Chapter 86: Of course it's to fight for that position
At Li Yuanji's command, six thousand soldiers rushed to the Weize Pass in a mighty force.
When he arrived at the pass, Li Yuanji looked up and found that the red shadow on the pass had disappeared, and was replaced by a strong man in armor.
After Li Yuanji and his party arrived, the strong man stood at the checkpoint and saluted Li Yuanji from a distance. Without waiting for Li Yuanji to speak, he hurriedly left the checkpoint.
Not long after, the gate of Weize Pass slowly opened.
The strong man trotted to Li Yuanji and bowed, saying, "I, Li Zhongwen, the inspector general of Bingzhou and commander of the right army of Weizeguan, pay my respects to Your Highness."
Li Zhongwen's position as the Inspector General of Bingzhou was a nominal position, not a real one.
Otherwise, he would not have been able to stay in Weize Pass.
Li Yuanji nodded and smiled calmly, "Where's my sister?"
Li Zhongwen smiled and said, "Mrs. San has prepared a banquet and is waiting for you in the house inside the city."
Li Xiuning was deeply loved by all the officers and soldiers under her command, so she was called "Sanniangzi" by them.
In the prefectures and counties near Weize Pass, many people who had received favors from Li Xiuning also called Li Xiuning "Sanniangzi".
In the eyes of others, calling Li Xiuning like this is a bit against the rules.
But in their eyes, this is a way for them to express their love and respect for Li Xiuning.
An imperial censor once impeached Li Zhongwen and others for this matter.
Li Zhongwen and others responded to the censor's impeachment by saying, "Well, we know we are wrong, but we just won't change."
The censors had no temper with them either.
There was no need for Li Yuan to use such matters to deal with Li Zhongwen and others.
When Li Yuanji and Li Zhongwen were talking, Luo Shixin frequently stuck his head out, as if he had something to say.
Seeing this, Li Yuanji smiled and asked Li Zhongwen, "Have Zhang Shigui and An Yuanshou arrived?"
Luo Shixin was looking around, no doubt because he was concerned about his troops in Jiangzhou.
He is now a commander without any troops, and he feels uneasy.
Li Zhongwen bowed and said, "General Zhang and Captain An arrived at Weize Pass yesterday, and Miss San asked them to stay in a large camp inside the pass.
Right now, General Zhang and Captain An are waiting for Your Highness with Miss San."
When Luo Shixin heard this, he was obviously relieved and stopped looking around.
Li Yuanji nodded and told Li Zhongwen to lead the way.
Li Zhongwen led Li Yuanji and his party into the Weize Pass.
The area inside Weize Pass is not very big. Most of the buildings are built on the hillside and all the roads are a bit slanted.
Li Yuanji was riding a horse and felt like he was slipping, so he simply got off the horse and walked.
They walked all the way to a house in Guancheng.
Li Zhongwen stopped.
After Li Zhongwen consulted Li Yuanji again, he took the soldiers , as well as the guards of the Prince of Qi's Palace, and went to another place.
Li Yuanji himself brought Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang into the mansion.
The house is not big, with only one courtyard, and the main hall is behind the courtyard.
The yard was converted into a martial arts arena, with targets and other objects hanging on one side, swords, spears, and halberds on the other side, and in the middle was an open space paved with bluestone.
Li Yuanji stepped through the courtyard gate and saw the scene in the main hall.
In the middle of the main hall, a figure in red was sitting there upright.
On the left and right sides sat He Panren, Xiang Shanren, Qiu Shili, Zhang Shigui, Xie Shufang, An Yuanshou and others.
Among them, He Panren was the first general under Li Xiuning. When Li Xiuning started the uprising in Guanzhong, He Panren was already the largest rebel leader in Guanzhong, with millions of men under his command.
Li Xiuning sent Ma Sanbao to lobby, and it was unknown what means Ma Sanbao used, but He Panren actually willingly led tens of thousands of people to surrender to Li Xiuning.
Xiang Shanren and Qiu Shili were also recruited by Li Xiuning when he started the uprising in Guanzhong, and they have always followed Li Xiuning loyally.
Qiu Shili also has a younger brother named Qiu Xinggong, who now serves as the General of the Left First Army under Li Shimin.
Zhang Shigui is a very ordinary man, nothing special.
An Yuanshou was a spirited young man with a somewhat barbaric appearance.
Not only him, He Panren also has some Hu looks.
After Li Yuanji brought Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang into the main hall, He Panren, Zhang Shigui, Xie Shufang and others all stood up and saluted.
"Your Highness the Prince of Qi is honored by your presence."
Li Yuanji nodded and said with a calm smile: "No need to be polite..."
Xie Shufang seemed to have something to say, but because Li Xiuning was sitting in the middle, he did not open his mouth.
After Li Yuanji greeted He Panren and others, he brought Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang to Li Xiuning.
As he approached, Li Yuanji looked at Li Xiuning carefully.
Li Xiuning has distinct facial features and a beautiful appearance. She is wearing armor and exudes a heroic aura.
However, there is a hint of gentleness mixed in with her heroic aura.
"Your Highness, Princess, is greeted by your servant Luo Shixin (Su Dingfang)."
"Um……"
Li Xiuning smiled calmly, nodded and said to Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang: "From now on, just call me Third Lady like them."
Li Xiuning was not arrogant, and Su Dingfang instantly had a better impression of her.
Luo Shixin had met Li Xiuning several times. He admired Li Xiuning's abilities very much, but he did not agree with what Li Xiuning said.
He felt that Her Royal Highness the Princess was Her Royal Highness the Princess, and could not be called "Third Lady", as that would break the rules.
“Here…”
Su Dingfang agreed.
Luo Shixin just bowed and stepped aside without saying anything.
He did not agree with Li Xiuning's words, but he did not refute them either.
Weize Pass is full of Li Xiuning's diehard fans and admirers. To refute Li Xiuning's words in Weize Pass is tantamount to seeking trouble.
He just values friendship and rules, he's not stupid.
After Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang greeted Li Xiuning, Li Yuanji slowly stepped forward and said with a smile: "Sister, you are polite..."
Li Xiuning glanced at Li Yuanji, and then... nothing happened.
No response at all.
This made Li Yuanji a little confused.
Just when Li Yuanji was about to say something, Li Xiuning looked around at everyone in the room and said with a calm smile, "Since everyone is here, let's start the banquet."
After saying this, she glanced at Li Yuanji, and then glanced at a position not far from her.
Li Yuanji smiled bitterly in his heart and walked to the seat next to Li Xiuning and sat down.
Then... I had a tasteless meal.
He Panren, Zhang Shigui and others just lowered their heads and ate without saying a word.
Luo Shixin and Su Dingfang were a little confused about the situation and didn't know what to say, so they just lowered their heads and ate.
Only Xie Shufang kept staring at Li Yuanji while eating.
Li Yuanji noticed that Xie Shufang seemed to have something to say, and just as he was about to ask a question, Li Xiuning's eyes fell on Xie Shufang.
Li Xiuning just glanced at Xie Shufang with a half-smile, picked up the sweet wine on the long table and took a sip.
Xie Shufang quickly lowered his head and attacked the food on the long table.
Li Yuanji looked at the generals in the room who were eating with their heads down, then looked at the roasted leg of lamb in front of him, and had no appetite at all.
He kept on enduring until He Panren had eaten and drunk his fill, and he was finally relieved.
After He Panren quickly finished the food on his table, he stood up suddenly, bowed and said, "Your Highness Prince Qi, Madam San, I have something important to do, so I'll take my leave now."
While speaking, he did not forget to kick Xiang Shanren who was beside him.
Xiang Shanren looked up at He Panren and whispered, "I haven't finished eating yet..."
He Panren lowered his head and glared at Xiang Shanren.
Xiang Shanren quickly stuffed the piece of meat he had just cut into his mouth, stood up, bowed, and without saying a word, followed He Panren out.
Qiu Shili, Zhang Shigui, An Yuanshou and others also stood up and left one after another.
Under the "threat" of Li Xiuning's smiling eyes, Xie Shufang, Luo Shixin, Su Dingfang and others also stood up and left one after another.
After a while, Li Xiuning and Li Yuanji were the only ones left in the room.
Li Yuanji knew that Li Xiuning had something to say to him, so he took the initiative to speak.
But before he could even finish his words, Li Xiuning's delicate hand was already on his ear.
"hiss……"
Li Yuanji felt a pain in his ears, took a deep breath, and said decisively: "Sister, please spare me! Sister, please spare me!"
Li Xiuning was stunned for a moment, then slowly let go of her hand, and said in amazement: "You have really changed. Before, when I twisted your ears, you would only curse, but never beg for mercy."
Li Yuanji touched his aching ear and whispered, "A wise man never suffers a loss in front of him..."
Li Xiuning glared at Li Yuanji fiercely, "You think you are worthy of being a hero."
Li Yuanji widened his eyes.
How come I am not worthy of being a hero?!
"Why, you're not convinced?"
Li Xiuning was like a worm in Li Yuanji's stomach. She could guess what Li Yuanji was thinking even before he said it.
Li Yuanji said nothing.
Li Xiuning snorted and said, "If you were a good man, you would not have abandoned the city and fled when Liu Wuzhou's army came to Bingzhou, killing so many soldiers."
Li Yuanji opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
This is the fault of his predecessor, and now he has to take the blame, and he can't deny it even if he wants to.
Fortunately, Li Xiuning did not blame him blindly, and changed the subject and said: "It's also my father's fault. He made me guard Weize Pass and refused to let me leave no matter what.
If I could leave Weize Pass, Liu Wuzhou would never dare to bully you."
When Li Yuanji heard this, his mood suddenly improved.
Just because of your last sentence, I won't hold a grudge against you for pulling my ear just now.
"Tell me, you have gathered so many soldiers and collected so much food and fodder. What are you going to do?"
Just when Li Yuanji gave up on the "great vengeance" of Li Xiuning pulling his ear , Li Xiuning changed the subject again and stared at him and questioned him.
Li Yuanji was stunned. His mood, which had just improved, turned bad again.
Li Yuanji felt a little bit of evil interest in his heart, and immediately said openly: "Of course it's to fight for that position, is it to protect yourself?"
Li Xiuning's beautiful eyes widened instantly.
"You...you...you want to fight for that position too?"
Li Xiuning stood up suddenly, stared at Li Yuanji with an unpleasant expression and said, "Why did you want to fight for that position?!"
