In the southeast of the wilderness outside Chang'an City, there is a willow forest. The willow trees are just green, and they are fresh and eye-catching in the withered yellow fields. In the depths of the willow forest, there is a large manor with blue tiles and white walls. The estate occupies a very large area, empty and quiet. The land outside the manor is vertical and horizontal, ploughing cattle are dotted, and the singing is faint. The manor is full of smoke, chickens and dogs barking, and it is prosperous.

The weather was sunny and sunny. An old man in cloth sat on an unusually simple wooden chair in the courtyard of the manor to bask in the sun.

The old man is about sixty years old, his hair is gray but he is in good spirits, he is half-squinting, posing in an unusually indecent but comfortable posture, his legs are wide open, lazily leaning on the chair, receiving the sun's rays, he also stretches a lazy waist from time to time, and his mouth is accompanied by a ** like enjoyment.

Li Xiaogong's lieutenant Li Feihu, under the leadership of the manor housekeeper, walked into the manor and met the old man.

Li Feihu bowed to the old man and said, "Li Feihu, the deputy general of Li Xiaogong, the governor of Jingzhou and the king of Zhaojun, pays a visit to the old man. ”

The old man was still leaning lazily, his eyes were half-narrowed, and he asked, "Xiaogong, that kid." He asked you to come to me, what did he do? ”

Li Feihu replied respectfully: "Your Majesty issued an edict to let the Governor of Dadu enter Beijing, be a lieutenant, and assist the prince." The Governor hoped that the Elder would be able to get around. ”

The old man's eyes opened.

Looking at the old man's open eyes, Li Feihu couldn't help but feel furious in his heart and uncomfortable. The old man's gaze was very dull, as if he couldn't see everything clearly, but Li Feihu felt that every secret hidden in his heart was clearly seen through by him.

Li Feihu was frightened, and tremblingly handed Li Xiaogong's letter to the old man.

The old man looked at Li Feihu's unsatisfactory performance, smiled contemptuously, and said secretly in his heart: "There is a ghost in my heart? Your Majesty? Your Majesty's people? Your Majesty has gone too far. ”

The old man took the letter, and after reading it, he slowly narrowed his eyes.

Li Feihu breathed a long sigh of relief, his hanging heart returned to normal, and he secretly called luck in his heart.

The old man sighed and said, "Your Majesty's two sons are making too much trouble, and Your Majesty is too partial to the prince." It's time to talk to Your Majesty. ”

As he spoke, the old man stood up weakly, and paced slowly into the room. Li Feihu looked at the old man who was old and had a difficult step, and he had the heart to help him, but when he thought of the old man's sharp and unfathomable gaze, he couldn't help but stay in place. When the old man had entered the house, he bowed to the room, then turned and walked away quickly.

Imperial Palace, Taiji Palace. The old man in a big red Tang Dynasty first-class royal suit bowed to Li Yuan on the throne and bowed for a long time.

Li Yuan, who was reviewing the folds, looked up and saw the old man who had been bowing down for a long time, and asked in surprise: "Uncle, what do you mean by this?" ”

The old man, named Li Xiong, is the uncle of King Guande of the Tang Dynasty, Zong Zhengqing, and Emperor Li Yuan. When Li Yuan was seven years old, his father Li Xin died of illness. Li Xiong treated the young Li Yuan very well, treated him like a parent, and taught him carefully. Li Yuan received Chan and succeeded him as the unification, so he appointed his own uncle as Zong Zhengqing to manage the affairs of the Li royal family. Although Li Yuan is the Son of Heaven and the patriarch of the Li family, he relies on and trusts his own uncle very much. Li Xiong has always been the person in charge of the Li royal family.

Li Xiong replied: "I hope Your Majesty has mercy on my Longyou Li royal clan?" ”

Li Yuan asked in surprise, "Uncle, where did you start with this?" I have always treated my Longyou Li clan with a good attitude! ”

Li Xiong said: "Your Majesty's mind is big, and what you have in your heart is the whole world. The old minister is old, but after all, the old minister is Zong Zhengqing of the Tang Dynasty, and he holds the fortune of the imperial court, and it is inevitable that the affairs of the Li family in Longyou will have to be taken care of more. I heard that His Majesty was going to transfer that kid back to Chang'an, and the old minister didn't have a taste in his heart. Filial piety to that kid, the old minister watched him grow up, or he still understands something. He has the talent to command the army, but he has no ability to do politics. At the moment, Beijing is not very peaceful, according to Xiaogong's kid, emotional temperament, I don't know how much trouble to break through? His Majesty's family education is very strict, and the crown prince Jiancheng, Qin Wang Shimin, Zhao Wang Yuanba, and Qi Wang Yuanji are all talents for a while. Now there are only three people, including the Governor of Jingzhou, Li Xiaogong, the King of Zhaojun, Li Daoxuan, the King of Henan, and Li Daozong, the general of Mingwei who has just been promoted. The old ministers will also strictly control them, so that they can not ask about politics and concentrate on military affairs. Does Your Majesty think so? ”

Li Yuan fell into hesitation. Zong Zhengqing had promised that the children of the Li royal family would not participate in the struggle between his two sons, but the crown prince needed someone to assist him too much, especially in the military. At present, Li Xiaogong, the second hero of the Tang Dynasty and the commander of the Southern Army of the Tang Dynasty, is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate, although Li Xiaogong attaches great importance to feelings and is not so obedient, but the prince is assisted by Li Xiaogong, and he can be on a par with the people of the world militarily. The power and prestige of the people in the army are too high.

Li Xiong looked at Li Yuan with hesitation, and then continued: "Your Majesty, I, the Li Clan of Longyou, am the staunchest supporters of Your Majesty. Maybe one day, the Guanlong aristocratic group, the Shandong Hao group, and the Southern Shizu group will rebel, but my Longyou Li royal family will always stand firmly with His Majesty. I hope Your Majesty has mercy on my Longyou Li royal clansmen. Don't summon Xiaogong, Daoxuan, and Daozong to Beijing again. ”

Li Yuan fell into thought.

The Longyou Li clan is the most loyal to themselves, and if the elite is destroyed and their vitality is greatly damaged because of the struggle between their two sons, it will be too much to lose. Although Li Xiaogong is important, does he dare to follow the prince's order to show the butcher's knife to the king of Qin and those close to him? He won't. He assisted the crown prince, and it was not so suitable. Loyalty is what I value the most, ability, I have a lot of talents in the Tang Dynasty, and there will always be other people who can replace him.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan said to Li Xiong: "Since the uncle has spoken, then I will no longer recruit Li Xiaogong to Beijing." Let him stay in office. I will treat my Longyou Li royal family well, Li Xiaogong, Li Daoxuan, Li Daozong, my Longyou Li royal family is not easy to cultivate, I will also take care of it. ”

Li Xiong bowed and said excitedly, "Thank you Your Majesty for your mercy." ”

Li Xiong saw that things were done, so he said goodbye to Emperor Li Yuan, took two steps, but turned around again, looked at Li Yuan, and stopped talking.

Li Yuan asked with a smile, "Uncle, do you have anything to say?" ”

Li Xiong looked at Li Yuan and replied: "The old minister wants to speak to His Majesty, but it involves His Majesty's family affairs, I don't know whether to talk about it or not?" ”

Li Yuan said with a smile: "Uncle is Zong Zhengqing, although I am the Son of Heaven, I am also from the Longyou Li royal family." Uncle said it was okay. ”

Li Xiong gritted his teeth and made up his mind and said: "Your Majesty, your two sons, the crown prince and the king of Qin, are too fierce, after all, they are brothers who are connected by flesh and blood." The palms and backs of the hands are full of meat, and harmony is precious. ”

"Harmony is precious?" Li Yuan fell into deep thought, stunned in place.