Guanzhong, Chang'an, Dali Temple Prison.
Li Shiji, oh no, should be called Xu Shiji now. After Li Jiancheng and his witness Tian Zaibiao revealed to Li Yuan that he abandoned Li Xiaogong and fled for his life, Li Yuan took back the surname given to him in anger.
This great general who had great glory in the past is now wearing only a single coat, with shackles on his shoulders, shackles on his feet, and disheveled hair. How can he still be as high-spirited as before? His single clothes were stained with blood, and his whole body was covered with traces of whipping. It was obvious that he had been severely tortured.
"Achievements."
A low call came.
Hearing this voice, Xu Shiji, who was already dying, suddenly seemed to be resurrected with full blood. He rushed to the cell door, grabbed the iron fence in front of him, and shouted in a low voice: "Your Highness, King Qin!"
Li Shimin felt heartbroken when he looked at the arm he relied on.
After a long time, he murmured and said: "Shiji, the censor sent by my father to Hanzhong has returned to Chang'an, and several of your old subordinates have confessed, confirming that what Tian Zaibiao said is true!"
Xu Shiji smiled bitterly, as he had expected this.
Back then, almost everyone knew that he abandoned Li Xiaogong and brought back more than 20,000 Tang troops from Shu. If the emperor wanted to investigate, how could he not?
But at that time, he and Li Longji relied on their power to suppress the matter, and no one dared to take the lead. But now that Li Longji has been removed from the throne and thinks about his mistakes behind closed doors, he, the main culprit, has become a prisoner. How can his old subordinates not betray themselves in order to protect themselves?
"His Royal Highness King Qin!"
Xu Shiji said in a hoarse voice: "I was indeed the one who abandoned Prince Zhao back then, but could I not have done this? At that time, I only had more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, and Li Jing had tens of thousands of pursuers behind me. I didn't want to Maybe we can save him!"
Li Shimin nodded slowly, expressing his agreement with Xu Shiji's words.
"If we were to rescue King Zhao at that time, the remaining soldiers and horses would only be surrounded by the Sui army."
Xu Shiji burst into tears: "I gathered the defeated troops, rushed to Jianmen, killed the Sui army's brave general Guan Ling, and recovered Hanzhong. I worked hard for the Tang Dynasty, but why is your majesty holding on to this matter alone?"
Li Shimin sighed helplessly and said: "Father has always valued family ties, and coupled with the instigation and slander from Prince Jiancheng and Pei Ji, I have no choice!"
"Your Highness."
Xu Shiji stepped forward and grabbed Li Shimin's hand, and said in a deep voice: "The last general is already about to die, but there are a few words that he doesn't say out loud!"
Li Shimin nodded slowly and motioned for Xu Shiji to continue.
"Your Majesty values blood and family ties. Most of the soldiers who lead the army are members of the clan. However, if only one clan can take over all the national achievements, how can all his descendants be wise?"
"Why don't you know it?"
Li Shimin shook his head and lamented: "In the past battle at Cijian, if Yuan Ji hadn't disobeyed military orders and killed Wang Shichong, our army would have been blocked and returned without success at the gate of Luoyang City.
Li Shenfu, who was in charge of Chang'an, underestimated the enemy and neglected his duties. He actually allowed a Sui army that was supposed to be at the end of its rope to easily enter Chang'an, causing the Tang Dynasty to suffer great humiliation.
But what can Gu do? My father is too suspicious, and he cannot be used by anyone other than his close relatives. If I give him direct advice, it will only make my father angry and will be of no use! "
"Your Highness, if the Tang Dynasty cannot change this nepotism situation, the future situation will be worrying!"
Xu Shiji knew that he could not escape death, so he spoke without any scruples: "Your Highness, look at the subordinates of Yang Gao'er, Li Jing, Yue Fei, Xue Rengui, Chang Yuchun, Qin Qiong, and Di Qing. Which one is from his Sui royal family? But it's him. These people have built a large empire for Yang Gao. Employing people based on their merit is the way to win, Your Highness!"
Li Shimin was speechless by default. He didn't think so in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it out loud!
. . . . . . . . . .
In the imperial study room, Li Yuan sat behind the desk, looked at the jailer in front of him coldly, and said, "Did Xu Shiji really say that?"
"It's absolutely true, the villain can hear clearly by hiding aside!" the jailer who was ordered to monitor Li Shimin and Xu Shiji carefully replied.
"He Xu Shiji is so brave!"
Li Yuan slammed the table and said bitterly: "Who is he, Xu Shiji, who dares to question my employment strategy? The situation in the future is worrying! What do you mean? Do we need to re-employ a coward like him, Xu Shiji, who abandoned his coach and ran for his life on the battlefield? , can we, the Tang Dynasty, destroy Yang Gao'er?"
"Father, calm down!"
Prince Li Jiancheng, who was standing by, stepped forward to dissuade Li Yuan and said, "Then Xu Shiji must have known that his crime was unforgivable and that he would definitely die, so he harbored resentment and slandered his father. Why should his father be the same as him?"
"snort!"
How could Li Yuan, who was so narrow-minded that he could kill even Liu Wenjing, the founding hero of the People's Republic of China, make things easier for Xu Shiji at this time?
He showed a sinister look on his face and said coldly: "Originally, I didn't want to pursue others because of Xu Shiji's meager achievements in the past and King Qin's immunity, but now it seems that I was too kind to him! Pass the decree, Xu Shiji made arrogant comments about government affairs, was greedy for life and was afraid of death, causing blood relatives in the clan to die in battle. This crime is unpardonable and everyone in the family will be executed!"
"Father, my son and I thought that Xu Shiji was speaking arrogant words, but the second brother did not dissuade him and allowed him to talk nonsense. He clearly had the same thoughts in his heart."
Next to Li Jiancheng, Qi King Li Yuanji stepped forward and said with a sinister look on his face. He deeply hated Li Shimin and all the civil and military personnel in the Qin Palace under his command. If he could seize the opportunity to pull Li Shimin down, everything would be fine.
Li Yuan glanced at Li Yuanji and said calmly: "Xu Shiji is the arm that Shimin relies on most. His beloved will be imprisoned, and Shimin must feel uncomfortable, so he didn't care about his crazy words. Now the army is gathering, and they are going to war. Now, Yuanji, are you able to take on this important task?"
"I..."
Before Li Yuanji could speak, Li Yuan waved his hand and said: "Zhizi Mo Ruofu, don't you know how much you are capable of? Your second brother is the commander of the Southern Expedition this time, and you are the deputy. Remember to assist your second brother well, Don't let him be deceived by Xu Shiji and his ilk!"
"My son obeys the order!"
Li Yuanji said with a somewhat depressed expression. Li Jiancheng on the side also had flashing eyes and mixed feelings, knowing that as long as the world was not peaceful, Li Shimin's status could not be truly shaken.
. . . . . . . . . .
The next day, noon. Chang'an, Caishikou.
Xu Shiji and his family were beheaded and died. After Li Shimin repeatedly begged, Li Yuan reluctantly agreed to collect his body and bury him.
It is pitiful that a generation of famous generals could not die on the battlefield, but died in the hands of their own king. It is really sad.
Xu Shiji's death caused many disputes in Chang'an. Most of the Tang soldiers lamented and regretted it. Those who were close friends with Xu Shiji even cursed Li Yuan behind his back for being vicious. Xu Shiji's crime was clearly not worthy of death, but he was executed by his whole family. How could he be benevolent in doing so? The virtuous elder is really a hypocrite.
