As soon as Di Renjie left, an attendant came to summon Li Hong and asked him to go to the Zichen Hall to meet Gaozong and Empress Wu. Li Hong knew that this was because Gaozong and Empress Wu wanted to discuss with him, how to deal with Zheng Hong, the palace attendant who had impeached him, and Wang Da, the superintendent of the imperial history.

To be honest, Li Hong really hates these two lackeys, and if he has the ability to recall, he will definitely not show mercy. However, Gaozong and Empress Wu specially called to go to Zichen Palace, just to discuss the removal of Zheng Hong and Fang Da, which was a bit of a big fuss, so Li Hong felt that Gaozong and Empress Wu might have another purpose for letting himself go to Zichen Hall this time.

Li Hong thought so in his heart, and arrived at the Zichen Palace. There are only Gaozong and Empress Wu in the Zichen Palace, and there is another person who surprised Li Hong, that is, Helan Minyue, the wife of Wei State.

Isn't Helan Minyue not treated by the Empress Wu? How could he suddenly run to the Zichen Hall and sit with the Empress Wu? How embarrassing is this for Gao Zongqing!

When Li Hong walked in front of Gaozong and Empress Wu, he immediately retracted his thoughts, bowed down and said, "The sons and daughters see the father and the queen mother, as well as the lady of Wei Guo." ”

"Hong'er doesn't need to be polite!" Gaozong said lightly, "Today, Zhang Deyu and Di Renjie returned to Beijing and reported to me the specific process of investigating the case, and the suspicions of Li Duoqi and the guards of the East Palace have been cleared. I've wronged you these days. ”

"Father, the son is not wronged, but the matter of the son is worried about the father, and the son is very upset." Li Hong said.

"You, you!" Gaozong smiled heartily, "Sit down!" ”

"Thank you, Father!" Li Hong bowed and thanked him, and sat on the couch beside him.

Empress Wu watched coldly from the sidelines of Gaozong and Empress Wu's father-son relationship, and did not say a word. When Li Hong sat down, she spoke, "The palace attendant Yushi Zheng Hong and the superintendent Yushi Wang Da have impeached the prince several times, and framed the prince for being related to the Huaxian tragedy, and today the truth is revealed, I don't know what the prince wants to do with them?" ”

As soon as Empress Wu opened his mouth, he said that he also asked Li Hong what he meant, which made Li Hong unexpected. However, he also knew how to answer, and said busily, "This matter is up to the father and the queen mother. ”

Joke, Gaozong and Empress Wu are here, does Li Hong dare to decide for himself what to do with Fang Da and Zheng Hong?

"Remove them from their posts and send them to the Dali Temple Prison, what does the prince think?" Empress Wu said lightly. In fact, with the crimes committed by Zheng Hong and Fang Da, such a punishment is already very light, and the following crimes often end with beheading.

"Listen to the mother's disposition." Li Hong didn't know what Empress Wu was selling, so he simply didn't express his opinion.

Empress Wu saw that Li Hong was very good, and she was not arrogant because of the Huaxian tragedy, and she was not able to get up because she solved the problem of the Tubo mission, she was very satisfied with Li Hong's performance, so she asked, "Prince, have you ever thought that one is from the seventh rank of the imperial history and the other is only the eighth grade of the supervision of the imperial history, do they have the courage to dare to impeach you?" ”

Hearing Empress Wu's words, Li Hong's body was shocked, and he suddenly guessed what Empress Wu was going to do, Empress Wu wanted to kill people with a knife because of his impeachment! Otherwise, how could you suddenly ask that?

"Erchen didn't think about these problems." Li Hong replied respectfully.

Now that he knows Empress Wu's thoughts, he is not ready to express his opinion at all, just like continuing to pretend to see who Empress Wu wants to punish.

Empress Wu saw that Li Hong was reluctant to come forward, so she didn't want Li Hong to say anything, as long as the prince was framed for this crime, it was enough, so she said coldly, "Zheng Hong used to be Li Sujie's person, and since Li Sujie was demoted to the assassin of Shenzhou, he was appointed to the position of imperial history in the palace. Now that Li Sujie and Li Shangjin have an ambiguous relationship, I am afraid that Li Shangjin will not be able to get rid of this matter. ”

Speaking of this, Empress Wu moved her gaze to Gaozong and said, "Your Majesty, this matter must be investigated in detail, for the safety of Hong'er, and you must not be merciful!" ”

Gaden -

Li Hong's heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and Empress Wu set his eyes on Li Sujie and Li Shangjin's two brothers, still using himself as an excuse to be framed, which was to pull hatred for himself.

Li Hong really wanted to say, don't investigate this matter in detail. But just now he was defenseless, and he fell into the plan of the martial queen in a daze, saying that everything was up to the queen mother, and if he said that now, wouldn't he be slapping the face of the martial queen?

So he's a little bit of a problem.

Gaozong was also a little difficult, he didn't know that Empress Wu called him to Zichen Hall for this matter, although he didn't like Li Sujie and Li Shangjin very much, but after all, the two of them were his own sons, and the tiger poison didn't eat children, let alone people? However, if he did not express his opinion on the issue of Empress Wu, it would be unfair to Li Hong, because it was Li Hong who was framed. On one side are his two sons, and on the other side is the prince of the Tang Dynasty, who is also his son. Gojong was caught in the middle and was in a dilemma.

"Mei Niang, let's let this matter go!" Gaozong muttered, "After all, there is no conclusive evidence yet, and it is not easy to make a big move, and it is not too late to deal with it after Zhang Deyu and Di Renjie find out!" ”

"Your Majesty's meaning is understood by the concubines, but they can't be too lenient in nurturing adultery." Empress Wu said in a resolute tone, "Then dismiss Zheng Hong and Fang Da, send them to the prison of Dali Temple, and deal with them after Zhang Deyu and Di Renjie investigate clearly!" ”

After Empress Wu said this, Li Hong suddenly realized that Empress Wu punished Zheng Hong and Fang Da so easily, not because she was soft-hearted, but because she wanted to use the two of them to rectify others.

However, after the two of them were put into the prison of Dali Temple, Li Hong was relieved. Because the current Empress Wu has no cool officials Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen, she just wants to bend into a move, it is estimated that it is difficult, not to mention that Di Renjie is watching in Dali Temple. Therefore, Li Hong felt that being able to put Zheng Hong and Fang Da out of the prison of Dali Temple was not necessarily a bad thing.

Seeing that Empress Wu's attitude was resolute, Gaozong no longer insisted, but nodded slightly and said, "Just according to the queen's wishes!" ”

After speaking, he moved his gaze to Li Hong and said, "Prince, Li Ji wants to resign from the post of Prince Shaobao, about the new Prince Shaobao of the East Palace, do you have a favorite candidate!" ”

Gaozong remembered that Li Hong couldn't wait to agree when Li Ji resigned from the crown prince's young insurance, and knew that Li Hong didn't want to see Li Ji, and now that Li Ji has resigned, Gaozong also wants to ask Li Hong if there is a candidate in his heart, which can be regarded as his reward for Li Hong's great contribution this time!

"Ambassador Anji, General Zuo Wuwei, Feng Xingguo Gong Su Dingfang." Li Hong finally said the name of the military general on whom the East Palace depended in his mind.

"Su Lie!" When Gaozong heard Su Dingfang's name, he was in a trance, and only said in a half-loud voice, "His qualifications are enough, his military merits are not bad, and his prestige is okay, but he is worse than Li Ji, but since the prince is willing, he will be condemned!" ”

This time he was the final word, and did not ask the Empress Wu's opinion again.

"Thank you, Father!" When Li Hong was speaking in Gaozong, he immediately thanked him and said, he was afraid that he would speak slowly and be obstructed by Empress Wu again.

Empress Wu because Li Ji had completely fallen to him, but she didn't care that Gaozong agreed to Li Ji's request, after all, the East Palace really needs a military general to sit in charge, since Li Hong did not choose Pei Xingjian, who is younger and lighter and has a greater future for development, did not choose Liu Renliang, who is now hot on the battlefield in the northeast, or other qualified founding meritorious generals, but chose a dying Su Dingfang, what reason does she have to stop it?

This is the mistake of the martial arts, because she doesn't understand military affairs, so she far underestimates Su Dingfang's ability, only Li Hong himself knows how strong Su Dingfang's ability is, not to mention other aspects, compared with Li Ji, in terms of protégés, throw Li Ji a few streets, like Pei Xingjian, Heiya Changzhi, Wang Fangyi and other generals are Su Dingfang's protégés!

In this regard, can Li Ji compare with Su Dingfang?

Besides, Su Dingfang's utilitarianism is not as strong as Li Jiqiang, with Su Dingfang's support, Li Hong has the support of the Northwest Army, and the support of Su Dingfang's protégés, so that his strength in the military may not be able to compete with Li Ji's martial arts, but from a long-term perspective, he has the advantage.

Because from the analysis of the current battle situation, Li Ji will command the Tang Dynasty's operations against Goryeo in the future, so his henchmen and generals are basically on the Northeast battlefield now, except for Liu Renliang, of course, he is not Li Ji's person.

And Su Dingfang sat in Anji, and in order to defend against Tibet, his protégés, henchmen and descendants were all in the northwest. Compared with the distance between the Northeast and Chang'an, the speed of the Northwest Army to Chang'an is much faster than that of the Northeast Army.

Li Hong has the support of the Northwest Army, but whenever there is an accident in Chang'an, the Northwest Army can rush to his aid as soon as possible, and he will have an advantage over the Empress Wu in this regard.

In fact, the Empress Wu in front of him may not have analyzed the drawbacks in this, but since he took control of the government and moved the capital to Luoyang, instead of continuing to handle official affairs in Chang'an, he must have seen the problem here!

"Su Lie is old, it's really time to go back to Beijing to recuperate!" Suddenly, Gojong let out a sigh. If Li Hong didn't mention Su Dingfang's name, he would soon forget this veteran who shocked the Western Regions and made great achievements in the Northeast Battlefield.

"When the matter of Tubo is resolved, let him go back to Beijing!" Gaozong moved his gaze to Empress Wu and asked. Seeing that Empress Wu nodded slightly, he spoke again, "Since the queen has agreed, I will give Su Lie the crown prince Shaobao, and then give him the position of the governor of the Northern Yada!" ”

As soon as Gaozong's words came out, Li Hong was overjoyed, and Empress Wu's face was gloomy and ugly, because Gaozong took advantage of the loophole in her words and suddenly sealed Su Dingfang as a governor of the Northern Ya, making it difficult for her to refute.

The current Li Ji is the British Duke, the third rank of the Tongzhong Shumen, or the governor of the Southern Ya, and he must stabilize Su Dingfang in all aspects, but Gaozong gave Su Dingfang a position of the governor of the Northern Ya, and the gap between the two sides is not obvious. Because Su Dingfang is the Duke of Xing Guogong and the Governor of Beiya, although he is not the prime minister now, he is the crown prince Shaobao.

In this comparison, as long as Su Dingfang returns to Chang'an to recuperate, his status may not be lower than Li Ji at that time.

Empress Wu wooed Li Ji, just took a fancy to Li Ji's point, and now Gaozong moved out a Su Dingfang to suppress Li Ji, how could he not make Empress Wu angry.

"Father is too thoughtful, Su Lie has been running the Western Regions for more than ten years, and has subdued more than 20 countries in the Western Regions, so it is very suitable to be appointed as the governor of the Northern Ya." Li Hong hurriedly patted Gaozong on the back and said, "However, father, the son-in-law feels that the war in the northeast is tense now, although the son-in-law rejected Tubo this time, but the ambition of the wolf son of Tubo may not be willing to swallow his anger, Su Lie is not only familiar with military affairs, but also familiar with the defense of the northwest, why not let him participate in politics when he returns to Chang'an?" In this way, there will be another prime minister in the DPRK and China who understands military affairs, and he can share the pressure on the British duke. The British Duke is too old to let him work anymore. ”

Li Hong found that Gaozong intended to promote Su Dingfang to fight Li Ji, and there was a little guilt for Su Dingfang in his words, so he took the opportunity to propose. Moreover, there are also words in his words, now Li Ji is the only one among the seven prime ministers who understands military affairs, and Li Ji has fallen to the military queen, if Gaozong wants to contain the military queen, he must cultivate a prime minister who understands military affairs to check and balance Li Ji, Su Dingfang meets all the conditions, isn't it just right?

"Okay, just according to the prince's wishes!" As soon as Li Hong's words were finished, Gaozong agreed without thinking about it.

"Thank you, Father!" Li Ji hurriedly thanked him.

He was not prepared to give Empress Wu a chance to speak.

"Hong'er, you come to grind, today I personally write this letter of appointment." Gaozong was afraid that Empress Wu would make a hindrance from it, so he got up and walked to the bookcase.

Li Hong received the order, trotted to the bookcase, carefully spread out the rice paper, grinded, and then handed the pen to Gaozong, Gaozong finished writing the dragon and phoenix dance, covered with the jade seal, Li Hong carefully put it away in his arms, and then said goodbye and left.