Li Shimin was in a good mood after being praised by the stubborn old man Wei Zheng, and the corners of his mouth could not help but grin.
Seeing this situation, Changsun Wuji secretly thought it was wrong. After all, the prince's faction was the backbone of the force advocating for a marriage.
If something unexpected happens to the marriage proposal, it means the emperor's rejection of the prince's proposal.
For a country's crown prince, this is not a good signal!
As the leader of the prince's family, Changsun Wuji certainly didn't want to see this happen, so he stood up and said with some shame:
"Making peace is a long-standing tradition, and it is also the Central Plains dynasty's gentle policy to deal with foreign Tibet."
"Through marriage, we can exchange for border peace, protect the people on the border from harassment, and let the soldiers bleed. The marriage strategy can bring about a period of peace, allow the country to cultivate and recuperate, strengthen its troops, and make the country truly strong."
"Besides, it is a supreme honor for a daughter to bear the burden of the country. Otherwise, if a war breaks out, so many men will be killed on the battlefield, so many people will cry bitterly, and so many families will be separated. Please think again, Your Majesty."
His Majesty Li Er turned to Wei Zheng and said, "What do you dear ladies think?"
Wei Zheng slightly chinned his head, clasped his fists and said, "I think the Minister of Rites is right when he says that once integrity is lost, it will be difficult to pick it up again!"
Fang Xuanling and Li Ji also quickly jumped out to express their support.
The ministers in the court had different opinions, which gave Li Shimin a headache.
However, His Majesty Li Er still had good foresight and reluctantly decided to discuss the possible consequences of refusing the marriage.
While the courtiers were discussing endlessly, there was also a tense situation in the prince's palace.
Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia County, was sitting in the first place. Looking at his daughter who was kneeling in front of him and sobbing, his heart felt like needles pricking him.
The originally cheerful face was expressionless.
Li Daozong did not expect that Li Shimin, a cousin, actually wanted his daughter to marry far away from Tibet, which was really difficult.
Unlike the world, which favors boys over girls, Li Dao treats his daughter as the apple of his eye, and no one knows how much he dotes on her.
Seeing that his daughter had just grown hair and was already growing into a slender and beautiful girl, Li Daozong doted on her even more.
She is usually gentle and soft-spoken, but is never willing to say a harsh word. The person seeking marriage has even crossed the threshold of the palace.
Now seeing his gentle and sensible daughter crying so hard, how could he not make Li Daozong heartbroken?
As a father, Li Daozong could only look at him like this, unable to say a word of comfort.
As the emperor, although Li Shimin did not issue an edict, he had already hinted it, so Li Daozong had no room for resistance.
I don’t even dare to give my daughter a false promise!
"Father, my daughter does not want to marry into Tubo. My daughter wishes to never marry in this life, but to stay at the knees of her father and fulfill her filial piety. Is that possible?"
Li Xueyan's beautiful eyes were full of tears, and the tears slid down her beautiful and white face like broken pearls. She cried so hard that her heart broke, and she begged with a throaty voice.
Seeing his daughter's aggrieved look, Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia County, felt like his heart was cut by a knife. The corners of his mouth wriggled a few times, but no sound came out.
Can I ask His Majesty Li Er?
Of course!
Not to mention begging, even asking him to die for his daughter would not even frown.
But the problem is that it’s useless to ask.
Now he is being suspected by Li Shimin, and his position as Minister of Rites is about to be eliminated, but he has no complaints from Sihao.
But thinking of letting his daughter marry far away in a cold and cold place, Li Daozong had no choice but to feel deeply his own incompetence.
Originally, I thought that I was never weak to others, but when faced with the imperial power, I had no power to resist, so I couldn't help but feel a little resentment towards Li Shimin in my heart.
Ever since it was reported two days ago that His Majesty planned to agree to Tubo's marriage proposal, Li Daozong felt something bad.
Since there is no marriageable princess in His Majesty Li Er's palace, according to the usual practice, he will find a girl of suitable age who is not yet married in the clan and give the princess a title to marry out.
Who among the clan would like his daughter to marry far away and live in a bitter cold land, where she will blow wind and eat dirt?
So something strange happened two days ago.
When the clan had daughters of suitable age, they hurriedly chose a husband for their daughters.
Even those who couldn't get married immediately, they quickly made arrangements to get married, just to give the illusion that they were married to their in-laws.
In this way, no matter how shameless His Majesty Li Er is, he can't let his clan members cancel the marriage, right?
There was even a betrothal trend in Chang'an city.
Others can do this, but not Li Daozong!
His Majesty summoned him into the palace two days ago, saying that he wanted to praise his achievements and show his kindness to the clan.
At that time, Li Daozong didn't understand. Wasn't he always suspicious of him? Why did he suddenly become closer now?
When he was leaving, His Majesty Li Er asked, seemingly unintentionally: "Is your niece Xueyan already a hairdresser?"
At first, Li Daozong thought Li Shimin was caring about his daughter, and he was quite happy.
I thought that even if I was alienated from myself, I would still cherish the kinship with my daughter.
But who would have known that soon there was news in the palace that His Majesty wanted to agree to a marriage with Tibet.
At this time, Li Daozong suddenly realized that His Majesty Li Er obviously wanted to marry his daughter away to Tubo.
If it hadn't been for Yang Fan's trouble yesterday, Li Daozong believed that the edict to canonize his daughter as a princess would have been issued by now.
Even though Yang Fan's scandal caused a huge uproar yesterday, even those few rebellious words made the city full of uproar.
But Li Daozong did not believe that His Majesty Li Er would listen to Yang Fan's advice and give up the marriage proposal.
Because Li Daozong had a special understanding of Li Shimin's character and a deep understanding of the situation between North Korea and China.
As a distinguished general of the Tang Dynasty, we can naturally see that His Majesty Li Er's purpose in agreeing to the Tubo marriage was obviously to plot against Goguryeo.
Compared with His Majesty Li Er's ambition, everything has to give way, and no one can stop it.
But looking at his daughter in front of him, Li Daozong felt really distressed!
If possible, I would like to marry my daughter to Tibet!
Li Xueyan naturally understood her father's difficulties and vented for a while. Knowing that the matter could not be changed, she wiped away her tears and showed a sad smile.
He swallowed hard and said: "Father, my daughter is not willful, she really doesn't want to stay away from her parents. Please don't worry about her anymore. If your Majesty gives the decree, my daughter will take on the responsibility of getting married!"
Looking at his well-behaved and charming daughter, Li Daozong felt as if his heart had been drained of all his hard work, and he was so painful that he couldn't breathe!
A dignified man who led the charge and killed enemies like chopping melons and vegetables, but now he couldn't even protect his daughter.
So sad!
If you want to marry your daughter to Tubo, you must die first!
I used to be cautious about everything, but now it’s time to be impulsive.
Thinking of this, Li Daozong stood up suddenly, showed a kind smile to his daughter, and comforted softly: "Don't worry Yan'er, as my father, I will go to the palace to see your majesty. If your majesty insists on choosing you to marry, I will let your majesty chop off my father's head first."
A head.”
After saying that, with a flick of his robe, Li Daozong strode out of the door as if he had died heroically, and shouted: "Come here, prepare a sedan chair and enter the palace..."
When he arrived at the palace, Li Shimin was discussing matters with Fang Xuanling and several ministers in the Tai Chi Hall.
Hearing that Li Daozong, Prince of Jiangxia County, asked for an audience, His Majesty Li Er frowned slightly, but still announced that he should enter the palace.
Entering the hall, Li Daozong was slightly shocked when he saw the ministers present, but he no longer hesitated and bowed:
"Li Daozong implores your majesty to send his ministers to guard Songzhou. As long as the ministers are alive, they will not let the Tibetan barbarians step into the boundaries of our Tang Dynasty. I beg your majesty to withdraw the marriage order."
All the ministers in the hall were silent. Unexpectedly, Li Daozong dared to offend Yan Zhijian, which was completely different from his usual low-key and cryptic attitude.
His Majesty Li Er was also quite surprised, and comforted him: "You and I are from the same clan, and we are also my younger brothers. How can I harm you? I have made arrangements over there in Songzhou. You just have to fulfill your duties in the court."
His Majesty Li Er indeed has some tricks up his sleeve. The words "my brother" made Li Daozong feel hot in his heart.
Before Li Shimin ascended the throne, he often called him this to show his closeness.
Of course, Li Daozong also understood that His Majesty Li Er was calling him a name that he had not used for many years just to make him obedient.
However, Li Daozong risked his life to remonstrate today. He knelt down and asked stubbornly and loudly: "Please give me your permission!"
This time I decided to risk everything for my daughter Li Daozong!
In the past, with his cautious character, he would never have dared to contradict him like this.
Obviously, the situation has changed now. With Yang Fan making such a fuss, there have been calls to reject the marriage, both in the court and in the public.
Look at the people in the hall, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, Li Ji...
There are so many important ministers here, I am afraid they are also discussing the matter of marriage.
As long as His Majesty Li Er has not issued an imperial edict, things will take a turn for the better.
Although His Majesty Li Er was not happy to see Li Daozong stalking him, there was nothing he could do about him.
The two were brothers of the same clan. When conquering the world, Li Daozong took the lead time and time again and made countless meritorious deeds.
Now he wants his daughter to come and get married, so it's normal to be upset.
What's even more rare is that this cousin has been loyal to him from beginning to end!
His Majesty Li Er took a deep breath and said patiently: "You will listen on the sidelines for now, this matter is being discussed."
Of course Li Daozong knew that opportunities were fleeting.
The original plan was to force His Majesty Li Er to agree even if his head was beheaded.
Otherwise, once the marriage is agreed upon by all the ministers, nothing can be done about it.
So he bowed his head again and asked: "Wei minister..."
Seeing that the veins on His Majesty Li Er's forehead were showing, Fang Xuanling hurriedly said: "Prince Jiangxia, please be patient and obey your Majesty's orders to discuss state affairs together."
Wei Zheng's old face smiled like a chrysanthemum and said: "Come here..."
"This..." Li Daozong hesitated.
To be able to reach such a high position, Li Daozong is certainly not a fool.
Before coming here, I wanted to try my best to anger His Majesty Li Er and make him give up the idea of marrying his daughter.
At this moment, I saw the protection of Zuo Pu Shefang Xuanling and the change of the old troll Wei Zheng.
Knowing that things might turn around, I quickly took a look at His Majesty Li Er.
His Majesty Li Er snorted coldly and ignored him at all.
Li Daozong breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up and sat next to Wei Zheng, not forgetting to give Fang Xuanling a grateful look.
At the signal of His Majesty Li Er, Li Ji said: "Your Majesty, with the current strength of the Tang Dynasty and military food reserves, there is no big problem in maintaining the status quo on the Tibetan border. If the problem of dizziness entering Tubo can be solved, the Tang army will
If it can be decided in a battle, it will definitely frighten all the Tibetan kingdoms, and the barbarians will definitely not dare to move without permission, but Gaochang Kingdom and Xue Toituo have been a little restless recently..."
At this point, he glanced at His Majesty Li Er and continued: "Since Your Majesty has decided to concentrate on solving the border troubles, the Eastern Expedition to Goguryeo has to be put on hold for the time being. However, with such great auspiciousness as Zhenguanshu, it will not take a few years.
If we have enough food and grass, we can put it on schedule."
To put it simply, there are insufficient troops and insufficient food and grass, so we cannot fight on multiple fronts at the same time.
His Majesty Li Er was extremely depressed. He glanced at Li Daozong and said, "The marriage will be put on hold for now and will not be discussed any more. If Tubo dares to make any move, I will give him a severe beating."
Just when Li Daozong breathed a sigh of relief, His Majesty Li Er thought of Yang Fan's mallet and asked with gritted teeth:
"What is that guy Yang Fan doing? Isn't he very idle? He only talks about flattering me and does nothing. Since he said that he can solve the problem of the Tang people in Tubo, the Ministry of Rites has not had any major events recently, so let him go.
The military camp trains soldiers, huh, if that stick is bragging, I'll chop off his head."
Although it sounds like a punishment, it makes all the courtiers envious.
As expected, that boy Yang Fan was the only one favored by the Holy Spirit. He was able to make Li Shimin change his long-cherished plan for the Eastern Expedition.
And Li Daozong was extremely grateful to his son's brother. Who would want to die if he didn't have to die to remonstrate?