Traveling through the troubled times of Sui and Tang Dynasties

Ever since he didn't see his father's figure to greet him at the gate of the city, and the soldiers in his hands were asked to hand over their equipment and enter the city in batches, Li Shimin felt a little uneasy in his heart.After entering the city and entering the palace, he absent-mindedly accepted the congratulations of the ministers. After the palace banquet, instead of the promise made by his father before going to war, he received an imperial decree.

Li Shimin knelt down to thank him, his eyes drooped slightly, and a sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of his lips. What is the merits of hard work, what is the sympathy for his hard work, and what kind of rewards... It seems that the emperor's grace is mighty and glorious, but in fact, he is promoted and demoted. Seizing his military power, even the generals who stood in his camp were also implicated. It seems that the father is determined to let himself make way for Li Jiancheng.

Li Shimin can restrain his temper, but most of his soldiers are rough people, so he doesn't follow him.

Yu Chigong, who had just been pulled down from the left leading guard, had a rough temper and didn't have that much thoughtfulness. He cursed as soon as he received the imperial decree: "I have fought all my life, and I suddenly said that I should put down my weapons and go to the Sinong Temple or something." What are you doing?"

Su Dingfang beside him frowned slightly, and reminded: "Shanglin Office of Sinong Temple is in charge of planting fruits and vegetables."

"Let me grow fruits and vegetables?" Yuchi Gong almost bit his tongue.

"From a fifth-rank official position, it can be regarded as a promotion."

"Promote? What a fart! I used to eat meat and drink a lot, take care of my subordinates, and I'm dexterous. I'm so uncomfortable. Whoever wants to be promoted to a shitty official, whoever loves it, I don't care."

Isn't it rare? Although originally it was only one of the sixteen guards, it still had real power anyway. He led the soldiers and led nearly a thousand Zhechong mansions across the country with the other eleven guards. You can guard Chang'an City, you can be a soldier of the government, and you can be regarded as an imperial army.

What about now?Said he was promoted, but let him honestly take care of growing vegetables, Yu Chigong felt suffocated.

Cheng Yaojin usually likes to argue with that Heitantou, but now he said bitterly: "Your kind of food is not bad, my old Cheng is most afraid of reading and reading, and I don't know a few big characters." Yeah, what's the matter with being transferred to the Imperial College suddenly?" You still can't explain why, he is still a fourth-rank official.

When he said this, he amused You Junda who was on the side, reached out and patted him on the shoulder and said: "Okay, give our fourth brother Cheng a chance to remake, maybe in time, he can give us a champion. "

Xu Maogong's eyes swept over them, all of them were promoted without exception, but at the same time they were also demoted from the military.The emperor couldn't tolerate King Qin's power, fearing that he would usurp the crown prince's position.

When everyone was silently thinking, there was a voice that seemed particularly unconvinced: "Hey... the pious people are obviously afraid that the power of the King of Qin will threaten the prince, and they have given us the military power, but they are still pretending to be generous. To those of us who are up and down."

"My virtuous brother!" Qin Qiong stopped yelling, these words were blatantly accusing the saint, and now he is still in the palace, there are many people with mixed eyes, afraid of falling into the mouth.

"What I said is wrong, since he doesn't like us reckless people, I don't have to rely on this court, I just ask to leave. It's just that I don't like his way of crossing rivers and destroying bridges, why? When we got our King Qin, we were kind in every possible way. Now that we have just returned to the capital triumphantly, we immediately lost the military power of King Qin. Is he so ruthless? At any rate, let’s just pretend."

"Originally it was agreed that the emperor would come to the gate of the city to welcome the army, and reward the three armies at that time, but we didn't even see the shadows, and we separated the soldiers when we came up, saying that we could only enter the city after disarming. ? Is it okay to be a thief? Or is it left behind by Wang Shichong and other rebellious parties?"

"Sixth brother Shan!" Li Shimin's voice was low and forbearing.

"King Qin, I, Shan Xiongxin, am a vulgar person, I can't bear it anymore, we've been holding back all the way!"

"When I entered the palace gate, I said that there was a joy in the East Palace. Before the emperor and the empress met, I heard that they were all rushing to the East Palace. Wait, wait, wait, one after another, hehe... look What was he doing in the East Palace? Sending away the king of Qi, forcing Luo Cheng to fight alone, and storming Liaodong City; knowing that the other side set a trap, he blindly beat the drums and directed the attack, trying to force little brother Luo Cheng to death step by step! Yes, we kill the enemy on the front line, it’s okay if no one cares about the casualties, and we have to defend day and night, against our own people’s black hands! At this moment, just because there is a joy in the East Palace, can it all be written off?"

"Sixth brother Shan, shut up!" Although these words are very crude, they are true and every word is heartbreaking. No one dares to say these words, but everyone thinks so in their hearts.

Xu Maogong saw that Shan Xiongxin became more and more indignant as he spoke, so he stopped loudly, winked at Qin Qiong, and pulled him down.

The dinner party was not enjoyable because of the imperial decree. When they returned to the city, everyone was elated, but when they returned to the mansion, they all turned downcast. Woolen cloth?

Among them, King Qin is the most uncomfortable. Anyone who is guarded by his own father will not feel very good.

Everyone was dissatisfied, but they returned to the mansion helplessly. King Qin should have rested, but just as he lay down, he heard Shan Yingying crying and begging to see him. After asking the reason, he found out. They sent someone to arrest him, and he didn't know where he was arrested right now.

Li Shimin said in his heart, this matter is broken, it must be that Shan Liuge's words in the palace have been heard by others, and now he was arrested and questioned, but when Shan Yingying said that he was from the prince's mansion , and had to think about it, he was not sure whether the crown prince sent someone to arrest the sixth brother Shan, whether it was the intention of the East Palace or the intention of the father.

Regardless of the former or the latter, he had to go to the palace.

Li Shimin and the others did not delay for a moment, and entered the palace overnight, but the time had not yet arrived, and the palace gate was closed. Li Shimin intended to let someone inform him, but was told that the emperor had rested and no one should disturb him. Please wait patiently if there is anything to do. Discussion, when I begged again, the guards of the palace gate had already refused to enter.

Seeing that Yu Chigong and the others were furious again, if many of the imperial guards were under the King of Qin's sect before the imperial decree was promulgated yesterday, they must have tried their best to let King Qin enter the palace smoothly, but since the subordinates of King Qin's sect yesterday came from After the position was resigned, the original vacancy of the Imperial Guard was quickly occupied by people from the Eastern Palace. It seemed that they were more than respectful, but in fact they didn't care at all.

Li Shimin had no choice but to lead the crowd to wait at the gate of the palace. It was not until Yinshi that the palace gate slowly opened. Li Shimin immediately sent someone to inform the emperor, asking to see the emperor.

After waiting at the gate of the palace for more than two hours, I finally saw Li Yuan.

After Li Shimin finished his ceremony, he reported all the things Shan Yingying described, in every detail, and finally kowtowed: "Please look at the fact that General Shan Xiong Xin Shan also encircled and suppressed Wang Shichong and others with his ministers, let His Royal Highness let the prince go." General Shan."

Li Yuan glanced at His Highness, and asked coldly, "Do you know what Shan Xiongxin committed?"

Li Shimin's body stiffened slightly: "I don't know."

"Shan Xiongxin has a heart of treason, and you let me let him go?" Li Yuan looked around, and there were quite a few people who spoke for Shan Xiongxin. These people were probably from the Qin Palace, and there were benefactors he thought were so righteous. Qin Qiong, Xu Maogong, a resourceful think tank, Yuan Tiangang, who can pinch and count, and Li Jing, who is both civil and military, not to mention countless generals. Originally, Liu Hongji, Du Ruhui, Tang Jian and others were in his camp. It is also listed, and there are some people whose original positions are not clear, such as Duan Zhixuan. After the death of the King of Qin, the son-in-law Chai Shao, if he talked about pleading for Luo Cheng, Li Yuan felt that Chai Shao's love was justifiable, but right now he was standing with the Qin Palace again, pleading for Shan Xiongxin without saying a word, making him narrow his eyes slightly... ... Li Shimin's power is greater than he imagined, and he even has a tendency to lose control. This makes Li Yuan's heart startled and he becomes more and more afraid.

"It's my intention that the prince arrest people. Shan Xiongxin uttered wild words, and he tried to conspire against him. I didn't punish his nine clans, and I just accused him. It's a kindness. You don't need to say more, and you all step back, otherwise you will be dealt with together. .”

"Father——" Li Shimin thumped and knelt down on his knees, "Father, please listen to my son, General Shan has absolutely no intention of treason, if he really had the intention of treason, he would have never He helped his ministers and took down Wang Shichong's old army, and he would not take the initiative to invite Ying. He went to Goguryeo with his sons and fought repeatedly. General Shan fought bravely, which is a rare talent. Father, please consider it carefully and don't listen to one-sided words. , Convict General Shan!"

"At yesterday's dinner party, he spoke recklessly, committed crimes against others, and had a heart of treason. With a servant in the palace to testify, how can he be false? What's more, when I shot and killed his elder brother by mistake, he had already hated me for a long time. He is dissatisfied, who knows if he joined me, Datang, to take the opportunity to avenge his brother."

"Father, General Shan is open and upright, with no city in his heart, he is definitely not the person you said."

"Presumptuous!" Li Yuan slammed the table and stood up, his eyes were not angry but powerful, "Shimin, don't be proud of favors!"

These words were very powerful, and even the people behind Li Shimin knelt down to beg for mercy, calling repeatedly: "The emperor calm down—"

Li Yuan looked at the people below without squinting: "Come here, bring Shan Xiongxin, and someone else will come up with proof."

Not long after, Shan Xiongxin was bound and shoved up, and there was a timid little attendant standing beside him, who must be the so-called witness.

"Shan Xiongxin, can you be convicted?"

Originally, Shan Xiongxin didn't care about Li Yuan's questioning, and he expressed his feelings because he felt uncomfortable. Even if his head was beheaded, it was just a nod to the ground, but when he entered the hall, he saw Li Shimin kneeling at the front, and he couldn't help but call out. He said: "King Qin, what are you doing?" Seeing all the brothers bowing their heads and kneeling down, he thought that it must be related to him, and the brothers were begging for himself, and felt very sad, "Brothers , I, Shan Xiongxin, have caused you all to suffer."

Shan Xiongxin, who had been wringing his neck in disbelief, immediately knelt down on his knees and said in a clear voice: "Your Majesty, one person is responsible for one's work. I, Shan Xiongxin, made a slip of the tongue after drinking. I committed the following crimes and disturbed the holy driver. If you want to kill or cut, please listen to me. But this matter has nothing to do with others, I beg the emperor not to involve King Qin and the brothers."

But at this moment, Li Yuan couldn't listen to a word, and said in a gloomy voice, "Shimin, do you have to plead for mercy for this traitor?"

"Father, my son still said the same thing. Although General Shan acts recklessly, he has no city in his heart and is open and aboveboard. He is definitely not the treasonous person you said. Please forgive him."

"Your Majesty, this servant heard General Shan say with his own ears, that..."

"What? You tell me the truth."

The little attendant looked at Shan Xiongxin who was kneeling in horror, as if he was frightened by his look, he trembled and said: "General Shan said that the emperor is a foolish king, and meritorious people like the king of Qin are not rewarded, but black sheep like the crown prince are not rewarded." Appreciation, could it be that you are blind..."

"Fart! When did I say that? You fucking wronged me!" Shan Xiongxin originally thought that the emperor was angered by his drunken words last night, but now where is this? Someone took the opportunity to frame him, so he refused to obey , struggling to stand up and refute, but was pushed back to the original place.

"presumptuous!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, Your Majesty—" The servant was so frightened that his body went limp, and he kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.

"Say it, then tell me!"

"General Shan also said, such a foolish king, could it be that he followed the example of the collapse of the Sui Dynasty? It's better to abdicate early, anyway, King Qin will have to ascend the throne sooner or later..."

Before the people below finished speaking, Li Yuan was already burning with anger, gnashing his teeth and said: "Li Shi Min! Are you wishing that I die early so that I can give way to you? Li Shimin, do you want to rebel and kill me? ?”

"My son and minister are wronged!" Li Shimin couldn't argue with a hundred words.

All the courtiers kowtowed, and Xu Maogong said: "The emperor must not listen to the villain's slander, the king of Qin is loyal to the emperor, and his heart can be shown."

Qin Qiong also said: "Your Majesty, the King of Qin has made great military achievements. Why did he rebel? How could he rebel?"

Seeing this, Chai Shao hurried forward and said, "Father, don't you know King Qin yet?"

Shan Xiongxin was pressed to the ground, unable to move his hands and feet, and shouted: "Your Majesty, it doesn't matter if you wrong me, Shan Xiongxin. It is not a pity that I, Shan Xiongxin, die, but you can't wrong His Royal Highness King Qin! These years, the king of Qin has fought south and north, and Li He has made so many contributions, if he has selfish intentions, why wait until now? His Royal Highness King Qin is really serving the Great Tang, serving the emperor's country!"

Seeing that the people in the main hall were silent and unmoved, Yu Chigong was impatient for a long time, stepped forward, lifted the little servant who was lying on the ground, and said coldly: "Say, who made the You slander General Shan and King Qin like that?"

The little attendant was trembling, and begged for mercy repeatedly: "Yuchi... General Yuchi, everything I said just now is true, there is absolutely no false statement, my servant—"

"That's true! When did my Shan brother say such a thing? Was it the prince, the prince asked you to pour dirty water on His Highness King Qin?"

"This matter has nothing to do with the prince. What the slave just said is the truth—" Before he finished speaking, Yu Chigong punched out his front teeth, and fell limply by the threshold, motionless, as if he had passed out.

"Bold! Li Shimin, do you still think that I am the emperor? You shielded Shan Xiongxin for treason first, and allowed Yuchigong to commit murder later. What else can you say? Is it possible that you still want to kill someone?"

"Come on, take Yu Chigong down!" The guards swarmed up, even though Yu Chigong was brave, he couldn't hold back the crowd, and was immediately pushed down to the ground, unable to move.

Before everyone could open their mouths, Li Yuan scolded again: "Li Shimin, it seems that I value you too much and give you too much hope, so that you are so proud of favors, and now you don't distinguish between superiors and inferiors. Arrogant and domineering, do you want to cover the sky with one hand!"

Inside the hall, swords were on the verge of breaking out, but Li Shimin lowered his head dejectedly, clenched his hands into fists, pressed against the brick surface, and said no more.

"It's fine if you don't speak up. I know that both Shan Xiongxin and Yuchigong belong to your Prince Qin's residence! If Shan Xiongxin participates in the conspiracy and Yuchigong dares to commit murder in the hall, then you—my King Qin, do you also have a part in it?" ?”

"Your Majesty, don't you know what kind of person King Qin is? Your Majesty, you are trying to steal King Qin's heart!" Xu Maogong, who had always been calm, also became flustered at this moment.

"Are you digging out his heart, or is he digging out my heart!" Li Yuan patted his chest and said.

Seeing that the father and son were at such a standstill, the hall was filled with pleas again.

Just at this moment, Qin Wang Li Shimin, who had been kneeling in the center of the hall, suddenly raised his head, and asked in a pleasant voice, "Father, do you believe him or me?" On the former servant.

Facing Li Shimin's magnanimous eyes, Li Yuan felt a little guilty in his heart. Although the little servant's words were convincing, he still had some calculations in his heart, and he was afraid that it had something to do with Donggong, but he ——What he was thinking at the moment was to follow the trend and take this opportunity to take back the rights into his own hands.

Li Shimin saw that his father's eyes were averted and he didn't dare to look at him, so he also lowered his eyes, the praise, the promise of the crown prince, all the things in the past are gone.Now he is asking himself, where is the matter of the two generals Shan and Yuchi, how could his wise and mighty father not see such a superficial frame-up by Donggong?It's just that he was afraid of his own power and achievements, so he happened to take advantage of the east wind in the East Palace to make use of the topic and wanted to go back on what he said.

Li Shimin closed his eyes tightly, sighed deeply, and said weakly: "Father says what he says, I just hope that Father will spare General Shan and General Yuchi, after all——Father also said, these two are He is from my Prince Qin's mansion, since my father wants to punish the people of the world... why bother to blame others."

When Li Yuan, who was still a little guilty at first, heard the meaning of these words, didn't he imply a sentence "there is no excuse for inflicting crimes"?Originally guilty, but now being stared at by Li Shimin's eyes that seemed to see through everything, Li Yuan became angry from embarrassment: "You have committed such a serious crime and you still don't know how to repent. If you are not punished today, I don't know what will happen in the future!"

"Come here - escort the King of Qin back to the mansion, send people to surround the mansion of the King of Qin, no one is allowed to enter, all the people of the King of Qin's mansion are waiting to be released, and anyone in the court who pleads for Li Shimin will be punished together."