It is undoubtedly a very pleasant thing to feel sorry for each other when we meet for the first time.

Li Xuanba was very worried before, he was afraid that Xu Shiji would want to defect to the Tang Dynasty and would not pay attention to his surrender, but now things are going very smoothly, which makes him feel a little trance. On the other hand, the eldest grandson Wuji, his face was calm, and he seemed to feel that Xu Shiji's choice was a matter of course.

"Brother Wuji, if there is no Nan Sui's existence, how do you think Xu Shiji will choose?" Leaving the prison cell of the county office, it was already time to arrive, the sky was full of stars, the breeze was blowing, Li Xuanba was in a good mood, and the group walked back to their homes on the deserted streets.

Li Xuanba and the eldest grandson Wuji walked in the front, and Li Qijian and the others led the horses and followed behind them from a distance.

"This person is good at analyzing the pros and cons, understands the general trend of the world, and should defect to Datang." The eldest grandson Wuji was a little strange, why did Li Xuanba suddenly ask such a question, he thought about it seriously, and replied: "In his meaning, only the Tang Dynasty, the Southern Sui, the Northern Sui and the Southern Daliang are qualified to pacify the world, the Northern Sui and Wagang are regarded as water and fire, even if Xu Shiji defects to the Northern Sui, he will inevitably not be reused, the Great Liang is located in a remote area, it is difficult to go north, if the prince did not go to Jiangdu with His Majesty, then Xu Shiji can only choose to defect to the Tang Dynasty." ”

"That's true." Li Xuanba nodded, deeply grateful.

In history, Xu Shiji's defection to the Tang Dynasty was not only his nature, but also a helpless choice, and the appearance of the Southern Sui gave Xu Shiji more choices.

No matter how powerful the power of the Tang Dynasty is, the Southern Sui and Northern Sui are orthodox!

The two chatted all the way, and unconsciously returned to the mansion, and the eldest grandson Wuji arched his hand and said: "The night is dark, the prince rests early, presumably King Xia will hold a banquet tomorrow, and the prince will meet him for the first time." You should always look refreshed. ”

As soon as Li Xuanba arrived at the house, someone went to inform Dou Jiande, but because it was not early, Dou Jiande did not disturb.

"Xuanba knows." Li Xuanba replied: "Sir, don't worry too much, if you can get Xu Shiji, this trip is already worth it." As for how King Xia will choose, it can only depend on whether he understands the general situation as in the legend. ”

Dou Jiande knew Li Xuanba's movements in Hejian County well, so he sent someone to invite him very late the next day.

As the Duke of Zhou of the Southern Sui Dynasty, Li Xuanba freshened up, put on his official service, and rode to Hejian Mansion accompanied by the eldest grandson Wuji.

Hejian Mansion was originally the office and living place of Hejian County, but Dou Jiande was diligent and thrifty by nature. I don't like luxury, so I didn't build a palace in Hejian, so I could only use Hejian Mansion.

"Li Xuanba, the Duke of Zhou in the Southern Sui Dynasty, has seen King Xia." Entering the main hall of Hejian Mansion, Li Xuanba arched his hand to Dou Jiande and his wife, who were sitting in the first place, and said, "I've seen Queen Xia." Li Xuanba just bowed his hand and did not bow down.

"Lord Zhou Guogong is very polite." Dou Jiande returned the salute and invited Li Xuanba to take a seat.

Every movement in the lobby can indicate some attitude. For example, Li Xuanba's seat is at the top of the left side, and the seat of the eldest grandson Wuji is placed second on the left. From this point alone, it can be seen that Dou Jiande does not intend to embarrass Li Xuanba.

For another example, Li Xuanba's desk has meat, as we all know, Dou Jiande and his wife only eat vegetarian dishes on weekdays, except for the use of mutton to entertain the Turks. No one else has such treatment.

Dou Jiande is six in his forties, with a black face and a long beard, a burly figure, a chivalrous style hidden between his eyebrows, and an easy-going face. It makes people can't help but feel good.

At the banquet, everyone kept silent about state affairs, and it really became a reception banquet. Li Xuanba is not in a hurry, after all, Empress Xiao is not here, and it is inconvenient for him to take the initiative to mention some things.

Those who can participate in the banquet are all "royal relatives" nobles, Li Xuanba chats and laughs with them, and interesting things come at his fingertips, and he also wins the love of everyone. After living in Dasui for nearly four years, Li Xuanba is no longer a newborn calf, he knows what to say and what not to say.

Seeing off the guests, Dou Jiande walked to the hall with Queen Dou and bowed to Li Xuanba. Bowing represents respect, represents submission.

Li Xuanba had already gotten up and hurriedly helped Dou Jiande and his wife up.

"It is a helpless move for Jiande to become the king." Dou Jiandu opened his mouth and said: "From today on, eighteen counties such as Leshou and Hejian will be classified as the territory of Southern Sui. ”

Li Xuanba was stunned for a long time when he heard this, he couldn't have imagined that Xu Shiji had just surrendered yesterday, and today Dou Jiande was also willing to be a vassal to the court, this was no longer a surprise, it was simply a fright.

"Why?" Li Xuanba was puzzled and asked.

"What General Xu said last night, Jiande already knows, as he said, Jiande has no qualifications to compete for the world." Dou Jiande replied calmly: "Moreover, Jiande does not have this ambition. The Southern Sui Dynasty is gaining momentum, and the people are rich and healthy, which is the ideal that Jiande has been pursuing. ”

At the beginning of Dou Jiande's uprising, he only relied on his chivalrous heart to save the people from fire and water, and it was his lack of desire and desire that made other forces rarely regard him as an enemy.

"King Xia lives up to the name of benevolence, and Xuanba worships." Li Xuanba bowed down sincerely and said: "When Xuanba returns to Jiangdu, he will make the meaning of King Xia clear to His Majesty." "Dou Jiande's power, second only to the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Sui Dynasty, holds heavy troops, and resolutely gives up power for the sake of righteousness, who can not admire such a character?

"Jiande is sincere, how can he stay in Leshou?" Dou Jiande smiled heartily and said, "In a few days, Jiande will go to Jiangdu with his wife and personally ask His Majesty for guilt. In order to prevent the court from becoming suspicious, Dou Jiande wanted to take himself as a hostage and put life and death in the hands of the court.

Li Xuanba did have such worries at first, but when he saw Dou Jiande mention it himself, he was deeply moved.

"If everyone in the world can be like King Xia, why is the Great Sui River so ruined!" Li Xuanba sighed and said with emotion: "However, there are many counties and counties in Hebei, and King Xia has good governance, so please continue to govern on behalf of the imperial court." ”

Since Dou Jiande expressed sincerity, the court naturally had to show trust, no matter how sincere it was, the words of the scene still needed to be said.

Dou Jiande smiled slightly, noncommittal.

"Lord Zhou Guogong, please also ask the prospective husband to invite." Queen Dou bowed and said: "As a courtier, since you should enter the capital to face the saint, this is a courtesy, and it must be complete." ”

"What the queen said is very true." Li Xuanba replied: "There is a hurry, the matter of facing the saint is not in a hurry, and when the time comes, then bother the king and queen Xia to go to Jiangdu." ”

Dou Jiande and Queen Dou nodded at the same time, and the two of them chatted with Li Xuanba for a while, Li Xuanba glanced at the eldest grandson Wuji, and the eldest grandson Wuji said about borrowing troops, and Dou Jiande did not agree.

"The Turks are powerful, for the sake of the Li people, the Empress Dowager volunteered to go to the Turks, and Jiande was deeply ashamed that she could not protect her." Seeing that the hour was not early, Dou Jiande knew that Li Xuanba was going to visit Empress Xiao, and he stayed soon: "I also asked Zhou Guogong to persuade the Empress Dowager when he met him." ”

"King Xia was able to rescue the Empress Dowager from the traitors, and His Majesty and Xuanba are grateful." Li Xuanba shook his head slightly, hugged his fists and said, "Wait until Xuanba has seen the Empress Dowager, and then make a decision." (To be continued.) )