At dawn the next day, Yang Gao summoned Zhan Zhao, who was now in charge of the palace guards and was preparing for a thousand cows, and asked: "Zhan Aiqing, I heard that you have a man named Dai Zong, who has a good foot, even faster than a horse. ”

Zhan Zhao hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty Shengming, there is indeed such a person under the minister, the speed is amazing, even the minister is ashamed of himself!" ”

"That's great!" Yang Gao pretended to be surprised, "Someone recommended Yue Fei and Yue Pengju, the general during the reign of my father, to me, saying that this person is a man of martial arts and a skilled bow and horse, but he was dismissed for offending the traitor Yu Wenshu, and now he is farming in his hometown in Tangyin." I have already written a letter, so let your subordinate Dai Zong deliver this letter on my behalf. After the deed is done, I will be rewarded! ”

"Wechen obeys!"

Dai Zong, who was originally just a small palace guard, was overjoyed when he heard that the Son of Heaven had personally named him to do things, and without saying a word, he took the letter and immediately set off to Tangyin to find Yue Fei.

。。。。。。。。。。

Chang'an City, Daxing Palace. Li Yuan, who had just ascended the throne for less than two years, fell ill, and he was knocked down by a series of blows.

The southern and Sui armies were defeated in a battle, and the crown prince Li Jiancheng was captured.

In the north, Zhao Kuangyin, the general of Liu Wuzhou, attacked Taiyuan City with surprise troops, and the third son Yuanji fled to the Bird Mouse Valley with more than 10,000 remnants of the army, and the northern part of the state all fell.

At the same time, the news of the defeat in the west also unfortunately came, because the second son Shimin unfortunately contracted malaria, Chai Shao and Liu Wenjing, who temporarily commanded the army, fell into Xue Ju's strategy to lure the enemy, and returned defeated, losing more than 20,000 soldiers and horses, the general Liu Hongji was captured, and Murong Luohu and Li Anyuan were killed in battle.

Li Yuan was already in his fifties, and the succession of three defeats caused him to suffer heavy physical and mental damage.

Lying on the sickbed, a heavy sense of distress came to him. After occupying Guanzhong and ascending the throne as emperor, he thought that dominating the world was already within reach. Today's three-sided defeat is undoubtedly a blow to him, making him understand that the capture of Guanzhong is only the easiest step in his imperial business, and there is still a long way to go.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of Qin is asking to see you outside!"

A eunuch who was guarding Li Yuan's sickbed said cautiously.

Li Yuan opened his eyes, glanced at the eunuch waiting next to him a few times, slowly closed them again, and said a little tiredly: "Let him come in!" ”

"Yes!" The eunuch bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew.

After a while, Li Shimin entered Li Yuan's dormitory under the guidance of this eunuch, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed respectfully, "My son and son see my father, I wish my father a long life, and the country will stay forever!" ”

Li Yuan turned his head and glanced at his second son a few times, and saw that his face was pale and bloodless, and his body couldn't help but tremble, obviously because he was seriously ill and had not recovered. I couldn't help but feel a little moved in my heart, my son was sick like this, and when I heard that the society was in trouble, I still rushed to discuss it with myself regardless of my pathology. Thinking about the eldest son again, there was a nest of fire in his heart, the surprise attack on Jingxiang was annihilated, and he was captured, and the capture of the prince was such a serious blow to the newly built Tang Empire.

Li Yuan coughed twice and said, "The emperor must have known about the situation in my Datang now, I don't know what you think?" ”

Li Shimin took a deep breath and said: "Father, Erchen thinks that although my Tang Dynasty is surrounded by enemies on all sides and there are frequent reports of defeat, Erchen thinks that the situation has not deteriorated to a very serious point, and the sons and daughters of the three strong enemies have already had strategies to defend against the enemy!" ”

Li Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this, and suddenly turned over and got up, and hurriedly said: "What is the emperor's plan, come quickly!" ”

When Li Shimin saw Li Yuan's appearance, he secretly thought that his father was really sick, and hurriedly said: "Father, my sons think that although my Tang Dynasty is surrounded by enemies on three sides, Liu Wuzhou's foundation in the northern part of the state is unstable, and the Bird Mouse Valley is dangerous, Liu Wuzhou will not dare to move lightly in a short period of time, but he is ........"

"Just what?" Li Yuan saw Li Shimin's embarrassed face, and immediately asked.

Li Shimin gritted his teeth and said: "Father, it's not that Erchen deliberately belittles the third brother, Yuan Ji's personality is too impulsive, and it is really not suitable to continue to sit in the town and merge the state, and the son-in-law suggests that the father and emperor send someone else to the state!" ”

Li Yuan's face sank when he heard this, and he was relieved, knowing that his son Mo Ruo's father, what Li Shimin said was indeed not wrong, Li Yuanji had an impulsive personality, brave and unscrupulous, originally he didn't put Liu Wuzhou in his eyes, plus Taiyuan Jiancheng, so he let Li Yuanji sit in charge, but at the moment Li Yuanji is indeed not suitable to sit in the town and merge the state.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan put away his face and said with a smile: "Shimin, you are too worried, I also know Yuanji's ability, you are right, then who do you think should be used to take charge of the state?" ”

Li Shimin was overjoyed in his heart, and immediately said: "Erchen thinks that Li Ke is cautious with his uncle's soldiers, and his son Li Cunxuan, his righteous son Li Siyuan, and Li Cunxian are all skilled people with bows and horses. ”

"Brother Keyongxian, okay, I'll use him to sit in the town and merge the state!" Li Yuan's own principle of employing people is to lead the army with the Li clan, as long as Li Shimin does not cross this article, he can mostly accept it, plus Li Ke's martial arts strategy, he has indeed heard of it, and he is a talent.

Li Shimin slowed down and continued: "Erchen thought that Xue Ju of Western Qin was arrogant, and his two sons Xue Rengao and Xue Renyue were even more infighting, although our army was temporarily defeated in the Battle of Shallow Water Plain, but the land of Western Qin was barren and could not support a long-term battle. ”

Li Yuan stroked his beard and muttered: "Shimin, you are my most outstanding son, and I also believe that you can defeat Xue Ju, but don't forget, there is still Yang Gao'er in the south eyeing us, will he let us live in peace?" Once there is a change in the rear, how can Xue Ju be destroyed? ”

Li Shimin shook his head and said: "Father, the son thinks that although Yang Gao wants to destroy our Tang Dynasty in one fell swoop, he will never enter Guanzhong!" ”

Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin in confusion, "Why?" ”

Li Shimin said: "Yang Gao is different from Liu Wuzhou, Xue Ju and other bandits, he is very politically minded, he knows that Guanzhong is not fat for him but a quagmire, Guanlong nobles hate the Sui Dynasty, even if he takes Guanzhong, he will not want to stabilize Guanzhong for three or five years." He understands this very well, otherwise he would have been able to enter the customs when he took Nanyang back then! ”

Li Yuan nodded, and then said worriedly: "Then will he choose to march into Bashu?" ”

Li Shimin continued to shake his head, "Erchen thinks that Yang Gao is very ambitious, Bashu is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and filial piety can be regarded as a deep understanding of the art of war, and no one wants to take Bashu for three or five years." In three to five years, the situation in the north may be settled, and Yang Gao can only divide the south at most. This will never be what Yang Gao wants, so his next target must be Li Mi in the Central Plains. ”