On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, cut off the new year's flesh and wash your fortune.
In the backyard of the palace, the smell of stewed mutton filled the entire palace.
Xia Niang lay in Li Xuan's arms. Although she had not yet reached the time of weaning, she could still get a little bit of the mutton soup.
Especially when the fragrance is extremely alluring, Li Xuan keeps moaning in Li Xuan's arms.
Li Bi, dressed in Tsing Yi, appeared silently at the door of the backyard with a solemn expression.
Li Xuan waved, and Li Bi stepped forward and held his hand: "Your Majesty, Pingyang County Duke has arrived at Chunming Gate in the east of the city."
Xue Rengui returned to Beijing.
Li Xuan has been staring at this matter. He hugged Xiaoxia Niang and asked softly: "Who has gone to greet her?"
"Prince, Duke Pingyuan, and Master Shiyin." Li Bi's face was extremely solemn.
The prince represents himself, Pingyuan County Duke Gao Kan represents the emperor and the court, and Ming Chongyan represents Empress Wu.
This shows that when Xue Rengui came back this time, the government and the public took it seriously.
"Pingyang County Duke's return to Beijing this time is probably the result of the combined efforts of all parties." Li Xuan raised her head and said thoughtfully: "As for what will happen this time, it depends on Pingyang County Duke's own thoughts."
"Pingyang County Duke should want to retaliate against Tubo and prove himself again, right?" Li Bi was a little confused as to why Li Xuan had unexpected thoughts.
"It depends on the situation." Li Xuan shook her head slightly and said, "The prince and the queen both want to win over Duke Pingyang, but there is only one person who can really decide Duke Pingyang's future behavior."
"Your Majesty." Li Bi nodded slightly, with a look of approval on his face.
"Yes, in His Majesty's heart, winning the battle is the priority. If Pingyang County Duke has a strategy that can defeat Lun Qinling, then he will naturally give it priority. If not, then I am afraid that he will have to use Pengcheng County Duke." Li Xuan took a deep breath. One breath.
Xue Rengui and Liu Shenli.
Although Xue Rengui was a veteran, he almost succeeded Li Jing. Li Ji's mantle was once known as the military god of the Tang Dynasty. Unfortunately, a disastrous defeat in Dafeichuan wiped out all his glory. .
Although the military power is still there, it is hard to say how much it can still be used on the battlefield.
Although Liu Shenli was the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, he was also a military general. He had also studied with Pei Xingjian and Pei Xingyan's father, and his combat prowess was not bad.
It may not be an easy task for the emperor to choose one of the two as the commander-in-chief of the army.
The most important thing is that Xue Rengui has probably not yet entered the emperor's candidate list.
It is even possible that the emperor did not expect that Xue Rengui would compete for the position of commander-in-chief of the army.
Xue Rengui's intentions were true, but Liu Shenli was still the emperor's first choice.
Liu Shenli has the clearest understanding of the current battle situation on the front line, and the generals on the front line are also familiar with him and are willing to cooperate.
Once Xue Rengui is transferred, the frontline battle situation will be unfamiliar, and it may even be necessary to make large-scale adjustments to the frontline generals and the deployment of the army.
It's useful, but it takes a lot of time.
This time is extremely easy for Lun Qinling to take advantage of.
Xue Rengui's greatest advantage is that he has been to Wuhai before and has the most intuitive understanding of the terrain and environment in the Wuhai area, especially the plateau miasma.
This is why the emperor is willing to summon him back.
Therefore, unless he is confident enough to solve the adverse effects of the terrain environment, the possibility of substitution between the DPRK and China is not high.
…
Li Xuan sat up with Xiao Xianniang in her arms and sighed softly: "Pingyang County has his own trusted generals, so he naturally puts the experienced first in battle. Although I have some abilities, if nothing happens, I will not be taken seriously by him." , in the end it was just a partial division of troops along the way, with three thousand people, that's all."
After a slight pause, Li Xuan shook his head and said: "Actually, neither Pingyang County Duke nor Pengcheng County Duke has too much trust in me. It's just that Pengcheng County Duke may be more hands-off, so if there is no other choice, I will still I will support Duke Pengcheng."
Whether it is Xue Rengui or Liu Shenli, they are both important ministers in the court, and they are sufficiently vigilant about a clan having a large amount of military power and establishing a large number of military achievements.
Liu Shenli is relatively good, and Li Xuan has a good relationship with him.
In addition, the battle in Wuhai is full of difficulties. What Li Xuan wants to do needs to be more convenient.
Xue Rengui was different. Not only was he headstrong, but he was most likely promoted to him by Empress Wu and the North Gate Bachelor.
If he really became the coach of the army, he would not use Li Xuan, but would be on guard against him.
"The relationship between Duke Pengcheng and the prince is probably also a big hidden danger." Li Bi looked serious and bowed slightly.
Li Xuan leaned back on the recliner and said softly: "This is what Your Majesty needs to consider. Let's just focus on our affairs."
After a slight pause, Li Xuan continued: "Send people to screen the list of Cao Cao's military and county magistrates passed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. If there are obvious problems, let Yushitai impeach him directly. If he even covers up such a thing, If you can't do it well, there is no need to transfer to Changzhou."
What Li Xuan needs is smart people. He doesn't mind smart people having weaknesses, but if such a smart person can't even control his superficial weaknesses, then he will have more weaknesses in corners that others can't see. exist.
Such people can easily become targets for others.
"Here!" Li Bi immediately nodded and turned around to leave.
At this time, Li Xuan spoke again: "Also, keep a closer eye to see if Li Jingye's people have secretly visited Pingyang County Duke and his sons."
"Yes!" Li Bi handed over his hand and then carefully stepped out.
Li Xuan hugged her daughter and played up and down, but she kept thinking in her heart.
Liu Shenli was a close confidant of the prince. If Xue Rengui wanted to seize the position of army commander from him, he would have to get support from all aspects, including the prince, ministers, and the emperor.
And he was able to return to the court because he had the support of Empress Wu.
The key is that there is likely to be Li Jingye's actions in this.
Li Xuan's interests are also involved.
Fishing in troubled waters depends on who is more capable.
…
"Third Sister, Fifth Sister is here to see you." Liu Qiongyu jumped into the Dongkua Courtyard from the outside.
At the age of ten, less than the height of Li Xuan's chest, Liu Qiongyu looks very cute wearing a pair of double buns and a pink collarless skirt.
Li Xuan put down the account book in her hand and raised her eyes calmly. Liu Qiongyu, who was a little playful at first, couldn't help but stick out her tongue and became quiet.
Liu Jinyu walked out of the back room with Xiaoxia Niang in her arms. She looked at Liu Qiongyu in surprise and asked, "Why did you come here alone?"
"There is no way. Fourth sister can't spare the time, so Wu Niang can only come alone." Liu Qiongyu stepped forward and looked at Xiaoxia Niang with a smile.
"Can't find time?" Liu Jinyu was slightly stunned, and then asked: "What happened?"
"Someone came to propose marriage, and there were two families who came to the door." Liu Qiongyu said the matter nonchalantly, and then said with some dissatisfaction: "I found it annoying, so I came to see the third sister."
Li Xuan immediately sat up straight, and then looked at Liu Jinyu with a surprised expression. The couple also looked surprised at the same time.
They originally thought that Liu Qiongyu's marriage would have to be delayed no matter what, but why did someone come to propose marriage so quickly, and there were two families at the door.
Something's not quite right.
"They are descendants of the Liu family and the Zheng family. Although they are not the eldest family members, they are both legitimate sons. One is currently serving as a county captain, and the other is currently studying in the Imperial College." Liu Qiongyu said in detail.
She wasn't bothered by this, she was obviously just gossiping.
Liu Jinyu looked at Li Xuan and whispered: "Lang Jun, it seems that Pingyang County Duke's wife is the daughter of the Liu family, and Pengcheng County Duke's mother was born in the Zheng family of Xingyang."
"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded and whispered: "I hope this is just a coincidence, right?"
"Lang Jun, how likely is it that this incident is a coincidence?" Liu Jinyu asked directly.
Li Xuan sighed softly, shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "Who would have thought that these two people would actually use such methods."
Xue Rengui and Liu Shenli were competing for the position of commander-in-chief of the Western Front. They only needed to explain their strategy in front of the emperor, but they resorted to this method.
"Actually, it may not be what they two mean, it may be what other people in their family think." Liu Jinyu shook his head slightly.
Now it seems that the competition is for the position of commander-in-chief of the Western Front, but in fact once Tubo succeeds, it is very likely that the next step will be to become a general and become a prime minister, directly to the central government.
The relationship here is far more than just the two of them, everyone involved has interests and demands.
"Don't worry about those things for now, let's look at Si Niang's marriage first." Li Xuan asked sideways: "Which one do you think is more suitable, the Liu family or the Zheng family?"
"It's not suitable for any family." Liu Jinyu shook his head directly and said: "The fourth mother has a strong temper, but she has no ability and is sensitive. In such a big family, I am afraid she will be bullied. If something happens at home, I’m afraid that in a few years, Sanniang will no longer have this sister.”
Li Xuan nodded gently.
Liu Jinyu said it right, Liu Shubi's heart is as high as the sky, but his life is thinner than paper.
Although she is a daughter of the Liu family, she is a concubine.
The best outcome for her in this life is to find a Jinshi with an ordinary background, and then help him step up the ladder and become his wife.
But if she joins a big clan, she may have to endure some hardships. The bigger the clan, the harder her future will be.
"Don't worry, this matter will not end." Li Xuan patted Liu Jinyu's jade hand and said softly: "Your Majesty will not let this matter delay for too long, and Yue Weng also understands that this matter, Only His Majesty is the one who really makes the decision.”
Liu Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief. She was also concerned but confused.
In fact, if you think about it, with Aye's personality, how could he easily take sides before His Majesty makes a decision? The Liu family and the Zheng family may have done nothing in vain.
And once they found out that Liu Rengui had no intention of helping, they would naturally stop sincerely proposing.
She's just a concubine. If she's better, she'll just break off the engagement. If she's worse, she'll find a concubine to marry her instead.
Although Liu Rengui is the prime minister and is not easy to mess with, it is not easy to deal with the Liu family and the Zheng family.
What a pity Liu Shubi.
Li Xuan raised her head slightly, looked at Liu Jinyu, and said softly: "Madam, do you think no one comes to see my husband? My husband also has a strong say in this matter."
Liu Jinyu smiled and said nothing, but came over and hugged Li Xuan.
Liu Rengui would not make decisions easily, so how could Li Xuan.
At this moment, Li Bi came in quickly from the outside and said in a hurried tone: "Your Majesty, there is a letter from the palace, instructing Your Majesty to attend the regular court at the right time the day after tomorrow."
Li Xuan smiled softly, looked at Liu Jinyu, and whispered: "The last thing before the year is here."
(End of chapter)
