Concubine Jing said in a low voice: "King Huai has indeed oppressed His Majesty to the point of breathlessness, but at this time, Li Yuan wrote this letter, mainly to separate His Majesty and King Huai, he wants to disrupt our plan to defend the city, so as to break through Yangzhou......"

Zhang Xun said angrily: "What do you know? Did you tell Your Majesty this? ”

Concubine Jing hurriedly said, "How can I go and say it?" I also secretly read that letter, and His Majesty did not know about it. ”

Zhang Xun nodded and said, "Don't talk nonsense." You have also seen the current situation, can Yangzhou City really hold on? I think it's hard. It is rumored everywhere in the city that Li Yuan can lead the sky and thunder to help the battle, and the city defense of Yangzhou may be difficult to resist. Do you think Your Majesty thinks in your heart that Zhang Wenbiao will definitely be able to keep it? Why is Your Majesty sleeping?

At this time, Li Yuanlai's letter is probably exactly what His Majesty hopes in his heart, and His Majesty must have come to me to discuss this matter. If the death of one person is exchanged for the stability of Yangzhou, His Majesty will definitely do it. As for what you said, how can I not know Li Yuan's tricks, but why don't we just plan them? As soon as Zhang Wenbiao died, the government and the opposition were clear, and His Majesty was in power, this Datang is the real Datang, and His Majesty is the real Majes!

As for the defense of the city, could it be that without Zhang Wenbiao, the days would be over? What about me? Shall I not be able to defend the city? Zhang Wenbiao will not be able to do those city defense matters? Therefore, both inside and out, it is beneficial to us and harmless, and I must persuade Your Majesty to do it. ”

Concubine Jing thought for a while and said, "Brother, the little sister doesn't understand these things, and the specific things are up to the elder brother to make his own decisions." The younger sister only reminded her brother to be thoughtful and not to act in a hurry. In case Li Yuan falls for Li Yuan's tricks and buries Jiangshan Sheji, how can there be any yours and mine at that time? It's all over together. ”

Zhang Xun got up and said, "Don't worry, my brother will be thoughtful." ”

Concubine Jing nodded and said, "Then I'll go, Your Majesty should take a bath." ”

"Congratulations to the mother!"

Soon after Concubine Jing left, Li Congjia, who had finished bathing, came to the warm pavilion. Although he was refreshed after bathing, Li Congjia's brows were still tightly wrinkled, and it was difficult to stretch out. Zhang Xun bowed, and Li Congjia sat on the soft couch with only a wave of his hand, holding a cup of tea and drinking it.

Zhang Xun didn't dare to speak, only stood aside with his head down, and soon after, Li Congjia put down the teacup, sighed long, and said, "Shi Di, have you seen Concubine Jing?" ”

Zhang Xun hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, we just met and said a few words. ”

Li Congjia nodded and said, "Concubine Jing is lonely in the palace, you should often come to see her." ”

Zhang Xun said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, the minister obeyed the order, and let the inner man come to the palace to stay with him for a few days in a few days." ”

Li Congjia nodded slightly, and suddenly went straight to the point: "Shi Di, I want to ask you, do you think Yangzhou can hold it?" ”

Zhang Xun hurriedly said: "Why did Your Majesty ask this? Yangzhou City has sufficient soldiers and horses, abundant grain and grass, strong city defense, and unity, how can it not be defended? There is also King Huai in command, and he is even more impregnable. Your Majesty need not worry. ”

Li Congjia frowned and said, "Oh? Do you really think so? Didn't you hate King Huai in the past? How can you trust him so much today? I want to hear the truth. ”

Zhang Xun was slightly stunned, and said in a low voice: "There are no absolutes in everything, and the minister does not dare to say that it is foolproof." But do your best, and obey the destiny of heaven. ”

Li Congjia muttered: "Do your best and obey the destiny of heaven, that is, you don't think that Yangzhou City will be able to hold it." ”

Zhang Yi said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the minister is telling the truth. If Li Yuan can really lead down the thunder, Yangzhou City's defense will indeed have to undergo a severe test. I just don't know if this matter really exists, or if Li Yuan is playing tricks. In fact, what the minister has always wanted to tell His Majesty is that although we must strengthen the city defense and defend the city, we should probably think of other ways. ”

"Something else? What do you mean? Li Congjia frowned.

"The minister didn't dare to say it, and the minister was afraid that His Majesty would blame him if he said this."

"Say, I forgive you not guilty, and you may speak freely." Li Congjia shouted.

"The minister said that if there is anything inappropriate, Your Majesty can stop drinking it at any time."

"Say yes."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Chen has always believed that on the one hand, we should actively prepare for war, and on the other hand, we should also communicate with Li Yuan. Zhang Xun looked at Li Congjia's face carefully and said in a low voice.

"Communication? You mean to make peace with him? Li Congjia frowned.

"So to speak. The minister knew that His Majesty hated Li Yuan to the core, this thief was arrogant and arrogant, and heaven and earth did not tolerate it. But under the current circumstances, if Li Yuan can be stabilized, it may not be a good thing. If we can negotiate the conditions and let Li Yuan take the initiative to withdraw his troops, we can solve the current crisis. Waiting for full preparation to attack before attacking may not be a delaying tactic. ”

Li Congjia frowned and pondered silently, Zhang Xun saw that Li Congjia had no signs of seizures, so he boldly continued: "The minister said something rebellious, the minister has always thought that in fact, Li Yuan has come to the step of usurping the throne and becoming the emperor today, and the court's persecution of him is not unrelated, Your Majesty think about it, in the past, when you ascended the throne in Yangzhou, you rewarded the world, and even the traitor Li Jingsui, who stole in Jinling, gave him the title of King of Jin, but he regarded Chu Di as a tiger and wolf!"

Li Yuan has indeed rebelled, but it is understandable that it was the persecution of the imperial court and the countermeasures of King Yan that played a role in fueling the flames. This time, Li Yuan sent troops to fight against us, and that was also because King Huai led a large army to attack Chudi first! ”

"Bold! You actually exonerated Li Yuan's traitor, what is your intention? Li Congjia shouted.

Zhang Xun hurriedly leaned over and said, "Your Majesty is angry, the minister has no such intention!" The minister also hated Li Yuan, but the minister just analyzed Li Yuan's psychology for His Majesty. Just imagine, if our court can tolerate him, the situation will never be so bad. If he had been given the title of King of Chu in the past, and then sent out to attack Chu after our army had been trained for a year and a half, would he have collapsed in the Battle of Tanzhou and ended up in today's situation? ”

Li Congjia frowned and groaned for a long time, and said in a low voice: "Alas! You're right! It's really too hasty to send troops! But why didn't you say this when King Huai sent out his troops? ”

Zhang Xun hurriedly said: "How can Your Majesty not know, the minister doesn't say it, the minister can't speak!" King Huai favored Lei Rang and others, and he didn't take his ministers seriously at all! At the beginning, King Huai tried his best to send troops, but the minister mentioned it several times and persuaded him to be fully prepared before moving, but he was reprimanded by him to the point of blood. King Huai coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, who was the one in power in the court, how could the ministers compete with him? The minister just wants to clear the king's side, and the minister is also powerless. ”

Li Congjia stared at Zhang Xun in a daze and said, "Do you really dare?" ”

When Zhang Xun heard this, he was overjoyed. He said this to corroborate the words in Li Yuan's letter that he had already learned in advance, and at the same time stimulate the depression of Li Congjia, who was a prisoner in the deep palace, so that Li Congjia's psychological defense line gradually collapsed, and what Zhang Xun was going to say next, Li Congjia would listen to it a little.

"You said that you want to negotiate peace with Li Yuan and stabilize their plan to delay the army. But at present, the other party is approaching the city, and it is very likely to break through Yangzhou City, how can he negotiate peace? ”

"Your Majesty, as the minister said just now, the reason why Li Yuan is like this may be that the dog jumped over the wall in a hurry. He set himself up as the emperor in Chu Land, why did he come all the way to attack us in front of the emperor, wasn't it because King Huai led a large army to provoke him first? Maybe give him some sweetness, soften his attitude, and see if it is enough to make him withdraw from the army, or we can contact him and probe his bottom line.

If he is bent on destroying my Datang, then there is nothing to say, even if the fish dies and the net is broken, he can't be taught to succeed. But if he intends to make peace, the current crisis may be resolved, and we don't have to fight to the death with him at this time. Stabilize him first, let him retreat, after a few years our soldiers and horses are strong, and after the situation is stable, wouldn't it be more appropriate to send troops to exterminate this traitor in one fell swoop?

It's better than the current situation. If Yangzhou is really breached, the consequences will be unimaginable. Zhang Wenbiao actually instigated His Majesty to stay in Yangzhou, and also asked His Majesty to boost morale and people's hearts, where did he put His Majesty's safety? If His Majesty pinned his hopes on this minister who held the monarch hostage, the minister would have nothing to say. ”

Li Congjia stood up and slowly paced in the warm pavilion, his brows tightly locked, and his face was gloomy. From the bottom of his heart, he is obviously unwilling to make peace with Li Yuan, Li Yuan is incompatible with himself, and it is impossible to get along peacefully with him.

However, even if he hates him again, the current situation has to say that Li Yuan has the absolute upper hand. Li Yuan had already established himself as emperor, and was in a situation of military and reputational dual initiative, and the state capitals in Jiangbei that announced their support for him were one after another, and his own conscription and grain collection had long been difficult to continue.

At this time, Yangzhou City may not be able to hold it, and it can be said that it is about to fall into the country. If he can really reach a peace agreement with Li Yuan and let Li Yuan withdraw or temporarily suspend his army, it will undoubtedly be the most beneficial to himself, and Li Yuan has already taken the initiative to throw an olive branch and only put forward one condition, that is, to kill Zhang Wenbiao.

This condition is actually in Li Congjia's arms, he has long wanted to cut this rebellious minister and thief who hijacks the monarch's dictatorship, and he listened to Zhang Wenbiao's words before putting down prejudices and estrangements, but because he was worried that he would not be able to unite and lead to Yangzhou being broken, but now Li Yuan has taken this as a condition, but it has become the best of both worlds.

If he can really succeed in eradicating Zhang Wenbiao, and at the same time exchange Li Yuan for retiring from the army, and let Li Yuan announce his recognition of his throne, then his throne will be as stable as Mount Tai, which is undoubtedly the most cost-effective deal.

But Li Congjia suddenly became suspicious again, if he tried his best to eradicate Zhang Wenbiao, would he really be able to exchange for Li Yuan's withdrawal at that time? Li Congjia wasn't sure, he was very worried that this would happen to Li Yuan, but compared with the benefits he was about to get, he was really tempted, and he couldn't help but fall into confusion......