Tang Dynasty

Li Jianjian stood in the room, silently looking at the sand table in front of him, bowing his head and meditating.

A moment later, Wei Zheng pushed the door open, walked in front of him, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness."

Li Jiancheng raised his eyes and said with a slight smile, "But is there any new news?"

"Exactly." Wei Zheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty has delivered an order to summon King Qin back to Beijing."

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng just bowed his head and thought about it, but didn't answer.

Seeing this, Wei Zheng waited for a while, and then said again: "Your Highness, I thought the Turks hadn't moved for several months, but in fact they just wanted to avoid this winter and make a comeback."

"What you said is very true." Li Jiancheng nodded and said, "With Jieli Khan's ambition, he has offended me a lot since he ascended the throne. It is not as simple as money and food. This time, if you fight me to a tie, you will never I will stop here, and the suspension of the movement should be based on the strategy of retreating. This is also good, after I have suppressed Liu Heita's rebel army here, I will slowly plan it."

Wei Zheng pondered for a moment and then said: "Since Liu Heita's army besieged Weizhou, our army has been confronting him here for nearly a month. There is no distinction between superior and inferior, but I don't know if His Highness has a good plan in mind?"

"I've been thinking about this matter for a long time," Li Jiancheng looked down at the sand table, and then stretched out his hand to point it out, "Liu Heita has been besieging Weizhou for a long time and can't attack it for a long time. I think his confrontation is also temporarily deadlocked. However, Liu Heikai is facing the enemy at this time, and as time goes by, he will lose sight of the other. Once the deadlock is broken, it will not be our opponent."

Wei Zheng looked at the sand table following his gaze, and said, "Has Your Highness ever thought of a way to break the deadlock?"

"No," Li Jiancheng sighed softly, "I only hope that the mob under him will renounce, but I don't know how sure."

Wei Zheng said slowly: "I have a policy, I wonder if Your Highness would like to hear it?"

Li Jiancheng looked up at him, his pupils brightened slightly, "I would like to hear more about it."

"His Royal Highness appreciates it. Before entering the Prince's Mansion, he once voted in Wagang Village. Compared with Liu Heita's rebel army, the people in Wagang Village are also mobs who rose up against the rebels. What they think in their hearts is deeply influenced by their ears and eyes. I think I know a little bit." " Wei Zheng paused, but he didn't continue what he had just said, but asked, "Liu Heita was only a bandit leader, but he rebelled again and again, and the rebels are like broken bamboos. Unstoppable. According to His Highness, what is the reason for this?"

Li Jiancheng murmured: "When Fang entered the city, he heard from the king of Qi that Liu Heitai and his troops revolted because they punished the king of Qin for killing and punishing his defeated army. I had paid attention to this matter..." Pause , seemed to understand something, said, "Mr., could it be..."

"Exactly." Wei Zheng cupped his hands and said solemnly, "What I offer this time is a strategy of using prisoners of war to lure the enemy generals down."

Li Jiancheng said: "Sir, there is no need to worry, but it's okay to speak."

"Yes." Wei Zheng nodded, and continued, "Most of the bandits are forced to do things. This is the case in Wagangzhai, and so is Liu Heitai. The King of Qin chased and killed him, and his troops were desperate, so they raised troops. If this is the case, I might as well wait from now on. Let's start, use the strategy of Huairou to outsmart, release the prisoners of war and divide them into groups, and Liu Heikai will soon be regarded as a lonely family."

"Sir, you have a plan." Li Jiancheng stared at the sand table and pondered for a long time, and when he raised his eyes, his face already showed joy.

"Sharing His Highness's worries is a matter of the minister's duty." Wei Zheng smiled, "If Your Highness thinks this plan is feasible, please hurry up and report to His Majesty, please release the relevant prisoners of war under Liu Heita and send them here."

Li Jiancheng nodded and said with a smile: "Mr. is right. It is really my blessing to win Mr. Li Jiancheng."

Wei Zheng was slightly taken aback when he heard the words, but Li Jiancheng had already walked to the case, picking up his pen and meditating.He came back to his senses, smiled, and knew that he was standing there and watching quietly.

----

Half a month later, the prisoners of war were sent to Lechang.Without delay, Li Jiancheng immediately sent envoys to Liu Heitai's army to negotiate a peace.In fact, Li Jiancheng and Liu Heitai knew each other well, and because Liu Heitai committed the crime of raising troops and rioting again and again, he always surrendered and would inevitably die.As expected, Liu Heitai refused to accept the peace negotiation and arbitrarily drove the envoy back.

Li Jiancheng didn't care at all, because the peace talks were false, and it was true to declare that "those who surrender to the Tang Dynasty will be exempted from crime, and their families will return them, and they will have no worries about food and clothing."Since the goal has been achieved, it is time to wait for good news.

Sure enough, after a few days, Liu Heita's subordinates sent secret letters one after another, expressing their intention to surrender.Li Jiancheng acted according to his promise, released his family members, and treated them favorably, and some even got official positions in the army.

As a result, more and more people surrendered.

After staying for another half a month, Liu Heitai's army had run out of food and grass, and the siege was weak, but Li Jiancheng's conditions to induce surrender became more favorable.Seeing that the army's morale was shaken and scattered, unable to fight any more, Liu Heita finally gave up and led the remaining troops to Guantao overnight.

How could Li Jiancheng allow him to escape like this?Immediately, a group of elite cavalry was sent to chase after him, day and night, until we reached Raozhou.Liu Heitai entered the city in embarrassment, but he didn't know that Li Jiancheng had already lured his governor, Zhuge Dewei, to surrender.

When Li Jiancheng brought Liu Heitai's head teacher back to the court, Li Yuan went out of the city to greet him in person, and the scene was grand and enthusiastic.

But in March, Li Jiancheng calmed down his confidant's troubles for several years, and he won it simply and easily with the ingenuity of four or two strokes.

Li Yuan suddenly felt that he had blindly entrusted the military power to the King of Qin in the past, perhaps because he underestimated his prince too much.As for the battle, it turned out that King Qin had no choice but to rely on him.

Taking Li Jiancheng's hand, Li Yuan dragged him back to the palace together.

When he turned around, Li Shimin, who followed him, stepped forward without losing the opportunity, bowed to Li Jiancheng, and said, "Congratulations on your victory, brother." His tone was calm, but his eyes were full of unusually deep smiles.

"Thank you, Shimin." Li Jiancheng kept a smile on his face, and then walked past him.

Watching the fiery red cloak drift away, Li Shimin stood on the spot and slowly clenched his fists.

----

After Liu Heita was put down, except for the small forces that were still active, the Central Plains area was basically settled down.Li Jiancheng withdrew from the battlefield and soon devoted himself to the government affairs of the DPRK and China.

The almost uninterrupted years of fighting have made restoring the economy and people's livelihood a top priority.In view of the fact that the Zuyong transfer promulgated in the second year of Wude was quite effective, Li Yuan entrusted him with all kinds of affairs such as the "Wu De Law", the promulgation of the land equalization system, and the improvement of the rent-yong adjustment, in order to let him have the power of the emperor. surgery, give it a go.

Li Jiancheng didn't dare to be negligent, and discussed revisions with officials from all walks of life in the court every day, sleeping long and late at night.When you are busy, you don't realize that it is half a year.

In July of the sixth year of Wude, the front came to report that the Turkic South had committed Shuozhou.Li Yuan ordered Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin to lead the army to Bingzhou to defend against the enemy.

As soon as this order came out, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Li Yuan intended to transfer part of King Qin's military power to the crown prince.

Everyone in Prince Qin's mansion complained, but Li Shimin was unusually calm.In fact, this move meant Li Yuan's attitude towards the two of them. Since he was determined to protect the crown prince, then he didn't need to worry about what he would do in the future....

On the eve of the army's expedition, Wei Zheng knocked on the door of Li Jiancheng's room.

Li Jiancheng was still flipping through the books in front of the case as usual, and when he saw Wei Zheng, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Could it be that Mr. is here to complain about Jiancheng for letting you stay in the East Palace?"

Wei Zheng smiled indifferently and said: "Conquering the Turks is not the same as suppressing the bandits. I'm a scholar who has no power to restrain a chicken. Even if I go with your highness, I'm afraid I won't be able to achieve anything. It's better to stay in the East Palace and use some conspiracy. seek."

Li Jiancheng heard the meaning in his words, and said: "Then what is the reason why you came here this time?"

Wei Zheng paused for a moment, and then said: "To tell you the truth, Your Highness, this minister is here for King Qin."

"King Qin?" Li Jiancheng narrowed his eyes slightly, "What's going on with King Qin?"

"No, the King of Qin has no movement, and because of this, the minister feels that it is abnormal." Wei Zheng said slowly, "What's more, I'm afraid it will be too late if he really thinks about the King of Qin's movement."

Li Jiancheng was slightly shocked, instinctively reached out and pressed his heart, and said after a while, "What do you think... what should be done?"

Wei Zheng took his actions into his eyes, and vaguely guessed that Li Jiancheng's heartache was probably related to Li Shimin, but he did not reveal his thoughts at all.

"It's better to strike first." After a pause, he said word by word, "Your Highness, King Qin must not stay."

This statement is extremely cryptic, but the meaning is obvious.He had made this decision in his heart long ago, but it was the first time he mentioned it to Li Jiancheng.

Li Jiancheng looked very calm when he heard the words, but just remained silent.

Wei Zheng watched his words and continued calmly, "Your Highness is benevolent. If you really can't do anything, I will go through fire and water and volunteer to help."

Li Jiancheng lowered his eyes, and said softly after a long time: "Don't worry, sir, this matter... will definitely be settled."

After the words fell, there was a long silence between the two.

After a while, Li Jiancheng finally opened his mouth and said: "It's getting late, sir, please go back and rest first." The voice was like a low sigh, faintly revealing a bit of exhaustion.

In fact, Wei Zheng also knew in his heart that sibling mutilation was the next best thing to do, and he wouldn't open his mouth unless it was absolutely necessary.However, Li Shimin has always taught him to be at ease.Especially when he vaguely felt that Li Jiancheng's feelings for him were becoming increasingly unspeakable.

The authorities are confused, but the bystanders must be clear.He couldn't let this person become a weakness that Li Jiancheng couldn't deal with, but ended up hurting himself.

Hearing Li Jiancheng's words, he did not leave immediately, but after a while, he suddenly said: "I only hope that Your Highness understands that in my heart, if I only regard Your Highness as a monarch, I would not have said such heartfelt words today. "

Li Jiancheng raised his eyes to look at him, but still didn't speak.

Wei Zheng lowered his eyes, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and said: "Yu Gong, I hope that the one who will take over this great cause is a benevolent monarch like Your Highness; privately, I hope that the one who will inherit this great cause can only be Your Highness." One person." After a pause, he cupped his hands and bowed, "The minister's thoughts towards His Highness... that's the case. Whether it's public or private, I hope His Highness must think twice."

It's still like this, without a single word pointing it out, but the words are already clear enough.In fact, how could Li Jiancheng have not noticed the many days spent together day and night?It's just that under this situation, he didn't know how to respond for a while, so he could only sigh.

Wei Zheng was not surprised when he heard this, but his heart was still slightly disappointed.But he got up and smiled and said: "What I said just now is that I hope Your Highness understands. Every word I said to Your Highness is from the bottom of my heart. Your Highness remembers this, and I am enough for you." After saying that, he bowed deeply, Said, "The minister will leave now."

Li Jiancheng nodded slightly, watching him push the door away, still only sighed.

----

When the army arrived in Bingzhou, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin still did their own thing, but this time Li Shimin did not deliberately make things difficult, and instead obeyed Li Jiancheng's wishes. He only asked for one thing, that is, to personally lead the troops to fight against the aggressive.

Li Jiancheng knew that he deeply remembered what he had been captured by Tuo Bi in the past, so he complied and gave him [-] cavalry, and asked him to repel the small group of Turkic troops who came to plunder.

However, only three days later, Li Shimin took these 3000 troops and the Xuanjia soldiers he raised, and entered the aggressive camp.

At that time, the Turks were returning from looting near Bingzhou, and when they were happily dividing up the spoils, the Tang army was like a sharp knife cutting through the camp.Li Shimin was single-handedly in front, the Xuanjia soldiers guarded the surroundings closely, and after that were ordinary cavalry.

Such a life-threatening attack on the camp was beyond the expectations of the Turks, and even Duobi himself was sitting in the tent unsuspecting.However, he did not change his face when he heard that the camp was attacked.After ordering the whole army to fight immediately, Duo Bi quickly stood up, put on his armor in twos and twos, and smiled instead: "Since Li Shimin has sent him to the door now, don't blame my subordinates for being merciless!"

After getting out of the tent and getting on his horse, he saw Li Shimin who was fighting at a glance, raised his whip aggressively, and rushed towards him with a horizontal knife.

Li Shimin quickly sensed that he overturned the entangled enemy army in front of him with one shot, turned around and shot horizontally, which was able to block the aggressive knife attacking head-on.

Both of them exerted seven to eight parts of their strength, their swords and guns collided, and sparks flew everywhere, causing both of them to retreat at the same time.

Duobi walked back and forth holding the reins of the horse, with a hint of sarcasm on his face, he said with a smile: "Thousands of people dare to attack my camp. Could it be that King Qin has not learned much after what happened last time?"

Li Shimin didn't answer when he heard the words, he just clamped his horse's stomach and attacked again.The two entangled for more than a hundred strokes, neither the winner nor the loser, but the aggressive men and horses gathered more and more, besieging Tang Jun in it.

Seeing that it was a replica of the last battle, he secretly mocked Li Shimin for his mediocrity, and the offensive in his hands became more intensive and fierce.

However, at this moment, a Turkic soldier approached and shouted: "Khan, the camp behind is on fire!"

He was so startled that he didn't have time to respond, but Li Shimin clung to him and stabbed him under the side.Dodging sideways, he hastily backed away a few steps, watched him narrow his eyes slightly, and said, "Li Shimin, you..."

"Khan is right. After what happened last time, this king naturally needs to learn some lessons." A smile finally appeared on Li Shimin's face, but his words became more leisurely. Khan forgot, why a proud soldier is bound to be defeated. Do you really think that I don’t even understand the principle of gaining wisdom through a fall?”

Doubi clenched the long knife in his hand and looked at him. For some reason, he felt that his relaxed and contented expression was a bit like Li Jiancheng.His complexion became cloudy little by little, but he stayed where he was, neither advancing nor retreating.

"Is the Khan planning to ignore the food and grass that was so hard to grab? Or is it that Khan can't guess who will come to burn the food?" Knowing that the other party is in a dilemma, Li Shimin asked again. He opened his mouth with a smile, paused, did not wait for the other party to speak, but replied, "You and I both know in our hearts, if that person came, he wouldn't leave you with any leftovers."

Duo Bi's figure was already trembling slightly, seeing the thick black smoke rising behind him, and the people and horses becoming more and more scattered under the fire, he finally gritted his teeth, as if he had been shaken.

"Hey, do you know that you will never be able to catch up with me?" Li Shimin still smiled, with a calm and malicious smile, "That means that you and elder brother can only be hostile and cannot be changed. Even if elder brother can't be honest with me , but as long as we are in front of you, we will always be on the same side."

Being deliberately poked in the weak spot, he snorted coldly and said nothing, turned his horse's head around, and retreated with a loud shout.Then he turned his head, looked at Li Shimin, and fought back: "If I were Li Jiancheng, I should have let you die in the Turkic camp last time. Since I have abandoned you, why bother to exchange all kinds of bowls, Jiancheng will treat you in the end It's not cruel enough."

Li Shimin held a spear in his hand and sat high on his horse. Seeing the Turks retreating one after another, he just sneered.

——If he was not ruthless, there would be no Li Shimin today.

When the people were far away, a small school came galloping and said: "Your Highness, the crown prince heard that His Highness led an army to attack the camp, and ordered His Highness to immediately withdraw the troops and return to the city without delay!"

"Tell the prince, I'll go back now." Li Shimin lightly ordered the side general beside him, "Send the order, and withdraw the troops back to the city." After saying that, he turned his horse's head and slowly headed back towards Bingzhou.

As they walked, there was another light mocking sound.

This time, even though all the food and grass had been burned, it would be regarded as revenge for him to prevent him from making a comeback for the time being.However, the words that provoked the other party just now were nothing more than bluffing.

Having reached such a point with my eldest brother, I have already realized the capital of boasting to others.Even though the two are indeed facing the enemy together at this moment, they are only in harmony with each other.

Dingxi River, fighting Huoyi, taking Hedong, and entering Chang'an... Recalling the time when brothers were united and their profits broke gold, it seemed so far away that it seemed like a lifetime ago.

——Brother, this is the end of the matter, don't blame me, there is no turning back.

----

A few months later, the Turks suffered a great loss of food and grass and were unable to fight any more, so they had to return to the north and retreat.Li Jiancheng was in government affairs, and it was inconvenient to stay in Bingzhou, so he went back to the court with Li Shimin and Li Shimin.

Regarding Li Shimin's private attack on the camp, he didn't ask too much, he only reprimanded him a few times in front of everyone, and praised him for defeating the enemy.Li Shimin received them one by one without saying a word, only felt that although the tone was gentle, it was as cold as a sharp knife.

The Turks have been stabilized, and there is no war in the Central Plains for the time being.In April of the seventh year of Wude, Li Jiancheng promulgated the "Wu De Law", the Order of Juntian, and the revised and perfected Zuyong Adjustment Law successively.

Li Yuan also felt relieved a little, and decided to go to Renzhi Palace north of Chang'an to escape the summer heat in June.At that time, Qin Wang Li Shimin and Qi Wang Li Yuanji accompanied him, while Prince Li Jiancheng stayed in Chang'an to supervise the country.