Chapter 528 Euling Meat and Sores

The night is deep and silent.

Chang'an, this ancient and magnificent capital, is like a tired giant falling into a deep sleep in the middle of the night, and like a towering Cangshan Mountain, which looks surprisingly quiet before a storm that hits the world.

Recently, the atmosphere in Chang'an is very unusual. The reason for everything is that an unreasonable and eventful person said a lot of nonsense at the banquet.

This person, who just came to Chang'an not long after the Tang Dynasty came to Chang'an, the former Western Turkic Northern Court Khan, wanted to set up a valley.

After returning to Tang, he was awarded the title of a kind prince and enjoyed a better treatment than the national level, which made him, the subjugated king, a little overjoyed. So he drank a few more glasses at Li Shimin's national banquet. Because he was not familiar with the principle and made a drunken speech, he actually regarded Li Tai, the king of Wei, who came to toast, as a "prince" in public, and offered his affection to him in order to win the glory and peace for the rest of his life.

But the problem is that the king of Wei is just the king of Wei, not the prince!

So on the spot, many people's faces changed, and Li Tai, the king of Wei, was even more frightened, so he knelt down on the spot and begged him not to flatter him.

One of the sharpest problems in the Tang Dynasty today was finally broken by an outsider. So some ministers took the opportunity to speak to Li Shimin, using ancient metaphors and the present, quotations, long arguments, and tireless words. In fact, there is only one meaning - the Tang Dynasty, it's time to set up a crown prince!

The voice of the ministers is nothing more than: Emperor, you are not clear about the crown prince. Isn't it embarrassing us ministers? - You are not in a hurry, we are in a hurry! Now that the battle is over, it's time to take care of the internal affairs of the imperial court. Now the Wenwu of the Manchu Dynasty is facing the big problem of the life-and-death choice of "a team". No one wants to stand in the wrong team now and be purged in the future!

Li Shimin also knows that paper can't cover the fire after all, and contradictions and problems can't be blindly covered up. It is also time to solve the biggest hidden danger and crisis since the Zhenguan Dynasty!

"Within a year."

Li Shimin, who made a statement in public for the first time, gave a deadline for establishing the crown prince.

This year is also destined to be the most special and important year since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. It will determine the life and death of many people, as well as the future direction and national fate of the Tang Dynasty.

For this reason, Li Shimin can't sleep at night. Tossing and turning until late at night, he simply got up in his clothes and prepared to go to the study to sit down.

When I first arrived at the study, I found that there were lights and people in it. When she went in, she saw that her baby daughter Xiao Yanzi was lying on the table and painting something, and there were two Gong'e serving next to her.

"Your Majesty!" Gong E saw Li Shimin and hurriedly knelt down.

"Father!" Xiao Yanzi shouted happily and threw himself into Li Shimin's arms with a grin.

"It's so late, why haven't you slept yet?" Li Shimin stroked Xiaozi's head lovingly and asked.

"The emperor can't sleep!" Xiao Yanzi blinked her big smart eyes and said solemnly, "The emperor misses his mother!"

Li Shimin was stunned and speechless for a moment. He walked to the desk with Xiaozi in his arms to see what she had just painted.

Originally, Xiao Yanzi would have painted a portrait of Empress Changsun, but he didn't expect that the painting was a general riding a big horse.

Although Xiao Yanzi is ten years old, he has been intelligent and talented since he was a child, especially has an amazing talent in painting and calligraphy. As early as two years ago, at the age of eight, she was able to imitate Li Shimin's "flying white calligraphy" calligraphy vividly, which was difficult to distinguish between true and false. In the past two years, she began to learn painting from the painter in the palace, and she has learned a skillful pen, which is amazing.

Li Shimin just glanced at him and thought at a glance who the little man was painting.

Because she drew too much like her. If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, it would have been hard to believe that this painting was made by a ten-year-old girl.

"Well painted, Xiao Yanzi." Li Shimin smiled and put down Xiao Yanzi and said, "Tell my father, why didn't you sleep in the middle of the night and ran to the study to draw his portrait?"

"Because of the emperor, I also miss the village head..." Xiao Yanzi's mouth pouted slightly and said aggrievedly, "The emperor originally wanted to draw a portrait of his mother, but the emperor... did not remember his mother's appearance. These days, the emperor has been alone in the Penglai Hall, and even Brother Jiu has not come to accompany me. At night, the emperor is lonely and afraid, and will miss the village head. In the past, as long as the village head was here, the emperor was not afraid of anything, and he would be very happy. He listened to his story and asked him to take me and Jiuge to play... Father, where did the village head go? He hasn't come to visit the emperor for a long time!"

A few words made Li Shimin's heart inexplicably sour. He said to himself: I have been working hard to be a good emperor and a good father. But in the end, I am still a bad father who lacks care for my children. Now, Sanlang, Qingque and Zhinu can't tolerate each other because of the prince's quarrel with each other; even the innocent little son has suffered a lonely...

"Father, why don't you talk?" Xiao Yanzi asked softly.

"He... will be back soon." Li Shimin forced a smile and said, "Little son, when you are a few years older, your father will choose a good son-in-law for you. Then you won't be lonely or afraid.

The young and incompetent little boy slapped his hands and laughed: "Okay! Let the village head be the son-in-law! Emperor, I like him the most!"

"..." Li Shimin was stunned at first, and then laughed, "How can that be done? He is the emperor's son-in-law of your Gaoyang Royal Sister!"

"What does it matter?" Xiao Yanzi smiled innocently and said happily, "I also like Princess Gaoyang very much. Let me marry the village head with her!"

"Haha!" Li Shimin was amused and laughed loudly, "When you grow up, you won't think so."

"Father..." The little son suddenly changed his face and pleaded pitifully, "Why don't you let the village head be my son-in-law?" Do you know that the emperor has no one he likes except his father, the ninth brother and the mother who doesn't remember his appearance. Now that my mother is gone, my father is busy with state affairs all day long. My ninth brother has also moved to the palace outside the palace. Xiaozi is alone in the Penglai Hall. It's really pitiful... Only the village head, he loves me the most. Around him, the emperor always feels warm in his heart, just like being with his father.

"Hehe..." Li Shimin stroked Xiao Yanzi's head and smiled.

In the smile, there is indescribable love, shame and sadness.

"Father, how about calling the village head back for you?"

"Good!" Xiao Yanzi slapped happily.

"But..." Li Shimin stood up, took a few thoughtful steps, and whispered meaningfully, "He may not be willing to come back now..."

The night is deeper.

Li Shimin came to the Hongwen Museum. The prime minister left behind at night today is Fang Xuanling. In the middle of the night, he couldn't help but be a little surprised to see the emperor coming to the Hongwen Hall in person and hurriedly greeted him.

"Your Majesty, why did you come to Hongwen Hall without going to bed so late at night?" Fang Xuanling asked.

"I have many things in my heart. If I can't sleep, I just go out for a walk." Li Shimin said easily, "Xuanling, let's talk with me!"

"Yes..."

The two gentlemen and ministers came to Fang Xuanling's official office to sit down. Li Shimin took a look around and said, "Xuanling, you are old. In the future, this kind of night shift will be left to the young subordinates!"

"It doesn't matter. I'm used to it." Fang Xuanling replied with a smile.

"Uh-huh..." Li Shimin seemed to have a thousand words to say, but for a moment he didn't know where to start. After a while, he said, "Is there any news about West recently?"

"Your Majesty, after returning to the Tang Dynasty from the North Court, there is no major news in the Western Regions for the time being. There is nothing big going on in Lanzhou and Luo, and everything is peaceful. Fang Xuanling replied, "In Liaodong, Goguryeo seems to have some changes, and he wants to join hands with Baekje to use troops against Silla. The king of Jiangxia, who has just returned to the governor's office in Youzhou, sent a letter asking the court whether it needs to respond?

"Are Koreans not honest again?" Li Shimin snorted a little angrily, "They must have no time to look east when they see the Tang Dynasty's military front in recent years, so he took the opportunity to annex the Silla Unified Peninsula. In fact, a few years ago, I thought about sweeping Goryeo and eliminating future troubles for future generations. But there is always one thing or another, which is delayed. Now, Li Xun has wiped out Xue Yantuo and wiped out the northern desert. Qin Mubai conquered Tubo and flattened the Western Regions, just in time to free up and clean up Goguryeo!"

"Your Majesty..." Fang Xuanling stopped talking and looked embarrassed.

Li Shimin smiled and said, "I know what you want to say. Don't worry, I won't let the Tang Dynasty have another war in three years. The Northern Expedition, Pingbo and the Western Expedition have made the treasury empty, and the people have suffered for it. Now if you don't practice martial arts, the Tang Dynasty's family will be hollowed out, and the world will be in trouble. If so, even if there are thousands of miles of territory, it will be weak.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Fang Xuanling breathed a sigh of breath and said, "In those years, the Han Dynasty was driven by the Xiongnu in the north and the Western Regions, and the army of the Han Dynasty was majestic. But because of the poor soldiers Dou Wu all year round, the empty national strength of the people suffered unspeakably, and later it also caused a big disaster..."

Li Shimin's eyes lit up and he smiled and said, "Xuanling, do you have something to say to me?"

"Your Majesty, no..."

"Ha ha!" Li Shimin smiled, "Isn't what you just saying about 'inducing a great disaster' refer to the 'disaster of witchcraft' in Hanwu's later years?"

Fang Xuanling's face changed slightly and hurriedly pleaded guilty, "Weichen didn't mean it!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and said with a casual smile, "The disaster of witchcraft at the end of Hanwu led to the death of the queen, the prince and countless ministers. It's not wrong for you to satirize the past and the present. The East Palace is the future and foundation of the country. The East Palace is not solid and people's hearts are unstable, which will lead to a great disaster for the country. I know that now is the time to choose a prince for the Tang Dynasty.

Fang Xuanling didn't dare to say anything.

"What has the King of Wei been doing recently? I didn't see him coming to court." Li Shimin suddenly asked.

"I don't know. Recently, Weichen has not seen the King of Wei in the Hongwen Hall. Fang Xuanling answered truthfully, "Maybe... he is sick, right? Otherwise, the king of Wei will not come to the court.

Li Shimin smiled indifferently, "He was born with the disease of the East Palace!"

Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly, "Since Your Majesty knows, why let many people suffer from the disease of the East Palace?"

Li Shimin also smiled bitterly, "Why don't I get this disease? This strange disease has been bothering me in the Tang Dynasty for several years, and it has not been cured.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being frank. If you are sick, it is one thing to be cured or not; it is another thing to treat or not. In any case, there is always hope if it is cured, if it is not cured..." Fang Xuanling stopped.

"It's to the point." Li Shimin nodded with deep understanding, "Now, I just want to be ruthless and treat this disease. But this disease has been going on for a long time, and it's not easy to treat! You have to take a few doses of strong medicine; when you have to, you even have to... cut meat to make up for sores!"

Fang Xuanling's heart suddenly flashed, and a frightening look flashed in her eyes. She asked carefully, "Your Majesty's strong medicine refers to..."

Li Shimin's eyes narrowed, and his expression became sad and helpless. He sighed and said, "I have always hoped to cure this disease through recuperation and comfort, but I didn't expect it to be more and more serious, and it has reached the point of terminal illness. If this disease is not cured, the court of the Tang Dynasty will be in chaos, and the world will be in chaos. All the efforts we have made before and everything we have now will be in vain... I have to dig the meat here to make up for the sores of my Tang Dynasty!"

With that, Li Shimin pointed to his chest.

Fang Xuanling's expression suddenly stagnated, and his hands and feet also felt a chill.

At this moment, a terrible idea came to Fang Xuanling's heart - His Majesty is going to dig his own heart... This should mean that there will be at least two of the kings of Wei, the king of Wu and the king of Jin, who will be greatly hurt!

"What a... Scooping out meat to make up for the sores!" Fang Xuanling sighed deeply, "Your Majesty, Weichen is also the father of man. To make such a decision..."

Li Shimin waved his hand to signal that Fang Xuanling didn't have to go on. He shook his head with a wry smile, "I, is there any other choice?"