At the end of the court meeting, when the ministers left, Gaozong deliberately left Li Hong behind and went to the imperial study for questioning. In fact, he was asking about Li Hong's war in the northwest, and Gaozong wanted to know how his son defeated Lu Dongzan, who led 200,000 Tibetan elite cavalry, and captured Lu Dongzan alive. Because he felt that Li Hong had defeated the Tubo people with only the geographical advantage of Shanglu Dongzan, annihilated 200,000 Tubo elite horsemen, and captured the Tubo Prime Minister Lu Dongzan alive, which can be described as a miracle. He knows that in history, there are countless battles in which fewer victories are more, just like Chen Qingzhi's white-robed army broke 200,000 troops, seeing that he clearly defeated many ethnic minorities with fewer in history, and there was no one in the battle columns that captured a small number of names, and his son Li Hong created this miracle.

Gaozong was very happy, excited, and relieved in his heart.

As a father, his son can have such talent and ability, and Gaozong is really happy from the bottom of his heart.

As for Empress Wu, her mood was a little conflicted.

Having achieved great things, it is natural to be proud to be a mother.

However, as Li Hong's opponent, Li Hong achieved such results, and Empress Wu was a little dissatisfied, because the stronger Li Hong was, the greater the threat to her.

Moreover, Li Hong is the crown prince, and he has a great deal of righteousness when he competes for power and profit with her, which she can't compare.

The three of them came to the imperial study together, and Gaozong asked Li Hong about the specific details of the battle, Li Hong did not hide it, and told Gaozong in detail about all the battle process. After listening to Li Hong's narration, Gaozong did not praise him as Li Hong imagined, but his face was a little gloomy, when Li Hong was wondering how he provoked Gaozong, Gaozong said, "Hong'er, you are the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty, your life and death are related to the future safety of the Tang Dynasty, how can you take risks?" ”

Li Hong suddenly realized, it turned out that Gaozong was worried about his safety, so he said nonchalantly, "Father and emperor can rest assured that the son knows what to do." Besides, if you don't use your sons as bait, how can Lu Dongzan be fooled? ”

"Compared with capturing Lu Dongzan alive and destroying Tibet, I still care more about your safety." Gaozong yelled, "I won't reprimand you anymore this time, but you have to remember what I said today, no matter what you do, don't risk your life in the future, you know?" ”。

Li Hong was moved for a while, and said very sincerely, "Father Xie, my son knows." ”

"Hmm!" Gojong's face softened a little.

And Empress Wu, who was listening to the conversation between Gaozong and Li Hong, did not say a word from beginning to end. Empress Wu felt that she was ruthless enough, for the position of the queen, she did not hesitate to strangle her infant daughter to death, and then blamed Queen Wang, but now she found that her son was even more ruthless than her, she was just using her own children, and Li Hong was actually using himself.

Empress Wu asked herself if she could make such a choice in Li Hong's position.

Empress Wu's answer was yes, but she wouldn't make such a choice so simply, if there was another choice, she would definitely choose another way instead of risking her life.

If a person's life is gone, no matter how great you achieve, what can you do?

Empress Wu's understanding of Li Hong became clearer, and from this moment on, she paid more attention to Li Hong. Because only when a person is ruthless to himself can he be ruthless to his enemies, and can he care more about the result than anyone else when doing things. Obviously, Li Hong has done a good job in this regard, at least in her opinion, among the people she knows, Li Hong has done a good job. Now that Li Hong is still young, he still needs to grow step by step, as long as Li Hong grows up, his strength will be unfathomable.

This is not the result that Empress Wu wants to see...

But what can she do? Could it be that he will attack Li Hong now and eradicate his son?

Empress Wu thought so, but she couldn't do it now when she poisoned her son, maybe she would do it if she was forced to do it in the future, but now she still can't do it. As for restricting Li Hong, Empress Wu was very suspicious of herself, with Li Hong's current development momentum, could she restrain him?

Empress Wu's thoughts were confused, and her expression showed that she was very irritable.

"Hong'er, what are your chances of winning the conquest of Tibet?" Gaozong asked, what a great feat it is to be able to capture Tibet and incorporate it into the territory of the Tang Dynasty, his father was known as the Heavenly Khan, but he did not do this, and as long as Li Hong captured Tibet, he did this, plus the capture of Goryeo, Silla and Baekje, it was no longer a problem for him to surpass his father.

Therefore, in this case, Gaozong was more concerned not about whether to fight Tibet, but how to capture Tibet, but about reducing casualties and paying the least benefits.

Li Hong replied unexpectedly, "Father, the sons and daughters feel that we have a 100% chance of winning this attack on Tibet." ”

"In other words, you can completely capture Tibet?" Gaozong asked in surprise, a big battle is 100% sure that it can be won, how much confidence and how well prepared it is, in the past, Gaozong definitely didn't believe it, only thought that Li Hong was talking big, but after this defense of Tubo, he destroyed 200,000 elite horsemen in Tubo, and captured Lu Dongzan, the great minister of Tubo, Gaozong no longer had doubts about Li Hong, he believed in Li Hong very much, and he felt that as long as he supported him, his son could not do anything.

"Yes." Li Hong replied affirmatively, "Because there are not many elite soldiers available in Tubo, and Lu Dongzan was arrested, the nobles in their country are panicked, and the retainers have already sent people to divide the relationship between Mangsong Mangzan and the Tubo nobles. ”

This is because Li Hong has the confidence after having the treasure of Lu Dongzan, if he does not obtain the treasure of Lu Dongzan, he may not be able to separate the relationship between Mangsong Mangzan and the Tubo nobles, and he will not dare to make such a big promise to Gaozong.

"Okay. As long as you have faith, your father will have faith, because your father believes in you. Gaozong said to Li Hong, his face was very calm, but Li Hong could see the light of excitement and excitement in his eyes, and he knew that this was because Gaozong wanted to become or even surpass Li Shimin, to be a generation of Ming Jun and a holy monarch, and the only thing that could make him surpass Li Shimin was to capture Tubo and then avenge Taizong Li Shimin's great enmity with Goryeo, Silla and Baekje.

Gaozong believed that as long as Li Hong captured Tibet, then in the future, when the Tang Dynasty fought a decisive battle with Goryeo, Silla, and Baekje, he let Li Hong participate in the battle and command the Tang army, and he believed that this battle would still be 100% won.

I don't know when because of Li Hong, Gaozong has more confidence in himself.

may be because Li Hong asked Sun Simiao to alleviate his condition, and his condition is slowly healing; Or maybe he saw a glimmer of hope in himself through Li Hong's efforts that he was afraid of something in his heart; Or... Which so many or ......

……

It was already afternoon when Li Hong and Gaozong finished talking in the imperial study, although Gaozong is now much better than before, but he can't stand the long toss, so he needs to rest, if he hadn't told Li Hong so much today, he would have gone to bed a long time ago. Besides, with Helan Minyue serving him, how could Gaozong be willing to give up his little little baby with his little liver in addition to giving Li Hong special treatment?

Gaozong originally wanted to keep Li Hong for dinner, but Li Hong refused, because he knew that Gaozong's energy was already low, and he kept him for dinner to pamper him, but he couldn't help but realize it. Besides, Empress Wu is on the side, if he agrees to Gaozong's retention, he will have to face all kinds of eyes from Empress Wu, and he can't stand it a little. He has no prejudice against the Empress Wu, to be honest, anyone in the position of the Empress Wu will have such a move, it's just that he just doesn't like to stay with the Empress Wu, maybe he is afraid, afraid of being seen through by the Empress Wu!

Li Hong's mansion in Luoyang is no longer in the palace, but outside the palace, a huge and luxurious palace.

This was specially prepared by Gaozong for Li Hong, and before Li Hong came to Luoyang, Gaozong asked Xu Jingzong to specially repair it for Li Hong to use as the East Palace.

The companion is not Zhengdu, naturally there is no such thing as the East Palace, but it is too narrow and not suitable for Li Hong's identity.

When Li Hong arrived at his mansion, there were people who specialized in serving.

Xue Rengui has already left, and there are still his 10,000 elite horsemen, and now it is his 800 guards who are guarding Li Hong. The 800 guards lost 100 men in the Battle of Tubo, but Chen Gong had already made up for the personnel when he was resting.

Now, the eight hundred guards are still white guards, and Li Hong has not thought of increasing the number of guards.

The weapons and equipment of the eight hundred guards are the most advanced, as long as there are any new weapons, Li Hong will first install something else is his guard battalion. Therefore, he needs guards who are well-equipped and superior in battle, rather than guards who rely on numbers to win.

As soon as Li Hong returned to the mansion, bathed and changed his clothes, and was about to rest, he heard Chen Gong report that Xu Jingzong had come to visit him.

Xu Jingzong came to see him so early, Li Hong was a little surprised, this is Luoyang, there are eyeliner everywhere after the martial arts, Xu Jingzong dared to visit Li Hong so boldly and openly, did he want to turn his face with the martial queen?

But think about it, since Xu Jingzong came to visit him, Li Hong naturally wanted to meet him, not to mention Xu Jingzong's identity, with his cooperation with Xu Jingzong in iron mines, he should meet Xu Jingzong, and then talk to the confidant minister of the Empress Wu.

"Invite him to the study, and Lone will arrive." Li Hong said to Chen Gong.

Chen Gong received the order and left in a hurry.

Li Hong slowly dressed up under the service of the maid, and strode to the study.

"Old minister Xu Jingzong, see His Royal Highness the Prince!" In the face of Li Hong, Xu Jingzong was as modest and respectful as ever, and did not feel that he was superior to others because he was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, and did not take Li Hong in his eyes. Xu Jingzong, like Su Dingfang, is a very good person, but Li Ji is different, Li Hong is very good at standing in line, and he chose the right team in several power battles of the Tang Dynasty, so he has today's status. But because Li Ji was born in the Shandong scholar class, he is also very arrogant, and he doesn't take some people very seriously, including Li Hong.

When Li Hong lived in the East Palace, as Li Hong's crown prince Shaobao, he didn't come to see Li Hong once a month, but Xu Jingzong, who was a guest of the prince, even if he couldn't go to the East Palace every day to meet Li Hong, he could do it at least once a week.

This is the difference between Li Ji and Xu Jingzong.

Of course, this also has something to do with the origin between them, Xu Jingzong was born in a big family, not like Li Ji who was born in the Shandong Shi clan.

Since ancient times, the Shandong scholars have looked down on Guan Longhaoqiang, especially the Li Tang royal family.

Therefore, it is normal for Li Ji to have such an attitude.

However, Li Hong just didn't like it, he didn't like Li Ji's attitude, he didn't like Li Ji's opportunistic political strategy, so he could only force Li Ji to the side of Wuhou step by step. However, he did not regret it, cooperating with a person like Li Ji who would do anything for the sake of interests, cooperating with such a person who had no discipline, Li Hong was not at ease, he was more willing to treat Su Dingfang with sincerity. Of course, in Li Hong's view, even if Xu Jingzong has many weaknesses, such as greedy for money, he loves money, and he likes to use the power in his hands to rectify the enemy, but Li Hong still likes Xu Jingzong very much, because using his power to fight the enemy is not Xu Jingzong's patent, as for loving money and greedy for money, who doesn't love money and is not greedy for money, saying that people who don't love money and don't greed for money are because you have enough money, if you are also a poor ghost, you dare to say that you don't love money and don't be greedy for money, don't let the tens of thousands of taels of gold in front of you, and give it to others for nothing.

"Xu Xiang, how are you doing in Luoyang these days?" Li Hong said with a smile, and invited Xu Jingzong to sit down on a chair, he was very concerned about Xu Jingzong, although Xu Jingzong was the confidant of the Empress Wu and his enemy, but in terms of attitude, as well as the work of the prince's guest, Xu Jingzong did very little, which was enough. Xu Jingzong is a person of the Empress Wu, it is understandable that he does things for the Empress Wu, and he is the prince's guest of the East Palace, and he is the crown of Li Hong's East Palace, he can separate the two things very separately, which is not something that anyone can do.

"The old minister is doing well, so His Highness is worried!" Xu Jingzong said politely, "I don't know how long Your Highness is going to stay in Luoyang this time?" ”

"In a few days, Gu will lead the army to conquer Tibet, so he won't stay long, and he will return to Chang'an in three or five days." Li Hong thought for a while and replied, he did not hide Xu Jingzong in this matter, because he had to go to Chang'an to deal with a few things before he could go to Hezhou, so he had to go back to Chang'an as soon as possible, Liu Ju was in Dali Temple in Chang'an City, he couldn't forget this matter, and the Imperial Bank was about to open for business, which was very important to Li Hong, he wanted to go and see, and he would sit in Chang'an City to personally deal with the various problems that would arise in the opening of the Imperial Bank in a few days.

Regarding the Imperial Bank, Li Hong put a lot of effort into it, and he put a lot of thought into collecting gold reserves alone.

Therefore, if anyone dares to have thoughts about the Imperial Bank, Li Hong doesn't mind exterminating these people, his Yu Linwei is not without assassins and killers, as long as he says a word to Wei Chi Xunyan, he doesn't believe that Wei Chi Xunyan can't do it.

"It's a pity, if Your Highness stays in Luoyang for a few more days, the old minister wants to talk to Your Highness more." Xu Jingzong said with a little regret. Although the iron mine has not yet made a profit, the news from the iron mine has been confirmed, and the future profit of the iron mine will be very gratifying, that is, the iron mine he cooperated with Li Hong can at least solve the pig iron problem in Datang within a hundred years.

One hundred years, that is to say, Xu Jingzong and Li Hong are cooperating to plan their wealth within a hundred years.

How could Xu Jingzong not take such a big good thing to heart and not talk to Li Honghao?

Therefore, Xu Jingzong came to Li Hong as soon as Li Hong left the palace today.

Xu Jingzong didn't know that he would misunderstand or make Empress Wu unhappy by doing this, but he didn't care about it now. It is enough for Empress Wu to have Li Ji by his side, and it doesn't matter if he can't help or not. Sometimes Xu Jingzong is thinking that he is now a scholar, staying at home peacefully, specializing in iron mines, and counting money every day, which is not a very happy thing...

"As long as Xu Xiang has time, we can talk often and not rush for a while." Li Hong said with a smile, and named the subject of today's chat, "I don't know if Xu Xiang came to find Gu, is there anything to discuss?"

"Your Highness, the minister came to you just to tell you that the iron mine we cooperated in has made great progress, although it has not yet been mined and smelted, but according to the detection, the amount of iron reserves is very amazing, and it can buy enough supply of iron horses for a hundred years in Datang." Xu Jingzong said excitedly, "The minister came today to talk to His Highness about this matter." ”

Li Hong was also taken aback after listening to Xu Jingzong's words, but he felt that it was reasonable.

Because these iron ores are famous iron ores in history, the reserves of iron ore are of course amazing, enough for the Tang Dynasty's pig iron supply for a hundred years, which is only a conservative estimate. However, what is surprising is that when did Datang have such technical talents to be able to judge the amount of iron ore reserves?

But thinking about Li Hong, he was relieved, Xu Jingzong invested a lot in iron ore, with the strength of his prime minister, he put all his thoughts on iron ore, if he didn't have such ability, how could it be worth cooperating with him?

"That's a happy thing!" Li Hong said with a smile, "Of course, in the future, Xu Xiang will know about this kind of thing, as long as he divides the money, the operation of the iron mine still needs Xu Xiang to manage." ”

Li Hong said this because he wanted to give more rights to Xu Jingzong, Xu Jingzong loved money so much, and let him operate the iron mine, which would only make the iron mine more productive and more profitable.

"Your Highness believes in the old minister so much, the old minister should do his best." Xu Jingzong said happily. Since discovering the reserves of iron ore, he was very worried about whether Li Hong did not keep his previous promise, because the reserves of iron ore represent wealth, and a hundred years of wealth is not a reason for Li Hong to be unmoved as a prince. Therefore, he hesitated for a long time about whether to inform Li Hong of this matter. Now hearing Li Hong say this, he is very relieved. This means that the prince not only does not mean to break the contract, but also intends to take over the right to operate the iron mine. For Xu Jingzong, who loves money, this is more affordable and comfortable than making him the prime minister.

Xu Jingzong came to Li Hong today just to talk about the iron mine, and now that he has finished speaking, the worry in his heart has been lifted, and he said goodbye and left.

Looking at Xu Jingzong, who was trembling and leaving, Li Hong smiled.

He is not a person who is indifferent to wealth, he also loves money, he loves money, but he likes to conquer and conquer this world even more, and conquer the women who are difficult to conquer in this world.