Ten thousand Sui troops occupied Nanyang County and Xiyang County without bloodshed. These two counties are corridors connecting Chang'an and Jingxiang areas and have important strategic significance for the Tang Dynasty.

Because Li Xiaogong defeated Yingchuan and was unable to protect these two counties, he had no choice but to agree to Yang Yuanqing's request and set these two counties as buffer zones, and neither side would station troops.

Although another 50,000 Shu soldiers reinforced Jingxiang at this time, these troops still seemed to be trapped. They had to defend Xiao Xian's army in the east and the Sui army in the north, and they were unable to withstand the pressure of defense on the two lines.

Li Xiaogong could only hope that the Sui army would keep his trustworthy, but the Sui army disappointed him. Less than half a month after the Battle of Central Plains, ten thousand Sui troops entered Nanyang County and Xiyang County, cutting off the passage between Shangluo County and Xiangyang County.

This news made Li Xiaogong furious, but at the same time he was extremely anxious. He was worried that the Sui army was about to launch the Jingxiang offensive. With severe external troubles, Li Xiaogong immediately sent the letter of eagle to Chang'an.

In Chang'an City, Li Yuan once vowed to severely punish the chaos in the Battle of the Central Plains, which was the power struggle between Li Shimin and Li Jiancheng, but in the end, he could not handle it.

On the one hand, although family scandals should not be made public, on the other hand, the two sides have become deeply in power. The punishment will not only not alleviate the conflict, but will instead deepen the conflict and lead to the intensification of internal conflicts.

Li Yuan was afraid of being a rude. A reflection conference of the Battle of the Central Plains became a formality. Some people said that the weapons were not good, some said that the training was insufficient, some said that the troops were not strong, some said that the logistics was not strong, but no one dared to say that the strategic layout was wrong, and that there was a problem with the strategic layout was Li Yuan's responsibility.

No one dares to say that this is because of the internal conflict between the prince and the King of Qin. Although many people understand it in their hearts, they cannot produce evidence and speak casually, which will lead to the disaster of death.

But there is still a backbone person. On the steps in front of the Wude Hall, the counselor Zhao Liming had been kneeling for a morning. His voice was hoarse, but he still shouted stubbornly: "Your Majesty. The defeat of the Central Plains caused the disaster of General Tiance. The King of Qin can lead troops but cannot take power. The war is the important weapon of the country and is not personal authority. Your Majesty, the power of the two powers of the Eastern Palace, the power of Tiance in the East Palace will be destroyed. It will inevitably lead to a disaster and endanger the country. Your Majesty. I am loyal and unjustified. I am willing to advise Your Majesty to wake up after death."

No one cares about him, so he knelt alone on the steps. At this time, Feng Deyi, the Minister of Inner History who was on duty, walked out and advised him: "Why should I be so stubborn? Let Your Majesty make things difficult for you? Your Majesty can't bear to blame you, so can you give Your Majesty a face?"

Zhao Liming was furious and pointed at Feng Deyi and cursed: "You slander, you only know how to please the emperor, and you don't care about the demise of the country. The emperor has any faults. The ministers will advise him, but you just pretend to be charming. In the future, the Tang Dynasty will be destroyed by the hands of flatterers like you."

Feng Deyi's face turned pale and he said hatefully: "I kindly advised you, but you insulted me, okay! Just kneel down and see who won't die well."

Feng Deyi turned around and rushed back to the palace angrily. He came to persuade Zhao Liming to leave on Li Yuan's order, but Zhao Liming's humiliation made him angry. If he did not take revenge on this person, he would not be Feng's surname.

In the imperial study room, Li Yuan frowned. Zhao Liming was still outside. He was extremely tired of Zhao Liming. It was because of his reputation that he had to act as a modest attitude to receive advice.

Feng Deyi hated Zhao Liming's humiliation in his heart. He said to Li Yuan: "Your Majesty, Zhao Liming is obviously selfish. He knows that Your Majesty will not kill him, so he pretends to be a desperate person to persuade him. It is his contribution to his success. He won the reputation of loyal ministers. If he advises him, he can gain the reputation of a loyal minister, and he will not be afraid of the anger of the saint. Even if he is killed, he can be famous in history. He leaves his bad reputation to His Majesty. Such people who seek fame are the most hateful!"

Although Li Yuan doesn't like to listen to advice, he is not confused. Zhao Liming is upright and has a very good reputation. Although he offended many people, it is a bit unreliable to say that he has selfish intentions.

"Feng Aiqing, this Zhao Liming doesn't understand the worldly ways, but it's not bad, so he won't have selfish thoughts."

"Your Majesty, if you know people, you are afraid of not being intimate. Is it true that all the Tang Dynasty are treacherous ministers who don't come to persuade Your Majesty. Only Zhao Liming is a loyal minister. Is he the only one sober? Your Majesty, he kept saying that Tiance Mansion is the source of all evil, and that the military power is in the hands of the King of Qin is simply confusing right and wrong. He is nonsense, and the soldiers in the world are all in the hands of Your Majesty. The King of Qin is just in charge of Your Majesty. If Your Majesty does not lead the troops for the King of Qin, the King of Qin will dare to resist the orders? In fact, everyone in the court knows that there is no problem with the King of Qin taking charge of the soldiers and the King of Tiance Mansion. Only Zhao Liming uses it to make a case and says that it endangers the country. Your Majesty, this person has ulterior motives!"

Li Yuan also knew in his heart that what Zhao Liming said was actually not bad. The Qin King's power was indeed too great, but the Qin King was a means he used to balance the prince, and it had nothing to do with endangering the country.

More importantly, the defeat in the Central Plains was a strategic decision-making mistake, not that the Qin King had too much power, but on the contrary, it was because the Qin King had no strategic decision-making power that led to the final failure, so Zhao Liming's advice was indeed a bit alarmist.

Li Yuan had already vaguely guessed that Zhao Liming was appointed by the prince and was secretly manipulated by the prince behind the scenes. All the advice was for the benefit of the prince.

Li Yuan was really a little dissatisfied. Although he would not kill him, he could not tolerate Zhao Liming's endless trouble.

Li Yuan immediately ordered: "Drive Zhao Liming out of the palace, don't let him go into the palace again to make trouble!"

The guards led the order to rush out of the Wude Hall. They were all tall and tall, with big arms and round waists, and they set up the thin Zhao Liming out of the Wude Hall like a chicken.

Zhao Liming was dragged away and turned around and shouted: "Your Majesty, I am loyal, and the world can be seen. Your Majesty does not listen to me, and the Tang Dynasty is in danger!"

Zhao Liming was dragged out of the Zhuque Gate of the Imperial City and threw it out. At this time, someone had already rushed to the Qin Palace to report.

Zhao Liming knelt for one morning, and Li Shimin was also worried in the mansion for one morning. He was afraid that his father would listen to his advice and reduce his military power.

After returning from Tongguan, Li Shimin was in a bad mood. The failure of the Central Plains Battle severely hit his prestige. Although his father did not reduce his power, his father reduced Li Xiaogong's power, took away the military power of Bashu, and handed it over to his fourth brother Yuan Ji.

If it was a victory for him to obtain military power in Kanto, the eldest brother Jiancheng did not suffer any damage to his interests. He obtained the power of Hanzhong, and Luo Yi was named the general manager of Hanzhong.

In addition, King Yuanji of Qi obtained the power of Bashu, and actually built a series and became the big winner in this battle in the Central Plains, while Li Shimin became the biggest loser.

Although he was dissatisfied, he had nothing to say. After all, his defeat in the Battle of Central Plains attracted criticism from all the civil and military officials of the court.

Li Shimin is now considering how to regain his reputation. He urgently needs a victory, and he can't get much advantage from Yang Yuanqing, so he can only make Xiao Xian the idea of ​​"a soft persimmon". As long as he completely wiped out Xiao Xian and opened up territory in the south, he can regain his reputation.

At this time, Li Shimin's aide Zhang Gongjin hurried into the room and bowed and said, "Your Highness, news came from the Zhuque Gate that Zhao Liming had been driven out of the imperial city by the Lord."

Zhang Gongjin was originally a general under Wang Shichong, both civil and military. At the beginning of the year, he fled to Chang'an and defected to his friend Yuchi Gong. He was recommended to Li Shimin by Yuchi Gong. He was deeply trusted by Li Shimin and became a staff member under the Tiance Mansion.

This news made Li Shimin overjoyed. His father did not accept Zhao Liming's advice, which made him slightly relieved. But at the same time, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and he would no longer allow Zhao Liming to the world.

"Arranging a few brothers to deal with Zhao Liming."

Zhang Gongjin pondered for a moment and said, "Zhao Liming was in a depressed mood at this time. It would be better to wait for the night to turn into his mansion and let him hang himself."

Li Shimin had no expression on his face and said coldly: "Yes, but you have to do it cleanly."

...........

The next morning, Li Shimin received an emergency declaration from the palace, proclaiming him to come to the palace to meet the saint. Li Shimin hurried to the imperial study of Wude Hall, and saw that the five prime ministers and prince Jiancheng had all arrived.

Li Yuan's face was as deep as water, and his eyes were vaguely angry. Li Shimin's heart was tight. Could it be that it was Zhao Liming's business?

"His Highness of Qin King meets you!"

The eunuch shouted loudly, causing all the ministers in the imperial study to look back. Li Jiancheng stared at Li Shimin fiercely, his eyes full of deep hatred and unconcealed.

Only Pei Ji secretly gave him a wink, but Li Shimin didn't understand the meaning of Pei Ji's wink.

When Li Yuan saw Li Shimin coming in, he immediately stood up and said, "The emperor followed me to the inner room."

Li Shimin followed Li Yuan into the inner room, feeling uneasy. At this time, Li Yuan stopped and did not look back. He asked coldly: "Tell the truth to your father, is Zhao Liming's death related to you?"

Zhao Liming hanged himself and Li Shimin received a report that was perfect. Although Li Shimin could completely deny that it had nothing to do with him, he changed his mind and his father called him into the inner room for a questioning question. If he denied, he would lose his father's trust.

Li Shimin knelt on his knees, "Father, Zhao Liming's death was done by his sons."

"It was you who did it!"

Li Yuan suddenly turned around and stared at Li Shimin, but was not angry, and asked, "Why did you want to kill him?"

"Reporting to the emperor, Zhao Liming regards himself as a counselor, distorts right and wrong, distorts the relationship between father and son, and destroys the stability of the Tang Dynasty. This person must not tolerate him."

Li Yuan looked at Li Shimin for a while, and finally said lightly: "I only have one sentence. If you want to do such a thing in the future, you must first discuss it with me."

Li Shimin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He bet on this bet. In fact, the reason why he dared to kill Zhao Liming was that he knew that his father would not tolerate Zhao Liming. It was because of the face of benevolent king, so it was best for him to do it himself.

"My son knows his mistake, and he will definitely follow his father's arrangement next time."

Li Yuan did not want to blame Li Shimin for killing people. In his opinion, if Li Shimin didn't even have this courage, he would be a general of Tiance. What he cared about was whether Li Shimin had reported to him in advance and did not hide it from him.

Although Li Shimin did not report it in advance, fortunately, he did not hide it from him, which made Li Yuan quite satisfied. Li Yuan liked the feeling of being able to control his son.

He nodded, "Go outside and talk! I just got the news that something big happened in Nanyang County."

Only then did Li Shimin realize that the ministers gathered and his father's face turned pale, which had nothing to do with Zhao Liming's death.

......{Piaotian Literature www.PiaoTian.com Thanks to all book friends for their support, your support is our greatest motivation}
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