Chapter 32 thirty-one

No matter in the palace or in the palace, Empress Changsun always hides in the deep courtyard and does not like to show her face in public, but the heavy blow that her son is going to be a hostage makes her unable to calm down. The two came to Chengqing Hall to plead with her husband .As soon as Li Shimin heard what they said, he became angry: "He is the son of the emperor, and for the sake of the country of the Tang Dynasty, he must go no matter how dangerous it is!" Empress Changsun begged: "Your Majesty, I beg you. Take your life back." Concubine Shu also said: "Your Majesty, this concubine also begged you on behalf of the Queen's sister, Qian'er was quite frightened a while ago, now that you have just returned to Beijing, you are going to put him on someone's knife board Send it up, not to mention the queen sister, even the concubine will not bear it in her heart."

Li Shimin said angrily: "Okay, Empress! You actually brought Concubine Shu here! Do you know what you are doing? You are called harem meddling in politics. I will never allow such a bad example from me!" The concubine coughed for a while, Li Shimin looked at her pale face, softened his heart, and said in a different tone: "Don't talk about this matter, and I won't change my mind!" Li Chengqian also got the news, he hurried to Hongwen Hall, found his uncle Changsun Wuji who was handling official business there, dragged him outside the house and begged: "Uncle, Father wants me to be a hostage in Li Yijun. Even when his mother went to plead for mercy, he didn't let go. Uncle, Li Yi is a devil who kills without blinking an eye, you have to save me!"

Changsun Wuji was taken aback for a moment, he had already heard that Feng Deyi had successfully persuaded Li Yi to accept the recruiting, but because he had too many matters in his hands, he didn't ask in detail, and he didn't know that there was such a condition attached to the recruiting. "Li Yi didn't mention this one before, so why did he add this one this time? Isn't it..." Changsun Wuji's eyes flashed Feng Deyi's face that was always sinking like water, making it difficult to understand. As if smelling something, he glanced at Li Chengqian and said, "Chengqian, you are the eldest son of the emperor. At this time, it's time to do something for the country! Go and tell your father, Li Yi's camp is like a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire!" , the abyss, for the eternal foundation of the Tang Dynasty, you also have to go!"

Li Chengqian almost cried: "Uncle, I really dare not go!" Changsun Wuji stared loudly and said, "King of Zhongshan County, what do you look like? Straighten out your chest, show a manly appearance, and go to the emperor. Say these words, don't dishonor the blood of the eldest grandson, let alone the glory of the Li family!" Changsun Wuji's voice was firm, he was an uncle with great prestige in front of his nephew, and Li Chengqian looked at him with arrow-like eyes. Under the threat, fear arose in his heart, and he finally turned around and walked towards Chengqing Hall step by step.

When Li Chengqian walked into the Chengqing Hall, Li Shimin was sitting on a dragon chair with an angry expression on his face, Empress Changsun was kneeling on the ground and weeping, Concubine Shu was lying on a deck chair covered with a quilt, still begging the emperor to change his mind . "Father!" Li Shimin looked up and saw his son standing at the door tremblingly. His face darkened, and he said angrily, "What are you doing here?" Before Li Chengqian could speak, Empress Changsun waved and shouted: "Ganer, Quickly come here and kneel down, and beg your father to show you a way to survive!" Li Chengqian walked forward and fell to his knees.Li Shimin stood up angrily, staring at his son fiercely: "You—"

Li Chengqian's heart was broken, and he said in a trembling voice according to the eldest grandson Wuji's instructions: "Father, my son is the eldest son of the emperor, so it is time to do something for this country! Li Yi's camp is like a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire, a deep abyss, for the sake of the eternal life of the Tang Dynasty Foundation, my son is going to break through!" Li Shimin stared at his son for a long time in a daze, but he didn't expect such words to come out of the child's mouth, he suddenly stood up and stepped forward, stretched out his hands to help Li Chengqian , punched him on the shoulder: "Ganer, you are right! This is like my son Li Shimin, like my son Li Shimin!" As if struck by lightning, Empress Changsun rushed to Li Chengqian and hugged him tightly. Weeping: "Gan'er, why are you so stupid!" Li Shimin stopped the queen loudly and said: "Queen! In the face of national crisis, why are you not as good as a child? Go and prepare for Gan'er to go on the road early!" The eldest grandson The queen suppressed the grief, Li Chengqian knelt down and kowtowed to Li Shimin, and left with the queen and others. Li Shimin looked at their backs and fell into deep sadness.

On the same day, Li Chengqian went to Jingzhou under the escort of Chang Sheng. He didn't know that Liu Er, Changsun Wuji's confidant, had already rode a fast horse northward with a secret letter and a generous gift.Liu Er's trip is to meet Li Yi's general Yang Ji, this man is very old with Chang He, the two of them once accompanied Prince Yin Jiancheng to conquer Liu Heita, Chang He still has the grace to save his life.That generous gift was very special, nothing else, it was a recommendation form for a third-rank official with an empty name, Changsun Wuji promised that as long as Yang Ji saved Li Chengqian's life, Yang Ji would be able to fill in his name.The letter written in the name of Chang He stated to Yang Ji that he had received rich rewards after taking refuge in Changsun Wuji, and asked him not to give up such an opportunity to turn back to be the ancestor of Guangzong.Chang He can only write two characters, one is Chang and the other is He. The letter was written by Changsun Wuji, and finally Chang He picked up the pen and signed his name like a ghost drawing amulet.Chang He said, don't look at the word as bad, but Yang Ji will definitely buy it.

Two days later, Jieli's rear team arrived one after another, and the Tuli tribe also arrived at Wugong, and Qibiheli set up camp in Gaoling.The main force of the Xieli army, which had been at rest for many days, began to attack eastward. They approached Jingyang first, and captured the city in less than an hour.This caused quite a panic in Chang'an City. Taizong led a group of ministers to inspect the city, and Feng Deyi said to Li Shimin with a heavy heart: "Your Majesty, let's not talk about this martial arts. It doesn't help, I'm afraid it won't be easy to defend Chang'an." As a right servant, Feng Deyi was in charge of military affairs among the prime ministers, so he naturally had to say a few words on such matters.

At this time, Li Jing's reinforcements were still three days away from Chang'an, and Jieli had already encircled Chang'an from three sides. Li Shimin couldn't help frowning, and said to his ministers: "I really didn't expect that the combat power of Jieli's army has improved so much. In the past few years, the imperial court has been attacking the south and defending the north. It has been busy quelling the chaos in the Central Plains. It has fought six major battles in the south, but it has taken a defensive position against the Turks. I don’t know much about it. Now that they are coming out in large numbers, what our army lacks most is to understand their reality. This is the most anxious thing right now."

Changsun Wuji took over the words and said: "There is a person who is quite familiar with Ashina's situation. He is the most suitable to be the Minister of the Ministry of War and the staff of the army, but I don't know if His Majesty dares to reuse him?" Li Shimin waved his hand: "As long as he I have real skills, but I still dare not use them? Tell me, who is this person?" Changsun Wuji glanced at Li Shimin, and spit out a few words: "Shi Fanxin, Chief of Zhongshan County Prince's Mansion." Li Shimin's face changed, this Fan Xin a few years ago He had led the army in Yunzhong and Mayi for many years, and he knew the situation of the Jieli tribe very well. However, this man came from a lowly background and was a horse slave.And speaking of it, this person still has some "criminal records", if he is used, it will inevitably cause a controversy.