Xue Bai looked at the fish eyes and could roughly guess what Li Longji was thinking.
In this regard, he only felt that Li Longji was out of his mind. With his current prestige and power, this little trick could not threaten him or coerce him.
"I grew up among servants and was poor and humble since I was a child. I am not used to eating such precious things."
Xue Bai tilted his head back slightly, rejecting the kindness from his "grandfather". At this moment, he forgot to maintain the identity of "Emperor Sun Li Qian". He had been pursuing this identity, but now he felt that it made him uncomfortable.
.
Li Longji was stunned and stood there in despair. His eyes that were originally full of expectation dimmed. He stood there frozen, looking more and more old and pitiful.
Everyone in the hall was surprised. Li Yuetu couldn't bear to see his grandfather so disappointed, so he couldn't help coming over to persuade Xue Bai: "Brother, don't make the Supreme Emperor sad."
This was another silly remark of hers, and it was obviously impossible for Li Longji to feel sad.
Xue Bai stood up and said: "I am not feeling well, so I will leave first."
His eyes fell on Li Cong, who was used to not refuting his opinions and responded: "Go ahead."
Over there, Princess Li Yiniang of Boping stood up and thought about what she should say to this brother, but she saw that he had gone without looking back, and she couldn't help but be shocked.
~~
"That's what you men are like, you don't know how to cherish something when you get it."
Afterwards, when Xue Bai talked about this matter with the Du sisters, Du Jin couldn't help complaining about him and said: "Your current authority comes from your status as an imperial power. Aren't you afraid that they will take the opportunity to say that you are fake?"
to their will.”
"It's useless even if they say it. Chang'an City is controlled by our people." Xue Bai said: "All the imperial palace and newspapers are in your hands, even if they say so?"
Nowadays, Du Jin's eyes and ears are everywhere in the palaces, the imperial city, the ten princes' residences, the Baisun Courtyard, and even some officials' mansions. If there is any slight disturbance, they can deal with it in time. Including Li Longji, who thinks he only cares about Gao Lishi.
The song "Puppet Song" has already been placed on Xue Bai's case. If he wants to pursue it, he can just say that the Supreme Emperor criticized Chengyu.
"It's easy to say a few pleasant words, so why bother making an ugly scene in public?" Du Wei said softly, "It's not that this matter is wrong, but you used to only care about progress, and your behavior today is not like your style.
"
Xue Bai pondered: "Does that mean that trying to please him doesn't count as progress?"
"I think you are very arrogant." Du Jin spat, "I don't know who said that. There is no right or wrong in power, only pros and cons."
In their opinion, Xue Bai's behavior today seemed like he was pretending to be Li Qian.
But in the next two days, Du Jin sent people to monitor and inquire, but he did not hear any clan members say that Xue Bai was not Li Qian because of this incident. There were even some strange statements, such as the conversation between Princess Boping and Ge Niang.
"Then Ge Niang said, 'It seems that King Yong still hates the Supreme Emperor.' Princess Boping said, 'He has suffered too much since childhood, how can he be relieved so easily? He is a descendant of the Li family, and he cares about the emperor.
The ancestral temple and the country worked hard for the Tang Dynasty, but in my heart it is inevitable that I have hatred for the Supreme Emperor. In fact, why am I not the same? Ge Niang, how can I get closer to him?'"
Du Jin listened to the spy's report, her eyebrows knitted into a knot, she raised her hand and said, "Hypocritical."
"Continue to inquire. If there is any news that is unfavorable to King Yong, report it to me immediately."
"yes."
From this point of view, Xue Bai's "ignorance of flattery" in front of Li Longji made it more obvious that he was Li Qian, and it was considered unintentional.
~~
When Yuan Zai learned about this, he had a different view.
"It seems that the Supreme Emperor wants to fulfill King Yong's name in exchange for King Yong treating him well."
"Oh?" Xue Bai said, "Doesn't he want me to compete for the heirloom?"
"Some court officials did not allow the prince to compete for the throne, simply because they were worried that the prince would only recognize his ancestor and return to the clan after he became an adult, which would easily arouse criticism. The Supreme Emperor did not have such concerns. He knew that the prince was his grandson. So, a mediocre person
A son or a wise grandson, it is obvious which one he prefers."
Xue Bai looked over and saw that Yuan Zai's face was solemn and his eyes were thoughtful, which showed that this nonsense was the result of his serious thinking.
Thinking about it again, only Xue Bai and the Du sisters knew about the matter of pretending to be the emperor's grandson. The reason why Li Longji, Li Heng and others said that he was fake before was that in fact they didn't care about the truth at all, they only cared about power.
That's all.
Now that Xue Bai is stronger, this matter needs to be judged normally. Li Longji is actually able to judge that he is Li Qian. After all, even Gao Lishi has always thought that he is really Li Qian.
None of these people seem normal.
"Mr. Lang?"
Seeing that Xue Bai was distracted, Yuan Zai asked cautiously: "Is Mr. Lang in a bad mood because of the unjust case that year?"
"Let's get down to business. I plan to let you serve as the transshipment envoy for the east and west routes of Huainan and Jiangnan to raise supplies for the pacification of Shi Siming. However, there are two requirements. Can you do it?"
Before Xue Bai could say which two requests he was asking for, Yuan Zai observed his words and said politely: "I will not increase the burden on the officials, and I will not dare to commit any corruption."
The way he behaves and does things cannot be said to be inconsiderate. However, Xue Bai felt a little slick and didn't like it very much, but for the moment he couldn't say there was anything wrong with him.
"Economy and money are your strengths. If you can do a good job, go get a lawsuit and take office."
"yes."
Yuan Zai walked a few steps, looked outside the door, closed the door, and said in a mysterious and loyal tone: "Mr. Lang, I have one more piece of advice."
Xue Bai knew at a glance that what he was about to say was a treacherous plot, so he nodded casually and allowed him to say it.
"Today, Lang Jun is in charge of the imperial court, and he has hijacked the Supreme Emperor and the saints. Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, Feng Changqing and other famous generals, as well as the officials in the court, bowed their heads and obeyed Lang Jun. Why? Because the rebellion has not been eliminated, the country is in turmoil."
As he spoke, Yuan Zai did not forget to salute Xue Bai again and said: "I serve Lang Jun out of my heart and loyalty. But they obey Lang Jun just for expediency. Once Shi Siming is eliminated and the rebellion is put down, what will happen to them?"
"how?"
"They will definitely follow the sage's order and ask Lang Jun to delegate power and return to power." Yuan Zai sighed worriedly: "At that time, the throne will not be Lang Jun's, and the military power will not be Lang Jun's. Lang Jun has worked so hard today, and everyone has achieved great results.
Make wedding clothes for others."
"What do you think I should do?"
"Your Majesty is bold." Yuan Zai first complained, and then said: "Shi Siming's rebellion should not be settled quickly. Lang Jun should use the opportunity of suppressing the rebellion to clean up the court and install his confidants as local officials in various provinces."
He also knew that these words were rebellious, but he was betting that Xue Bai was a motivated person like him.
Only those who are motivated enough can put aside propriety, justice and shame and achieve great things. For example, Feng Changqing asked Xue Bai to give up fighting for the throne before he would join him. Such treacherous and loyal people must be eliminated.
Although it is risky to say these words today, only if Yuan Zai points out this correct path can he achieve great achievements with Xue Bai and gain greater trust. This risk is worth taking. They are very similar and both are very ambitious.
, is a fellow traveler.
Yuan Zai paused for a while, and saw Xue Bai was silent, waiting for him to continue speaking, looking quite interested.
"Langjun can assign Wang Nanlan, Yan Gaoqing, Lao Liang, Jiang Hai, Yan Wu, Tian Chengsi, Tian Shengong and others to Hedong, Guannei, Duji, Henan, Huainan and other places as envoys. If they are qualified,
If it is not enough to lead an army alone, it can also be used as a governor for the state. For example, in the name of Shi Siming's defense, Yan Gaoqing was appointed as Bian, and during the Song Dynasty, the lifeline of the canal was strangled; Lao Liang was sent to Tongguan; Jiang Hai was appointed as Tong
, Hua Jiedushi, these two states are close to the capital, and if there is a change in the world, they can quickly enter Chang'an; in addition, although Guo Qianli has a close friendship with Lang Jun, he does not know how to adapt, so Lang Jun can appoint one of his confidants to take charge of the imperial army.
…”
Yuan Zai talked eloquently for a while, and finally said: "These appointments would have been difficult to make in peacetime. Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, and Feng Changqing would have refused to agree, but now."
"Are they willing now?"
"We can use a little plan." Yuan Zai said, "Guo Ziyi originally followed King Zhong in rebellion and is guilty. Lang Jun can recruit him to the capital. He will not dare not come. Then he will be given a casual position to make him free. Lang.
The king can send Wang Ji Ji to take over Shuofang's troops and horses; as for Feng Changqing, Lang Jun can appoint Li Siye as the governor of Hexi and Longyou, divide the troops with Feng Changqing, weaken his troops, and then order him to attack Pugu Huai'en.
, If he loses, he will be demoted to the Jiedu of the Four Towns of Anxi. If he wins, he will be called back to the capital to offer himself as a prisoner. In this way, Li Guangbi can't support a tree alone, and the logistics and food are in Lang Jun's hands. In this way, we should not be afraid that he will oppose Lang Jun to fight for the throne."
Xue Bai asked: "In this case, what if Shi Siming breaks through Luoyang and even Tongguan? If I escape from Chang'an, can I go to Shu County?"
Yuan Zai responded: "If this were not the case, Shi Siming would still have a hard time besieging An Qingxu."
Seeing that Xue Bai was not satisfied with this answer, he thought for a while and then said: "People's hearts are in the Tang Dynasty. Not all the generals under Shi Siming are willing to help the emperor do evil. They are just too disappointed with the emperor. Once Lang Jun becomes the prince, he only needs to pardon them. Maybe
If we go forward, we will definitely be able to recruit him so that Hebei soldiers can be killed by Shi Siming."
Xue Bai asked again: "What if the military governors in these towns rebel in the future?"
"They are all Langjun's confidants, how dare they betray Langjun."
"What if, as time goes by, Wang Jinlan, Yan Wu, Tian Chengsi, and Tian Shengong want to pass on the Jiedushi's banner to their own sons?"
Yuan Zai was stunned and felt that Xue Bai's question was a bit difficult.
The next moment, Xue Bai raised his foot and kicked him to the ground.
"Mr. Lang?"
"I think highly of you." Xue Bai scolded: "Rather than letting someone else be the military governor, it would be better for you Yuan Zai to be the military governor of Gyeonggi Province."
"Mr. Lang, I never meant this!"
"I asked you to be loyal to the country, but you only think about your own personal agenda. If you ruin the world, what's the use of my reserve position?"
Yuan Zai was a man who needed to be beaten. If Xue Bai wanted to use him, he would have to teach him a lesson from time to time.
But Xue Bai's true inner thoughts were difficult to explain to Yuan Zai.
The reason why he wants to take power is because the Tang Dynasty in his heart never belongs to just the Li family, let alone any one person. It belongs to everyone in this land. Hundreds of years later, thousands of years later, it still belongs to each of them.
man's pride.
He despised Li Longji's selfishness, and would not repeat Li Longji's mistake of betraying the Tang Dynasty.
No one in the world can understand this feeling. People in the world have never thought that maybe in the next hundreds or thousands of years there will never be another dynasty that is so strong and prosperous, so they always trample on it at will.
~~
Someone galloped into the imperial city on horseback.
This is a dark and sturdy colonel with a mustache that has never been shaved on his lips. He looks very tough and very mature. He seems to be in his thirties, but he is actually only nineteen years old.
??????????.??????
He turned over and dismounted with a graceful movement, and an official from a distance waved to him.
"Xue Xin, if you dare to ride a horse in the imperial city, Du Shangshu saw it and called you over."
"I have something urgent to see my brother!"
Xue Xin responded and strode towards the lower province of Zhongshumen. He took out his command talisman and stretched out his hand to push away the two guards.
He rushed all the way into the official residence and saw Yuan Zai kneeling in front of Xue Bai dejectedly, looking like he was about to be demoted.
"Brother! Hebei has urgently reported in." Xue Xin said,
Xue Bai turned around, took a deep breath, and said, "Tell me."
Over the past few years, Xue Xin has grown much older than Xue Bai, and looks more like Xue Bai's brother.
"I'm afraid Shi Siming will attack Xiangzhou soon!"
Xue Xin said, handed the military report to Xue Bai's hand, and continued eagerly: "Brother, let me go to support Hebei?"
In the past two years, he had been with Lao Liang and Jiang Hai. Although he had gained experience, he had not been able to make particularly outstanding achievements because he was always being suppressed. He had long held back his breath to make achievements alone.
In addition, his two elder brothers, Xue Song and Xue Kui, were both fighting the rebellion in the north. Every time they wrote back, they always boasted about their military exploits, which made him even more eager to participate in the Shi Siming rebellion.
This matter was mentioned several times before, but Xue Bai ignored him. This time, after reading the information, he was actually relieved.
"I will send Li Siye to support Heyang." Xue Bai said, "You can join Li Siye's army, but you do not have to report your relationship with me."
"Of course I won't repay it!" Xue Xin said, "A real man will get his fame right away. How can there be any reason to rely on the shadow of his elder brother?"
"Go ahead."
Xue Xun knew that Li Siye was stationed at Dongbian Bridge to make preparations for the expedition. After receiving the promise, he happily went back to pack his luggage, but met Du Wulang at the door of his home.
I don't know what Du Wulang has been busy with lately, he comes and goes without a trace.
"Brother-in-law, why are you here today?" Xue Xin pulled Du Wulang over and asked in a low voice, "I heard that my brother-in-law has a large villa outside, is it true?"
Xue Xin was small and skinny when he was a child, but in seven or eight years he actually grew to a height of six feet four inches, much taller than Du Wulang. Coupled with the fact that he was wearing armor, he leaned over to inquire as if he was asking a question.
, which scared Du Wulang.
"Don't talk nonsense, where did I get the money to buy a house outside? I just happened to be a guest at a friend's house, and your sister caught me."
"Brother-in-law makes a lot of bad friends, so we should keep less contact with him."
Du Wulang rolled his eyes and muttered: "I would rather have less contact."
He answered all questions. Remembering another question just now, he replied: "I'm here to send some winter clothes to my husband. What about you? Aren't you on duty today? Are you coming back so early?"
"I only told my brother-in-law, don't tell anyone else." Xue Xin chimed in again and told him about going to Hebei to put down the rebellion.
Du Wulang disliked such dangerous things the most. Hearing this, he became a little worried and said, "If you go, how will I explain to your sister?"
"The descendants of Duke Pingyang! We are born to kill enemies for our country!"
Xue Xin patted his armor so loudly that he returned home without waiting for Du Wulang to say anything more.
He was accustomed to being poor since he was a child. There were not many things in the house, which was not as abundant as in the military camp. He only packed a few volumes of military books passed down by Xue family on the bedside and put them on his back. He quietly walked to his grandma's main room and lay down on his back.
From the window slit, I could see Mrs. Liu socializing.
After watching for a while, Xue Xin knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to his mother through the wall.
That day, he rushed to Li Siye's camp with dozens of his soldiers.
Li Siye's department was recruiting troops recently. Xue Xin handed over the transfer order and looked up at the giant Li Siye with straight eyes.
"What are you looking at?"
"Report to the general! I want to be as tall as the general!"
"How old are you still growing?"
"Report to the general! I'm nineteen!"
Li Siye then looked at Xue Xin again, and finally found a trace of childishness in those murderous eyes.
"Shi Siming is a famous general in the world. He will grow taller after he survives."
~~
Xiangzhou.
A five-foot-tall giant siege vehicle, with a big flag with the word "Shi" roaring loudly. Finally, the siege vehicle reached the top of Xiangzhou City, and groups of soldiers jumped up from the ladders to the top of the city.
"The city is broken!"
"An Qingxu killed his father and his king. Are you going to rebel against him later? Put down your weapons and let bygones be bygones!"
"..."
There was a loud shouting at the top of the city. In the city, Cao Buzha and Cao Buzheng, brother and sister, were running towards Ge Shuhan with single swords in hand.
Ge Shuhan was sitting on a chair in the east tower watching the battle.
An Qingxu's eighth brother An Qingxi hurried over and said: "General Geshu, the saint asked you what to do now?!"
Cao Buzhe happened to rush over, raised his sword and wanted to kill An Qingxi, because she was planning to rescue her brother Shuhan and defect to the army. Of course, this was difficult. She had to fight out An Qingxu's troops first, and then she had to fight again.
Breaking through Shi Siming's siege, she was a woman who refused to admit defeat and was willing to give it a try.
However, Ge Shuhan turned around and stopped her movement with a stern look.
"Please ask King Xiang to tell the saint that you can break through the north gate and return to Fanyang." Ge Shuhan looked at An Qing and said happily: "I will cut off the queen for the saint."
"Okay, then you can cut off the queen."
An Qing was delighted with the promise and immediately turned around to find An Qingxu. He was in a panic and did not have the momentum of Prince Dayan at all.
Cao Buzhe rushed to his brother Shuhan and said, "I will take you away."
"I can't leave."
Ge Shuhan was very calm, and looked deeply into the sky with his big chestnut eyes, saying: "My legs are all gone, I can't ride a horse, and I can't leave Xiangzhou."
"How will you know if you don't try?!" Cao Buzhe insisted on helping him up and called Cao Buzheng to step forward to help.
Ge Shuhan's body was as dead as a mountain, motionless, and said: "Listen to me, I surrendered to Anlu Mountain once, and I will never surrender to Shi Siming again. Otherwise, I will become a slave of the three surnames and waste my fame all my life."
.”
"There is nothing better than living."
Cao Buzhe still wanted to move him away. This female gangster from the Chang'an market always had a strong spirit that refused to admit defeat.
Every time Ge Shuhan saw her, he would think back to his youth. In fact, what he liked was no longer young and beautiful, but the person he was wandering around on the streets of Chang'an.
"Do me a favor." He looked at Cao Buzhe, a smile appeared on his face, and said, "Go back to Chang'an."
"I'll take you back."
"Don't forget, you still have a lot of flying money, as well as gold, silver and jewels buried in the yard. I couldn't give you a title as an heir, so I will leave those wealth to you."
Cao Buzhe tried his best to carry his brother Shu Han on his back, stubbornly pursed his lips and said nothing.
But Ge Shuhan kept chattering.
"Go back to Chang'an and tell them that I guard Xiangzhou to guard the Tang Dynasty."
"Speak for yourself!"
"Although I am a Hu man, I have read "Spring and Autumn" and learned about loyalty and righteousness. I am deeply favored by the country. After Tongguan was defeated, I should have died to apologize, but I was mistaken by Huo Ba Gui Ren. When I arrived in the army of Anlu Mountain,
I wanted to die, but a single thought ruined my whole life's reputation. I have made great achievements in battle throughout my life, but it's a pity that I didn't die..."
Cao Buzhe was stunned for a moment and finally stopped because she heard that the man was whimpering.
Turning around to look, his eyes were indeed red.
She didn't quite understand why he was crying now. He didn't cry when he had a stroke and was crippled, and he didn't cry when he was captured and humiliated. But now, when he talked about the past glory, he cried like a child.
She couldn't take him away anyway, so she simply held his head and comforted him: "It's okay, work is work, mistakes are mistakes."
"No, you have to tell the people of the world that I am guarding the Tang Dynasty today and tell them that I died in battle. I am very happy that I still have this opportunity to clear my name."
Cao Buzhe looked at her brother Shuhan deeply for a long time. Finally, she nodded and said, "Okay. If the court doesn't believe it, I will publish it in the newspaper. It will not ruin your reputation."
"Hahaha, okay!"
"Walk!"
At this time, Cao Buzhe was very straightforward. He thrust the single sword into Ge Shuhan's hand, got up and left without saying a word.
The knife was a little wobbly.
The hand holding the knife was obviously very thick and covered with calluses, but it seemed a little weak, as if it couldn't hold the handle of the knife.
Ge Shuhan gritted his teeth and tried hard to control his fingers. Finally, he stabilized the single sword and stopped shaking it.
He was very happy, grinned, and murmured a song.
Although the song was soft, it was desolate and bold, attracting the soldiers below the tower to sing along with him.
Not long after, a fire broke out in the tower, crackling, and Ge Shuhan seemed unaware and kept sitting there.
Gradually, the killing shouts came closer and closer. He heard that Huo Ba Quy Nhon died in battle outside, and there was a scream. Finally, enemy soldiers rushed into the tower and killed the few people around Ge Shuhan.
people.
"Who are you, Ashina Chengqing?!"
Ge Shuhan couldn't move, so he smiled contemptuously and tried his best to raise the knife in his hand.
When an enemy soldier came forward to capture him, he swung his knife and clumsily slashed the enemy's neck.
"Tiger--"
The sword moved very slowly, and the soldier retreated to avoid it. He looked back and said: "The fire is getting stronger, let's go!"
"This enemy general cannot be taken away."
"Take his head away!"
"Come on!"
Ge Shuhan shouted and swung the knife with difficulty again.
"puff."
A knife struck his neck, and blood spattered out.
It was too easy for the soldiers to kill a man like him who was crippled by a stroke. But even so, he still died in battle.
A head had left the body, and the body was leaning there. The knife in his hand was still held tightly and held there, like a flag that would not fall.
Faintly, there seemed to be singing.
It was a soldier who fell to the ground but was still alive. He stared at the sky and slightly opened his lips with his last strength.
"The Big Dipper is high, and Geshu carries a knife at night."
"To this day, I haven't dared to cross Lintao when I glimpsed the herding horses."