When Li Yuanji introduced Su Dingfang, he deliberately said a few more words, the purpose of which was to prevent Xie Shufang from looking down on Su Dingfang.
He did not mention Su Dingfang's past, nor could he talk about Su Dingfang's future achievements. He could only talk about Su Dingfang's performance in Mingshui City.
Although he threw the heads of Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun to Yuchi Gong, when he led his troops out of Mingzhou and entered Xingzhou, Qu Tutong sent someone to send the heads back.
Not only that, but they also doubled the amount and gave us eight more.
Qu Tutong also sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that among the eight heads, some were to apologize for Yuchi Gong's sins, and some were to reward him for discovering that Xu Yuanlang would launch a sneak attack.
Qu Tutong did not specify in the letter how many pearls were required as compensation or as a reward.
Although by the time Qu Tutong delivered the news of Xu Yuanlang's surprise attack to Li Shimin, Xu Yuanlang had already completed the attack and Liu Heita had also escaped.
But when he told Qu Tutong the news, Xu Yuanlang had not yet launched a sneak attack.
He could have just pretended he knew nothing and said nothing.
But he said it was a favor.
Li Shimin had to remember and recite it.
Li Shimin obviously didn't want to keep owing favors to others, so he immediately took a few more heads to repay his favor.
Li Shimin was so generous that he could only accept it with a smile.
After receiving the benefits from Li Shimin, he and Yuchi Gong took advantage of it and that was it, and the favor he had with Li Shimin was gone.
As for how Yuchi Gong cleared himself, that had nothing to do with him.
The benefits given by Li Shimin were not enough for him to come forward to clear Yuchi Gong's name.
The heads of Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun returned to his hands, with a few more. Naturally, he put the heads of Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun back on Su Dingfang's head without hesitation.
When Su Dingfang first joined the Tang Dynasty, he had the heads of Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun at his disposal, so no one would bring up his status as a surrendered general.
When Li Yuan's reward arrived, Su Dingfang would become a full-fledged officer of the Tang Dynasty.
"When you first joined His Highness's army, you killed Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun?"
Xie Shufang looked at Su Dingfang with surprise and asked.
Su Dingfang nodded without hesitation.
He was the one who chopped off the heads of Zhou Wenju and Cui Yuanxun with his own hands, and now the blame has fallen on him too. He has nothing to hide.
Xie Shufang nodded slowly, "Then you are not bad..."
This was considered as Xie Shufang's recognition of Su Dingfang.
Although Su Dingfang's joining made him feel a little uneasy, he did not feel jealous of his talented colleagues.
He was well aware of Li Yuanji's current situation, and he also knew that Li Yuanji urgently wanted the Prince of Qi's Palace to grow rapidly.
Su Dingfang was able to join the Prince of Qi's Palace. He was happy for Li Yuanji and also happy for Li Yuanji.
As for the ripples in his heart, they were just ripples and only existed for a moment in his heart.
He felt more of a sense of crisis.
Li Yuanji obviously trusted Su Dingfang very much. If Su Dingfang was allowed to become a latecomer and take the lead, it would be difficult for him to work under Li Yuanji.
When Su Dingfang heard Xie Shufang's praise, he said modestly, "Marquis Pingyao is too kind."
Xie Shufang said openly: "You and I are both subordinates of His Highness, and we will be colleagues in the future. Calling me Pingyao Hou seems too unfamiliar. If you want to respect me, just call me Brother Xie."
Xie Shufang behaved appropriately and gave Su Ding enough face.
Su Dingfang thought Xie Shufang was a good person, so he didn't beat around the bush with him. He cupped his hands and said, "You think highly of me and are willing to call me brother. If you don't mind, I will call you Brother Xie from now on."
Xie Shufang laughed, "Brother Su?"
Su Dingfang followed suit and laughed, "Thank you, brother?"
The two looked at each other and laughed together.
Li Yuanji saw that Xie Shufang and Su Dingfang did not have any estrangement between them, but instead got along very happily, and a smile appeared on his face.
What he feared most was that Xie Shufang and Su Dingfang would develop a rift and dislike each other, and in the end not only would they not be able to help each other, but would instead trip each other up.
"I'll leave it to you two to discuss with Li Zhongwen how to allocate the troops."
After discussing matters between Su Dingfang and Xie Shufang, Li Yuanji got down to business.
Su Dingfang and Xie Shufang both put away their smiles.
Su Dingfang bowed and agreed.
Xie Shufang pondered and said, "Your Highness, Li Zhongwen is loyal to Her Highness the Princess. I'm afraid he won't let us interfere with the defenses Her Highness has set up."
Xie Shufang had been in Weize Pass for more than a month and had some understanding of Li Xiuning and the generals under his command.
Among all the generals under Li Xiuning's command, He Panren is the most tactful one, Li Zhongwen is the most stubborn one, Xiang Shanren has no ideas, and Qiu Shili is the most difficult to understand.
It’s not that Qiu Shili is cunning, but Qiu Shili doesn’t like to talk much, so it’s difficult for you to know what he is thinking.
"If he doesn't allow us to intervene, then we won't intervene? Does he have the final say in Aizawa Pass, or do we?"
Li Yuanji glanced at Xie Shufang and said unhappily.
When Li Xiuning was around, he gave Li Xiuning face, so he agreed with Li Xiuning on everything.
Now that Li Xiuning is gone, there is no one in Weize Pass who needs his face. He just dispatches his troops to strengthen the defense of Weize Pass. He does not disrupt Li Xiuning's deployment or rearrange it. He does not need to see Li Zhongwen's face.
Xie Shufang smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid Li Zhongwen will come to you and make trouble."
Li Yuanji glanced at Xie Shufang and said, "If he dares to make trouble, you can ask him if he has the ability to stop the 200,000-strong Turkic army without our help.
If he dares to say that he has that ability, I will immediately lead the troops in my palace to withdraw from Weize Pass, set up camp outside the pass, and give all of Weize Pass to him."
Xie Shufang opened his mouth but said nothing.
Li Zhongwen definitely doesn't have that ability.
If Li Zhongwen had that ability, Li Xiuning wouldn't have to work so hard guarding Weize Pass.
Li Shimin did not need to let Li Yuanji lead his troops to Weize Pass to take charge.
However, if Li Yuanji and Li Zhongwen had a falling out, it would be difficult for Li Yuanji to do anything in Weize Pass in the future.
After all, Weize Pass is Li Xiuning's territory and Li Zhongwen's territory.
Li Zhongwen is like a local tyrant in Weize Pass.
Li Yuanji is the dragon that crossed the river.
Although Li Yuanji is very strong and can suppress Li Zhongwen, the local tyrant, if Li Zhongwen resists, Li Yuanji will suffer more or less.
The Tang soldiers inside Weize Pass, although nominally soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, were subject to the military orders of the Tang Dynasty.
But in fact, they were only loyal to Li Xiuning and only obeyed Li Xiuning's constraints and military orders.
When there was a conflict between the military orders of the Tang Dynasty and those of Li Xiuning, they would definitely choose to obey Li Xiuning's orders without hesitation.
If Li Xiuning had issued a military order to Li Zhongwen to go against Li Yuanji, Li Zhongwen would definitely have dared to go against Li Yuanji.
"I believe General Li will not make things difficult for us."
Su Dingfang said confidently.
If Li Zhongwen is not convinced, he can just fight.
According to military rules, whoever has the bigger fist has the final say.
Whether it was a competition of martial arts or strategy, he didn't think he would lose to Li Zhongwen.
Li Yuanji nodded in agreement. His idea was similar to Su Dingfang's.
If Li Zhongwen is not convinced, he can just fight.
Whoever wins will be the boss in Weize Pass.
"Go down and dispatch the troops."
Li Yuanji ordered.
Xie Shufang and Su Dingfang bowed slightly and left the room.
After they left, Li Yuanji simply stretched his muscles, found the residence that Li Xiuning had prepared for him in the courtyard, and went to sleep.
Li Yuanji did not shamelessly run over to occupy the resting place of the owner of the mansion.
Li Xiuning has lived in the mansion for four years, and it has almost become her second home.
Li Yuanji ran over and occupied the resting place of the owner of the house. How could Li Xiuning feel happy?
…
No words were spoken that night.
The next day.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
Xie Shufang came to report that the soldiers from the Left One and Left Two Military Headquarters had been assigned. Although Li Zhongwen had some complaints, he accepted it when he saw that they did not adjust the defense of Weize Pass.
However, the soldiers of Weize Pass were somewhat at odds with the soldiers of Prince Qi's Palace. They felt that the soldiers of Prince Qi's Palace were not trustworthy because they went to help them guard the pass. Their words were somewhat extreme and a conflict almost broke out.
However, with the mediation of Xie Shufang and Li Zhongwen, a temporary settlement was reached.
I don’t know if there will be conflicts later.
"The soldiers at Weize Pass are a bit arrogant."
After listening to Xie Shufang's story, Li Yuanji was filled with emotion.
Xie Shufang smiled bitterly and said, "It's not necessarily pride, it could be anger."
Li Yuanji was stunned for a moment, and after thinking carefully, he understood what Xie Shufang meant by "qi".
"resentment?"
"Um."
Li Yuanji let out a long breath and said quietly, "Then let them be."
It is normal for the soldiers at Weize Pass to feel resentful.
In the past, they helped Li Yuan capture the city of Chang'an and made great contributions to the Li Tang Dynasty. However, Li Yuan did not use them. Instead, he transferred them to Weize Pass and put them on the bench.
They must be resentful.
They may not only be resentful about their own experiences, but also about Li Xiuning's experience.
If he were treated differently, Li Yuanji felt that he would also feel resentful.
After all, he had made great contributions to the Li Tang Dynasty. If Li Yuan did not value him and left him on the bench, he would definitely blame Li Yuan.
"Where's Su Dingfang?"
Li Yuanji looked at Xie Shufang and asked.
Xie Shufang bowed and said, "Before dawn, I took the craftsmen accompanying the army to the forge inside the pass."
Li Yuanji nodded thoughtfully.
Xie Shufang and Su Dingfang must have made a division of labor, with one person dispatching troops overnight, while the other took the craftsmen accompanying the army to the forging workshop inside the pass to provide assistance.
Whether it is the dispatch of troops or the forging of armor, they are all top priorities and cannot be delayed.