"Ladies and gentlemen, you must be cautious in the matter of appointing a prince, I have already made a mistake back then, so I am now thinking twice about this matter. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info not hide from you that I have also considered several of my princes in my heart, but I am actually not satisfied with them. However, the affairs of my Tang Dynasty are related to the stability of the hearts of the military and the people in the world, but I can only choose the best among my princes. Besides, Xiang Guo said that Li Heng has grown a lot after experience, so I naturally believe Xiang Guo's judgment. Xuanzong said slowly.

Wang Yuan was quite surprised, he thought that in the matter of establishing a prince, Xuanzong was afraid that he would have a great disagreement with him, and there might even be unhappiness. But I didn't expect Xuanzong to have such a submissive tone and attitude. Could it be that Xuanzong has endured so much, determined not to have any conflict with himself, and chooses to obey his own will in everything? But Wang Yuan quickly rejected this judgment. This is a major matter related to the future succession of the Tang Dynasty, how could Xuanzong give in so easily? It was already an open secret that he belonged to Li Mao, and Li Heng was the son he didn't like at all, so how could he swallow his anger to such an extent?

"However, I don't think it's better to put this matter back on the table. The matter of appointing a prince is extremely important and should not be hastily pursued. Moreover, the rebels have not been extinguished, and the state affairs are unstable, so it is neither solemn nor appropriate to appoint the prince at this time. In addition, I also want to hear the opinions of important ministers who are not in Chengdu, such as Li Guangbi, Guo Ziyi and others are all important ministers of the DPRK and the Central People's Republic of China, and they do not know about this discussion, should we listen to their opinions on this matter? There are also Gao Xianzhi, officials from the southern state capitals, etc., I think we need to listen to their opinions. I don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past, and I must be extremely cautious in this matter. Wang Yuan, what do you say? Xuanzong said in a gentle and deliberative tone.

Wang Yuan sneered in his heart, as expected, Xuanzong just adopted a delaying strategy, neither objected nor agreed, and delayed the matter later. Sure enough, he is a master of playing with means, and he resolves the current dilemma with softness and understatement.

"Your Majesty, the matter of the country is imminent. This is a major measure to stabilize the hearts of the military and the people and maintain social stability. The country is settled, and the people are at peace. Your Majesty cannot delay any longer. Yan Zhenqing said in a deep voice.

Xuanzong said with an unhappy look on his face: "Yan Zhenqing, what you said seems to be delaying, I am more anxious than you." I'm already old, how can I not know the urgency of the reserve? But didn't I say it? The more anxious you are, the less you can hurry. I don't want to make another big mistake. I know that the people of the world now have a lot of complaints against me, believing that this catastrophe is caused by me. I hope that I can pass on to the new emperor as soon as possible and revive the hearts of the military and the people of the world. I understand. It's not that I'm not in love, I just hope to return to Chang'an after the rebellion is put down and pass on the right person, I just hope to carefully choose the successor, isn't this also possible? Are you going to force me to abdicate today and pass on to Li Hui? If you have the will, I will do it. Anyway, I'm old, confused, and stupid, and you've thrown it away like a broken shoe, and I've confessed it. ”

Xuanzong's face was sad, these words were old and sad, like a little daughter-in-law who had been wronged, and like a child who didn't know the world, he said these angry words.

The ministers were silent, in their impressions, His Majesty had never said such a thing. His Majesty Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty was so wise and martial once upon a time, and how admirable. It was he who regained the throne of the Li Tang Dynasty from the hands of the mighty Emperor Wu, and under his leadership, the Tang Dynasty reached another prosperous era after the rule of Zhenguan and became the first power in the world. Who would have thought that Li Longji, who had created such a brilliant future, would actually speak angrily in front of hundreds of officials today, like a child who is sloppy and obedient. Everyone sighed and at the same time felt compassion in their hearts. His Majesty's hair was gray, his face was dry, and his whole body looked like a piece of dry wood. Only a little more than a year has passed, and His Majesty in Chang'an City has already judged the two of them. And these people seem to be persecuting this poor old man at the moment, and they are indeed a little unbearable.

Yan Zhenqing is the most emotional person, although he understands that the matter of the country is imminent, but the situation at this moment makes him unable to bear to force Xuanzong to express his position. As soon as Xuanzong's words came out, Yan Zhenqing fell to the ground in a panic, and said continuously: "Why did Your Majesty say this, the ministers are thinking about the Tang Dynasty, if Your Majesty is persecuting Your Majesty, aren't the ministers all capital crimes?" Your Majesty is angry, and Your Majesty forgives your sins. ”

As soon as Yan Zhenqing knelt down, the ministers also knelt on the ground, asking for forgiveness one after another, and expressing their hearts one after another, confessing that it was not a move to force the palace.

Wang Yuan stood quietly aside, looking at the ministers who were kneeling on the ground in front of him, and sneered in his heart. Yan Zhenqing and others are too simple and ignorant, obviously this is Xuanzong's means, deliberately retreating to resolve the crisis. It is the foolish loyalty of these people that is used, and the use of these people's hearts is that they dare not cross the bottom line of imperial power to kidnap them, and it is obvious that this trick has worked.

Some ministers saw that Wang Yuan did not kneel, and they didn't know whether to kneel down with Yan Zhenqing or stand with Wang Yuan. For a while, he froze in place, embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, the matter of the ministers discussing the establishment of the prince is for the sake of the Tang Dynasty, isn't Your Majesty just saying this to trap the ministers in a place of disloyalty, filial piety, benevolence and injustice? It is within the purview of our courtiers to appoint the crown prince, and it would be a dereliction of duty for us not to mention it. When Your Majesty says something like that, doesn't he teach us to derelict our duties and ignore our duties? If so, what is the use of us and our courtiers? Your Majesty simply dismissed us all, for we could not fulfill our duties as courtiers. Wang Yuan said coldly.

Xuanzong gritted his teeth secretly, he knew that his set of methods was clearly seen by Wang Yuan, and Wang Yuan was really not easy to deal with. This also proves from another side that Wang Yuan and Yan Zhenqing are different, Yan Zhenqing is still in awe of themselves, but he is as light as a feather in Wang Yuan's heart.

"Xiangguo, that's not what I meant. Yan Zhenqing, you also get up, I don't blame you, I just hope to slow down. In this way, I will first agree to your suggestion, and Li Heng, as a candidate for the crown prince, will issue a holy decree to solicit the opinions of officials from all over the world. If there are no objections, then after the recovery of Chang'an in the spring of next year, I will officially canonize Li Heng as the crown prince after I return to the capital. In that case, it is more prudent to consider and more complete in etiquette. You can't act in a hurry, and it's not in line with etiquette. Xuanzong said gently.

Yan Zhenqing hurriedly said: "Your Majesty's words are also a way, as long as this matter is in progress, I don't care about the time of the past few months." Wang Xiangguo, what do you think? I think it can be done. ”

Wang Yuan frowned and said: "Yan Zhongshu, you are the one who is clamoring to establish the prince, and you are the one who agrees to delay, what are you going to do?" ”

Yan Zhenqing hurriedly said: "Xiangguo, it's me who didn't think it through, and this matter is my fault." His Majesty's words have embarrassed me, and I wonder if we have been in a hurry and need to reconsider. ”

Wang Yuan couldn't wait to go up and slap him twice. This man is indeed not trustworthy. And the things of today were stirred up in his hands. Now, of course, Wang Yuan can't be too tough, otherwise he will become a real forced palace. In that case, Yan Zhenqing would be the first to jump out and fight back. Wang Yuan didn't want to make things worse. Xuanzong's move was delaying, Wang Yuan didn't know what he was delaying for, maybe he was buying time for Li Mao to become the crown prince. But Wang Yuan is confident that if he opposes it with all his might, Li Mao will not want to become the prince. Anyway, I am not afraid that Xuanzong will play tricks, I must set up a prince who is beneficial to me, and I will never do what Xuanzong wants, but I don't care that I must decide at this moment.

"In that case, what else do I have to say. According to His Majesty's words, it is. From now on, the official document will be sent to the state capitals of Datang to solicit the opinions of the officials above the Taishou on King Feng as the crown prince, and consider it comprehensively. However, the matter of this country is indeed imminent, and I hope that Your Majesty will give more consideration to the opinions of his subjects and make a decision as soon as possible. Wang Yuan said slowly.

"I think about this every day, this is a big deal for me in the Tang Dynasty, how can I not take it to heart." Xuanzong's plan succeeded, and he was in a happy mood. He had already thought of a plan to retreat, and today he deliberately showed weakness and achieved results. It can also be seen from today's events that Wang Yuan's control over these ministers is far from enough, and the ministers are not completely abandoning themselves, which gives Xuanzong great comfort. At the same time, Xuanzong once again found out Wang Yuan's bottom line. Wang Yuan really didn't have the ruthlessness to do big things, at this time he didn't use the power in his hands to force himself to comply, he could only say that this person was not bold enough. Such a Wang Yuan will never be his opponent, and once he is out of his control, he will definitely play with him.

Wang Yuan was annoyed, but he was also helpless. Today's incident made a big fuss, but I didn't expect it to be a tiger, and it was conveniently resolved by Xuanzong's bitter calculation. Wang Yuan was extremely disappointed in his heart, Yan Zhenqing, Wei Jiansu and the others were definitely not good companions at critical times, and from this matter, they could not be counted on in the future. He is a completely different person from these people, and all he can rely on is himself and the military power in his hands. Those are the means that you can rely on with complete confidence.

Of course, Wang Yuan really didn't think about forcing Xuanzong to make a decision, because things hadn't come to that point yet. Wang Yuan didn't want to cause a split in the court, and it was in the midst of a rebellion. Wang Yuan has always believed that counterinsurgency is the top priority, so he is more tolerant of internal disputes. As a last resort, Wang Yuan will not do those things that are regarded as great rebellion by people in the current world, Wang Yuan still hopes to restore the most glorious excess in the history of the Celestial Empire to its former strength, and does not want to be a destroyer of history. And Xuanzong cleverly took advantage of his weakness.

……

On the 6th day of the first month of November, a small city called Ningyuan, at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain in the north of Lingzhou, suddenly became heavily guarded. This small city at the foot of Helan Mountain was originally just a county seat, barren and desolate, and the population was not large. Even when the rebels captured Shuofang, they didn't have much interest in this small city, but just sent troops to plunder it, and did not send troops to garrison it. Therefore, although the small city of Ningyuan was also devastated by the war, its facilities were intact and not destroyed in the war.

In the morning, the ancient and potholed streets of Ningyuan City were filled with many barbarian cavalrymen wearing fur and pigtails and riding war horses. These cavalry had all arrived from the surrendered city to the north the night before, and thousands of cavalry had quickly turned the streets of the small city of Ningyuan into noisy and panicked. If the thousands of people in the city hadn't received the news released by the county government the day before, informing them that there would be Hui people arriving here today to discuss with the prince of Tang Shou, Li Guangbi, the envoy of Shuofang Jiedu, and Guo Ziyi, the envoy of Hedong Jiedu, I am afraid that all of them would have run away at this moment.

The Uighur cavalry and cavalry from Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi filled the streets of Ningyuan's small city. The people were ordered to stay at home, not to go out into the streets, not to walk around at will. But three minutes later, under the light of the winter sun after the snow, the people at the entrance of the North City Gate still saw a group of hundreds of cavalry horses with rough appearances and messy clothes coming in from the cracks in the doors and window lattices. Those are Uighurs.

The tall, bearded, wide-eyed, and wolf-scaled Uighur man riding at the front of the procession was obviously their leader, as dozens of Tang generals and officials were standing inside the city gate to greet him, saluting him respectfully. One of the young men with a jade brocade robe is said to be the Shou Wang Ye of the Tang Dynasty. Prince Shou was so respectful to the Hui people, which shows that the leader of the Hui people is extraordinary. As for the question of why the officials of the Tang Dynasty wanted to meet with the Hui people here, it is not something that the people can understand.

At the gate of the city, Li Mao, Li Guangbi, and Guo Ziyi rushed from the surrendered city to meet with the Hui leader Huairen Khan, Guli Peiluo. After waiting patiently for nearly 20 days, he was about to retreat when he got the news from Lingzhou, His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty sent his favorite prince to come to discuss with him about borrowing troops, and the two sides agreed to hold a meeting in Ningyuan Town, ninety miles north of Lingzhou and one hundred and twenty miles south of the surrendered city.

"Hui Great Khan, who has admired his prestige for a long time, saw it today, and it was really majestic and heroic, and his momentum was extraordinary." Li Maowen stepped forward and bowed his hand.

Under the whispered introduction of the person next to him, Guli Peiluo learned that the young man in front of him who was weak and pale was the Tang Emperor and his son Shouwang Li Mao, so he laughed and said: "This is Lord Shou, have you admired my name for a long time?" Is Ben Khan so famous in the Tang Dynasty? ”

Li Mao rolled his eyes and thought: The barbarian doesn't know that I am a polite remark, and it is just a polite remark to admire the name for a long time, so I actually took it seriously. If it were not for you today, who would know you barbarians?

"Yes, yes, the Great Khan's fame in the Tang Dynasty is even louder than you think." Li Mao is also well-behaved, so he simply raised the high hat a little higher, as long as Guli Pei Luo is happy, maybe it will be smoother when the negotiation is made for a while.

Guli Peiluo was really overjoyed, and laughed a few times like a bell. Next, I met with Li Guangbi, Guo Ziyi and others one by one. Guli Peiluo is no stranger to Li Guangbi and Guo Ziyi, although they have not met these two, but Guo Li and Li have led the army to fight against the Turks in northern Xinjiang for a long time, and the two are very prestigious in the Turkic army. Although Guli Peiluo is also an enemy of the Turks, he is naturally well-known for Guo and Li.

"Look up for a long time, look up for a long time." Guli Pei Luo bowed his hand to Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi, but the long-term admiration in his mouth was really long-admiring, not polite.

Under the guidance of Li Mao, Li Guangbi and others, everyone galloped into the city along the narrow streets, all the way to the county government in the center of the city. After dismounting, everyone entered the carefully arranged Yamen Hall, which was the place of today's meeting.

The brazier had already warmed the lobby, and a row of tables was placed in the middle of the room, with seven or eight large chairs on either side. The case is covered with green cloth, placed pen, ink, paper, inkstone, teacup, teapot and other things, and a huge candle is lit in the middle, illuminating the open flame candle in the yamen lobby.

"Great Khan, please take a seat. Come on, serve tea. Li Guangbi politely sat down and called out to the servants for tea. Guli Peiluo did not shirk, and sat on a big chair in the middle, and Li Mao was also arranged to sit opposite him, and then several officials who accompanied the negotiation on both sides and the master clerk who was in charge of recording also sat down. The servants stepped forward to pour hot tea and bowed down quickly.

"Sweaty, it's hard to come all the way, drink a few sips of hot tea to warm up." Li Mao smiled.

Guli Peiluo waved his hand and said: "I'm not here to drink tea, for this matter, my army has been trapped in the surrendered city for almost twenty days, and my soldiers and horses have suffered from this heavy snowfall." Let's talk about business quickly, if we talk about it, my soldiers and horses will go south, and if we can't talk about it, I will take my brothers back to the tribal camp. ”

Li Mao hit a nail in the first sentence, and he was extremely unhappy in his heart. These vulgar people don't know that they are just polite in front of their words, but they seem to be ignorant of current affairs, and they are really rude.

"Okay, okay, then let's get down to business. But before we get down to business, on behalf of the Tang Dynasty, I would like to congratulate the Great Khan on his successful defeat of the Turkic King Baimei Khan and the destruction of the Turkic state. From now on, you are the master of the northern steppes. The Great Khan finally got his wish. ”

This politeness did not make Guli Peiluo unhappy, in fact, this is the most proud thing in his life, destroying the Turks and ascending to the position of the lord of the northern tribes, which is a great achievement.

"Hahaha, thank you very much. Ben Khan exterminated the Turks, which can be regarded as living up to the expectations of His Majesty the former Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and from then on, your northern frontier will be restored to tranquility, and there will no longer be a threat from the Turks. His Majesty the Tang Emperor must be very happy to hear this news, hahaha. ”

"My father was very happy to learn the news, and even said that the Great Khan was brave and brave, and the Hui tribe was an eagle on the grassland. My father asked me to bring a message to the Great Khan, don't forget the support and help of the Tang Dynasty to the Great Khan more than ten years ago, and from now on, I must remain friendly to my Datang, and do not follow the Turks to disturb my Tang border. Li Mao smiled.

"Rest assured, we Hui people are not ungrateful. If it weren't for the kindness of His Majesty the Emperor for his assistance and support, how could Ben Khan sit here today to discuss with you about borrowing troops? In the past, I was in trouble to return to the people, and His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty gave me a helping hand, but now that the Tang Dynasty is in the midst of disputes, how can I sit idly by. By the way, I have a gift for His Majesty the Tang Emperor, regardless of whether today's negotiations are successful or not, this gift is to be given. ”

Guli Peiluo turned around and beckoned, and a Hui guard behind him stepped forward and handed over a bulging package, Guli Peiluo took it and threw it on the table. The wrapped bones rolled in front of Li Mao, and Li Mao stretched out his hand to hold it, puzzled.

"What is this?"

"Open it and see." Guli Pei Luo twisted the beard.

Li Mao stretched out his hand to untie the package, and the next moment he let out a scream, and his body rose from the table, almost falling to the ground with a chair, and his face became pale and bloodless. Guli Peiluo, several generals around him, and more than a dozen guards standing behind him all laughed wildly, pointing at Li Mao's pus-like appearance, and grunting and mocking.

Li Guangbi frowned and reached out to uncover the wrapped cloth skin, which was also startled. I saw that the package was wrapped in a round human head, the human head had already frozen like white ash, the blood had long been coagulated, the hair and beard were messy, hanging with white frost and snow, and he had been dead for a long time.