In Chang'an City, Emperor Li Er held a grand celebration banquet for Li Jing and others who came back.

Although both sides were defeated, at least the strategic goal was achieved and the prince was rescued. If it weren't for the last sneak attack and heavy losses, this time it can be described as a big victory.

Speaking of old Li Jing, he was also unlucky, it was the second time that the boat capsized in the gutter. The last time Xiao Rui went deep into the grassland, Lao Li Jing easily defeated Dingxiang City, captured the Turkic prince, and surrounded Wei to rescue Zhao to force Jieli to come back to help.

Jieli besieged Dingxiang for many days without success, Xiao Rui also escaped back to Chang'an City safely, seeing that Jieli lost his wife and broke his army, but he turned the tables against the wind, and actually left a secret passage in Dingxiang, and used the dead to kill the inside and outside, and the work of capturing the city and killing the generals was so missed, and the old Li Jing's face was very ugly.

This time again, the old Li Jing outside Dingxiang City used his soldiers like a god to kill countless Turkic soldiers and horses, and he saw that the merit book was sent away, but he was attacked by Jieli desperately at night, and he became a loser, and his good military exploits were gone.

Fortunately, he was defeated twice, and the emperor still gave enough face. The first strategic purpose was to keep Youzhou and rescue Xiao Rui. This time, the strategic purpose is to save the crown prince. Both goals have been achieved, and as for capturing Jieli and exterminating the Turks, that is not the strategic purpose of our troops, but just a slogan.

Although he entered the Duke of Weiguo, countless flowers and applause, Lao Li Jing was still haunted. If there are no accidents, this is the last battle of his life. I am old, almost sixty people, I can no longer lead the army, after this battle, I am ready to say goodbye to the old, and I am free to write books at home, but it is a pity that I have not competed for all the work! Regret in vain.

No one mentioned the champion Hou Xiaorui in the whole process, as if everyone had a tacit understanding. The generals in the army don't want to get involved in the family affairs of other emperors, and the emperor hasn't figured out how to deal with this troublesome son-in-law. As for the civil servants? Xiao Rui did not withdraw it, and borrowed the soldiers, horses, grain and grass of the Liang State, and did not commit taboos.

And what about Su Lie's 10,000 cavalry? I'm sorry, I was sent to protect you Xiao Rui, and let the Xiao Family Chamber of Commerce pay for food and grass, isn't it too much? Since it is the people who spend their own money to produce grain and grass, and do not spend the money of the imperial court, what does it matter to us?

No one wants to touch the emperor's brow for the sake of 10,000 soldiers and horses, everyone knows that the emperor favors this son-in-law, and only 10,000 soldiers and horses are sent to protect the Tang Dynasty champion Hou, which is nothing.

But who can know that the emperor is angry and loving to this son-in-law, what he loves is that he is talented and can take on great responsibilities, and he is angry that he is never obedient, always causing trouble, and he can't be busy wiping his ass himself.

The next day, Lao Li Jing and Wei Zheng jointly entered the palace to plead guilty.

"Your Majesty, the old minister is guilty. Please remove your majesty from the title of Duke of Patriotic Defense, and the general of the defeated army will be deserved. ”

Emperor Li Er said impatiently: "Pharmacist, I have already said in public, this battle to save the crown prince is a complete achievement, don't talk about the rest." Do you want me to go back on my word? ”

Old Li Jing's beard trembled slightly, and he hurriedly saluted: "The minister doesn't dare." But Your Majesty, the minister privately sent 10,000 cavalry to Xiao Rui as a guard, and this matter could not be passed. The generals of the army should be rewarded and punished clearly, and there is no royal order to transfer troops privately, please ask Your Majesty to punish the crime. ”

Li Er groaned: "It's not your fault, Xiao Rui, this bastard kid, caused trouble, and I want a few of us to wipe his ass, hmph, I will clean him up when he comes back." As for your troop transfer, you are the general manager of the Dingxiang Road march, and you already have the right to use troops to transfer troops, which is understandable. ”

"But at that time, His Majesty had already ordered the withdrawal of troops. Let's ask Your Majesty to punish the crime, otherwise the old minister will be uneasy. ”

Li Er nodded: "Okay, if you insist on this, then you will be fined for a year and think about it behind closed doors." ”

This...... Old Li Jing was light, but was interrupted by Li Er's wave of his hand, "That's it, if it's okay, you can retreat." ”

Helpless, Li Jing could only salute and leave.

Li Er looked at Wei Zheng, "Xuan Cheng, you are also here to ask for sin?" ”

Wei Zheng shook his head and said, "No, the minister is here to participate in the champion Hou Xiaorui." ”

"Oh? This is strange, you are trying to protect your son-in-law on the battlefield, why do you want to participate in him when you come back? Could it be that Weng and his son-in-law are out of harmony? Are you Wei Xuancheng annoyed and angry? Li Er quipped.

Wei Zheng shook his head solemnly: "Your Majesty, I try to protect him for personal reasons, and he is a public affair when he participates, how dare the minister abolish the public for personal reasons?" Champion Hou Xiaorui did not listen to the emperor's orders, and insisted on entanglement with Jieli because of his own selfishness, so arrogance must not be punished. ”

Li Er nodded: "Yes, this kid is just too nonsense." I'm also worried about what to do with him? Did he deprive him of his title? But the title of champion Hou is not easy to come by, and if he takes it away, it will be difficult to return him in the future. ”

"How many soldiers and horses does he and Xue Li have combined? Just want to catch Jieli? Have one's head in the clouds. ”

"If luck really makes him do it, it's okay, I still have something to say, if the army is lost, the grain and grass will be wasted, and the army will return defeated, I can't say it if I don't punish him."

Wei Zheng retorted: "No, it's not that he came back, but that he should be convicted and imprisoned now." ”

What??? What is the truth about this? Xuancheng, are you confused? Xiao Rui is fighting outside, and you can't even catch it in person, what can we do?

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice: "The minister's worries are the opposite of Your Majesty's. The minister is not worried about him coming back from defeat, but the minister is worried about him coming back from victory. ”

Oh? What is the truth about this? Li Er was puzzled.

But Wei Zheng was not easy to explain, Li Er smiled and said: "Xuan Cheng, there are no outsiders here, Xiao Rui is your son-in-law, I believe you when you participate in the performance, but I don't believe you if you don't protect him." ”

Seeing Wei Zheng's embarrassment, Li Er waved his hand and retreated.

Wei Zheng slowly expressed his worries: "Your Majesty, Xiao Rui has already made a lot of achievements, and the more famous he becomes, the more arrogant he becomes. It's not a good thing to go on like this in the long run, and it's also a good thing to have a setback, so it's better to be defeated, and Your Majesty can naturally punish him and let him restrain a little. ”

Li Er nodded, "It's not unreasonable to say that. But this kid is a freak, don't look at him causing trouble everywhere, but I often try my best to force him to move, otherwise I'd rather be locked up in Xiaojiazhuang all day fishing than come out to work. It's too lazy. ”

Wei Zheng continued: "Your Majesty, if the army does not withdraw, and it is Marshal Li Jing who breaks the Dingxiang and captures Jieli, then naturally everyone will be happy. ”

"But now it's different, only Xiao Rui and Xue Li, plus a Su Lie who is close to Xiao Rui. If he really let him capture Jieli and destroy the Turks, such a great credit would be monopolized by him, and other generals would not share the slightest profit, alas...... No matter how great your reward is, it will only do him bad and not good. ”

"When he presided over the Yushitai and killed all sides, he had already offended a lot of civil officials. Now if he robs the military merits and offends a group of generals, then he will really be isolated by the court. ”

Hiss......

Li Er involuntarily took a cool breath, yes, what Xuan Cheng said was right. In the past, when the civil and military forces in the court mentioned Xiao Rui, they scolded and respected, but if you offend too much, people will all hate you behind your back, then Xiao Rui will not want to do anything in the future.

The two discussed for a while, and Li Er decided to make an order, and the champion Hou Xiaorui was arrogant and disobeyed the king's orders, and ordered him to be arrested and imprisoned immediately, and the criminal department asked the case to convict.

As soon as the team sent out to arrest people left Chang'an City, Dingxiang's 800-mile rush entered the city. I don't know if Li Er's face is wonderful?