Chapter 798: Accompanying Overseers

"Li Ji has returned from Caozhou."

This was the first sentence that Cen Wenwen said after entering the palace of King Wu.

"Li Ji?" Li Ke was stunned, Li Ji is naturally no stranger to him, a rare general since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, in terms of command ability and strategy in the art of war, he is no worse than Li Jing and Hou Junji, his talent has always been valued by his father, but this person has always been released by his father, and he rarely has the opportunity to return to Chang'an.

"If this king remembers well, it should have been five years since Li Ji left Chang'an, right?" With a puzzled face, Li Ke said to himself: "Why is he suddenly back now?" Is it possible? ”

Li Ke's face changed, and he suddenly raised his head to look at Cen Wenwen, and said, "Could it be that my father intends to let him command the army and point his sword at Gaochang?" ”

"As it stands, it should be." Cen Wenwen sat down under Li Ke, and seeing that Li Ke could think of the crux of the problem so quickly, he couldn't help but nod with satisfaction and replied: "Although it was not explicitly stated, the emperor's intention to send troops is very obvious, and the day of sending troops is approaching, but even so, the emperor has not clearly named any human generals." ”

Glancing up at Li Ke, Cen Wenwen continued: "And Weichen also knows that for this place of general, these days, not only His Royal Highness, but also the crown prince of the East Palace and some other neutral generals have racked their brains to attract the attention of the emperor and are eager to become the commander of this expedition." ”

"Before, Weichen still had doubts, the emperor has always paid attention to taking precautions and making all preparations in advance, but why did he delay his decision this time," Cen Wenwen said: "Now, I heard that Li Ji rushed back from Caozhou, and Weichen finally understood the emperor's thoughts. ”

"Please sir," Li Ke arched his hand to Cen Wenwen and asked softly.

"The emperor is reluctant to choose generals in Chang'an, one is because the veteran is weak, and the new general is not capable. Cen Wenwen stroked the beard on his lower chin and said softly: "But now, with Hou Junji's Gao Chang, he has become a fierce tiger that is enough to feed people, and this bone is not something that anyone can gnaw." ”

"As for the second," Cen Wenwen pondered for a moment and then said, "I'm afraid that the emperor doesn't want His Highness and the crown prince's family to be dominant, so even if you have enough generals to fight against Hou Junji, the emperor will not appoint them easily." ”

"So," Li Ke's expression became a little depressed: "Father asked Li Ji to come back, in addition to wanting him to deal with Hou Junji, but also to use him to balance the king and the crown prince?" ”

"Both." Cen Wenwen sighed lightly and said, "The emperor's thoughts, who can really guess thoroughly?" ”

"However, this is not a good thing for His Highness." Putting aside Fang Cai's sigh, Cen Wenwen spoke out to persuade Li Ke and said: "In the past, in order to establish the prestige and merits of the prince, the emperor would take care of the prince in everything openly and secretly, so that the prince could better show his talents and prove his ability as a prince to the courtiers. But this time ......"

"But this time," Li Ke's heart was hot, and he took Cen Wenwen's words and said: "My father has excluded the crown prince, does this mean that my father has been completely disappointed in the crown prince?" ”

"Although Weichen doesn't know what ridiculous things the prince has done during this time," Cen Wenwen nodded with a smile and said, "But from the emperor's attitude towards the prince during this time, it can be seen that the emperor is afraid that he has already started to abolish the establishment." ”

"Listening to what the teacher said, it seems to be true." Li Ke nodded suddenly, thinking of some strange phenomena a while ago, and said in a loud voice: "Since the crown prince was seriously injured at the birthday banquet of the eldest grandson queen last time, it seems that the father and the emperor only went to the old man's house once on the day of the incident, and after that, whether the prince's injury recurred or improved, the father and emperor didn't seem to have been there again." ”

"That's it," Cen Wenwen nodded: "If the crown prince loses power, His Highness will have a chance, but the more times like this, the more His Highness must be cautious and do his part." ”

"Sir is right, the student wrote it down." Li Ke nodded obediently, and was pleasantly surprised in his heart, after waiting for so many years, is there finally a day when he will come out?

"As for the attitude towards Li Ji," Cen Wenwen pointed out: "In addition to being the commander of the army Gaochang this time, the vacancy vacated by Hou Junji will probably fall on his head." ”

"Such a high-ranking and powerful army general," Speaking of this, Cen Wenwen sat up and explained to Li Ke with a straight face: "Your Highness can show favor, but you must not be wooed by deep friendship, this is the emperor's taboo." ”

"Thank you, Mr. for teaching" Li Ke felt a stirring in his heart, and he suddenly extinguished the idea of trying to win over Li Ji.

"Also," Cen Wenwen changed his words and continued, "In addition to these, there is one more thing, if possible, Wei Chen hopes that His Highness must do it." ”

"Sir, please speak" Regarding Cen Wenwen's words, Li Ke has never neglected them, so seeing Cen Wenwen saying so solemnly, he couldn't help but pay attention to it nervously.

"This time to send troops to Gaochang, although the road is far away and dangerous, but with Li Ji, there will be no real danger," Cen Wenwen said: "If possible, Weichen hopes that His Royal Highness can ask for the emperor's favor, and when he sends troops, he can accompany the army." ”

"Overseers?"

In the same way, in Li Chengqian's bedroom in the East Palace, some people are also mentioning it loudly.

"Not bad" Empress Changsun nodded firmly, looking at the prince who was still lying on the couch with a sickly face, and said in a fixed voice: "This is your last chance, whether you can save your father's heart, whether you can seize the opportunity to take Li Ji under your account, it depends on whether you can get the position of this overseer and the performance of going to Gaochang." ”

"But Erchen's injuries have not healed, and seeing that the troops are about to be sent again, Erchen is hearted, and I am afraid that he will not be able to go" Empress Changsun's words made Li Chengqian quite moved, a stable battle, a trip without any danger, but in exchange for a large number of military exploits and the trust of his father, such a beneficial and harmless thing, as long as he is not a fool, no one will easily refuse.

"So Qian'er, you have to try your best to recover," Empress Changsun said: "This matter has been mentioned to you by the second queen mother before, and now there are more than three months before spring ploughing, no matter what method you use during this time, you must be able to walk as usual after spring ploughing, even if you can't ride a horse and drape it, it doesn't matter, after all, this time you go, just let you supervise the army, you don't have to go into battle in person." ”

"Got it, Queen Mother." Li Chengqian's face showed a resolute look, and he said loudly: "Even if you can't walk then, your sons will be carried by people, and you will go with the army."

"However," after speaking, Li Chengqian asked Empress Changsun in a somewhat uncertain voice, "Will my father agree to this matter?" There are also benefits in this that anyone can see, and the third child and some of them will definitely not let go of this opportunity, but the son is ......."

"Your father will agree," Empress Changsun said affirmatively: "No matter how you say it, you are still the crown prince now, and you are the only one who is the most suitable for the position of the prince of the Tang Dynasty and the overseer." ”

"And," after a pause, Empress Eldest Sun continued: "When the time comes, your uncle and Lord Fang will definitely ask for your life, the general trend is still with you, Li Ke and they can't fight." ”

His heart was finally placed in his stomach, and Li Chengqian sighed and said: "Knowing the queen mother, the sons will definitely work hard to heal the injured during this time, so that they will go out with the army when the time comes, and they will never disappoint the queen mother." ”

"Well," Seeing that her son's fighting spirit was regained, Empress Eldest Sun nodded with satisfaction, and then instructed: "Li Ji is your father's old courtier, the best at war, he has been in the army for more than 20 years, has fought countless battles, and there are few defeats. Therefore, if you can befriend him, he can become your greatest support in the army after Hou Junji. ”

"However, although Li Ji is loyal and upright, he has always been tactful in his officialdom, and he has always been reluctant to meddle in the dispute between you princes." Afraid that Li Chengqian would be resentful because of the unfavorable solicitation, Empress Changsun reminded Li Chengqian in advance: "If the emperor's solicitation is unfavorable on this trip, remember not to be angry and resentful, no matter what, he is my loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty, and the most valued courtier of your father, if my son sits on the throne in the future, he will also be loyal to you." ”

Li Jingshou Gao, Hou Junji defected, Li Daozong Cheng Biting Jin and others are all good at fighting, but they are all old, and now these people can barely go out to defend one side, and the party is not obvious, but in another five or ten years, when these veterans who can withstand the hard battles of the war are all unable to go out, and the new generation of generals have not been able to take charge of themselves because of the lack of war, Li Ji, who is now in the prime of life, is extremely important.

In the case of ability to believe, young is often a very strong capital, there is no doubt that Li Ji, who has just passed the age of not being confused, is more important to the future of the Tang Dynasty than Li Jing and Li Daozong.

No matter when, Datang needs a famous general who can fight big battles and fight tough battles, Empress Changsun can see clearly, no matter who will be the emperor in the future, whether it is the crown prince, Li Ke or any other prince, when all the veterans and famous generals who can fight well are old and dead, Li Ji, who is in the prime of life, is bound to become the best and most powerful assistant minister of the new emperor.

Although Empress Changsun has a little selfishness, she will never ignore the fortunes of the Tang Dynasty, and will not indirectly harm Li Ji, the future minister of the Pillar Kingdom, because of her own selfishness.

"The queen mother can rest assured, there are still some sons and daughters who measure this point." Li Chengqian replied softly disapprovingly: "If you are resentful just because you don't succeed in soliciting, wouldn't the ministers already have enemies in the court?" ”