Hearing Changsun Wuji's words, Li Ji and Li Daozong's faces tensed up, but it was difficult to find any rebuttal for the moment.
The situation has reversed, and the main fighting faction is instantly at a disadvantage!
Fang Xuanling could only nod helplessly and said, "Just follow Situ's words and make everything public to show fairness. Chu Suiliang and Qin Mubai, please count the two parties in public."
"Yes." The two responded and walked into the hall. The clerk took two drawing boards and put white paper on them. Qin and Chu each took one stroke and started to prepare for counting. Many officials below the third rank left the Hongwen Hall meeting room angrily, relaxedly or helplessly, and looked outside.
At this time, Changsun Wuji suddenly called out: "Your Majesty, King Wei, Your Majesty has granted you the right to participate in and discuss government affairs. As a first-class prince, you have the right to vote. Why do you want to leave?"
Li Tai's plump body was slightly startled, then he turned around and cupped his hands with a silly smile: "That's all right, that's all right, Xiao Wang... just stay and vote too!"
Changsun Wuji and Qin Mubai glanced at him at the same time, and snorted disdainfully at the same time.
"Okay, let's start now!" Changsun Wuji stood up and walked out, saying, "I'll start here first. Those who oppose the war in Lanzhou, stand in the left column. Those who support the war, stand in the right column. Gentlemen, please Bar!"
There were about thirty or forty people left and began to move around one after another. Except for a few people such as Li Ji, Li Daozong, and Fang Xuanling who stood firmly in the main battle line, most people, including many generals of the Sixteenth Guards, hesitated and lingered for a long time, unable to move. Many officials from the three provinces and six ministries stood behind Changsun Wuji in a dejected manner. Many of them had their heads lowered, as if they had been caught raping on the spot.
"What are you doing, voting again? Why doesn't anyone call me Lao Hei? - Cheng Laoyao, why don't you come in!" Yuchi Jingde yelled, pulled Cheng Zhijie and ran in, standing next to Li Daozong after. After a quick glance, he suddenly became furious: "What happened? It was half and half before, but now there are only five people left on the main battle side, including me?"
Qin Mubai's face darkened, he picked up the pen and drew five strokes on the white paper.
A smile appeared on Changsun Wuji's face, and he said: "After all, it's hard to go against everyone's wishes! The absolute majority of people in the center of the Tang Dynasty are opposed to the war, which makes sense. Xuanling, Prince, Maogong, now Don’t you have anything to say?”
Fang Xuanling nodded gently: "Fang has already said before that my words only represent my own opinion."
Li Ji smiled lightly, clasped his fists and said, "It seems that the overall situation has been decided, Li Ji takes leave!"
"You win." Li Daozong narrowed his eyes and glanced at Changsun Wuji, touched his sleeves, raised his feet and left.
"Hey! What kind of nonsense is this? I, Lao Hei, don't agree! Hey... Your Highness, Mr. Mao, don't leave!" Yuchi Jingde shouted anxiously.
Qin Mubai took a deep breath, his hands getting cold. He slowly put down his pen, breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand to Changsun Wuji, and said, "Situ, I will obey the arrangements of His Majesty and the court in all my humble duties. No more words to say. Farewell!"
At this time, Qin Mubai caught a glimpse of Li Tai standing among the main group with his neck hunched, and he deliberately made the people in front and behind him close to him as if to cover his fat body.
Qin Mubai walked out with his head held high and his chest held high. When he passed by Li Tai, he smiled lightly and said, "Is it possible that His Highness the King of Wei has caught the wind and is feeling cold?"
"Uh, this... it's a bit, a bit!" Li Tai laughed dryly in embarrassment, his eyes wandering, and his face turned red and white.
"Your Highness, please take care of yourself!" Qin Mubai smiled, cupped his hands at him, and walked out.
Qin Mubai, Li Ji, and Li Daozong walked out almost side by side. As soon as they reached the door, they suddenly stopped and their eyes widened.
"What are you doing? Waiting in line to buy rice or noodles? When did the workshop open in Hongwen Hall? Cough...cough!"
This voice is all too familiar to everyone present! !
"Your Majesty!!... My Emperor, long live long live long live long live!!"
Inside and outside Hongwen Hall, everyone fell to their knees!
Li Shimin, with a gray face and sunken eyes, wearing a thick fur and holding a cane, was supported by Li Zhi, the king of the Jin Dynasty on the left, and Li Mingda, the princess of Jinyang on the right.
Standing tall with eyes like an eagle!
"I'm not dead yet!" Li Shimin shouted low, his eyes swept over the heads of the ministers who knelt in front of him, paused for a moment, and said, "The central cabinet minister in the court actually made such a fuss over a small matter. Let's get on with it. We're quarreling and yelling at each other, and we're lining up and drawing circles. What are you doing? Are you just kidding? Why don't you bring in a few baskets of mud and have a good time? "
Everyone was speechless.
Changsun Wuji prostrated himself on the ground and said cowardly: "Your Majesty, calm down and take care of your dragon body! It's the incompetence of your Majesty that worries you. Your Majesty deserves death for his crime!"
"I won't do anything to you. It's already very difficult for you." Li Shimin said this lightly, and Li Zhi and Li Mingda helped him walk in. The crutches clicked on the ground, making a clicking sound.
His footsteps stopped in front of King Wei.
"Tai'er, I just heard that you have a cold. Since you are feeling unwell, go back and rest early! Don't miss your condition." Li Shimin said calmly.
Li Tai was startled and his body was trembling with fat. He raised his head and looked at Li Shimin in surprise, only to be met with a pair of gloomy eyes.
Li Tai's heart slowly sank, and his hands and feet became a little stiff.
"You didn't hear what I said clearly, or are you too sick to wait for someone to help you?" Li Shimin said calmly as before.
"My son... let's go now." Li Tai got up with difficulty and moved out step by step in despair. Before leaving the house, he slowly turned his head and saw only Li Shimin's enigmatic back, but there was a hint of despair in his eyes.
At this time, many people couldn't help but have a thought in their minds: Now that Li Tai has left, is it possible to step into Hongwen Hall again? !
"Everyone, get up!... Zhinu, Sizi, help me sit down." Li Shimin said.
After he sat down, the officials still stood up, and Li Shimin called out all the officials standing outside the door. They lined up in two rows, just like when they went to court.
Li Zhi stood quietly beside Li Shimin with his hands lowered and his head lowered, not squinting his eyes and not daring to express his anger; the young Li Mingda leaned against Li Shimin's shoulder and gently tapped his shoulder, with a pair of immature but wise eyes. His eyes were shining with vivid aura. Her eyes unconsciously fell on Qin Mubai, and she suddenly grinned with a pair of small tiger teeth, smiling very sweetly.
Her small gesture caught the eyes of many people, and many people suddenly speculated: Could it be that King Jin and Princess Jinyang ran to the emperor and invited him here
"I have been thinking about the peace issue in Lanzhou for a long time, not just for a day or two." Li Shimin spoke up, "To be honest, I don't blame you. It is normal for the government and the opposition to have differences on this matter. If not Disagreements are not normal. I myself am somewhat hesitant. Whether judging from the immediate situation or analyzing it in the long run, there are benefits to war and peace to peace. However, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. The war situation is urgent, and the situation on the frontline is changing rapidly. Our discussion in the court is not as fast as the situation on the border. Therefore, no matter how we discuss it, it is difficult to come up with a definite result. Therefore, I will do this today. I have to decide the situation - my decree is to use a two-pronged approach. First, send envoys to the front line of Lanzhou to discuss peace and marriage with the Tibetan military commanders, but the prerequisite is that Tubo must give up the cut-off Tang Dynasty Silk Road. If it succeeds, we can discuss it in detail; if it fails, we can also buy time to prepare for war; secondly, Lanzhou must not slack off at all, and must prepare for the worst and prepare for a decisive battle with Tibet, without excluding the use of force. What do you think, sir, to clear the Silk Road and pacify Gaochang?”
"My Holy Emperor!"
Who can have anything to say with such an opinion
Li Shimin nodded and said: "Xuanling, I know that you are seriously ill. However, in this extraordinary period, the arrangements for military and national affairs cannot be separated from you! I order you to deploy troops and generals to Lanzhou."
"I obey the order!" Fang Xuanling knelt down, put his head on the ground, and said with a trembling and excited voice, "I died after my liver and brain were smashed to the ground!"
"Xuan Ling, why do you need to talk about death? I would rather die than have the Tang Dynasty lose such a loyal and good minister like you!" Li Shimin said sincerely.
Fang Xuanling burst into tears and couldn't help herself.
"Auxiliary engine." Li Shimin called again.
"Wei Chen is here." Changsun Wuji stood up.
"It is up to you to arrange the envoy to Lanzhou as an envoy to Tibet. In addition, to show your sincerity, the dowry that should be prepared for Princess Wencheng must also be arranged. The sooner the better, and accompany the envoy to Lanzhou." Li Shimin said, "This matter will be decided by You are responsible."
"Wei Chen accepts the order."
Li Shimin paused for a moment, turned to the back of the team, narrowed his eyes slightly, and called out: "Qin Mubai."
"Wei Chen is here!" Qin Mubai stood up and stood with his fists clasped, his hands shaking slightly uncontrollably due to excitement.
"Let's go to Lanzhou!" Li Shimin stood up, picked up his crutches, and walked forward with Li Zhi and Li Mingda supporting him, until he walked to Qin Mubai.
"Wei Chen - obey the order!" Qin Mubai responded loudly.
"According to the conditions of the place, the time, and the situation, do whatever you have to do. If nothing else, Lanzhou must not be messed up or lost; past efforts must not be wasted." Li Shimin looked at Qin Mubai, not taking it lightly. He sighed heavily, I don't know if it was a sigh or a breath of relief, and then said, "Remember, I owe you a wedding."
"Your Majesty..." Qin Mubai was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Li Shimin gently patted Qin Mubai's shoulder in front of all the officials in the court and the public, smiled slightly, and said: "Tell your father that he did not disappoint me. He worked hard. When he returns to the court, I will personally take care of him." He got him drunk and threw him on the street for everyone in Chang'an to laugh at, just like what happened when we captured Luoyang."
"Wei Chen, remember." Qin Mubai lowered his head, cupped his hands, and responded softly.
"You guys, don't let me down again... cough, cough..."
"Congratulations to my Emperor...Long live, long live, long live!"
Li Shimin's coughing sound gradually faded away.
The dust has settled in a life-and-death war without gunpowder.
Who are the winners and who are the losers? …still unclear.
Perhaps, another war has just begun...