On a sunny day in autumn, the sun is shining, and the chrysanthemums are in full bloom.

The garden was filled with the scent of flowers, and the stream was bright and gurgling, taking away a few rootless wanderers.

Li Shimin sat on a Taishi chair by the stream, leaning back and squinting slightly, lazily basking in the sun.

Between the nose is the fragrance of the earth and the wet smell of aquatic plants, and behind him there are several Taihu stones polished by flowing water.

Peaceful all around.

Not far from him, in front of him, the little son sat on a podium seat, painting with a serious brush. Li Shimin asked him to paint a portrait of himself, and the little son agreed. At this time, she raised her eyes from time to time to look at her father, and then lowered her head and drew carefully.

After a long time, Li Shimin almost fell asleep. The little son smiled and called, "Father, I'm done!" ”

Li Shimin woke up at this time, yawned and said with a smile: "Quickly show it to my father." ”

The little son smiled and took the painting, Li Shimin glanced at it, and laughed on the spot.

"Little son, you are so naughty! How can you draw your father asleep? Li Shimin pointed to the painting and smiled, "Look at it, I also painted my father's belly so big, and there was a small bird standing on his belly!" ”

"Hee-hee, that little bird is a little son!" The little son smiled, "Is the painting good, father?" ”

"Yes, that's good." Li Shimin nodded and smiled, touched the little son's head and said, "As the saying goes, calligraphy and painting are like people, I look at the thickness of the ink and the rigidity and softness of the lines, I know that you are kind and benevolent." ”

Speaking of this, Li Shimin sighed again, as if he was saying it to himself: "Little son, you may be the smartest, smartest, most well-behaved and most docile among my children. ”

Although the little son was young, she had always been extremely smart and understanding, and she murmured: "Father, do you think of the fourth brother again?" ”

Li Shimin smiled slightly, but there was a little bitterness in his smile, and he said, "Why is it your fourth brother?" And your eldest brother who is far away in Lingnan, the second brother who died young, and your fifth brother who left his golden body in Famen Temple......"

The little son's mouth pursed, and he whispered sadly: "Father, why did these imperial brothers leave us so early?" …… Brother Jiu didn't come to the palace to see me anymore, and Imperial Sister Gaoyang also left. I miss them so much! ”

Li Shimin was speechless. He stared at the little son for a long time, his eyes full of lingering love and sorrow.

"Little son, I, I will marry you to an ordinary family in the future, okay?" Li Shimin said suddenly.

The little son blinked his eyes half-incomprehensibly, and shook his head again, "I don't want to marry." ”

Li Shimin smiled, "Why? Girls and babies are going to get married when they grow up. ”

"Because when you get married, you have to live with your husband, and you have to leave your father." The little son said seriously, "Several imperial sisters, they are all like this. When they got married, they didn't come to the palace to accompany their father. Sister Gao Yanghuang has gone far away...... I don't want to get married, I want to be with my father forever! ”

Li Shimin's heart seemed to be pierced by a red iron stick, touching the tender place that had been buried for a long time in the depths of his heart. Suddenly, bitterness, emotion, regret and sadness all poured up.

I almost had red circles under my eyes, and I didn't stop crying.

"Father, what's wrong with you......"

"It's nothing ......" Li Shimin smiled hard, touched the little son's head, and said softly, "Do you know, little son." When you were a child, your sister Gaoyang was so well-behaved and clever like you, and she also said the same thing to her father......"

The little son listened very seriously, first nodded, and then shook his head decisively: "Sister Gao Yang Huang doesn't talk much. I won't, I'm sure I'm talking! ”

"Silly girl!" Li Shimin smiled, and a long-lost warmth floated in his heart.

Finally left the court for a while and was able to return to the harem to recuperate. Here, Li Shimin is accompanied by his little son every day, and the old and the young are inseparable. It seems that only when he is with his little son can Li Shimin accurately feel that he is a father, not the king of a country.

Instead of that, the monarch of the Tang Dynasty must make a choice and give up between family affection and imperial industry.

The imperial doctor decocted the medicine and brought it over. The little son took the bowl and fed Li Shimin medicine spoonful by spoon, and like a child, he said while blowing the medicine spoon, 'It's not bitter, it's not bitter, my father is good, drink it quickly, and the disease will be cured'!

Li Shimin was really 'obedient', smiling and drinking the medicine one by one.

When the palace people and eunuchs next to them saw this scene, their faces were filled with smiles as warm as the sun, just like the autumn chrysanthemums blooming in this imperial garden.

Just finished drinking the medicine, Li Shimin was rinsing his mouth with tea when Li Ke came.

The little son greeted him from afar, "Third brother, you're here!" ”

Li Ke laughed heartily, "Little son, you are accompanying your father again!" How is it, did my father drink the medicine today? ”

"I've drunk it, my father is very well-behaved!" The little son smiled, revealing two little tiger teeth, and said, "Third brother, is the village chief back?" ”

Li Ke was stunned, smiled again, and squatted down to hug the little son.

The little son suddenly took two steps back, "Don't! ”

"What's wrong?" Li Shimin and Li Ke were stunned.

"The third brother is a boy, I'm a girl, I can't hug it!" The little son is serious.

Li Shimin and Li Ke both laughed loudly, laughing so much that tears were about to come out.

"Third brother, what are you laughing at! Let me ask you, has the village chief returned? "The little son is still a little angry.

"Not yet." Li Ke said with a smile, "He's ...... There are still some things to be busy. When he's done, he'll come back to play with you. ”

"I didn't want him to play with me." The little boy looked a little displeased, his mouth pursed, and he muttered, "I want him to see the portrait I painted for him." The father said that he would build a Lingyan Pavilion and put the portraits of the heroes of the Tang Dynasty into it. The portraits of the other heroes were all painted by my teacher (Yan Liben); I was the only one who drew the village chief! ”

"So? The little boy is amazing! Li Ke nodded lightly and said with a smile, "When he comes back, I will definitely let him come to the palace to find you and make a special trip to see this portrait, okay?" ”

"Okay, it's a deal!" The little son smiled happily at this time.

"Little son, my father wants to say something to your third brother, you go to play with the nurse first! Later, my father will teach you calligraphy. Li Shimin smiled.

The little son obediently left.

Li Ke greeted Li Shimin and said: "Father, the main force of the Guanxi Army is 300,000 troops, and it has been back for many days. Erchen has issued an edict, and the British Duke Li Tao will return to Chang'an in a few days. The son wanted to ask his father, how should the 300,000 army be organized, and who should lead it? ”

Li Shimin leaned lazily on the chair and said, "Why don't you have a suitable candidate?" ”

"It's a matter of military affairs, and the son still wants to ask his father what he means."

"Since I let you be in charge of the country, I have left these things to you to deal with." Li Shimin said, "What's wrong with the military affairs, can't you handle it?" ”

Li Ke smiled bitterly and said, "Then the minister will talk about his own opinions." Erchen thinks that the Guanxi Army is the elite division of our Tang Dynasty, not only is the combat brave and strict military discipline, but more importantly, this army is very united, and the order is prohibited. Erchen thought that it was not appropriate for this army to be dismantled and reorganized after returning to the dynasty, so that it could be returned to various military governments. When they were called back in wartime, the morale of the army was weakened. Therefore, Erchen suggested that the original general of the Kansai Army should still be in charge of this army. Let them stay in Chang'an for a long time in the future, as the main force of Gongwei Chang'an. ”

Li Shimin was noncommittal, but said: "If you think it makes sense, you can do it well." ”

"Erchen suggested that the four pillars of the Kwantan Army continue to serve as the commander of the Kwantung Army." Li Ke said, "Earlier, my father ordered the formation of a new army of two guards, which are the left and right dragon guards. After the Battle of Pingbo, the left and right Long Wuwei lost personnel due to various reasons such as casualties and return to the government, and the establishment was chaotic, and it was already in name only. Therefore, Erchen suggested that Pang Fei, who had returned to the dynasty, and Xue Rengui, the first fierce general of the Guanxi Army, should serve as the new generals of Long Wuwei. These two guards and horses defend the imperial capital on weekdays; During the war, as the main force of the vanguard, he destroyed the city and uprooted the village. ”

"Okay." Li Shimin finally made a statement and said, "In the transfer of generals and personnel, you have to work harder, and you have to convince everyone." The original left and right generals of Long Wuwei, Qin Tong and Li Junxian were all inspectors, and now Pang Fei and Xue Rengui are officially appointed as generals, you have to appease these two people first. ”

"The retainers obey."

"By the way, you just said ...... Four Courtyard Pillars? Li Shimin frowned slightly, "I seem to remember that in addition to the Four Courtyard Pillars in the Kansai Army, there is also the 'Eighth Army Platform'?" ”

"Yes." Li Ke said, "In the Kansai Army, good ministers and fierce generals should gather. The four court pillars and eight military platforms are all great heroes with one side of the family, and they are also rare tiger generals in the world. Especially the Four Courtyard Pillars, Su Dingfang is now sitting in the Western Regions, Pang Fei once acted as the Metropolitan Governor of Lanzhou, and Xue Rengui is a rare general in a century; The rest of the Eighth Army, after pacifying the Western Regions, were ordered by Qin Mubai to establish their own governor's mansions, and now they are temporarily consuls, and they are each sitting on one side in the Western Regions to protect the territory and the people for our Tang Dynasty...... Only Yuwen Hongtai, one of the four court pillars, resigned and left with Qin Mubai. ”

Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said, "Since it is a talent, it must be reused." After some time, when the Western Regions stabilized, the Eight Military Platforms were transferred back to Chang'an, and they held important positions in the left and right dragons and guards, or in other important positions in the guards. ”

Speaking of this, Li Shimin paused meaningfully and said, "In the future, they can also serve in the Six Rates." ”

Li Ke's heart was shocked: Six rates?

The prince's pro-guards and horses in the East Palace, are the East Palaces six rates?

Hearing this, Li Ke's heart was actually not surprised, but gradually relieved. Just now, he deliberately mentioned the Kansai Army, the Four Courtyard Pillars, and the Eighth Army Platform in front of Li Shimin, just to test his father's attitude towards these people. Now things have proved that after Qin Mubai left, the generals of the Kansai army were no longer considered a "power group". The imperial court can easily control and absorb them, and measure their talents.

And listening to Li Shimin's words, the intention is obvious - he hopes that the Guanxi Army can be firmly united around Li Ke and become the right-hand man who consolidates his position as the crown prince!

The father and son were silent for a moment, and Li Shimin suddenly said, "Qin Mubai...... Any news? ”

Li Ke said softly: "It's still in Mobei." It's almost winter, and the weather on the grassland desert is cold and windy, sandy, rainy and snowy, making it inconvenient to travel far. It is estimated that he will stay there for another three or four months before he will be diverted to the Western Regions. ”

Li Shimin nodded and said, "What about your marriage?" ”

Li Ke frowned and said, "Just ask my father to choose a famous lady for his son...... Let's get married! ”

Li Shimin chuckled, "What, I was rejected by others, I was disheartened, and I wanted to open it?" ”

Li Ke smiled slightly and said, "Everyone has their own ambitions, and they can't be forced." Now it is not what it used to be, and it is natural for the two brothers and sisters to have their own ideas. Frost said it well in a letter to me...... It is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes. Maybe we are really fated to have no part, we can only miss it, but we can't stay together. ”

The expression on Li Shimin's face did not change, and he said lightly: "Ke'er, you are the same as your father, you are a person of temperament. But you have to remember that Heaven is actually fair to everyone: the more you gain, the more you often lose. Don't be delusional about having the best of both worlds, it will make you lose more than you gain. ”

"Erchen understands......" Li Ke sighed lightly, twisted his brows again, and said, "Erchen is now ordered to supervise the country, so everything should be done with state affairs first." The marriage of my son-in-law is no longer just my private matter, but a national event. Therefore, the sons also asked their father and mother to be the masters to confirm the marriage. ”

Li Shimin nodded lightly, "I know." ”

"What other admonitions does my father have?"

"Remember, whether it is the emperor's own cultivation or the use of ministers to promote people, in times of peace, the first thing is to cultivate oneself through virtue; In troubled times, you should use a skill. Li Shimin said, "It's okay, you go!" ”

"The retainers retired ......"

After saying goodbye to Li Shimin, Li Ke walked slowly in the imperial garden, pondering Li Shimin's last sentence, and thought in his heart: My father suddenly said such a sentence to me, there must be some allusion. In the era of peace, virtue is the first priority; In wartime, when it is critical, you should use a skill-is this talking about Qin Mubai?

Listening to the words of his father, a person like Qin Mubai, according to the level of Confucian moral requirements, is only average in virtue, at least not comparable to many Confucian celebrities and moral monarchs in the court; But he is indeed a talented person with outstanding ability, and he has his own uniqueness in governing the people with soldiers.

In connection with reality, in recent years, Qin Mubai has never been to Lanzhou, and has repeatedly made astonishing moves, from the beginning of moving people into Lanzhou, opening the market to attract business, monopolizing the grain market, and paying taxes for his own use, to the later conscription and expansion of troops, private surrender of rebels, deception and luring of the enemy, including the private use of Hou Junji, and Hou Junji's later series of behaviors, the account can be counted on Qin Mubai's head.

According to the standards of secular etiquette, Qin Mubai's behavior is absurd and out of place enough, that is to say, in the eyes of many old masters, he is actually a rebel minister with "bad conduct" and "unobservance".

However, Qin Mubai did these great deeds alone, and he couldn't do it by sending 10,000 old masters.

In retrospect, Li Ke felt that his father's words really hit the nail on the head to say the king's way of employing people - virtue in prosperous times, and energy in troubled times!

"Mu Bai, I finally understand why you resigned." Li Ke suddenly realized and said secretly, "You are a pragmatic person, and you don't want to be famous." After the battle is over, the Tang Dynasty will definitely return to Wenzhi. If you return to the court, you will work with countless Confucian old masters, and you will also throw away your sword and pick up pen and ink, and do the same thing as them. Although you are famous all over the world, most of the scholars and ministers in the court may not really respect and accept you from the bottom of their hearts. What awaits you will be endless intrigue and deceit, and even the settlement of accounts after the autumn. I once had a big stack of impeachment notes on my father's imperial case, and I know that......

"How similar is this to Hou Junji back then?"

"Well, I'm not going to force you anymore! But as my father said, if Datang is in trouble, you must stand up and fight side by side with me! ”

Thinking of this, Li Ke smiled bitterly; Qin Mubai, Qin Mubai, now I am looking forward to seeing you, but I don't want to see you! - If you and I don't see each other, it means that everything is fine in Datang; If you and I meet, it will be a time when Datang is in trouble!

"How's that good?"

Did you really answer that sentence...... It's better to miss each other? ”