Tang Dynasty

With Li Yuanji's departure, Jinyang's fall will only happen overnight.

When the news of the surrender of Kaesong, the guard of Jinyang, came back to Chang'an, Li Yuan finally couldn't hold back, and recalled Li Shimin with an edict.

Knowing the urgency of the situation, Li Shimin rushed back day and night with several of his cronies. When he returned to the palace, just in time for the court, he hurriedly changed into his court clothes and left for Wude Hall.

When he reached the outside of the hall, he saw a figure in the distance, who was one step ahead of him and walked in.

Li Shimin suddenly stopped in his tracks, and stood there for a long time, until the figure had long since disappeared, then he clenched his fists in his sleeves and walked in.

Above the court hall, all the ministers stood together, and because they knew that the war would be unfavorable, they all kept silent.

Li Yuan looked around at the gloomy and gloomy look on the steps, and his complexion seemed a little ugly.He was silent for a moment before he opened his mouth and said: "This time Liu Wuzhou colluded with the Turks and made a big move southward, seizing my city and hurting my people. His arrogance is unstoppable." What should I do?"

As a prince, Li Jiancheng stood up immediately after hearing the words: "Jiancheng thought that although Liu Wuzhou had the help of the Turks, our Great Tang also had hundreds of thousands of heavenly soldiers and thousands of miles of fertile fields. This battle must be resisted, but we must not retreat!"

Li Yuan nodded slightly, but glanced at Li Shimin from the corner of his eye, and said: "Although what the crown prince said is reasonable, but at this moment, Liu Wuzhou is in full swing, and it may be disadvantageous to press his edge at this time." After a pause, he said, "For now Abandoning the east of the river and temporarily guarding the pass... is not a bad idea."

As soon as this remark came out, there was an uproar in the audience, and there seemed to be surprise and indignation.However, Li Jiancheng looked at Li Yuan's expression, and seeing this situation, he seemed to have understood something.However, before he could speak again, a voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Father, this is absolutely impossible!"

Hearing this, Li Yuan narrowed his eyes slowly, and said, "I don't know what King Qin means?"

Li Jiancheng didn't look back, but felt that a person was striding forward, standing side by side with him, clasped his fists and said, "Father, Taiyuan is the foundation of our Tang Dynasty, the foundation of our family and country, with a large population and abundant supplies. people!"

His voice was high-spirited and sonorous, and between the words, it seemed that there were thousands of troops coming out of his chest.Hearing this, Li Jiancheng couldn't help raising his head, and turned his eyes slightly to look at him.

Li Shimin seemed to feel his gaze, and looked at him very quickly, but moved away calmly, just waiting for Li Yuan's reaction.

Li Yuan's face was hidden under the twelve beads, making it difficult for people to see his expression clearly.After a long time, he opened his mouth heavily, and said, "King Qin, are you sure...to win Liu Wuzhou?"

Li Shimin immediately stepped forward and said: "I am willing to bear with my life! I will not destroy Liu Wuzhou, and I will never return!"

Li Jianjian stood aside, knowing in his heart that since Li Yuan had called Li Shimin back, this vacillation was most likely just a show.Pretending to sell Hedong intentionally, it is actually giving Li Shimin a chance to ask for a fight.

From the beginning, he only planned to let Li Shimin play.

It's just... Li Jiancheng slowly clenched his fists, feeling unwilling.

He is not a warlike person, and he has been practicing martial arts for a long time as a prince, and he also knows the truth that the prince of the country is not handsome.But only this battle... a year ago, he let go of Habi with his own hands, how can he stand by now?

Thinking of this, Li Jiancheng stepped forward again, but before he could speak, he heard Li Yuan say: "Prince, the group of bandits headed by Zhu Shanhai are becoming more and more rampant in the area of ​​Yusi Zhuyuan. I will give you 5000 people to get rid of this disaster."

Li Jiancheng was slightly taken aback, but he could only cup his hands and say, "I obey the order."

Li Shimin stood beside him with his head bowed, even if he didn't look at it from the corner of his eye, his heart still tightened a little.In fact, he knew that if he asked his father to allow the two of them to go together, there might be a turning point for this matter.

However... Secretly clenched his fists in his sleeves, Li Shimin knew that no matter what, he no longer wanted to be under the shadow of his elder brother, and he didn't want to let himself stand in the shadow behind him.

So when he heard Li Yuan's call, he just walked forward silently, and said respectfully, "Your servant leads the order."

----

After retiring from the court, Li Jiancheng was discussing with the courtiers about suppressing the bandits while walking. He felt that a person was walking by and raised his eyes, but he could meet Li Shimin's gaze looking back.

Looking at each other, Li Shimin had no choice but to stop, turned around and walked over, bowed his hands to Li Jiancheng, paused, and said in his mouth: "Brother, don't come here without any harm."

Li Jiancheng nodded to the courtier, and waited until the man made up his mind to leave first, then he turned around and looked at Li Shimin.

It has long been heard that since Li Shimin returned to the court, he has changed his old style and recruited many civil servants and military generals regardless of his origin. It has become the one-person court of King Qin.

Seeing you again like this today, I feel that the figure in front of me seems to be a bit taller, and against the background of the court clothes, there is a faint sense of majesty in the tall and straight.

Li Jiancheng looked away calmly, smiled, and said, "It's just half a year away, Shimin seems to be a different person."

"Brother hasn't changed." Li Shimin looked at him, a familiar look slowly passed through his eyes, but soon, he smiled.

Now he is a little more calm and less rash in his gestures, and even his smile is not as ostentatious as it was back then.

It's only been half a year, and it feels like a lifetime away from seeing each other again.

Doubts were hidden in his heart, but Li Jiancheng's face became more and more calm.He looked at Li Shimin silently for a moment, then smiled, and said: "It's a pity that Shimin came back. You and I are both at war. We just wait for our respective triumphs and reminisce about the old days."

"Naturally." Li Shimin still smiled lightly when he heard the words, and his expression didn't change much. Seeing that Li Jiancheng was leaving again, he cupped his hands and said, "Brother, go slowly."

Li Jiancheng nodded slightly at him, turned and left.

Watching the thin and tall figure gradually go away, Li Shimin stood where he was, the smile on his face gradually faded away.After a long time, he smiled wryly.

"Brother..." Xu Xu looked up at the sky, and he muttered to himself, "It really hasn't changed..."

Whether it was the impulsive and straightforward second brother half a year ago, or today's King of Qin, the Minister of Shandong Daoxingtai, or the soldiers and horses of the Kanto East... the way he looks at himself has never changed.

The calm water and indifferent eyes are like looking at other people, without even giving him the slightest different expression.

In his eyes, has he never really had himself?Withdrawing his gaze, Li Shimin sighed, and finally walked away, full of unwillingness and helplessness in his heart.

——Zhaoren, the meaning of your words... I can roughly understand now.

----

Ten days later, Li Jiancheng led an army of five thousand and left Chang'an first to suppress the bandits.Li Shimin was ordered by Li Yuan to see him off on the outskirts of the city with a group of people.

It was already autumn, and the sycamore leaves withered and spread barrenly.Li Shimin held up a bowl of Jianxing wine to Li Jiancheng, looked at him deeply, and said, "Brother, take care this trip."

Li Jiancheng reached out to take it, and looked down at the jade liquid fine wine in the bowl. After a long time, he smiled silently, raised his head, and drank it all in one gulp.

Li Shimin stared at him intently.His eyes wandered from the fiery cloak behind him to the glaring silver armor, and at the end, he fell back on the other side.

But the next moment, only a "bang" sound was heard, and Li Jiancheng suddenly slammed the wine bowl to the ground with great force, and the sound was so loud that everyone around couldn't help but startled.

However, Li Jiancheng wiped the remaining alcohol at the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, glanced down at the shattered porcelain pieces on the ground, and smiled calmly at Li Shimin: "Brother, this trip is just to suppress the bandits. Shimin fought, That’s the long way to go.”

Li Shimin looked at him with an expression, but he couldn't see any emotions, but he also cupped his fists, and said slowly: "Shimin will no longer be the big brother's hope."

While speaking, Li Jiancheng had already gotten on his horse.He sat high on the horse, looked down at him, and didn't speak for a while.

It wasn't until Wei Zheng realized something and coughed lightly behind him that Li Jiancheng lightly lifted the reins and said, "It's getting late, it's time to go."

After finishing speaking, he turned his horse's head and slowly walked to the front of the team.

Wei Zheng rode his horse behind him, and was about to follow, but as if thinking of something, he turned and glanced at Li Shimin.His eyes paused for a while and then moved away, but that look had a different kind of meaning.

Li Shimin acted as if he hadn't seen it, but just stared at the particularly conspicuous red cloak in the crowd.He didn't look back until the red fire had disappeared.

But it suddenly touched the shattered wine bowl on the ground.

Li Shimin suddenly laughed out loud at himself.

—Brother, you never said anything.But what I want to say is all in this bowl.

At the same time, Wei Zheng hurried to catch up with Li Jiancheng, and walked side by side with Li Jiancheng.He saw what Li Jiancheng did just now, and he knew it in his heart.At this moment, he hesitated again and again, and finally said in a low voice: "Your Highness, King Qin's return this time is quite different from the past."

"I know." Li Jiancheng looked at the road ahead with an extremely calm and indifferent expression.

"I heard that many former ministers in Li Mi's tent have already defected to King Qin."

"I know."

"As for Liu Wuzhou, His Majesty probably gave King Qin all his hopes this time."

"I..." Li Jiancheng paused slightly, "Of course I know."

After a while of silence, Wei Zheng listened to the sound of horseshoes in his ears, and finally sighed: "Your Highness, do you know that I have a habit?"

Li Jiancheng finally turned to look at him and said, "A habit?"

Wei Zheng looked at him, and said slowly, "The more turbulent Your Highness is, the calmer his face will be." Seeing Li Jiancheng raised his eyebrows slightly, he added, "I'm afraid Your Highness doesn't know it."

Li Jiancheng couldn't help laughing when he heard this, and said, "In Mr. Yi's opinion, can I be calm at this time?"

"Extremely calm." Wei Zheng said, paused, "It is also extremely twists and turns."

This time Li Jiancheng laughed but did not answer.

Wei Zheng sighed, "Why is Your Highness silent?"

"Sir, you just asked three questions in a row, and you have explained thoroughly what you think and think in your heart." Li Jiancheng looked forward, but did not argue, just smiled lightly, "Jiancheng has nothing to say."

Wei Zheng pondered for a moment, and said: "Liu Wuzhou is in full swing, and has defeated our army one after another. Your Highness thinks that King Qin will fight at this time...how will the outcome be?"

"The reason why Liu Wuzhou was able to defeat us several times this time is because of the help of the Turks. However, the Turks are greedy for money and profit, so they may not help to the end." Li Jiancheng's figure shook slightly with the bumps, and he was silent for a moment, and said, "As long as the two There is a gap between them, and it is not difficult to destroy Liu Wuzhou."

Although the words were calm and breezy, but in his heart he laughed at himself and was unwilling.If he is the leader in this battle, and if he finds out the aggressive situation, he may be able to use some tactics to separate the two.However, at this time... it is already beyond the reach of the whip.

I only hope that Li Shimin will not be responsible for his mission.

Wei Zheng looked at him quietly, and finally turned his gaze away in exchange for a sigh.However, when he lowered his eyes, he suddenly caught a glimpse of the rein that Li Jiancheng was holding. At some point, it had already been stained with a few traces of bright red.

"Your Highness..." Wei Zheng was slightly taken aback.

Li Jiancheng followed his gaze, only to find a shallow gash on the back of his finger.

"It doesn't matter." He raised his hand and put it in front of his eyes, looking at the wound steadily, "It's probably because when the bowl was thrown just now, the fragments flew around and scratched."

The words fell, but he still stared blankly at the bubbling wound that was oozing bright red.After being silent for a long time, he suddenly smiled, the smile was gentle and in a trance.

"I almost forgot," he murmured, as if talking to himself, "this sharp blade will one day... hurt people."

Wei Zheng's heart tightened when he heard the words, but it could only be turned into a low sigh after all.

----

It was November of the second year of Wude when Li Shimin's army marched from Chang'an.It was the season when dripping water turned into ice. The army marched northward across the frozen Yellow River, stationed at Baibi, and confronted Song Jingang, the main force of Liu Wuzhou.

At that time, the weather was cold and there was a shortage of rice and food in the army, so the generals under the tent asked for orders to go out one after another, suggesting Li Shimin to fight quickly.However, Li Shimin was wearing a sable fur and looked at Song Jingang's camp on the plain, but he just shook his head and said, "The most urgent thing is to raise food." After he was stationed soon, he sent a few troops to collect food in the east of the river.

The soldiers under the tent who knew his temperament knew immediately that the king of Qin probably intended to fight with him for a long time.In the last battle against Xue Ju in Qianshuiyuan, he was so patient and exhausted the opponent's food and grass, and when he was restless and unstable, he launched a surprise attack and won the victory.

Those who are far-sighted, in order to find a stubborn opportunity, will never begrudge the time of waiting.No matter how long it takes, it can be endured and consumed.

However, not long after Li Shimin gave the order to harvest the grain, someone came to report that the people would not obey, and that they had to rely on the grain stored in the warehouse to survive the long and cold winter.

Hearing this, Li Shimin looked away from the sand table.For a moment, a picture of Li Jiancheng going to and from various villages to borrow grain in person not long after the Taiyuan uprising emerged in his mind.

However...he is not a big brother, nor will he be a big brother.

After being silent for a long time, Li Shimin said to the young general in front of him: "It doesn't matter whether you follow or not. You can't delay the harvest. I will not pursue any means."

The young general was slightly taken aback, but he quickly understood, so he cupped his fists and said: "Yes! The last general will go here!"

"Wait!" When the man turned around and was about to leave the account, Li Shimin suddenly stopped him, paused, and said, "Just collect the grain, don't hurt anyone's life."

----

When the two armies of Li and Song were facing each other at Baibi, in the palace of Liu Wuzhou in Mayi, a man vigorously pressed the letter in his hand on the table, and the carved wooden table trembled slightly with a loud "touch".

This man was tall and well-defined, and his facial features showed that he was not from the Central Plains.

With this slap, he startled the person beside him.Seeing that there seemed to be an angry look on the other side, he hurried forward and said: "Uncle, why are you angry?"

This person's name is Ashinash Bobi, and he is the son of Shibi Khan.After Shibi Khan died and Chuluo Khan came to the throne, he was appreciated by Du Bi, and he often followed him.This time, because of the Turkic and Liu Wu Zhounan invasion, the two left Mobei and came to Mayi.

Duo Bi walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the scenery in the courtyard through the carved flowers.After being silent for a long time, he calmed down a little, and then said: "The Tang Dynasty sent a large army to recover the lost land, and they have already stationed at Baibi." After a slight pause, he said, "The general who came to fight...is not Li Jiancheng."

Shi Bobi had heard the name Li Jiancheng a few times by chance during the days he followed his uncle.However, Agbi is a steady and deep person, usually unsmiling, and never elaborates on this person, but when it is mentioned inadvertently, a rare softness will flash across his handsome face.

But this time when he suddenly said this, Shi Bobi couldn't help asking: "Uncle, I don't know who this Li Jiancheng is? Could it be...he is a general of the Tang Dynasty?"

"No, he's not an ordinary person." Duobi turned around after hearing the words, and there was a faint smile in his eyes when he looked at Shibobi.

"He's from the Tang Dynasty—the crown prince."