In the flower hall across the courtyard, Wei Ting and Li Yuanjing sat opposite each other.
When he heard Wei Ting ask "how to take the initiative", Li Yuanjing smiled, but he was ecstatic in his heart.
He suppressed his excitement and whispered: "His Royal Highness probably thinks that stabilizing the situation of the court is the most important. Since the so-called collaboration with the enemy and treason and the murder of Fang Jun have not happened yet, so he tolerated it by giving Bai Ling to the Wei family.
, declare his benevolent character to the outside world, and will no longer pursue this matter. What do you think, my dear brother?"
Wei Ting nodded silently.
He did not believe in Li Yuanjing's character, but he agreed with his analysis of the prince's motives.
Li Yuanjing gave Wei Ting a glass of wine, and the two of them raised their glasses and took a sip. He continued: "No one is a fool and can see through these things in officialdom. Even if the prince will punish the Wei family in the future,
But the prince must also understand in his heart that the Wei family was just tricked once, and the real mastermind is someone else."
He paused for a moment and said with a smile: "Brother, if something unexpected happens to Fang Er in the Western Region, for example, his marching trail is detected by a cannibal, and an ambush is set up in advance, causing Fang Er to be trapped in a tight siege and unable to recover... then
Guess, who does His Highness the Crown Prince think is responsible for this?"
Wei Ting's heart was pounding.
He forced the eldest son to commit suicide. Although this move was seen by the outside world as a way to survive, it also made it clear to the prince that the Wei family would not do those dirty things. And the prince's gift of Bai Ling also expressed the prince's stance.
Meaning: Gu knew that the Wei family was unjust.
Indeed, he believed that the prince would not really pretend that nothing happened from now on. When the prince ascends to the throne of God, he will definitely wait for an opportunity to retaliate and pour out today's anger. The future of the Wei family will be in danger.
But the prince must have understood that the planning behind the whole incident came from the eldest son's family. Therefore, if something unexpected happened to Fang Jun at this moment, the first suspect would be the eldest grandson's family.
but……
He thought for a moment and then sighed: "Since this matter has caused a stir, how could His Highness not inform Fang Jun and ask him to be careful? Beware of being plotted? Even if we have this intention? I'm afraid it won't happen again.
Chance."
Wei Ting doesn't feel the least burden for this guy to trick Fang Jun into being tricked by the eldest grandson's family. He hates the eldest grandson's family's behavior, so he won't hesitate to go there if he has the chance. As for Fang Jun? He almost said it before.
The Wei family's face was severely trampled and humiliated? As a member of the aristocratic family, how could Jingzhao Wei not hold a grudge?
And he didn't think there was anything wrong with working with Li Yuanjing.
It's not a conspiracy to rebel? It's just that both parties have a common intention to target Fang Jun? There's nothing to worry about.
But Li Yuanjing didn't take it seriously. He said "Hey" and said in a low voice: "Not only the wise brother thinks so now? His Highness the Crown Prince thinks so too? I'm afraid Fang Jun himself thinks so too..."
Court battles and conspiracies have long been commonplace for the elites at the top of the empire. They have memorized a copy of "Thirty-Six Stratagems" and studied various history books thoroughly. Where can there be any new tricks? At this level? No one is stupid.
Waiting for others to trick you but not knowing it? Only "negligence" will cause the horse to stumble.
Working backwards, when everyone thinks something is impossible? In fact, it is often the time when the success rate is highest...
Wei Ting's eyes were clear and he cupped his hands and said, "In this case, Your Highness will be rewarded!"
Although Jingzhao Weishi has a strong foundation, he does not have many connections in the military. Even if there are a few family members who are in the military, they are only low-ranking and small roles, and it is difficult to participate in the calculation of Fang Jun. Then
I can only rely on Li Yuanjing.
Naturally, he would not ask Li Yuanjing if he was willing to do this. Since he could use this strategy of "stoking discord" in front of him, he must be willing to take action.
Li Yuanjing shook his head and said: "I have never interfered in military affairs. I am afraid that I am powerless in such matters... However, Duke Qiao has always admired his virtuous brother, but he has not been able to make the relationship any further. We might as well wait until tomorrow when Duke Qiao comes to express his condolences.
Then, let’s sit together and discuss it in detail.”
Wei Ting frowned and muttered: "This..."
He felt something was wrong.
No one else knows how he and Li Yuanjing plotted in private. Although there must be some benefits afterwards, as long as he insists that there is no relationship other than that, even if His Majesty Li Er returns to Chang'an and thunders his anger, there is nothing he can do against him.
.
But if Chai Zhewei is involved again, the nature is completely different.
Before, it could be said that it was just out of anger, with the intention of framing Fang Jun and blaming the eldest son's family. But once Chai Zhewei was involved, a prince, a noble family, a general in charge of the army... it became a gang.
Becoming a gang member is the next best thing. Wei Ting is somewhat aware of Li Yuanjing's ambition. What if this man is unwilling to be content with his status as a prince in the future and wants to go further... Will Jingzhao Weishi be regarded as tied to him by the outside world?
one place?
Li Yuanjing's eyes flashed, and when he saw Wei Ting's hesitant expression, he smiled and said: "This matter is entirely up to my dear brother. In fact, although I am dissatisfied with Fang Jun, it is not to the point of killing him."
At the point of death, this move is all for the sake of my virtuous brother... Of course, after today, it is up to my virtuous brother and Duke Qiao to plan this matter. Whether they do it or not, whether it succeeds or not, it has nothing to do with me.
relationship."
When he said this, Wei Ting calmed down and said, "It's not that I can't trust His Highness, but the matter is serious and I have to be cautious."
Li Yuanjing waved his hand and said: "This kind of thing must be done with caution. Otherwise, who can bear it if the news is leaked? So this matter ends here. I will drink a few drinks with my dear brother to relieve the sadness in my heart."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
"Haha! You and I are as close as brothers, so it's very polite to talk like this."
…
The next day, the Wei family became more and more crowded. Almost half of Chang'an's noble families and distinguished officials came to express their condolences. The whole house was jammed with traffic and traffic.
Chai Zhewei, the Duke of Qiao, came during the day and offered incense in front of the mourning hall. Seeing that there were many people with confused eyes, he left for the time being and did not come again until Youshi.
Wei Ting invited Chai Zhewei into the study room of his inner house, and asked him to prepare some exquisite side dishes, a pot of fine wine, and sit down to chat...
*****
By the Yalu River, thunder rumbled.
Countless Tang troops rushed towards Bobi City like a rising tide. Gunpowder was buried under the city wall and was immediately ignited. The rumbling roar blew up the city wall section by section. The originally impregnable city wall was in disarray in less than half a day.
Only sections of ruins remain.
However, the Goguryeo army did not abandon the city and surrender, but launched a counterattack on the spot, relying on the city walls to block the Tang army from advancing. After the Tang army broke through the city wall area bit by bit, it retreated into the city and started fighting step by step with the Tang army.
What I have to say is that the two battles in Anshi City and Bobi City allowed the Tang army to see the strength of Goguryeo's elite army. The reason why the previous Sui Dynasty's several eastern expeditions all failed was because, apart from the weather, it was also
Encountered strong resistance.
Ashina Simo sat on the back of a horse with his helmet pierced, holding a hengshuo in his hand, staring at the collapsed city wall of Bobi City, constantly urging his soldiers to launch wave after wave of fierce attacks.
Consider the casualties and losses, and strive to enter the city as soon as possible, wipe out all the Goguryeo defenders, open the ferry, and help the army cross the Yalu River.
One of the lieutenants beside him was an old Turkic subordinate. At this moment, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in a trembling voice: "Master, please slow down! The resistance of the Goguryeo people is very fierce. The harder they attack, the greater the backlash they will suffer.
If the offensive is slowed down for a moment, the Goguryeo people will inevitably retreat into the city and huddle up. When the time comes, the army will calmly surround them, and the enemy will be unable to fly!"
Seeing the soldiers fighting bravely and trembling with the enemy, the casualties increased sharply. These elite soldiers were all veterans who followed Ashina Simo to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. They were all elites of the Turkic tribe. Every time one was lost,
They are all irreparable losses.
But Ashina Simo was unmoved and said sternly: "How outrageous! In front of the two armies, they should be as powerful as tigers with one drum, how can they slow down their energy and let the tiger return to the mountain? If you dare to disrupt the morale of the army again, I will definitely not be able to kill you.
Rao! Come here, send the order and strengthen the offensive. Before dark today, we must attack the city and open the ferry!"
"Here!"
The soldiers around him immediately held the order flag and went to the army to deliver the military order.
Ashina Simo's face was stern. He looked at the soldiers under his command who were working hard in front of him and sighed in his heart.
How could he be willing to lose these old subordinates who have followed him for many years here? However, these days, he has been thinking about the words Xue Wanche said to him, "When you have fun, you are unscrupulous, and when you fight, you are unscrupulous." This
It is indeed the way for a general to settle down and establish his life...
His Majesty Li Er reused him not because of the loyal Turkic soldiers under his command, but because of his status as a Turkic noble.
As long as he lives, he will still have value, and glory and wealth will naturally be indispensable.
On the contrary, if you have strong troops and strong horses, and the soldiers are loyal and loyal, that is the way to your own destruction - you are a surrendered general, you have such a strong power, and you are cautious and tactful in your actions... What do you want to do?