Chapter 3398 Everyone has their own thoughts
Qiu Xiaozhong was so frightened that his face turned pale. He held Yu Chigong's arm tightly and tried to dissuade him: "Jingde, are you crazy? There are two British Dukes and Zhao Guogong who have issued orders on behalf of His Majesty. There is no doubt about it. It’s going to happen again!”
At the court today, Zhao Guogong's eldest son Sun Wuji represents the Zhenguan ministers and Guanlong clan, while British Duke Li Ji represents the Shandong aristocratic family and the Jiangnan gentry. These two people are like the two Optimus Primes of the Tang Empire. Power, status, and fame are all at their peak.
These two people do not belong to each other, and even target each other. It is absolutely impossible for them to work together and collude with each other. Therefore, if the two of them say that His Majesty is not in trouble, it must be that he is not in trouble.
There is no reason to question it at all...
However, Yuchi Gong ignored Qiu Xiaozhong's well-intentioned dissuasion and remained stubborn. He glared at Li Ji and said, "Hundreds of thousands of troops marched day and night, with countless casualties. However, our ministers have not seen His Majesty's face for several days. This matter is extremely strange. Could it be the British Lord?" Do you think that your face alone can eliminate the doubts in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of soldiers?”
Li Ji looked at Yuchi Gong quietly, for a long time, and said calmly: "Push Yuchi Gong out of the camp gate and punish him forty with the staff!"
"Here!"
The soldiers stepped forward again, but this time Yuchi Gong did not dare to push the soldiers away and allowed the soldiers to tie his arms, but he shouted to himself: "I don't accept it!"
Li Ji shouted coldly: "Fifty punishment with the rod!"
Yuchi Gong was furious and before he could shout, Qiu Xiaozhong hurried forward, covered his mouth, and urged the soldiers: "Take it away quickly, take it away quickly!"
Ten sticks and ten sticks are added to the top. If this guy continues to challenge, might he have to receive sixty sticks? British Duke Li Ji usually seems to be quiet, but whoever dares to provoke him will definitely not end well. After these sixty strokes, he will be completely disabled.
When the soldiers took Wei Chigong away for execution, Li Ji stared coldly at Qiu Xiaozhong, Cheng Minzhen and others, and said one by one: "You still have doubts, suspecting that this commander is plotting to murder your majesty?"
Qiu Xiaozhong quickly shook his head and said with a smile: "How is it possible? Both the British Duke and the Duke of Zhao are the pillars of the country. No one doubts this! It's just that we haven't seen your Majesty for many days and we don't know what to do, so we came to find out. The Duke of E has a bad temper. However, I am not dissatisfied with the British public today. The disciplinary violations are indeed worthy of punishment, but there is no offense intended. I hope the British public will forgive me.”
Li Ji looked at Qiu Xiaozhong for a long time, his sharp gaze directed at the latter until his forehead was sweating and his heart was pounding, and then he slowly nodded: "It's best this way."
His eyes passed over the faces of Cheng Mingzhen and others, and he turned around and walked into the Chinese army's tent. After he entered, the guards immediately stepped forward to protect the door.
Qiu Xiaozhong, Cheng Mingzhen and others looked at each other, shook their heads, and immediately dispersed.
……
The light in the big tent was a little dim, because all the windows were closed tightly and curtains were hung to block them, so a few oil lamps were lit.
Li Ji entered the tent and unexpectedly found that Changsun Wuji and Zhu Suiliang were both there. He subconsciously frowned and then relaxed.
There was a lot of commotion outside, and he rushed to deal with it after hearing the news. Changsun Wuji actually sat quietly in the tent and ignored him...
The doubts in his heart were not shown on his face at all. He took a few steps forward, came to the bed and bowed to salute. Then he straightened up, looked at His Majesty Li Er who was still sleeping on the bed, and then asked: "How is your Majesty's condition?" ?”
Changsun Wuji shook his head and sighed, and Zhu Suiliang replied: "The imperial doctor has just diagnosed and treated me. The internal organs are not serious, but I have been sleeping and I don't know why."
Li Ji frowned and said: "Since there is nothing serious, that is the best news. Perhaps His Majesty has been sleeping all night and forgetting to eat and sleep these years, which has caused too much wear and tear on your body, and you will have to sleep for a few days now." , maybe it can replenish the energy that was consumed in the past.”
Changsun Wuji stood up and said: "Let's not disturb His Majesty's rest and go to the side tent to talk."
Li Ji nodded and said: "That's very good."
Although His Majesty Li Er was asleep, the two of them still straightened their clothes, bowed to the ground, stood up, and then exited the big tent together and went to one of the side tents.
Zhu Suiliang watched the two figures walking out of the door, his eyes gleaming and his face a little tangled.
Then he turned around, looked at the sleeping Majesty Li Er in front of the couch, slowly knelt down, and called softly: "Your Majesty, I am guilty..."
……
In the side tent, the soldiers served the tea and then retreated outside the door, leaving the two court officials talking.
Changsun Wuji took a sip of tea, raised his eyes, and said: "The British Lord wants to ask, I was clearly in the tent just now, why did I let Qiu Xiaozhong and others make a noise but didn't stop it in time?"
His Majesty has not appeared in front of people for several days, and everyone in the army has made speculations. However, there is absolutely a difference between someone making a fuss and someone not making a fuss. For someone like Yuchi Gong to make such a fuss and clamor to see His Majesty, but never get to see His Majesty, will make many people believe their own guesses more and more, and the consequences will be extremely serious.
After all, rumors are spreading in Pingrang City that "the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty was seriously injured and was shot in the eye by Yuan Nanjian". It is inevitable that people in the army will feel uneasy.
The Tang army was fierce, and its long-term victories gave the army a sense of self-confidence and pride that it was "invincible." If His Majesty was seriously injured, the morale of the army would not be unstable. Instead, it would arouse the anger of the soldiers and increase their combat effectiveness.
However, this kind of anxiety that never sees the truth will lead to low morale.
But Li Ji and Changsun Wuji had to consider more than just the Liaodong battlefield. Once the news that His Majesty was seriously injured and unconscious reached Chang'an, Chang'an, which had always been undercurrent, was bound to set off a huge wave. The instability of the country and the instability in Guanzhong would be far more severe than a defeat in the Liaodong battlefield.
Therefore, it was inappropriate for Sun Wuji, the eldest son, not to wait for Yu Chigong and others in time, but to let them cause a fuss.
However, Li Ji slowly shook his head and did not express the slightest doubt: "Since Zhao Guogong was in the big tent but did not come forward in time, there is a reason for it. How can I question Zhao Guogong's decision? The most important thing at the moment is naturally Capture Pingrang City and overthrow Goguryeo, the rest are not worth mentioning. ”
This made Changsun Wuji a little surprised, but he couldn't help but insist on explaining it while others didn't care about it, right?
Then there is something like "there is no three hundred taels of silver here"...
He nodded and said: "The walls of Pingrang City are high and thick, and the walls are all made of rammed earth and wrapped with green bricks. The power of gunpowder is greatly weakened, so we can only rely on previous siege tactics to carry out a strong attack."
Unexpectedly, Li Ji shook his head again, took a sip of tea, and said calmly: "I have full command of the war ahead. Although there are many difficulties ahead and heavy casualties every day, it is only a matter of time before we break into the city. Goguryeo cannot hold on. for a long time . During the previous incident at the Seven Star Gate, thousands of elite soldiers were trapped in the city and the entire army was wiped out. There was no news about the incident. I just don’t know, can you contact Zhao Guogong now? "
Changsun Wuji couldn't keep up with Li Ji's jumping thoughts. He pondered for a moment and shook his head and said: "We have never contacted him. After that day, there was no news from Quanzi. I don't know what happened in the Seven Star Gate that day."< br>
He was a little confused about Li Ji's intentions. Could it be that he wanted to confirm Changsun Chong's guilt? It shouldn't be the case. How could a mere eldest son, Sun Chong, make Li Ji, who was currently commanding thousands of troops and tasked with capturing the enemy's city, take it seriously?
Taking Changsun Chong's guilt and extending it to hold the Changsun family accountable?
That doesn't have to be like this. As long as this battle is over, the imperial court will eventually investigate the Seven Star Gate incident. By then, the Changsun family will not be able to escape punishment. He, Li Ji, has never offended others. Since the Changsun family's guilt is certain, why should he do it in vain? Little man, is this unnecessary?
Li Ji held the tea cup in his hand, paused for a moment, and then said slowly: "Today during the attack on the city, an enemy soldier fell from the top of the city. Fortunately, he survived and was captured alive. After the interrogation, the soldier said that up to this day, in the city There is no news about punishing Changsun Chong. This matter is quite strange. Maybe Changsun Chong is still alive?”
On that day, Changsun Chong intended to open the Seven Star Gate to welcome the Tang army into the city. This was considered a heinous crime by Goguryeo and must be punished with death to serve as a warning and to boost the morale of the defenders. It is impossible for Yuan Gaisuwen to secretly execute Chang Sun Chong, but since the execution has never been public, it means that Chang Sun Chong is not dead yet.
A man who was destined to die, but Yeon Gaesumun kept him alive, there must be some conspiracy behind this.
As for what this plot is, it is worth pondering...
Changsun Wuji's eyelids twitched, and he greeted the eighteenth generation of Yuan Gaisuwen's ancestors in his heart, but his face didn't show any signs of it. His expression was calm and he said: "Perhaps Quanzi was killed in the rebellion that day?" (End of this chapter) )