In the courtyard of the apse of the Wanchun Hall of the sunny Taiji Palace, under the shadow of the tall hall, Li Mao sat under the porch and was watching fish. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoWhen the spring is victorious, the spring water is green, the water lilies on the water surface also bud, and the lotus leaf fields of the water lord in the distance are very beautiful. Li Mao does not like to sit in the sun, he likes to look at the delicacy of the spring sun in the distance in the shadow under the porch. He felt that the scenery was more beautiful from this angle, as if he was hiding in the shadows and watching the view, which could be seen without seeming to attract attention. Li Mao didn't know that this was the sequelae of years of depressed and low-key life. He was always worried that he would be exposed to brilliant light and that he would be seen clearly by those around him.

The footsteps sounded softly, and the hunched figure of Huang An, the personal attendant, walked from the end of the corridor and came to Li Mao's side, Huang An said in a dumb voice: "Your Majesty, Li Guangbi asks to see you." ”

A smile appeared on Li Mao's gloomy face, and he hurriedly said, "Please." ”

Huang An bowed away, and after a while, the sound of heavy footsteps came, Li Mao knew that this was Li Guangbi's footsteps, he was used to being in the army, and he walked very quietly.

Li Guangbi hurriedly came with a fold and came to Li Mao to make a big salute, Li Mao waved his hand and smiled: "No need to be polite, Huang An, go get a stool for Li Guangbi to sit on." ”

Huang An agreed, ordered the little chamberlain to bring a stool, and Li Guangbi thanked him and sat down. Li Mao smiled and said, "Is there anything wrong with me?" Are you here to tell me about the officials' arrangements again? I don't say those things, you just have the idea. I don't want to worry about these trivial matters for a while, I want to be quiet for a few days. ”

Li Guangbi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, it's not those things, today is a big event." This is a recital written by Wang Yuan, and the body of the thief leader An Qingxu was also delivered, and the minister rushed to see His Majesty as soon as he received the recital, and he did not dare to delay a little. ”

Li Mao said happily: "An Qingxu's thief's body has been delivered?" Where to put it? ”

Li Guangbi said: "The coffin was parked in Wan'an Temple, and after traveling on the road for more than ten days, the corpse capital has changed its smell, and it can't be parked for too long." Your Majesty said how to deal with it? ”

Li Mao said: "After three days of display, the bones will be scattered." By the way, the debut edict announced to the world and told the people that the rebellion had been put down. Although the people know the news, the body of the thief has arrived, and our edict can be promulgated. ”

"Yes. It was promulgated immediately after the minister left the palace. ”

Li Mao nodded, sighed and said, "It's a pity that Wang Yuan finally did this, and the edict had to write about it, which made me a little unhappy." ”

Li Guangbi smiled and said: "Your Majesty doesn't have to be like this, merit is merit, and it is over." In the matter of counterinsurgency, Wang Yuan is meritorious, but there is no need to conceal this. Although he was suspected of being opportunistic and led his army south to chase the enemy without retribution, it was his Shence army that wiped out the last 100,000 troops of the rebels. ”

Li Mao sneered: "You are frank and come to speak for him." Is the credit his? It's up to me. Is the Divine Army his? The Shence Army is my Tang Dynasty's soldiers and horses, when did it become his Wang Yuan's? ”

"Yes, yes, the minister said the wrong thing." Li Guangbi said busily.

Li Mao was silent for a long time, then sighed softly and said, "You are right, the Shence Army is indeed his, not mine. The Shence army only listens to his Wang Yuan's orders, and I may not be able to command a single soldier. ”

Li Guangbi didn't know how to answer, so he had to remain silent.

The breeze blows, the lotus leaves in the distance rattle, and when the water ripples, the red koi in the water are frightened and scatter with a splash, and soon when the water waves are calm, they gather around the round leaves of the water lily and swim around.

"What's written on the fold?" In the silence, Li Mao suddenly asked.

"This performance has not been opened yet, this is presented by Wang Yuan to His Majesty, how dare the minister open the package and read it privately." Li Guangbi said busily.

Li Mao nodded with satisfaction, although he gave power to Li Guangbi, Li Mao never wanted to see Li Guangbi spoiled, and he didn't even care about himself. In the hands of his father, Li Linfu, An Lushan, and Yang Guozhong are all negative examples of pampering and spoiling, and it is precisely because of this that the world is in chaos, and he can't let his ministers play with it. Although Li Guangbi has the merit of following the dragon, he will never allow him to act out of line.

Li Mao slowly opened the sealed fold, and his eyes unconsciously glanced at the fire paint seal, and it was indeed intact. After unfolding the fold, Li Mao squinted and carefully looked at the fold, and suddenly a strange smile appeared on his face.

Wang Yuan still relented in the end. Hehe, he's still afraid of me. Li Mao exhaled a breath of turbid air and smiled.

"What's written on the fold?" Li Guangbi didn't know why, and asked hurriedly.

"Look." Li Mao handed the fold to Li Guangbi, reached out and grabbed a handful of fish food from the wooden box beside him and sprinkled it into the pond outside the railing. A flock of colourful koi fish swarm, scrambling for food and making a splash.

Li Guangbi looked at the fold carefully, but his brows slowly furrowed, and his face became gloomy.

"Guangbi, why don't you seem to be happy, Wang Yuan is going to resign from the position of Xiangguo, doesn't this make room for you? I knew that you wanted to be the prime minister, and I agreed to you. I can't directly issue an edict to remove Wang Yuan from the position of Xiangguo, he took the initiative to resign, isn't it logical? Wang Yuan is self-aware, and he said that he was not good at government affairs, and asked him to resign from the position of prime minister. He also knew that I would not let him stay in Xiangguo's position. Will it end well to go against me? Li Mao said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean......" Li Guangbi asked with a frown.

"If he wants to resign, I will do it. It was he who took the initiative to resign, but it was not that I wanted to dismiss him, and outsiders had nothing to say. Li Mao said coldly.

Li Guangbi frowned, shook his head slowly, and said, "Your Majesty, don't do this." ”

Li Mao frowned and said, "What? What do you mean? ”

Li Guangbi said: "Your Majesty, Wang Yuan's move is not a sign of weakness, he is retreating." Your Majesty, please think about it, which of Wang Yuan's identities gives us the most headaches? Is it his position as the prime minister, or the generalissimo of the counterinsurgency, or his position as the commander of the Shence Army? ”

Li Mao frowned and said: "You mean, although he resigned, he is still the commander of the Shence Army, and what we are afraid of is actually the 100,000 soldiers and horses of the Shence Army in his hands. He doesn't really care about the position of the prime minister at all, does he? ”

"Exactly, the post of generalissimo of the counterinsurgency is definitely to be resigned, because the rebels have been pacified, and there is no need for this position to exist. It is logical to take out this position. But his resignation as prime minister was actually a helpless move. Because he knows that he can't take the post of Xiangguo, and his resignation from Xiangguo can not only show his high demeanor and dignity of retirement, but if His Majesty approves his resignation, the people of the world will blame His Majesty for being so harsh on the counterinsurgency heroes. He is trying to trap His Majesty in an unkind and unjust situation. ”

"Is it that serious?" Li Mao was stunned.

Li Guangbi said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Wang Yuan is scheming like the sea, don't look at his young age, he is a scheming person. The minister had been with him for a while and knew him well. This person has done so many unspeakable things, he knows that His Majesty will not spare him, so he resigned and returned to Jiannan with his soldiers and horses. This is a retreat as a way forward. If he really wanted to show weakness, why didn't he hand over his military power and resign from the post of envoy of the three major festivals of Jiannan, Hexi, and Longyou? He wants to be entrenched in the western realm with one mind, so we can't do anything about him. ”

Li Mao frowned and said, "When you say that, it seems to be true. He didn't come to the capital to see me after winning the battle, but went back to Jiannan directly with his soldiers and horses, because he didn't want to meet me. But even if he wants to lead the army to Chang'an, I won't allow it. I don't want him to come to Chang'an with 100,000 troops. ”

Li Guangbi said: "Your Majesty, he is actually taking precautions against us by doing this. He is Xiangguo, of course he has to come to Chang'an after the rebellion, otherwise he is not. And when he returned to the dynasty as a prime minister, he couldn't bring his soldiers and horses. He was afraid that Xiangguo's identity would make him restrained. If he does not resign, he must come to Chang'an. Once he comes to Chang'an, won't he be at our disposal? That's how he kills birds with one stone. resigned as the prime minister, not only to get rid of the constraints of the imperial court, but also to be a prince. ”

The muscles on Li Mao's face trembled, and he gritted his teeth and scolded: "Damn thing, it's so intentional, I can't spare him." I can't wait to immediately announce several of his major sins and capture him to Chang'an Lingchi. ”

Li Guangbi hurriedly said: "Your Majesty is angry, now is not the time to tear your face, Your Majesty hates him a lot, but he can't turn his face now." Not only can't he turn his face, but now he has to stabilize him. ”

Li Mao sighed and said, "I know that this is not the time. Now I have to think about stabilizing the situation. My royal brothers and sisters are all on the move, and they still have illusions about my throne. Last time, you said that you found out that King Feng was recruiting and training troops in private? ”

Li Guangbi said in a deep voice: "This is indeed the case, King Feng and others trained soldiers and horses at the Gobi Desert Stone Town Barracks at the junction of Longyou in Hexi, and it seems that they have raised forty or fifty thousand soldiers. Their banner is to recruit troops to quell the rebellion. ”

"Counterinsurgency? Now that the rebellion has been put down, what kind of rebellion is it still put down? It's clear that you're here for me. These guys always don't give up, and my throne was passed on by the emperor's decree. Li Mao shouted angrily.

"Your Majesty is angry, so we can't tear our faces with Wang Yuan now, in case this guy supports Li Heng and Li Pu, we will be very tricky." Li Guangbi said.

"Isn't he secretly supporting? Li Heng and Li Pu, where did they get the soldiers, horses, grain and grass? Where did the weapons, armor, and horses come from? The two provinces of Hexi and Longyou are under the jurisdiction of Wang Yuan, and they are recruiting and training under his nose, will Wang Yuan not know? Li Mao said angrily.

"Of course, it was Wang Yuan's covert support, but this was acting in secret, at least he didn't send troops openly. We can't provoke Wang Yuanming to send troops to help, which can be greatly disadvantageous to us. Therefore, we have to stabilize Wang Yuan now, and when the situation is stabilized, it is not too late to settle accounts with him. Anyway, sooner or later, he will have to take his life, and there is no need to rush it. Li Guangbi said.

Li Mao sighed and said in a deep voice: "Then what do you say?" How do you respond to this recital? ”