Chapter 65: Luo Shixin is going to die?!
Li Yuanji originally thought that Li Shimin would send someone to argue with him angrily and teach him what was important and what was family, country and the world.
He really wanted to see Li Shimin get angry and frustrated.
But Li Shimin didn't.
The people sent by Li Shimin just said stiffly, "The general's order is to order Li Yuanji, the commander-in-chief of the rear army, to rush to Guangzhou as soon as possible." That was it.
Li Yuanji looked disappointed.
Qu Tutong was delighted, and said cheerfully while sitting on his horse: "Your Highness the Prince of Qin may have guessed that Your Highness is trying to scare people."
Li Yuanji gave Qu Tutong a cold look. He acted so convincingly, how could Li Shimin possibly guess it?
Li Shimin obviously wanted to argue with him in person.
Later on the way from Ye County to Cheng'an, Qu Tutong could no longer laugh, and Li Yuanji was happy.
The day after Li Shimin sent people to urge Li Yuanji to hurry up, he also sent people to deliver a large number of human ears.
It was said that the credit had already been given to the soldiers under the Prince of Qi's command, and Li Yuanji's subordinates who verified military merits had checked it out and recorded it in the book, so as to avoid any mismatch in the numbers when reporting to the Ministry of War later.
Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng used the 800-li express as an ordinary messenger and sent many letters to Li Yuanji.
In the letter, Li Yuan asked about Li Yuanji's well-being and proudly told him that he had sent the censors who had impeached Li Yuanji for selling official positions to Lingnan to supervise Feng Ang.
Li Jiancheng said in the letter that Li Yuanji's reselling of official titles was a meritorious service to the country and would benefit future generations. He boasted about everything that could be boasted about and what could not be boasted about. In the end, he said that it didn't matter if the granary in Luoyang was burned down, as long as Li Yuanji was safe.
He said against his will, "My brother's life is more precious than 300,000 shi of grain. As long as my brother is safe, it doesn't matter if we burn 300,000 shi of grain for fun, or even 3 million shi of grain for fun."
Li Yuanji was sure that if someone really offered three million shi of grain and wanted to cut his body with a knife, Li Jiancheng would be able to convince Li Yuan and Li Shimin to cut his body himself and would also ask the person who offered the grain whether the cut looked good.
Through the letters of Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji could almost see that when Li Yuan and Li Jiancheng were writing the letters, they were obviously gritting their teeth, but they still went against their conscience to praise him, flatter him, and say nice things to him.
After this incident, Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin also understood that he was like a hedgehog and could only be looked at but not touched, as it would prick their hands if they touched him.
The reason why Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin appeased him against their will was that they were afraid that he would do something even more extreme.
In the future, he should have an easier time under the hands of Li Yuan, Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin, as Li Yuan and the other two would not provoke him easily.
"Look, look, Zhang Junli's head can be exchanged for an uncle."
Li Yuanji held a box and showed it off in front of Qu Tutong.
Qu Tutong kept rolling his eyes.
No one knew what Li Shimin was thinking. He not only gave Li Yuanji a lot of ears, but also gave him two heads.
One was from Zhang Junli, a general under Liu Heita, and the other was from Liu Shishan, a general under Liu Heita.
According to the military documents that had been publicized before, the two heads were chopped off by Qin Qiong, not by Li Shimin and his men.
Li Shimin was actually giving away Qin Qiong's military achievements.
"If two heads were counted on one person, do you think he could become a county marquis?"
Li Yuanji chased Qu Tutong and asked him questions.
The corner of Qu Tutong's mouth twitched. "If you write to the saint and ask for a marquis for two heads, the saint will definitely give it to you."
Li Yuan is now trying to appease Li Yuanji. Not to mention writing a letter to Li Yuan saying that the heads of Liu Shishan and Zhang Junli are worth a marquisate, even if Li Yuanji only told him that they were worth a state marquisate, Li Yuan might accept it with a pinch of his nose.
“Hehehe…”
Li Yuanji smiled and ordered someone to take away the box containing the head. He just wanted to annoy Qu Tutong, respond to what Qu Tutong had said before, and slap Qu Tutong on the face. He didn't intend to really take the head to ask Li Yuan for a marquisate.
If he asked Li Yuan for a marquisate, Li Yuan would definitely give it to him.
But what he wants to give and what Li Yuan gives voluntarily are two different matters.
The balance here must be struck firmly.
Li Yuanji led his army to Feixiang. Each of his followers had captured a head. After returning to the capital, each of them would surely be rewarded with a few acres of land. Some of those whose military merits were on the verge of becoming officials might be able to do so.
However, after Li Yuanji arrived in Feixiang, his mind was no longer on this matter, but on Yang Miaoyan's letter.
Yang Miaoyan has been a little flattered in Chang'an City these days.
The concubines in the palace, the Crown Princess, and the Princess of Qin frequently visited the Wude Hall and left behind a large number of gifts when they left.
Li Gang, who was in his seventies, came to the Wude Hall with a volume of "Book of Rites" and somehow became the teacher of Li Yuanji's adopted children.
Yang Miaoyan was suddenly spoiled by everyone in the palace and was a little uncomfortable. She wrote to Li Yuanji to ask what had happened and why she was not punished for burning the Luoyang granary but was treated warmly by everyone in the palace.
The enthusiasm of the people in the palace made her a little scared.
She had heard that after the news of Li Yuanji burning down the granary in Luoyang reached Chang'an City, Li Yuan was so angry that he picked up his sword and slashed around in the Liangyi Hall, and Li Jiancheng smashed everything in the study.
Li Yuanji wrote a letter back to Yang Miaoyan, telling her not to worry, as nothing had happened. She should accept any gifts she received, but she should not do anything for her.
Li Yuanji also instructed Yang Miaoyan to prepare generous gifts and respectfully send Li Gang back to the mansion, and told Li Gang not to stay in the Wude Hall. The several illegitimate sons and daughters of the Prince of Qi's mansion were not worthy of Li Gang's personal instruction.
A person like Li Gang, who is knowledgeable and highly respected, should teach Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin.
No matter what, Li Gang was a notorious prince killer, and it was obviously a waste of his talent to let him teach his children.
People like Li Gang, whose horoscope shows he can defeat a young dragon, must teach Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin.
Li Yuanji finished writing the letter to Yang Miaoyan. When he was waiting for the ink to dry, he heard the guards outside the big house of the post station sighing, "Damn it, it's snowing again?"
Li Yuanji was slightly stunned and quickly left the house.
As soon as I walked out of the big house, I saw heavy snow like goose feathers, rushing down madly, as if it was pouring down.
Li Yuanji immediately questioned the guards, "Who is guarding Mingshui City?"
The guards looked at each other, not understanding why Li Yuanji asked this.
Li Yuanji did not ask any more questions. He returned to his room, put away the letter, sent someone to deliver it, and then rushed to Qu Tutong's residence.
Qu Tugong was holding a piece of meat with his sword horizontally and roasting it, while drinking wine.
Li Yuanji had been provoking him frequently in recent days, making him a little depressed, so he could only drink to relieve his boredom.
The wine was fruit wine, so it tasted quite bad. Qu Tutong drank it with a grimace.
Li Yuanji rushed into Qu Tutong's residence and asked hurriedly, "Do you know who is guarding Mingshui City? Where is Liu Heita's army?"
Qu Tutong was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously said: "A few days ago, the commander sent Luo Shixin to replace Wang Junlang to guard Mingshui City. Liu Heita's army has arrived at Mingshui."
Li Yuanji's brows were furrowed in a frown. "How long will it take to send someone to the commander's tent to send a message and ask him to send troops to Mingshui City?"
Qu Tutong said in confusion: "According to the intention of His Royal Highness , we should use Mingshui City to attract Liu Heita's attention, draw all of Liu Heita's troops to Mingshui City, and then annihilate them.
Sending troops to Mingshui City now will most likely scare Liu Heita away, so His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin will not send troops."
Li Yuanji still frowned, "That means Liu Heita has not yet attacked Mingshui City, but has just arrived in Mingshui City?"
Qu Tutong nodded slowly.
Li Yuanji seemed to be thinking about something.
According to historical records, when Luo Shixin took over from Wang Junlang to guard Mingshui City, Liu Heita had already arrived at the city gates and was building two tunnels in the northeast of the city in preparation for the siege.
Liu Heita had not yet built the corridor, and Luo Shixin had already replaced Wang Junlang in advance.
It is not known whether the historical records are wrong or his appearance affected some things that should have happened.
"Then there's still time."
Li Yuanji said thoughtfully.
Liu Heita has not yet built the tunnel and made preparations for the storming of Mingshui City, so he can still send troops to Mingshui City.
According to historical records, Luo Shixin died in this battle.
Luo Shixin replaced Wang Junlang to guard Mingshui City. Heavy snow blocked the roads. When Liu Heita attacked Mingshui City, the reinforcements sent by Li Shimin had no way to reach Mingshui City, so Luo Shixin was isolated and killed by Liu Heita.
Luo Shixin, the bravest general of the Tang Dynasty, died young.
Li Yuanji had some interactions with Luo Shixin in Luoyang City and had some good feelings towards him. Naturally, he could not just watch Luo Shixin die.
If he could save Luo Shixin's life, given Luo Shixin's personality, he would be willing to repay his love with his life at a critical moment.
Luo Shixin was a man who wanted to be buried next to his benefactor even after his death.
"You should take your men to the commander's tent immediately and ask my second brother to dispatch troops to help Mingshui City."
Li Yuanji gave instructions to Qu Tutong.
Qu Tutong looked at Li Yuanji blankly and asked, "How come you have drunk too much without even drinking?"
Who would send a large group of soldiers to serve as nails and bait?
There were 8,000 surrendered soldiers in Mingshui City led by Li Quhuo, more than 1,000 people left behind by Wang Junlang, and hundreds of people brought in by Luo Shixin, totaling almost 10,000.
If we send more people, they will not be used as nails or bait, but will have a real fight with Liu Heita.
If Liu Heita were defeated in Mingshui City, he might run away.
By then, it would be difficult to gather Liu Heita's troops together and annihilate them.
"has a problem?"
Seeing that Qu Tutong was unmoved, Li Yuanji began to question him.
Qu Tutong hesitated for a moment and said, "I can send someone to the commander's tent to pass on the message. But after His Royal Highness the King of Qin knows about this, he probably won't send reinforcements."
Li Yuanji stared at the Qutu passage and asked, "Do you know that it's snowing heavily outside?"
Qu Tutong was stunned for a moment, then raised his head and looked out the window.
It was indeed snowing heavily outside the window.
Qu Tutong looked at Li Yuanji suspiciously, with an expression of "so what?"
Li Yuanji said bluntly: "Once the heavy snow blocks the road, it will be impossible to send people to help Luo Shixin."
The road was blocked by snow several feet high. It was impossible to clear the snow, break through Liu Heita's heavy defense, enter Mingshui City, and rescue Luo Shixin .
Qu Tutong hesitated for a while and said, "Such heavy snow won't last long, right?"
Although Mingzhou is located in the north, it is not very far to the north. If there is heavy snow, it will only come in bursts and will not last too long.
Heavy snowfall for several days in a row, with the snow piling up several feet high, is something that only happens once or twice in several years, or even dozens of years.
Qu Tutong felt that Li Yuanji was a little too worried.
But Li Yuanji knew that he was not worrying too much.
This snowfall was exactly the kind of heavy snow that rarely occurs in many years, lasting for several days.
