In order to deal with the Wagang thieves, Li Xuanba made a lot of preparations, but the Wagang thieves have been very quiet, and there is no appearance of attacking Xingyang.

Knowing that this edict was sent to Taiyuan, Li Xuanba could guess the contents of the edict without opening it. However, Yang Guang did not send the edict directly to Taiyuan, but made an extra move and asked him to send someone to pass the edict, which made Li Xuanba have an ominous premonition.

He left the secret envoy behind, arranged for someone to serve carefully, and he accompanied the secret envoy to chat, constantly asking about the situation in Jiangdu, and seemed to be very concerned about the safety of the imperial court, the secret envoy knew Li Xuanba's status in Yang Guang's heart, and he also knew everything.

"It's not far to go to Taiyuan, why didn't the secret envoy directly send the edict to Tang Guogong?" Li Xuanba took the opportunity to express the doubts in his heart, and explained: "It's not that Xuanba is unwilling to obey orders, it's just that the Wagang thieves are entrenched in Dongjun and may attack at any time, and Xuanba really doesn't want to waste a single soldier in the city." ”

"Your Majesty has passed on the edict before, but several secret envoys have not returned to Jiangdu, and Tang Guogong has not gone to Luoyang to stand by." The secret envoy did not doubt him, and said without concealment: "Now that there are thieves everywhere, Your Majesty suspects that the edict has not been delivered to Tang Guogong, so he will ask Lord Tongshou to send troops to Taiyuan." ”

In fact, the secret envoy didn't know much about it, but Li Xuanba already understood Yang Guang's intentions from the secret envoy's words, he nodded, and said: "Since the road is dangerous, then Xuanba will send someone to escort the secret envoy to Taiyuan, and the secret envoy will personally hand over the edict to Tang Guogong, so that you can go back and resume your life." ”

The secret envoy smiled, shook his head and said, "The edict has been sent here, and the mission of the lower official has been completed. After a pause, he continued: "Your Majesty has previously explained that he should rush back to Jiangdu as soon as possible, and said that he is very relieved that the edict will be handed over to Lord Tongshou. ”

"The secret envoy has been traveling all the way, so what's the point of staying and resting for the night?" Li Xuanba bowed his hand and said politely: "Your Majesty is generous, and you shouldn't blame the secret envoy for this little thing." ”

"Lord Tongshou doesn't have to be polite, why not work hard for His Majesty?" The secret envoy politely refused Li Xuanba's kindness, got up to say goodbye, Li Xuanba was polite again, and saw that the secret envoy was really in a hurry to leave, so he personally sent him out of the house, and ordered someone to escort him on board.

Back in the lobby, Fang Xuanling walked out from behind the tent.

"Mr. should have heard what the secret envoy said just now." The two of them took their respective seats, and Li Xuanba said: "Sir, do you think that Your Majesty's edict really can't be sent to Taiyuan?" ”

"Since Tang Guogong exterminated Zhen Zhai'er, Taiyuan has always been stable, how can you say that thieves are coming?" Fang Xuanling replied: "It is said that Taiyuan people come and go, and it is very lively, why are ordinary people fine, but a few secret envoys have an accident?" Gongzi should have noticed that the secret envoy was dressed like the common people, even if there were really thieves, how could they tell who was the secret envoy of the imperial court? ”

"What does your majesty think your majesty intends to do?" Li Xuanba looked at Fang Xuanling and said softly. Fang Xuanling looked at Li Xuanba seriously with a hint of a smile, Li Xuanba scratched his head embarrassedly, and then said: "Mr. should know that Xuanba is unwilling to get involved in this matter, dare to ask Mr. what is the best plan?" ”

Li Xuanba originally wanted to send someone to escort the secret envoy to Taiyuan, his purpose was to avoid the matter of sending the edict, but the secret envoy seemed to see through his thoughts, and left in a hurry after leaving the edict.

"Your Majesty's order, what reason does the son have not to obey?" When Li Xuanba sent the secret envoy out, Fang Xuanling had already considered this problem, but he had no way to deal with this matter, Li Xuanba seemed to have no way to avoid it, so he could only send someone or go to Taiyuan in person.

"yes, I have no excuse to say no at all." Li Xuanba smiled bitterly and sighed: "Although Your Majesty is testing my father, why isn't it testing me?" ”

If Li Xuanba doesn't go to Taiyuan, then Yang Guang will inevitably take back his military power, of course, Li Xuanba can also say that the people sent out encountered traitors, but will Yang Guang really believe it? Once Yang Guang doubted Li Xuanba's loyalty to the imperial court, it could be said that Li Xuanba was ineffective and used this as an excuse to withdraw his military power.

"The villain thinks that His Majesty still prefers Tang Guogong to be loyal to the imperial court." Fang Xuanling pondered for a moment, raised his head and said, "Your Majesty asked Gongzi to send the edict is fake, and it is true to let Gongzi persuade Tang Guogong." ”

"You really underestimated our majesty." Li Xuanba said mockingly: "I can guarantee that Your Majesty has not realized that his decision was wrong until now. Taiyuan and his party should not be able to hide. ”

"Since it's inevitable, let's plan the next thing." Fang Xuanling had said before that he couldn't find an excuse not to go to Taiyuan, and he sighed: "No matter what Your Majesty has in mind, he has caused trouble to Gongzi after all. ”

The two fell into contemplation at the same time, and after a long time, Li Xuanba took the lead in saying: "My father is loyal to the imperial court, I really can't understand why he didn't obey the edict. My father is free and easy, not greedy for power, it stands to reason that he can't betray the court because of His Majesty's edict, there must be something I don't know, so that my father doesn't dare to let go of military power. ”

Since he didn't understand, he should ask, Fang Xuanling heard the meaning of Li Xuanba's words, and said in surprise: "Childe plans to go to Taiyuan in person?" ”

"Or else?" Li Xuanba stood up, paced in the lobby, and said as he walked: "There is no news of the secret envoy sent by His Majesty, I sent someone over, I am afraid that the same will happen, in this case, it is better for me to go myself, just ask my father what he thinks." Fang Xuanling was just about to speak, but Li Xuanba interrupted him and continued: "Xingyang needs someone to sit here, Mr. should stay here." ”

"Then let Liang Xiao and Captain Xiao accompany you." Fang Xuanling knew that he couldn't resist Li Xuanba, so he took a step back and said, "If you want to go alone, then Xuanling will immediately return to Luoyang and leave the Tang Mansion with his relatives." ”

"I'll take Liang Xiao with me, Captain Xiao can't go." Li Xuanba bargained and said: "He is my father, even if I disagree with him, he will never hurt me." Li Xuanba has not been able to confirm Captain Xiao's thoughts so far, and when he went to Taiyuan this time, he didn't dare to let Captain Xiao know about some things.

Li Yuan's calf protection is known to the whole world. Thinking that Li Shimin and Pei Yuanqing competed in the main hall, Pei Yuanqing defeated Li Shimin in three moves, Li Yuan let Li Xuanba play, and ordered him to win within three moves, but Li Xuanba almost took Pei Yuanqing's life with just one hammer. Thinking of this, Fang Xuanling felt that he was a little worried, he nodded, and said, "How do you confirm that Gongzi is okay?" ”

"I stay in Taiyuan for a maximum of one day, and it takes about eight days to go back and forth on the road." Li Xuanba calculated in his heart, and in order to prevent a sudden situation on the road, he replied: "If I haven't come back in half a month, you will return to the Eastern Capital, and let Li Gou protect you to leave, and find a safe place to hide." ”

"What about you, Childe?" At the critical juncture, Li Xuanba was still thinking about their retreat, Fang Xuanling was very moved, and said: "Tang Guogong may not hurt you, but Your Majesty finds that Tang Guogong is still in Taiyuan, and will definitely send someone to ask Gongzi, and when Gongzi is not in Xingyang, Your Majesty will definitely misunderstand Gongzi." ”

Li Xuanba stopped and said in a low voice: "If there is really such a day, it can only be said that Xuanba's life should be like this." ”

The lobby became quiet, Fang Xuanling smelled a smell of life and death, and when he was sentimental, he suddenly found Li Xuanba standing in front of him, showing his teeth that were not straight, and said with a smile: "By the way, if I don't come back, you will tell the princess for me that Luoyang is not safe, and let her leave earlier." ”