Li Jiancheng was speechless. He really couldn't explain it. Ten days passed, and there was no news in his external supervision hall. Instead, Li Shimin's Tang Feng first got the news.

Li Jiancheng wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered: "It's mainly because Pingyuan County is a small place and the outer supervision hall did not set up some points there. Wang Shou has always reported it directly. His sudden disappearance caused the news to be cut off."

Li Shimin next to him smiled slightly, "I think this is not the problem. Tang Feng did not set up a station in Pingyuan County. It was Taiyuan Tang Feng who rushed to Pingyuan County to find out the news. I think it was the supervisor who did not take this matter to heart. In fact, when there was no news on the third day, you should notify Youzhou or Taiyuan Foreign Supervision Hall. Perhaps Liu Xiangguo was too busy and had no time to take care of this matter. What do you think?"

Li Shimin downplayed the matter and pushed the blame on Liu Wenjing. Li Yuan's face became more and more gloomy. Someone always had to take responsibility for this matter. Qu Ling was recommended by Liu Wenjing. Now Liu Wenjing is responsible for the Foreign Supervision Hall. He does not take responsibility. Who should take responsibility?

Li Yuan said coldly: "From now on, Liu Wenjing will be removed from his post as the chief of the Foreign Supervision Hall, and the Foreign Supervision Hall will suspend all internal and external activities, and Tang Feng will temporarily replace it."

He said to Li Shimin again: "About Pingyuan County's failure, I need a detailed report. I hope that this report will appear on the desk ten days later."

Li Shimin was overjoyed and stopped the activities of the External Supervision Hall, which was a sign of disbanding it. He finally took the lead in this battle and won the first victory. He gave a deep courtesy, "Son Master follows the order!"

Li Jiancheng felt extremely bitter in his heart, and what he was most worried about was still happening.

...........

Li Jiancheng retreated, but Li Shimin did not leave. He still had something to report. Li Yuan glanced at him, "Is there anything else for the emperor?"

Li Shimin bowed and said, "Father, my son received information from Taiyuan. Xiao Feng, who joined the military officer of Yang Yuanqing, had a lot of complaints about Yang Yuanqing because of family affairs."

Li Yuan was stunned. "Why is this?"

"I also asked the Xiao clans who were doing business in Chang'an. He said that it was a group of Xiao clans who were originally a large clan in Dunhuang, but was killed by Li Zhu, who was in charge of military power in Dunhuang. The clans were killed and the clan property was taken away. They were forced to move out of Dunhuang. Li Zhu, the man, also investigated by Er Chen. This person was Yang Yuanqing's confidant who remained in Dunhuang County. Su Dingfang took Dunhuang County, which was directly related to him. Xiao Feng complained about Yang Yuanqing because of Li Zhu."

Li Shimin said the story of the restaurant. Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe Xiao Feng was a little dissatisfied because of this dissatisfaction, but he didn't think that he could win over the army because of this dissatisfaction. It was unusual for the participation of the military in the Records Office. Generally, he was in charge of secrets. Yang Yuanqing would not appoint people who had no trust, so he could not be careless and thought he could bribe him. Does the emperor understand what I mean?"

Li Shimin immediately said: "My son understands, he will never be careless."

Li Yuan nodded and said, "Tang Feng, led by Changsun Wuji, is indeed very capable. He reported a lot of important news in time, such as the assassination of the Princess of Chu, the Battle of Liaodong, etc. I have understood Yang Yuanqing's meridians. He must have to fight Goryeo, but it's not now. This also shows that he is very afraid of us. Perhaps we are a little pessimistic, and the Sui army is not as powerful as we imagined."

"Father, my son thought that the Shandong aristocrats were civil and military. Although the Sui army was strong at the beginning, it was because Yang Yuanqing had a Fengzhou background, as his territory continued to expand, his Fengzhou strength was also being divided. This would inevitably reduce the combat strength of his army. On the contrary, our Tang army had the foundation of the Long aristocrats, and the strength was constantly increasing. More importantly, the Sui Dynasty had a lot of holes in Hebei, but we had the wealthy Jingxiang. The Sui Dynasty's national strength was weakened, but our national strength was increasing. One increased and the other disappeared, and our strength would gradually surpass the Sui Dynasty and eventually defeat it."

Li Yuan smiled and said with a smile: "The emperor's analysis was right. War was ultimately a contest of national strength. The Sui Dynasty had a devastated north, but we had a rich south. Most of the Shandong gentry who supported the Sui Dynasty had a false reputation, while the Guanlong nobles who supported our were strong. I believe that the one who won the world in the end must be us, not the Sui Dynasty."

"Father, my son is considering the next step in Luoyang. I wonder what my father thinks?"

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Why don't you completely wipe out Xiao Xian and then consider the Central Plains after stabilizing Jingxiang?"

Li Shimin smiled, "Father, with Xiao Xian's remaining strength now, he is no longer able to seek Jingxiang anymore. He can only develop eastward and defeat Lin Shihong. The sons thought that Xiao Xian and Lin Shihong were left with internal conflicts. When they were defeated, we would take advantage of the fisherman again. In this way, the land of Chudong was within reach."

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "The emperor's words make sense, but attacking Luoyang is a big deal. This matter must be carefully considered. I will discuss with the prime minister and make a decision. I am a little tired. The emperor will take his leave!"

"Yes, my son is leaving."

Li Shimin bowed and retreated. Only Li Yuan was left in the imperial study. Li Yuan stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, looking at his second son Shimin who was hurriedly walking through the Wude Hall Square. He remembered that the famous sorcerer Yuan Tiangang had shown him the celestial phenomena not long ago, saying that his Emperor Star was unstable and that he was born in the inner palace. This astrological sign made Li Yuan really uneasy.

What he thought of was the prince Jiancheng, who was only fifty years old this year. In his prime, he would be at least twenty years old. The prince was over fifty years old at that time. Can he wait patiently?

In fact, Li Yuan also knew that the prince was kind and filial and would not have any unfair intentions, but he was afraid that his subordinates and confidants, such as Liu Wenjing, would persuade him to usurp the throne? The prince was always kind-hearted. If the prince really listened to their advice and launched a palace revolution, this would be possible.

Li Yuan couldn't help but think of his second son Shimin. If he could add an opponent to the prince and let their brothers fight in the internal struggle, he could effectively block the prince's ambitions. With an enemy, the prince thought about how to protect the position of the Eastern Palace without considering taking his own throne and replacing it.

Of course, Li Yuan would still let the prince ascend the throne in the end, but he didn't want the prince to ascend the throne so smoothly. Only after a lot of struggle can the prince cherish the throne more. As for the second son Shimin, Li Yuan knew in his heart that he could control Shimin's ambitions.

...........

Li Shimin returned to the palace directly from the palace and returned to his study. He immediately ordered: "Please come and see me!"

After a moment, Changsun Wuji came in a hurry. Changsun Wuji is currently the chief secretary of the Qin Palace. He is smart and capable. He is Li Shimin's most capable right-hand man and has won his trust. The Intelligence Office founded by Li Shimin is called Tang Fenglou, so the Intelligence Office is also called Tang Feng, which is fully responsible for Changsun Wuji.

Changsun Wuji walked into the study and smiled and said, "I feel that your highness has good news for me."

Li Shimin also laughed, "Your nose is very good! As soon as I returned home, I actually smelled it."

Changsun Wuji said proudly: "Of course, since I am the supervisor of Tang Fenglou, I naturally have extraordinary hearing and hearing. I guess the emperor will take his anger on the slowness of the Foreign Supervision Hall and increase our authority."

Li Shimin nodded with relief, "You guessed that, the emperor has removed Liu Wenjing from his post as the chief of the Supervisory Hall outside the country, and suspended it at the same time. We Tang Feng and the military and political affairs are in charge. This is good news!"

The two sat down, a maid came in to serve tea, and then stepped down. Li Shimin picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea and said, "I have reported to my father about Yang Yuanqing's military service in the record room."

Changsun Wuji was excited and asked quickly: "What is the attitude of the emperor?"

"The father is very cautious. He believes that the position of joining the military in the Record Office is a great deal. Yang Yuanqing must have trusted Xiao Feng very much before appointing him. The father believes that Xiao Feng will not betray Yang Yuanqing easily. Let us be careful not to steal a handful of rice without robbing him."

Li Shimin glanced at Changsun Wuji and said, "Actually, I think my father's concerns make sense. Yang Yuanqing still has a lot of means to control his subordinates. We must be careful that Xiao Feng reported us instead. Li Chongshou is my capable general. I don't want him to fall into this matter."

Changsun Wuji hesitated and asked, "What does your highness mean is to give up Xiao Feng?"

Li Shimin stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back and pondered for a long time, and said slowly: "The father just suspended the outer supervision hall and did not completely abolish it. If he wants to completely abolish it, there is only one way to let the father see Tang Feng's power with his own eyes. Moreover, the father did not say that this matter cannot be done, but just let us be careful, Wuji, you should think about it carefully. I hope you can succeed in the most secure way."

...........

Tangfeng Tower is located on the west side of the Qinwang Mansion. It is a three-story building with dozens of houses around it. It is a building complex. It was originally part of the Qinwang Mansion. Since it was classified as the Intelligence Office, it was isolated separately and another small door was opened to make it a government office.

The Intelligence Agency is not listed, and the door is closed. Ordinary people don’t know what kind of agency this is, and even ordinary officials don’t know.

In the afternoon, two soldiers hurried into the intelligence agency with a man. The man was about forty years old, with a medium figure and a little fat. His name was Xiao Yuansong, who was the leader of the caravan of the Xiao family in Chang'an in Dunhuang. In the fourth year of Daye, he led Yang Yuanqing to capture Yiwu City. This was Xiao Yuansong.

At this time, the Xiao family in Dunhuang had moved to Xiangyang to settle down and gradually became a local wealthy family. After the Tang army captured Xiangyang, they also took good care of the Xiao family in Dunhuang. A child of the Xiao family also served as the magistrate of Xiangyang County.

Xiao Yuansong opened a store in Liren City, specializing in selling Jingxiang tea. His business was booming and earned a lot of profits for the Xiao family. Yesterday, the Qin Prince's Mansion sent someone to find him and inquire about what happened to the Xiao family in Dunhuang. He did not hide it and said everything.

Today, he was found by the guards of the Qin Palace and said that there was something important to find him. Xiao Yuansong walked into Tangfeng Tower in a nervous mood. He didn't know what the Qin Palace was for him to do? He didn't know what the Tangfeng Tower was. He followed the soldiers to a room, and a soldier reported loudly: "Report to the Chief Secretary, the Xiao family has been brought here."

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