Chapter 22 brothers and ministers

The Crown Prince Li Jiancheng of the Tang Dynasty was sitting on the main seat in the Xiande Hall of the Eastern Palace. Apart from a few courtiers who were personally serving him, there were only Li Yuanji, the King of Qi, who was sitting on the side seat, and a man who was in charge of the East Palace. The prince's rate of punishment by Wei made Wang Jun even more.The crown prince has been the crown prince for more than nine years. He is a member of Zhou Hongru and counselors. No matter how big or small, there are scriptures and scholars who are always by his side to help praise paintings and make suggestions. Therefore, he has cultivated very well. Yue, but refused to show it on the face.On the other hand, King Qi couldn't help sneering, laughing so hard that Wang Yan was trembling and sweating profusely.

"I didn't expect Yuchi Jingde to be a general who doesn't love money. What else did he say? You don't have to be shy, you can repeat the original words!" Li Jiancheng gently shook the tea in the cup and said gently. Wang Yan coughed in embarrassment, bowed his body and replied: "At that time, Yuchi Jingde refused to even give up a guest seat to the humble minister, so he just sat on the grand master's chair with a big horse and a golden sword, saying that he is a rough man, I have never studied, and the eight generations of my family have never been an official. It happened just when the world was in chaos, and I had the strength to carry the spear to the army. I almost died on the battlefield several times. If it was not for the As far as His Royal Highness King Qin is concerned, he is probably already buried in the same tomb with Liu Wuzhou. King Qin saved his life. The ancients said that the kindness of a drop of water will be repaid by the spring. Although he was born in the army, he understands this truth. He intends to use this life to repay the King of Qin. Since he entered the court, he has not had a single meritorious service against His Highness the Crown Prince. How dare he deserve such a generous reward from His Highness? If he receives the reward from the Crown Prince and does not help the Crown Prince, he is receiving money from others. But if he does not do business with others, the Jia people still disdain it; if he accepts the reward and serves the prince in private, he is a villain who has a double heart for the king of Qin and abandons his loyalty. What's the use?"

After hearing this, Li Jiancheng smiled slightly: "Although the words are rough, they are not unreasonable. It seems that warriors are not all people who fight for power and profit, but we have underestimated him." Li Yuanji sneered and said: "Brother is too kind, he just hit your crown prince in the face with a stick, and you can still enjoy it! What kind of thing is Yu Chigong? It's just a reckless dog-killer in Tiance Mansion." It’s nothing more than a husband, but he dares to be so arrogant and rude. No matter how you say it, Wang Hao is the prince’s retainer Donggong Zhan, so he dares not even give up his seat? He is not belittling Wang Hao, but he didn’t treat you, the future grand master, at all. Tang Zhizhu puts it in his eyes. This kind of person is a dog, the more you think highly of him, the more he will push his nose. Brother, you give gold, silver and jewels with kind words and he doesn’t want him, but Erlang’s whip is very comfortable. Yes. Hehe, if you want me to say, if you don’t want to say anything to this kind of guy, just kill him directly, and forgive me, the emperor will not take heavy responsibility.”

Li Jiancheng glared at him, and slowly said: "Take care of your mouth, or you will be imprisoned sooner or later. Don't look at Yin Ashu beating Du Ruhui, you will feel that everyone in Tiance Mansion is easy to bully. Yuchi Jingde The army is known as the enemy of ten thousand people, and one horse and one spear can kill people like hemp in the army. If Yin Guozhang met him last time, no matter how many guards are looking for embarrassment. Even if he takes the country Zhang's head was screwed off, and with Erlang protecting him, his father would not really deal with him. The last time Cheng Yaojin resisted the decree, Erlang went to the Hall of Eternal Life and knelt and said a few words, and his father gently put it down. Yes. This person is a martial artist, if you are not sure, it is better to ignore it for now, otherwise it will not cause bad luck, but it is not beautiful!"

Li Yuanji's face turned red all of a sudden: "I don't believe it, most of his achievements are blown out by himself! I was also the front enemy in the Luoyang battle, and I saw him wandering around Erlang, guarding Erlang's side. Thousands, how can he be used for protection? Inside and out, I have never seen him kill many thieves. I think he is mostly in vain." He said this so that even Wang Yan couldn't help but want to laugh, not to mention that Yu Chigong's bravery is world-famous, even His Royal Highness Qi Wang himself has learned it.Two years ago, Li Yuan was watching soldiers at the school grounds. Regardless of his status, His Royal Highness personally competed with Yuchi Gong, but was defeated by Yuchi Gong empty-handed, and won three times in a row, losing all face. Gong's martial arts.Speaking of which, this His Highness is so thick-skinned that he is unique among the clan's children.

Li Jiancheng frowned again and again when he heard that, even though Wang Yan was his close confidant, it was inconvenient to directly criticize this noble brother in front of him.He sighed, and changed the topic: "It seems that the second brother is really good at employing people. Yu Chigong was originally born with a rebellious general, but he was trained to be so obedient and never give up. From this point of view , we are ashamed of ourselves!" Li Yuanji smiled and said: "Brother, it's not that my younger brother said you were wrong. The reason why Erlang was able to control these rebellious people under his command was because of his cruelty. I was in the army when Luoyang City was destroyed, and he killed Shan Xiongxin and others." When he was in person, he didn't even blink his brows. At that time, there were so many generals kneeling there begging for mercy, and the hall was covered with armor, but he ignored it. You can see that he usually talks about benevolence, righteousness and morality in court, and has a modest gentleman's face, but it's not like that when he comes out of Beijing. What happened. In the army, he was actually an overlord. Brother, if you lose to him in this ruthless word, you will suffer a big loss sooner or later."

Li Jiancheng turned his head to look at Yuan Ji, sighed and said, "You can win the world immediately, but rule the world immediately and the world will be chaotic! This is the common sense of politicians. If a ruler can't cultivate both virtue and ability, how can he set an example for the world?" ?If the ruler can't use both kindness and power, how can he intimidate civil and military officials? It's just that it's hard to do anything now that he's not in power. Father is in his prime, if I'm too arrogant at the moment, father will think I'm the same person as Erlang. Erlang has nothing to say about military affairs, but he just doesn't know how to restrain himself. Even if the father is in power, he will be a little emperor in Tiance's mansion, so why is the father suspicious?"

Li Yuanji snorted: "That year was such a good time. I laid down the armored soldiers in the mansion. I only need to give an order. Where is His Highness King Qin now? It has already turned into a pile of meat!" Li Jiancheng changed his face and said: "You still dare to mention that matter? At that time, the emperor was by his side, not to mention that if you hurt the emperor, you and I are animals that go against the laws of nature and destroy human relations. Even if the emperor is unscathed, in front of the old man If you kill Erlang, even if the emperor does not cure us of our treason, and some illnesses arise from it, let alone the word 'filial piety', we will never mention it again in this life!"

Li Yuanji smiled wryly and said, "Brother, you are going to be the emperor! How can you be so timid? As long as Erlang dies, can the father pass the throne to someone else? As long as the big one is in the body, what is loyalty, integrity, filial piety?" , isn’t it all about what you said? Brother is usually so smart and wise, why is he so confused at this juncture? You have also led soldiers and experienced battles. It's your family and your life!" Li Jiancheng waved his hand: "Let's not discuss this topic for now, this Yuchi Jingde doesn't seem to be a person who is bound by his salary and future. Anyway, since he refuses to betray the Lord, we will not force it! Father expelled Fang Du, just cut off the two guts of the Tiance Mansion, and the remaining generals only know how to fight, and they can't solve the government's situation and strategy!"

Li Yuanji shook his head and said: "The prince's words, I dare not agree with you. Although the battle for the imperial court is not as dangerous as the border war, the role of generals must not be ignored. Those who have always won the world, below Yao and Shun, I have never heard of anyone who did not use swords to transform the world with virtue. Cheng Tang Sixia, how could Jie be willing to be good at Zen without the power of soldiers? King Wu defeated Chaoge, and the blood in Muye was so bloody that it could float a club. The Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons and the Warring States Seven Heroes, Except Song Xianggong, who doesn't speak with a sword? If there were no millions of soldiers, the first emperor would be unified? If Han Xin didn't lose his military power, how could the first hero die at the hands of women in the deep palace? How can the son usurp the Han?"

With the little ink in King Qi's belly, Wang Jun was also surprised that he was able to say such a truth, he pondered for a while, and said: "What His Highness King Qi said this time, every sentence is like gold and stone. Good words, Your Highness has to think about it!" Li Jiancheng nodded: "It is not enough to restrain Erlang just by transferring two civil servants. There are many generals in Tiance Mansion, and many of them are capable of recruiting warriors. It is a pity that this group of people followed Erlang to no good end. For the sake of the country, it is better to transfer them one by one, firstly, to cut off the wings of King Qin, and secondly, to preserve a group of talents for the country! Just find a suitable opportunity!" Qi Wang Yuanji chuckled: "Brother, I don't have the twists and turns in your stomach. Since this Yuchi Jingde refuses to submit to us, it will be a disaster to keep it. There are many people like Jing Ke, Ju Meng, and Guo Xie, so there is no need to discuss this matter any further. Tomorrow night at the latest, we must get rid of this serious trouble." After finishing speaking, Li Yuanji stood up, bowed to the prince, and left the table. Wang Yan looked at Li Jiancheng, who was worried, and comforted him: "Your Highness, don't worry too much. Although King Qi's words are a bit vulgar, they are not completely unreasonable." Li Jiancheng's face darkened, and he said coldly: "It's one thing to say it, but another thing to do it! He said it clearly and logically, did he do it? The intention of donating money to Yuchi Gong this time was just to ask for directions. Originally thought that after Zhang Liang's incident at Hongyi Palace, all the officials would be a little bit eccentric. Although Yuchi Jingde's offensive skills are good, his integrity is not worth mentioning. Now it seems that even this person is unwilling to attack at this time. Betrayal, Erlang's small court is still monolithic!" He took a deep breath and said: "I am not a prince who grew up in the hands of women in the deep palace. I have studied military affairs with my father since I was young, and I have led the army alone many times since the Taiyuan uprising. Don't you know? The importance of military power? What I am worried about is not that there are no soldiers in hand. The six leaders of the East Palace, plus the left and right Changlin and the Qi Palace's personal guards, our military strength is several times that of Hongyi Palace, which is enough. But we There are no generals who can command soldiers under his command, this is the most important level. Fighting on the battlefield is different from fighting in court, and the number of troops is not the whole strength. The strength of the hundreds of soldiers under the command of a man is no less than that of an army of 10,000 people on the battlefield. Although the fourth brother claims to have fought against the former enemy, he has never really commanded troops after all. His so-called leading troops is just a It’s just traveling in mountains and rivers, so he doesn’t understand this level.” Wang Yan was dumbfounded when he heard this, and couldn't help asking: "Since that's the case, why doesn't Your Highness align with Wang Mingyan?" Li Jiancheng smiled helplessly: "Although the fourth child is tied to the same car with me now, he is still the blood of the emperor after all. If I fight with Shimin and lose the position of crown prince at the same time, then whether it is Lidi or Lichang, Shiro will be the only choice. There are some things that I can’t tell him too clearly right now. Those methods he thinks are heresy, and they are too vicious. At least in the current situation, I still don’t want to Nice to participate!" Wang Yan couldn't help taking a deep breath, only then did he realize that the prince was also extremely wary of this "own brother" with poor talent. But I heard Li Jiancheng continue to say: "In fact, it is not difficult to transfer these generals from the Tiance Mansion. It's just that because of the poisoned wine case at the beginning of the year, Father is still quite scruples about me now. So although this opportunity is good now, It's a pity that I can't use it immediately. As long as my father can restore his trust in me, why use the stupid method of sending Jianghu assassins to assassinate and attack at night? The fourth child is willing to try, but I have no objection, but on the surface I have to make it clear, otherwise this big mouth is acting according to the order of the crown prince, so I am in a cocoon. I can’t do such a stupid thing. In the end, it is the father who decides who will be the crown prince. Weight, without the consent of the emperor, he can neither enter the East Palace nor go to Luoyang. Since I was entrusted to supervise the country, I have always regarded benevolence and filial piety as the foundation, and I do not make publicity and respect my duty. , but still can not replace me. Whether it is an heir or governing the country, the two characters of benevolence and filial piety are the foundation. Brothers are not brothers, brothers are not brothers, and the final result is that the country is not the country and the world is in chaos. Emperor Yang of the former dynasty is the most typical example. This level is not only what we want, but even your majesty, you can never forget it for a moment..." Wang Yan took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and bowed in response: "Your Highness is wise..."