Just as the Dou brothers were discussing their way out, Dugu Zhen also returned to the mansion. He would go back to the mansion for lunch every day and take a short nap. Today was no exception. He went back to the mansion directly after the court meeting, but today
But it was a little different. When he walked back to the mansion, the first thing he did was to instruct the housekeeper, "Go and invite the elder to my study room!"
Soon, Dugu Liang rushed over, and everyone was nervous at this time, including Dugu Liang. He knew that the head of the family would definitely be a major event related to the family when he was looking for him.
"Does the head of the family look for me?" Dugu Liang walked into the study and asked.
Dugu Zhen was writing a letter. When he saw him coming in, he nodded and said, "Sit down!"
Dugu Liang sat down and asked, "What is the response of the imperial court today to the affairs of Huining County?"
Dugu Zhen put down his pen and said lightly: "Today the court has decided to negotiate peace with the Sui Dynasty."
"It should be a peace-making!" Dugu Liang sneered.
"Whether seeking peace or discussing peace, this is just a statement, but it doesn't matter. What matters is what should we do? Should we continue to be the nobles of Guanlong or become the landlord of Bashu?"
Dugu Liang was shocked, "Is it so serious?"
"It's a matter of time sooner or later!"
Dugu Zhen shook his head and said regretfully: "Our Dugu family supports him like that and gives him half of his property. In just two years, he is about to fail. It's really a pity."
"I guess the Dou family is also considering a retreat, and other Guanlong nobles should have their own plans."
"This is for sure, no one will hang himself on a tree. Yu Qinming came to me last night."
Yu Qinming is Yu Zhongwen's eldest son, and he was appointed as the Shaoqing of Taichang. He is also an important figure of the Guanlong nobles. He has a very good relationship with Gu Dudu and is an important backbone of the Dugu School among Guanlong nobles. Dugu Liang immediately became interested, "
What does he mean?"
"He also wanted to express his loyalty to Yang Yuanqing. But he couldn't find a way, so he came to me, hoping that I could take the lead and negotiate with Yang Yuanqing as a whole."
"This is a good idea!"
Dugu Liang praised: "This will improve our Dugu family's voice, and Yang Yuanqing will not underestimate us."
Dugu Zhen glanced at the eldest nephew and shook his head, "I have clearly refused."
Dugu Liang was stunned. "Why... this is?"
"We should look far. Yang Yuanqing has tried every means to suppress the Shandong gentry. How could he allow the Guanlong nobles to form a group again? Although he would accept it happily at the beginning, it would be beneficial to him to stabilize Guanlong, but what about the future?
To suppress the Guanlong Group, the first thing is to take action against the Dugu family. If people do not have a long-term plan, they will have immediate worries!”
Dugu Liang nodded silently. The head of the family's foresight made him feel inferior. He did not expect that far away. Seeing that there was some worry in his eyes, Dugu Zhen smiled and said, "The problem is not that serious. Our Guanlong nobles are still very useful to Yang Yuanqing.
It can help him stabilize Guanlong. More importantly, we can use us to fight against the Shandong gentry. The key is to grasp this degree. Guanlong nobles cannot be strong and must be under his control. In this way, he can accept us, so I
Rejected Yu Qinming."
"This decision by the head of the family! I will definitely support it with all my strength."
What Dugu Zhen wants is his words. As long as Dugu Liang is willing to support himself, other family members can only obey. He pondered for a moment and said, "You go to Taiyuan again. Find Dugu Lei and let him arrange to meet Yang Yuanqing.
He expressed his opinion to Yang Yuanqing, saying that the Dugu family was willing to hand over 70% of the land."
Dugu Liang couldn't stop talking for a long time. No wonder his main support actually wanted to hand over 70% of the family's land, which was more than 100,000 hectares of fertile land!
Li Shimin returned to the mansion and locked himself in the study room. No one saw him or her lunch was eaten. He sat alone in the quiet room, as if a monk had entered a meditation.
He was thinking about the future of the Tang Dynasty and his own destiny. Today's court meeting was a mirror, reflecting a cowardly court, and also reflecting the murderous intent in the hearts of his father.
Li Shimin was almost desperate. Hexi was occupied by the Sui army, and the Tang army had no more war horses. Hehuang war horses were in the hands of the Tuyuhun people. Under the threat of the powerful Sui Dynasty, would they give the war horses to the Tang army?
Without war horses, the army will have no hope. Without strong military forces as a backing, can we still hope to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River and rule the Sui Dynasty? How could he agree to Yang Yuanqing's generation of heroes?
Li Shimin felt bitter in his heart. If he were the emperor, he would definitely make drastic reforms, promote profits and eliminate disadvantages, and the Tang Dynasty would definitely revitalize again. Does he have this opportunity? Can't he fight for it himself and have to wait for his father to pass on the throne.
Can you give it to him?
Li Shimin was full of disappointment with his father's appeasement and compromise, and he was even more heartbroken by his own experience. Today he was removed from the position of Shangshu Ling. This was just the beginning. He knew his father very well, and the father really wanted to
It was not the Shangshu Ling who moved, but the military power that he wanted to accept.
If you are abolished, the only pro-war faction in the Tang Dynasty disappeared, and a group of surrendered factions will take charge, the Tang Dynasty will definitely perish within one year!
‘Oh my God! Give me a chance!’ Li Shimin shouted silently at the sky.
"Your Highness, can I come in?"
Changsun Wuji's voice came from outside the door, and Li Shimin's thoughts were pulled back to reality. He sighed. It was his wife who was going to visit him with his brother.
"Come in!"
Li Shimin stood up and walked to the outer room. Changsun Wuji also walked in. He looked at him nervously. Seeing that there were tears in his eyes, he was even more surprised, "Your Highness, what happened?"
"It's nothing, I just miss my mother a little." Li Shimin concealed the reason why he cried.
After a moment of silence, Changsun Wuji said, "I heard that Your Highness has been removed from the post of Shangshu."
Seeing that he knew everything, Li Shimin had to sigh, "Wuji, my father wants to take our military power."
Seeing that he was in a low mood, Changsun Wuji comforted him: "Maybe the Lord was a little disappointed with His Highness because His Highness failed in the Central Plains strategy twice. His Highness doesn't have to think too much."
Li Shimin shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The King of Qi is defeated more and more miserable. Why doesn't the father accept his military power? The prince sent troops from the inner road this time, and finally even lost Hexi. Why doesn't the father accept his military power? Wuji, fundamentally
The reason is that I returned to the army to assist Chang'an a little slower. My father felt that he could not control me anymore, so he wanted to accept my military power. He is my father. I know better than anyone else. I have a broad appearance, but in fact my mind is narrower than anyone else."
"What should you do when your Highness is going to do?"
Li Shimin looked out the window, and for a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "I was thinking about it, so I led a 100,000 army to capture Hexi. I stationed troops to establish myself in Hexi. What should I do if my father is going to do?"
Changsun Wuji's face changed in fear. He said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness must not be allowed. This will happen a big thing, and... Hexi cannot support a 100,000 army."
Li Shimin breathed a long sigh, "I know, I'm just talking. Now my father is waiting to catch my handle. I won't stretch my head over and let him chop it, and I will never let him pinch any handle.
.”
He walked a few steps behind his back and suddenly asked, "How is Yang Hing's progress?"
"Report to Your Highness, Tang Feng has already seized his handle."
Li Shimin nodded, "This matter should be accelerated, but it should be more concealed and cannot be discovered by anyone."
"Don't worry, your highness understands the humble position."
In the afternoon of the same day, General Duan Decao led 3,000 troops to escort Prince Li Jiancheng and Nayan Chen Shuda to Huining County to negotiate and negotiate with Yang Yuanqing.
The team marched westward in a mighty way. They rode the way and left Guanzhong from Fengxiang to Huining County. Li Jiancheng sat in a large carriage, closely protected by hundreds of guards in the East Palace.
In the carriage, Li Jiancheng was thinking about various matters of this negotiation. At noon, his father had a deep conversation with him and handed him the bottom line.
Li Jiancheng's only negotiating capital now is that the Sui Dynasty also has to cease war, so that the Tang Dynasty would not have to pay sky-high compensation.
"How likely is your Highness that Yang Yuanqing is willing to make a ceasefire?" Chen Shuda, who was sitting opposite him, asked with concern.
Li Jiancheng smiled. "I heard that even half of Jinyang Palace was burned. There were still 30,000 Turkic cavalry blocking in Jingxing. Do you think Yang Yuanqing still wants to continue to fight? In fact, he did not go to Hexi. He was just waiting for us to negotiate.
Now, I'm not worried at all."
"Your Highness"
Uncle Chen leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "I'm very worried that someone will take the opportunity to attack and provoke the war again. Will Your Highness be locked up by the Sui Dynasty for this?"
"As Yang Yuanqing's identity, it's not necessary to do such things, but"
At the time of ‘but’, Jiancheng’s expression also became cold and he sneered: “Do you think he can do it?”
"Did Your Highness not realize that the Lord is ready to take his military power? At this time, he is likely to provoke a war."
Of course, Li Jiancheng knew very well that his father had decided to take over the military power of the King of Qin. The decree of the Shangshu today was a prelude, but his father needed to seize another handle for him.
After pondering for a long time, Li Jiancheng showed a meaningful smile on his face, "Maybe his father hopes that he will send troops to Hexi without authorization."
Uncle Chen was stunned. He immediately reacted and gave a thumbs up and praised: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed brilliant!"
At this time, the sound of horse hooves sounded outside the carriage, and someone asked, "Is Your Highness looking for a low-ranking position?"
This is the voice of Luo Yi's son Luo Cheng. He is now one of the three generals of the Eastern Palace and is highly valued by Li Jiancheng.
Li Jiancheng opened the car window, took out a letter from the box next to him, and handed it to Luo Cheng and said with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work! Leave this letter to your father and tell him, don't worry at all."
Luo Cheng took the letter, put it in his arms and put it away, bowed and said, "I will go now!"
He turned his horse's head and ran towards the return journey. Li Jiancheng looked at him and walked away, nodded and smiled, "This child is good, he is a malleable talent."
"But his father is not very good!" Chen Shuda next to him curled his lips disdainfully. He did not appreciate Luo Yi's character and actually embezzled money and food from the army, which was a serious crime.
Li Jiancheng disagreed and said lightly: "The water is clear and there is no fish. The embezzlement of money and food in the army is just a small matter. The key is the big matter. Being loyal to me is the big matter. Loyalty is the first priority. Otherwise, no matter how honest you are, you will be like
What’s the use of Master Sheng Yan?”
Chen Shuda could understand the pain in Li Jiancheng's heart and said, "But the Censorate and the Ministry of War jointly investigate, will it be?"
"There is no big problem. Yuan Benqing, the Minister of War, is my person. The key is Han Zhan, the Chief Censor, who was promoted by Pei Ji, and it would be a little trouble. However, I have asked Yuan Ji to rush to Hanzhong. With him in charge, I can't find any problems.
”
Li Jiancheng attaches great importance to Luo Yi. The one he lacks the most is Shuai Cai. Today he pleaded with his father, and his father also expressed his opinion. As long as Luo Yi's problem is not very serious, he can spare him once. At this moment, Li Jiancheng is very good.