Chapter 119 Chapter 41 Li Ce's Battle of Words

The incident that happened in September 775 of the Baicang calendar, its inherent complexity and the attitudes of all parties to this incident, are destined to become the biggest headless case in the future.Historians have different opinions, and even set up different schools of thought. They spend their whole lives rummaging through the classics, trying to brush off the dust and fog of history and see the ultimate truth of the facts. However, this kind of thinking is destined to be unrealistic, because even at that time, there were not many people who could really understand everything, and even those in power at the center of the whirlpool were just following the trend and watching and tempting.However, no one can deny that it was what happened on that day that opened the prelude to the wedding of Prince Bian Tang. Afterwards, a bloody storm ransacked the ancient Tang capital like a farce. Oolong's way drew the people in the south of the Yangtze River who have been comfortable for many years into this big drama in Simon's Land.

A long time later, Simon recorded such a bloody and tearful discourse in the Chronicle: "On the third day of September, Zhao Chun, the eighth princess of the Great Xia, was raped in the palace outside the palace. The deceased shouted the slogan of Yanbei Datong before his death. Xia and Tang countries were in an uproar. For a while, the call to destroy Yan resounded. Great rivers and rivers north and south, sweeping across the entire land." On the empty Imperial Palace, there were all civil and military officials from Bian and Tang Dynasties. Tang Emperor Li Yizhou sat high in the shadows of the splendor and splendor. The emperor who was over fifty years old showed a kind of aging that surpassed his age, with gray beard and hair, and deep wrinkles. Shen, a pair of slender eyes, no longer have the sharpness and hostility of a young man, like an ancient well in the abyss, faintly reflecting all the inquiring gazes outside.

A 70-year-old Confucian official knelt down on the ground and said loudly: "The northern prisoner is so bold that he ignores our Great Tang Tianwei and deliberately provokes the orthodoxy of the Eastern Land with a small area. Where is the prestige of the country? Where is the military prestige of my Tang Dynasty? How can my Tang Dynasty be based on Simon? Based on the list of the Three Kingdoms?" As soon as this remark was made, everyone scrambled to agree, but saw a young official come out and said sincerely: "Big Xia is now at war with Yanbei, and I think it is really inappropriate for our country to join in rashly."

The 70-year-old Confucian official was furious and shouted: "Xue Changling! You keep saying that it is not appropriate to send troops. What is your intention? I have been in the Tang Dynasty for thousands of years, and I have never suffered such a shame. Once this matter spreads in the mainland, how will our country gain a foothold? How do you deal with yourself? You blindly protect Yan Bei, but you and Yan Bei are privately giving and receiving, and have ulterior contacts?" "Your Majesty!" There was a cry, and another white-bearded old official cried out in mournful voice: "Such a shame and humiliation have never been seen in ancient times! Our ancestors founded the country and lasted thousands of years. Ping the world, subdue the Quartet with education, you can be called the leader of the Three Kingdoms, how have you ever been provoked like this, if this wind blows, our Tang Dynasty will be disgraced, ashamed of our allies, and ashamed of our national beauty!"

Xue Changling took a step forward and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, there are many doubts about Princess Daxia being insulted. We can't just rely on the words of Daxia officials and devote all our efforts to participating in the civil strife in other countries!" "Bold and treacherous villain, dare to talk nonsense in the Imperial Palace, how important is the reputation of a princess of a country? The court nurse has proven her integrity, and the eighth princess of Daxia has just signed a marriage contract with me, Tang Dynasty. We are all to blame for being insulted within the territory, or even within the capital! If you don’t give Daxia an explanation, how will it end? Is it just because you, Xue Changling, have so many doubts about what you have said?"

"My lord Luo! I didn't say that I won't punish this matter. I just fear that we will fall into the trap of those who want to act too hastily!" "Trap?" General Qi sneered: "What kind of trap? The trap is that Yanbei is afraid of our marriage with Daxia, trying to destroy it!" "I don't rule out the possibility, but I can't rule out that there are no other possibilities. If it was really Yanbei's actions, why did they shout out their identities before they died? This angered Bian Tang without asking for it. , what good will it do for Yanbei?"

Master Luo snorted coldly, and said: "The Datong dead men have always acted insanely, how can we judge them with common sense." A major general next to General Qi said: "Maybe they are just trying to confuse us and make us suspect that it is an act of framing. Everyone, Master Xue is suspicious." Xue Changling said angrily: "Military and state affairs, of course, must be carefully considered. How can you draw conclusions without common sense. A subordinate official is an official in the court and receives the imperial salary. Naturally, all the situations must be considered carefully!"

"Really? This officer feels that Mr. Xue has already considered it carefully enough. If you continue to think carefully, the frontier army of Daxia may be coming!" "General Xu, you!" "Your Majesty! The 30,000 soldiers of the Central Army are ready to fight for the country!" "Your Majesty! The blood debt needs to be tasted with blood, so give an order! The veteran's knife has rusted after not fighting for many years!" "Your Majesty! I swear to the death and ask for a fight!" The entire hall was crowded with Bian Tang's courtiers, only Xue Changling stood alone. The young official's face was swollen purple, his lips trembled in anger, but he was speechless.

At this moment, there was a playful laugh outside the hall, and everyone turned their heads immediately.I saw Li Ce dressed in green and green attire, wearing a gold crown on his head, a jade belt around his waist, and his narrow eyes like a fox. He walked up to the hall while smiling, and said with a nonchalant smile: "Today's people are so complete, even the elders of Liuge are here. Now, is there anything new? Why, did the Western Regions send BMWs? Or did Nanqiu pay tribute to beauties?" The crowd withdrew in two, Li Ce walked through the crowd with Sun Di holding his head high, knelt down and said, "My son got up late, please greet my father."

"En," a slightly old voice sounded slowly from above, Tang Huang said lightly: "Do you know what's going on here?" "Here? Oh!" Li Ce suddenly realized, his face suddenly became angry, he stood up, and said angrily: "It's really deceiving, my son came here for this!" The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were afraid that this unconventional prince would have some new tricks. Hearing what he said at this moment, they were immediately elated, and quickly echoed: "Yes! It's really deceiving people too much. What the prince said is absolutely true!"

Li Ce nodded angrily and said, "Big Xia sent two princesses in succession. The first one didn't practice women's morality, and the second one didn't practice women's morality. She put a big green hat on me. It's really unreasonable! Father, my son thinks Da Xia has no sincerity about the marriage, let's drive their princess back, I think Huai Song's eldest princess is pretty good, it is said that she has a younger sister who is also a beauty..." The audience was stunned for a moment, and the elder Liu Ge who was over 70 years old suddenly let out a mournful cry, stepped forward and knelt down and said, "His Royal Highness, this is absolutely impossible!" Li Ce turned his head, frowned and said, "Oh? Why not?" "Daxia sent the princess here twice to make a marriage, which shows the sincerity of her marriage. Now that Princess Daxia has suffered such a great humiliation in our country, if we don't hold Yanbei accountable, we will definitely be accused by thousands of people. Reviled, despised by all parties. The crime of the present is the Yanbei thief, not the princess of Xia, I hope His Highness will learn from it." Li Ce slightly raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh? What you said makes sense." Old Liu Ge wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, and let out a sigh of relief: "His Royal Highness is wise." Li Ce said embarrassingly: "In this case, my father, my son's future concubine was insulted by Yanbei. Although my son is not talented, he can't just sit back and watch his own woman be bullied. I beg my father to send troops to Yanbei, and my son is willing." Lead the troops personally, and swear to destroy Yan Bei by the sword!" As soon as these words came out, the whole house was full of joy, and everyone looked at each other happily, with great joy in their eyes. The crown prince has been naughty for so many years, but he never expected that at the critical moment, he still has the demeanor of a king of a country. The great country of Bian and Tang should show such an aura! "In addition, father, my son has a little request." Tang Huang frowned slightly, but didn't say much, but motioned him to continue. Li Ce talked eloquently, dressed in brocade clothes, standing on the main hall, with sword eyebrows and star eyes, handsome and suave, and said loudly: "Since the eighth princess has made a marriage contract with me, she is already a citizen of Bian Tang." , I hope that I can refuse Daxia's request to send troops together. Yanbei is a small place, as long as you give me 100,000 elite soldiers, it will be easy to capture Yan Xun alive and wipe out the remaining evil ministers in Yanbei." Everyone was taken aback when they heard this, but before they could say anything, Li Ce's bombshells hit one after another. "In addition, sending troops to Yanbei from our country will pass through the Great Xia border along the way, stretching for thousands of miles. I remember that our army has reached Zhenhuang as far as it is. At that time, we used 300,000 troops and 2 million civilians. The number was less than half of that at that time, but the distance was extremely long, so I asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to recruit three million civilians, 200,000 horses, 200,000 matching weapons and armor, cotton clothes to keep out the cold, accompanying medical officers, wounded The Ministry of Food raised 300,000 deniers of grain and grass for the Northern Expeditionary Army.” Hubu Shangshu Qiu Shihai's head suddenly became as big as a bucket, as if being burned by fire, he jumped out and said quickly: "Your Highness, I think that Yanbei is a traitor of Daxia, and the cause of the war is Daxia's princess. Xia should send troops to help as the main force in the war. Although we send troops, it can only be used as an auxiliary, and Da Xia should also provide us with food, grass and military supplies." Li Ce turned his head with a smile, blinked his long and narrow eyes and said, "Oh? Didn't Mr. Qiu just call the national integrity, called Bian Tang Guowei, the voice was very loud? Why, could it be that my dignified prince of the Tang Dynasty was worn by someone? The green hat still relies on other people to send troops to seek justice for me? What Liu Ge said just now is quite right. We have never suffered such a shame and humiliation since the Tang Dynasty was established for thousands of years. You don’t have to worry about the eighteen prefectures of Hongchuan. The bandits in the north are too arrogant now. If they don’t take action to punish them, they don’t know who is in charge on the mainland. I believe that the generals must agree with me, and they will never say anything Want to conquer Yanbei, but in my heart I hope to wave the flag behind Daxia's ass and shout such a useless idea. Moreover, Daxia has just experienced a war, and it is a problem to eat by himself, and he has to buy food from our country. What do you think they will do? What about our rations?" Li Ce stood in the hall with a smile on his face. Those generals who had been upright and confident before suddenly looked ugly. They looked at each other and agreed with a hum, but none of them could speak. "I heard that Yanbei has many generals, and Yan Xun is even more talented in the world. Back then, he managed to instigate the rebellion against the Southwest Township's envoy and break through Zhenhuang City, which our 300,000 troops haven't broken through in a hundred years. , forcing Daxia to move its capital to the north for the first time in three hundred years, almost subjugated the country, and then fought all the way back to Yanbei. None of the entire northwest frontier army and the vassal kings and prefects of all parties could intercept his blade, and he was called the new generation of Yanbei. The Lion King in the North. And I, Bian Tang, have had no war for many years. Except for a few frontier soldiers who cannot be dispatched from the south, most of the soldiers who have seen blood are over 50 or 60 years old, and the army is not well organized, and most of the arsenals are rusty. But I think that as long as we are united and united, it is absolutely possible to travel across the entire land of Great Xia, travel thousands of miles, and cut down the lunatics who dare to offend me." Li Ce walked in the hall while talking, the more he talked, the happier he was, and he said with joy: "After all, everyone has seen that in our annual military parade, the soldiers walk neatly and shout loudly. Even if they haven't killed people, most of them have killed chickens, and the jealous fights in brothels are very common. Yes, they have very experienced actual combat experience. The baby generals in our martial arts hall are also young talents, and most of the sons and grandchildren of the adults are in it. This is the wealth of our empire. Although these boys have never I haven’t been on the battlefield, I guess I haven’t even killed a chicken, but I think they all have a very high fighting spirit, and their daily slogans are also very loud. I think I can take them with me, as long as I experience it on the battlefield , must be an invincible elite teacher! Moreover, we still have many treasures that Yanbei does not have. A 5,000 Datong warrior regiment can bloodbath tens of thousands of troops, and they can retreat unscathed. But we, Bian Tang, are not afraid. They are only a few years old, too young. Among our generals, people like Dou There are many old generals, such as old general Bai. They all have incomparable life experience and combat skills. I saw your dentures at the door, and I heard that you had a stroke a few days ago, and your articulation is not sharp, it’s okay, I’ll send someone to make another pair of agate ones for you right away.” The civil and military men of the Manchu Dynasty were ashen-faced and could hardly speak, but Li Ce's interest became better and better. He talked freely while strolling, majestic and heroic, berated Fang Qiu, and said righteously: "Also, In a barbaric land like Yanbei, there is no education, no filial piety, and the people are a bunch of ignorant people. There are thousands of educated people in our Tang Dynasty. If the people of Yanbei dare to help the rebels resist, we will send us Yushi Hundreds of learned censors in Taiwan showed great righteousness to them, and believed that they would surrender to the words of the saint, feel ashamed of what they did, and turn to our arms. Although I heard that Xia The emperor has gone through eight years. He wanted to assimilate the people of Yanbei and make them loyal to the empire, but they still attacked the army of the empire like locusts, attacking the newly appointed chief, without interruption for eight years. But you don't have to be afraid , How can Daxia compare with us, when we received the teachings of the sages, the ancestors of Daxia were still wearing no pants on the grassland, haha!" "There is one more, and the most important one." Li Ce turned around with a smile, knelt on the ground, and said to Emperor Tang: "Father, this one is very important, it is related to the national destiny of my Tang Dynasty. Changlong, you must not be negligent." With a smile on the corner of Tang Huang's mouth, he looked at his son and said, "Go ahead." Li Ce raised his head and said seriously: "My minister dares to ask for the capital to be moved." "what?" As soon as these words came out, Manchu civil and military finally could not hold on any longer, and they all exclaimed in shock. "Hey," Li Ce sighed, and said helplessly: "There is no other way. In order to maintain the dignity of my Tang Dynasty, this battle must be fought. But after the fight is over, although we know that we will definitely win, the loss is estimated It will not be small. There are countless military strength, financial resources, food, weapons, personnel, and civilians. The important thing is that this war is protracted and consumes a lot of national power. Our army has penetrated into the territory of Great Xia. Even if Emperor Xia is really as righteous as everyone thinks, but after the war we lost a lot, wouldn't Huai Song take the opportunity to enter? Everyone will not forget that we are going to war with Huai Song, everyone must be mentally prepared , soon our Bian Tang will usher in a historic new situation of war on both sides, the outcome is unpredictable, and the future is unpredictable. Therefore, I propose that we move the capital immediately, to the barren land in southern Xinjiang, and take the imperial capital If the fire burns, even if we are chased by Da Xia and attacked by Huai Song in the future, they will get nothing. We hide in the jungle in southern Xinjiang, no one can find us, and we will be mad at them, haha!" At this time, everyone's faces were so ugly that they couldn't be any more ugly, but Li Ce suddenly said excitedly: "Besides, I just thought of an excellent strategy from this. If we survive this battle by chance, it will also protect my Tang Dynasty. The honor and dignity of the emperor. Then after this matter, we can send a royal woman to Daxia to get married, and then send a large number of eloquent officials to accompany her. The spies insulted, and when the crowd was excited, they sent Chinese officials with a lot of property to bribe the officials of Daxia. Haha, Daxia will have to go to war with Huai Song, and we will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight , reaping the benefits of being a fisherman, what do you all think of my idea?" Everyone didn't say a word, and the whole Imperial Palace was dead silent. Suddenly, there was a thud, and someone actually laughed out loud. Everyone immediately turned their heads and glared at the man. I saw Xue Changling shaking his robe, stepped forward and knelt on the ground, and said in a loud voice: "His Royal Highness is wise, and I am sincerely convinced. I just went blind, and now I deeply think that this battle must be fought. If Your Highness does not give up, I am willing to fight!" Follow His Majesty's saddle and horse, and do the work of a dog and a horse." "Well, I remember you." Li Ce said with a smile, then turned around abruptly, knelt on the ground with a bang, and said, "Father, please give me an order. I have made up my mind. If I don't break Yan Bei's oath, I won't be a human being. Even if I die this trip, I will die." , and also vowed to perish with Yan Bei, so as to preserve my reputation in the Tang Dynasty. The blood of the sons and ministers that the adults said just now, the sons and ministers begged to bring the loudest people with me, and give the adults a chance to make contributions and go down in history. Please grant your permission!" After all, he knocked his head deeply on the ground. Emperor Tang groaned slightly, and was about to speak, when he suddenly heard someone shout "Your Majesty", and he knelt down on the ground. Elder Liu Ge suddenly said with a serious expression: "Your Majesty, the old minister suddenly felt that what Lord Xue said just now was quite reasonable, and it was too hasty to raise troops against Yanbei just listening to Princess Daxia's one-sided words. We should do more An investigation will determine the matter." "Oh?" Tang Huang raised his voice and said, "Didn't Mr. Liu Ge just say that Mr. Xue is a treacherous villain, isn't that not credible?" Old Liuge sweated profusely on his brow, trying to force himself: "This is because the old minister didn't think carefully. Now that I think about it, what Master Xue said... there is quite a bit of truth to this." Tang Huang turned to look at the veteran General Qi: "Qi Qing, what do you think?" "The old minister also thinks that what Liu Ge said is very true. The expedition of the army is a military affairs, and we should, we should be more careful." Hubu Shangshu said first: "I also feel that the food and grass of the Hubu are not enough to deal with such a large-scale military mobilization when troops are dispatched now, so we should discuss it carefully." "Yes, yes, it is not a matter of a day and a half for the Ministry of War to transfer horsemen to northern Xinjiang, and there have been no wars in our country for many years. Even if there is a war, we must make more preparations." Li Ce frowned and said angrily: "What do you mean, my lords? Could it be that we can't fight back after being bullied like this? If it's like what your lords said, what's the face of our Bian Tang? Even if we are going to die, we have to drag Yan Let's put the back together." "Prince," Lord Luo said with sweat, "What is Yanbei? It's not worth our death for them. Let's take this matter slowly." "That won't work," Li Ce said resolutely: "My concubine is being insulted, what a big deal it is, as a prince of a country, I can't bear others bullying my country, as a man, I can't bear others bullying my woman , if I keep silent, won't I be ridiculed by the whole country and become the laughing stock of the whole world?" Elder Liu Ge quickly said: "Calm down your anger, the prince. If the prince can endure a moment of loyalty today, it will be a sacrifice to the people of the Tang Dynasty, and it will save the lives of thousands of soldiers who will die on the battlefield. No one will say that the prince No, they will only be grateful to you Dade." "Exactly. Besides, Princess Daxia has not officially married into Bian Tang. Although we have something to do with this matter, their own guards are also to blame. Besides, Yanbei is Daxia's deadly enemy, so what does it have to do with us Bian Tang?" Connection? It’s a big deal to change to another princess, anyway, Emperor Xia has so many daughters.” "Yes! They have caused such a scandal in the imperial capital of our country. We haven't pursued it yet. If they dare to continue to make noise, we must ask Emperor Xia for an explanation." Li Ce frowned in embarrassment, and said slowly: "But, can my lords endure such humiliation? You are all important ministers of the country. Are you afraid that you will be rewritten in the history books in the future?" "It doesn't matter!" Everyone shook their heads collectively: "For Bian Tang, this grievance is nothing." "Hey," Li Ce shook his head and sighed: "Seeing that you adults are so understanding of righteousness, Li Ce feels ashamed. Since everyone is so calm, I have nothing to say. Secretary, draft the letter, Condolences to Princess Daxia, and then send her back." Soon, the early court was over, and all the officials retreated one after another. The Emperor Tang gave Li Ce a few words and returned to the harem. Sun Di followed behind Li Ce, gave him a thumbs up quietly, and said, "Your Highness's Tai Chi Kung Fu has become more and more perfect." Li Ce snorted and said with a smile, "It's just a bunch of trash." "But sometimes these waste old people can play a very important role." Li Ce sneered, and then said: "That Xue Changling is not bad, please pay attention, we can't use this person for the time being, let's see." "Yes." Sun Di nodded and said, "Your Highness, what should we do next?" Li Ce stretched out his slender fingers, rubbed his temples, and said, "I haven't figured it out yet. Zhao Chun'er really caught me off guard. I didn't expect her to be so ruthless. In order to cause the war between Bian Tang and Yan Bei, she kept using her name." Let’s make a fuss. Have you met the court lady who inspected it? She really lost her virginity? Also, who saw the person who claimed to be a dead man of Datong?" "There are three court ladies, all of whom are old ladies in the palace. Their confessions are consistent, which seems to be true. As for the Datong warrior, it is said that he just got off the princess' bed when the imperial guards rushed into the princess mansion. Then he yelled "Yanbei Datong" and committed suicide." Li Ce shook his head and sighed, "Emperor Xia, betting on such a thing, I'm really willing to spend my money!" "Your Highness, are you really going to send Zhao Chun'er back to Daxia?" "Otherwise, what should I do? Stay here and raise them?" Li Ce snorted coldly, and said coldly, "I will send Zhao Chun'er back, and Emperor Xia should know that his plot has been revealed. He still has to rely on Bian Tang, no If you dare to tear yourself apart with me, as long as you suppress all the officials, they will not be able to cause any trouble in Daxia." Sun Di nodded and said, "That's right, I will not move when the wind is violent and the waves are high." At this time, a guard suddenly ran up not far away, his footsteps were chaotic, he was out of breath, his head was sweating profusely, his clothes were already half wet, and he shouted all the way: "Your Highness! It's not good!" Li Ce frowned, stepped forward immediately, and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?" He only heard the man kneeling on the ground with a bang, and said with a panicked expression: "Princess Daxia, committed suicide by bumping her head on the Qiangwei Square in the center of the imperial city!" "what?" Sun Di exclaimed suddenly, but heard the guard quickly said: "But it's okay, she just hit her head, and it's not a serious problem, but the local people are crowded, causing a little confusion." Li Ce snorted coldly, and said disdainfully: "A bitter trick, playing the sympathy card, trying to stir up people in Tang Jing to build momentum for her?" Sun Di frowned and said, "You are so panicked over such a trivial matter, whose subordinate are you?" "Your Highness, the main thing is not this." It was the anxious face flushed, panting and said: "The key is that just now, the Central Army was training in the Central Camp next to the Rose Square, and those soldiers witnessed all After what happened, the officers of the lower ranks couldn't hold back those sons and sergeants at all, at this moment, the 30,000 troops of the Central Army have gathered on the Central Avenue, clamoring to attack Yanbei, and they are already heading towards the palace gate!" "What did you say?" At this time, not only Sun Di, but even Li Ce also changed color.However, at this moment, another guard rode his horse from afar, ignoring court etiquette, and shouted as he ran, "Quick! Hurry up!" "What's up?" Li Ce's face was cold, and he no longer showed any signs of fun. "Your Highness," the man fell off the horse with a plop, his clothes were stained with blood. Sun Di said angrily: "Is the Central Army crazy? Attacking your comrades for a princess from a foreign country?" The man knelt on the ground and said loudly: "Your Highness, the Central Army did not attack the imperial guards, but they surrounded Mr. Tieyou's carriage, and the 30,000 Central Army seemed to go crazy. According to the officials of Daxia , the planner of this incident in the carriage is Yanbei's rebellion. More than 20 brothers in our forward battalion have died, most of them died at the hands of Daxia's entourage. It's easy to control." Li Ce's face was pale and pale, his eyes narrowed slowly like a fox, with a bloodthirsty gleam, and after a long time, he hummed coldly: "What a summer, what a Zhao Chun'er!"