At the beginning of April of the ninth year of Tang Wude, Li Yuan was furious in the Taiji Palace.

"Degraded Cheng Zhijie as the assassin of Connecticut, and ordered him to take office immediately, if he can't stay in Chang'an, he will get out of here immediately!" Li Yuan said angrily.

And Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji smiled, and then looked at Li Shimin and felt very proud. Because this time they once again succeeded in forcing Li Shimin's important subordinate military general Cheng Yanjin away, and was released from the Connecticut Assassin History. And once it is released, it will be impossible to be by Li Shimin's side. And the generals around Li Shimin have been forced away, so the next thing is to face the result that no one is available. Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji thought that they were about to win, because the people around Li Shimin had been gradually blown away.

As for this Cheng biting Jin Cheng Zhijie, he was not the first to be driven away, but several. During this time, the generals and ministers around Li Shimin were all driven away one by one, and then the people around them were also released, and then they were all assigned to local posts, so that there were fewer and fewer people around Li Shimin. Then they all got rid of the people around Li Shimin step by step, so that Li Shimin also became a toothless tiger and could not threaten them. This is also the practice of cutting off the wings first taken by Li Jianche and Li Yuanji, and in the end, Li Shimin has no talents around him, and he will gradually fail.

"Now that the battle for the heir has reached a fever pitch, I am afraid that Li Shimin will launch a mutiny at any time. At that time, I am afraid that it will be dangerous to stay in Chang'an. Zhang Chao thought.

Zhang Chao knew that Li Shimin had reached the limit of tolerance, because Li Jiancheng chose to force those people around Li Shimin to leave. This is obviously to cut off the wings around Li Shimin, and then force Li Shimin to death step by step. However, Li Shimin will not choose to compromise so easily and wait for death. He will definitely choose to launch a mutiny to turn things around. Even, Zhang Chao may think in his heart that this is what Li Shimin has been planning for a long time, and Li Shimin may have planned for a long time to launch the Xuanwumen Mutiny, and then let Li Jiancheng relax his vigilance step by step. Li Shimin's intelligence ability is very powerful, and Li Shimin definitely has a lot of undercover agents in Li Jiancheng. And Li Shimin didn't know Li Jiancheng's methods, but he still chose to let Li Jiancheng cut off his wings step by step, which is obviously problematic.

Although Zhang Chao has seen it in the history books of later generations. Before launching the Xuanwumen Mutiny, Li Shimin summoned almost all of his staff to discuss it, and then in the end, Li Shimin was still "hesitant" and did not want to take the initiative to launch a mutiny. But under the "persecution" of those subordinates. That "forced" launched the Xuanwumen Change. However, Zhang Chao also suspected a very important issue in later generations, that is, the historical classics recorded that Li Shimin only began to gather those staff back to discuss a few days before the mutiny.

But there is a time problem, especially the time difference in the journey. Where were Li Shimin's other aides released? This Zhang Chao did not know in later generations. And Zhang Chao knew that Li Shimin's subordinate Cheng Biting Jin, that is, Cheng Zhijie, was sent to Connecticut to serve as a assassin. And after Cheng Yanjin left Chang'an. If he walked at a month's pace, he wouldn't be able to reach Connecticut, but would he be able to get back from outside in a few days? You must know that Kangzhou is the generation of Zhaoqing City, Guangdong in later generations, and Guangdong in ancient times was not the place where the economic road was developed in later generations, and the Guangdong area in this era was still very desolate. And if you want to go there, it's certainly not easy. Cheng Yanjin had been walking outside for a long time before the Xuanwumen Change, and it had been two months. It is impossible to rush back from outside quickly after a two-month journey, and it is impossible to rush back very quickly even on a fast horse. If it is a later life, it can be a post-train, express bus or even a plane can come back in just a few hours. But this is ancient times. Ancient times with poor transportation capacity. How did Cheng Yanjin come back so quickly, even if he came back on a fast horse, it would take half a month, right? And add to that the process of running to inform him. Not a month is not possible to make a round trip.

Therefore, from the perspective of Cheng Bitingjin's ability to act, there are two results. Either Cheng Yanjin didn't go to Kangzhou at all, he directly hid in Chang'an or near Chang'an by unknown means, waiting for Li Shimin's summons. Or, although Li Shimin did not want to start a mutiny at the beginning, but a month after Cheng Yanjin was driven away, he didn't know what happened, so Li Shimin decided to launch a mutiny, and then immediately asked Kuaima to chase Cheng Yanjin back.

However, regardless of these two conditions, it is enough to illustrate a problem. It has not been a day or two since Li Shimin planned the Xuanwumen Change, although Li Yuan released all the people around Li Shimin, but I don't know what the reason is, those strategists and generals actually did not go far, but stayed nearby. Li Shimin's behavior is definitely bullying the king, but what is the purpose of his bullying, it is conceivable that he is definitely planning a big event. As for this major event, according to the original history, what else is there besides the Xuanwumen Change.

Of course, there is also a possibility that a strategist next to Li Shimin is behind Li Shimin's thoughts, and then secretly plans this matter, Li Shimin may really not know. However, this is no longer interesting for Zhang Chao, what Zhang Chao has to do is to use this matter for his own benefit. Moreover, Zhang Chao knows that he is a little risky, and if he doesn't play well, he may be in danger. Whether it was decided by Li Shimin himself, or secretly planned by Li Shimin's subordinates, in short, Li Shimin finally became the emperor, and everyone had the merit of being a dragon. And this historical black cauldron of killing brothers and brothers, whether Li Shimin is active or passive, then he has to recite it. Therefore, Zhang Chao doesn't care whether Li Shimin is active or passive, with Li Shimin's situation, even if there is no secret planning by his subordinates, it is inevitable that he himself will be forced to mutiny.

Li Shimin's intelligence system is enough for him to make perfect decisions, so Li Shimin's battle seems to be weak on the surface, but in fact, he has mastered Li Jiancheng's every move, so that he can also know Li Jiancheng's thoughts at any time. In this way, Li Shimin will not be able to bear it sooner or later. So Zhang Chao knew that Li Shimin was likely to be on the verge of patience this time, and he had to hide. If you don't go and hide. Then it is likely that the fish in the pond will be affected next.

"Chen Cheng Zhijie receives the order!" Cheng Yanjin took the initiative to salute and said, and then he was about to go to Connecticut to take office.

After Li Yuan belittled Cheng Biting Jin, he didn't let go of Li Shimin's fart when he saw it. So they were all relieved. He originally thought that Li Shimin would resist fiercely, but he didn't expect Li Shimin to acquiesce without letting a single fart go. And Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji also took the initiative to smile, obviously feeling very satisfied with this, because in their eyes, there was no one around Li Shimin, and they could clean him up anytime and anywhere. And Li Yuan immediately began to deal with the next things, and wanted to start to continue to gradually suppress Li Shimin.

Li Yuan actually prefers Li Jiancheng, so he chooses to gradually help his eldest son suppress the second son. And this may be the reason why Li Shimin is very disappointed. Li Shimin was very disappointed in Li Yuan, so he naturally chose to mutiny. Li Shimin believed that Li Yuan should treat his two sons with an impartial attitude, but Li Yuan chose to follow the Confucian tradition. Preference for the eldest son. There is actually nothing wrong between these two people, just the difference between Lichang and Lixian. And Li Shimin's biggest loss is not the eldest son, if Li Shimin is the eldest son. With his means, he could have been a prince a long time ago. Li Yuan will not be embarrassed.

"Next, now that the Turks have invaded, how should we respond?" Li Yuan asked.

Soon, Li Jiancheng also said: "Father, since the Turks have invaded, then we might as well send a good general to guard and attack, so that there should not be too many accidents." Therefore, Erchen recommended the fourth brother Yuanji to go to the battle. This ensures that nothing goes wrong. Moreover, the second brother's subordinates include the generals Wei Chi Gong and Qin Qiong. I hope that my father will transfer Wei Chigong and Qin Qiong to the third brother, so that nothing will go wrong. ”

Hearing Li Jiancheng say this, Li Yuan immediately said, "Okay, let Qin Qiong and Wei Chigong go to serve under Yuan Ji." ”

Li Yuan also gave Li Shimin's subordinate generals to Li Jiancheng again, and the next thing surprised Li Yuan even more, because Li Shimin did not object to the next thing, but also acquiesced to this result. This result made Li Yuan still feel a little uneasy in his heart, because Li Shimin should not be such a weak person! But now Li Shimin is really so weak, which makes Li Yuan feel very surprised in his heart. However, seeing Li Jiancheng smiled, he gave Li Yuan a little confidence out of thin air, so Li Yuan didn't continue to suspect this matter.

"Father, please order Li Yi, the general of the Tianjie Army, to prepare, and then the third brother will meet him!" Li Jiancheng said.

The so-called Li Yi is Luo Yi in the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. And Luo Yi has this person in history, and he is also a prince. And he later took refuge in Datang and became a general of Datang, and was also given the surname Li, that is, Li Yi. After that, the title was promoted from the Duke of Yan to the King of Yan County. However, he partnered with Li Jiancheng to seek the throne, and he also chose to rebel after Li Shimin ascended the throne. In the end, he was killed because of rebellion, and a generation of heroes also ended up like this. However, the current Luo Yi is still a loyal minister of the Tang Dynasty and a county king of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, everyone also thinks that Luo Yi is loyal, so now let him continue to lead the Tianjie Army and guard Jingzhou, that is, the Gansu area in later generations. And this is the front line against the Turkic invasion, so it is normal for him to prepare to receive Li Yuanji.

"Okay, I'll make a decree." Li Yuan said.

However, at this time, Zhang Chao took the initiative to come out and said: "Your Majesty, Zhang Chao, the imperial servant in the palace, ask the ministers to convey this holy decree!" ”

"Let you go and deliver the message?" Li Yuan asked.

And Zhang Chao took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, the minister has always admired Li Yi, the king of Yanjun, and thinks that he has fought against foreign clans for many years, so he admires him very much, so the minister thinks that he can take advantage of this opportunity to pass the decree to meet the king of Yanjun." ”

"Really?" Li Yuan asked.

"Really!" Zhang Chao replied.

Li Yuan obviously knew that what Zhang Chao said was definitely not true, but he still didn't understand what Zhang Chao wanted to do. However, Li Yuan didn't think that Zhang Chao could do anything, because Zhang Chao was just a seventh-grade official, and he was just a person who went to deliver the decree. What's more, even if Zhang Chao has any conspiracy, it will not be harmful to Li Yuan. Therefore, there was no need for Li Yuan to stop Zhang Chao from passing on the decree. Anyway, it's just a message, and it won't take long. And Zhang Chao can only blame him for following the orders of the holy decree. And Li Yuan was not afraid that Zhang Chao would dare to falsely pass on the holy decree. Because this is only a holy decree, and there is no power to transfer troops. How can a holy decree be, so Li Yuan won't worry too much about any accidents.

"Okay. That's up to you. Li Yuan said.

Soon, the government affairs that should be handled were also completed, and Li Yuan called Zhang Chao to the Liangyi Palace.

"Why do you have to be the Imperial Historian of this Herald?" Li Yuan asked.

Zhang Chao replied: "According to some clues, this Luo Yi may have a secret deal with the Turks, but I don't know what this secret deal is." As for the extent of the transaction, I don't know. Maybe it's just a transaction of some smuggled goods. But if it's a deeper deal, I'm not sure. ”

Li Yuan's face suddenly turned green, if Luo Yi had a deal with the Turks. That's a real problem. Luo Yi is the highest military general guarding Jingzhou, if he has a deal with the Turks like this, it means that the defense system of the Turks in the north of Chang'an has opened a big opening, so that the Turks can invade the south at any time. Of course. This is only possible. Because Li Yuan didn't know how far Luo Yi had traded with the Turks. If it's just some smuggled goods, it's nothing, but what if there's a deeper deal?

It is better to believe it than not to believe it, so Li Yuan began to worry.

"Is there any evidence? Without evidence, I can't remove him from his position and arrest him, do you have any evidence? Li Yuan asked.

"No, it's because I didn't want to investigate." Zhang Chao replied.

Li Yuan thought about it and immediately said, "What do you want?" ”

"Your Majesty. I hope to be able to get the talisman of the Celestial Army, as well as a blank decree with a seal on it. Zhang Chao said.

Li Yuan immediately asked, "Do you know what this means?" Even if I give you a blank decree. Without the deliberation of the subordinate province, it is also invalid, and the other party can refuse to enforce it. You may even be at risk of overkill. ”

Many later generations thought that the emperor's decree was omnipotent, and the emperor could issue the decree at any time. However, in fact, in the Tang Dynasty, the emperor could not issue a holy decree casually, and the edict had to be drafted by the Zhongshu Province, and then the Menxia Province deliberated and approved, and then officially let some people with good calligraphy re-transcribe it. If Zhang Chao's blank decree does not have the deliberation of the province under the door, it is actually called the "middle decree".

In the Tang Dynasty, the legal effect of such a thing was almost zero. If there is no decree issued directly after the deliberation of the subordinate province, then I am afraid that the executor can refuse to carry it out, and he will not be held responsible. Of course, there are also a small number of people who will choose to carry it out as usual, and that is because of the emperor's power, not because it is a formal order. Too many people choose to carry out the emperor's decree in order to make sycophants. But it was also the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the imperial autocracy in the Ming and Qing dynasties had reached its peak, so a large number of people carried out the emperor's private orders without passing the regulations, so as to achieve the idea of currying favor with the emperor.

But the Tang Dynasty couldn't, the power of the courtiers of the Tang Dynasty was still relatively large, and the emperor's autocracy had not reached its peak, so if the central decree was used, it was very likely that it would be refused to be implemented. So even if you get this decree, it is useless, even if Zhang Chao writes a holy decree casually, then the other party can not implement it.

In addition, every holy decree is filed in the subordinate province, so if you rashly take out this holy decree, and the subordinate province does not file it, then I am afraid that you will face the crime of overbearing! Punishment is a great crime, and it cannot be easily pardoned, and even the nine clans must be punished. So, Li Yuan asked Zhang Chao, aren't you afraid?

"Your Majesty, as long as you are in one day, I will not be afraid of anything. What's more, I'm dedicated to my Datang, how can I mess around! I just want to be able to bluff people when necessary. Zhang Chao said.

Li Yuan nodded, and there was nothing in the middle of it. Li Yuan also knew that even if he gave Zhang Chao this blank holy decree, it was just a middle decree, and it was useless. This thing can only be used to bluff people, and it is of no use at all. If there is no deliberation from the province of Menxia, the probability that the other party will refuse to carry it out is almost 99 percent, and the power of the emperor of the Tang Dynasty is not as large and autocratic as that of the emperors of later dynasties. However, with this central decree, although the other party cannot be implemented, it can bluff the other party, so that the other party does not dare to mess around, and does not dare to do anything bad to Zhang Chao.

"Alright, I'll give it to you later! However, you have to find out to me whether Li Yi has colluded with the Turks, even if he has colluded to what extent. If Li Yi really betrayed me, it would really be too dangerous, and the Northern Turks would be wide open from us. At that time, there will be no danger in our north, but it will really be troublesome. Moreover, Li Yi has 80,000 Tianjie troops in his hands, although he may not be able to mobilize the Tianjie army without a holy decree, but he is not afraid of 10,000 just in case. I will give you the Tiger Talisman, if you find that Li Yi is possible, even if it is only a possibility, you must use the Tiger Talisman to contain Li Yi, so as to prevent it from controlling the Tianjie Army in its hands, and then threaten my Datang. Even, if he colludes with the Turks, it will really be a big problem. Li Yuan said.

Zhang Chao came to this world and found a very interesting situation. At that time, the Turks knew about the political changes in the Tang Dynasty after the Xuanwumen Change, and sent more than 100,000 troops to attack the Tang Dynasty, and finally the famous Weishui Alliance in the early years of the Tang Dynasty occurred. And Datang chose to take out almost all the wealth in the treasury and give it to the Turks, and then the Turks withdrew.

But there are too many problems and loopholes in this matter. At that time, there were only more than 10,000 soldiers in Chang'an City, and it was clear that he could not hold Chang'an, so Li Shimin chose to empty the treasury in exchange for the Turkic retreat. But on the other hand, the Turkic march route was actually from Jingzhou to attack, and then all the way to Wugong County to attack Chang'an. But here's the problem, Jingzhou is guarded by Luo Yi, and there are 80,000 Tianjie troops! How were the Turks able to evade the place guarded by the Tianjie army, and then attack all the way to Chang'an. Even if you take a step back, the Turks specifically take the weak defense line of the Tianjie Army, but how do the Turks know where the Tianjie Army has sufficient troops and where the troops are weak?

Of course, there is another possibility, that is, the Turks are cavalry, and the Tianjie army is infantry, which is at a disadvantage, and is quickly broken through the defensive line, and then unable to pursue. This can be barely explained, but some later things are too inconsistent with military common sense. After the Turks broke through the defense line, why didn't Luo Yi immediately organize an army to go to King Qin, but he didn't know where to go. The enemy is about to break through the capital, and you don't even want to help the central government, and you don't know what to do? Is this normal?

On the other hand, although Li Shimin only has more than 10,000 people, it is not impossible to delay until Luo Yi comes to King Qin. The Turks are cavalry and are not good at attacking cities, but the Turks actually besieged Chang'an, looking fearless. The Turks besieged Chang'an, which meant that he gave up the mobile advantage of the cavalry to fight positional warfare, didn't the Turks worry that Luo Yi would kill them from their rear and take them by surprise? None of this is quite in line with normal military common sense, could it be that the cunning and wolf-like Turks would have neglected such a huge loophole?

But judging from the news of Luo Yi's rebellion later, Zhang Chao came to an assumption, that is, Luo Yi had betrayed the Tang Dynasty a long time ago and chose to collude with the Turks? It's not impossible to fly, it's very possible! Zhang Chao speculated that this might be at least more than fifty percent, so Zhang Chao hoped to go to Luo Yi to try it and see if he could find some clues.

Of course, the reason why Zhang Chao went to Luo Yi at this time, in addition to investigating this matter, there was another important reason, that is, it wanted to avoid the chaotic battle of the Xuanwumen Change. Zhang Chao didn't want to participate in the Xuanwumen Change, he could hide. At this time, if you go to Luo Yi, you can avoid the outbreak of the Xuanwu Gate Change, so that you can be safer. Otherwise, he may become one of Li Shimin's killing targets! (To be continued......)