Outside Chang'an City, the eldest prince Li Cong and Li Zhengfang with 100,000 elite soldiers have been stationed in Chang'an City thirty miles away.

Originally, the third prince Li Heng summoned 30,000 Youzhou soldiers and horses of Wang Zhonghei, and wanted to keep 20,000 as surprise soldiers. But I didn't expect Li Cong's prestige to be so high, after Tang Xuanzong's funeral, Li Cong gave an order, and the border towns such as Duhufu, Yunzhou, Shengzhou, and Huaiyuan responded one after another, and even gathered 50,000 soldiers and horses to unite with Luoyang's 50,000 elite soldiers to raise 100,000 troops.

The three princes did not dare to keep it, and immediately led all the 30,000 Youzhou soldiers into Chang'an City, otherwise they would fight in the field, and there were more than 40,000 cavalry among the 100,000 elite soldiers, and Wang Zhongsi was not an opponent at all.

The crown prince Li Ying was also frightened, and immediately summoned Li Linfu into the palace to think of countermeasures: "Lin Fu, Li Cong obviously came here to usurp power and seize the throne this time, although Li Cong is hot and upright, but with Li Zhengfang's assistance, he will definitely not be easily fooled, and it is impossible to deceive him to go on his own." There are only more than 10,000 defenders in my city, and it is impossible to hold it for a long time, and Chang'an City will be broken in less than two days. ”

Li Linfu said: "Don't panic, the prince has heard before the attack that the third prince Li Heng has borrowed 30,000 elite soldiers from Youzhou and has been stationed in Chang'an, so that Chang'an City can be safeguarded for a while." ”

Li Ying was surprised and delighted: "Thirty thousand? Didn't the third child say that he could only borrow one pill of ice? How did it become 30,000 all of a sudden? ”

Li Linfu said: "The minister has long said that Li Heng is not an ordinary person, the prince must be careful of this person, if it weren't for the great prince who gathered 100,000 elite soldiers to attack this time, I'm afraid the third prince would have reservations." However, now that the army is pressing, he must not dare to hide his secrets. ”

Li Ying nodded and said: "Li Heng, this kid is really insidious and cunning, it seems that we have to find a chance to get rid of Li Heng, and strike first, so as not to be plotted by him." ”

Li Linfu said: "The prince must not act rashly, now the soldiers and horses in Li Heng's hands are our protection, if we contradict him at this time, it is tantamount to setting ourselves on fire." At the moment, our biggest enemy is still the eldest prince Li Cong. His 100,000 elite soldiers are our fierce opponents. ”

Li Ying scratched her head anxiously and said, "Then what should I do?" I have issued an edict ordering them to lead troops to help, but they are all prevaricating what frontier defense is prudent and cannot draw troops and horses. ”

Li Linfu sighed: "His Royal Highness the Prince, forgive the old minister. All we can rely on now is these 40,000 soldiers. The first emperor died suddenly, and it happened suddenly, because there was no edict, and the prince was not ready to succeed to the throne, so for all the envoys, whether it was the crown prince or the eldest prince, it had no impact on them. There is no need for them to participate in this unrelated fight. Even for them, the crown prince represents more of the civil officials and scholars in Chang'an City, while the eldest prince has always been biased towards the military generals of the border defense, so they are more willing to help the eldest prince than His Royal Highness the Prince. ”

The prince sighed, although Li Linfu is scheming, he is not good at leading troops to fight, and it is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice, under this disadvantage, Li Linfu can't think of any good way.

At this time, the eunuch came to report: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Qiqi, Li Tuo, the left waiter, asks to see you." ”

Li Yingxin said in her heart, what is he doing here? glanced at Li Linfu, saw Li Linfu nodded, and said to the eunuch, "Pass him in." ”

Li Tuodao: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the minister learned that the eldest prince led troops to mourn the emperor, but stationed thirty miles outside the city, and his intention is self-evident. The minister is not talented, and he is willing to be a lobbyist for the prince and persuade the prince to surrender. ”

The crown prince Li Ying was overjoyed and said, "You have such a ability? What do you need, albeit said. ”

Li Tuo waved his hand confidently and said: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can wait for good news again, and the ministers can persuade the Great Prince to surrender with a three-inch tongue." ”

Li Ying directly stepped forward and grabbed Li Tuo's hand and said: "As long as you can persuade Li Cong to surrender, you will be my first hero, and after I register, I can make you a prince and enjoy the royal family forever." ”

Li Tuo hurriedly thanked him: "The minister bows to His Royal Highness the Prince, and the minister can go." ”

Outside Chang'an City, in Li Congshuai's tent,

Li Cong said: "You said you came to persuade you to surrender?" Do you think I have a reason to come here with 100,000 elite soldiers and then ask Li Ying to surrender? It's really a big joke, Li Ying killed his father and usurped the throne, people and gods are angry, I want to avenge the first emperor and kill this beast that is inferior to beasts. ”

Li Tuo said unhurriedly: "The eldest prince's words are wrong, the prince is already a prince, why do you need to kill your father and seize the throne?" As long as he is safe and secure, the throne will be hiss sooner or later. But in comparison, the eldest prince is more suspected of killing his father and seizing the throne? Before the first emperor's funeral period passed, the eldest prince raised troops to come to Chang'an to seize the throne, and in the eyes of the world, the eldest prince had already become the real murderer who plotted to kill the emperor and wanted to usurp power. Even if the eldest prince breaks through Chang'an and establishes himself as the emperor, he will not be able to convince the people of the world, and when the time comes, it will definitely cause the crowd to be excited, and His Royal Highness the prince will raise his arms and call the world accordingly. Does the eldest prince want to be the enemy of the world? ”

Li Zhengfang sneered, directly pulled out his sword and pointed it at Li Tuo's neck and said, "People in the world? Who can represent the people of the world, since ancient times, the king has been defeated. When the eldest prince becomes the emperor, he will naturally announce the viciousness of Li Ying's murder of his father and usurpation of the throne, will the people of the world believe Li Ying's words at that time? I ask you now, should the eldest prince be the emperor? ”

As Li Zhengfang spoke, the saber was already pressed against Li Tuo's neck, and a little force was a bloody mark.

Li Tuo seems to be laughing and laughing, calm and unhurried, but in fact, he is very inward-looking. As soon as Li Zhengfang was so frightened, he immediately changed his face and stammered: "The two countries are fighting each other, and if you don't kill them, you can't kill me?" ”

Li Zhengfang said: "Don't cut it? If you help the traitor Li Ying, it is a big rebellion, and it is natural to kill you. Say, who do you support now as emperor? ”

Li Tuo swallowed and spat: "I support the eldest prince to ascend the throne and succeed to the throne." ”

Li Cong sneered and said, "Go back and tell the civil and military officials." Li Ying killed his father and usurped the throne, he is not worthy of being the emperor, he supports him, I will kill him after the city is broken, if I can abandon the darkness and surrender to me, I will protect your official position after I ascend the throne. ! ”

Li Tuo ran out of the handsome tent and went back to Chang'an to resume his life.

Li Cong said: "I haven't been in Chang'an for the past two years, is there only these wine bags and rice bags in Chang'an?" ”

Li Zhengfang said: "The emperor reused Li Linfu, a treacherous villain, and Zhang Jiuling, Song Jing and other old ministers were all excluded. Li Linfu is not right-minded, and after becoming the prime minister, he closed his eyes and listened, and was jealous of his ability, which led to complaints from the government and the opposition. If it is another ten years, I am afraid that the imperial court will really become a rotten wood. (To be continued.) )