Fu Tang

Li Congjia supported the gate of the National Teacher's Mansion, closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, then said in a hoarse voice, "Go back to the palace and go to the Privy Council."

Seeing his pale face, Chunsheng couldn't help but tremble a little, and hurriedly prepared the carriage and drove Li Congjia back to the palace.

This time Li Congjia was so anxious that he went directly to the Privy Council, and couldn't wait for Chunsheng to call him to the Xuanzheng Hall.

At this time, the Privy Council didn't know anything, because Li Congjia was also the Privy Council Envoy, so the letter went directly to him. When Li Congjia arrived at the Privy Council, Li Ping and Li Jingda were holding a teapot, drinking tea, chatting and taking a lunch break.

After the two of them saw that Li Congjia's expression was very bad, their hearts skipped a beat.

Li Congjia sat in the upper seat to calm his emotions, and handed the letter to Li Jingda. After reading it, Li Jingda's expression became very solemn, and he handed it to Li Ping.

Li Congjia saw that Li Ping had also finished reading, so he said, "Tell me, what should we do now."

Li Jingda thought about it and said: "Your Highness, you don't have to worry too much now. The national teacher is just missing, and there is no conclusion yet. Zhao Kuangyin is still on the front line. He is experienced and will not easily mess up his position."

The problem is that Li Congjia is now worried about Shi Xueting's safety!

Shi Xueting was stationed further back than Zhao Kuangyin. The previous discussion was to let Shi Xueting lead the hidden army. When Zhao Kuangyin confronted Khitan, taking advantage of Khitan's unpreparedness, Shi Xueting chose a weak spot for a sneak attack.

But now he actually told him that Shi Xueting was attacked first?

Li Congjia's heart was half hot and half cold, the cold was because the letter said that Shi Xueting had been defeated and no one was there, and the hot was because he was so angry!

He managed to calm down his chaotic emotions, and said: "Since the other party even knows the location of the national teacher, they may already know our intentions, and Zhao Kuangyin's place may not be safe. Moreover, we didn't fight Khitan too early as before. Looking at it now, I am afraid that we will be forced to take action. If we confront Khitan, Northern Zhou will definitely not stand by and watch, maybe he will take the opportunity to sneak attack us, so this time we can only win but not lose, I decided... to go out in person."

Li Congjia's previous tirade was to prepare for the expedition in person, and he also knew that the ministers would definitely not agree, so this time, if he wanted to find a way to resist, the first thing he had to do was Li Jingda and Li Ping. It's done, then when the cabinet disagrees, Li Congjia can definitely pull the two of them to stand on the street.

Li Jingda and Li Ping almost died of fright when they heard it. Although they were defeated, they didn't have to let Li Congjia go out in person. For Li Jingda, such a defeat is normal, not a big defeat, and there is no such thing as a big defeat. Thousands of miles away, the front line is now gone, and there are other urgent reports, which prove that Zhao Kuangyin is still stable.

In this situation, there is no need for Li Congjia to step in. If the time comes when Li Congjia is needed, it means that the front line is in danger, and morale is so low that it cannot be improved. When Li Congjia is needed to boost morale, where is this going?

If Li Congjia went out in person at this time, it would make the people panic, thinking that the front line would not be able to withstand it.

Both Li Jingda and Li Ping had a headache. They both knew Li Congjia well. If you dare to say something about Li Congjia, you will basically not change it unless you have a stronger reason.

Li Jingda was silent for a long time, he thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what went wrong, which made Li Congjia so disappointed in the front line that he ran over in a hurry.

Li Ping looked at Li Jingda, Li Jingda had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "Your Highness, if you go over now, I'm afraid that the morale of the army will easily become unstable."

Li Congjia now feels that his soul should fly to Binzhou, but he still asks with a ray of mind: "Why is it easy to lose the morale of the army when I go?"

After Li Jingda explained his reasons, Li Congjia said calmly: "Oh, let me tell you, the Khitan attack us makes me very angry. I want to lead the troops to fight back. What's wrong with that?"

Li Ping looked at Li Jingda, full of anxiety in his heart, he could tell that Li Jingda probably thought that Li Congjia couldn't swallow this breath, so he wanted to lead the troops there, so the reasons he said were not on point at all!

Li Ping knew a little bit about Li Congjia and Shi Xueting's affairs, and he felt that Li Congjia was worried about the consolation of the state teacher rather than saying that Li Congjia was not angry about the Khitan's surprise attack.

Khitan was just a sneak attack. There is no right or wrong in this matter. Back then, the Long clan in Suzhou, the Guiyi Army, and the Uighurs in Ganzhou did more things than Khitan did. I never saw Li Congjia so angry, so I told that It doesn't matter at all!

Seeing that Li Jingda seemed unable to keep Li Congjia swayed, Li Ping just opened his mouth and said, "Your Highness, I have an idea and I don't know whether to say it or not."

Li Congjia knew that Li Ping also wanted to persuade him, so he really wanted to say something, so if he didn't know, he didn't want to say anything, but the other party was a minister or a hero, he couldn't be so rude, he just said very reluctantly: "Li Aiqing has something to say. "

Li Ping said: "I just read the urgent letter of [-] miles, and found that although it stated that the whereabouts of the national teacher were unknown, it did not mention the [-] soldiers and horses. I ventured to guess that these soldiers and horses might still be with them." At the side of the national teacher, His Highness might as well wait a little longer, if the defeated stragglers are found on the front line, then His Highness can think about the matter of going out."

The expression on Li Congjia's face was very concerned: "You mean...the national teacher might be hiding somewhere?"

Li Ping said ashamedly: "The national division uses soldiers like gods, and I dare not speculate."

Although Li Ping said so, Li Congjia's heart was more or less settled, as long as he knew that Shi Xueting might not have been killed, then he could wait.

And when he thought that the letter did not say anything about the soldiers under Shi Xueting's command, he couldn't help feeling a little nervous, not knowing when the next military report would come.

In any case, he has calmed down a lot at this time. After he calmed down, his reason naturally returned. After staring at the imperial case for a long time, he said: "The national teacher is marching secretly, how did the Khitan people know his actions?" Is it? Could it be... there is a traitor?"

After Li Jingda and Li Ping heard this, they were shocked. They looked at each other at the same time, and their hearts sank. If there really was a traitor, the grade of the traitor was not low. Otherwise, how could they know Shi Xueting's marching route?

Both Li Jingda and Li Ping couldn't sit still. Li Jingda was the deputy envoy of the Privy Council. Although Li Ping's official position was not that high, his rank in the Privy Council was not low. Li Congjia, as long as the two of them talk, they are usually in charge of the Privy Council, and now a traitor suddenly appeared. Doesn't this mean that the two of them have made mistakes in supervision?

Li Congjia took a long breath and said: "The two of you have been working hard these days. Check to see if anyone in the Privy Council has anything to do with Khitan. If you really doubt it and can't find any evidence, go to Shi Xuehe."

After Shi Xueting left, the intelligence department was handed over to Shi Xuehe again, but Li Congjia asked Yang Xin to help Shi Xuehe, he had already started to train Yang Xin, of course it was mainly because Yang Xin was enlightened, and he was no longer like before. dawdle.

Li Jingda and Li Ping agreed in cold sweat, and then Li Congjia stood up and slowly left the Privy Council.

Although Li Ping's conjecture calmed Li Congjia's anxious heart well, he would be worried every day if he didn't find Shi Xueting. After that, he would easily fall into a daze, and even in his sleep, he would dream of Shi Xueting coming to say goodbye to him covered in blood.

However, the news from the front line never came. Li Congjia was very anxious, but he didn't dare to urge him, for fear that Zhao Kuangyin's situation was critical. If he urges him, it would easily make Zhao Kuangyin feel uneasy.

The most important thing is that Li Congjia can't tell anyone about this kind of worry, so in just a few days, he has lost a lot of weight, and his spirit looks a little bad, which makes the government and the opposition a little worried. Is it because they have too high expectations of Li Congjia and put too much pressure on him?

Yes, recently the cabinet has also deliberately shifted the workload to Li Congjia. It's not that they are lazy, but they want Li Congjia to get used to it. The ministers in the cabinet know that they are not young, and accidents are not low. .

Especially Han Xizai, when Xiao Yan was begging for bones before, he realized that he was not young, his health was getting worse, his spirit was not getting better day by day, and he probably would retire soon.

Li Congjia said before that he hoped that there would be only four ministers in the cabinet, and if Han Xizai was strong, there would be only three people left in the cabinet. However, looking around the court, there is almost no one who can take his place!

Datang's talent gap has emerged. If the cabinet cannot make up for it, Li Congjia will need to make decisions on many things.

Indeed, it is not easy for Li Congjia to create this family business from scratch, but it is not enough. At least as a monarch whose goal is to unify the Central Plains, he still needs to be tempered.

As a result, as soon as they intentionally made some more difficult problems for Li Congjia, Li Congjia was visibly losing weight, which made the cabinet ministers tremble with fear, for fear that Li Congjia would die if he could not bear it alone.

So the old men started working hard again to relieve Li Congjia's pressure, but even so, Li Congjia was still losing weight!

Many people were worried about whether Li Congjia had some kind of disease, but it was reported from the palace that Li Congjia was too worried and had no other symptoms.

This gossip is very credible, because it was conveyed to the family by Zhou Ehuang.

The ministers have nothing to do, so they have to let Li Congjia take more rest and pay more attention to his body as a routine every day.

Li Congjia felt depressed, but he also knew that they had good intentions, so he could only promise that he would eat well and sleep well.

But in fact... everything he eats now tastes like chewing sugar, and it has been ten days. If it weren't for the spring in the Central Plains, Shi Xueting would not have died of cold and hunger even in the wild. Li Congjia couldn't sit still for a long time.

He didn't get the news here, and the Privy Council is now shrouded in a cloud of darkness. Li Jingda and Li Ping spent a lot of effort but couldn't find out who the traitor was, not only them, but even the ministers collected by the intelligence department We didn't see anything suspicious in our usual interactions.

It seems that there is no traitor, but how did the news leak out?Could it be haunted?

For a while, Li Congjia felt that nothing was going well. Just when he was about to run away violently, Zhao Kuangyin finally sent the latest news, and there was a very simple letter of peace written by Shi Xueting himself. The letter is really simple, because the word "safety" is written on it.

Zhao Kuangyin's letter was written in code. After Li Jingda and Li Ping saw it, they knew that Zhao Kuangyin was also suspecting that there were spies in the army, otherwise they wouldn't be so devious.

After they finished translating the letter, Li Ping breathed a sigh of relief, and said very happily: "The national teacher is indeed blessed by heaven."

From Li Ping's point of view, the best news is that Shi Xueting is safe and sound, and can gather the tribe, making the raiders think he is dead.

And Li Jingda pays more attention to what Zhao Kuangyin said is to use tactics. Shi Xueting was originally a hidden line, and he had to march secretly before. Can surprise.

When Li Congjia learned that Shi Xueting was safe and sound, he was relieved. In an instant, he was very tired. The sequelae caused by poor eating and sleeping these days seemed to be highlighted all of a sudden. He lay down directly Fell asleep on the table!

Li Jingda and Li Ping, who just wanted to discuss with him how to answer Zhao Kuangyin: ...

Thanks to Zhao Kuangyin's experience, he has already organized the frontline affairs in an orderly manner, and is not in a hurry to let the court issue orders.

Li Congjia fell asleep from this sleep until the evening of the next day, and almost scared everyone inside and outside the palace to death. When he opened his eyes, he found Empress Dowager Zhong, Zhou Ehuang, Li Zhongyu, and Li Jingda all surrounded by his bed. He was scared to death!

It's true that everyone was almost scared to death by him!Li Congjia suddenly fell asleep on the table, giving people the feeling that he had passed out. At this time, not only the Li family members were gathered here, but also Li Ping, his cabinet ministers, and his Zhongshushe were standing outside. people.

After Fengyu checked Li Congjia's pulse and said that His Highness was in good health without any problems, and prescribed a prescription for Li Congjia to drink two bowls of traditional Chinese medicine, the crowd finally dispersed.

However, Li Jingda and Li Ping did not leave, and Li Zhongyu was also kept by Li Congjia.

Li Congjia said: "I can't remember whether there was anything else in the previous letter."

Li Jingda said helplessly: "Zi Tinghou said that it was not the Khitan who attacked the national teacher, but the Northern Zhou."

Li Congjia:? ? ? ? ?

If it wasn't for sure that Li Jingda wouldn't joke with him, he would have laughed out loud, okay?

Northern Zhou?Attack him at this time?Are you sick?Regardless of whether Datang had intentions for the territory of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Northern Zhou Dynasty was already under the enemy's back. It can be said that as long as Li Congjia does not send troops for a day, they should not take the initiative to trouble Li Congjia. Give up part of the benefits when necessary, just to win Li Congjia's support!

It's good now, he didn't fight Bei Zhou, Bei Zhou came to provoke him first!

Is Bei Zhou crazy?There is the Khitan in the north, the Southern Zhou in the south, the Great Tang in the west, and...hehe, the sea is to the east of them!

Li Congjia was really convinced, but even if the identities of the attackers were different, it couldn't cover up another fact - who leaked Shi Xueting's whereabouts?

Li Congjia sat there thinking for a while, and said slowly: "This person must be caught, otherwise I will have trouble sleeping and eating."

Not to mention him, Li Jingda and Li Ping also think so!But if you can't find it, you can't find it. That person seems to have evaporated from the world, otherwise no matter how careful he is, it is impossible to leave no traces. The intelligence department has never encountered such a person!

Li Jingda was not sure, but he still said: "I will definitely do my best to investigate to the end!"

Li Congjia said thoughtfully: "No, it's useless to search like this. If you can't find it now, as time goes by, there will be fewer and fewer clues left by him. It is almost impossible to track it down." possible things."

Li Ping had a bad premonition in his heart, and asked, "What does His Highness mean..."

"Bring him out!" Li Congjia's eyes were firm, no matter who it was, who brought Shi Xueting's life into danger, he must be killed!

Li Jingda asked: "How to lead?"

Li Congjia smiled and said, "How about I secretly go to the front line?"

Li Jingda almost fell off the chair. At this time, he couldn't maintain his humble status as a courtier, so he blew his beard and stared at his nephew: "No! It's too dangerous! The son of a daughter can't sit down, how can you take such a risk?"

Li Congjia was embarrassed to say that he still wanted to see how Shi Xueting was doing, so he could only say: "This way, the identity of that person can be seen the best. I will not know many people when I travel secretly, and the scope of the search will be smaller by then. , which is easier."

Li Jingda said angrily: "I would rather be more complicated."

Li Congjia didn't speak, but just stared at them. Li Jingda felt a headache when he saw him like this, and regretted that the group of people in the cabinet had just left so smoothly, and should have kept them!

Li Ping couldn't bear it anymore and said: "It's a big event for His Highness to leave Beijing. Now that there are so many affairs in Tang Dynasty, who will handle all these affairs when His Highness leaves Beijing?"

Li Congjia said very reassuringly: "With the cabinet and the Privy Council here, why do I need to take care of them all the time? What's more, if there is something unresolved, why not report it urgently?"

Li Jingda didn't know how to persuade him at all, so he turned around and said, "In this case, His Highness still needs to discuss with the cabinet."

Li Congjia knew at a glance that Li Jingda was looking for the cabinet to drag him, and he was a little guilty, but... he had to try to find out, and he understood it himself, although he was not yet at the point where he wanted beauties rather than power , but if he didn't see Shi Xueting for a day, he was worried that Shi Xueting would encounter some danger again.

Unexpectedly, however, the people in the cabinet did not have strong resistance to Li Congjia's personal conquest. Zhou Zong just asked, "His Royal Highness wants to travel in secret? Are you trying to follow Meng Chang's example?"

Li Congjia was stunned for a moment before realizing that what Zhou Zong was talking about was about Meng Chang’s private visit via Weibo. If Meng Chang hadn’t chosen Weibo private visit, maybe he would have to surrender too, but at least he was still alive, and the way of death recorded in the history books would not be so bizarre.

Li Congjia said: "But if you want to lure people out, what should you do otherwise?"

Zhou Zong said: "Travel in the open and aboveboard, but the marching route does not have to be announced to the world, so it can be measured."

It's okay for Li Congjia to think about it, so that if something happens to him outside, the court will be very passive.

Li Jingda on the side was about to die of anxiety. He dragged the cabinet ministers into the water in order to stop Li Congjia. How could this group of people not stop them?

Contrary to what Li Jingda thought, the cabinet had actually discussed it a long time ago. Recovering the old Beijing is a very important matter. It is best for Li Congjia to show his face in this battle. We must worship our ancestors—whether Li Congjia is a real descendant of the Tang royal family or not, since his grandfather said he is, then he has to worship his ancestors!

Although it is said that Li Congjia went earlier, but this is also good. In this case, the credit for regaining the old capital is Li Congjia's, and there is no need to worry about which general has such a credit and will not be rewarded in the future.

Putting it in danger, how can there be no danger in fighting for hegemony?How is Guo Rong?Seeing that he already had the momentum to dominate the world at the beginning, he died prematurely, and the eldest son also died, leaving only the youngest son to succeed. Then, in just a few years, the most powerful state of Zhou in the Central Plains collapsed.

The cabinet believed in Li Congjia's luck!Looking at the current territory of the Tang Dynasty, can you imagine that when Li Congjia came to the Western Regions, he could only be a horse thief?What's more, it's only been a few years?

The cabinet studied Li Congjia's travel very carefully and meticulously, thinking of almost every aspect, and the harem was naturally the last to know.

Zhou Ehuang felt very complicated about Li Congjia's personal conquest, so he brought Li Zhongyu to him and said, "I know I can't persuade you, and I'm not qualified to ask you anything. I just ask you to think about it when you are on the front line Don."

Li Congjia understood almost instantly that Zhou Ehuang was secretly reminding him not to go crazy because of Shi Xueting, and even if he went crazy, don't put himself in it.

If Li Congjia is taken in, others will say that it is not good. The life of Queen Zhou E's mother and son will never be as comfortable as it is now. Even with Zhou Zong's support, it does not mean that Li Zhongyu will definitely be able to ascend the throne. After all, Li Zhongyu is only eight years old this year, and he is better than Chai Zongxun He was only one year older at that time, if Li Congjia had anything to do, he might be the second Chai Zongxun.

Li Congjia looked down at Li Zhongyu who was looking up at him, thought for a while, then turned around and asked Zhou Zong to say: "When I go out to fight, the crown prince supervises the country."

Zhou Zong:? ? ? ? ? ?

The author has something to say: Li Congjia: Come back soon~ I can’t bear it alone~

Shi Xueting: If you keep singing, the dead will make you sing alive.

Li Congjia: Forget it, if you don’t come back, I’ll go find you.

Shi Xueting: Think about it clearly, if you like to fight in the wild...the climate here is indeed better than that of the Western Regions, and you won't be afraid of freezing outside.

Li Congjia:? ? ? ? ?