Li Yuan suddenly raised his head, trying his best to hold back, but his eyes seemed to have been filled with two sharp swords, and he couldn't help but burst out a strong murderous intention towards King Yan. Liu Shaojian, who was standing aside, suddenly looked gloomy and stepped forward.
"What the Governor wants to do, you need to think twice before acting. Look around you. This is not your Wuping." Liu Shaojian narrowed his eyes and said coldly.
Li Hongji lightly twisted the jade ring in his hand and said slowly: "Look, I really want to trust you, but your expression has already revealed your true intentions. Why, do you think what Zhou Xingfeng did in Langzhou is wrong?" Is this the king’s instruction?”
Li Yuan's face was as dark as water, but his hands hanging under the stone table kept rubbing his knees. Perhaps he exerted so much force that his joints were almost pale. After calming down, he showed a stiff smile: "Your Highness is joking, you are the emperor's husband." Afterwards, how could he, who has high aspirations and integrity and acted openly and aboveboard, do such a dirty thing as seeking to steal my wife and family? I absolutely don’t believe it.”
Li Hongji did not say anything at this time, but turned around and looked at the equally calm Liu Shaojian, then straightened up and pretended to be relaxed and said: "Do you really think so? But I see that you still have murderous intent in your eyes, If I tell you that Zhou Xingfeng's actions were indeed directed by me, how would you react?"
Li Yuan said in a deep voice: "Why do you need to test me again and again, Your Highness? Just because my wife is from the Zhou family, I don't believe it at all. My father-in-law has been loyal to Your Highness for many years, and I have learned from it. Your Highness is so benevolent, how can I bear to do this?"
"Of course." Li Hongji said calmly: "You are clear in your heart. I am not a dark-minded person, so how could I do such a stupid thing? If I really want to deal with you, I won't harm my wife and family.
You know why I mentioned Zhou Xingfeng, because I have seen your shadow in him. Although he is not as wise and brave as you, his heart is so deep, and he can tolerate it freely between me and Lao Liu. My second brother People are being used by him without knowing it.
That Zhou Xingfeng was never loyal to me, or to Lao Liu. In the end, he was only loyal to his own ambition. I hope you will stop being Zhou Xingfeng, otherwise you will know the consequences better than me. "
Waves of cold wind hit the lakeside and passed through the windows of the pavilion from time to time. Li Yuan couldn't help but cough a few times, and then he cupped his hands and said: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I can show my loyalty to Your Highness. If Your Highness trusts me, I will Let me continue to be His Highness's chess piece outside. If you don't trust me, I can give up everything. Li Yuan is at your disposal."
Li Hongji said slowly: "I really want to trust you, but you need to make me believe that you are really mine. Can you prove it?"
Li Yuan paused, remembering an important matter that he had been thinking about for a long time that he did not want to interfere with, and finally made a decision because King Yan Li Hongji really said the right thing, "Once you enter the muddy water of the court, you will Never have the childish thought of staying out of the matter." Then he said in a deep voice: "Of course it can be proved that I came here today to inform His Highness of Prince Zheng's big conspiracy.
As the saying goes, the authorities are confused, but those who watch are clear. His Highness has lived in the capital for a long time, and may not see it as clearly as I do, but I must be loyal and outspoken. This is the meaning of establishing a festival abroad. Today I will prove it to His Highness King Yan. "
Li Hongji was stunned, glanced at Shaojian Liu, and said in a deep voice: "Tell me, what kind of conspiracy does Lao Liu have?
Li Yuan lowered his voice and said: "Your Highness, I was surprised when I learned that the imperial court was determined to use troops against the Zhou Kingdom. I also heard that the imperial court finally decided to let Li Zhenggu lead the Zhennan Army northward after the report was made jointly by the Zhongshu Men and the Privy Council. , I feel more and more that there must be something fishy in this. I came back to Jinling this time just for this matter."
Li Hongji said suspiciously: "What kind of strangeness could there be in this? You should tell me."
Li Yuandao: "Your Highness, I don't need to explain why I attacked the Zhou Kingdom. It was indeed because of the failure of the Northern Expedition last year, which gave those courtiers the best excuse to remonstrate. This is indeed a knot in your Majesty's heart. But let Jiu'an stay still for a long time. The Zhennan Army assumes this responsibility, and there is a lot to be said for it.
How powerful is the Zhou Kingdom compared to our Tang Dynasty? Your Highness has personally experienced it and must know it better than the ministers. The Lord of Zhou fought externally and internally, the civil and military forces were united, the soldiers were brave and warlike, and the national power rose rapidly, which should not be underestimated. Those who dominate the Central Plains are huge beasts and are by no means idle. During the Zhong Liezu dynasty, peace was always the main policy towards the Northern Kingdom. This was not unreasonable. "
Li Hongji said in astonishment: "These kings are all
I know, why are you telling me this? "
Li Yuandao: "Your Highness will understand after listening to what I say. Last year when the Zhou Kingdom was first established, the northern Khitan, Yanzhou Murong, Taiyuan Han Lord, together with my Tang Dynasty Northern Expedition Army were besieged on all sides. Therefore, I would like to ask, now that the Zhou Dynasty is peaceful and peaceful, the country is rich and the army is strong, but our dynasty has lost its vitality due to continuous wars, what do you think the chances of winning this battle are, Your Highness?"
Li Hongji was silent for a moment and said calmly: "Are you saying that this battle will be defeated? But the Zhennan Army is the most elite military force in our dynasty. Not only are there strong generals, but the soldiers have been stationed in Hongzhou Prefecture for many years and are well-trained."
"Isn't the Sixth Army elite?" Li Yuan said: "Even if the Shenwu Army was seriously injured last time, what about the other five armies? This is a national war, such an important war. Instead of sending the imperial army, the local towns will be the main force of the attack. , this is something that has rarely happened since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Don't you think it's strange, Your Highness?
Taking a step back, if we talk about local festival towns, the four towns of Zhennan, Wuping, Wuchang and Qinghuai are all considered to be the elite divisions of the Tang Dynasty. Besides, except Zhennan, the other three towns are all on the border. Why are there no border festival towns this time? Instead, he ordered the Zhennan Army in the hinterland of Jiangxi to send troops to attack the Zhou Kingdom? Just talking about the marching distance, the soldiers would have to walk at least two to three thousand miles before the battle started. How can a tired army resist a powerful enemy? "
Li Hongji frowned and said: "The Sixth Army is stationed in the capital. The Shenwu Army suffered losses last time. Naturally, this time we cannot move without permission. The Zhennan Army has the largest number of troops and horses, so it is most appropriate to send troops. As for the long distance you mentioned, it is not impossible. The solution is to transport it by naval warships. Do you want tens of thousands of soldiers and horses from Wu Ping to cross Jingnan to attack Zhou? Don't forget that there are enemies from Lingnan to your south, waiting eagerly."
Li Yuan shook his head and said: "Your Highness, what about the Qing Huai Army? After the Qing Huai Army expanded last year, Liu Dashuai and his son had 70,000 troops. They could also command a total of 20,000 regiments of trained troops and horses from more than ten prefectures and counties around to fight together. The number of available troops can reach one hundred thousand.
Moreover, Marshal Liu and his Qing Huai army had rich combat experience, which was much better than the Zhennan Army that had not fought for a long time. Why didn't the imperial court send Marshal Liu to lead the army to attack Zhou? It should be noted that Shouzhou is on the edge of the Huaihe River, only a short distance away from the Kingdom of Zhou. "
"Liu Renzhan has just recovered from his illness. My father is just showing sympathy for him." Li Hongji frowned and said, "Li Yuan, what exactly are you going to say? Can you say it clearly?"
Li Yuandao: "Your Highness, the truth is actually very simple. The Zhou Kingdom is so powerful that it is difficult to win this battle. However, this time the crusade against the Zhou Kingdom did not involve the imperial army and other Jiezhen. Instead, it was rare that the people under Zhongshu's sect and the Privy Council jointly recommended it. Now, don’t you think it’s strange to enable the Zhennan Army to fight alone?
Your Highness, I dare to say a few more words. Xu Xuan, Wei Cen, and Li Zhenggu are all members of King Zheng's party. They recommended the Zhennan Army to go north. And whose soldiers and horses are the Zhennan Army? They are Duke Wei. Song Qiqiu, Song Qiqiu, the late emperor and His Majesty have been afraid of him for many years! King Yan must know who Song Qiqiu is. His ambition is to seize power from the king. Back then, your majesty was almost unable to continue his career because of him..."
"I know it is Duke Wei..." Li Hongji was stunned, and suddenly took a breath of air and said, "No, you mean, they, they have other plans?"
