Hearing Li Yuan's words, everyone present looked at each other.

Who is Li Jinquan? It is no exaggeration to say that from the Southern Tang Dynasty to the court and the people, no one knows his name. Just because he is the adopted son of Li Siyuan of Mingzong of the Later Tang Dynasty in the past, after the fall of the Later Tang Dynasty, he was reused by Shi Jingjiao, and the official was the envoy of the Anyuan Army, and he was extremely brave and held heavy troops, which can be called the first person among the generals of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Emperor Li Jing was naturally ecstatic about the surrender of such figures as Li Jinquan to the Tang Dynasty, and specially issued an edict to show the whole country, to the effect that even the envoys and generals of the Central Plains came back sincerely, indicating that I am the desire of the people of the four seas, and I am the lord of the Mandate of Heaven......

On the other hand, he was extremely uneasy about it, after all, Li Jinquan did not go south with his bare hands, and there were still 20,000 elite soldiers under his command, so after rewarding and exhorting, he ordered him to be stationed on the border of Shouzhou, and he was not allowed to move without a call.

Li Yuan understood in his heart that the previous emperor Li Jing appointed himself as the military envoy of Weisheng, directly replaced Li Jinquan's position, and added "Weisheng Camp Matters" to the holy decree, his intention was nothing more than to let Li Yuan receive Li Jinquan's soldiers and horses.

And how can this matter be so easy? For a general, being trapped at the border is already very aggrieved, and the so-called dismissal of his military power is like harming his life, which may be the fuse of Li Jinquan's rebellion.

Thinking of this, Li Yuan was helpless in his heart, this emperor really has high hopes for me! This thankless task is just handed over to me, are you too naïve or are you being honest with Li Jinquan?

This is good, Li Jinquan is really the opposite.

Li Yuan sighed, and then asked: "Since the defeated army came to ask for help on the order of Liu Dashuai, what happened to the city of Ezhou?" ”

"Dashuai, I'm helpless to wait! The Ezhou guard will hear about it,"

"Have you ever mentioned that you were under the military order of Marshal Liu?"

"Naturally! But it was useless to say it, the soldiers guarding the city did not listen at all, and neither let me wait to enter the city, nor did they go out of the city without scouts to investigate. I waited hungry for a few days, I couldn't walk, and I had nowhere to go......

Looking at the faces of the defeated soldiers in front of him, Li Yuan said in a deep voice: "At this time, Liu Dashuai is out on the expedition, and it is always right for the guards to be cautious. That's it, Ben Shuai will go over and take a look first. ”

After a while, the defenders on Ezhou City heard that it was Li Yuan who had arrived from Wuping Jiedu, and after observing the banner, they hurriedly turned around and reported. In less than half an hour, the cold south gate was finally opened, the suspension bridge was slowly lowered, and officials of all sizes in Ezhou stepped out to greet them.

At the Wuchang Jiedu Embassy, Li Yuan also met Liu Chongji and dozens of military and political officials after the Wuchang Jiedu stay, and when he heard the name Liu Chongji, his first reaction was that the request for help would definitely be fruitless.

Liu Chongji, who is twenty-three years old this year, is not much older than Li Yuan, but his background is very different. As the most spoiled youngest son of Liu Renzhan and his wife Xue, he has been pampered by the whole family since he was a child, and he is full of military books and pretentious, so when he grew up, he took charge of the military at a young age and has always been regarded as Liu Renzhan's successor.

And such a good son is indeed as his mother expected, "Liu Jia'er will be famous in history"! But Liu Chongji's reputation in the history is completely different from his father Liu Renzhan, a loyal general who even the enemy emperor Chai Rong respects.

At that time, the Zhou army besieged Shouzhou, Liu Renzhan took the lead and held on for several months at any cost, but this good son saw that the Zhou army was powerful, and lured him with high-ranking officials, so he secretly plotted to open the city and surrender, and even specially prepared a coffin for his father......

Thanks to the help of several people who defended the city to discover the abnormality and report it in time, Liu Chongji finally failed. After that, Liu Renzhan was so angry that he almost wanted to cut it in half, but the Xue family and the generals persuaded each other bitterly, and they relented and pardoned.

This matter can really be described as "father's love and son's filial piety"!

Li Yuan couldn't help but look at Liu Chongji, who was sitting in a handsome position, his figure was a little fat, and he looked white and tender, but it was not difficult to see the arrogance on his face while his attitude was calm.

"Vice Marshal Liu, Ben Shuai heard the report of the rout outside the city, saying that Shouzhou was in an emergency, and Ling Zun had led a large army from Haozhou to ask for help. Vice Marshal Liu has the responsibility of defending the city, and he naturally understands that he sticks to the city gate, but why didn't he even send scouts to investigate? ”

As soon as these words came out, all the civil and military officers in the hall began to whisper, and Li Yuan could infer from the blankness on their faces that this matter may have been secretly suppressed by Liu Chongji, so that most people did not know.

Seeing everyone like this, Liu Chongji frowned slightly, and replied playfully: "I heard that Li Dashuai is a famous general in the world, and he has won the favor of His Majesty, and when I see it today, it is really so!" As soon as I arrived in Ezhou, I was so majestic, and I questioned Ben Shuai! Those routed soldiers outside the city are just talking nonsense, how can Li Dashuai be gullible? ”

Li Yuan replied with a calm face: "Hearsay is not allowed. However, this matter is a matter of border security, and since it has been reported, it needs to be carefully investigated, so how can we sit idly by? If Shouzhou is really not guaranteed, my Tang Jiangbei gateway will be opened, and Jinling will be in danger! If this is the case, why did Vice Marshal Liu explain to Ling Zun and His Majesty?

Ling Zun is a famous general in the world, if he sends someone to ask for help, he must have his intentions! Ben Shuai also asked Vice Marshal Liu to think twice! Send scouts to the north to find out the truth and make a decision as soon as possible! ”

Hearing this, Liu Chongzhi always looked disapplieving, but the Wuchang soldiers and horses made Zhou Tinggou unable to sit still, got up and arched his hand: "Deputy marshal, the last will be justified for this, Shouzhou is the gateway to the north of my Tang Dynasty, and it must not be lost!" If the commander really sends someone to ask for help, how can we sit idly by? Deputy Marshal, you are the son of a handsome! Please also send scouts out of the city quickly, if the situation is true, the last general is willing to lead the troops north! ”

Liu Chongji's face changed, and he scolded angrily: "When will it be your turn to make decisions for Ben Shuai?" Shouzhou and my Ezhou are more than 800 miles apart, if the situation is really critical, can Yuanshui Yan save the near fire? The ancients had clouds, and the laborers attacked far away, which was unheard of.

Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been in a dilemma, and this commander is sitting in Ezhou, and he should take it as his responsibility to stick to the territory of the Tang Dynasty, how can he rashly attack because of the love of father and son, and waste troops in vain! Although Shouzhou is in danger, Ben Shuai firmly believes that with his father's soldiers like a god, it is enough to repel the incoming enemy, and he will definitely return victorious! ”

What a dilemma of loyalty and filial piety! Li Yuan only felt panicked in his heart at this time. And there was silence in the hall, everyone present had all learned Liu Chong's methods, how could they dare to refute it if they were angry in their hearts? Zhou Tinggou had no choice but to sigh, turned around and sat down in frustration.

Li Yuan didn't pay attention to it anymore, turned around and glanced at everyone, and asked sharply: "Everyone, no matter whether this matter is true or not, now that Liu Dashuai is on the front line, and his life and death are unknown, you don't even dare to go out of the city to investigate?" What is the intention? I have heard for a long time that there are many fierce generals in Wuchang, and when I see it today, it is really a joke! ”

Everyone couldn't help but shudder, and a few generals obviously couldn't hold it anymore, clenching their swords at their waists angrily, but several civil officials were calm.

Liu Chongji naturally heard that Li Yuan was deliberately provoking the general, and then sneered: "Li Dashuai, this handsome man respects you because of your official worship of Wuping's moderation!" But this is Ezhou, not Langzhou, what right do you have to make a big deal out here? ”

Looking around, seeing that everyone was still unmoved, and did not say a word for a long time, Li Yuan decided not to entangle anymore, and said in a deep voice: "That's it, this handsome man is all he says, you can do it yourself!" ”

Li Yuan turned around and walked out of the government office, and quickly led the light horse out of the city from the north gate.

After learning that Li Yuan had decided to change his route to the north, Lin Sichang was stunned and said, "Dashuai, aren't we going to Jinling?" Won't this delay the greeting of relatives? ”

Li Yuanzheng had a headache, and sighed helplessly: "It is important to welcome relatives, but now that Li Jinquan is rebellious, you must know that the soldiers under his command belong to our Guardian Saint Army!" How does the coach sit idly by? ”

Thinking of this, Li Yuan couldn't help but be a little afraid, fortunately he met these defeated soldiers, otherwise Li Jinquan led the Wei Shengjun to make a rebellion, and he would be an afterthought when he was thousands of miles away, if the situation deteriorated, the big crime might be deducted from his head one day......

Lin Sichang still persuaded with a worried face: "Dashuai, but our trip is only a thousand light horses, I'm afraid it won't help if we go!" It's better to return to Langzhou to transfer troops and make plans! If something goes wrong with you......"

Li Yuan shook his head decisively and said, "It's too late." I have made up my mind, don't persuade again! The country is in trouble, and the marshal has received the grace of His Majesty, so how can he care about personal life and death! ”

Seeing his handsome and firm look, Lin Sichang couldn't help but be in awe, and when his heart was surging, he resolutely replied: "The last general will obey the order!" I am willing to die for the handsome! ”