"Your Highness is too polite. I dare not give you any advice, I just want to say a few words."
Since Fang Xuanling said so, Li Xiang naturally followed Fang Xuanling out. Although a sedan chair had already been carried over, the area from here to the gate of the palace was also a good place to talk.
"Your Highness is young and promising, and now he has military achievements. He has already made his own influence throughout the country and within the military. I wonder what he will do next?"
Fang Xuanling was a close minister of the emperor and the maker of the main policies of the Tang Dynasty. Naturally, he would not gossip with Li Xiang. He came here to say these words to Li Xiang, and he must have had some hidden meaning.
Li Xiang savored every word carefully, and suddenly he understood. This meant that he was too popular. After all, he was only fourteen years old, and the emperor had given him no more titles. If he continued like this, he would probably become too powerful and threaten the emperor. Even if you were the emperor's grandson, he might still be on guard against you.
The emperor is afraid that his descendants are incompetent, but he is even more afraid that they are too talented. For example, this is probably how Li Yuan felt when he looked at Li Shimin.
Li Shimin had too much experience with this matter. As the emperor's father, when deciding on an important matter, he still needed to ask Li Shimin's opinion first. Wasn't it a bit aggrieved for the emperor to be like this?
Li Shimin was afraid that he would reach that point again, so he asked Fang Xuanling to give Li Xiang some advice. After all, Li Xiang was only a fourteen-year-old boy and had a long way to go in the future. There was no need for him to develop so fast. Li Shimin was in his prime at this moment, and he did need a grandson who could do things, but he couldn't be too capable.
"I've been coming back from the battlefield this time, and because of the weather, I've been feeling a bit unwell all over. I felt it even more during dinner just now. It might be the difference in diet between the two places, so I'm thinking of asking the imperial physician to treat my body. However, my grandfather has asked me to go to the Northern Ya Imperial Guard to take charge of the Left Divine Martial Army. It's such an important position. If I refuse now, I'm afraid it will cause my grandfather's dissatisfaction..."
Li Xiang's acting skills were also very good, and there was some pain on his face. Of course, what Li Xiang said was also true. In addition to Li Xiang, many people who came back from the south had various health problems, so what Li Xiang said was acceptable.
"Your health is a very important matter. Your Highness is still young and cannot afford any mistakes. You should see the imperial physician in the next two days. Doctor Fang of the Imperial Hospital is a master of medicine and can easily treat difficult and complicated diseases. Your Highness should ask him to see you and take good care of your body. You will have many opportunities to contribute to the Tang Dynasty in the future, so you must not let yourself get hurt."
There is a deeper meaning in Fang Xuanling's words, reminding Li Xiang not to care about temporary gains and losses. You are still young and will have more opportunities to get promoted in the future. There is no need to keep the limelight at this moment. This will attract the attention of many people and may make you a target.
"Prime Minister Fang is right. When I was on the Tuyuhun battlefield, I was thinking about the prosperity of Chang'an City. Now that I'm finally back in Chang'an City, I should enjoy life. I have a lot of property of my own, so I should take good care of it. But as for my grandfather..."
Li Xiang pretended to be hesitant and said that the imperial edict was read out in front of thousands of soldiers, and local officials along the way also knew about it. If he did not take up his post after returning to Beijing, there would be dissatisfaction in various places, especially those who came back from the battlefield. Would the emperor treat his meritorious officials harshly?
"You can keep your position. Many ministers in the Tang Dynasty have part-time jobs, so this won't be a problem. The Emperor only needs to send a deputy general to help Your Highness manage the Shenwu Army. Your Highness only needs to go there once on the first or fifteenth day of the month, and it won't cause any problems."
When Fang Xuanling said this, Li Xiang finally understood what it meant to give up military power with a cup of wine, but the Emperor Taizu of Song had not been born yet!
Li Shimin had just invited me to dinner, but he did not bring up the matter at the dinner. Instead, he asked his right-hand man to bring it up after the meal. Although the method was different, the thing to be done was the same.
Li Xiang is only fourteen this year, but he has already achieved such great achievements. If he continues to be in charge of the Northern Ya Forbidden Army, he will definitely have a great future within the army. If Li Xiang wants to wear the imperial robe in the future, Li Shimin may not be able to stop him. What's more, judging from the memorials of Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin, the older generation of generals also admired Li Xiang, which put more pressure on Li Shimin.
Although many old ministers had praised Li Tai in the past, Li Shimin knew very well that those people only said so out of face, and Li Tai did not have such great talent. Now generals at all levels praised Li Xiang, and this came from the bottom of their hearts, especially some people whom Li Shimin considered to be honest, such as General Qin Qiong who only told the truth.
This person is not afraid of the powerful and wealthy. No matter what your background is, if you don't have the ability, you will not be able to stay in his military camp. Such a person praises Li Xiang highly. It is conceivable what kind of performance Li Xiang has in the army.
"Thank you, Lord Prime Minister, for reminding me. I understand."
Li Xiang had figured it out. Li Shimin still wanted him to hold a position and occasionally appear in the military camp of the Zuo Shenwu Army to create the illusion that the Zuo Shenwu Army was still in Li Xiang's hands. However, he could not go there every day. Li Shimin would also send a deputy general he trusted, who would be the real commander of the Zuo Shenwu Army.
This is a typical case of wanting to be a prince and also wanting to be a chastity arch. However, as the king of a country, he must balance the forces of all sides and cannot let one side dominate. Li Xiang took a big step this time, so Li Shimin also had to reduce Li Xiang's power.
What's more, Chang'an City is the capital of the Tang Dynasty and the most important area. Li Shimin would not interfere with an armed force of several hundred people, but if it was a fierce and powerful army of nearly 10,000 people, Li Shimin would be worried.
If Li Xiang followed Li Shimin's example and staged another Xuanwu Gate Incident, the army in the capital might not be able to withstand it.
"Your Highness is intelligent and will surely understand the underlying issues. I won't elaborate further. If you can endure the loneliness and the passage of time, Your Highness will surely be the last..."
Fang Xuanling also realized that he had said too much. He smiled awkwardly and got on the sedan chair carried by eight people next to him.
Li Xiang also turned to look in the direction of the imperial palace. It was already completely dark, but above the Qinzheng Hall, it was like a fierce tiger staring down at the entire Chang'an and even the entire Tang Dynasty...