In Chang'an City, Emperor Li Yuan of Tang had ascended the throne for nearly half a month. Various affairs were complicated and complicated, but the court gradually started to operate. At this time, the wars in Chang'an stopped a little, and the Tang army and the Western Qin army were in a confrontation. The Western Qin army was severely injured due to their vitality and could not recover for a while. Xue Ju sent people to Chang'an to seek peace. Li Yuan agreed to seek peace and concentrated on dealing with Li Gui of Xiliang. (-<  >-net.)[This article comes from the Literature Museum.]

At that time, Liangzhou was severely drought and starved everywhere. However, King Li Gui of Xiliang refused to provide relief and built the Jade Girl Platform, which made the people resent. At the critical moment, he listened to slander and poisoned Liang Shuo, the Minister of Personnel, who was deeply loved by the people, and caused people to be rebellious.

Li Yuan discovered this opportunity and immediately sent An Xinggui, a famous Xiliang family, to Xiliang to envoy Xiliang, using a trick to alienate the Xiliang army, causing internal strife in Liangzhou. The Xiliang army mutinied and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. Li Gui was captured by his generals and sent to Chang'an to be executed. At this point, the Tang army captured the five counties of Hexi without any bloodshed and obtained a precious place to raise horses.

The north wind in Chang'an in September is strong, and the wind and sand blowing from the north makes the sky in Chang'an become foggy, but the streets are crowded and very lively. Most of the residents of Luoyang moved from Chang'an and Guanzhong. The continuous war and flying food prices in Luoyang caused countless Luoyang people to flee back to Chang'an and Guanzhong. The Luoyang people who were visiting relatives and friends everywhere on the streets were seen looking for their ancestral homes.

It was already dusk, and at this time, several men riding horses slowly entered Chang'an City from Mingde Gate. They looked at the former capital of the Great Sui Dynasty with curiosity.

"Young master, should we stay in the room first or do our business first?"

The young master was about 25 or 26 years old. He was thin and had a shiny look and looked very smart and capable. His name was Qu Minggui. He was the son of Qu Shi, the prefect of Jizhou, Hebei. He is currently the military commander of Dou Jiande. He was sent by Dou Jiande to Chang'an.

The reason why Dou Jiande sent Qu Minggui to Chang'an was because Qu Minggui's father-in-law was Liu Wenjing, who could meet the decision-makers of the Tang Dynasty through Liu Wenjing's relationship.

Qu Minggui has been to Chang'an several times and is familiar with Chang'an. He said to his subordinates: "We don't have many people, just follow me to my father-in-law's house and don't have to stay in another place."

He whipped the horse lightly and headed north along Zhuque Street. He inquired all the way. They entered Chongrenfang and came to a big mansion, which was Liu Wenjing's new mansion.

Although Li Yuan was unwilling to use Liu Wenjing anymore, in order to appease the old minister who followed him to rise up in Taiyuan. In addition to the repeated persuasion of Prince Li Jiancheng, Li Yuan finally appointed Liu Wenjing as the leader of the people and the governor.

Liu Wenjing had just finished her supper and was drinking tea and reading in the study. At this time, his housekeeper reported at the door: "Master, my son-in-law is back."

Liu Wenjing had three daughters. They all got married early because Liu Wenjing's father was also a high-ranking official of the Sui Dynasty. His daughter naturally married a famous family in the Sui Dynasty. The eldest daughter married Li Mi's son, the second daughter married into the Wang family in Taiyuan, the son of Wang Sui, the prime minister of Jinyang County, and the third daughter married into the son of Qu Shi, the prefect of Jizhou, and was considered an official family.

Liu Wenjing was stunned for a moment. His eldest son-in-law was dead. The second son-in-law and the third son-in-law were not in Chang'an, so he asked, "Which son-in-law?"

"It's the third uncle!"

Liu Wenjing thought about it and immediately guessed that he was seven or eight years old. Either it was sent by Dou Jiande or Qu Yu wanted to join Tang. There would be no other reason at this time.

"Take him to my study!"

After a moment, Qu Minggui was taken into the study. He knelt down and bowed, "The son-in-law Minggui bowed to his father-in-law."

Liu Wenjing did not like this son-in-law. To be precise, he hated his in-law Qu Leng. When Li Yuan raised an army in Taiyuan, he wrote to Qu Leng, and Qu Leng immediately responded to surrendering Li Yuan. He became the first county outside Hedongdao. It caused a sensation at the time and earned him a lot of face. Unexpectedly, less than a month after surrender, Dou Jiande's army captured Jizhou City.

Liu Wenjing hoped that Qu Leng would either escape to join Li Yuan or commit suicide by guarding the rituals. But Qu Leng chose to surrender to Dou Jiande, which made Liu Wenjing lose face. Pei Ji made a fuss about this matter not long ago and impeached him. Although Li Yuan did not pursue the matter, he hated the house and the misfortune, and Liu Wenjing also hated his son-in-law.

Liu Wenjing said coldly: "Is there anything wrong with you coming to Chang'an?"

Qu Minggui said respectfully: "I was sent by Dou Gong and came to contact the Tang Dynasty. However, I had no choice but to ask my father-in-law for help. (-<  >-net.)"

Since it was a business and was sent by Dou Jiande, Liu Wenjing's face calmed down a little, and then asked her daughter: "How is Xiu'e's recent situation?"

"Reporting to my father-in-law, Xiu'e is in good health. This time, the son-in-law was temporarily ordered and set out from the army. He didn't have time to go home, so he could not bring Xiu'e's family letter to her father-in-law. Please forgive me."

Liu Wenjing also knew that Dou Jiande was preparing to attack Hanoi County. Today, the emperor talked about this during the morning court and proposed to strengthen intelligence and pay attention to the situation in the Central Plains. The news came in the evening.

Liu Wenjing suddenly realized that this was actually an opportunity for him to use his son-in-law's favorable conditions for Dou Jiande's envoy to strive to dominate this matter and increase his weight in the court.

Liu Wenjing suddenly became excited, and her attitude towards her son-in-law became even more gentle. She also had the unique smile of her father-in-law on her face, "The son-in-law will go to have a meal first. After the meal, I will take you to see the prince."

...........

Generally speaking, the prince was not allowed to participate in politics or make friends with ministers at will. However, as the founding prince, Li Jiancheng was not bound by this. On the contrary, his father, Li Yuan, also allowed him to set up his own business, recruit talents, and even allowed him to lead troops to fight and establish military authority. All this was because Li Yuan trusted Li Jiancheng very much, and knew that his eldest son was a kind and kind person.

Li Jiancheng has moved to the East Palace. Although he has moved into the palace, Li Jiancheng's confidant ministers can still enter and exit at will. At this time, Li Jiancheng was discussing with his wife, Princess Zheng, in the Xiande Hall of the East Palace, to reduce expenses in the East Palace.

Li Jiancheng spent a lot of money on recruiting talents. Although his father had no objections, at the beginning of the founding of the country, people's livelihood was in decline and taxes were not sufficient. Li Jiancheng was also dissatisfied and wanted to reduce the expenses in his palace and save some money.

Zheng was the daughter of Zheng, Xingyang. She was the wife of Mrs. Zheng, who was the wife of Yang Xuangan. She was the daughter of Zheng Shanguo, the prefect of Lu County. Zheng Shanguo, also offered Lu County the crown prince and surrendered to the Tang Dynasty. She was named the crown prince guest and was Li Jiancheng's confidant.

Zheng was quite virtuous and understood her husband's difficulties, so he proposed to cut his own cosmetic money. The following palace concubines could follow suit. However, Li Jiancheng did not agree to cut his wife's cosmetic money, and said with a smile: "The cost of cosmetic money is not much. It doesn't make much sense to cut it. Forget it, I think it can be cut at least half in diet. It's too luxurious to have dozens of dishes per meal, and most of it is a waste."

"But has the prince ever thought that although these foods are not finished, they are all rewarded to the guards in the end. In fact, there is no waste. If the food is cut, it is actually cut down the guards' blessings, which is not good!"

Zheng's suggestion made Li Jiancheng hesitate a little. After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "Forget it, no saving money. Just find a way to open up the source! My father also allowed me to set up a royal merchant. After thinking about it, it would be more effective to do business and make money."

At this time, Yang Rong, the leader of the guard of the Eastern Palace, reported at the gate of the palace: "Your Highness, the Prime Minister Liu is urgently asking for a meeting!"

Of course, Yang Rong was Yang Xuangan's second son, Yang Yuanqing's brother. After the defeat of Chang'an City, Yang Jun and Yang Rong both surrendered to Li Yuan and were neglected. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, because the mother of the two brothers was the aunt of the crown princess, Li Jiancheng tried his best to ensure that they were officials. Although Li Yuan did not like that the two brothers betrayed their father, considering that they might be useful in dealing with Yang Yuanqing in the future, they allowed them to be officials in the East Palace.

Yang Rong was appointed as the leader of the Eastern Palace Guard by Li Jiancheng, while Yang Jun was named Shanzan Doctor of the Eastern Palace. Mrs. Zheng was also taken to Chang'an by the two brothers.

Li Jiancheng was actually considering asking the two brothers to rebuild the Hongnong Yang family. After all, the Hongnong Yang family members are still there and still have a great influence in Hongnong County, which can attract many talents to join him.

When Li Jiancheng heard that Liu Wenjing had something urgent to look for him, he nodded. "Please wait in my study!"

...........

In the Prince's study, Liu Wenjing was paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He had already learned in detail about Dou Jiande's intention, he was considering countermeasures, and he had already had an idea in his mind, but he had to consider some details.

At this time, Li Jiancheng walked in and said with a smile: "What urgent matter is the Prime Minister looking for me?"

Liu Wenjing and Li Jiancheng had a very good personal relationship and could be regarded as Li Jiancheng's confidant, so he first came to report to Li Jiancheng about Dou Jiande.

"My son-in-law Qu Minggui just came to see me. He is Dou Jiande's special envoy and brought Dou Jiande's handwritten letter to the emperor. Dou Jiande hopes to form an alliance with us."

Liu Wenjing took out a letter and put it on the table. This was Dou Jiande's handwritten letter. Li Jiancheng looked at the envelope, "Hebei Changle King to His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty." He frowned slightly. Dou Jiande was a bandit after all, and would the alliance with him affect the reputation of the court, and his rank was not worthy.

"I guess my father would not consider forming an alliance. If he was enthroned, it might be possible."

Liu Wenjing smiled, "Actually, alliance is just a statement. We can change it to cooperate with him, especially this time Dou Jiande attacked Hanoi County, which I think is a more opportunity for us."

"What do you say about the Prime Minister?"

Liu Wenjing stroked his beard and said slowly: "Dou Jiande personally led his army to attack Hanoi County, and Yang Yuanqing would definitely deal with it personally. In this way, Yang Yuanqing's army would be restrained in Hanoi County. Then we can take the opportunity to send troops to Hongnong County and occupy it, and then watch the battle situation in Hedong. If Yang Yuanqing is defeated by Dou Jiande, we can divide our troops into two groups, crossing the river from the west and south at the same time, occupying Hedong County. Yang Yuanqing will be afraid of being attacked by the Tang army and Dou Jiande's army, and will definitely not dare to counterattack Hedong County. In this way, we will open two roads to compete for the Central Plains."

Li Jiancheng's eyes slowly lit up. He knew that his father was always worried about the loss of Hedong, and he also wanted to find an opportunity to occupy Hongnong County. This was indeed an opportunity. His father would definitely be interested in this plan. He asked anxiously: "I wonder where the Prime Minister's son-in-law is now?"

"Just wait outside the East Palace."

Li Jianchengke stood up and said, "Let's go to see your father now!"

...........

In late September, Li Yuan accepted the request from Dou Jiande and changed the alliance between the two sides to cooperation. He seized the opportunity that Yang Yuanqing was restrained by Dou Jiande's army and ordered Hejian County Prince Li Xiaogong to lead his army of 30,000 out of Tongguan and kill him towards Hongnong County, which kicked off the Tang army's participation in the Central Plains battle for hegemony.

...........

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Chapter completed!