Love Affairs in Chang’an Chapter 529: Retreat to the next best thing
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Although the monarch and his minister had "talked freely" for half a night, they never broke the topic. Li Shimin didn't say which prince he preferred, and Fang Xuanling didn't even ask.
Actually, one of the most important reasons why Li Shimin talked to Fang Xuanling about these thoughts was Fang Xuanling's position. At present, the civil and military forces of the Manchu dynasty have their own positions and camps, either overtly or secretly, or are attached to Changsun Wuji and the Weiwang Group; or stand with the military and favor Li Ke. There were also some people who stood in Li Zhi’s camp when he was promoted to the imperial state very early, but when Changsun Wuji “leaved the group” he took away many “group members”, and the remaining few were not many. The voice is not loud, and there are no people with real power or great influence.
Only Fang Xuanling, he did not lean towards any prince. Although he was the commander-in-chief of logistics during the Pingfan campaign, he had a very close relationship with the military, but he never expressed any opinions on the issue of the legislative reserve and remained silent and neutral.
The reason is nothing more than his identity. Once, Fang Xuanling was entrusted by the eldest grandson empress, determined to assist the former prince Li Chengqian. When Li Chengqian fell, if it were not for Li Shimin to come forward to protect him (take him to the palace and recuperate with him), I am afraid Fang Xuanling would have been liquidated and ruled out in the political turmoil just like Hou Junji. Fortunately now, she is still standing above the court, and Fang Xuanling never participated in any disputes related to Li Chu.
Li Shimin has a deep understanding of Fang Xuanling's morals and morals. The idea of "loyal ministers are not the two masters" was deeply ingrained in Fang Xuanling's mind. From the day when he accepted the eldest grandson's empress to assist Li Chengqian, just like Zhuge Liang assisting A Dou, he knew he was a mediocre master, but he "has done his best to die and succeeded" and would rather die than regret.
But God’s will is hard to violate. Li Chengqian, who has committed many acts of injustice and self-destroyed the Great Wall, seems inevitable to fall. After that, it is absolutely impossible for Fang Xuanling to throw himself into any camp to wave the flag.
It is precisely because of this that Fang Xuanling has become the most trusted person to Li Shimin now, and Li Shimin dared to discuss the matter of establishing a reserve with him. In exchange for anyone else, there must be scruples or selfishness.
It's getting lighter, and Fang Xuanling's time to hand over. Li Shimin invited him to eat breakfast together before leaving. When the monarch and the minister arrived at the Wude Hall, the palace staff arranged breakfast for them to enjoy.
Li Shimin decided to endure some things that he didn't say all night and tell Fang Xuanling.
"Xuanling, I have something, such as the stalks in my throat, not vomiting unpleasantly." Li Shimin said.
Fang Xuanling knows that the matter is serious, put down his chopsticks and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
"I'm thinking, no matter who I appoint as the prince now, in a hundred years from now, there will be a fight between my sons." Li Shimin frowned, his expression serious and painful." The last thing I want to see is that my brothers are fighting against each other from flesh to blood... Therefore, I intend to put an end to this trouble during my lifetime! — I want to ask you now, my three sons, Li Tai, Li Ke and Li Zhi, who is most likely to do such a thing?"
"This!..." Fang Xuanling's whole body was shaken, his face changed.
Who dares to answer such a question!
Li Shimin gave a wry smile and waved his hand, "Then change the way of asking, who is the most filial and forgiving among the three?"
This time, Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly, and he said, "Your Majesty, if you know the son is the father, do you still need to ask the ministers?"
Li Shimin nodded, "I know that Li Zhi, the king of the Jin Dynasty, has the softest temperament, and has a forgiving nature. But he is dull and cowardly, and has no foundation or backstage in the court. I am worried that he will not be able to control him in the future. The imperial court thus breeds ambitions and powerful ministers who are pouring in power and ruin the society."
Fang Xuanling smiled slightly, "Your Majesty, isn't it his deepest foundation and biggest backstage?——Weichen used an inappropriate analogy, aside from other things if only the backstage and foundation In fact, Xiu said that he was the King of Jin. Even if he was to grab a mortal man in the market and set him up as a prince, as long as his majesty is the master, he would worry that he had no foundation and backstage? All this can be done in years and time. "
Fang Xuanling's words can be said to be perfect. On the surface, it sounds that he has no objection to the Prince Jin Li; more deeply, he is expressing his position-everyone is the same, you are the emperor's son!
Li Shimin also put down his chopsticks, stretched out his hand and pressed his forehead, and said: "Originally, when the Battle of Pingfan hadn't started a few years ago, I did indeed consider making Jin as the prince and let him be a guardian. You can continue the Zhenguan style. I can rest assured that you and the assistants, the old Zhenguan officials, will assist him. But now the situation is different. Datang suppressed Tubo and opened up the Western Regions and settled on the grasslands in the north. In the future, there may be east. Enter Goryeo. Datang’s territory has almost doubled, which means that in the next few decades, or even hundreds of years, Datang will have to bear great military pressure from neighboring countries. In other words, Today's Datang has been involved in multinational disputes and cannot be extricated from it. Originally, the task of our internal national integration was quite arduous, and it would not be possible to complete it in 30 to 50 years. In this environment, Datang is like sailing against the current. If my successors don’t want to make progress and stick to conventions, then the Great Tang is bound to go downhill. During this period, if there is any chaos and internal fighting within the ruling and opposition parties, it will not be possible to maintain success, it is the world chaos and the fall of society. I don’t know!"
"Your Majesty’s insight is like a torch, and you have a great foresight, and you are very concerned!" Fang Xuanling said admiringly, "Due to the wars in recent years, the Great Tang has suffered huge losses and its national strength has become empty. At least in the future. In the past two decades, we must not only recuperate, but also deal with the aftermath of the Tubo, Northern, and Western Regions. At the same time, we must also deal with the possible military encroachments in the surrounding areas. The so-called tree big wind, Datang has achieved many victories, and at the same time It also erected many enemies, and incurred a lot of jealousy and covetousness. His Majesty’s words hit the point just now. In the next few decades, Datang will retreat like a boat against the current. Moreover, in the past, the Datang ship. The boat is walking in the brooks and lakes, and it doesn’t matter if you go forward or retreat for a while; but now, the boat of the Tang Dynasty is already in the turbulent rivers and seas, and if you step back, it may be a torrent of turbulence! ——Therefore, the method of your Majesty who wanted to establish a ruler of the past is indeed a little unworkable now."
"Yes! I have considered these two issues most recently!" Li Shimin nodded and said, "What I want is a prince of generosity who can treat his brothers kindly; while the current Datang Sheji, It needs a majestic prince who can continue to lead Datang for decades!"
"Your Majesty thought, three minutes into the woods, the ministers have nothing to say." Fang Xuanling bowed his hands.
Li Shimin nodded with furrowed brows, "One is what I want, the other is what Sheji wants... Can't the two be unified?"
Fang Xuanling watched her nose and nose, but didn't answer.
Li Shimin smiled slightly and picked up his chopsticks, "Xuanling, eat!"
"Yes..."
"I have already issued a secret edict to do some logic, and summon King Wu back to Beijing." Li Shimin said suddenly.
Fang Xuanling was about to pick up the dishes, and her chopsticks shook slightly without catching them.
Li Shimin laughed, and put a piece of deer breast into Fang Xuanling's bowl, and said: "Since it is time to face this problem, neither I nor my sons can avoid it anymore. Up."
"Your Majesty...this matter is top secret, how can we say that we know about it?" Fang Xuanling whispered vigilantly.
"Can I still trust you?" Li Shimin smiled slightly, "Actually, there is another important factor to consider who is the reserve. And this factor is the most intuitive and close at hand."
"Your Majesty, please make it clear?" Fang Xuanling asked.
Li Shimin smiled more profoundly and said indifferently: "That is, what kind of impact will the sons I gave up?"
Fang Xuanling was startled at first, and for a while, she didn't seem to understand the profound meaning of Li Shimin's words. Then he understood, the emperor was saying-if one of them was erected, how would the other react?
For example, if Li Tai was established, would Li Ke and the military give up? Will this lead to military conflicts or armed coups, and some people even use this as an excuse to divide the land and lead to the division of the country?
If Li Ke was established, would a group of civil servants headed by Changsun Wuji buy Li Ke's account? Will the three provinces, six ministries, and even the entire court of the Tang Dynasty fall into an unprecedented crisis or even collapse?
If Li Zhi...then his two elder brothers, he can't hold one of them, and he can't bother them!
……
"Your Majesty, Weichen understands." Fang Xuanling sighed lightly, and said, "The current situation is simply difficult to ride a tiger. Weichen, I am really worried!"
"Now you know, why have I been so undecided, right?" Li Shimin smiled bitterly, "Everyone says that the establishment of the crown is just a matter of the emperor's family, just a word from the emperor. If it is so simple, then it will be fine. Now , I have to weigh the pros and cons, and make a compromise. Xuan Ling, I tell you a sincere word. Until now, I don’t know in my heart as to who is the best. This is no longer whether I like it or want it. It’s up. The current situation has long been out of my control. Now I have to retreat to the next best place. I don’t expect to establish who is best for the Li Family and Datang, but..."
Li Shimin paused, and Fang Xuanling listened attentively.
"But, the least harm!"
……
Fang Xuanling's heart was suddenly shocked and suddenly enlightened!
"Because of him?!"
"Yes, it is him." Li Shimin's eyebrows were closed again, and he nodded lightly, and said, "The sword is double-edged, which can both kill and injure the enemy. He is me and Datang. A god-given divine sword of Wang, destroying the enemy, destroying the city, opening up the borders and expanding the territory, is omnipotent and all-powerful! But at the same time, he is also a threatening sword that hangs above Datang's head.
"Your Majesty, are you worrying too much?" Fang Xuanling cautiously whispered, "Qin Lang is loyal to his father. Besides, he is the son-in-law of his majesty..."
Li Shimin smiled slightly, and said: "The age of the room, even you can feel how powerless you are to use these words to comfort me? Of course, I have never doubted Qin Mubai's understanding. Save your ambitions. Otherwise, how can I give him more than half of the soldiers and horses in the country and half of the Tang Dynasty?-But just as before, how did I think I would be at Xuanwumen..."
Li Shimin's words stopped abruptly.
Fang Xuanling sighed softly.
"The current situation is like this, how can people do it?" Li Shimin shook his head and sighed, his expression slightly painful. As if before my eyes, the scene of the Xuanwu Gate's change emerged again-brothers smashed the wall, and the flesh and blood!
"It's no wonder that your majesty tossed and turned and could not sleep all night. Now, the minister can appreciate the contradictions and pains in your majesty's heart." Fang Xuanling sighed, "but your majesty, you must take care of the dragon body! The more critical this juncture, Datang is more indispensable without your Majesty to preside over the overall situation!"
Li Shimin nodded lightly, "Xuanling, I have already told you all about my thoughts. What is your most direct thought now?"
Fang Xuanling replied without hesitation: "At this moment, the minister has only one feeling, that is-Your Majesty's secret call of King Wu to return to Beijing will affect the overall situation, and the world of Tang Dynasty is bound to rise again! At this moment, King Wu's itinerary Safety is of vital importance, of peril!"
Li Shimin's expression changed slightly, and he nodded approvingly, "Fang Mou Du Duan, although Du Ruhui is no longer there, Xuan Ling is still worthy of my number one adviser, and the sword is not old! - but you can rest assured , King Wu, he will definitely arrive in Chang'an safely!"