In the royal study.
The secret report had landed lightly on Hou Junji's face, but he felt as if the sky had fallen.
Li Shi Min's words made him pale as if it was the end of the world.
He was stripped of his title and dismissed from office.
This was equivalent to knocking him down from a high and mighty official to a commoner overnight.
Hou Junji knelt there, his eyes unfocused.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
His head hit the floor. The tiles in the royal study were all made of top-quality jade, and his forehead quickly swelled up. Hou Junji shrieked,"Your Highness, please forgive me. I know I was wrong.”
"I know I was wrong."
Li Shiming looked at Hou Junji with disgust."I secretly followed His Majesty. If it wasn't for the fact that you haven't caused any consequences and have followed me for many years, you would have been exiled thousands of miles away.”
"Stripping me from my position is already BenGong showing mercy.”
"Men, drag him out!"
Li Shimin ordered. Outside the royal study, the Golden Guards walked forward and carried Hou Junji out.
Zhangsun Wuji picked up the secret report on the ground and said,"Your Highness, I think this matter should be left to General Cheng.”
"He has a bold and unconstrained personality, so he can handle this matter without dragging things out.”
"Please convey your intentions clearly, Your Highness.”
Li Shi Min nodded, feeling a little tired. He casually waved his hand and said,"We'll do as you say, but you can't enter the palace at will.”
"Let the Golden Guards and the Imperial Attendants cooperate. Investigate and eliminate them.”
"BenGong hopes that no one pleads for mercy to reach me.”
"I understand." Zhangsun Wuji nodded.”
Li Shiming didn't say anything else and signaled for Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui to leave.
Only then did he let out a long sigh and sat down heavily on the chair. He used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his palms. The detailed records of the secret report shocked him.
But what frightened him even more was that this secret report was sent by Xiao Yu.
So Xiao Yu knew about this, but he didn't reveal it.
If Xuanhou Junji hadn't come today, would this secret report have been sent to Li Yuan?
Hou Junji had always served under his command and was deeply valued by him. He and Zhangsun Wuji both knew that Hou Junji had acted on his own.
However, who among the courtiers believed him?
Li Shi Min looked at the memorial in front of him and felt a little lucky. Fortunately, this matter was handled cleanly, even if Li Yuan found out.
They probably wouldn't punish him.
However, he had learned his lesson. Li Shi Min understood that as an Emperor, there were many people who could deceive their superiors and subordinates.
In that case, Li Yuan's favoritism towards Li Jiancheng and the various rumors that had spread to his ears were also made by his subordinates to speculate on Li Yuan's thoughts and make their own decisions?
Thinking of this, Li Shimin felt a lot better. He ordered the Imperial Attendants Supervisor to clean up the table and walked out of the royal study with his hands behind his back, just like how Li Yuan usually looked down on the world."Father, I hope you can return safely.”
"Your son's path of the Emperor is still too different from yours.”
Longxi County!
Li Yuan was still sitting in the courtyard. This was not because Longxi County did not have any more luxurious mansions.
It was because he had lived in the palace for a long time and felt that this small courtyard had a different taste.
He even thought about setting up a farmhouse outside Chang 'an after he returned to Chang' an, so that the officials could have fun there and increase consumption.
The hundreds of thousands of taels of silver seized by Longxi's Li Clan had truly made Li Yuan understand one thing.
One of the most important reasons for the Great Tang's slow development was that the Emperor and the people had placed too much importance on money after so many years of war.
There were even copper coins left behind by the previous dynasty in many people's homes.
Of course, Li Yuan also understood that this kind of thing was not something that could be done in a day. He just put it in his heart for the time being and prepared to bring it up when the time was right.
In front of Li Yuan was a wooden board that had been maintained for many years. It looked shiny like amber.
This was also the treasure of Longxi's Li Clan.
If Eunuch Lin hadn't personally delivered it to him, even Li Yuan would have been kept in the dark.
It was the calligraphy of the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi. The words of blessing for the sacrifice had already been carved, but it was still in thick ink.
Penetrating!
Li Yuan caressed it with his hand, as if he saw the Sage of Calligraphy's high spirits when he was young. He also understood that this story was not just a story passed down by the people.
Li Yuan copied it and then looked at Eunuch Lin and said,""Keep this well. Not everyone can get the calligraphy of the Sage of Calligraphy.”
"It's a pity that the preface to the Lanting Collection has never been seen.”
Li Yuan sighed. Eunuch Lin kept the wooden board and said respectfully,""Your Majesty is the True Dragon Son of Heaven. Presumably, it's only a matter of time before you get to see the preface to the Lanting Gathering.”
"This old servant will also do my best to search for you, Your Majesty.”
Li Yuan didn't care much about it. It was only a surprise that he had obtained the calligraphy of the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi. What he needed to deal with now was the Five Families and Seven Wangs.
He looked at Eunuch Lin and said,"Ask Guan Yu to come to the study to see me."”
Eunuch Lin left quietly.
Li Yuan walked into the study. It was very simple and crude. There were only a few books on the bookshelf as decorations. Compared to the royal study, it was like heaven and earth.
Li Yuan had just stood still.
Guan Yu walked in from outside and bowed respectfully.""Greetings, Your Majesty."
Li Yuan stretched out his hand and unfolded the map in front of him."We deliberately stayed in Longxi County for a day and a night. This time is enough for those messengers to run day and night and report back what happened in Longxi County.”
"This time, we won't be dealing with a single clan.”
"I also want to see how the six of them will respond.”
As a general, Guan Yu had long known about the war. He pointed at the fiefs of the few families on the map and said,"Your Majesty, among these six families, the Li family of Zhao County is probably the most anxious.”
"Li Xunfeng and Li Xu have colluded with the Turks and are now guilty of treason. Once they receive news of this, they will most likely go all the way down the dark path. Then, as the leader, they will contact the other clans to oppose His Majesty.”
"They might even send death warriors to the Turks to inform the Jie Li Khagan, hoping to coordinate with them from the inside and prevent reinforcements from coming.”
"Among the five families and seven Wangs, even if they are weak, they should have four thousand troops and some death warriors.”
"In this way, the six families will go all out and command the people of their fiefs, reaching nearly thirty thousand soldiers.”
"Right now, I only have three hundred Divine Spear Cavalry as my main force and five thousand private soldiers captured. Today, I have eliminated nearly eight hundred people, so I have a total of four thousand five hundred people.”
"If we were to face them head-on, we might suffer heavy losses.”
Guan Yu was absolutely loyal to Li Yuan, even if he had to sacrifice his life.
Therefore, he would not hide his analysis of the battle at all.
Li Yuan's gaze fell on the map, sweeping across the six families 'territories. He looked at Guan Yu and said,""Based on your experience, where will these six families choose to fight me?”
"Perhaps there is something to it."
Guan Yu's gaze was solemn. In his opinion, if this battle could go on like last night, he would be able to launch a sneak attack.
Perhaps when the news reached their family.
Another two to three families were destroyed.
At that time, even if they joined forces, they would only have 10,000 people.
They had double the number of soldiers and no general who knew how to command.
Guan Yu believed that he had a good chance of winning.
But now, Li Yuan had clearly released the news. When the five surnames and seven Wangs were fully prepared, they would start the war. Although he was not afraid, he was worried that Li Yuan would be injured.
Guan Yu pondered as he looked at the map in front of him.
This was a copy of the map that Li Yuan had hung in the royal study. There were many talented artists in the palace, and Xiao Yu was one of them.
Xiao Yu had personally drawn it and expanded the map of the Great Tang several times as a military map.
Guan Yu thought about it carefully. Finally, his finger landed on a place and said,"Your Majesty, this place is called Fierce Tiger Pass, and it is the only path we must pass through.”
"The terrain is like a fierce tiger descending a mountain. The front is narrow and the back is thick.”
"Once the army enters, they can only advance. If they retreat, I'm afraid the army will be thrown into chaos. They might even be stuck at the pass, seeking their own death.”
"Moreover, the enemy can spread the army apart and attack or defend.”
Li Yuan's gaze fell on the Tiger Pass. His gaze seemed to see through the map and through the layers of nothingness.
The terrain of the Ferocious Tiger Pass was completely imprinted in his mind.
It was as if he could already see the battle between the two armies. In the Tiger Pass, there would be heavy slaughter, but he had no scruples because he had the freedom to turn the world around.
If it was somewhere else, it would be fine.
There was no place more suitable than this place in this Fierce Tiger Pass.
Guan Yu looked at Li Yuan and thought that Li Yuan was anxious. He said,"Your Majesty, this Ferocious Tiger Pass is a battleground for the militarists.”
"We can rush out of here before the enemy forces gather.”
"We can still catch them off guard.”
"If you give the order, I can immediately reorganize the army and march at night.”
Li Yuan sized up Guan Yu's expression and shook his head slightly.""No matter, I will ask you, these six families have gathered thirty thousand troops.”
"How many days do we need to enter this Ferocious Tiger Pass?”
Guan Yu blinked his eyes, not understanding what Li Yuan meant. However, this did not prevent him from answering Li Yuan's question. He said,"Your Majesty, the Li family of Zhao County is the closest. We can reach there in two days.”
"However, the Zheng family of Xingyang and the Wang family of Taiyuan will need five days to arrive.”
"If we go here, we only need three days. At that time, even if the Li family of the Zhao County defends, we won't be able to resist.”
Li Yuan did not speak.
He knew that the speed at which a large army traveled was different from the speed at which a person and a horse traveled. It was like the speed at which a person traveled 800 li to deliver a message of victory. The horses would not be replaced, but the large army was very close, so it was very troublesome. Naturally, it would take a little more time.
Guan Yu stood there respectfully and looked at Li Yuan, waiting for his order.
Then he would lead the army out of the city in the shortest time possible.
But-
Guan Yu waited for a long time.
Li Yuan slowly said,""Since the Zheng family of Xingyang and the Wang family of Taiyuan need five days to move quickly, I will give them one day to correct it.”
"Pass down my order. We will march again in three days. I will personally go to Fierce Tiger Pass!”
Guan Yu's eyes were filled with disbelief. He looked at Li Yuan, gritted his teeth, and knelt on one knee."Your Majesty, you mustn't do that."
"When the enemy is in position, even I can't guarantee that I can escape unscathed.”
"Your Majesty has a body of ten thousand gold. How can you risk your life?”
Li Yuan looked at Guan Yu. He understood that this loyal and loyal official was genuinely worried that he would be hurt. He walked up and helped Guan Yu up."The first batch of 127 Zhuge Repeating Crossbows was delivered yesterday.”
"Three days later, there are still a hundred more. Zhen asks you now, do you still feel that you have no chance of winning?”
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]