The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 1096: Planning for the West (Part )

Li Ke didn't say anything, but he secretly admired him in his heart. If he were in the emperor's position, he would never let him go.

Thinking of this, Li Ke's heavy mood could not be relieved much. When he looked at Li Chengqian, there was also a trace of affection in his eyes. Then he thought of something: "Brother, this map is very useful for the Western Expedition. Can you give one to my third brother?"

"Haha, big brother has prepared it for you a long time ago." Li Yan came to the bookshelf, took out ten rolled parchment scrolls from the drawer and handed them to Li Ke.

Li Ke happily took it and looked at it, but found that there was only a corner of it. He hurriedly opened the other pictures one by one, and it took a total of ten pictures to form a picture, which was only half of the picture of the world in front of him.

He frowned immediately, looked up and compared it with the large picture in front of him, and asked in confusion: "Brother, why is there only half?"

The map that Li Yan gave to Li Ke only showed the western half; everything east of the Pamir Mountains was not on the map.

"Third brother, you must remember that maps are the most valuable things in this era."

Li Yan's expression became extremely solemn: "I only gave you half of the West. Even this half, I dare say, no one in the West has it. Their understanding of this world is similar to that of my Tang Dynasty. As for the outside world, they are completely in the dark."

"You are out on the battlefield, and the risks are huge."

"If this complete map falls into the hands of Westerners, it will bring disaster to our Tang Dynasty, and our Tang Dynasty will never be able to live in peace again."

"You are the King of Wu of the Tang Dynasty. You are already familiar with the terrain of the eastern mountains and rivers, so there is no need to draw them again. When you leave the Western Regions, you must also make sure that there are no maps of the Tang Dynasty in the army. This is also to ensure the safety of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Ke's expression froze and he nodded silently.

The other party was indeed an emperor, and he was more thoughtful than himself. If he really died on the battlefield, carrying such a map with him would undoubtedly attract countless jackals to the Central Plains. Besides, he would live in the West after leaving the Western Regions, so there was really no need to carry a map of the East.

"Third brother, you must remember that even the map in your hand is a unique treasure in the West. I will divide it into ten parts, and you must keep it properly."

Li Yan frowned and said, "Each of these maps covers a larger area than the Central Plains of our Tang Dynasty. If it were an ordinary person, he might not be able to conquer the territory of one of these maps in his entire life. I have distributed them to you so that you can use them carefully."

"If the situation gets critical and one of them is lost, the others won't be revealed, do you understand?"

Hearing this, Li Ke looked at Li Yan with admiration and said, "Big brother, you have thought it through. I admire you. I will keep your advice in mind."

"Um"

The two of them came to the imperial study outside, and Li Yan ordered: "During this period of time, you give me a list of capable personnel under your command, whether they are civil officials or military generals, as long as they are trustworthy, I can arrange them in advance."

"I will also transfer the 10,000 troops to Hexi in the name of rotation of defense."

"Ten days later, I will order the personnel of the General Construction Bureau to go west in the name of preparing to build the Anxi Road and survey the terrain. At that time, I will order you to bring a team of trusted followers as escorts. When you arrive in Hexi, you can take the imperial tiger talisman and the imperial edict to mobilize troops."

"Move those 10,000 elite cavalry directly to the Western Regions."

"However, within the Tang Dynasty, the imperial edict and the tiger talisman are useful. Outside the Tang Dynasty, you will have to rely on your own prestige and means to subdue them. Therefore, you must do your best to ensure that this army is loyal to you and believes in you personally."

"I believe that with your influence in the military over the years, it will not be difficult to achieve this."

Li Yan looked at Li Ke meaningfully, as if he could see through the other's heart and see the hidden plot hidden deep in Li Ke's heart.

Li Ke's heart was also pounding. What Li Yan said was right. Over the years, he had worked hard to build up an army. He could mobilize 30,000 or 50,000 troops, not to mention 10,000. However, under the prestige of Tian Khan, no one dared to follow him to challenge the hero.

After Li Shimin confirmed Li Zhi, he severely suppressed his power, leaving him no chance at all.

But now he also knew that the ones who were really on guard against him were not only his father, but also those noble families who had come from the Sui Dynasty. In front of these people, no matter how many troops there were, it would be useless. Without their support, he could not repeat the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

He also understood the meaning in Li Yan's eyes. This time he didn't need to hide it anymore. He could transfer the most loyal and reliable forces out with good reason to follow him to conquer the world.

Those who stay will inevitably be cleansed and dispersed, and will have nothing to do with you anymore.

"Don't worry, my royal brother. After this departure, I will no longer miss Chang'an City."

Li Ke also said with a firm expression: "This time, in addition to some elite forces, I have four sons, Li Ren, Li Wei, Li Kun, and Li Yan. I plan to bring my second son Li Wei and third son Li Kun to follow me to fight in all directions." "The eldest son and the youngest son, the rest of my wife, daughters, and mother, I will stay in Chang'an for the time being, and I will rely on my eldest brother to take care of them."

"Also, I apologize to my brother for what happened to my mother before. I hope my brother will not take it to heart."

After Li Ke finished speaking, he stood up and knelt in front of Li Yan. This was the first time that Li Ke knelt down to Li Yan alone except in a public place. This also showed that he was very worried that after he left, the emperor would implicate his family because of those dark things.

Li Yan stepped forward and helped Li Ke up, saying sincerely: "Don't worry, third brother, I am not so intolerant of a woman. Everything that Concubine Yang did was for you. She hoped that you could restore the glory of your ancestors, but she was also afraid that you would be held accountable afterwards."

"Once you leave, she won't have to worry anymore."

"She is a person with an indifferent mind. I will allow her to offer sacrifices to Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty in Ningxin Palace to comfort her inner concerns."

"Once you have established yourself in the West, you can send people to pick them up and live with you in your new life."

Seeing Li Ke sighing with relief, Li Yan reminded him again: "By the way, can you bring your sixth brother Li Yin with you on this expedition?"

"What."

Li Ke's face suddenly changed, and an irrepressible anger flashed in his eyes. The slight good impression he had on Li Chengqian just now disappeared. He said with a cold face: "I have already agreed to leave Chang'an. Can't your Majesty tolerate a younger brother?"

"Mother only has two of us. Once I leave, only my brother Yin will be by her side. If both of us brothers leave, then Mother will be left without a son by her side, right?"

Li Yan smiled slightly, and was not angry. Instead, he slowly returned to the imperial desk, sat down upright, and looked at Li Ke with dignity: "As his elder brother, you know Sixth Brother's character and thoughts very well. He has intended to kill the king more than once or twice."

"Based on the bad ideas he gave you in the Prince of Wu's mansion, his farm thirty miles outside the city, and the assassins he raised to assassinate me, I can order him to be arrested and executed right now."

Li Yan was speechless. These ambitious princes all kept assassins. Li Tai, Li You, and Li Yin actually believed that they could realize their ambitions by relying on these people. Li Yan shook his head in disdain and looked at Li Ke with a hint of sarcasm on his lips.

'boom'

Li Ke's body was shaken, as if he was bitten by thunder, his eyes suddenly widened, and a storm surged in his chest. He didn't expect that Li Yan actually secretly raised assassins behind his back, and even caught the emperor's attention. This bastard is really looking for death.

He promised himself again and again that he would never do such a thing.

Li Ke did not doubt that Li Yan, an emperor, would deceive him about such a matter. Li Yi had indeed mentioned to him that he wanted to secretly train a group of people who could be of great use at critical moments.

But Li Ke directly rejected it because he was not a scholar like Li Tai.

As a prince who has been in and out of military camps since childhood and is famous in the court for his military career, he can easily control a certain amount of military power through second-generation generals such as Chai Zhewei and Cheng Huailiang, and openly place it in the court management system.

In the face of regular field forces and professional war machines, the so-called death squads are nothing more than moles hiding in holes.

Only someone like Li Tai believes that these people can help him.

Unexpectedly, Li Yan did it secretly. Li Ke was shocked and frightened, and at the same time felt a little ashamed and frustrated. The mockery on Li Chengqian's face hurt Li Ke deeply. He knew that the other party was not making fun of Li Yan.

Instead, they were despising him, a hero who aspired to the throne, but could not even control his own power. The people below him did such head-losing things behind his back without his knowledge. What qualifications did he have to fight for the throne?
If the emperor ordered an investigation, these assassins would be enough to prove that he had no ulterior motives. Add to that the treasonous remarks that the two brothers usually made when they were together, and they would be enough to be charged with treason.

Hearing this and seeing Li Yan's sharp gaze as he sat behind the imperial desk, Li Ke couldn't help but evade a little. Finally, he lowered his head helplessly and knelt down again.

This time it's not a request, but an apology.

Now Li Ke understood that it was not Li Chengqian who needed him to go on the Western Expedition, but that he was given a way to make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence. If he had not been able to do this, it would have been a luxury to leave Chang'an alive and go to the Snowy Plateau to be a vassal.

Cen Wenben said very clearly that no matter whether he was the one who assassinated Hou Junji or not, Changsun Wuji and Hou Junji had launched an attack on him. If the emperor had not intervened, the Prince of Wu's mansion would have been raided.

Gudu
Li Ke swallowed his saliva, his heart pounding. For the first time, he felt the murderous intent brought by the fight for the throne. It was no joke to spy on the throne and plot a rebellion. Once the plan failed, no one could protect him in the absence of his father.

Li Yan sighed and said slowly: "It's not that I can't tolerate him. You know his character. He has been spoiled by Concubine Yang and you. If he stays in Chang'an, he will be executed sooner or later. I asked you to take him with me to the west expedition, in fact, I asked you to save his life."

(End of this chapter)