Chang'an was shrouded in an uneasy atmosphere. Although the court tried its best to conceal it, the news of Jingxiang's defeat and the death of Li Xiaogong spread throughout the government and the public. This plunged the entire Guanzhong into an inexplicable panic. The price of rice dropped overnight.
The number of articles surged by hundreds of times, and people were panicking, as if the end of the world was coming.
In front of the Prince of Qin's Mansion, Fang Xuanling galloped over on horseback and pulled the reins. He turned over and dismounted and asked the soldiers: "Is Your Highness back?"
"Replying to sir, His Highness has just returned."
Fang Xuanling came back from Yong County this morning and had already visited the palace once. When he learned that King Qin had not returned from the palace, he expected to go to court in the afternoon, so he came to see Li Shimin again.[
Fang Xuanling threw the reins to the soldiers and walked quickly to the mansion. Fang Xuanling also heard the news about the unfavorable situation in the battle between Jing and Xiang. This also made Fang Xuanling feel very nervous. Now he was most worried about Bashu, not Shu.
In Guanzhong, if Bashu were lost again, Datang would have no place for strategic transfer, and the consequences would be very dangerous.
In fact, the saint's decision to inspect Bashu last time was completely correct. Unfortunately, he was restrained by the nobles of Guanlong and ultimately fell short and failed to make the trip, which made Fang Xuanling feel very regretful.
Fang Xuanling had the power in Prince Qin's palace without asking for permission. He walked to Li Shimin's study and then said to a guard at the door: "Please tell His Highness that I have something urgent to see him."
The guard went in to report, and came out after a while: "Your Highness, sir, please come in."
Fang Xuanling quickly walked into the room. Li Shimin was standing in front of him with his hands behind his hands and looking out. He seemed to be so absorbed in watching that he didn't realize that Fang Xuanling had entered. Fang Xuanling was about to bow and salute, but Li Shimin
He said calmly: "At noon today, something happened in the palace."
Fang Xuanling was startled and asked quickly: "What happened?"
Li Shimin slowly turned around and sat down at the table. He stared blankly at a pen holder on the table, looking very worried. Fang Xuanling did not dare to ask any more questions and stood aside, waiting for Li Shimin's response. After a while,
, Li Shimin finally sighed and said slowly: "At noon today, my father suddenly fainted."
‘The Holy One fainted?’
Fang Xuanling frowned, "Why is this? Could it be that the Jingxiang incident has irritated the Holy One?"
Li Shimin shook his head, "My father knew about Jingxiang's defeat two days ago. He was just sad about Xiaogong's death and his relationship with Jingxiang."
Fang Xuanling thought, "Could it be...that something happened in Bashu?"
Li Shimin let out a long sigh, "Something happened in Bashu. From the time when Yiling Road was occupied by the Sui army, I knew that as long as the overall situation in Jingxiang was settled, Yang Yuanqing would definitely attack Bashu as quickly as possible. This morning, there was news
According to the news, Li Xiaoji’s 20,000 troops were defeated by Sui cavalry in Badong County, and the Sui army’s 20,000 cavalry had already entered Bashu.”
This news stunned Fang Xuanling. He came here today to persuade Li Shimin to abandon Guanzhong and move the capital to Bashu. Unexpectedly, he heard such news, which made him feel confused and his mind went blank.
Li Shimin smiled faintly, "This is what I expected. Bashu was empty, and my father refused to divide his troops to defend Bashu. The Sui army occupied Yiling County and was still hesitant. They pinned their hopes on the Battle of Jingxiang.
I thought that if we defeat the Sui army in Jingxiang, Bashu will be in trouble, but there is no such thing as such a good thing. Once Jingxiang is defeated, Bashu will be finished."
Speaking of this, Li Shimin was distracted again, thinking about other things. Fang Xuanling noticed something. The news from Bashu came in the morning, but the emperor fainted at noon. There was a bit of a mismatch in time.
"Is the Holy Master's fainting related to Bashu Pass?"
Li Shimin nodded, "I got news from the palace that my father seemed to have urinated blood before fainting."
After saying that, Li Shimin let out a long sigh, "This day has indeed come."
Fang Xuanling suddenly realized. He remembered the last poisoning. At that time, it was said that it was a chronic poison that would take several months to take effect. Although it was stopped in time, it had been taken for more than ten days. He was surprised and said: "Your Highness,
Could it be last time..."[
Li Shimin nodded slowly, "Judging from the symptoms, they look a bit similar, but I'm not sure. Maybe it's related to what happened last time..."
Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment and then asked: "Your Highness, if it is true, what will be the consequences?"
"as a result of?"
Li Shimin smiled bitterly, "I don't know the consequences, but one thing I know is that if the emperor ascends the throne, he will kill me."
Fang Xuanling vaguely understood something, and he quickly advised: "Your Highness, there is a crisis in Bashu now, which affects the safety of the entire Tang Dynasty. Don't think about other things for the time being. You should deal with the crisis first."
Li Shimin's eyes narrowed, flashing with a terrifying murderous intent. Then the murderous intent disappeared and his eyes became dull, "Okay! Let's not mention this for now. Sir, do you have anything to do with me today?"
"Originally, I wanted His Highness to persuade the Holy Emperor to move the capital to Bashu, but now something happened in Bashu. I don't know what to say for a while, but I advocate that Bashu should be preserved no matter what."
"The imperial court has reached an agreement on supporting Bashu. My father ordered Zhang Changxun, the Minister of Rites, to quickly mobilize an army of 30,000 to support the King of Qi."
"No!"
Fang Xuanling categorically rejected Li Shimin's point of view, which made Li Shimin stunned, "Sir, what do you think is wrong?"
"Your Highness, I heard that Yang Yuanqing sent Wei Yunqi as the chief general and Wang Junkuo as the deputy general. Who is this Wei Yunqi? When he was guarding Liaodong, he repeatedly defeated the strong with the weak, and was so powerful that he shocked Khitan and Korea. Even Yang Guang praised him.
The ability to stabilize the country shows that he has real talent and knowledge, and is a great talent in both civil and military affairs. Moreover, Xu Shiji is also in Jingxiang, but Yang Yuanqing did not let his confidant Xu Shiji go to attack Bashu, but handed over such an important task to Wei Yunqi, which shows that Yang Yuanqing was in Jingxiang.
We employ people carefully and carefully, but when we look at it, we fail again and again. What is the problem? Didn't His Highness see it?"
Li Shimin said slowly after a long while: "You mean, we have a problem with hiring people?"
Fang Xuanling nodded, "It's not necessary unless you are a close relative or clan member. The initial defeat in Taiyuan was due to King Yuanji of Qi, the second defeat in Hedong was due to Li Shuliang, the defeat in Huining was due to Li Shenfu, the defeat in Jingxiang was due to Li Xiaogong and Chai Shao, and the defeat in Badong was due to Li Xiaogong and Chai Shao.
The defeat was caused by Li Xiaoji, not by me to offend His Highness. If the first battle of the Central Plains had been given full authority to Qu Tutong, we would not have been defeated."
Li Shimin was silent. He had to admit that what Fang Xuanling said was true. Nepotism was indeed a big problem for his father.
"But this time, Zhang Changxun was sent. He was once the right servant of Yizhou Xingtai. He knows the situation of Bashu very well and is very prestigious in Shu. Using him to lead the army is also the result of Xiao Yu's strong support. Will he have any problems?
"
"Your Highness, the problem does not lie with Zhang Changxun. Zhang Changxun is only a civil servant, and the military commander of Yizhou is King Qi. King Qi is the general manager of Yizhou. Your Highness, do you think the final commander of the army is King Qi or Zhang Changxun?"
Fang Xuanling's last words made Li Shimin suddenly wake up. King Qi, with King Yuanji of Qi guarding Bashu, how can Bashu be undefeated?
Li Shimin couldn't sit still anymore. He immediately stood up and said: "I will enter the palace right away and persuade my father to change the commander."
.......
When Li Shimin returned to the Tai Chi Palace, the palace was already in chaos. The Holy Emperor fainted and the personnel were unconscious, which made the civil and military officials extremely nervous. Especially at the critical moment when the Tang Dynasty was facing a life and death crisis, the Holy Emperor's fall was like a stone.
The Pillar of Heaven tilted, and the sky of the Tang Dynasty was about to collapse.
Inside and outside the Yangxin Hall of Taiji Palace, there were more than twenty important officials standing. They were anxiously waiting for the news. The Holy Sage was still being rescued. I wonder if he could survive this disaster. The officials were talking in low voices, although there was no
Explain, but they are already thinking about the funeral. If there are any shortcomings in the emperor, they will immediately support the crown prince and enthrone him.
Li Jiancheng had been waiting outside his father's hospital bed since noon. He was more nervous than anyone else at this time. His father still had many important matters to explain, especially military power. If his father did not explicitly hand over the military talisman to him, he would be
Going west, there will be a situation where the King of Qin has sole control of the military power. Even if he controls the court, he will no longer be able to control the Tang Dynasty.[
"Your Highness, go and take a rest! If anything happens, I will notify Your Highness immediately."
A eunuch persuaded Li Jiancheng in a low voice. Li Jiancheng nodded. He had been standing for three hours and was really tired. He came to the next room. This was the room where his father usually meditated. There was only one person in the whole room.
A thick blanket.
Li Jiancheng sat down on the blanket, but he was thinking about his father's mysterious fainting and his long coma. Obviously, his father was not fainted due to the unfavorable situation. Badong County was defeated.
Father knew this in the morning, and he was by his side at that time. Although he was surprised, he did not faint from grief, and later he even discussed sending troops to Bashu. It could not be because of the current situation.
"Your Highness!"
At this time, Prime Minister Chen Shuda appeared at the door, "I have something to tell His Highness."
Li Jiancheng nodded, "Come in!"
Chen Shuda walked into the room and closed the door. He went to sit down in front of Li Jiancheng and said in a low voice: "I met Dr. Wang just now and got a message. Your Majesty has been urinating blood since the night before yesterday. It is very serious. Your Majesty, this matter
The news has been blocked, and the Holy Spirit's fainting today is most likely related to this."
Li Jiancheng was shocked, but he didn't know about this, so he quickly asked: "How serious are the consequences?"
Chen Shuda sighed softly, "Physician Wang said that the Holy One may not survive for a few months."
Li Jiancheng's heart suddenly became heavy. If this was the case, the consequences would be really serious. Is his father about to die? Li Jiancheng's heart was in confusion and he sighed: "Chen Xiangguo, what should I do?"
Chen Shuda was silent for a long time, and then slowly said: "Your Highness should ask why such consequences occurred, because it may be related to the future situation after the Holy Emperor unfortunately goes west."
Li Jiancheng was startled and then asked: "Then tell me, what caused my father to urinate blood and faint?"
"Your Highness, I asked Dr. Wang, and he said that this is probably a kind of chronic poisoning."
"Poisoned!" Li Jiancheng was shocked.
At this time, Li Jiancheng suddenly thought of something, and a chill suddenly shot up from his spine.