As the saying goes, spring rain is as precious as oil. Spring turns from cold to warm and everything revives. It is a good time for farming. If there is enough rain at this time, it will undoubtedly be very beneficial to the planting of crops. However, this year's weather is a bit abnormal.

The fifth day of the first lunar month

After a heavy snowfall, until the end of March in late spring, there was not a single drop of rain. The sky was sunny for nearly three months. The earth was dry and cracked, and most of the crops in the fields were dying. Areas north of the Yellow River

A poor harvest this year is obviously a foregone conclusion.

The water level of the Fen River has dropped so sharply that it has almost stopped flowing in some places, leaving only small and large streams gurgling, exposing large areas of gravel beaches at the bottom of the river, a desert scene.

Li Shimin led a cavalry team to the Fen River to drink their horses. Looking at the scene of the dry and cracked earth in front of him, he couldn't help but said worriedly: "I have been in Taiyuan for several years, and this is the first time I have seen the bottom of the Fen River. This year this year

This severe drought is unprecedented. It is estimated that many places will have no harvest, and we don’t know how many people will starve to death.”

"If God doesn't reward me with food, what can I do? Human beings can't save me!" Hou Junji said helplessly, not caring much in his heart. Anyway, Taiyuan has sufficient grain reserves, and even if there is a famine, he will not be as hungry as the superiors like himself.

Changing the subject, he said: "I heard that Gao Changqing calls himself the Duke of Qi. Hey, I thought he would directly claim the title of king. This kid doesn't have the guts after all."

Li Shimin looked calmly and said: "It doesn't matter if you call me a duke or a king, what does it have to do with me, Li Shimin? However, Gao Changqing did not directly call me the king, which shows that although his territory has greatly increased, his mind is still very clear, and he has not gotten carried away because of this."

After hearing this, Hou Junji sighed and said: "If the marriage between Erlang and Boling Cui could have happened, how could Boling and Shanggu counties have taken advantage of Gao Changqing...cough, Erlang, I'm not blaming you!"

Li Shimin said calmly: "It's okay to blame me. Thinking about it carefully, I was indeed impulsive at first, but I don't regret it. My wife, Li Shimin, should not be worth only the land of two counties."

Hou Junji regained his energy and blurted out: "Erlang is very ambitious, and Changsun Wugou is blind. Sooner or later, she will regret choosing Gao Changqing."

Li Shimin frowned and said a little annoyed: "Why do you mention her!"

Hou Junji said awkwardly: "Okay, I will never mention this woman again. Erlang, don't be angry. There are many good women in the world, and there will always be better ones."

Li Shimin shook his head helplessly and rode his horse away from Fenhe River towards Jinyang City. Hou Junji quickly led the cavalry to follow.

It is said that since Li Yuan drunkenly slept with the maid of Jinyang Palace last time, he was determined to raise the flag to rebel against the Sui Dynasty. However, Li Yuan was cunning and prudent, so he did not take action immediately, but made secret preparations. It happened that Mayi County Ying

Yanglang general Liu Wuzhou suddenly killed the prefect Wang Rengong and rebelled.

, Now that it's all right, Li Yuan used the name of crusade against Liu Wuzhou to send Li Shimin, Changsun Shunde, Liu Hongji and others to openly recruit troops. So far, 20,000 troops and horses have been recruited, and Li Shimin has also begun to build his black armor cavalry, which is completely

To the extraordinary Youzhou cavalry.

Let us say that Li Shimin returned to Jinyang City to visit his father Li Yuan and reported to him the current situation of recruiting troops and horses. The father and son were chatting secretly, and a servant reported: "Master Gao and Master Wang are visiting."

Li Yuan frowned, nodded and said, "Please wait for them in the front hall. I will be here soon."

The servants obeyed the order and left. Li Shimin said warily: "What do Gao Junya and Wang Wei want from their father?"

Gao Junya and Wang Wei were both deputy retainers in Jinyang, that is, Li Yuan's deputies. It was Yang Guang who deliberately arranged to contain Li Yuan in Jinyang. It can be seen that Yang Guang actually did not completely trust Li Yuan. The prophecy that Li will be the emperor has always been It left a thorn in his heart.

During this period of time, Li Yuan was recruiting troops everywhere under the guise of crusade against Liu Wuzhou, but did not take any actual crusade. This naturally aroused the suspicion of Gao Junya and Wang Wei, and they followed Li Yuan's every move even more closely. Today, the two of them It was a bit unusual to suddenly come to visit together, so Li Shimin was so vigilant, worried that the two of them had bad intentions.

Li Yuan stroked his beard and said: "As a father, I don't know their purpose of coming. Let's go and meet them first."

"My son, please go with your father." Li Shimin said quickly.

Li Yuan nodded in agreement. In recent years, Shimin has become more mature and steady, and is not as impulsive as before, so he is relieved.

As a result, the father and son went to the front living room together. Gao Junya, the deputy left-behind officer of Jinyang, and Wang Wei, who were waiting in the hall, quickly stood up and saluted, "I have met Mr. Li."

Li Yuan clasped his fists in return and said politely: "I have kept Master Gao and Master Wang waiting for a long time."

Gao Junya glanced at the dusty Li Shimin and said with a smile: "Erlang just came back from outside. I wonder how many soldiers and horses have been recruited now?"

Li Shimin said calmly: "Almost ten thousand people."

Obviously, Li Shimin reported that there was less than half, but there were actually 20,000. Now Liu Hongji and Changsun Shunde are leading the drill.

Gao Junya nodded and praised: "Erlang is indeed capable. By the way, when will Mr. Li prepare to send troops to attack the traitor Liu Wuzhou?"

Li Yuan said solemnly: "Actually, Liu Wuzhou only suffers from scabies, which is not enough. It's just that this thief has colluded with the Turks. Now that he has the backing of the Turks, it is not easy to deal with him. I have to make complete preparations before sending out troops."

Wang Wei and Gao Junya looked at each other, sneered in their hearts, and secretly cursed the old fox, I think you are using an excuse to recruit troops to do evil. It has been several months and you are still standing still, what a liar!

One year ago, we used the excuse of cold weather, and the year after, we used the excuse of lack of preparation. Seeing that summer is coming, and even saying that Liu Wuzhou had the support of Turks, he was still not well prepared. Do you really think we are fools?

Wang Weipi said with a smile: "Master Li is indeed cautious and steady, but he is right to be careful when sailing the ten-thousand-year-old ship. Liu Wuzhou has the support of the Turks. It is true that he cannot rush it for a while, but there is an urgent matter that needs to be solved urgently. .”

"Oh, what's the matter?" Li Yuan asked calmly.

Wang Wei sighed and said: "There has been no rain for several months since the New Year. The land is cracked and the fields are smoky. If there is no rain, all the crops will fail today. I don't know how many people in Hedong will starve to death because of this. What do you do?" Staying in Jinyang, the highest official in the Hedong region should be considerate of the people and be concerned about the people's urgent needs. Therefore, Xiaguan and Gao Master begged Master Li to go to the Jin Temple to pray for rain. It would be a great merit if he could ask for rain to relieve the urgent needs of the people all over the world. .”

Gao Junya nodded in agreement and said, "Master Li, please go to Jinci Temple with us to pray for rain."

Li Yuan's heart moved, and he cupped his hands and said: "This is my duty as an officer, so I should do it without any hesitation!"

Gao Junya and Wang Wei were secretly happy, so they agreed with Li Yuan on a day to pray for rain. After chatting for a while, they left. Li Shimin sneered and said: "Father, these two people are probably uneasy. Don't fall in love with them." when."

Li Yuan said contemptuously: "How can such tricks deceive me? Gao Junya and Wang Wei are trying to kill me, Li Yuan. If this is the case, then I will take advantage of the situation and strike first to gain the upper hand. The people of the world will , how is the training of your black armor cavalry going?"

Li Shimin said confidently: "It's worthy of a battle!"

"Okay, then my father's safety depends on you!"

"Father, don't worry, just leave it to your child!"

On the first day of April in the thirteenth year of Daye, Li Yuan, who was left behind in Jinyang, and his deputy left behind Gao Junya and Wang Wei went to the Jinci Temple to pray for rain and blessings.

Gao Junya and Wang Wei couldn't help but secretly rejoice when they saw that Li Yuan had been fooled, because they had ambushed the swordsman and axemen in the Jin Temple. As soon as Li Yuan entered, he would be chopped into pieces immediately.

Let's say that when everyone arrived outside the Jinci Temple and were about to enter, Li Yuan suddenly stopped. Gao Junya and Wang Wei couldn't help but quarreled. The former asked, "Why did Mr. Li stop?"

Li Yuan looked at the two of them with a half-smile but did not answer, while Gao and Wang were so nervous that there were beads of sweat on their foreheads at the moment, and their smiles looked a bit forced.

Li Yuan said calmly: "Master Gao, Master Wang, you have ambushed people inside. What are you trying to do? Could it be that you want to rebel?"

Gao Junya and Wang Wei were shocked and said sarcastically: "Why did Mr. Li say this?"

Li Yuan snorted coldly, and Hou Junji and Liu Hongji beside him suddenly took action, killing Gao Junya and several guards around Wang Wei with a few swords. At the same time, Li Shimin also led a hundred mysterious armors The cavalry came and surrounded Jinci. They first fired a rocket inside, ignited a raging fire, and forced out hundreds of swordsmen and axemen who were ambushing inside.

Those poor swordsmen and axemen were so smoked that they couldn't stop coughing. They were shot over as soon as they rushed out of the gate. Those who were lucky enough not to be shot to death were chopped down by the black armor cavalry as if they were chopping melons and vegetables. They were slaughtered without even using a stick of incense. There is not one left.

Wang Wei and Gao Junya were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and they squatted on the ground like quails holding their heads and not daring to move.

Li Shimin killed all the swordsmen and axemen, then glanced coldly at Gao and Wang, and shouted: "Jinyang deputy left-behind Gao Junya and Wang Weiyi are assassinating the left-behind master. They want to plot rebellion, so tie them up!"

Wang Wei and Gao Junya were tied up and taken back to the prison of the left-behind mansion. Li Yuan immediately posted notices to calm the people at various city gates in Jinyang, saying that Wang Wei and Gao Junya had colluded with the Turks in an attempt to rebel, so they were sent to prison. They were all arrested and reported to the court for conviction.

Coincidentally, on the second day, a group of Turkic cavalry appeared outside Jinyang City, which "confirmed" the fact that Gao Junya and Wang Wei colluded with the Turks to rebel.

So Li Yuan refused to do anything and immediately beheaded Gao Junya and Wang Wei in public, even skipping the procedure of reporting to Yang Guang.

After Li Yuan killed Wang Wei and Gao Junya, he no longer had any fear and began to recruit troops blatantly. A month later, his eldest son Li Jiancheng and his fourth son Li Yuanji also came from Chang'an respectively.
Chapter completed!