Guanzhong, Chang'an, Dali Temple Prison.

Li Shiji, oh no, it should be called Xu Shiji now, after Li Jiancheng took someone to testify to Tian Zaibiao to Li Yuan that he had abandoned Li Xiaogong and fled for his life, Li Yuan was furious and had already withdrawn his surname.

This former general with infinite beauty, at the moment only has a single coat on his body, with shackles on his shoulders, shackles on his feet, and unkempt hair, where is he still full of spirit in the past? The single coat was stained with blood, and the whole body was covered with traces of whipping, apparently under heavy punishment.

"World achievements."

A low call came.

Hearing this voice, Xu Shiji, who was already dying, suddenly seemed to be resurrected with full blood, and crawled to the door of the cell, grabbed the iron fence in front of him, and shouted in a low voice: "His Royal Highness King Qin!" ”

Li Shimin looked at the arm in front of him as a heavy reliance, and his heart ached.

After a long time, he muttered and said: "Shiji, the imperial history sent to Hanzhong by my father has returned to Chang'an, and several of your old departments have confessed, confirming that what Tian Zaibiao said is true!" ”

Xu Shiji smiled bitterly, this was already expected by him.

When he abandoned Li Xiaogong, the more than 20,000 Tang troops he brought back from Shuzhong were almost well known, as long as the emperor wanted to check, how could he not find it?

It's just that at that time, he and Li Longji relied on their power to suppress this matter, and no one dared to be the first bird. But now that Li Longji has been removed from the throne and thought about it behind closed doors, and his main culprit has become a prisoner, can those old subordinates under him not betray themselves in order to protect themselves?

"His Royal Highness King Qin!"

Xu Shiji said in a hoarse voice: "It was true that I left King Zhao Jun back then, but can I not do this?" At that time, I only had more than 10,000 soldiers and horses in my hands, and there were tens of thousands of Li Jing's pursuers behind me, so I couldn't save him! ”

Li Shimin nodded slowly, agreeing with Xu Shiji's words.

"At that time, if you go to save King Zhao Jun, you will only let the remaining soldiers and horses fall into the encirclement of the Sui army."

Xu Shiji burst into tears: "I gathered the defeated soldiers, rushed to attack the Sword Gate, killed Guan Ling, the brave general of the Sui army, recovered Hanzhong, and worked hard for the Tang Dynasty, but why did Your Majesty hold on to this matter alone!" ”

Li Shimin sighed helplessly and said: "My father has always valued family affection and blood, coupled with the provocative slander of the crown prince Jiancheng and Pei Lin and others, there is no way to do it!" ”

"Your Highness."

Xu Shiji stepped forward and grabbed Li Shimin's hand, and said in a deep voice: "The last general is already a dying person, but there are a few words that are not unhappy!" ”

Li Shimin nodded slowly and motioned for Xu Shiji to continue.

"Your Majesty values blood and family affection, but most of the leading soldiers are members of the clan, but the country's merits are all occupied, how can their children be virtuous and wise?"

"Why don't you know?"

Li Shimin shook his head and lamented: "In the past battle of Cijian, if Yuan Ji didn't obey the military order and killed Wang Shichong, how could our army be blocked under Luoyang City and return in vain.

Li Shenfu sat in Chang'an to underestimate the enemy's carelessness and dereliction of duty, and even let a Sui army that should have been at the end of the road easily enter Chang'an, so that our Tang Dynasty suffered great shame.

But what can Lone do? The father is too suspicious, and he doesn't need to use it if he is not a close relative, and if he is a direct admonition, it will only provoke the anger of his father, and it is not beneficial! ”

"Your Highness, if Datang can't change this cronyistic situation, the future situation is worrying!"

Xu Shiji knew that he would not escape death, so he also said without scruples: "Your Highness, look at Yang Gao's subordinates, Li Jing, Yue Fei, Xue Rengui, Chang Yuchun, Qin Qiong, Di Qing, which one is his Great Sui Imperial Family?" But it is these people who have laid a large foundation for Yang Gao. Employing people on the basis of merit, this is the way to win, Your Highness! ”

Li Shimin was speechless by default, why didn't he think about it in his heart, but he didn't dare to say it!

。。。。。。。。。。

In the imperial study, Li Yuan sat behind the table, looked at the jailer in front of him coldly, and said, "Xu Shiji really said that?" ”

"It's true, the villain can hear it clearly when he hides on the sidelines!" The jailer who was ordered to monitor Li Shimin and Xu Shiji replied carefully.

"He Xu Shiji is so bold!"

Li Yuan slapped the table heavily and said hatefully: "What kind of thing is he, Xu Shiji, who dares to question my employment strategy?" The future situation is worrying! What do you mean? Do you want to reuse him Xu Shiji, a coward who gave up his boss on the battlefield and fled for his life, so that my Datang can kill Yang Gao'er? ”

"Father's anger!"

The crown prince Li Jiancheng, who was on the side, stepped forward to dissuade Li Yuan and said: "Then Xu Shiji should know that his sins are unforgivable and he will definitely die, so he has a grudge and slanders his father, why should his father be like him?" ”

"Humph!"

is narrow-minded, how can Li Yuan, who can even be killed by Liu Wenjing, the founder of the country, make Xu Shiji better at this time.

I saw that his face was gloomy and ruthless, and he said coldly: "Originally, I didn't want to pursue others because of Xu Shiji's small merits in the past and King Qin's dismissal, but now it seems that I am too kind to him!" Passed the decree, Xu Shiji discussed the government in vain, greedy for life and afraid of death, causing the blood relatives of the clan to die on the battlefield, the crime was unforgivable, and the whole house was beheaded! ”

"Father, the son thought that Xu Shiji was talking wildly, but the second brother did not dissuade him and let him talk nonsense, and he clearly thought the same thing in his heart."

Beside Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji, the king of Qi, had a ruthless look on his face and stepped forward to say. He deeply hated Li Shimin and the civil and military forces of the Qin Wangfu under his command, and if he could take the opportunity to pull Li Shimin off the horse, it would really be all right.

Li Yuan glanced at Li Yuanji and said lightly: "After all, Xu Shiji is the most relied on arm of the people, and he will go to prison, so the people must not be uncomfortable in their hearts, so they don't care about his crazy words." Now that the army is gathering and the expedition is imminent, can Yuanji take on this heavy responsibility? ”

"I..."

Without waiting for Li Yuanji to speak, Li Yuan waved his hand and said, "Knowing your son Mo Ruo's father, don't you know how much ability your father has?" This time, your second brother is the coach of the Southern Expedition, and you are the deputy. Remember to assist your second brother, don't let him be bewitched by Xu Shiji and his ilk! ”

"Sons obey orders!"

Li Yuanji said with a little sullenness. Li Jiancheng on the side also had flickering eyes, mixed tastes, knowing that as long as the world was not settled, Li Shimin's status could not be truly shaken.

。。。。。。。。。。

The next day, at noon. Chang'an, Caishikou.

Xu Shiji and his family were beheaded and abandoned, and after Li Shimin's several pleas, Li Yuan reluctantly agreed to collect his body for burial.

It is really sad and lamentable, but that a generation of famous generals did not die on the battlefield, but died at the hands of their own kings.

Xu Shiji's death caused a lot of disputes in Chang'an, most of the people in the Tang army lamented and regretted, and those who had a good relationship with Xu Shiji scolded Li Yuan for being vicious, Xu Shiji was obviously not guilty to death, and he was even beheaded by the whole family.