Chapter 529 Return to the second

Although the two gentlemen and ministers "talked" for half a night, they never broke the topic. Li Shimin did not say which prince he preferred, and Fang Xuanling did not ask.

In fact, one of the most important reasons why Li Shimin talked about these thoughts with Fang Xuanling is Fang Xuanling's position. Now, the literature and martial arts of the Manchu Dynasty either have their own position and camp, or are attached to Changsun Wuji and the Weiwang Group; or stand with the military and are optimistic about Li Ke. At a very early time, when the king of Jin was in charge of the country, there were also some people who stood in the Li Zhi camp, but when Changsun Wuji "left the group", he took away a lot of "group friends", and the remaining few people were not many and not loud, let alone people who really held real power or great influence.

Only Fang Xuanling, he is not inclined to any prince. Although he was the commander-in-chief of logistics and had a very close relationship with the military in the Pingfan battle, he never expressed any opinion on the issue of the reserve and has always been silent and neutral.

The reason is nothing more than his identity. Once upon a time, Fang Xuanling was entrusted by the eldest grandson of the queen and was determined to assist the former prince Li Chengqian. When Li Chengqian fell, if it hadn't been for Li Shimin's personal protection (taking him to the palace to recuperate himself), I'm afraid that Fang Xuanling, like Hou Junji, had already been eliminated from the political turmoil. Fortunately, he is still standing in the court, and Fang Xuanling has never participated in any disputes related to the establishment of a reserve.

Li Shimin deeply understands what kind of integrity and character Fang Xuanling has. The idea of "loyal ministers and two masters" is deeply rooted in Fang Xuanling's mind. From the day he accepted the help of Li Chengqian from the Queen of Changsun, he was like Zhuge Liang assisting A Dou. He knew that he was a mediocre master, but he would "do his best to die" and would rather die than regret it.

But God's will is hard to disobey. Li Chengqian, who has committed many injustices to destroy the Great Wall, seems to be inevitable. After that, it is absolutely impossible for Fang Xuanling to participate in either camp to wave the flag and shout.

It is also because of this that Fang Xuanling has become the most trustworthy person of Li Shimin now, and Li Shimin also dares to discuss the establishment of a reserve with him. If it were anyone else, they would have scruples or selfishness.

It's already dawn, and it's time for Fang Xuanling to hand over the shift. Li Shimin invited him to have breakfast together before leaving. The two emperors and ministers arrived at the Wude Hall, and the palace people arranged breakfast for them to enjoy.

Li Shimin decided to tell Fang Xuanling some things that he didn't say overnight.

"Xuanling, I have something to do, such as if I can't spit it out in my throat." Li Shimin said.

Fang Xuanling knew that it was a big deal. He put down his chopsticks and arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."

"I'm thinking that no matter who I set up as the crown prince now, there will definitely be a fight between my sons in a hundred years." Li Shimin's eyebrows were locked, with a serious expression and a trace of pain, "The last thing I want to see is that my brothers are cruel to each other... Therefore, I plan to put an end to this trouble in my lifetime! - I just want to ask you now, who is the most likely to do this, my three sons, Li Tai, Li Ke and Li Zhi? What's going on?"

"This! ..." Fang Xuanling's whole body was shocked, and his face changed.

Who dares to answer such a question!

Li Shimin smiled bitterly and waved his hand, "Then change the question, who is the most filial and kind of these three people?"

Now Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly. He arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, your son is not like a father. Does your majesty still need to ask Weichen?"

Li Shimin nodded, "I know that Li Zhi, the king of Jin, has the softest temperament and is generous by nature. But he is dull, timid and cowardly, and has no foundation or background in the court. I'm worried that he will not be able to control the court in the future, which will breed ambitious and powerful ministers who are powerful and corrupt the society.

Fang Xuanling smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, isn't it his deepest foundation and the largest backstage? - Weichen makes an inappropriate example, putting aside other things, if it's only about the background and foundation, in fact, it's not the king of Jin. Even if you casually catch a mortal in the market to become a prince, as long as your majesty does it. Lord, are you still worried that he has no foundation and background? All this can be done as long as it takes years and time.

Fang Xuanling's words can be said to be watertight. On the surface, he has no problem with the crown prince of Jin; more deeply, he is expressing his position - everyone is the same, they are the emperor and your son!

Li Shimin also put down his chopsticks, stretched out his hand and pressed his forehead, and said, "When the battle of Ping Fan had not started a few years ago, I did consider establishing the King of Jin as the crown prince, and let him be the king of Shoucheng to continue the style of chastity. I can rest assured that you and Fu Ji, the old ministers of Zhenguan, come to assist him. But now the situation is different. The Tang Dynasty calmed down Tubo and opened up the Western Regions, set the grassland in the north, and it is possible to enter Goryeo in the east in the future. The territory of the Tang Dynasty has almost doubled, which means that in the next few decades or even hundreds of years, the Tang Dynasty will be under great military pressure from neighboring countries. That is to say, today's Tang Dynasty has been involved in disputes between many countries and cannot extricate itself. Originally, the task of our internal national integration was quite arduous, and it could not be completely perfected in 30 or 50 years. In this environment, the Tang Dynasty is like sailing against the current. If you don't advance, you will retreat. If my successors don't want to make progress and stick to the rules, the Tang Dynasty is bound to decline day by day. During this period, if there is any chaos and internal strife within the government and the opposition, it is not only that you can't defend it, but it is not known that the world is in chaos and the fall of the society!"

"Your Majesty's eyes are as bright as a torch, and you are very worried!" Fang Xuanling bowed his hand with admiration and said, "Due to the war in recent years, the Tang Dynasty has lost a lot, and the national strength has been empty. In the next 20 years, we will not only have to rest and recuperate, but also deal with the problems left over from Tibet, the north and the western regions. At the same time, we should also deal with the military aggression that may occur in the surrounding areas at any time. The so-called big wind, the Tang Dynasty has won so many victories, and at the same time, it has erected many enemies and attracted a lot of jealousy and covetedness. Your Majesty just said that he hit the point. In the next few decades, the Tang Dynasty will retreat if he does not advance against the water. Moreover, in the past, the ship of the Tang Dynasty was in a stream and lake, and it was okay to advance and retreat for a while; but now, the boat of the Tang Dynasty has been in the stormy rivers and seas, and a step back may be a whirlpool that devours the sky and the earth! - Therefore, your majesty wanted to establish a king, and now it is indeed It's a little unworkable."

"Yes! These are the two issues that I have considered the most recently!" Li Shimin nodded and said, "What I want is a generous prince who can treat his brothers well; and the current Tang Dynasty Sheji needs a prince who can continue to lead the Tang Dynasty for decades!"

"Your Majesty's thoughts, three points into the wood, Weichen has nothing else to say." Fang Xuanling bowed his hand.

Li Shimin nodded with a tight frown, "One is what I want, and the other is what Sheji wants... Can't these two be unified?"

Fang Xuanling looked at his nose, nose and heart, and did not answer.

Li Shimin smiled and picked up the chopsticks, "Xuanling, eat!"

"Yes..."

"I have given a secret edict to call the king of Wu back to Beijing." Li Shimin suddenly said.

Fang Xuanling was about to pick up the dishes, but the chopsticks trembled slightly and didn't hold them.

Li Shimin laughed, put a piece of deer in Fang Xuanling's bowl, and said, "Since it's time to face this problem, it's impossible for me and my sons to avoid it anymore."

"Your Majesty... This matter is top secret. How can you say that you know it with Weichen?" Fang Xuanling whispered vigilantly.

"Can't I trust you?" Li Shimin smiled and said, "In fact, there is another important factor to consider who is the crown prince. And this factor is the most intuitive and close at hand.

"Your Majesty, please make it clear?" Fang Xuanling asked.

Li Shimin smiled more and more meaningfully and said lightly, "That is, what kind of impact will the sons I gave up?"

Fang Xuanling was stunned at first, and for a moment, he didn't seem to understand the deep meaning of Li Shimin's words. After that, he understood that the emperor was saying - if one of them was established, what would the other react?

For example, if Li Tai is established, will Li Ke and the military give up? Will this cause a military conflict or an armed coup, or even some people use excuses to divide the land and lead to the division of the country?

If Li Ke is established, will a group of literary ministers led by Changsun Wuji buy Li Ke's account? Will the three provinces and six departments of the Tang Dynasty and even the whole court fall into an unprecedented crisis or even collapse?

If Li Zhi... then he can't control one of his two brothers, and he can't afford to provoke the other!

......

"Your Majesty, I understand." Fang Xuanling breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The current situation is simply difficult to get off. Weichen, I'm really worried!"

"Now you know why I haven't decided yet?" Li Shimin said with a wry smile, "The world says that the crown prince is just the emperor's family matter, but just a matter of the emperor's words. If it's really that simple, that's good. Now, I have to weigh the pros and cons and make a compromise. Xuanling, I want to tell you the truth. Until now, I don't know who is better. This is no longer what I like or don't want to do. The current situation has long been out of my control. I have to retreat now. I don't expect who is most beneficial to the Li family and the Tang Dynasty, but..."

Li Shimin paused, and Fang Xuanling listened attentively.

"But, it's the least harmful!"

......

Fang Xuanling's heart suddenly lit up and suddenly opened up!

"Is it because of him?"

"Yes, that's him." Li Shimin's eyebrows were locked again, and he nodded gently and said, "The swordsman's double-edged can kill both the enemy and hurt himself. He is a God-given sword for me and the Tang Dynasty. He is omnipotent and unfavorable to destroy the city and expand the territory! But at the same time, he is also a threatening sword hanging over the head of the Tang Dynasty, if he is not careful..."

"Your Majesty, are you worried?" Fang Xuanling whispered cautiously, "Qin Lang is loyal and righteous, and he has the style of a father. Besides, he is the half-son of your majesty..."

Li Shimin smiled slightly and said, "Feng age, even you can feel how weak you are to comfort me, right? Of course, I have never doubted that Qin Mubai would have different aspirations. Otherwise, how could I give him more than half of the soldiers and horses in the country and half of the country of the Tang Dynasty? - But just like at the beginning, I never thought I would be in Xuanwumen..."

Li Shimin's words stopped abruptly.

Fang Xuanling sighed gently.

"The current situation is like this, what can people do?" Li Shimin shook his head and sighed, with a slightly painful expression. It seems that in front of me, the scene of the transformation of Xuanwumen in those years appeared again - brothers' walls, flesh and blood killing!

"No wonder Your Majesty tossed and turned and couldn't sleep all night. Now, Weichen can feel the contradictions and pain in your Majesty's heart." Fang Xuanling sighed, "But Your Majesty, you must take care of the dragon body! The more critical it is, the more Tang can't do without your majesty to preside over the overall situation!"

Li Shimin nodded gently, "Xuanling, I have told you all my thoughts. What's your most direct idea now?

Fang Xuanling arched his hand and replied without thinking, "At this moment, Weichen has only one feeling, that is, your majesty's secret call to King Wu back to Beijing will affect the overall situation, and the Tang Dynasty is bound to rise again! At this moment, the king of Wu's journey is in danger, which is of great importance and danger!"

Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and then nodded with approval, "Fang Mou Du Du Duan, although Du Ruhui is no more, Xuanling is still worthy of my first counselor, and the treasure knife is not old! - But don't worry, King Wu, he will definitely arrive in Chang'an safely!"