Chapter 83: The Sui and Tang Dynasties (Thirteen)

Night had quietly come. Li Jiancheng stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking out the window with melancholy. The war between the Sui and Tang Dynasties was gradually approaching Chang'an. He knew very well that there was not much time left.

But even if it is about to end, he cannot let the former Tang Empire be humiliated and ended in a dignified manner. This is his responsibility. No one can bring the final humiliation to the Tang Dynasty. Neither his brother nor his father can be allowed.

At this moment, Li Jiancheng's heart gradually became colder and harder, and he clenched his fists.

"Your Highness, Wu Senjun asked for a visit." A guard reported in a low voice at the door.

Li Jiancheng nodded, "Take him to see me!"

After a moment, several guards brought Samurai Yi up, and Samurai Yi knelt down on one knee, "See Your Highness the Prince!"

Li Jiancheng looked back at him and asked lightly: "Where is any news about King Qi?"

The reason why Li Jiancheng knew that King Qi was preparing to rebel and seize the throne was that he secretly obtained it from Samurai Yi. Although Samurai Yi was one of Li Yuanji's five-man group, he was the brother of Samurai after all.

Although he was confused and agreed to plan for Li Yuanji, he soon realized that even if Li Yuanji succeeded in ascending the throne, he would have been criticized for eternity. He did not want to bear such a rant, so he secretly reported the news that Li Yuanji was preparing for a mutiny to Li Jiancheng.

"Report to the Crown Prince, Li Yuanji has given up the mutiny and changed to a palace coup."

Li Jiancheng was shocked. He was not worried that Li Yuanji would launch a mutiny. He knew that although the 40,000 troops followed Li Yuanji's military orders, it was because of the orders of his father. The military power was actually in the hands of his father. If he launched a mutiny, Changsun Shunde would be the first to jump out to oppose it, and Duan Decao would not agree.

But launching a court coup is another matter. It can be done with the brave deeds recruited by Li Yuanji. Once the father is held hostage by him and he issued an order in the name of his father, many things will be bad, which makes Li Jiancheng nervous.

"When will he do it?"

"The King of Qi is going to take the emperor hostage first, and then call the King of Qin back and execute him, and finally deal with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I don't know the specific time to take action."

Li Jiancheng walked back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, and asked again: "Can you command the brave men recruited by the King of Qi?"

Wu Shiyi shook his head, "Although Bei Zhi participated in the recruitment, the command power is in the hands of Li Deren, and only the King of Qi can be transferred, so Bei Zhi cannot command it."

This was a bit difficult. Li Jiancheng stared at the roof. The problem now was that he had no military power in his hands. There were only five hundred guards in the East Palace, and he could not command the army. The army only followed the orders of his father, but his father refused to believe his words.

What to do? Li Jiancheng was at a loss. He took a few steps and suddenly stopped. A thought surged in his mind, "Why can't he use the guards of the Qin Palace and Tang Feng to deal with the King of Qi?"

...........

At this time, there were only 300 guards in the Qin Palace, who were specifically responsible for defending the Qin family. There were also hundreds of members of Tang Feng. They were not troops and were distributed throughout the capital. Zhang Gongjin was appointed as the general manager of Tang Feng. At this time, in the Tang Feng Building, Zhang Gongjin was reading an emergency letter that Li Shimin had just sent. He looked serious and explained an important task to him in the letter.

At this moment, a soldier reported outside the door: "General Manager Zhang, His Highness the Crown Prince sent someone to discuss with the General Manager."

Zhang Gongjin put down Li Shimin's letter. Although the request in the letter was urgent, the King of Qin also instructed him to pay close attention to the movements of the Eastern Palace and the King of Qi. This was also a big deal. Zhang Gongjin had a headache, and all kinds of major things were pressing on his shoulders, which made him unable to bear it.

But it was so late, and the Crown Prince sent someone to come, and there must be something big. Zhang Gongjin immediately ordered: "Let him go to the reception room and wait!"

Zhang Gongjin put down Li Shimin's letter, pressed it down with another book, and then got up and headed towards the reception room.

In the reception room, Wang Gui, the Eastern Palace Secretary, was staring at a painting on the wall with his hands behind his back. The Eastern Palace Secretary, is the highest official of the Eastern Palace, and is usually the prince's confidant. Wang Gui was promoted to the Eastern Palace Secretary, two months ago. He is currently the prince's first confidant.

At this time, footsteps sounded at the door, and Zhang Gongjin quickly walked into the reception room.

"It turned out to be Mr. Wang, I'm rude!" Zhang Gongjin quickly bowed and apologized.

Wang Gui replied with a bow and said worriedly: "It's urgent, so I come uninvited. I hope General Zhang will forgive me."

"Please sit down!"

The two men took a seat and a guard brought incense tea. However, Wang Gui had no intention of drinking tea and asked in a low voice: "Master Zhang, does Your Highness Qin know about King Qi?"

"What's wrong with the King of Qi?" Zhang Gongjin knew what was going on, so he deliberately pretended to be confused and asked.

Wang Gui stared at him for a moment, lowered his voice and said, "The King of Qi is going to launch a palace coup, and the first person to deal with is the King of Qin."

"Is there such a thing? Why don't I know?" Zhang Gongjin smiled and guessed Wang Gui's purpose. He felt a very strange feeling in his heart. The prince wanted to cooperate with the King of Qin. After fighting for so many years, he actually wanted to work together to deal with a third party.

Wang Gui sighed, "I also know that this matter is difficult to believe, but this matter is top secret, and it must be true."

"Okay! Even if it's true, what do you want me to do?"

Wang Gui gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince's meaning is to start first. Our two families join forces to eliminate the King of Qi together."

......

Wang Gui left, and Zhang Gongjin was still sitting in the reception room. He needed to clarify the chaos in front of him. If he really joined forces with the prince to eliminate the King of Qi, how could the interests of the King of Qin be guaranteed? Zhang Gongjin sighed, not even knowing what to do, but one thing is clear that he could not agree to anything before His Highness of Qin did not give instructed him.

Zhang Gongjin walked back to the room with his hands behind his back and picked up a book from the table. He suddenly saw the letter from His Highness Qin under the book. He was stunned at first, and suddenly slapped himself suddenly. He had forgotten such an important thing.

An hour later, a carriage quickly drove out from the side door of the Qinwang Mansion, and with the cover of night, it rushed towards the city. Soon, the carriage stopped in front of Caohe River next to the city. A large ship of 500 stone was parked on the Caohe Wharf, and more than twenty sword guards stood on the ship.

Zhang Gongjin turned over and dismounted, stepped forward and opened the carriage door. The two maids got off the carriage first and then carefully helped a young ** down. She was holding a young child in her arms. ** glanced at the big boat and turned around and asked, "Master Zhang, why can't we leave in the carriage?"

"Report to the princess, the situation in the city is very tense. The Jinwu Guard, who is in charge of the city gate, has been controlled by the King of Qi. We are worried that it will be detrimental to the princess, and it is safest to leave by merchant ship."

"What should you do with Your Highness? Who will guarantee his safety?"

Zhang Gongjin sighed secretly in his heart and had to comfort him: "Please rest assured that your Highness has made arrangements and nothing will happen. You can guarantee your humble position."

"Okay! Manager Zhang also asks you to take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Princess, I will take care of myself."

The Princess Qin got on the boat, and the big boat slowly left the dock and drove out of the city along the Caohe River.

.........

Wu Shiyi's mansion was in Pingkangfang. He rode a horse away from the East Palace and returned directly to the mansion. At this time, the Tang Dynasty was on the eve of storm. Chang'an was in trouble with internal and external affairs, and everyone was heavy. Wu Shiyi was no exception. He was upset that he was unfortunately involved in the rebellion of the King of Qi. He was very afraid that he would ruin the reputation of the Wu family because of himself.

He had something to do in his mind, and the horse was not fast. Soon, he had already arrived at the gate of Pingkangfang. He was about to enter the yard when a carriage drove past him. He leaned out from the carriage window, holding a wooden stick in his hand and hit Samurai's head with a hard stick. Samurai's groaned and fell off the horse.

Two men in black jumped out of the carriage and dragged him directly into the carriage. The other man rode his horse. The carriage accelerated and rushed into the darkness...

In the room, Wu Shiyi was beaten to pieces and was beaten and knelt in front of Li Yuanji.

"You bastard! How dare you betray me!"

Li Yuanji's face was ashen, and there was a fierce light in his eyes. He stabbed the warrior Yi with a fierce sword. The warrior Yi screamed, and the long sword pierced his body and slowly fell to the ground. Li Yuanji drew out the sword and pierced his back with another sword. The warrior Yi died immediately.

"Train him out and feed the wild dogs, that's what you'll end up betraying me!"

Li Yuanji roared angrily and ordered the guards to drag Wu Shiyi's body out. At this time, Wang Shubao quickly walked into the lobby. He glanced at Wu Shiyi's body and felt a little uneasy. Wu Shiyi was pulled in. Will he be implicated?

Seeing that Li Yuanji's face did not seem to hate him, he hurriedly bowed to report: "Your Highness, news came from the palace. Just tonight, the prince went to the Yangxin Palace and secretly reported his highness to the emperor."

"He really wants to deal with me!" Li Yuanji gritted his teeth.

Li Yuanji turned around and asked, "What do you say about Father?"

"The emperor does not believe the prince's words, saying that the prince is trying to regain military power, and he has ulterior motives!"

Li Yuanji smiled grimly, "It seems that the old man trusts me quite a bit."

"Your Highness, the prince already knows your noble's intentions. We cannot delay any more. We must prevent the prince from taking the initiative."

"You mean, we have to deal with the East Palace first?"

"Treat the King of Qin first!"

Wang Shubao hurriedly said, "The prince only has five hundred guards, and the role it can play is not very important. The key is to control the emperor first and ask him to issue an edict to transfer the King of Qin back, and then deal with the prince."

"But will the prince tell the King of Qin about this? The King of Qin is ready to come?" Li Yuanji stared at him with sharp eyes.

Wang Shubao sighed, "It is impossible not to take any risks without taking any risks in anything. The King of Qin and the Prince have always been enemies and do not trust each other. The King of Qin may not believe the prince's words. But if we touch the prince, it will be known to all civil and military officials in the court. At that time, the King of Qin will be really prepared."

Li Yuanji walked a few steps behind his back, and Wang Shubao said something reasonable.

"Your Highness, or we can do this."

Wang Shubao added: "We can bribe the close servants and make the emperor unfortunately critically ill. The court will naturally inform the King of Qin to come back to see the emperor for the last time, and we don't need to forge an imperial edict, which will make it even more foolproof."

Li Yuanji walked around with his hands behind his back, and he narrowed his eyes and grinned, "That's it! I'll leave my father one step away from his death. I'll write another letter to the King of Qin. I don't believe he wouldn't come back to grab the throne?"
Chapter completed!