Li Xiaogong smiled bitterly and said: "Your Majesty, I have been focusing on enjoying myself for these years, and I can no longer afford to hold a sword. I have been practicing military strategies for many years. The battle on the grassland is of great importance and there is no room for failure. Your Majesty, you should choose someone wiser."
It was definitely impossible to lift the knife, but the momentum in Li Xiaogong's heart was gone.
Li Shimin stared at Li Xiaogong for a long time, and the atmosphere in the entire hall was a bit depressing.
"Forget it, since you don't want to, forget it, Daozong, you will lead the army this time." Li Shimin said with some waning interest.
"I obey the decree." Li Daozong responded.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "You guys, please step back."
"I'll take my leave."
The two of them walked out of the Manna Hall, and no one spoke a word along the way.
When he was approaching the palace gate, Li Xiaogong said, "Why did you say that to His Majesty? There are so many people in the court, how many smart people are there? Why does no one dare to say it?"
Li Daozong was silent for a while, then sighed and said: "This world has also paid for my hard work. I have been reluctant to say it before, but since Your Majesty asked me, I have to say it."
He naturally understood that if any of his words were bad, neither he nor his family would end well.
But as he said, when he conquered the world, he also sacrificed a lot. He wanted the Tang Dynasty, which he had worked hard for, to become more prosperous.
Li Xiaogong shook his head and said nothing more.
He used to be like this, but since he was suspected by Li Yuan and transferred back to Chang'an, he has become disheartened.
"What about you? Your Majesty asked you to lead the army, why didn't you go? Don't fool me with what you just said. I believe that even your Majesty didn't believe what you just said." Li Daozong asked.
Li Xiaogong smiled and said: "I'm not fooling you, I'm really old."
Others are not old, but their hearts are already old.
…
Manna Hall
After Li Xiaogong and Li Xiaogong left, Li Shimin sat there, his expression changing, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
"Li Mu."
Li Mu walked into the hall, bowed and said, "What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"I have given an oral order to Wei King Li Tai to go to Yangzhou to join the feudal clan within three days. There must be no mistake!" Li Shimin said.
"yes."
Li Mu responded and prepared to exit.
"Wait a minute, if Qingque comes to see me, just refuse." Li Shimin said with his eyes closed.
When Li Yuan transferred all his confidants and soldiers, he also resented Li Yuan.
At this moment, he finally felt Li Yuan's mood back then.
Li Chengqian and Li Tai were both his sons, and their palms and backs were full of flesh, but for the sake of the stability of the court, he had to be ruthless.
"yes."
Li Mu bowed and retreated.
Not long after Li Mu left, a young eunuch walked in.
Li Shimin was in a bad mood. When he heard the footsteps, he said coldly: "What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, General Li would like to see you." The young eunuch lowered his head and said.
"Let him in."
The little eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and quickly retreated. Not long after, Li Junxian walked in.
"I see your Majesty!"
Li Shimin waved his hand and asked, "What's the matter?"
Li Junxian took out a letter and said: "Your Majesty, this is the secret letter sent by Baiqi."
Li Shimin took the letter and saw that there was nothing unusual about the paint on the outside. He opened the letter and read it.
"You traitor!" Li Shimin cursed with a gloomy face when he had only read half of the letter.
Li Junxian lowered his head and stood there quietly.
He didn't know the content of the letter and didn't ask.
For people like him, the less you know, the better.
"Go and capture King Yan." Li Shimin said coldly.
"yes."
"Wait a minute, go and bring the prince here first, and we'll talk about King Yan later." Li Shimin said.
"Yes." Li Junxian didn't dare to ask any more questions and retreated.
…
Furong Garden
Li Tai smiled and said: "It's sir's idea. If my father doesn't call me to go, I can go alone."
"Your Highness, for similar things like this in the future, whether His Majesty summons you or not, you have to find a way to go by yourself, otherwise it will be very detrimental to His Highness." Han Wen said with a smile.
Compared with Li Chengqian's status as the eldest son, the only thing Li Tai relied on to win over was Li Shimin's love.
On an occasion like today, if Li Tai is not here, many people will think that Li Tai has fallen out of favor.
In this way, those who support him will surely be moved.
"Don't worry, sir, I understand this article." Li Tai said with a smile.
At this moment, a eunuch came over and said, "Your Highness, Eunuch Li from the palace is here."
"What are you doing here, Eunuch Li?" Li Tai was a little confused.
"Your Highness, no matter why he is here, Your Highness should go to see him and be polite. He is someone close to His Majesty, so it is always right to make friends with him," Han Wen said.
Li Tai said with an ugly face: "Do you think this article doesn't know? I have expressed my kindness to him many times, but he is very alienated from me."
Han Wen cursed secretly in his heart, why did he deal with such an idiot.
Li Mu is Li Shimin's confidant eunuch, how dare he get too close to you.
When he asked Li Tai to befriend Li Tai, he was actually just showing his good will to prevent Li Mu from being won over by Li Chengqian.
As for wooing the people around Li Shimin, he had never even thought about it.
"Your Highness, Eunuch Li is someone close to Your Majesty. He came suddenly. Your Majesty must have something to ask His Highness. Your Highness should go quickly," Han Wen said.
"This king knows."
After Li Tai finished speaking, he stood up directly and went to the front hall.
Arriving at the front hall, Li Tai had a smile on his face before he even entered.
From a distance, he smiled and said: "Eunuch Li, if my father has any instructions, you can just send someone to come. Why bother Eunuch Li to go there in person?"
Li Mu bowed and said calmly: "I have seen your highness, and your majesty has a message for you."
Li Tai's smile faded, he stood up and said, "My son, I accept the order."
"His Majesty ordered the King of Wei to go to Yangzhou to join the vassal state within three days," Li Mu said.
"What!"
Li Mu's words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Li Tai stunned on the spot.
"Your Majesty, King Wei, your Majesty's oral instructions have been received, so I will go back first," Li Mu said.
"Wait a minute." Seeing that Li Mu was about to leave, Li Tai quickly stopped him and asked, "Eunuch Li, why did my father suddenly make such a decree?"
"I'm just a slave. I don't know why Your Majesty gave such an order."
After saying that, Li Mu bowed and left directly.
Li Tai stood there, his eyes slightly narrowed and his face gloomy.
If he goes to feudal lordship, he will have no chance of the throne.
There are many things, if you haven't thought about them, they are nothing.
But he has been thinking about the throne for so long and is full of confidence. How can he accept it if he is asked to give up now?
"ah!"
Li Tai shouted loudly and kicked down the incense burner in the center of the hall.
He kicked down the incense burner and still couldn't get out of his anger, so he grabbed the ornaments in the hall and threw them.
The maids and eunuchs serving in the main hall lowered their heads and did not dare to breathe.
Li Tai was fat, and soon he lost strength, hunched over and panting.
"I am not willing to give in." Li Tai took a few breaths and left the hall with red eyes.
"Your Highness, what happened?"
Seeing Li Tai's face look ugly and his steps coming back in disorder, Han Wen felt a bad premonition for some reason.