Qibi Heli and Li Jinxing rushed to Liujing City the next day. Under Huaji's desperate speed, they rushed to Liujing City with only 5,000 elite troops, and the troops behind them were handed over to their respective lieutenants. , will also arrive in Ryugyong soon.
Stable order has been restored in Liujing City, and all the soldiers of the Tang Army who died in the battle have been properly buried. Naturally, a large amount of pension will not be missing. Needless to say, this expense will fall on Goguryeo, Baidu, etc. On the heads of Ji and Xinluo.
During this period of time, Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zangchao learned too much about the despicableness, insidiousness and treachery from Li Hong. Therefore, in the division of future borders with Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo, he gave full play to the officials of the Shangguo. The absolute true nature.
In line with Li Hong's purpose of governing across the river and his instructions on the compensation of various expenses, the two of them thoroughly carried out all this to the end. After every negotiation, Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zangjie left with happy faces. The officials from Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo all came out dejected and beating their chests like gamblers who had owed a large gambling debt in a gambling house.
Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zangjie had never imagined that as officials of the Tang Dynasty, they could get such sensory stimulation and a full sense of accomplishment in their interactions with other officials.
At the same time, the negotiations over the past few days, coupled with the study at Li Hong's side during this period, also allowed them to completely shake off the Confucian university thoughts that were about to crawl all over their bodies, and they would never pick them up again. .
These days of silent observation with His Highness the Crown Prince, as well as His Highness the Crown Prince's words and deeds, have transformed the two of them, and they fully understand what the interests of the Tang Dynasty are and why the interests of the Tang Dynasty are above all else.
If you want the Tang Dynasty to be prosperous and lasting, you must first ensure that the interests of the Tang Dynasty are not infringed upon, and you must have strong military strength, as well as official policies that are not pedantic and flexible.
Therefore, in the past few days of negotiations, the two of them took the interests of the Tang Dynasty as the highest guiding spirit and got all the benefits they could get.
Naturally, the rule across the river in the negotiations greatly reduced Goguryeo's territory. However, under the insistence of Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zangjie, Goguryeo could only be forced to agree to the conditions of the Tang Dynasty.
At the same time, regarding the territorial disputes between Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zangjie also pretended to be powerful. With the support of His Highness the Crown Prince, the giant Buddha, they forced Baekje to negotiate with Silla. Out of all the occupied Goguryeo cities.
As for how to deal with the city that has been in dispute between the three, this matter caused Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zang to argue for less than an hour.
While eating, Ge Xiyuan specially ran outside Li Hong's palace to ask for a meeting, and told His Highness the Crown Prince about the difficulties he encountered for decision-making.
What he didn't expect when he was questioning Shi Zang was that His Highness the Prince just rolled his eyes and said: "There are two ways, either the two countries have a decisive battle, or the land is auctioned. Whoever pays more will own the disputed city." who."
Shi Zangjie and Ge Xiyuan nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "Yes, this is a good idea. If it doesn't work, how about letting them draw lots?"
"Fart, how can we make money by drawing lots?" Li Hong rolled his eyes again and scolded lazily.
"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Ge Xiyuan's eyes lit up. He understood that the money from the land auction belongs to Datang.
Li Hong looked distressed, stretched out his index finger and pointed at Ge Xiyuan to cross-examine Shi Zang, and said helplessly and painfully: "Then who do you think the money from the auction should go to? The controversial city, that is No one has the right to own it, so it belongs to Datang, so the money from the auction will naturally be given to Datang. Do you still want to give it back to them? "
"I... I do think so." Shi Zangjie blushed and said nonchalantly.
"I... Bah, if you can think of it, then just draw lots, why bother with an auction! By the way, if they don't agree to the auction, then tell them forcefully that it belongs to the Tang Dynasty, and then they won't be able to auction it. No more auctions." His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Tang Dynasty waved his sleeves and took Hua Meng and Jingzhe to find his father Long.
Ge Xiyuan, who suddenly understood, was left questioning Shi Zang, yes, our Tang Dynasty is so powerful, we can call a deer a horse, and who of them will dare to refute it
The two people who figured it out naturally ran back happily and happily to continue negotiating with Goguryeo and others. In the end, the Three Kingdoms were forced by Datang's free mediation and finally agreed to Datang's auction strategy.
It’s just that they are not fools. After a day of tug-of-war, the three parties and Datang finally reached an agreement on the starting price. Shi Zangjie’s starting price of 100,000 taels of silver almost failed to win the bidding of Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. The officials were so frightened that they directly gave the land to Datang.
Fortunately, Ge Xiyuan saw the opportunity quickly, and finally got the three parties to agree on the starting price of 70,000 taels of silver. Seeing that everyone was finally satisfied, or pretended to be satisfied, Ge Xiyuan and Shi Zang were really scared for a while, but they still It's good to react quickly, otherwise you'll really lose those cities, and what will you do if they don't want them!
After these were resolved, they had to be busy with other matters that His Highness the Crown Prince would arrange. However, during this period, Ge Xiyuan began to become sneaky again, receiving secret messages from Chang'an from time to time.
At this time, Li Hong walked to the palace in Gaozang occupied by his father Long. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Zhang Lushui and his father talking and laughing there. A large amount of food was transported from the Tang Dynasty specifically for Li Zhi's enjoyment. Lian Tie and Yang Wu filled the table with delicacies and more.
Li Hong walked in and took a look. My dear, many of them were rare treasures that were not common in the Tang Dynasty. They were all placed on the table. But these should have been donated by Goguryeo and others, right
It seems that all girls love candied haws. Zhang Lushui, who is about the same age as Li Hong, is holding a bunch of candied haws and showing off his affection to Li Hong's father Long.
"Leave him less sweets, he's not suitable for it." Li Hong said calmly, looking at the backs of the two standing in front of a painting.
Zhang Lushui was startled and quickly straightened up from Li Zhi's arms. He also hid the candied haws in his hand behind his back. He turned his head to look at Li Hong with some fear, and saluted softly: "Slave... Slave Zhang Lushui has met His Highness the Crown Prince." "
When Li Hong heard Zhang Lushui calling himself a slave, he was so frightened that he almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Lian Tie caught him in time.
Let me go, what does this have to do with anything? What does "Dragon Dragon" mean? He called himself a slave in front of me, but he didn't react at all. He still had the intention to look at the lotus paintings on the wall and admire them
"Son... I have met my father." Li Hong couldn't understand what Father Long was thinking, so he had to ignore Zhang Lushui's greeting to him and salute Li Zhi's figure.
Lian Tie and Yang Wu, who had been winked at by him several times, naturally knew that His Highness was asking about the relationship between Zhang Lushui and His Majesty when they faced His Majesty's eyes.
After Li Hong saluted, the two of them pretended to be nonchalant and shook their heads cautiously in Li Hong's eyes, because they didn't know what His Majesty planned to do with Zhang Lushui, and they didn't know whether His Majesty was planning to bring Zhang Lushui into the palace.
"Why are you here? But it just so happens that I have been thinking about something for a long time and haven't figured it out yet. You just happen to help me analyze it and make an accurate decision." Li Zhi then turned around, with a look on his face. He seems to be indifferent to fame and fortune.
The two of them and Zhang Lushui, accompanied by Lian Tie and others, walked out of the palace, came to the real back garden of the Goguryeo Palace, and sat down in the corridor pavilion.
But Gong Jin stood aside in the green water, and Li Zhi did not signal anyone to sit down. After Lian Tie and others brought tea, they stayed far away and blocked all the intersections in the corridor.
The three of them drank tea in silence, watching Father Long looking into the distance with a thoughtful expression. Li Hong looked down and asked, "Father, don't you know what's the problem? Just leave it to my son. I guarantee it will be done beautifully for you.”
"Well, I was distracted just now. Let's talk about your business first. I'll talk to you later." Li Zhi came back to his senses, took the tea poured by Zhang Lushui himself, held it in his hand and looked at Zhang Lushui tenderly and smiled. Laughed and said.
Li Hong looked at the pair of people in front of him who were interested in concubine, and he didn't shy away from it. He said directly: "Father, I intend to order Ge Xiyuan, Shi Zangjie and Liu Rengui to stay in the city of humiliation. And I want to humiliate Yi City as the Protectorate of Andong. I wonder if you agree?"
"Ge Xiyuan, Shi Zangchao? Although Ge Xiyuan is already quite useful under your training, are you sure you want to appoint him as the Chief Protector of the Andong Protectorate?" Li Zhi asked in a playful tone. Looking at Li Hong, he asked.
He didn't believe that Li Hong didn't know that Ge Xiyuan had been Li Xian's man from the beginning. This time he was driving the expedition in person. The Taishi Bureau originally did not have Ge Xiyuan accompany him on the expedition, but then Ge Xiyuan suddenly changed his mind and took the initiative. Asked to follow the expedition.
He felt a little surprised at the time. Didn't Ge Xiyuan say that he was sick and might not be able to follow him on the expedition? Why did he change his mind after only a few days and was willing to follow him on the expedition despite being sick
But since Chang'an sent reports about the deaths of Li Zhong and Helan Minyue, and if not, several memorials alluded to the fact that the prince might have done this, Li Zhi began to express his concern for Ge Xiyuan's death. Taking the initiative to go on an expedition may not be as simple as it seems.
Especially before Li Hong arrived in Liaodong, Ge Xiyuan had talked about the deaths of Li Zhong and Helan Minyue in a nonchalant manner, all the while insinuating that the matter might have something to do with His Highness the Crown Prince.
In this way, Li Zhi was not surprised that Ge Xiyuan was willing to follow him on the expedition. In his opinion, this matter was obviously someone who wanted Ge Xiyuan to say something unfavorable to His Highness the Crown Prince in front of him. That's why he suddenly decided to let Ge Xiyuan follow him on the expedition.
So as soon as Li Hong appeared at the gate of Anshi City, Ge Xiyuan began to actively seek opportunities to confront the prince. However, what neither Ge Xiyuan nor Li Zhi expected was that Li Hong was tough and decisive in the army. It's completely different from being in the court.
Li Hong was completely shocked during the siege of Anshi City. Ge Xiyuan, who planned to continue to disrupt Li Hong's battle plan, made him afraid to say anything in the military in order to save his life.
(End of chapter)