Li Yuan asked strangely: "Shimin, what did you catch?"
Li Shimin said proudly: "Father, I have captured Xiao Dapeng!"
Suddenly, Li Xuanba barged in from outside and said in a rough voice: "Dad, I clearly caught Xiao Dapeng!"
Li Shimin said dissatisfiedly: "If I hadn't used some clever tricks, how would you have caught Xiao Dapeng!"
Li Yuan became impatient and shouted: "Okay! The lonely king is here to discuss important matters. How unbecoming are you two to make such a noise?"
"Cough, cough..." Li Xuanba suddenly coughed violently and spit out a few mouthfuls of blood.
Seeing his son's appearance, Li Yuan couldn't express his anger no matter how angry he was. He could only wave his hand and said: "Okay, the lonely king is here to discuss important matters. You can leave first. Xuan Ba, remember to take your medicine on time.
.”
Li Shimin raised his hand and said, "Father, I have already interrogated Xiao Dapeng. He claims to know Liu Ziqiu and knows where Liu Ziqiu's weaknesses are!"
Li Yuan was slightly startled and said repeatedly: "Where is Liu Ziqiu's weakness?"
Li Shimin said with a grimace: "Xiao Dapeng is very tight-lipped. He won't speak out until he sees his father."
Li Yuan muttered: "Forget it, bring Xiao Dapeng here first, and let the lonely king interrogate him personally!"
…
That day, Xiao Dapeng escaped from Li Xiaogong's military camp and hid in a house in Jishanfang. That house was paid by Han Zhong as rent to Changshan Carriage and Horse Racing Company. However, the deed of the house was always in Xiao Dapeng's hands and was not handed over to him.
According to the accounts of the Changshan Carriage and Horse Racing Shop, few people in the Changshan Carriage and Horse Racing Shop knew this location. Therefore, although Li Yuan ordered the closure of the Changshan Carriage and Horse Racing Shop and arrested some people, no one knew the whereabouts of Xiao Dapeng.
.
However, after Xiao Dapeng entered Jishanfang, although he was temporarily safe, he also lost all sources of information. He did not know that Li Bi had been controlled, and still hoped to get in touch with the Queen Mother Xiao through Li Bi. Li Shimin was very clever.
Xiao Dapeng took advantage of this and sent people to pretend to be Li Ben's subordinates and stay in Li Ben's house all day. As expected, Xiao Dapeng hid in Jishanfang for a while, gradually became impatient, and disguised himself several times and wandered around Li Ben's house.
All these situations were seen by Li Shimin's men, but they were still not sure whether this person was Xiao Dapeng, so they did not take action. However, Xiao Dapeng was also very cautious and never took the initiative to contact those in Li Ben's house. He was waiting for Li
Ben appeared in person, Li Ben could not be seen, and he would not make an official appearance.
At this time, Li Shimin came up with a way. He and Li Xuanba pretended to be children in Li Ben's family, and often ran from Li Ben's house to play on the street in front of the house, and they played farther and farther away. They just
Two eleven-year-old boys seemed harmless to humans and animals, so Xiao Dapeng chose these two children as his targets. He wanted to use them to lure Li Ben out and get in touch with Li Ben.
On this day, Li Shimin and Li Xuanba ran out to play again, and gradually walked to an alley near Li Ben's house. Xiao Dapeng, who had been prepared for a long time, suddenly jumped out of the alley and pounced on Li Xuanba. Who knew that Li Xuanba was so powerful?
, but he pushed Xiao Dapeng to the ground with his backhand, punched and kicked him until Xiao Dapeng's nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and he had to beg for mercy. Only then did Xiao Dapeng know that he had fallen into Li Shimin's plan.
Li Shimin was deeply disgusted that Xiao Dapeng wanted to join forces with the Queen Mother Xiao to plot against his father. He took out a dagger and threatened: "I will dig out your eyes, cut off your nose, and chop off your limbs!"
Xiao Dapeng was shocked and said repeatedly: "Let me go, I have important news to tell you."
Li Shimin asked in a deep voice: "What news?"
Xiao Dapeng said: "It is not difficult for the prince to take Jiangnan. Xiao knows Liu Ziqiu from Hexi. Xiao has a plan, but he must meet the prince first!"
At this time, Li Yuan's appointment as King of Tang Dynasty was no longer a secret in Luoyang, and Xiao Dapeng naturally knew about it. But Li Shimin didn't know that Liu Ziqiu had conquered Chang'an. However, he also knew that Liu Ziqiu's strength was developing rapidly, and he was probably more powerful than Liu Ziqiu.
Changshan Village in the south of the Yangtze River is even more threatened by Li Yuan. Thinking of this, Li Shimin asked in a deep voice: "Don't even think about fooling me! If you have any good ideas, just tell me!"
Xiao Dapeng sneered and said: "Young master, you don't know. Liu Ziqiu was originally a slave of my Xiao family. Once he became powerful, he did not recognize his master. Xiao knew about his relationship with the Changshan Army in the south of the Yangtze River. As long as he meets the prince, Xiao will
I will naturally tell you what the Changshan Army in Jiangnan is most afraid of."
In Xiao Dapeng's eyes, he still looked down upon Liu Ziqiu and didn't think that Liu Ziqiu, who was biased towards the northwest, could do anything big. Because of the super combat power shown by Li Jing and others in the defeat of Wang Shichong, Xiao Dapeng believed that that should be the biggest blow to Li Yuan.
Threat. So in his mind, it might be easier to catch Liu Ziqiu. If he catches Liu Ziqiu, he can force Li Jing and others to submit. However, Xiao Dapeng refused to tell Li Shimin immediately about these thoughts.
Li Shimin returned to the Tang Palace and happened to hear the news of Liu Ziqiu's capture of Chang'an outside the hall. Li Shimin was such a smart man and was best at drawing inferences from one instance to another. He immediately thought that Liu Ziqiu must have some kind of unusually close connection with the Changshan Army in the south of the Yangtze River, which might be the solution to the problem.
A good way to deal with the crisis. That's how he came up with the suggestion to Li Yuan.
…
After Xiao Dapeng was brought into the hall, he knelt down on the ground with a plop and said loudly: "As long as the prince spares the villain, the villain is willing to serve the prince!"
Li Yuan waved his hand and said: "Xiao Dapeng, it depends on your performance. Please tell me how you can subdue Liu Ziqiu!"
Xiao Dapeng was stunned. His original idea was to catch Liu Ziqiu and threaten the people in Changshan Village, but he did not expect that Li Yuan would ask him this.
Li Shimin said from the side: "Xiao Dapeng, my father is right in front of you. Please tell me first, what is the connection between Liu Ziqiu and Jiangnan? The first person we have to deal with now is Liu Ziqiu!"
Xiao Dapeng understood it as soon as he heard it, and said repeatedly: "Back to the prince, Liu Ziqiu's woman is in Jiangnan. As long as he catches that woman, Liu Ziqiu will definitely surrender!"
Liu Wenjing, who had been listening by the side, burst out laughing and said, "How could Liu Ziqiu, a powerful man of his generation, surrender for a woman? It's a joke!"
Xiao Dapeng said: "This gentleman doesn't know something. Liu Ziqiu's attitude towards women is different from others! Moreover, Liu Ziqiu also has a young son in Jiangnan. As long as Liu Ziqiu's woman and young son are captured, I will not give in if I don't believe it."
Hearing that Liu Ziqiu had a son, Li Yuan believed it, thought for a moment, and said: "It's just that Huainan and Jiangbiao have been occupied by the Changshan Army. It may not be easy to capture Liu Ziqiu's women and children."
Liu Wenjing suddenly said: "My lord, if you want to capture Liu Ziqiu's women and children, you can only steal them secretly, but not overtly. Now that the main force of the Changshan Army has occupied Huainan and has broken into Henan Road, the Jiangnan area must be guarded. The lord can choose
Several warriors secretly sneaked to the south of the Yangtze River."
Li Yuan nodded and said, "I wonder who can take on this responsibility?"
Li Xuanba suddenly said: "Father, my child is willing to go!"
Liu Wenjing smoothed a few strands of long beard under her chin and said with a smile: "With the Third Young Master's martial arts skills, he can definitely go there. Moreover, the Third Young Master is a young boy who won't attract anyone's attention, so he is a good candidate. It's just that we are going to Jiangnan."
, there are still many situations that are unpredictable and require the help of a mature and prudent person."
Li Yuan looked around and asked in a deep voice: "Who is willing to go with Xuan Ba?"
Everyone looked at each other in shock, but no one responded. It was Li Shimin who raised his hands and said, "Father, I am willing to go with my third brother!"
These twin brothers are only eleven years old. It is indeed an adventure for the two of them to go to Jiangnan alone in this war-torn era. But if Liu Ziqiu's wife and children can be captured, it is very likely to completely reverse the situation of the war. This
The risk is worth taking. Li Yuan pondered for a long time and finally made up his mind and said: "Shimin, Xuanba, you two, be careful on your way here! Just pick as many manpower as you need!"
Li Shimin thought for a while and said: "We should go to Jiangnan to win by surprise. No matter how many people there are, it is of no use. All we need is one person who is familiar with the routes to Jiangnan."
Everyone in the hall was silent, and Xiao Dapeng suddenly said: "Your Majesty, you two young masters, I know the routes south of the Yangtze River best."
Li Yuan sneered: "Forget it. As long as Shimin and Xuanba can return safely, King Gu will forgive you!"
Gao Shilian suddenly raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Gao's nephew has been to Jiangnan in the early years. You can let him be a guide."
His nephew is Changsun Wuji, who is also Li Shimin's future brother-in-law. Having him accompany Li Shimin will naturally ensure that he will do his best. Moreover, although Changsun Wuji is young, he is also resourceful. With him helping Li Shimin make plans, the chance of success will naturally be greater.
Zeng. Li Yuan agreed without hesitation, waved his hand and said: "Shimin, Xuanba, you should go back and prepare immediately. Move quickly and steadily."
Li Shimin agreed and pulled Li Xuanba out of the hall happily. Xiao Dapeng was also escorted down by the soldiers.
Li Yuan glanced at the civil and military officials in the hall and said: "Water from afar cannot quench the thirst of the near. If we go to the south of the Yangtze River, even if Shimin and Xuanba succeed, it will take more than a month to go back and forth. However, Queen Xiao's will is right in front of us. What do you think?
A good strategy?"
Pei Ji, who had been silent all this time, suddenly smiled and said: "Your Majesty, as long as the two young masters can succeed, everything will not be a problem. Before the two young masters succeed, Your Majesty can use a drag trick."
"Drag the word trick?" Li Yuan frowned and asked quickly, "How do you say this?"
Pei Ji smiled and said: "It doesn't matter whether Empress Xiao is alive or dead. What matters is who will be the emperor of the Sui Dynasty and who will control the power of the court! Who is Liu Ziqiu? Just a pawn! Who is the prince?
? A relative of the emperor of the Sui Dynasty! His subordinates have a plan. Even if Empress Xiao is welcomed back to Luoyang, the one who makes the decision will not be Liu Ziqiu, but the prince!"