Tang Dynasty Imperial City, Penglai Hall.
Li Jing, who had white hair and beard, knelt down in front of the emperor's bedside, flanked by Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling.
After the emperor woke up that day, he fell into a deep sleep again. The three of them waited in front of the bed day and night, but the emperor did not wake up again.
At this moment, Li Jing's brows were deeply furrowed and his expression was serious, and the wrinkles on his face were as sharp as a knife.
Since joining the Tang Dynasty and following Emperor Li Shimin, Li Jing has never felt such tremendous pressure as he does today. Once upon a time, hundreds of thousands of troops led by Jieli Khan, the powerful northern Turkic tycoon, also came to Chang'an. But at that time, Li Shimin was still the emperor who had just succeeded to the throne. He was full of high spirits and ambitions. Although the Tang Dynasty was facing the collapse of Mount Tai, it was not in danger.
As long as Li Shimin is still there, the backbone of the towering tree of the Tang Dynasty is there, and no matter how big the crisis or risk is, it can be overcome safely.
Including Li Jing, all the people of the Tang Dynasty who have not tried it will one day lose the taste of Emperor Li Shimin.
But right now, the political situation is turbulent and the country is restless, and a huge crisis is looming. His Majesty the Emperor fell ill at this time!
Although Li Jing is idle at home, he is neither blind nor deaf. There were rumors in the market that Qin Mubai in Kansai wanted to rebel, which also made him a little uneasy. Although there is a high possibility that this news is a rumor, if it falls into the ears of someone with ulterior motives, it can also cause huge disasters.
It was at this time that King Wu was assassinated on his way back to Beijing, and His Majesty the Emperor fell ill. All the things happened one after another, indicating that an earth-shattering turmoil was about to break out in the Tang Dynasty!
As everyone knows, Guanxi Qin Mubai is Li Jing's close disciple. Long before, Hou Junji, a protégé who was expelled from the gate by Li Jing, had stirred up chaos on the Tubo Plateau and was subjected to a lot of verbal and written criticism. Now, another disciple of Li Jing is standing at the forefront of world public opinion.
The pressure on Li Jing can be imagined.
But at this moment, His Majesty the Emperor, who had been awake for a while, wanted to summon Li Jing - why
The room was quiet, with several imperial doctors studying medicinal foods and occasionally whispering a few words.
At this time, a hundred-horse guard came in at the door and announced that Chu Suiliang was back.
The three of them were refreshed at the same time, and stood up together in tacit agreement and came to the door. He saw Chu Suiliang waving to the three of them and walked into the dining room of Penglai Hall.
The three of them immediately followed them in. Chu Suiliang closed the door and called the three of them together. The first words he said shocked the three of them -
"The King of Wu should still be alive, but there is a traitor in Chang'an!"
Changsun Wuji said anxiously: "Why don't you explain it in detail?"
Chu Suiliang told the three people in detail how he went to Jingzhou to investigate the case.
After listening, the three people had the same reaction - "Is the assassination of King Wu related to Wei Ting, the imperial censor?"
"It's still unknown," Chu Suiliang said. "Only two horses with the word 'Wei' were found at the scene. I can only speculate. There is no other evidence to prove that they are related to Wei Ting. In addition, Wei Ting and Wei The king has a very close relationship, so... "
"It is true that it is not good to make rash guesses, otherwise people will be panicked and fearful of chaos." Fang Xuanling said calmly, "There is also a possibility that the murderer deliberately left such vague evidence at the scene to point to Wei. Ting and Wei Wang intend to mislead us and create greater chaos in Chang'an."
"It makes sense." Chu Suiliang and Changsun Wuji agreed, while Li Jing remained silent.
Changsun Wuji glanced at Li Jing and said, "What great advice does Duke Wei have? Why don't you tell me about it?"
"I have been away from the court for a long time and am not very clear about the affairs in the court, so I can't think of any clues at the moment." Li Jing said, "I only have one idea, and that is, no matter what, we must ensure your majesty's safety and make your majesty feel at ease. Recuperate and recover soon. No matter how big the crisis is, as long as your majesty wakes up, we in Datang will have a backbone and everything will be fine!"
"What you said is true!" Changsun Wuji nodded, frowned, and there was a sullen anger in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "There is no evidence yet, so we can't alert the snake. The enemy is hidden and we are clear, if we are forced It is not good to make the enemy jump over the wall. Therefore, as Wei Gong said, our first priority is to stabilize the people of the court and protect His Majesty. At the same time, we hope that this matter has nothing to do with King Wei! …”
"Situ Yan is right, but please hold on for a while, don't get angry, and don't go and blame King Wei. There is no evidence yet that the case of King Wu is related to King Wei!" Fang Xuanling said, "Chu Suiliang, just Please continue to investigate this case, but there is insufficient evidence from all parties, so you should try not to make too much noise in Chang'an, otherwise people will be in chaos."
"That's fine." Changsun Wuji sighed heavily and said, "I hope King Wei will not be confused at this critical juncture. In fact, I have already gone to question and test King Wei before. Judging from the situation, he and King Wei were confused. The case of King Wu is probably irrelevant. Of course, this is also my speculation. There is no evidence. It depends on Chu Suiliang to investigate. "
"Well, Chu will definitely do his best to investigate this case!" Chu Suiliang said seriously and bowed his hands.
"If necessary, you can call upon the Hundred Cavalry Guards!" After saying this, Changsun Wuji gave Chu Suiliang a bronze fish charm and explained, "It is also a last resort to call upon your Majesty's personal guards privately. If there is any censure in the future, it will be done by Changsun Wuji will bear all the responsibility!"
"The four of us will bear the responsibility together!"
At this moment, an imperial doctor hurriedly ran over, knocked on the door and said urgently: "My lords, Your Majesty is awake!"
The four of them were overjoyed and hurried back to the emperor's palace.
Li Shimin's sleepy eyes were half-open, looking at them hazy. When he saw Li Jing, his eyes suddenly opened wide!
Li Jing hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, "Your Majesty, veteran Li Jing is here to await your orders!"
I could only see Li Shimin's eyelids twitching and his throat sliding, but he couldn't move or speak. Changsun Wuji came forward and said softly: "Mr. Wei, your Majesty is unable to speak or move for a moment. I can only guess what the Holy Intention is based on your Majesty's eyes."
Li Jing then raised his head and looked at Li Shimin. The emperor's eyes were full of expectations, anxiety and help. Li Jing suddenly felt extremely sad and shed two tears!
The former Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, was such a hero, but now... he has fallen into this situation!
"What is your Majesty's decree?" Li Jing asked choked with tears.
Li Shimin's eyes widened, his eyes moved left and right, and then he stared at the inside of his sleeping bed.
Li Jing asked tentatively: "Your Majesty, there is something inside the bed waiting for someone to pick it up?"
Li Shimin blinked in approval.
"I'll do it." Changsun Wuji apologized first, then carefully lay down on the side of Li Shimin's bed and stretched out his hand to turn over the mattress. I found a square box under the mattress near the edge of the bed and carefully took it out.
"Is this what your Majesty is looking for?" Changsun Wuji asked.
Li Shimin blinked in approval, then stared at Li Jing.
"Your Majesty, do you want to give this thing to Duke Wei?" Changsun Wuji asked again.
Li Shimin approved.
So, Changsun Wuji held the box and handed it to Li Jing respectfully. Li Jing knelt on the ground and raised his hands above his head to take the box. When he opened it, he saw that it was a purple and gold tiger talisman!
The expressions of the four people changed slightly!
This is the Tiger Talisman token used by the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty to command the soldiers and horses of the world!
"Your Majesty!..." Li Jing suddenly burst into tears of gratitude and fear. He knelt down on the ground, holding up the tiger talisman with both hands, and said, "I know what to do! Your Majesty, please rest assured. Just rest in peace and recuperate. Li Jing will take care of everything." !”
Li Shimin let out a long breath of relief and fell into a daze again.
At this moment, Li Jing's heart was filled with indescribable emotions.
At this critical moment, Li Jingman thought that he would be suspected or wary of others because of his close relationship with Qin Mubai. But Li Shimin did the opposite and handed over all the safety of the Tang Dynasty and the country to him!
"Your Majesty, what kind of courage and magnanimity is this!" Li Jing closed his eyes tightly and sighed loudly, and said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I am willing to die for Your Majesty and for the Tang Dynasty! As long as Li Jing is still breathing, , I will never allow my country of Datang to suffer any harm!"
Changsun Wuji, Chu Suiliang and Fang Xuanling all breathed a sigh of relief in unison!
These words can only be convincing if they come from Li Jing's mouth; only Li Jing in the world can say such things!
No matter how noisy the group of courtiers in the court, or even the royal relatives of the Li family, Changsun Wuji and others can confidently control them; but there is little they can do against the arrogant and brave generals who lead the troops outside. Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted the military affairs of the Tang Empire to Li Jing!
With the Military God of the Tang Dynasty here, everything will be worry-free!
At the same time, Changsun Wuji and three other people also caught a subtle signal. The emperor specially appointed Li Jing, who had been idle for a long time. Of course, it was because he was a highly respected military leader, and he was invincible with soldiers like a god, so he could protect Chang'an. There is no danger of losing the country; secondly... it is somewhat aimed at Qin Mubai!
Nowadays, Qin Mubai in Guanxi is at the height of his power and no one can match him. His majesty and reputation even surpass Li Ji's in the Great Wall of Mobei. Moreover, he holds more than half of the Tang Dynasty's troops and horses, and the Kansai Army is invincible and invincible.
If you are not afraid of ten thousand, you are afraid of the worst. You must be on guard against others. Now the life or death of King Wu is uncertain. If Qin Mubai of Guanxi is forced to rebel, who can resist
It is estimated that there is only Wei Gong and Medicine Master Li...
Li Jing didn't know the emperor's intentions, but Li Shimin trusted him so much that he accepted the order at the critical moment, so he couldn't care less about personal grudges. At this moment, he was thinking that if Qin Mubai wanted to rebel, the rumors must be true; but His Majesty the Emperor on the sickbed did not know this. In other words, after His Majesty the Emperor heard about the assassination of King Wu, his first reaction was that Qin Mubai of Kansai might be forced to rebel because of this!
In other words, His Majesty the Emperor is already quite afraid of Qin Mubai!
Li Jing felt like a heavy burden was placed on him. This is even greater pressure than the pressure on Jiangnan and the Northern Expedition against the Turks!
Because this time the enemy might be his own student!
"I never thought that one day I would fight to the death with my disciple on the battlefield!... Mubai, Mubai, you must not let your master down!!" The worry and sorrow in Li Jing's heart, Only you know!
…
The emperor fell into a deep sleep again, and the four had no choice but to withdraw and go about their business. After going out, Li Jing said to the other three people, I will recruit troops and horses in the pass and garrison them in Chang'an. However, at this time, it is only advisable to be tight on the inside and loose on the outside, and do not put on an attitude as if you are facing a powerful enemy, so as not to confuse people's hearts and make the people of the world unstable and the current situation turbulent. At the same time, there are rumors in the market that Qin Mubai in Guanxi has rebellious intentions. We and other ministers should calm down and not be fooled by the rumors. Although it is a precaution before it is ignited, one should not mess up the formation or conclude that Qin Mubai will rebel. Otherwise, this would be too unfair to Qin Mubai and would also hurt the hearts of the heroes.
Both Chu Suiliang and Fang Xuanling expressed their approval. Changsun Wuji was silent for a moment and said, "Gong Wei is deeply righteous, and what he said is absolutely true! Changsun Wuji also believes that at this moment, we must put aside all personal grudges, but National affairs are our top priority! As for the rumors in the market, we must deal with them rationally. Otherwise, if we act too aggressively or assume that Qin Mubai has rebelled, we may fall into the trap of the enemy and alienate the emperor and his ministers. Li Xin really forced Qin Mubai to rebel! - Duke Wei, the military affairs of the Tang Dynasty all depend on you; I, Fang Xuanling, and Chu Suiliang are the ones at the court who will take the initiative at this critical moment of the Tang Dynasty! , we four veterans must step forward to share the emperor's worries and let Datang survive this crisis!"
"You should do your best!" Li Jing and others bowed sternly together.
The four of them had just walked down the Longwei Road less than halfway, when they saw Li Junxian running towards them, panting like an ox and anxious.
Changsun Wuji was frightened when he saw him, and hurriedly approached him and said, "Why are you so alarmed?"
"Something is not going well!" Li Junxian's face was full of panic and his voice was trembling. "At the end of the day, I was ordered to personally lead a hundred cavalry, and the horses traveled three hundred miles a day to Taiyuan, the northern capital, to meet the king of Jin. When I arrived in Taiyuan at the end of the day, I heard that Jin Wang Chejia had already set off a few days ago! I hurriedly pursued him, but he still didn’t see any trace of me until he reached Chang’an! There was no news about King Jin at any of the stations along the way!”
"What?" Changsun Wuji and others were shocked!
Li Junxian's eyes widened and he said in fear: "So I guess... His Highness Prince Jin is very likely to be missing too!"