10,000 Sui soldiers bloodlessly occupied Nanyang and Xiyang counties, which were corridors linking Chang'an and Jingxiang and were of great strategic importance to the Tang Dynasty.

Due to the defeat of Li Xiaogong's army in Yingchuan, he was no longer able to protect these two counties, so in desperation, he had to agree to Yang Yuanqing's request and set these two counties as buffer zones, and neither side would garrison troops.

Although there were 50,000 Shu soldiers to reinforce Jingxiang at this time, these forces were still overstretched, and they had to defend against Xiao Mill's army in the east and Sui army in the north, and they were simply unable to withstand the pressure of two-line defense.

Li Xiaogong could only hope that the Sui army would keep his word, but the Sui army disappointed him, and less than half a month after the end of the Central Plains Campaign, 10,000 Sui troops marched into Nanyang County and Xiyang County, cutting off the passage between Shangluo County and Xiangyang County.

This news made Li Xiaogong furious, but at the same time he was very anxious, he was worried that the Sui army was about to launch the Jingxiang offensive, and under the severe external trouble, Li Xiaogong immediately sent the eagle letter to Chang'an.

In Chang'an City, Li Yuan once vowed to severely punish the chaos in the Battle of the Central Plains, that is, the power struggle between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, but in the end, he could not deal with it.

On the one hand, it is true that the scandal of the family cannot be publicized, and on the other hand, the power of the two sides is deep, and the punishment will not only not slow down the contradictions, but will deepen the contradictions, leading to the intensification of internal contradictions.

Some people say that the weapons are not fine, some people say that the training is insufficient, some people say that the troops are not enough, and some people say that the logistics are not effective, but no one dares to say that the strategic layout is wrong, and that it is Li Yuan's responsibility to say that the strategic layout is problematic.

No one dared to say that this was caused by the infighting between the crown prince and the king of Qin, although many people knew one or two things in their hearts, but they couldn't come up with evidence and spoke casually, which would lead to death.

But there is still a person with backbone, on the steps in front of the Wude Palace, the minister Zhao Liming has been kneeling for a morning, his voice is hoarse, but he still stubbornly shouted: "Your Majesty." The defeat of the Central Plains army caused the house of the general of Tiance, the king of Qin can lead the army but cannot take power, the army is the important weapon of the country, not personal authority, Your Majesty, the situation of the two powers of the East Palace Tiance is not eliminated for a day, it will inevitably cause a catastrophe and endanger the community involved. Your Majesty. The minister's words are contrary to his ears, and he is willing to wake up as soon as he dies. ”

No one cared about him, and he knelt alone on the steps. At this time, Feng Deyi, the waiter of the internal history who was on duty to write the order, came out and persuaded him: "Why should Zhao Envoy Jun be so upright. Let Your Majesty embarrass you, Your Majesty can't bear to blame you, can't you just give Your Majesty a face? ”

Zhao Liming was furious, pointed at Feng Deyi and scolded: "You, a minister, only know how to please the saint, and you don't care about the death of the country. In the future, Datang will be destroyed at the hands of sycophants like you. ”

Feng Deyi's face turned pale, and he said hatefully: "I was kind enough to persuade you, but you insulted me, good!" And thou shalt kneel down and see who shall not die well. ”

Feng Deyi turned around and rushed back to the palace angrily, he was ordered by Li Yuan to persuade Zhao Liming to leave, but Zhao Liming's humiliation made him angry. If he does not retaliate against this person, he will not be surnamed.

In the imperial study, Li Yuan's brows furrowed, this Zhao Liming was still outside, and he was extremely tired of this Zhao Liming in his heart. It's just that because of his reputation, he had to put on a modest posture.

Feng Deyi hated Zhao Liming's humiliation in his heart. Said to Li Yuan: "Your Majesty, this Zhao Liming is obviously selfish, he knows that His Majesty will not kill him, so he pretends to be a gesture and desperately advises, the success of the persuasion is his credit, and he has won the name of a loyal minister, and if the persuasion fails, he can seek a clear reputation, not afraid of holy wrath, and even if he is killed, he can go down in history, and leave the notoriety to His Majesty, this kind of fame and reputation is the most hateful!" ”

Although Li Yuan doesn't like to listen to advice, he is not confused, this Zhao Liming is upright and has an excellent reputation, although he has offended many people, but it is a bit unreliable to say that he is selfish.

"Feng Aiqing, this Zhao Liming doesn't understand the world, but it's not bad, not selfish."

"Your Majesty, if you know people and faces, you are afraid that you don't know your heart, and the ministers don't believe it, is it possible that the Tang Dynasty is a traitor and doesn't come to persuade Your Majesty, but he Zhao Liming is a loyal minister, and he is the only one who is sober? Your Majesty, he kept saying that the Tiance Mansion was the root of all evil, and saying that the military power was in the hands of the King of Qin was simply confusing right and wrong, a bunch of nonsense, the soldiers of the world are in the hands of His Majesty, and the soldiers of the King of Qin are just in charge of His Majesty, if His Majesty does not lead the troops to the King of Qin, the King of Qin still dares to resist and disobey? In fact, everyone in the Manchu Dynasty knew about the civil and military affairs, and they didn't think that there was anything wrong with King Qin's troops and Tiance Mansion, but he Zhao Liming took it to talk about it, and said that it endangered the community, Your Majesty, this person has bad intentions! ”

Li Yuan also understood in his heart that what Zhao Liming said was actually not bad, the power of King Qin was indeed too great, but King Qin was the means he used to balance the crown prince, and it had nothing to do with endangering Sheji.

What's more important is that this defeat in the Central Plains was a mistake in strategic decision-making, not that King Qin had too much power, on the contrary, it was because King Qin did not have strategic decision-making power that it led to the final failure, so Zhao Liming's exhortation was indeed a bit alarmist.

Li Yuan had vaguely guessed that Zhao Liming was appointed by the crown prince, and it was the prince who was secretly manipulating behind the scenes, and all the advice was for the interests of the prince.

Li Yuan was really a little dissatisfied, although he wouldn't kill him, he couldn't tolerate Zhao Liming making trouble endlessly like this.

Li Yuan immediately ordered: "Drive Zhao Liming out of the palace, and don't allow him to enter the palace to make trouble again!" ”

The guards led the order to rush out of the Wude Palace, they were all burly, with big shoulders and round waists, and they set up the thin Zhao Liming out of the Wude Hall like a chicken.

Zhao Liming was dragged away, turned around and shouted: "Your Majesty, the ministers are loyal, the heavens and the earth can be learned, Your Majesty does not listen to the ministers, and the Tang Dynasty is in danger!" ”

Zhao Liming had been dragged out of the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City and thrown out, and at this time, someone had already rushed to the Qin Palace's mansion to report.

Zhao Liming knelt for a morning, and Li Shimin was also worried in the palace for a morning, he was afraid that his father would listen to the advice and reduce his military power.

Returning from Tongguan, Li Shimin has been in a bad mood, the defeat of the Central Plains Campaign, a heavy blow to his prestige, although his father did not reduce his power, but his father reduced Li Xiaogong's power, took away the power of the Bashu army, and handed it over to the fourth brother Yuanji.

If it is said that his acquisition of the military power in the Kanto region is a victory, but the eldest brother Jiancheng did not suffer from this interests, he got the power of Hanzhong, and Luo Yi was named the governor of Hanzhong.

In addition, King Yuanji of Qi obtained the power of Bashu, and in fact, Jianyi became the big winner of the battle of the Central Plains, while he Li Shimin became the biggest loser.

Although he was dissatisfied in his heart, he had nothing to say, after all, he was defeated in the Battle of the Central Plains, which attracted the criticism of the Manchu Dynasty and the civil and military.

Li Shimin is now thinking about how to save his reputation, he urgently needs a victory now, and Yang Yuanqing can't get any cheap, he can only fight Xiao Mill's soft persimmon idea, as long as Xiao Mill is completely eliminated and open up territory in the south, his prestige can be saved.

At this time, Li Shimin's staff Zhang Gongjin hurriedly walked into the room, bowed down and said, "Your Highness, there is news from the Vermilion Bird Gate that Zhao Liming has been driven out of the imperial city by the Holy Lord. ”

Zhang Gongjin was originally a general under Wang Shichong, both civil and military, fled to Chang'an at the beginning of the year, defected to his friend Wei Chigong, and was recommended by Wei Chigong to Li Shimin, won the trust of Li Shimin, and was a staff member of the Tiance Mansion.

This news made Li Shimin overjoyed, his father did not accept Zhao Liming's advice, so that he let go of his heart slightly, but at the same time, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes, he would not let Zhao Liming live in the world again.

"Arrange a few brothers to deal with Zhao Liming."

Zhang Gongjin pondered for a moment and said: "Zhao Liming is in a low mood at this time, it is better to wait for the middle of the night to go into his mansion and let him hang himself." ”

Li Shimin didn't have any expression on his face, and said coldly: "Yes, but you have to do it neatly." ”……

Early the next morning, Li Shimin received an urgent edict from the palace, announcing that he would enter the palace to face the saint, Li Shimin hurried to the imperial study of the Wude Palace, and saw that the five Xiangguo and the prince had already arrived.

Li Yuan's face sank like water, the anger in his eyes was faintly visible, Li Shimin's heart tightened, could it be Zhao Liming's matter?

"His Royal Highness the King of Qin is here!"

The eunuch shouted loudly, causing all the ministers in the imperial study to look back, and Li Jiancheng stared at Li Shimin fiercely, his eyes were full of bitter hatred, and he did not hide it.

Only Pei Lin secretly glanced at him, but Li Shimin didn't understand the meaning of Pei Lian's look.

Li Yuan saw Li Shimin coming in, and without waiting for him to salute, he immediately stood up and said, "The emperor will go to the inner room with me." ”

Li Shimin followed Li Yuan into the back room, feeling uneasy, at this time, Li Yuan stopped, did not look back, and asked coldly: "You tell the truth to your father, is Zhao Liming's death related to you?" ”

Zhao Liming hanged himself, Li Shimin got a seamless report, although Li Shimin can completely deny that he has nothing to do with him, but his mind turned, his father called him into the inner room for questioning, if he denied it, he would lose his father's trust.

Li Shimin knelt down on his knees, "Father, Zhao Liming's death was done by his sons. ”

"You did it!"

Li Yuan turned around suddenly, staring at Li Shimin, but not annoyed, and asked, "Why did you kill him?" ”

"Returning to his father, Zhao Liming regarded himself as a minister, playing right and wrong, reversing black and white, destroying the relationship between father and son, and destroying the stability of the Tang Dynasty, this person must not tolerate him."

Li Yuan stared at Li Shimin for a long time, and finally said lightly: "I only have one sentence, if you want to do this kind of thing in the future, you must discuss it with me first." ”

Li Shimin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he bet on the right gamble, in fact, the reason why he dared to kill Zhao Liming was that he knew that his father would not allow Zhao Liming, but his father was hindered by Renjun's face and it was not easy to do it, and it was most in his liking.

"The son knows his mistake, and next time he will definitely obey his father's arrangement."

Li Yuan didn't want to blame Li Shimin for killing people, in his opinion, if Li Shimin didn't even have this bit of courage, what would he do to be a Tiance general, what he cared about was whether Li Shimin reported to him in advance, and whether he didn't hide himself.

Although Li Shimin did not report it first, fortunately, he did not hide himself, which made Li Yuan quite satisfied, Li Yuan liked the feeling of being able to control his son.

He nodded, "Go outside and talk about it!" I just got the news that something big happened in Nanyang County. ”

Only then did Li Shimin know that the ministers had gathered, and his father's face was pale, which had nothing to do with Zhao Liming's death