Concubine Jing whispered: "King Huai has indeed oppressed His Majesty so much that he can't breathe. But at this time, Li Yuan wrote this letter mainly to alienate Your Majesty and King Huai. He wants to disrupt our plan to defend the city so that we can break through it." Yangzhou..."
Zhang Jie said angrily: "What do you know? Did you tell His Majesty this?"
Concubine Jing said hurriedly: "How could I say it? I also read that letter secretly, and His Majesty didn't know about it."
Zhang Jie nodded and said: "You must not talk nonsense. You have also seen the current situation. Can Yangzhou City really be defended? I think it is difficult. There are rumors in the city that Li Yuan can draw thunder from the sky to help the battle, and Yangzhou City's defense may be difficult to resist. Do you think Your Majesty? Do you think that Zhang Wenbiao will definitely be able to defend it? Why does your majesty have trouble sleeping and eating?
At this time, the letter from Li Yuan may be exactly what His Majesty hoped for. Your Majesty must have come to me to discuss this matter. If the death of one person is exchanged for the stability of Yangzhou, Your Majesty will definitely do it. As for the countermeasures you mentioned, I don't know Li Yuan's tricks, but why don't we just use them? Once Zhang Wenbiao dies, the government and the public will be clear, and His Majesty will be in charge. This Tang Dynasty will be the real Tang Dynasty, and Your Majesty will be the real Majesty!
As for the matter of defending the city, is it possible that without Zhang Wenbiao, life would be over? And me? Can't I defend the city? Wouldn’t I be able to do the city defense matters that Zhang Wenbiao did? Therefore, it is of great benefit to us both inside and outside. I must persuade His Majesty to do this. "
Concubine Jing thought about it and got up and said: "Brother, my little sister doesn't know much about these things. It's up to the brother to make his own decision on specific matters. The little sister only reminds her brother to be thoughtful and not to act hastily. In case of being hit by Li The treacherous plot has ruined the country, the country, and the country. How can there be anything that is yours or mine by then? Everyone is finished together."
Zhang Ji stood up and said, "Don't worry, brother will be thoughtful."
Concubine Jing nodded and said, "Then I'm leaving. It's time for Your Majesty to take a bath."
"Congratulations, my queen!"
Shortly after Concubine Jing left, Li Congjia came to the Nuan Pavilion after taking a bath. Although he felt refreshed after taking a bath, Li Congjia's brows were still tightly wrinkled and it was difficult to relax. Zhang Ji bowed his hands in salute, and Li Congjia just waved his hands and sat on the soft couch, holding a cup of tea and started drinking.
Zhang Ji didn't dare to speak, so he just stood aside with his head lowered and waited. Soon after, Li Congjia put down the tea cup, sighed deeply, and said, "Shi An, have you met Concubine Jing?"
Zhang Jie hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, we just met and said a few words."
Li Congjia nodded and said, "Concubine Jing is lonely in the palace. You should come and see her often."
Zhang Jie said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I obey your order and will let my wife come to the palace to stay with you for a few days in a few days."
Li Congjia nodded slightly, changed the topic, and suddenly went directly to the topic: "Shi An, I want to ask you, do you think Yangzhou can be defended?"
Zhang Jie hurriedly said: "Why do you ask this, Your Majesty? Yangzhou City has enough soldiers and horses, plenty of food and grass, the city defense is strong, and everyone is united, how can we not be able to defend it? And with King Huai commanding, it is even more impregnable. Your Majesty, there is no need to worry."
Li Congjia frowned and said, "Oh? Do you really think so? Didn't you hate King Huai so much in the past? Why do you trust him so much today? What I want to hear is the truth."
Zhang Jie was stunned for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Nothing is absolute, and I don't dare to say that it is infallible. But just do your best and obey fate."
Li Congjia murmured: "Do your best and obey fate. Even you don't think Yangzhou City can be defended."
Zhang Ji whispered: "Your Majesty, I tell you the truth. If Li Yuan can really draw down the thunder from the sky, the city defense of Yangzhou will indeed undergo a severe test. I just don't know if this thing really exists, or if Li Yuan is just making things up. . In fact, what I have always wanted to tell His Majesty is that although we must strengthen the city defenses and defend the city to the end, we should probably think of other ways."
"Other ways? What do you mean?" Li Congjia frowned.
"I dare not say it. I am afraid that Your Majesty will blame me for saying this."
"Say, I will pardon you and you can speak freely." Li Congjia shouted.
"Then I said that if there is anything inappropriate, Your Majesty can stop it at any time."
"Just say it."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I have always believed that on the one hand, we should actively prepare for war, and on the other hand, we should also communicate with Li Yuan." Zhang Jie looked at Li Congjia's face carefully and whispered.
"Communicate? You mean to negotiate peace with him?" Li Congjia frowned.
"You can say that. I know that your Majesty hates Li Yuan deeply. This thief has defied heaven and usurped the throne, and is domineering and arrogant. Heaven and earth cannot tolerate it. But under the current situation, if Li Yuan can be stabilized, it may not be a good thing. If we can negotiate If the conditions are met and Li Yuan takes the initiative to withdraw his troops, we can resolve the crisis at hand. Waiting until we are fully prepared before launching a crusade may not be a delaying strategy."
Li Congjia frowned and was silent in thought. Zhang Jie saw that Li Congjia showed no signs of attack, so he boldly continued: "I would like to say something treacherous. I always thought that in fact, Li Yuan went to the step of usurping the throne and proclaiming himself emperor today, and the imperial court treated him The persecution is not irrelevant. Your Majesty, think about it. In the past, when you ascended the throne in Yangzhou, you rewarded the world with kindness. Even Li Jingsui, the traitor who lived in Jinling, was given the title of King of Jin, but you only regarded Chu as a tiger and a wolf!
Li Yuan had indeed conspired to rebel, but it was the imperial court's persecution and King Yan's rebellion that fueled the situation, which was understandable. This time Li Yuan sent troops to fight with us, it was because King Huai led the army to attack Chu first! "
"Bold! You actually excused the traitor Li Yuan. What is your intention?" Li Congjia shouted loudly.
Zhang Jie hurriedly leaned over and said: "Your Majesty, calm down, I have no such intention! I also hate Li Yuan, but I am just analyzing Li Yuan's psychology for Your Majesty. Just imagine, if our court can tolerate him at all, the situation will never be the same." As for how bad it is. If I had given him the title of King of Chu in the past, and waited for my army to train for a year and a half before going out to attack Chu, how could it have collapsed in the battle of Tanzhou and ended up in the situation we are in today?"
Li Congjia frowned and pondered for a long time, then whispered: "Oh! You are right! It was indeed too hasty to send troops to Chu! But why didn't you say this when King Huai sent troops?"
Zhang Jie hurriedly said: "How could your Majesty not know that I didn't say anything, but I couldn't say anything! King Huai favored Lei Rang and others, and didn't take me seriously at all! At first, King Huai tried his best to send troops, but I mentioned it several times. , advised him to be fully prepared before taking action, but he was scolded to death. The King of Huai used the emperor to command the princes. He is the person in power in the court, how can I compete with him? Even if I want to clear the emperor's side, I am powerless. ah."
Li Congjia stared at Zhang Ji blankly and said, "Do you really dare?"
When Zhang Ji heard this sentence, he felt happy in his heart. He said this to corroborate the words in Li Yuan's letter that he had learned in advance, and at the same time to stimulate the depressed psychology of Li Congjia, who was a prisoner in the palace, so that Li Congjia's psychological defenses would gradually collapse, and what Zhang Ji would do next Li Congjia would be more likely to listen to whatever he said.
"You just said that you want to negotiate peace with Li Yuan to stabilize their plan of delaying the war. But now the opponent is approaching the city with menacing troops and is very likely to attack Yangzhou City. How can he be willing to negotiate peace?"
"Your Majesty, I just said that the reason why Li Yuan is like this is probably because he jumped over the wall in a hurry. He established himself as emperor in the Chu land, and he was so polite in front of the emperor. Why did he come all the way to attack us? Isn't it because King Huai led his army to provoke us first? Him? Maybe give him some sweet spots and soften his attitude to see if it is enough to make him retreat, or we can get in touch with him and explore his bottom line.
If he is bent on attacking the Tang Dynasty, there is nothing to say. No matter how hard it is, he will not be able to succeed. But if he wants to make peace, the current crisis may be resolved, and we don't have to fight him to the death at this moment. First stabilize him and let him retreat. After a few years, when our troops and horses are strong and the situation is stable, wouldn't it be more appropriate to send out troops to wipe out this traitor in one fell swoop?
It's better than the current situation. If Yangzhou were to be captured, the consequences would be disastrous. Zhang Wenbiao actually encouraged His Majesty to stay in Yangzhou and asked His Majesty to boost the morale of the people. Where did he put His Majesty's safety? If your Majesty places your hope in this sycophant who is taking advantage of the monarch's power, then I will have nothing to say. "
Li Congjia stood up and walked slowly in the Nuan Pavilion, his brows furrowed and his face gloomy. From the bottom of his heart, he was obviously unwilling to make peace with Li Yuan. Li Yuan was incompatible with him, and it was absolutely impossible to live in peace with him.
However, no matter how much I hate him, Li Yuan has the absolute upper hand in the current situation. Li Yuan had proclaimed himself emperor, and was in a situation of dual initiative in terms of military and reputation. State capitals from all over Jiangbei announced their support for him one after another. It was already difficult for him to continue his campaign of recruiting troops and food. At this time, he could be said to be alone in a corner and surrounded by enemies from all sides. .
At this time, Yangzhou City may not be able to be defended, and it can be said that the country is about to be destroyed. If we can really reach a peace agreement with Li Yuan and let Li Yuan withdraw his troops or temporarily suspend his troops, it will undoubtedly be in his best interest. Moreover, Li Yuan has already extended an olive branch on his own initiative and only put forward one condition, which is to kill Zhang Wenbiao.
This condition was actually what Li Congjia wanted. He had long wanted to cut this rebellious minister and traitor who was holding the monarch's power to death with a thousand knives. He had listened to Zhang Wenbiao's words and let go of his prejudices and estrangements because he was worried that Yangzhou would be destroyed because of his inability to unite. But now Li Congjia Taking this as a condition has actually become the best of both worlds.
If Zhang Wenbiao could be successfully eradicated, Li Yuan would withdraw his troops, and Li Yuan would recognize his throne, then his throne would be as secure as a mountain. This would undoubtedly be the most cost-effective deal.
But Li Congjia suddenly became suspicious again. If he went all out to eliminate Zhang Wenbiao, would he really be able to get Li Yuan to withdraw his troops? Li Congjia was not sure. He was very worried that he would be deceived by Li Yuan, but compared with the benefits he was about to receive, he was really tempted and couldn't help but fall into confusion...
