Chapter 557 Release

After today's court meeting, Li Shimin summoned Li Ke into the harem to meet alone.

After the ceremony, Li Shimin threw a fold in front of Li Ke, "What do you think?"

Li Ke looked down at it. There were two words "resignation" on the folded book, and he was slightly surprised. Looking at it, I was stunned, "This... is really unexpected!"

The father and son have long been tacit, waiting for Qin Mubai to lead the army to return to the court triumphantly, that is, the day when Li Ke was canonized as the crown prince. Although Changsun Wuji has not made a clear statement, the father and son know in their hearts that even if Changsun Wuji is stubborn, he still has reservations. As long as there is strong support from the military, there will not be much resistance for Li Ke to become a prince.

Although the civil servants are in charge of the mouthpiece of the imperial court, in the final analysis, no matter how stupid and stubborn Changsun Wuji is, he will not be stupid enough to turn the tide with his own strength. Besides, the king of Wei was dead, and the eldest grandson Wuji couldn't pull off the old face, and turned his head to support Li Zhi, the king of Jin. In his hand, there is no prince to have the confidence. What else can he do besides acquiescing Li Ke's admission to the East Palace?

As for the "bloodline" and "concubine" issues that have been talked about in the past, it is just an absurd excuse in the face of absolute strength, let alone enough to influence the overall situation.

But now, Qin Mubai suddenly submitted his resignation. Li Ke wanted to take office and lacked the most powerful help. This variable caught Li Shimin and his son a little caught off guard.

At this moment, Li Ke is wondering why Mu Bai suddenly wants to retire? I didn't hear any news about this matter in advance. Judging from his experience in the past, Mu Bai is tenacious and ambitious. The bad news of his father's death did not make him a little decadent. This time... What's wrong?

Seeing that Li Ke was silent, Li Shimin knocked on the crutch, "Try your opinion?"

"I can't think of any way for a while." Li Ke shook his head in embarrassment, "My son knows Mu Bai. He didn't make any decisions easily. However, once it is decided, it will not be changed easily.

Li Shimin frowned, "Do you know what Qin Mubai means to you, to the current court, and to the future of the Tang Dynasty?"

"I know..." Li Ke nodded and said to himself: As my father said, Qin Mubai's current identity and position are really important! I need his support to sit in the East Palace; the civil and military factions in the imperial court need his strength to maintain balance; in the future, he will need to host the military affairs of the Tang Dynasty. Among other things, just a large area of the Western Regions, no one dares to guarantee that it will be suppressed.

"Since you know, do you have a way to remedy it?" Li Shimin said.

Li Ke frowned deeply and was speechless for a long time. He said to himself: I think I know about Mu Bai. He is not the kind of person who is selfish and ignores the overall situation. At such a critical moment, he suddenly handed in his resignation. There must be a big reason, or he was already disappointed in the court... What was the reason to make him like this?

Li Ke couldn't help but think of the emperor. Because, with Qin Mubai's current status and reputation, it is estimated that the emperor is the only one who can make such a huge change!

If Qin Mubai resigns because he has lost confidence in the court and the emperor, then it will be really difficult!

Thinking of this, Li Ke said to Li Shimin, "I don't know what my father's 'remediation' refers to?"

Li Shimin said, "I'm asking you."

Li Ke grinned in embarrassment, so he had to bravely answer, "At this time, there are only two ways. The first is to reject Qin Mubai's resignation and invite him to Chang'an to persuade him to stay and continue to work for the Tang Dynasty; the second is to find a person who can replace Qin Mubai.

"Then try both methods." Li Shimin seemed to have expected that Li Ke would answer like this and said, "Didn't you mention earlier that you wanted to marry Qin Shuang'er, the girl of the Qin family and Qin Mubai's sister, as your wife? Now I'm accurate. Tomorrow, I will send Chu Suiliang and the Lord of Zongzheng Temple to Chang'an for a grand job. I will give you a marriage and officially appoint Qin's daughter as Princess Wu!"

Li Ke knelt down on the spot, "Thank you for your success!"

Today's Princess Wu will not be the princess for a long time, and it won't take long... I guess she will be the queen of the mother of a country!

"It's not necessary to do just like this!" Li Shimin sighed and said, "Even if you married Qin's daughter as a concubine, Qin Mubai still refused to return to the court, which was futile. Therefore, we have to send a lobbyist to Lanzhou to persuade Qin Mubai. Ke'er, who do you think is better to send?

"This..." Li Ke hesitated for a moment and bowed his hand and said, "Gaoyang's sister is still in Chang'an. If you can persuade her to lobby, it's probably feasible.

"Confused." Li Shimin frowned and said, "This girl, a girl is outgoing, and her lover has no parents for a long time. Sending her to lobby Qin Mubai is no different from beating a dog with meat buns.

Li Ke couldn't help laughing and then said, "Father, in fact, my son has also thought of this layer. But... If even Gao Yang can't be persuaded, how can he convince Qin Mubai?"

Li Shimin frowned and meditated for a moment, nodded, "It makes sense. But this girl doesn't listen to me now. She has to convince her first. I think you are the only one who comes forward in person.

"My son takes the order." Li Ke led the promise.

Li Shimin sighed, picked up another folded book from his side and handed it to Li Ke, and said, "The world is unpredictable. If Qin Mubai insists on refusing to come back, can't he be tied up, right? As you said, we have to prepare for both sides. Look at this first."

Li Ke took over and took a look. He raised his eyebrows and said in surprise, "Goguryeo civil strife, Mo Lizhiquan Gai Su Wen killed the king?"

"Yes! Quan Gai Suwen, an ambitious maniac, has always wanted to conquer Baekje and Silla, and then fight against me in the Tang Dynasty. Li Shimin said, "A few years ago, the Three Kingdoms melee on the Goryeo Peninsula was planned by him, an ambitious minister of Goguryeo. That time, I sent you to mediate. Fortunately, you did not disgrace your mission and calmed down the war of the Three Kingdoms. Now, Quan Gai Suwen finally couldn't help it. He killed the King of Glory of Goguryeo and abandoned him in the field without even holding a funeral. At the same time, he also killed more than a hundred ministers. Then, he made Gao Zang, the nephew of King Rongliu, a puppet king and called himself 'Da Mo Lizhi'. Now that he has taken charge of all the military and political power of Goryeo, I believe that it won't be long before he will rise up to invade Silla and achieve his ambition for many years.

"Such unfaithful, unfilial, unkind and unrighteous people must be exterminated!" Li Ke said angrily, "If you sit and watch him annexing Silla and Baekje, it will be the trouble for me in the future!"

"Therefore, the Tang Dynasty must prepare early to fight against Goguryeo." Li Shimin's eyes narrowed, and a touch of light appeared in his eyes. "I had the intention to conquer Goryeo as early as many years ago, and I got rid of this problem of my confidant's elbows and armpits for future generations. Later, it was delayed because of frequent wars in the west. Now that the West has decided, it is the time to use the army of Goryeo. Unfortunately, my health is no longer good. Therefore, I'm ready to let you go on an expedition!"

Li Ke was shocked and said with emotion, "I'm willing to lead the troops to go on an expedition, and I can't win!"

"This battle is only allowed to win or not to lose, but at the same time..." Li Shimin's voice was a little helpless. "If Qin Mubai insists on refusing to return to the court, you have to use this war to find a person who can replace Qin Mubai. Or, you can do it yourself - instead of Qin Mubai!"

Li Ke was stunned, nodded silently, and said to himself: It's still my father's foresight. No matter what he does, he is always thinking about the whole situation. In fact, at present, the Tang Dynasty is not suitable for another war. However, in order to stabilize the court and balance the political situation, we have to make this bad plan. It seems that there is nothing my father can do. If Qin Mubai is willing to come back, the political situation can be stable, and the expedition to Goryeo does not have to be so hasty. Moreover, the 300,000 Guanxi Railway Army led by Qin Mubai is invincible. Why worry about the peace of the little Gaoguryeo? ...But these 300,000 troops are in the hands of others or me, but they may not have such a magic effect!

"Xue Yantuo has calmed down, and the situation in Mobei has gradually stabilized. I'm ready to issue an order to transfer Li Xun back to the court. Li Shimin said, "Kier, do you know what to do?"

"I understand..."

"I do all this for you and the future of the Tang Dynasty." Li Shimin frowned and said leisurely, "There are gains and losses in everything, and there is no way to be both beautiful. If anyone has any misunderstanding or overgion about me, I... can only admit it!"

Li Ke nodded, and a conjecture in his heart was confirmed: It seems that there is really a big gap between Mu Bai and my father...

"Let's go and persuade your royal sister." Li Shimin said, "It's better for you to come forward than for me. This girl... I can't do anything about her now!"

"Yes, I'm going now."

Soon after, Li Ke went to the harem to find Princess Gaoyang. Before he could speak, Princess Gaoyang first said, "Are you here to be a lobbyist for your father?"

Li Ke was stunned at first, and then smiled, "It seems that you all know?"

"What don't I know!" Princess Gaoyang curled her lips and said, "My father told me last night and asked me to find a way to persuade Mu Bai back. But I didn't agree!"

Li Ke wondered, "Why didn't you agree?"

"Because..." Princess Gaoyang's eyes turned straight, but she didn't spit out any other words for a long time.

Li Ke smiled and said, "Forget it, Gao Yang. You don't have to be narrow-eyed in front of me. In fact, I'm here today as a lobbyist. In fact, I want to let you go back and reunite with Mu Bai!"

"Really?" As soon as Princess Gaoyang's surprised eyes lit up, she hugged Li Ke, "I knew that you would always be my good third brother!" Over the years, I haven't loved you for nothing!"

"How do you talk!" Li Ke was really angry and funny. He pushed Princess Gaoyang away and said, "You are also a big man, and you are also a mother. You are still as absurd and nonsense as before!"

"Hey hey! No matter how old I am, I will always be a little sister in front of you!" Princess Gaoyang was so happy that she burst into tears and whispered, "Third brother, are you really going to do this?"

"Oh..." Li Ke sighed helplessly and said with a wry smile, "Don't I know what Mu Bai is? Since it was his decision, nothing has been changed. Instead of this, I might as well follow privacy, at least to preserve the friendship between me and him.

"The third brother is still so wise..." Princess Gaoyang nodded gently and sighed, and said, "Actually, why don't I want Mu Bai to come back to Chang'an to reunite with our family? This not only fulfills the righteousness of kings and ministers, but also fulfills the friendship between husband and wife and you. But... I'm really not sure about what he decided. And from what I know about him, he has never been the kind of person who is ungrateful and selfish. Since he has made such a decision, there must be his reason. I... can only support him!"

Li Ke stared at Princess Gaoyang, nodded and said, "Gaoyang, in fact, you are the smartest person."

"Do you have it?" Princess Gaoyang smiled and said, "Do you and my father are smart?"

"Yes." Li Ke smiled and said, "You always insist on trusting in Mu Bai. This is great wisdom."

Princess Gaoyang suddenly became angry, "It means - I still look very stupid?"

Li Ke laughed and said, "It's Brother Yu's inappropriate words! - Gao Yang, there are few people in the world who can consistently achieve the word 'persistence'. You will be happy in the future, just by your consistent trust in Mu Bai!"

Princess Gaoyang smiled with a proud and gratified smile and nodded, "Thank you, third brother!"

Li Ke breathed a sigh of relief and held Princess Gaoyang's hand. "I will repay my father that you have promised to go to Lanzhou as a lobbyist. Get ready and leave at any time!"

"Third brother, you are bullying the king by selfishness..."

"It's okay, just go. I can take care of other things.

Princess Gaoyang took Li Ke's hand tightly, and her eyes turned a little red. She whispered, "Third brother, will we meet again in the future?"

Li Ke smiled and said, "I'm afraid only that guy knows the answer to this question."

"Actually, the third brother, you also want to persuade Mu Bai, right?" Princess Gaoyang said, "It's just that you are using the method of 'savage'?"

Li Ke smiled calmly and said, "I admit that I have such an idea. However, if Mu Bai insists on not returning, I will really be 'indulgent'.

"Are you really... willing to do this?" Princess Gaoyang asked cautiously.

Li Ke sighed softly and said, "Mu Bai has done enough for me; it is enough for Datang. If he is really tired and wants to rest, I can't be selfish. Gao Yang, please send me a message to Mu Bai and say - no matter what happens in the future, Qin Mubai and Li Ke will always be best friends!"

"What if one day you become a prince or even an emperor?" Princess Gaoyang asked deliberately.

Li Ke smiled and said, "Forever, don't you understand?"

"Forever, how far is it?"

Li Ke was stunned and didn't know how to answer.

Princess Gaoyang wiped the drooping tears around her eyelids and whispered, "Third brother, I will talk to Mu Bai. But I think that if you really became a prince and an emperor, you will regret saying such a thing.

"Do you think I will? ......”

Princess Gaoyang looked at Li Ke with crooked eyes and smiled without saying a word.

The brother and sister meet each other, but in fact, they are tacit.

At this moment, Princess Gaoyang was thinking in her heart: We were all born in the emperor's family. Can we still not understand that the emperor does not deserve too many personal feelings? Why is there no such reason for Mu Bai to resign? Because he doesn't want to break up with the third brother one day, so there is only a cold relationship between the two! Third brother, you are also wise. I know that the reason why you are willing to let me go today is that you know that you can't persuade Mu Bai back, and you don't want to persuade Mu Bai back. So you retreat and ask for the second, just want to give you the friendship between the two of you... a way to live!