Li Yuan was supposed to stay at home in Longxi County, but no one could have imagined that he would appear here.

In fact, for a dangerous person like Li Yuan, Liu Ziqiu never relaxed his vigilance for a moment. If it weren't for Li Yuan taking the initiative to sacrifice Luoyang City to avoid the destruction of this prosperous city in the war, Liu Ziqiu would not have been able to give him real freedom, and it would not even be possible to let Li Shimin go because of his age. Therefore, after Li Yuan's family moved to Longxi, they have been under the close supervision of the imperial court. Of course, in those days, the means of surveillance were limited. Although the imperial court also planted some nails in the Li family, it is impossible to really explore the core secrets of the Li family.

Later, as Li Shimin gradually entered the cabinet until he was elected prime minister, the imperial court's monitoring of the Li family was in fact in a relatively relaxed situation. This relaxation is not due to the explicit request of the imperial court, but only the adjustment made by the monitoring personnel subconsciously after hearing that Li Shimin was elected prime minister. It's just that their relaxation gave Li Yuan an opportunity.

Over the years, Li Yuan has never given up the pursuit of power. It's just that he knows how to forbear, and he is willing to lie dormant in the northwest border. However, there are two points that he has never figured out. The first is that Liu Ziqiu allowed Li Shimin to enter the cabinet, and the second is to recognize the results of Li Shimin's election as prime minister. If it was Liu Ziqiu, in order to show his generosity, he let Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin's brothers pass the imperial examination and could hold official positions in the imperial court, which is already quite a remarkable act, why should it be relaxed to this Cheng dù? This can only show two points, either Liu Ziqiu is really generous, or Liu Ziqiu is hiding a huge conspiracy.

From Li Yuan's heart, he is reluctant to believe in the former, but more willing to believe in the latter. Even if Liu Ziqiu is really generous, he doesn't want to admit it. Now, Liu Ziqiu has given him the opportunity to rise again, and he will not let it go. In the past ten years, he has been lying on his salary and trying to make a comeback. Of course, Li Yuan also knew that it was almost an impossible task to seize the world by force. Because the army of the Han Dynasty is strong, it has reached the point of invincibility in the world. However, Li Yuan also understands a truth, the strongest fortress is always breached from the inside. Therefore, over the years, Li Yuan and his son have been quietly planning and arranging, just waiting for an opportunity. Now, this opportunity is finally in front of us.

…

In the Han Army, whether it was the generals of the regular army or the generals of the local army, the vast majority of them were loyal to Liu Ziqiu. The army and the cabinet are two systems, under normal circumstances, the cabinet does not have the right to mobilize the army, even in an emergency, without the emperor's consent, the cabinet can only mobilize a thousand forbidden troops at most. In fact, not only the cabinet, but even those high-ranking generals, without the emperor's will, can only mobilize at most 3,000 troops and horses. If this amount is exceeded, their generals can refuse to listen to their transfers.

In order to prevent the implementation of this system, Liu Ziqiu also threw out a very tempting condition. Once someone transfers more than the number of troops allowed by the authority, the subordinates can report to the imperial court while refusing to accept the transfer order. As long as the content of the report is true, the whistleblower will directly replace the position of the person being reported. In peacetime, it is quite difficult for a general to get promoted. Because without war, they would not have been able to attain the merits of war. Therefore, this way of obtaining promotion opportunities through guò whistleblowing is extremely precious. Of course, in order to avoid their positions being replaced by subordinates, not many people are willing to transfer the army in violation of regulations. Moreover, the illegal mobilization of the army is a capital crime, and even the children and grandchildren will be implicated, and they will not be allowed to re-enlist in the army.

The Han Dynasty adopted a preferential military policy, and the officers and soldiers of the army were treated very well, and the salary received by a lowest-ranking soldier was enough for a family of five to live a very rich life. And once they are enrolled in the military, their children can get the opportunity to enlist in the army first. Therefore, the soldiers of the Han Dynasty all have strict discipline, and no one is willing to accept the temptation of the outside world.

For this reason, it was very difficult for Li Yuan to infiltrate the army. In order to have a place in the army, he even did not hesitate to let his fourth son Li Yuanji give up the imperial examination, but joined the army and became a small soldier. Of course, Li Yuanyou had excellent marksmanship, and gradually showed his prominence in the army, was selected as a martial artist, and later became a captain, and his subordinates also managed a team of 1,000 people. However, for the behemoth of the Han Dynasty, an army of 1,000 people obviously did not play a role.

In addition to the thousand Han troops under Li Yuanji, Li Yuan also raised a group of outlaws. These people are scattered all over the country, and they usually receive funding from the Li family, but they will gather when the Li family gives an order. Most of these outlaws are extraordinary, and a considerable number of them are rebels of the former dynasty or their descendants, but it is difficult to say how many of these people are willing to be used by the Li family. Moreover, these outlaws or individuals are not bad in martial arts, but if they are concentrated together against the Han army, even if the number of both sides is equal, I am afraid that the chances of winning will not be too much. After all, fighting a war is not only about the number of people, but also about the coordination and cooperation between each other. In this regard, the well-trained Han army was better than many other armies, let alone these outlaws.

Therefore, if Li Yuan wanted to snatch food from Liu Ziqiu's mouth, he could only aim at the inside of the Han army. Although the vast majority of the generals in the army are loyal to Liu Ziqiu, there are always exceptions. With Li Yuan's unremitting efforts, he was really attracted to an important person. This important person is none other than Zhang Liang, the general of the dynasty.

…

Zhang Liang was originally an ordinary soldier in the previous dynasty, and it was Liu Ziqiu who had a discerning eye in the armies of the West China Sea and promoted him, from a commander to today's general. It can be said that if there was no Liu Ziqiu, there would be no Zhang Liang today. However, there is always such a type of person in this world whose desires are endless, and Zhang Liang belongs to this kind of person.

Because he repeatedly violated military discipline, Liu Ziqiu thought that he was the founder of the country, and he also opened up to him many times. However, when he was originally knighted, his misdeeds had an impact, and in the end he was only made a first-class marquis. In fact, the Han Dynasty was very strict with the title, and there were very few marquis, let alone first-class marquises. It's just that Zhang Liang is not satisfied, he feels that he should at least be on an equal footing with Li Jing, Wen Hao, Wei Zheng, Wei Chigong and others, and no matter how bad it is, he should get a second-class duke. Of course, he has no interest in being crowned king like Shi Danai. After all, Shi Danai will live in a desolate and backward place like Mobei from now on, and he can't enjoy the prosperity of the city, and this kind of life is not what he needs.

Originally, these thoughts of his were buried deep in his heart, and he didn't dare to reveal them casually. However, as Liu Ziqiu increasingly handed over power to the cabinet, Zhang Liang gradually lost his awe of Liu Ziqiu, and often expressed some dissatisfaction in front of some henchmen.

Coincidentally, after Li Yuanji enlisted in the army, he happened to be under Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang was unintentional, but Li Yuanji was a person with a heart. Soon, he reported the news he heard to Li Yuan. The history books portray Li Yuan's two sons, Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, as wine bags and rice bags, in fact, Li Yuan's two sons are also all-rounders in civil and military affairs. After Li Yuanji heard that Zhang Liang often secretly complained, he also secretly inquired about Zhang Liang's hobbies, and found that this person was not only addicted to officials, but also greedy for money and lustful. As the saying goes, if you are not afraid that officials are not greedy for money, you are afraid that officials have no hobbies. Zhang Liang is greedy for money and lustful, and it is really not difficult to take him down. So, Li Yuanji paid attention and tried every means to get close to Zhang Liang.

Soon, Li Yuanji's career in the army was completed and he was appointed lieutenant. On the occasion of the new lieutenant, Li Yuanji prepared a generous gift and went to Zhang Liang's mansion to show his gratitude.

As a general, Zhang Liang is not short of money. Moreover, he followed Liu Ziqiu in his early years to fight in the south and the north, and also made many contributions. Liu Ziqiu has always had clear rewards and punishments, and his reward for Zhang Liang has not been deducted because he violated military discipline. Therefore, the similar gifts are not in Zhang Liang's eyes. Li Yuanji is just a new lieutenant under his command, what good things can he send? Therefore, Zhang Liang just glanced at it, then waved his hand and instructed the family: "Take it first." ”

Li Yuanji took a step forward and said with a smile: "General, the things given by villains are rare to see in ordinary people, why not open everyone's eyes?" ”

Zhang Liang's spirit really lifted up, and he said: "Oh, then open it and take a look." ”

When the man who was about to send the gift to the warehouse for registration heard this, he quickly folded it back and opened the box, but saw that the light was dazzling, and it turned out to be a crystal ball. However, this crystal ball is different from ordinary crystal balls, in the middle of the crystal clear sphere, a picture is naturally generated, if you look closely, it is actually a golden dragon.

When Zhang Liang saw it, he couldn't put it down, but he said: "The so-called merit is not rewarded, such a valuable thing, this handsome can't ask for it." ”

Li Yuanji had already seen the greed in his eyes, and couldn't help laughing: "If it weren't for the great general's love, the last general would still be just a pawn in the army, and he would be discharged and go home in a few years." The general will be rebuilt with the last general, a little courtesy, which is really not a respect. ”

Zhang Liang nodded and said, "It's rare that you have this filial piety." Anyway, Ben Shuai will live up to your kindness. He waved his hand at the family again, and said, "Come on, take the token of the Shuaifu!" ”

Since then, Li Yuanji has held a token of Zhang Liang's Mansion, and he can freely enter and leave the Marshal's Mansion without reporting. With this convenience, Li Yuanji and Zhang Liang got closer and closer, and gradually became Zhang Liang's henchmen.