testing the duo's conspiracy. At first glance, they were not planning something good.
explain?
I didn't say anything!
Surprises are meant to be kept secret.
Xiao Rui looked at his father-in-law in confusion.
Um? I……
Li Er turned to stone in an instant, with a wonderful expression on his face. He really wanted to kick this soul to death.
"You really don't want to say anything?"
"I'll kill you without telling you!"
"How should Goguryeo respond? If the two countries join forces, Datang has no chance of winning." According to Xiao Rui's previous calculation, Datang has a better chance of winning, but with Goguryeo, it will be difficult.
Xiao Rui stretched out his hand and pointed to the northeast and said: "That's a dog. It's okay to guard the door, but let it out to bite people. Haha, let them have the courage. If nothing else, just cut off his trade route, and it won't take long. They will have to send people to cry and beg us.”
Li Er nodded: "You are right. After the incident, all Goguryeo merchants in Chang'an City were detained. I heard that their envoys are already on the way."
"But you still shouldn't be careless. You must know that national war is not a child's play. Go to war and fight. Even if Goguryeo is a shit-eating dog, it does not rule out the possibility of him biting people and eating meat. It should be noted that dogs that bite people are the most dangerous .”
Xiao Rui smiled and said: "We might as well make things bigger and declare war directly with Goguryeo. First, we can calm the people's hearts, and second, we can strengthen Jieli's determination to win. If we can't make Jieli think he will win, how can he dare to confront us head-on? A fight? Don’t send Cheng Qian back in the middle, otherwise we will be defeated. We also need a thank you gift."
Li Er rolled his eyes and said, "What surprises have you prepared, and why are you so confident that you can win? Don't screw it up again like before."
"No, no! I came to you today to discuss how to rescue Cheng Qian. You have led me astray. Why are you talking about the war to destroy the country? It was agreed at the beginning of the year that we would rest for three years and we would not be able to afford the war." At this time Li Er suddenly reacted.
Xiao Rui said innocently: "I have always said to rescue the prince. I did not say to destroy the country. Aren't you unwilling to spend money to redeem people? Then fight, defeat the Turks, and fight to scare Jieli, Can’t he obediently send me back to the Tang Dynasty Crown Prince?”
is that so? Are you sure you're not seeking selfish revenge?
The two just stared at each other in silence.
At this moment, the maid from the Xiao Mansion ran over anxiously, "Young Master, the princess has a stomachache and is afraid she is going to give birth. Madam asked you to come over quickly."
ah? Xiangcheng?
Xiao Rui took a step and ran. As soon as he took two steps, he thought of his old father-in-law and looked back.
But he didn't expect Li Er to run to the backyard together and scolded his son-in-law: "What are you looking at? Go quickly! If something happens to Xiangcheng, I can't spare you!"
Although it was a few days earlier than the expected date of delivery, she was still lucky. The princess was young and it would have been difficult to give birth if the baby had grown older. Fortunately, mother and son are safe, and the whole family is happy.
Even Li Er, who was impatient and had no intention of staying for dinner, stayed to have dinner with him before returning to the palace. Before leaving, Xiao Rui secretly gave him a secret letter and said he would read it when he got home.
The princess gave birth to Xiao Rui's second son, but according to etiquette, the princess was the first wife and the child was considered the legitimate son. The other two children born to ordinary wives were born by concubines and were not as noble as this child. But Xiao Rui didn't care about this, and made it clear on the spot that anyone who dared to mention a legitimate son or concubine in the Xiao family would have their legs compromised. They are all my children, Xiao Rui, and they are treated equally.
Father Xiao Yu originally planned to name the child, but Xiao Rui refused this time. He listened to Xiangcheng's opinion and named his son Xiao Ping'an himself. It means a safe life and also prays for the uncle Li Chengqian who is living abroad.
The eldest son, Xiao Lan, was born to Wei Yanran.
The eldest daughter Xiao Xi was born to Li Shengnan.
The second son, Xiao Pingan, was born to Princess Xiangcheng.
Looking at his three children and the large family around him, Xiao Rui knew that he had completely integrated with the Tang Dynasty of this era. This is your home.
Li Er, who returned to the palace, was wondering all the way, what was written in Xiao Rui's secret letter, and what was the point of it?
After the screen retreated and he was alone in the small study, Li Er opened the secret letter. After a while, he burst out laughing.
"You have a conscience. Since you have such a thorough plan to fight against the enemy, why do you say it now? You will let Cheng Qian suffer in the grassland for two more months for nothing!"
"So this is the surprise you prepared for Xie Li, haha, I like surprises!"
Despite the scolding, Li Er still understood Xiao Rui. The prince would be fine if he was living abroad, and Jie Li did not dare to kill him.
Xiao Rui did not respond, not because he was not in a hurry, but because he was waiting for Xiangcheng to give birth. In addition, Luoyang's soldiers and horses had not yet been trained, so it should be enough in two more months.
After burning the secret letter, Li Er came to the Taiji Hall, "Incoming people are called Xuanling, Keming, Xuancheng, Fuji, pharmacist, Gaojian..."
All the think tanks were convened to formally discuss the plan for the war against the enemy.
On the grassland side, Jie Li of the Turkic Royal Court has not seen any movement from the Tang Dynasty for a long time. He looked at Li Chengqian with an increasingly impatient look, "Could it be that you are a fake prince? It has been so long and no one from the Tang Dynasty has come to redeem you?"
Zhao Deyan said: "The identity will not be false. Even without the prince's seal, he is still the prince. Goguryeo dare not lie to us. And the hidden stakes in the direction of Chang'an also confirmed that the prince of the Tang Dynasty is indeed missing."
"Then why don't they come to negotiate for the redemption? Boy, does your father not want you?" Jie Li said mockingly to Li Chengqian, "How about you stay and be a godson to Ben Khan. In the future, Ben Khan will go south to conquer. I have conquered the territory of the Tang State and made you the emperor."
Li Chengqian turned his head and said nothing. After many days of humiliation, he also learned a lot. Just as Zhao Deyan taught, as long as he did not seek death, no one would dare to kill him.
King Zuo Xian said: "There is a saying in the Central Plains: Tiger poison cannot eat its seeds. Do they not believe our news? Why don't you send some tokens to the Emperor of Tang? Cut off a finger and give it to him to see?"
you……
Li Chengqian panicked when he heard that he was about to chop off his fingers. If you become disabled, you will be criticized even if you return to Chang'an in the future. I have never heard of a disabled emperor.
However, Zhao Deyan advised: "The hostages are in our hands, and they are the ones who are worried. The royal court is not short of data from the Tang Dynasty. Whether it is true or not, the news has been spread back long ago. If we take the initiative, it will be like showing weakness. Go ask him for ransom or compensation from Datang? Absolutely not."
"Just sit tight and wait for them to come and beg us. If the King of Tang really doesn't want a son, it will be easy to handle, but his reputation will be ruined. He is a ruthless and unjust man who doesn't even want a son. Who among the people of the Tang Kingdom will trust him again? "
Jie Li praised: "What the military advisor said makes sense, so let's wait and see."
This group of people were having a banquet when a report came from outside, "Great Khan, the Tang Dynasty has sent a team of envoys. They are less than thirty miles away from the royal court."
"Haha, the military advisor has a clever plan. They came to beg us." Jie Li was overjoyed.
