Byzantine Constantinople.

Leo III listened to the report of the chief inspector Stinian, his face was cloudy, a little angry, and a little helpless.

Leo III was the current Emperor of the Byzantine Empire and the founder of the Isurian Dynasty.

Since the birth of the Arab Empire, the glorious Byzantine Empire has entered an era of nightmares under the attack of this regime with a sense of infinite expansion, and the political, religious, and military integration of politics, religion and military integration, has almost lost most of its territory, leaving only the borders of the peninsula of Asia Minor, relying on their national characteristics to defend the last homeland of the navy.

Originally a Byzantine soldier, Leo III was not an orthodox Roman royal family, but a nobleman who rose through the ranks and rose to a high position by virtue of his military exploits, becoming commander of the Anatolica Military District.

Taking advantage of the Arab sweep of Byzantium, Leo III established himself as the new emperor of Byzantium, and relied on Constantinople to defend himself against the attacks of the Arab Empire's naval forces. After a whole year of arduous defense, he finally used Greek fire to become the savior of Byzantium and consolidate his position.

As the first founder of the Isurian dynasty, Leo III was a visionary and long-term king, like the founders of the kingdoms.

It can be seen from the fact that he deliberately befriended the Sulu Khan, helped Sulu unify the Turgish, and became the lord of the northwest.

Leo III's seemingly unconditional financial assistance in exchange for benefits that cannot be measured in monetary terms.

If it weren't for the help of the cavalry of the Turks, Leo III would not have been able to blow the horn of a counterattack.

It's just that the times are a little bad and I met the most powerful Arab empire.

The current situation is not optimistic for Byzantium, and the old enemy Arab Empire has emerged from the defeat of the naval army, and is even stronger than before.

And their army is still useless, and it is really difficult to compete with the lion army that is rampaging across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Crucially, the Turgish allies, who have always relied on them, have been completely mired in endless infighting, and the two sides are at loggerheads.

Justinian said with a bit of bitterness: "Our ally Sulu has already captured Pei of the Tang Dynasty to Chang'an and become a prisoner. The Yellow Division, led by Mohedong and Mohe Dagan, and the Black Division, led by Sulu's son Erweitler, have now drawn a clear line and attacked each other, and have also asked us for help. ”

Leo III angrily scolded: "Ask us for help? When we are a merciful God! Now they can't take care of themselves, they are completely useless, and what is the difference between supporting them and giving alms to beggars. You rejected them, saying that they were all my allies, and I couldn't interfere. ”

After a pause, he rubbed his aching brain and said: "Turgish can't count on it, that damn Omar is eyeing our Constantinople, and recently he has the idea of forming a naval army. Without the harassment of the Turgish, our situation is very dangerous. Fortunately, the lion does not know how to fight, otherwise he would ......" He said with a bit of self-deprecation: "It is very uncomfortable that my Holy Roman Empire, which was glorious in the past, has now ended up in such a state." ”

Justinian also sighed, remembering the heroic deeds of Caesar when he ran rampant in the West.

After a long time, Leo III said: "Tuqi Shi can't count on it, Tang Dynasty." The lion had just captured Tianzhu and had already pointed its troops towards the Western Regions. We have enemies in common with them, and an alliance with them is far better than relying on unreliable Turgish. The cavalry of the Tuqi Shi is so powerful, but when it encounters the army of the Tang Dynasty, it is like the wind sweeping up the yellow sand, and it will be swept away. You also said that the strong army of the Tang Army will not be inferior to the Lion Army at all. What is that Pei's name, his ability can also be on par with that lion, they can fight with Arabia......"

Justinian said with a somewhat helpless expression: "It's different, the Tang Dynasty is different from the Tuqishi. The Turgish have no fixed source of income, we give money, and they send troops, each taking what he needs. The Tang Dynasty was so rich that they were self-sufficient and did not have to rely on any country at all. We need him, but he doesn't need us. Such dialogue and negotiation is unfair, and we suffer too much. Especially their Pei, it's very difficult to speak. He was Judas, greedy, mean, unscrupulous. If I could, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with someone like him. ”

When he was in Chang'an, Pei Min gave him a very bad impression.

Even after all these years, Justinian still haunts him.

"Ask for someone, how can you not be angry!" Leo III sighed helplessly: "Governor, you are a wise man, you should understand. Around us, except for the Tang Dynasty, there is no country that dares to be an enemy of Arabia. Joining forces with them is our only option. Besides, that Pei of the Tang Dynasty is not in Liangzhou, you are going to Chang'an, you will not see him. ”

Justinian also knew that it was imperative to strengthen an alliance with the Tang Dynasty, and after the civil strife in the Turgish, they had no other choice.

They didn't know that this helpless situation was arranged by Pei Min, and they were waiting for them to come to the door.

**********

East Palace!

"Get out, get out, get out!"

Li Siqian screamed and roared like crazy, and threw everything that could be moved beside him to the eunuchs and maids who were serving around.

All kinds of precious cups were thrown on the ground, and the whole hall was filled with the smell of wine.

Li Siqian's eyes were wide with anger, his hair was scattered, where did he still look like a prince of a country.

is like a drunkard who is crazy about drinking, he doesn't like anything, his heart is full of inexplicable anger, and he can only vent it by smashing it.

Just before that, Li Longji, who had recovered from a long illness, understood everything.

Knowing that Li Siqian had made "terrible" achievements in the past two months or so in prison, Li Longji was naturally furious.

even called Li Siqian before the sickbed, reprimanded him without any scruples, and punished him for thinking about it behind closed doors. and drove Dr. Guozi Xuan Hengtong out of the East Palace, and removed him from the power to teach the crown prince on the charge of poor teaching.

Li Siqian was extremely aggrieved in his heart, and he also knew that he had done a bad job in the past few months, and the situation of dealing with the good situation was turbulent, and even the situation of panic appeared.

But he really worked hard and used all his efforts to be a good prince.

But many things are not necessarily done well if you work hard, especially the most difficult position like the emperor......

There was no strength to vent, Li Siqian fell directly on the steps of the main hall, muttering to himself: "Father, as the crown prince back then, you had Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Shuo, and Liu Youqiu beside you...... There are virtuous ministers and ministers, and they will teach you how to be a prince. What do I have, in order to train the crown prince, Emperor Taizong asked Wei Zheng, Ma Zhou, Chu Suiliang and other great sages to teach, what do I have? You don't teach anything, you don't let you learn anything, how do you let me govern such a big country. How can you suppress it, one by one, the ministers of civil and military affairs? ”

"You scolded me, reprimanded me, said I was incompetent, but have you thought about it? Stupid bird, there is still a chance to fly first, but I don't even have the slightest chance. If you want me to have the ability to be a prince, and you don't worry about me, what do you want me to do......

He muttered, drunk for the first time in his life, and said everything he wanted to say and couldn't say.

I don't care about anything, I don't care about anything, I say it all......

Being in the palace, the supreme place, is also the dirtiest place.

Keeping your mouth shut is the way to survive.

Li Siqian obviously put a big taboo.

Li Longji held his sick body and dealt with the chaos left by Li Siqian.

In the Xingqing Palace, Li Longji met with one minister of civil and military affairs one after another.

Or the prime minister, or the book.

The red-faced court officials who fought in front of Li Siqian were as well-behaved as kittens in front of Li Longji, who was sick and pale.

At this moment, Li Longji is the backbone of the entire Tang Dynasty, even if he is sick, he can't even walk, and he is weak to speak, he can still calm everything.

The government that was originally slack, is running again.

In just three days, Li Longji dealt with the problems that Li Siqian had accumulated over two months.

However, due to overwork, the body that was gradually turning has signs of aggravation.

"Your Majesty! Please take care of your dragon's body! ”

Colliers fell to his knees and kowtowed heavily.

Li Longji also felt that his breathing was a little unsmooth, and he was very flustered in his heart.

Although their Li family is the emperor and is known as the son of heaven, many of them have qi diseases.

Tang Gaozu, Tang Taizong, Empress Changsun, and Tang Gaozong all suffered from "qi disease", as well as Princess Changle, Princess Jinyang, and many royal relatives, all of whom died because of qi diseases.

Li Longji's second brother, Li Chengyi, also died early because of qi disease.

Of course, there is no such thing as heredity in this era, but many people in the Li family have this disease and should die from this disease.

inevitably, the Li family has a strong psychological shadow.

Li Longji had not found out the history of qi disease before, but at this moment, his breath was not smooth, and there was a great sign of qi disease, so he didn't dare to be strong, and he paused and said: "General Gao, pass on my holy message, you have to decide on the small matters in the palace, and the big things lie in my consultation. ”

At this moment, Li Longji did not dare to let Li Siqian supervise the country anymore, and directly handed over power to the prime minister with better administrative ability.

Just when Li Longji was recuperating quietly, Li Siqian's drunken words also reached Li Longji's ears.

Li Longji was not angry, nor did he show many unusual expressions, but made a decision in his heart.

Waste Prince!

The abolition of the crown prince is a major event at any time, and can even cause a sensation in the entire temple, causing a turmoil and a purge.

But Li Longji didn't show the slightest sign here, and he didn't even plan to deal with it in a hurry, waiting for his illness to get better.

Because Li Siqian, the crown prince, does not have much power in his hands at all, he can't afford to turn over the slightest storm.