Li Xiaogong's urgent message was quickly delivered to Li Yuan in the form of an eight-hundred-mile express. As analyzed by the officials of the Sui Dynasty, Bashu was an important land of money and food for the Tang Dynasty. When he heard that Bashu was in danger, Li Yuan did not dare to be negligent at all and quickly summoned the officials for discussion.
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In Li Yuan's imperial study, the eldest son Li Jiancheng and the second son Li Shimin stood on the left and right. Standing below Li Shimin are Prime Minister Liu Wenjing and Chen Shuda, Prince Consort Chai Shao, Minister of War Qu Tutong, General Li Jilong and Dou Kang. This is also Li Shimin's current power in the court.
Behind Prince Li Jiancheng stood three prime ministers, namely Pei Ji, Dugu Zhen and Liu Zhenghui. In addition, there are the King of Qi Li Yuanji, the generals Li Shentong and Li Sheng, and Qin Hui, who was recently promoted to the Minister of War for his meritorious service in recruiting Song Jiang in Qingzhou.
Among them, Li Sheng was the general who entered and left randomly when Yang Gao summoned Lu Wenlong. The identity implanted at that time was that of the Li Yuan tribe.
Li Sheng was also a famous general in history. He joined the army at the age of eighteen and followed Wang Zhongsi to conquer Tibet. During the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Sheng single-handedly supported half of the Tang Dynasty, suppressed many rebellions within the Tang Dynasty, and defeated Tibetan invasions several times.
However, Changsun Wuji and Du Ruhui under Li Shimin, as well as Wei Zheng and Liu Zhiyuan under Li Jiancheng, were not qualified to attend court meetings of this level because of their lower official ranks.
Li Yuan was dressed in a dragon robe, sitting on a chair a little decadently. On both sides of him, serving him carefully were his two most trusted eunuchs, Wei Zhongxian and Liu Jin. The urgent message sent by Li Xiaogong was currently being held in Wei Zhongxian's hand and read out in an extremely sinister voice.
After listening to this, Li Shimin immediately understood the purpose of Li Yuan's meeting. It was most likely that he planned to cancel the original plan to attack Luoyang and transfer the army originally used to attack Luoyang to Bashu.
But what kind of person Li Shimin was, how could he not see the intention of the Sui army to attack Bashu. What's more, if they gave up attacking Luoyang and instead rescued Bashu, even if he, Li Shimin, still led the troops and successfully repelled the Sui army's invasion, the first credit should be Li Xiaogong who was in charge of Bashu, not Li Shimin.
Li Shimin quickly winked at Chai Shao, who was following him closely. Chai Shao understood, stepped out of the queue and bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I believe that Bashu has been an easy-to-defend but difficult-to-attack place since ancient times. Although the Hejian County King lost the first battle, , but I think that as long as His Highness the Duke guards the city, the Sui army will be unable to move even an inch!"
Li Jiancheng on the other side was also an expert in military affairs, and he also saw the intention of the Sui army to attack Bashu. But despite this, Li Jiancheng decided to persuade Li Yuan to give up his plan to attack Luoyang and instead send troops to rescue Bashu. Because Li Shimin's reputation in the Tang Dynasty is now at its peak. If he is allowed to capture Luoyang, the thousand-year-old capital, at this time, his position as the prince will be in jeopardy.
Li Jiancheng decided Temporarily give up the attack on Luoyang, invest heavily in Bashu, and strive to ensure that Shu is not lost!"
After Li Jiancheng's statement, Pei Ji, Dugu Zhen and others, who were the backbone of his princeling party, also came out to persuade and said: "Your Majesty, the important land of Bashu cannot be lost. I hope your Majesty will think twice!"
Li Yuan himself also planned to give up the attack on Luoyang to protect Bashu first. However, the plan to attack Luoyang had been finalized more than two months ago. If he acted arbitrarily, he would definitely make his subordinates unhappy, so this court meeting was held. Now Li Jiancheng, Pei Ji and others suggested that he invest heavily in Bashu, and they suddenly narrowed their eyes and nodded.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Li Shimin immediately stepped out and shouted: "Father, you must not do it! The Sui army raised a large number of troops to invade Bashu at this time. It was clearly worried that our army would attack Luoyang and planned to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao. In order to defeat us, The main force of the Tang Dynasty was dragged to Bashu. My father must not fall into the trap!"
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Li Jiancheng said with a gloomy face: "Second brother, what you said is too arbitrary. Bashu is located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and poses a natural threat to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. In my opinion, the Sui army's invasion Bashu is not just besieging Wei and rescuing Zhao, but it has long been planned to unify the south."
Not to be outdone, Li Shimin retorted: "Even if the Sui army has been planning for a long time, why can't we use the strategy of surrounding Wei to save Zhao? Luoyang is the old capital of the Sui Dynasty, and its importance to Yang Gao'er is far greater than that of Bashu. , instead of letting Yang Gao lead us by the nose and put all our troops in Bashu, it is better for us to lead Yang Gao by the nose and use Luoyang as the place for the decisive battle of the Sui and Tang Dynasties!"
Li Jiancheng said with a cold face: "I'm afraid that before Luoyang is captured by then, Bashu will have become the territory of the Sui army!"
Li Shimin snorted angrily: "Brother, why do you have the ambition of others and destroy your own prestige!"
Li Jiancheng said in a deep voice: "Luoyang is the former capital of the Sui Dynasty, and its strength is no less strong than Chang'an. At that time, Yang Xuangan took advantage of the Sui army's expedition to Goguryeo. When Luoyang was empty, he raised an army of 200,000 to besiege it for a month and could not move. What's more, Now Wang Shichong has an army of tens of thousands, and Xue Rengui and Chang Yuchun are eyeing the Central Plains. What confidence do you have that you can defeat Luoyang quickly?"
"It's hard to defeat one person, but it's easy to defeat two people!"
Li Shimin said loudly: "Wang Shichong is ambitious and has nothing to do with Yang Gao'er. Even if Xue Rengui and Chang Yuchun send troops to rescue Luoyang, their two armies will definitely be wary of each other. As long as we make good use of the relationship between their two armies. Suspicions and conflicts may not be impossible to break through Luoyang City!"
After Li Shimin finished speaking, he ignored Li Jiancheng and turned to look at Li Yuan. He knelt down on one knee and made a sonorous appeal: "Father, I am willing to issue a military order. The Sui army will definitely capture Luoyang in one step first, and then raise the troops to kill him." Enter the Central Plains and force Yang Gao'er to retreat from Bashu. If we fail to win, I am willing to serve as a military commander!"
Over the years, all of Li Tang's generals, except Li Shimin, suffered a series of defeats. This made Li Yuan unknowingly become dependent on Li Shimin in the military.
At this moment, Li Shimin did not hesitate to issue a military order. After thinking for a moment, Li Yuan gave up his previous idea of giving up the attack on Luoyang to save Bashu. He stood up and said firmly: "Okay, since you have such confidence, Erlang, then I will help you." ! Passed the decree and appointed Qin King Li Shimin as the Grand Marshal of the Eastern Expedition, Qi King Li Yuanji as the Deputy Marshal, and Prime Minister Liu Wenjing as the Marching Sima. He commanded 150,000 elite troops to go out of Tongguan and attack Luoyang, the eastern capital."
Li Shimin and Liu Wenjing both looked happy, clasping their fists together and saying, "My dear minister (wei minister) obeys the order!"
Li Yuanji, whose name was called on the side, seemed extremely reluctant. He walked slowly out of the queue and said with cupped hands: "My son, I will obey my father's order!"
Li Yuan glanced at Chai Shao who was aside, and said in a deep voice: "Sichang, Bashu is a strategically important place after all. Since Xiaogong has sent people to ask for help, I cannot remain indifferent, otherwise it will definitely cause instability within Bashu. . This time you will lead the army to reinforce Bashu, and I will transfer General Zuo Wuwei Li Zicheng as your deputy general. The two of you will lead 30,000 elite troops to support Xiaogong!"
Li Jiancheng on the side twitched the corners of his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something else. But Li Yuan waved his hand at him: "I have made up my mind, there is no need for Da Lang to persuade me any more!"
