Phi-Fic Chapter 1049: The Emperor's Heart is as Deep as the Abyss
Chapter 1049: The Emperor's Heart is as Deep as the Abyss
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ultimately could not escape a beating from His Majesty Li II.
While he returned to the East Palace with injuries, recuperating and reflecting on his mistakes, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu held a grand wedding in Qiongzhou for his good brother Fang Yiai and his sister Princess Gaoyang.
By the time this news reached Chang'an, the Tang Dynasty had already entered the spring of the 16th year of Zhenguan.
"This guy is really good at doing things..." In the imperial study, Emperor Li II looked at the letter in front of him with uncertain eyes.
Although Li Kuan had already made it clear in the letter that he had instructed the eldest prince to send the third, fourth, ninth and Gao Yang brothers to Qiongzhou, Li Erbi was not stupid and naturally would not believe it.
Of course, the King of Chu also knew that he didn't believe it, but when it came time for His Royal Highness the King of Chu to express his position, he was unambiguous: If you beat up my brother, that's the matter and it's over. If you insist on not giving in, it will affect the next plan.
Yes, the letter that King Chu wrote to His Majesty Li II would certainly not be about such trivial matters.
"Zhang Nan." Suddenly, His Majesty Li II said to Zhang Nan who was guarding the door: "Send someone out of the palace to call Zhangsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Wei Zheng, Li Ji, Li Xiaogong, Yuchi Gong, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Niu Jinda, and Zhang Liang to come to me."
"Yes." Zhang Nan stepped back upon hearing this.
Half an hour later, in the imperial study, all the famous ministers of the Zhenguan period gathered, waiting for the next order from His Majesty Li II.
"Your Majesty, I wonder what has caused you to worry?" Changsun Wuji is a smart man, but sometimes being too smart is not a good thing.
"Wuji, who told you that I am worried?" Upon hearing this, His Majesty Li II looked at the other party with a half-smile, until the other party realized that he had said the wrong thing and lowered his head silently. Then he turned his gaze to other people: "Kuan'er is planning to implement the original plan ahead of time, that is, to unite Tuyuhun, Tubo, Xueyantuo, and Tocharistan to attack Tianzhu. My dear ministers, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, we have just finished a war..." Although Wei Zheng is now the father-in-law of the King of Chu, he is never vague about business: "I am not saying that your highness the King of Chu has a bad idea, but... Your Majesty, although the current Tang Dynasty is not short of money and food, it is not rich either. Once the war is tight in the future, it is really possible that it will be dragged down..."
"That brat has already said it in the letter." His Majesty Li II raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, and began to admire his son's foresight: "If Wei Qing stops us on the grounds that he is worried about the tight war situation, then please rest assured - he will fight this battle quickly and decisively, and will definitely not drag it out.
Tuyuhun and Tubo must be destroyed; as for Xueyantuo and Tocharian, even if it is beyond our reach, we must drive them westward.
Moreover, Kuan'er has already told me that if the cost of this war really exceeds the court's ability to bear, he can use Dou's family assets to support it."
"..." After His Majesty Li II said this, everyone fell silent.
It seems that His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu is determined to eliminate the last trace of instability around the Tang Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, if that's the case..." Wei Zheng couldn't object anymore after hearing that: "I support it."
"I object!" Just as Wei Zheng finished speaking, Zhangsun Wuji suddenly said, "Your Majesty, why is the King of Chu so eager to start a war? Could it be that..."
"Because Zhinu is now in Qiongzhou." His Majesty Li II began to feel annoyed with Zhangsun Wuji. "That kid loves his brother and thinks that he can't let his brother come here in vain. He plans to conquer Tianzhu and move the Feng family in Lingnan to Tianzhu first. When Zhinu comes of age, I will select capable officials for him to accompany him to Tianzhu to be enfeoffed."
"Is that a vassal state?" Zhang Sun Wuji subconsciously asked back, "Your Majesty... this is to build a new mountain..."
"Kuan'er said it was a vassal state, and I also think it was a vassal state." His Majesty Li II's face darkened when he heard this: "How come you, Duke Zhao, said it was a new mountain?"
"..."Changsun Wuji was speechless now.
But he still felt unwilling, because Zhinu was the person he had decided to bet on after careful consideration, but the result... the King of Chu intervened again!
Thinking of this, Changsun Wuji felt indignant, so he spoke again: "Your Majesty, the Feng family may not be willing."
"No, Feng Ang is willing." Upon hearing this, His Majesty Li II pointed to the letter on the desk and said calmly, "Feng Ang is not stupid. He knows that this is the best outcome for the Feng family."
If they really stay in Lingnan and refuse to leave, someone will always take care of them in the future.
"Your Majesty, since His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu has already come up with a foolproof plan, then regarding this battle... I think we can fight." Fang Xuanling has always been fair and selfless, so his words rarely contain any personal emotions: "I believe in the judgment of His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu, and I am willing to vouch for him."
The first half of Fang Xuanling's speech was normal, but the last sentence was really shocking.
"Prime Minister Fang, can you guarantee the King of Chu?" Zhang Sun Wuji thought he had misheard at first, but when he came to his senses, he immediately realized that his chance had come: "What can you guarantee for His Royal Highness the King of Chu?"
"Humph!" Fang Xuanling already disliked Zhangsun Wuji because of what happened with Li Qingqing. Seeing that he was using the same trick again, he sneered, "I am willing to use my own life as a guarantee for His Royal Highness the King of Chu! Duke Zhao, do you have any objection?"
"You are the prime minister!" Zhang Sun Wuji narrowed his eyes upon hearing this and said sinisterly, "How could you be so partial to a vassal king..."
"I am also willing to use my own life as a guarantee for His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu!" - Everyone saw that Zhangsun Wuji had ulterior motives and wanted to set a trap for Fang Xuanling. Zhang Liang, who had never liked Zhangsun Wuji and had received great kindness from His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu in the Goguryeo battlefield before, stood up at this time and said, "Duke Zhao, everyone knows what kind of person His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu is - although he is usually overbearing and unreasonable, but on major issues, His Royal Highness the Prince of Chu has never been vague!
Therefore, not only is Prime Minister Fang willing to trust His Royal Highness the King of Chu, I am also willing to trust His Royal Highness the King of Chu!
But you, Duke Zhao! I ask you to look around the government and the people to see if there is any colleague who is willing to vouch for you with his own life!
If it really happened, I will laugh at him for the rest of my life!"
Zhang Liang is a military general, and when a military general encounters trouble, it is really difficult.
After this violent outburst, even though Changsun Wuji was so angry that his eyes were about to bulge out of their sockets, he could not utter another word.
On the contrary, His Majesty Li II, who was sitting lazily behind the imperial desk at that time, looked at the two ministers who were like fighting cocks, with a faint sneer on his lips.
No one knows what he is thinking at this moment.