This time, Li Shimin has announced to the public that the attack on Goguryeo will mainly mobilize the imperial guards of the court, that is, the troops around Chang'an City. As for the border troops, they will continue to be stationed in various places.
Li Shimin had his reasons for doing this. The various border troops often fought in the border areas, so their combat capabilities were very strong. The imperial guards, on the other hand, were negligent in combat. Although their training had not been slackened in recent years, they were still not as good as those who often fought on the border. Therefore, if they wanted to achieve a balance, they had to use the central army of the Tang Dynasty.
There was another purpose for doing this. Li Shimin also knew that Li Xiang had a good relationship with the court generals. If the official troops from all over the country were to be mobilized, Li Xiang would inevitably be implicated. This time, he appointed Prince Wu Li Ke to train the imperial guards in order to support another prince and grandson.
After dismissing the court, Li Shimin came to his own bedroom again, where two men in black were already waiting.
Both of them reported on Li Xiang. One reported where Li Xiang was at the moment, and the other reported on the relationship between Li Xiang and Deji Yangzong.
When Li Shimin heard that Li Xiang had found a woman in Tubo, it was hard to describe the expression on his face. Normally, when growing up in a royal environment, having children is the biggest responsibility, but Deji Yangzong was not an ordinary woman. She was a very famous noble lady in Tubo, especially her family, which was almost the same as the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families, and had lasted for many years.
Is Li Xiang placing bets everywhere by doing this?
Li Shimin was very happy that Tubo was in such a state of chaos. If there had been no internal strife in Tubo, Li Shimin would not have dared to lead his troops directly north, as this would have been a very dangerous thing. But now Tubo is unable to take care of itself, and even if we do not win in Goguryeo, the rear is very safe.
This was all Li Xiang's credit, but Li Shimin didn't say a word in the court, intentionally downplaying Li Xiang's credit. However, the ministers of the court were not fools. Was it possible that Li Shimin dared to march eastward to Goguryeo without Li Xiang's credit?
"You mean to say that Li Xiang said so many things that all the capable people would stop selling grain?"
Li Shimin did not take to heart the other issues reported by the man in black. Instead, he specifically talked about this issue. This initially showed that Li Xiang had a certain degree of control. What was happening within the territory of the Tang Dynasty was one thing, but it was also happening outside the Tang Dynasty. This kid was stretching his hands too far.
"To reply to Your Majesty, it is indeed so."
The black-clad man answered honestly, which made Li Shimin feel more threatened. The Five Surnames and Seven Clans had always been against the imperial court. Even when the imperial court had expressly prohibited something, these major families would still do it secretly. But now Li Xiang only said one sentence, and faced with such a big piece of cake as the Tibetan grain, no one from the major families dared to take action. This made Li Shimin very angry.
Li Shimin was a smart man, and he certainly understood what was going on. Administrative orders could temporarily immobilize people, but market interests could keep them inactive. In the future, Li Xiang might have the final say in the market of the Tang Dynasty. If these major families kept silent, Li Xiang could still share the world with them, but if they kept causing trouble, Li Xiang wouldn't mind using capital to deal with them.
Speaking of capital, Li Shimin was indeed very envious. Although there was a lot of money in the Tang Dynasty's treasury, the Tang Dynasty's expenses were also there. The country had to support so many troops and so many officials, and money was being spent every moment. If he could have a large deposit like Li Xiang, then Li Shimin could use capital to deal with anyone. Unfortunately, he did not have that ability. If he wanted to maintain the operation of the Tang Dynasty, he had to spend money.
Li Shimin waved his hand and asked the two men to retreat first. Now he couldn't figure out how to cause trouble for Li Xiang. Prince Wu Li Ke was an opponent cultivated by Li Shimin, but Li Shimin could feel that Prince Wu Li Ke was no match for Li Xiang.
However, even so, Li Shimin still had to implement a balancing strategy. Only if King Wu Li Ke won against Goguryeo could he be equal to Li Xiang in terms of military merit. As for how the two would fight in the court in the future, Li Shimin didn't think about it for the time being. He had to find someone who was on equal footing with Li Xiang first.
Shili Pavilion outside Chang'an City.
Li Xiang finally returned to Chang'an again. This time, Shili Pavilion was bustling with people. The court officially sent Prince Jin Li Zhi, and there were also some other people as well as young masters from various families. This was the most commotion Li Xiang had made when he returned to Chang'an.
"Thank you all for coming to greet me."
Li Xiang was still the same as before. Even though he now had such great achievements on his shoulders, he was not arrogant. Instead, he dismounted from his horse from a distance and greeted the young masters from various families. He did not show any sign of being arrogant at all. Li Zhi was watching from the side and was very angry. He originally wanted to make Li Xiang look bad and then report to Li Shimin, but he did not expect that Li Xiang was still as good at dancing with his sleeves as when he left.
"Brother-in-law..."
Cheng Chuliang started greeting from a distance, and everyone present was speechless. After all, this was a formal welcoming ceremony of the imperial court, and you called him brother-in-law. What's going on?
"Second uncle."
Li Xiang's cheerful response surprised everyone again. Li Xiang wanted everyone to see who he was close to. Cheng Yaojin had put so much effort into it, and now he had already taken sides. Cheng Chuliang shouted at him on such an occasion, "If you don't respond, then you're wrong."
Cheng Yaojin's family is used to making trouble and is the most rude in Chang'an City, but Li Xiang's answer today is also intriguing. However, this is other people's business. The young masters from each family came to show their faces and then prepared to go back. After all, they were not familiar with Li Xiang.
Although Li Xiang is the crown prince, their father has also told them about what has happened in the court recently. Perhaps Li Xiang will go through a period of lows, and there is no benefit in getting close to him.
"Your Highness."
What surprised Li Xiang was that most of the young masters had left, leaving only two brothers from the Cheng family, and one of them, the one Li Xiang had seen last time, was the cuckolded Wang Fang Yiai, who had been cuckolded for thousands of years.
It is normal for the Cheng Chumo brothers to stay, but there is no need for Mr. Fang to stay. Your father never takes sides. Are you staying here to represent yourself or your father?