In the study, Li Dan paced back and forth with his hands behind his hands. He was shocked by the news that his eldest son, Li Chengqi, was pregnant. His mother actually intended to make Wu Youning a prince. Isn't this a prelude to the title of crown prince?
Since Wu Sansi, who was about to be crowned the crown prince, was blocked three years ago, no one has mentioned the matter of canonizing the crown prince anymore, but everyone is thinking about it. After all, my mother is nearly eighty, so this matter can't be delayed for long. Years have passed, and despite the current confusing situation, the forces supporting the Li royal family still have the upper hand.
No matter how well Wu Sansi pretends to be, it is difficult to make up for the evil deeds he has done in the past. Basically no one thinks highly of him anymore, but no one would have thought that his mother was actually considering Wu Youning as the prince, which really made Li Dan a little panicked.
He believed that the news was true. Zhang Li was Wu Youning's brother-in-law. With Wu Youning and Zhang Li's stability, the title of prince was basically decided. But the question was, why didn't Princess Taiping tell him?
Li Dan knew very well that Princess Taiping was well-informed. Not only did she know that her husband's brother wanted to be crowned prince, but she must have known it for a long time, so why did she hide it from herself.
Li Dan was really dissatisfied with Princess Taiping. In fact, there was a rift between them three years ago. That was the death of Li Chongrun. Princess Taiping killed Zhang Jingxiong and framed it for King Luling. This made Li Dan very angry. Not only was she angry about the matter itself, but Princess Taiping acted without consulting him or even telling him.
This time, Princess Taiping concealed herself at a critical moment, which made Li Dan have to doubt Princess Taiping's intentions.
At this time, the third son Li Longji, who was sitting in the corner, said: "Father, you can't pretend to be deaf and dumb about this matter. You must ask your aunt clearly what her position is? There can be no ambiguity at all!"
Li Dan was startled, why is Saburo here too? Only then did he remember that he had just been talking to him about his studies. In the middle of the conversation, Cheng Qi hurried in and interrupted their conversation. It turned out that Saburo hadn't left yet.
Li Longji is exactly twenty years old this year. He is very strong, has a heroic appearance, and a pair of sharp eyes. He is also shrewd, decisive and strategic. However, he is too strong and lacks the generosity of his elder brother Li Chengqi.
Di Renjie once said to Li Dan that if Li Chengqi becomes emperor, he will be a benevolent monarch; if Li Longji becomes emperor, he will be a heroic lord. For Li Dan, he prefers the generosity of his eldest son Chengqi, who is more like himself, but he also likes Saburo's decisiveness, which can make up for Dalang's sometimes indecisiveness.
Li Dan was a little unhappy and said: "Sanlang, this matter has nothing to do with you, just do your studies well!"
Li Longji said a little anxiously: "Father, I know this matter is related to my father's future. Once confirmed, Wu Youning will be promoted from prince to prince within a few months. The Li family will be destroyed, and Li Tang's country will be wiped out." It¡¯s over, how could the child just sit back and watch?¡±
Li Chengqi next to him also advised: "Father, Sanlang has the courage and ability. Let him participate, which will just make up for our lack of manpower. I hope my father can agree."
Li Dan thought for a while, then nodded and said, "Since you must participate, as a father, I have no objection, but I have conditions. You must obey your brother's arrangements and assist your brother, and you are not allowed to make any decisions without authorization. Do you hear me?"
Li Longji was overjoyed. He had always wanted to participate in his father's important events, but his father had never agreed. Unexpectedly, today's chance opportunity finally made his wish come true. He quickly stood up and agreed: "My child must obey my elder brother's arrangements. Will not act without permission.¡±
Li Dan nodded and asked Li Chengqi, "I know about Wu Youning. Let's talk about Huan Yanfan. Did Li Zhen agree?"
Li Chengqi smiled and said, "He agreed happily."
"He really understands my intention?"
Li Dan's real intention is not just to recommend Huan Yanfan as prime minister. Of course, this is also a very important goal, but the higher goal is to win over Zhang Jianzhi and Yao Chong through Li Zhen and become his staunch supporters. supporter.
Everyone in the world knows that Di Renjie supports Li Dan, the prime minister, and everyone in the world knows that Zhang Jianzhi and Yao Chong are followers of Di Renjie, so everyone will take it for granted that Zhang Jianzhi and Yao Chong also support Li Dan, the prime minister.
However, only the feet know whether they are warm or cold when wearing shoes. However, Li Dan knew very well that Zhang Jianzhi and Yao Chong only supported Li Tang and did not support him. Moreover, Zhang Jianzhi was a little biased towards his elder brother, King of Luling Li Xian. After all, his elder brother was the only one. He was the heir to the throne determined by his father back then, and he was just a puppet supported by his mother when the time was not right to seize the throne.
But his brother was in poor health and seemed unable to compete for the throne. This made Li Dan see hope and opportunities. If Zhang Jianzhi and Yao Chong could fully support him, then he would have independent strength.
? ?In addition, there is also Li Zhen, who controls the most elite cavalry in the Tang Dynasty. He is not only the general of the Thousand Cavalry Battalion, but his influence is so great that it also affects the internal guards, the Guanzhong army, and even the Liaodong army.
Pulling Li Zhen to his side is Li Dan's most important and critical move. This move has not yet been completed, and there are still many variables.
So Li Dan asked his eldest son to ask Li Zhen for help, which was largely to test Li Zhen's attitude. This was actually killing three birds with one stone.
He looked at the eldest son with expectant eyes, and Li Chengqi nodded gently, "My child feels that Li Zhen is like a mirror in his heart. He is also in trouble now and needs help. If we stand idly by, he will be taken away by others."
"Are you talking about the Zhang brothers?"
"Yes! As my father knows, the Zhang brothers must put Li Zhen to death. If this poisoning case fails, the Zhang brothers will probably formally form an alliance with Wu Sansi and join forces to deal with Li Zhen. Then, my father feels that Wu Sansi What will be the conditions?¡±
"I see!"
Li Dan sighed softly. Although he wanted to help Li Zhen, he didn't have enough resources. How could he help?
At this time, Li Longji said from the side: "Father, I have an idea that may be able to help Li Zhen."
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Since three years ago, Li Longji has expressed his desire to enter politics to his father more than once, but each time he had to end sadly due to his father's firm opposition, but this time he unexpectedly succeeded.
However, Li Longji was not surprised. After all, he had passed his prime. He believed that it was for this reason that his father finally relented, and perhaps because of his eldest brother's support.
But no matter what, he has taken the first step and put forward his own opinions, which were adopted by his father and brother.
Li Longji also knew that the current situation was very dangerous. Er Zhang was about to form an alliance with Wu Sansi again. Wu Youning was born out of the blue. His aunt, Princess Taiping, had both sides. His father was neither the late emperor's designated heir to the throne nor was he valued by the imperial grandmother. Chao Zhongwen Minister Wu mostly supported his uncle, King Luling.
¡°Without resources, connections, and even military support, it¡¯s like cooking without raw materials, so how can you make a dish with all the color, flavor, and flavor? This really tests the wisdom of the three of them, father and son.
Fortunately, they are not short of money. They have the full support of the eldest grandsons and the Dou family of Guanlong nobles. They have nearly 200,000 yuan of funds every year, but many things cannot be solved by money.
On the Youwei University Campus, two polo teams are competing fiercely. One is this year¡¯s champion Qianqiying Team, and the other is last year¡¯s champion. This year¡¯s second-placed Yulin Army, both polo teams are The top team in the Tang Dynasty, their game attracted a large number of guards from the palace to watch the game.
Li Longji is the main scorer of the Yulin army, but the team leader is Zuo Yulin general Pei Kuan, as well as Wu Yanxiu, Zhao Zhi, and Dugu Changlin. Qianqiying is a traditional strong team. In the past dozen years In this competition, they won most of the championships.
Although Dou Xianyun, the number one polo player in the Tang Dynasty, injured his leg after falling off a horse while drunk and retired from polo competition, his son Dou Qianqiu inherited his father's polo talent and became the top scorer of the Qianqiying Polo Team. Hands, as well as Zhonglang Jiang Jiu Zhi, Lang Jiang Ye Xian and others.
The strength of the Qianqi Camp team is also related to the importance that General Li Zhen attaches to the polo team. He established more than a dozen polo teams in the Qianqi Camp. They usually compete internally and select the best to form the strongest lineup to represent the Qianqi Camp when they go out to fight. Only a cavalry team can win battles repeatedly.
However, today's polo match was just a friendly match. The two sides were comparing their skills. There was no special significance. Although the match was very fierce, the scene was not rude, nor could it be said to be hot. It only lasted less than half an hour, and the two sides had three matches. The three shook hands and ended the game.
"Sanlang, let's go to Jiuquan Tower for a drink at noon!" Dugu Changlin smiled at Li Longji while changing clothes.
Li Longji turned around and asked Wu Yanxiu, "Brother Yanxiu is going too?"
Wu Yanxiu shook his head, "I'm on duty today, so I won't go."
He was in a bad mood. He had been the general of the Yulin Army for seven years, but he had never been promoted. Recently, he got news that Zhang Yizhi recommended Wu Youyi as the general of the Youyu Lin Army, which made Wu Yanxiu feel even more disappointed.
Li Longji understood his mood and said with a smile: "Actually, it doesn't matter. Wu Youning is going to be crowned King of Yan anyway, and Brother Yanxiu will be reused sooner or later."
"What?"
Wu Yanxiu was taken aback, and hurriedly pulled Li Longji aside and asked in a low voice: "Is what you just said true?"
"It should be true! I heard it from my aunt yesterday, but you must not spread this matter to anyone else. The Holy Spirit has ordered it to be silenced.make. "
Wu Yanxiu's heart was in chaos. Wu Youning was granted the title of King of Yan. This was definitely a big deal. No wonder the news was tightly blocked and they didn't know about it at all.
"I know, I won't go out and talk nonsense."
Wu Yanxiu changed clothes in a hurry and left the dressing room. Li Longji watched him go away with a sneer on his lips. He knew where Wu Yanxiu was going?
Although Wu Yanxiu was the son of Wu Chengsi, he was marginalized at home because he was a commoner, so he had always been close to his uncle Wu Sansi.
A few years ago, he had married a Turkic princess, but the Turks turned against him and imprisoned him on the grassland. It was Wu Sansi who persuaded the Holy See again and again, and the Holy See finally sent someone to take him back to Luoyang. For this, Wu Yanxiu was even more grateful to Wu Yanxiu. Sansi became Wu Sansi's confidant.
Today he accidentally got the news from Li Longji that Wu Youning would be crowned King of Yan. He knew that Wu Sansi would be the biggest loser. When he came out of the dressing room, he didn't even return to the military camp, so he rushed directly to Wu Sansi's Prince Liang's Mansion. .