Chang'an, Wude Palace.

In the huge main hall, except for a few eunuchs standing in the distance with their heads bowed, only Li Yuan's father and son were left. At this time, Li Yuan was wearing a purple robe and a crown of cupola, sitting on the imperial couch, while Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin were wearing purple official robes and standing respectfully at the foot of the steps, their brows were deeply locked, and they did not say a word.

Li Yuan gently stroked the handle of the throne while muttering: "Da Lang, Erlang, since we started our army in Jinyang, it only took more than half a year to capture Chang'an, Ping'an Guanzhong, and create a new era. This is the result of the concerted efforts of our father and son, and now sitting on this couch for our father is also half of your credit! ”

Li Jiancheng replied: "This is all thanks to my father's wisdom and martial arts, my second brother and I are both sons of man, and what we do is just what we should do as sons of man and subordinates." ”

Li Shimin hooked the corners of his mouth and said, "Father, the child thinks that it is not suitable for you to sit on this imperial bed now. After all, our strength is not enough now, the foundation is not stable, and we have not officially established the country, nominally respecting Yang Yu as the emperor. If your current behavior is spread out, it will not be good for us! ”

Li Yuan laughed, waved his hand, and said, "Yang Yu is just a puppet, whether it is the family or the officials of the original Sui Court, they have accepted this established fact. At the beginning, before our uprising, we needed to raise a banner, and after attacking Daxing and pacifying Guanzhong, the people's hearts were temporarily unstable, and we needed to support Yang Yu, a puppet, to calm the people's hearts. Now it seems that this measure has had a great effect, allowing the Guan Long family to quickly return to their hearts. If you can succeed in the expedition this time and conquer Luoyang in one fell swoop, then the world has been decided, and we don't have to keep Yang Yu as a puppet. ”

Hearing this, Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, but still held back the words that came to his mouth.

Li Yuan also saw Li Shimin's dissatisfaction, and said with a smile: "Okay, it was just a joke just now, the reason why I summoned you like this today and didn't leave any outsiders is that we father and son, and I want to say something thoughtful." This is a matter of the future survival and rise and fall of our Li family, I hope you can listen to it. ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin hurriedly saluted and said, "Listen to my father's teachings." ”

Li Yuan waved his hand: "Ah Da said that there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to call according to the official title, but it looks raw." The reason why Ah Da is sitting on this royal bed today is only for the two of you to see, do you know what the purpose is? ”

Li Jiancheng hooked the corners of his mouth and said: "Ah Da wants to say that our Li Tang Dynasty Sui is already an unstoppable thing, and we have to prepare for this in advance now, right?" ”

Li Yuan didn't answer, looked at Li Shimin, and said, "Erlang, what do you think?" ”

Li Shimin said with a straight face: "Ah Da wants to say that our country is not easy to come by, and it is even more difficult to defend it, and we need our fathers, sons and brothers to work together and unite as one!" ”

Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "You're all right. Yes, now we own the entire Guanzhong and most of the state, and the hegemony of the country can be said to be beginning to take shape. But now at this time, it can also be said to be the most critical moment, we are surrounded by fierce rivals, we must not be satisfied with the status quo, enter to enjoy the world, retreat is full of losses! It can be said that this throne of Sui Yang, I don't know how many people broke their heads because of this, and now we have this throne, which is not a good thing. ”

As he spoke, he got up from his throne, walked down the steps, sat down in front of his two sons, and said with a smile, "Ah Da still prefers to sit and chat with you like this." ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin hurriedly knelt down, and Li Yuan waved his hand: "Sit, don't kneel, today is a dialogue between our father and son, and there is no need to be restrained by the courtesy of the monarch and the minister." ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin glanced at each other, and they all sat cross-legged. Li Yuan stared at his two sons, his eyes were bright, and he said: "In the early years of the Great Cause, the Great Sui Empire was still so strong and unshakable, but since the seventh year of the Great Cause, only eleven years, Sui Yang's world has been eroded to this point, and the reason why Yang Guang lost the world so quickly, what do you think is the fundamental reason?" ”

Li Jiancheng sighed: "It's nothing more than Yang Guang's perverse behavior, and his tyranny has lost the hearts of the people in the world." ”

Li Shimin hooked the corners of his mouth and said: "The child thinks that in addition to what the eldest brother said, the key is that Yang Guang is not in the right position, he can't trust those high-ranking families who helped him illegally seize power, and he is suspicious of his own clansmen, so he will trust the Jiangnan literati, and in order to balance the anger of the Guanlong family and the Shandong clan, he has repeatedly fought against foreign countries, and finally the people's grievances are boiling and out of control." ”

Li Jiancheng agreed: "Yes, Yang Guang broke away from the foundation of the Sui court's rule, abandoned the interest community of the Guanlong family, and distrusted the Shandong clan, but reused the Jiangnan literati who had no roots and no foundation, which led to the world's flames, and many families were no longer on the side of the Sui court, plus Yang Guang himself was stupid, so the situation would be eroded to this point." ”

Li Yuan said earnestly: "What you two said is very right! After Yang Guang's perverse actions led to the chaos in the world, most of the courtiers were no longer willing to serve him, and he did not have the help of the clan, so he could only go all the way to the dark. You two brothers, on military affairs, charging into battle, Erlang is also the director. But when it comes to making friends with scholars and stabilizing the rear, it is Dalang's strength. If our Li family wants to sit on this throne for a long time, we must not only be stronger than their Yang family, but also father and son, brothers and sons, only in this way, we will not repeat the mistakes of the Yang family! ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin looked solemn, nodded, and responded: "What Ah Da said is true." ”

Li Yuan's gaze swept over the faces of his two sons, and he said: "Now that we have just established a political power, everything is in ruins, and at this time, there must be no internal chaos. The two of you, as well as Shiro Motoyoshi, are my sisters-in-law, and they both have their own talents. Now I need you to use your talents. In this battle of the Eastern Capital, the two of you brothers led the army separately, Da Lang was the main one, and Erlang was the auxiliary, and in military matters, Erlang was in the business, Da Lang, you have to listen to Erlang's advice. ”

Li Jiancheng smiled slightly: "In terms of marching and fighting, I am not as good as the second brother, and I also asked my father to let Erlang be the handsome this time, and the child is willing to be an assistant." ”

Li Shimin hurriedly said: "No, eldest brother, you are the son of the world, I am your younger brother, with you, I must not be the boss and be above you." ”

Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "Seeing your brothers working together, I'm happier than anything else." But I still have to say that now that you have all grown up and built your own houses, your brothers may not have a desire to fight, but your subordinates may instigate you to fight with your brothers out of the pursuit of glory and wealth. Yang Guang and his brothers came to the last step, which was also inseparable from the instigation of the people around them. At this point, you must refrain from it, only our Li family is the closest relatives, and outsiders are outsiders no matter how they are, you can't let them ruin the relationship between our Li family, understand? ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin looked serious and nodded vigorously.

Seeing this, Li Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief, jumped up from the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Today, even if Ah Da gives you a fare, go ahead, send troops to the Eastern Capital, as for this pass, Ah Da will help you protect it, don't worry about me!" ”

Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin glanced at each other, and at the same time stood up and saluted: "No!" ”