Chang 'an City.
Currently, the entire Chang 'an was in turmoil.
Because too many businessmen of Xia Xia had been arrested.
This matter caused everyone to panic because they were worried that the Xia Country would take revenge. In the midst of the large-scale arrests, countless pieces of news suddenly spread in Chang 'an City.
The news was Du Qi's response.
Du Qi ordered Li Shimin to release all the businessmen of Xia Xia. If not, he would assassinate the officials of the Tang Dynasty.
That was Xia Xia's response.
The news spread all over the city and was soon known by the bad guys. The bad guys had already sent the news to Li Shimin in the shortest time. When Li Shimin heard it, his face suddenly changed.
Du Qi's threat was very targeted.
It even made Li Shimin helpless.
Li Shimin immediately summoned Fang Xuanling to the palace. After Fang Xuanling entered the palace, Li Shimin said, "Xuanling, have you heard the news about Du Qi in Chang 'an City?"
Fang Xuanling said, "I'm still busy today, so I don't know."
Li Shimin immediately said, "Now Du Qi's threat is to order us to release the businessmen of Xia Xia. If we don't do that, Du Qi will assassinate the officials of the Tang Dynasty. And Du Qi has already told all the officials to resign. Otherwise, once I refuse to release the businessmen, he will order the assassination of the officials. Xuanling, what should we do now? "
Fang Xuanling's expression also became serious.
Du Qi's response was too ruthless.
Too decisive.
Such an arrangement was beyond Li Shimin's and Fang Xuanling's consideration.
Seeing Fang Xuanling's silence, Li Shimin also became serious. Because at present, if the Tang Dynasty took the means of resistance, once Du Qi's men assassinated them, even if the government was prepared, there might be losses. If the Tang Dynasty directly released the businessmen of Xia Xia, it was tantamount to admitting defeat.
Fang Xuanling said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I don't know what to do at the moment. This was because if they ignored Du Qi's threat, many officials might resign. Moreover, many officials would be killed during the assassination. Therefore, in the end, the people's hearts would definitely be shaken, and chaos would appear everywhere. The most crucial point was that if local officials were constantly being killed, it would very likely lead to local unrest. As for the businessman who released Xia, it was equivalent to admitting defeat to Du Qi. Therefore, both choices have their own difficulties. "
Li Shimin's expression was awkward.
The current situation was not good.
In a heavy voice Li Shimin said, "Fang Qing, what do you think we should do?"
Fang Xuanling said, "Your Majesty, I don't know what to do now!"
Li Shimin sighed inwardly.
At this moment, he began to miss Du Ruhui. When Du Ruhui was around, whenever there was a need to make a decision, Du Ruhui would immediately make a decision. Fang Xuanling, on the other hand, was more than capable of giving advice and analyzing the situation. However, it was difficult for Fang Xuanling to make a decision.
Li Shimin immediately said, "Men, invite Retired Emperor over."
The chamberlain immediately went to inform.
Not long after, Li Yuan came over with a cane. The current Li Yuan was already in his twilight years. There were already age spots on his face, and his back was stooped.
Li Shimin directly gave him a seat. After Li Yuan sat down, he looked at Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, why did you summon me here?"
Li Shimin directly told him about Du Qi's threat.
After listening, Li Yuan said, "Now you say that Du Qi threatened you, then why did you capture Xia Xia's businessman?"
Li Yuan was now indifferent to the news of the outside world. Ever since he handed over all the chess pieces in his hands to Li Shimin, Li Yuan never asked about things. Especially in the past few years, Li Yuan himself had aged too much and no longer had the energy to care about these things. He stayed in the palace all day long.
Especially in the cold winter last year, he had several relapses and almost could not hold on. Fortunately, in the end, Li Yuan pulled through again. It was just that Li Yuan himself knew that he probably did not have much time left. At most, he only had one or two years' time.
Li Shimin listened to Li Yuan's inquiry, but he sighed in his heart and said, "Because Li Xiaogong disappeared from Chang 'an, it was also Du Qi's people who took him away. In this Chang 'an, Du Qi wanted to take away Su Dingfang's family, then he took away Su Dingfang's family. Wanting to take away Li Jing's family, he also directly took away Li Jing's family. Now, even Li Xiaogong's entire family was taken away. Therefore, We captured Xia Xia's businessmen and interrogated them one by one. We want to find out Du Qi's spies and capture all of the spies that Du Qi planted in Chang 'an in one fell swoop. "
Li Yuan said again, "Now, you've taken down Du Qi's spies?"
Li Shimin said, "Haven't discovered anything yet."
Li Yuan said solemnly, "Since you haven't discovered anything, why keep on capturing people? Furthermore, why don't you release the people captured? Interrogation is possible, but the problem is that this interrogation method shouldn't be so lucrative! Emperor, the things you do, you weren't so rash in the past. Why is it that this time when it involves Li Xiaogong's matter, you're indeed so impatient? "
At this moment, Li Yuan somewhat hated iron for not becoming steel.
Li Shimin was very good.
He could be called a wise monarch.
But Li Shimin involved Du Qi, the matter was not easy to deal with, as if he lost his reason.
Li Yuan's voice was very hoarse, but when it entered Li Shimin's heart, it was like there was a morning bell and evening drum sounding, making Li Shimin's heart tremble. He also recalled in his heart how he dealt with Xia Xia's businessmen. Indeed, he captured all of Xia Xia's businessmen and temporarily detained them. The reason why he detained all of them was to cut off Du Qi's spies.
The so-called better to kill wrongly than to let go was like this.
Therefore, it evolved to the present situation.
After speaking, Li Yuan was somewhat agitated, so much so that his breathing was somewhat rapid. He paused for a while before continuing, "Emperor, according to my method, it's actually very simple. At present, the Tang Dynasty and Xia Xia are at war, and the Tang Dynasty is in a disadvantageous position, so the Tang Dynasty took the initiative to show weakness."
"When the Tang Dynasty has enough strength, it won't be too late to take revenge. In the past, Wen Jing's brilliant literary style laid the foundation for the rise of the Han Dynasty. But in fact, did Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Jing of Han not suffer grievances? "
"Not at all. The grievances they suffered were too much, not only from the domestic pressure, but also from the external pressure of the Xiongnu. Let's not talk about the distant ones. When the Tang Dynasty was just established, the world's warlords were divided, and the Northern Turks were tyrannical and tyrannical, their cavalry was unstoppable. "
Li Yuan said, "Under this premise, the Tang Dynasty was extremely difficult. It was at your time that the Tang Dynasty pacified the Northern Turks and stabilized the internal situation. So, this old man's point of view is that you first release Xia Xia's merchants and take the initiative to show weakness to Xia Xia. In addition, Du Qi took Shazhou and Guazhou, give these two places to Du Qi and make peace with Xia Xia, no more war, and cease the war. "
After listening to this, Li Shimin was thinking in his heart.
He admitted that Li Yuan's analysis was reasonable.
But these were not the strategies that Li Shimin was willing to adopt, and they were not the methods that Li Shimin was willing to pursue.
This was not his style.
Li Shimin did not answer immediately, but said, "Imperial Father, allow this son to think about it."
Li Yuan glanced at Li Shimin and shook his head, saying, "Emperor, you are this old man's son, and this old man knows your nature. You have always been unwilling to admit defeat. In fact, this time you came here not to ask this old man about the strategy, but to hope that this old man's answer is the same as yours, to use iron-blood means to directly suppress the domestic inspection and directly ignore Du Qi's threat. In this way, you will have confidence. It's just that you are the Emperor, and I'm afraid you can't get confidence from me. "
Li Shimin said, "Thank you, Imperial Father."
Li Yuan said, "Why are you thanking me, an old man who is about to die? You came to ask for help, but this old man didn't give you what you wanted. On the contrary, I gave you the answer you didn't want. "
Li Shimin said, "No matter what, with Imperial Father here, I have confidence."
Li Yuan got up and said, "You go about your business, this old man is going back."
He knew that he could not persuade Li Shimin, because Li Shimin's nature was actually the same as Li Yuan's. Once he had decided on something, he would definitely not change his mind.
Li Yuan leaned on his crutch, slowly got up, and slowly left.
Li Shimin looked at Li Yuan's back as he left, and his pair of bright eyes showed some nostalgia. Because now, the situation had gradually gone out of control, and even the direction of the Tang dynasty might not be under Li Shimin's control.
Everything could only depend on Heaven's will.
Do your best and leave the rest to Heaven's will.
"Alas …"
When Li Yuan walked outside, when he walked out of the main hall and stood at the entrance, he couldn't help but sigh. A long sigh and heavy panting came out, showing Li Yuan's exhaustion. There was a trace of hesitation and uneasiness in this sigh, because Li Yuan suddenly felt that the more you didn't want to see something, the more likely it was to appear.
Li Yuan didn't want Li Shimin to follow Yang Guang's old path.
He didn't want the Tang dynasty to die for the second time.
However, the rise of Du Qi made the Tang dynasty more and more dangerous, and it was very likely that such a situation would really happen.
Li Shimin looked at the direction where Li Yuan left, and then immediately looked at Fang Xuanling and said, "Prime Minister Fang, you also go back and think about what to do."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Fang Xuanling got up and left.
Li Shimin sat for a long time and didn't summon the civil and military officials under his command. Instead, he specially went to the harem to see Zhangsun Wugou. Although Zhangsun Wugou had always ignored government affairs and didn't interfere in them, people were like this. The more you didn't interfere, the more willing Li Shimin was to share with Zhangsun Wugou.
When Li Shimin arrived at the palace, he waved his hand, and all the maids retreated.
Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wugou and said, "Guanyin maid, because Li Xiaogong and his wife quietly disappeared, she was taken away by Du Qi's people. I ordered the arrest of the merchants of Xia 'Xia for interrogation. Now, Du Qi has arranged for people to send a message, saying that if I don't release the merchants of Xia' Xia, they will assassinate the officials of the Tang dynasty. The current situation is also a bit difficult for me for a while! "
Zhangsun Wugou got up and walked to Li Shimin's side. She rubbed Li Shimin's temples and slowly said, "Your Majesty, I don't know anything about the court. I only know that His Majesty must have a reason for everything he does. No matter what Your Majesty does, I will support Your Majesty. No matter what, I just want to have a clear conscience and a clear conscience. That's enough! "
After Li Shimin heard it, he paused.
A light flashed in his eyes.
Suddenly he laughed out loud. Li Shimin said, "Guanyin maid, you said it well. When I do things, I have a clear conscience. I have a clear conscience to my ancestors."
Zhangsun Wugou also had a smile on her face.
She was Li Shimin's wife and the woman behind Li Shimin. She only needed to fully support Li Shimin.
Li Shimin said a few words to Zhangsun Wugou and then strode away.
He had already made a decision.
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