Hearing Li Yuan's doubts about Li Shiji, Li Shimin immediately defended him and said: "Father, since Li Shiji returned to the Tang Dynasty, my son and I have had several contacts with him. This man is indeed a rare commander. As for Yuan Ji's capture, I can explain to my father for Li Shiji."
"Explanation?" Li Yuan was slightly stunned and said, "Is it possible that Li Shiji has other difficulties?"
"good!"
Li Shimin said seriously: "When Yuan Ji was defeated, Li Shiji was supervising grain in Hanoi, so this matter cannot be blamed on Li Shiji at all. Moreover, I believe that if Li Shiji was among the army at that time, that tragic defeat might not have happened at all."
"I see!"
Li Yuan nodded slowly, "Since the emperor values Li Shiji so much, I will use him again without any difficulty."
Li Shimin bowed deeply and said: "Father is wise! I believe that Li Shiji will be able to help Xiaogong and defeat the Sui army!"
. . . . . . . . . .
On October 23rd of the third year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty appointed King Li Shimin of Qin as the Marshal of the Northern Campaign, leading Chai Shao, Qu Tutong, Changsun Wuji, Li Xuanba, Du Ruhui, Shan Shituo, Wang Junke, Xie Yingdeng, Duan Zhixuan , Duan Decao, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang, Liang Shitai and other civil and military generals led 150,000 elite troops out of Pujin Pass to join the remnants of Li Keyong, conquer Zhao Kuangyin, and regain the northern capital Taiyuan.
At the same time, Li Yuan appointed Li Shiji as the deputy general manager of the Bashu Marching Army. He led 50,000 troops to Hanzhong and entered Bashu to assist Li Xiaogong, the prince of Hejian County and the general manager of the Bashu Marching Army, to guard Bashu and guard against Sui army raids.
It was early winter, and the north wind howled, making the flags of the Tang army flutter. Li Shimin, who was dressed in golden armor and rode a BMW "Teleqiao", was walking in the middle of the team. He let the strong wind blow on his face like a knife, and said in his heart: "I, Li Shimin, am the destined emperor whom God has mercy on. Yang Gao , Zhao Kuangyin, no matter how powerful you are, anyone who stands in front of Gu will die!"
. . . . . . . . . .
While Li Tang was once again going to war, Yang Gao had led tens of thousands of victorious troops back to Jiangdu City. Upon learning that the Emperor had returned, the streets in Jiangdu City were already deserted. Millions of people in the city rushed to the north gate, waiting for the Emperor's return.
Not long after, Yang Gao's Luan Jia appeared in the eyes of the people. The people who crowded at the gate of the city knelt on the ground and shouted long live the mountain.
Yang Gao, who was sitting in the car, waved proudly to the people on both sides and drove slowly towards Jiangdu Palace. From a distance, he could see outside the gate of the majestic Jiangdu Palace, the three concubines Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu, Xiao Yuexian and hundreds of palace maids and eunuchs in rich costumes were quietly waiting for his return.
"I, my concubine (servant, villain), come to see your majesty. May your majesty be in good health!"
Under the leadership of Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu and Xiao Yuexian, hundreds of palace eunuchs saluted Yang Gao's Luanjia to say goodbye.
Yang Gao immediately got off the carriage and helped the three concubines up one by one. He then waved his hands towards the palace eunuchs behind them and said, "You all, please get up too!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Hundreds of palace eunuchs responded in unison, stood up slowly and stood quietly, waiting for the emperor's holy carriage to enter the palace.
Yang Gao was not in a hurry to enter the palace, but first exchanged greetings with the three concubines and said: "The Battle of the Central Plains is of great importance. I was worried about national affairs, so I neglected several of my concubines. Fortunately, God helped me in the Sui Dynasty. Now our army is victorious. Take all the Central Plains. I can barely have some free time and spend some time with my concubines."
Before Yang Gao finished speaking, Xiao Yuexian on the side chuckled and said, "I also want your Majesty to stay with me for a few more days, but I think it would be better for your majesty to spend more time with Sister Xue during this time!"
Yang Gao was stunned when he heard this, "Why is this?"
Lin Daiyu on the side smiled shyly and explained for Xiao Yuexian: "Reporting to Your Majesty, my cousin is now pregnant with Your Majesty's dragon seed!"
"What?"
Yang Gao's eyes widened when he heard this, and he immediately looked at Xue Baochai with a look of joy, "Xue Bin, are you already pregnant with my child?"
Xue Baochai lowered his head shyly and replied to Yang Gao in a mosquito-like voice: "Your Majesty, it has been three months!"
"Hahaha, good! Good! Good!"
Yang Gao couldn't help but laugh three times after hearing this, and immediately hugged Xue Baochai into his arms and said with a doting look on his face: "Xue Qing fought bloody battles in the Central Plains and won a large territory for me. Ai Ji is now pregnant with the dragon. I don't even know how to reward your family for your contribution to the royal family?"
Xue Baochai snuggled into the arms of the emperor's husband with a happy look on her face, and whispered: "It is my honor to be able to add branches and leaves to His Majesty. How dare I ask for a reward from Your Majesty?"
Yang Gao laughed loudly and said: "I have always made clear rewards and punishments. Now that Aiji is pregnant with my eldest son, how can I not reward you? What does Aiji think of me naming you as queen?"
"His Majesty!"
Xue Baochai gave a shy sound, and then whispered: "I don't know whether I am pregnant with a boy or a girl now. If I give birth to a girl in the future, wouldn't His Majesty be disgraced?"
Yang Gao chuckled, "What Ai Ji said makes some sense. Then I will first decree to confer Ai Ji as a concubine, and wait until Ai Ji gives birth to my eldest son before I can make her a queen."
The conversation between Yang Gao and Xue Baochai was clearly heard by the eunuch Duan Yi who was standing by. After Yang Gao returned to the palace, he immediately found an excuse to sneak out of the palace and trotted straight to Pei Ju's mansion.
After listening to Duan Yi's narration, Pei Ju waved his hand sadly and signaled the housekeeper to take Duan Yi to the accounting room to get money.
After Duan Yi left, Pei Ju sighed and said helplessly: "I really didn't expect that the Xue family was so lucky. I heard that Dou Xianniang and Xiao Yuexian had been favored by His Majesty before they entered the palace, but I didn't expect that the The one who is pregnant with the dragon heir is Xue Baochai. It seems that the position of queen will most likely fall on her."
Pei Ju's nephew Pei Xuande on the side said dissatisfiedly: "Xue Rengui is a humble child from a poor family. What qualifications does his daughter have to be a mother to the world?"
This Pei Xuande is the third son of Pei Ju's brother Pei Yun. He has mediocre abilities but thinks he comes from a famous family and has a superior vision. He always looks down on the children of poor families.
Pei Ju glared at Pei Xuande with dissatisfaction and snorted angrily: "Although Xue Rengui comes from a poor family, he is much more capable than a noble son like you. He can command an army to expand the territory of the Sui Dynasty. What can you do?"
"I..."
Pei Xuande was at a loss for words, and after a long pause he said with an apologetic smile: "Uncle, doesn't my nephew lack an opportunity? I might as well help my nephew to move around in the government and the public, and find an official position for my nephew. My nephew promises Make some results."
Pei Ju snorted coldly, "It's not easy to get an official position. In a few months, the court will hold the spring examination again. If you want to be an official, you can take the exam yourself!"
Pei Xuande waved his hand dissatisfied, "Uncle, there is no restriction on family background in the imperial examination. How can my nephew participate in it with those lowly and humble children?"
