Li Jiancheng felt a little guilty in his heart. Master Biyin Shengyan was his confidant. He should bear a great responsibility for the surrender of Master Sheng Yan. He also had a certain responsibility for the death of the emperor's uncle Li Shenfu. After all, he had tried his best to He persuaded his father to send troops from Hexi.
However, his father did not mention holding him accountable at all, which moved him deeply. Only by sharing his father's worries can he feel at ease.
As soon as Li Jiancheng finished speaking, Chen Shuda objected: "That's not appropriate. As the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, His Highness should not put himself in danger. A humble minister is willing to go on an envoy."
Chen Shuda was worried that after Taihuizi went to the Sui army as an envoy, Li Shimin would snipe behind his back and provoke a war. The Taihuizi would be in danger among the Sui armies, so he opposed Taihuizi personally sending an envoy.
Li Jiancheng had his own ideas. He needed to take political leadership in the relationship between the Sui and Tang Dynasties. After losing both wars, he wanted to regain the leadership in dealing with the Sui Dynasty. This would be helpful in consolidating his position as the crown prince. Great benefit.
Li Jiancheng waved his hand, "There is no need for Chen Xiangguo to persuade him. Time cannot be delayed any longer. Peace must be negotiated as soon as possible. Direct negotiations with Yang Huiyuan and Huiqing will be more fruitful. According to the principle of reciprocity, it should be me who talks with Yang Huiyuan and Huiqing." , As for the danger, there is no need to worry, Yang Huiyuan and Hui Qing are the majestic kings of Chu and will not harm me."
Li Yuan also preferred to let the prince go to negotiate. At this moment, a guard reported outside the palace: "His Royal Highness the King of Qin, please see me!"
In fact, this military court meeting was also related to Li Shimin, and he should have been called to discuss it together. However, Li Yuan heard that Shimin was ill, so he did not send anyone to inform him.
Now that Shimin has arrived, he can only be allowed to attend the meeting. Li Yuan nodded and said: "Announce his appearance!"
"Your Majesty has a decree for the King of Qin to pay an audience!"
Amidst the shouts of the guards, Li Shimin hurriedly walked into the side hall. Just as he was about to kneel down to salute, Li Yuan stopped him, "Your Majesty is ill, so there is no need to salute. Please give me a seat!"
"Thank you, Father, for your kindness!"
Li Shimin walked to the last seat on the right, but he sat down without haste and bowed: "Father, I have something important that I need to report to my father."
Li Yuan hesitated for a moment. In fact, he didn't want his second son Shimin to participate in the discussion. There was also a deeper reason, which was because Shimin was the main war party. Li Yuan didn't want him to disrupt the peace talks. Now that Shimin had something to say, Li Yuan would I guessed a bit.
"What's the matter, Your Majesty? Let's talk about it later!"
Li Shimin bit his lip and said, "But Father, the matter is indeed urgent."
Seeing that he had to say something, Li Yuan's face darkened slightly and he said reluctantly: "What's the matter with the emperor?"
Li Shimin took a step forward and said anxiously: "My father's 20,000 Hexi army was wiped out in Huining County. Now there are only 10,000 troops stationed in Zhangye in Hexi. How could Yang Huiyuan not know that he would definitely send troops to Hexi when he returned to Qing?" I sincerely request my father to immediately send troops to reinforce Hexi and protect our pasture."
Of course Li Yuan knew that Hexi was in danger, but now he was afraid of fighting Yang Huiyuan again when he returned to Qing Dynasty, so he deliberately did not mention the matter in Hexi. Everyone understood Li Yuan's thoughts and kept silent about Hexi. Unexpectedly, Li Shimin suddenly mentioned the matter Revealed.
Li Shimin's suggestion just hit Li Yuan's sore spot. He was extremely unhappy and said: "Now that the imperial court's financial resources can no longer support the war, how do you ask me to send troops?"
Li Shimin felt that his father was displeased, but he had to say something. Li Shimin also heard from his father's tone that he seemed to be ready to give up on Hexi. He was anxious and said quickly: "Father, there are 400,000 horses in the Hexi Ranch." , most of the Tang army’s war horses are old, it’s time to change horses, if Hexi is occupied by the Sui army, the Tang army will have no cavalry, my father, the strategic location of Hexi must not be lost!”
Li Yuan had a sullen face and said nothing. The court was also silent, and the atmosphere was awkward and tense. Pei Ji knew that Li Shimin's words had offended the Holy Sage and made him unable to come to the stage. He was secretly worried.
Seeing that no one spoke, Pei Ji had to persuade Li Shimin: "Your Highness, please stop insisting on your own way. Of course, Your Majesty does not want to abandon Hexi, and no one wants to, but now we need to consider the overall situation and reconcile with the Sui Dynasty first. This is the top priority. Hexi loses It’s only temporary. When we are strong enough, we can take it back again!”
Li Shimin was also a little annoyed, and his voice became stern, "What do you mean by waiting for us to be strong enough? Are we not strong enough now? There are 210,000 troops in Guanzhong and 20,000 Tang troops in Guannan. Yang Huiyuan returned to Qing How many troops are there? He just sent Pei Renji's more than 10,000 troops to attack Hexi, plus Su Dingfang's 10,000 troops at most. Now the Huining army only has Yang Huiyuan Huiqing's 10,000 troops, and he also has to recruit the surrendered troops. , what are we afraid of?”
Li Shimin took another step forward and pleaded with Li Yuan: "Father, please let me lead an army of 30,000. If I don't attack Hexi, I will directly attack Huining County. Pei Renji's army will inevitably withdraw. At this time, I will send another 20,000 troops." Urgent aid to Hexi, Hexi can be secured, 400,000 war horses can be secured, please allow me, Father, to agree."
Li Yuan said slowly: "I just listened to your words and sent troops to the Central Plains and the pass. What was the result? Chang'an was captured, I was almost captured, and my queen was frightened and collapsed, but you delayed your time and refused to come back to help. I no longer want to I'm arguing with you, but you don't know what's good and you want to force me to send troops. You can ask Tang Feng to monitor me! If you can catch me, I will listen to you obediently, okay?"
Li Yuan spoke very slowly and his tone was not harsh, but every word he said was like a knife piercing Li Shimin's heart. He was so shocked that he knelt down and said with tears streaming down his face: "My whole heart is for the Tang Dynasty. Without the slightest selfishness, I am willing to give my inner organs to my father!"
All the ministers felt Li Yuan's murderous intention, and they knelt down together... Your Majesty, the King of Qin is for the country, and you can have different opinions, but you are not deceiving the king."
Li Jiancheng also stepped forward and bowed: "Father, my second brother is in charge of the military and does not understand the state of government affairs. I can understand his anxiety. I beg my father, for the sake of serving the country wholeheartedly, please forgive him for making false statements."
Li Yuan felt that he was exhausted. He was still ill and had no energy to care about so many things anymore. He sighed and said, "Look at your brother. At this time, he is interceding for you. Don't you feel ashamed? That's fine. , seeing that you are dedicated to serving the country, I won’t pursue it, so I will temporarily put aside your order as minister, and go!”
Li Yuan pursued Li Shimin's crime because Li Shimin did not immediately return his troops after receiving the imperial edict, but continued to attack Luoyang.
At the same time, Li Shimin attacked Luoyang and now had to hand it over to the Sui army. This made Li Yuan unable to explain to his subjects. This made Li Yuan extremely dissatisfied with Li Shimin and even a little suspicious of him.
Some people often say, "I will not accept the orders of the foreign king..." But in fact, anyone who dares to accept his orders will die. This has been the case from ancient times to the present. Didn't the root cause of Zhou Yafu's death lie in Xiliu Camp?
This is still the case for outsiders, and the military power struggle between father and son is an insurmountable gap. Li Yuan can tolerate his son in anything, even the secret connection between the Crown Prince and Concubine Yin De. As long as it does not involve men and women, Li Yuan can not pursue it. Li Yuan would not tolerate even the slightest bit of military power.
After receiving the imperial edict, Li Shimin only sent 10,000 troops to support, and another 30,000 troops were sent two days later. Although he explained that the 10,000 troops were just forwards, Li Yuan knew from the fact that he only sent 30,000 troops after he conquered Luoyang two days later. Li Shimin didn't want to send reinforcements at all. He wanted to conquer Luoyang without caring about his own life or death. Li Yuan suddenly thought of the death of his fifth son Li Zhiyun.
Li Yuan suppressed the hatred and suspicion in his heart and couldn't bear it until a little bit was revealed today. Just this little bit, he dismissed Li Shimin from the post of Shangshu Ling, which shocked Li Shimin.
He kowtowed three times with tears in his eyes and slowly retreated. When he walked outside the main hall, Li Shimin suddenly remembered that his mother was dead and no one would speak for him anymore. He couldn't help feeling sad and burst into tears.
…
Li Yuan rejected Li Shimin's request to send troops to Hexi, and finally made a decision. Prince Li Jiancheng was the chief envoy, Chen Shuda was the deputy envoy, and General Duan Decao led 3,000 troops to escort them to Huining County to negotiate peace with Mei Yuanqing.
Dou Gui came out of the palace. He was in a really depressed mood. He did not go back home for lunch. Instead, he changed into casual clothes and went to a restaurant in Dongshi for dinner. The restaurant was called Lantian Renjia, which is the property of the Dou family. , the scale can also be ranked among the top five in Chang'an City.
Due to the impact of the Sui army's invasion of Chang'an City, the business in Chang'an City is generally not very good these days. People are not willing to spend money easily and save money for urgent needs. Lantian Winery used to be crowded with guests, but these days there are obviously not enough guests. , half of the seats on the first floor are empty.
Dou Gui entered the wine shop, and when the shopkeeper saw that the owner of the house was coming, he was so frightened that he quickly stepped forward to serve him. He also ordered someone to arrange seats on the fourth floor. Dou Gui waved his hand, "You don't have to go to the fourth floor. Just find a seat by the window on the second floor." , bring me a bottle of wine and some side dishes."
"I understand, little man. Master, please come upstairs!"
Dou Gui went up to the second floor. There were a little more people on the second floor, but 40% of the seats were empty. People were noisy, everyone was talking about topics of interest. After listening carefully, most of them were related to Huining County.
Dou Gui sat down at a table by the window. A waiter was already rushing to bring food and wine. Dou Gui nodded and said to the shopkeeper and the waiter: "You go and do your work! I will do it myself."
The shopkeeper and the waiter slowly retreated. Dou Gui poured himself a glass of wine and drank it down. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh. He was very anxious. As the head of the family, it was impossible for him not to consider the future of the Dou family and the current situation at hand. He has seen clearly that the Sui Dynasty occupied Guanzhong and drove the Tang Dynasty to the south. What should the Dou family do at that time? What should the Guanlong nobles do?
In the past, Dou Gui always felt that the Tang Dynasty had Hexi, Guanlong, Bashu, Jingxiang, and more than 300,000 troops, and was powerful, while the Sui Dynasty only had Hedong, and Hebei and the Central Plains were riddled with holes and the population dropped sharply. The economy was severely damaged, and the Sui Dynasty was obviously weaker than the Tang Dynasty. It was no match for the Tang Dynasty.
But since he saw with his own eyes that Yang Huiyuan returned to Qing and led 10,000 cavalry to sweep through Guanzhong and conquer Chang'an, he understood that the Tang Dynasty was no match for the Sui Dynasty and had been defeated repeatedly. He also knew very well where the Tang Dynasty failed?
If the Tang Dynasty is compared to a person, this person is far-sighted, has a view of the overall situation, has a strong strategic vision, can see everything in advance, is tall and strong, and seems to be very powerful.
But when it comes to actually doing things, it's not the case. They are nepotistic, self-willed, and jealous, and talented people are not used. People like Pei Ji and Feng Deyi who brag about being flattered are used in high positions. Because of this, this talent has repeatedly He suffered repeated defeats in battles, failed in everything he did, and lived on only a small amount of money, thus destroying a good empire.
Didn't the Tang Dynasty decline like this day by day? In the end, the people's morale and military morale were lost, and everyone rebelled against their relatives.
Dou Gui poured himself another glass of wine. He couldn't help but sigh again. He also knew that the Dugu family and the Sui Dynasty had already secretly worked together to find a way out for him. Could it be that the Fu family also wanted to take this road?