Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 84: Hou Junji is in danger?

Chapter 84: Hou Junji is in danger?
The situation in Jiucheng Palace remains stalemate.

Although on the front battlefield, the 200 rebellious soldiers were no match for the Tang army.

But the Tang army did not dare to say that it had complete control of the situation.

Because the rebels took advantage of the cover of night to split up into small groups, set fires everywhere with tung oil, and fought guerrilla warfare with the Tang army.

Tung oil is very viscous, like asphalt, and once it starts a flame it is difficult to extinguish.

Moreover, the rebels were coquettishly wearing Tang army clothes, unable to distinguish between friend and foe, which greatly increased the difficulty of clearing them out.

The rebels' continued harassment, coupled with strong winds, made it difficult for the palace servants to put out the fire, and the fire spread rapidly and showed signs of intensifying.

Wei Daijia hugged Li Ming, and Li Shimin, accompanied by a hundred riders, hurriedly left the bedroom.

At this time, flames were already bursting out from various places in the Liren Hall, and the situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.

The group moved around the burning corridors and palace rooms, while being alert to possible rebels in the corners.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Changsun Wuji rushed into the fire scene and met with Li Shimin and his party.

When he saw Li Ming accompanying Li Shimin, he was stunned.

"Auxiliary machine? Why are you coming in?" Li Shimin was also stunned.

The loyal Changsun Wuji immediately came to his senses, supported Li Shimin, and said sincerely:

"Your Majesty is in trouble, how can I not help you?"

Li Shimin was pleased and asked hurriedly:

"Where are my Chengqian, Qingque, Zhinu and Asizi?"

In fact, he was always thinking about the children, but he didn't show it in front of Li Ming and the troops.

Changsun Wuji replied thankfully:
"All the princes are safe, but their palaces have also been set on fire. Under the protection of the Jiangxia County Prince and the Imperial Guards, they are heading to the Liren Palace."

After confirming that the children were all fine, Li Shimin first breathed a sigh of relief.

Then a chilling fear seized him, and he became furious:

"Ashina Jieshe is a wolf that cannot be tamed! Is he going to destroy the entire Tang Dynasty?"

If the emperor, the crown prince and the legitimate son are all killed here, and there is no eldest son or legitimate son to be appointed, then the law of succession will naturally become "appoint the virtuous" -

Whoever has the bigger fist becomes the emperor.

If you are luckier, the battle for the throne will be just a family ethics drama of infighting within the royal family.

If you are unlucky, you might get some outside ambitions to join in the fun.

Then the Tang Dynasty would become a historical drama of the demise of the Qin and Sui dynasties.

It is no exaggeration to say that Li Ming's timely arrival prevented a potential major turmoil!

"Ashina Jiesheru? He is the culprit?" Changsun Wuji was shocked.

That gatekeeper general who was responsible for catching children actually had such ambitions?

Li Shimin's eyes dimmed:
"I was wrong. He had planned this for a long time. And he was the real murderer who poisoned the Prince of Hejian."

Zhang Sun Wuji was shocked when he heard this:

"Have the three judicial officials investigated the case thoroughly?"

How come there's no news at all?
Could it be that Sun Fujia bypassed him and reported directly to His Majesty?

Li Shimin shook his head, his face mixed with displeasure and pride:
“Don’t even mention those three government offices, they are no better than a child.

"The one who solved this case was Li Ming!"

Li Ming, it’s him... Changsun Wuji was in a trance.

If Sun Fujia or someone else had said this to him, he would have taken it as a joke.

But these words came from your Majesty's mouth...

He couldn't help but glance to the side.

Li Ming was being held in Wei Daijia's arms. He grinned and gave Changsun Wuji a fake smile:
"I am ashamed to have made a small contribution. Thank you, Sun Tingwei and other colleagues."

The corner of Changsun Wuji's mouth twitched.

Li Ming was able to appear in Jiucheng Palace and accompany His Majesty, obviously he came for something.

So he was already mentally prepared and guessed that this naughty kid had probably done something big again.

Unexpectedly, Li Ming still exceeded his psychological expectations!
The three judicial officials worked hard for half a year, but the result was not as much as what this kid earned in one day? !

"Li Ming solved the case of Li Xiaogong and used it as a clue to discover that Ashina's group had a tendency to rebel.

"For the safety of me and you, he, Li Dao Zong, and Wei Dai Jia worked non-stop overnight, just to inform me of this matter as soon as possible."

Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said word by word:

"If it weren't for Li Ming's wisdom and loyalty, you and I would have to meet in the underworld, and the world would be in chaos."

Changsun Wuji felt bitter in his mouth, knowing that his brother-in-law's words were specifically directed at him.

The meaning is very straightforward - don't "touch" Li Ming anymore.

It's neither reasonable nor appropriate.

These words spoken by the king himself could not be more important.

Whether it was rushing thousands of miles to rescue the emperor or preventing chaos in the world, it was an unparalleled achievement.

As the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Zhangsun Wuji could certainly fully recognize Li Ming's achievements, and he certainly understood the principle that no eggs will be left unbroken when the nest is overturned.

But as the uncle of the Tang Dynasty, Zhangsun Wuji's fear in his heart was even deeper -

With these two death-free gold medals, how will Li Ming's power develop? What will happen to the legitimate princes?

That is, his nephews——

What kind of threat does it pose...

Changsun Wuji didn't even dare to think about it.

"Yes... Your Majesty is right...

"Your Highness Li Ming has indeed done...immeasurable merits."

But no matter how unwilling he was, Changsun Wuji had no choice but to agree.

Because the emperor has said so much!
If he continued to openly oppose Li Ming, wouldn't he be immediately accused of being an accomplice in regicide and wishing for unrest in the world?

He, the head of the civil servants with great power in the government, could only watch a naughty child grow up and could do nothing!
This little guy is really good at it... Even Changsun Wuji, who has experienced many ups and downs, couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Putting aside his stance, he really admired Li Ming's ability and methods of doing things.

Turn a dead case into a live one, and turn a dead situation into a live one.

And this earth-shaking change happened in just one day!
Yesterday, Li Ming could only watch helplessly as his wings were clipped off. He was unable to do anything and could not even leave the palace. He was passively beaten the entire time.

Unexpectedly, it was just an oversight that caused Changsun Wuji and the prince to leave Chang'an for most of the day.

It actually saved Li Ming from a desperate situation, and he became impossible to suppress anymore...

"By the way, where is Hou Junji?" Li Shimin suddenly thought of someone:

"He is imprisoned in the Lihua Pavilion in the east, and the doors and windows are all locked. Just now, when I was leaving, I took a look and saw that the fire in the east was very big."

Hou Junji, he is also in Jiucheng Palace? !
As soon as he heard the news of the Lu Wangfu Sima (self-proclaimed), Li Ming's ears immediately stood up, and he twisted in Wei Daijia's arms like a worm:
"What are you waiting for? Go save him!"

The fire spread so quickly that every minute of delay would increase the danger exponentially.

Zhang Sun Wuji glanced at Li Ming and said:
"I have sent troops to rescue him."

"Can you command the Imperial Guards?"

"I asked the accompanying clerk to go." Li Ming felt that Changsun Wuji was lying to him, but he had no evidence.

He decisively activated the naughty child's coquettish skills:
"Grandpa, Grandpa! Send some imperial guards to Lihua Pavilion and rescue Hou Junji!"

Like a maggot, it twisted happily in Wei Daijia's arms.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please think twice!" Zhang Sun Wuji objected almost immediately:

"The remaining bandits in Liren Hall have not been completely eliminated, and with the guards of the Saint and other nobles inside and outside the hall, manpower is already stretched to the limit."

As if to confirm Chang Sun's statement, the temperature in the corridor suddenly rose.

Flames burst out from every corner and spread everywhere. The exquisite and gorgeous pillar decorations were devoured by the flames like firewood in a stove, burning with crackling sounds.

There were several corpses lying on the ground, covered in blood.

Obviously, a great battle had just taken place here.

Everyone's nerves suddenly tensed up and they waded through carefully.

After taking a few steps, the two "corpses" on the ground suddenly jumped up and rushed towards Li Shimin with sharp blades in their hands!

boom!boom!
The imperial guards raised their hammers and struck down the attacker instantly.

"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, please be careful." The general of the imperial guards in charge of the escort said solemnly.

Faced with such a serious situation, Li Shimin could only appease Li Ming:

“Your uncle is right, it’s still too dangerous to divide our forces at will.

"Someone has gone to rescue him. Hou Junji will be fine."

No, I suspect that my cheap uncle wants to kill someone by borrowing fire and get rid of my palace Sima once and for all... Li Ming's eyes were staring at Changsun Wuji with a cunning look.

But like Changsun Wuji, he didn't dare to speak carelessly.

Both sides were suspicious of each other, but at the same time they pretended to be polite to avoid a fallout, creating a strange balance.

…………

Fortunately, there was no danger along the way.

Li Shimin and his entourage left Liren Hall smoothly under the escort of the imperial guards.

At this point the fire was completely out of control. The main gate of the Liren Hall had already caught fire, and the inner hall and side halls were completely engulfed in flames.

Not only that, the other bedrooms were also burning fiercely.

The fire at Jiucheng Palace burned down the entire camp, lighting up half the sky red.

Li Daozon, together with Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li Zhi and Li Mingda, arrived at the main entrance of Liren Hall in time under the protection of the imperial guards.

"Forgive me for being late in protecting you!" Everyone knelt on one knee and apologized to Li Shimin.

"Get up, I'm glad you're all right."

After confirming with his own eyes that everyone was present, Li Shimin finally put his mind at ease.

Although everyone was in a mess, they were still alive and uninjured.

Fortunately in misfortune.

Then, he suddenly realized that he was afraid.

If Li Ming had not arrived in time and warned the imperial guards in advance, he would have stopped Ashina from forming a society before the tragedy happened.

The family may not be able to reunite like this...

"Chengqian, are you okay?" Li Shimin found that Li Chengqian's face seemed particularly pale.

As for the other children, Li Tai was normally frightened and worried, but in addition to being frightened, Li Zhi seemed to have a hint of determination in his eyes.

Li Mingda was the first to recover and was already stuffing dates into Li Zhi's mouth.

"Your son...I'm fine." Li Chengqian had disheveled hair and his body was trembling slightly.

I wonder if this sneak attack by the real Turks will curb his ridiculous behavior... This thought suddenly came to Li Shimin's mind for no reason.

Zhang Sun Wuji explained for the prince:

"Apart from the Rinin Hall where His Majesty rests, the Jiaren Hall where His Royal Highness the Crown Prince resides is the most affected by banditry.

"If it weren't for His Highness Li Dao Zong who took the lead, climbed the ladders under the arrows, captured the inner city tower, opened the city gate and rushed in just in time, I'm afraid..."

The elite troops of the Tang army were so powerful that they broke through the iron-clad inner city gate in a short time.

Although the security of the Li Palace is not as good as that of the Taiji Palace, it is not bad either. It is fully equipped and even has siege weapons such as ladders.

If Ashina Jieshe was not a senior insider, he would have known all the loopholes.

If someone else had come, even with twice as many troops, this rebellion would not have caused such a big stir and would have been suppressed long ago.

Li Shimin's brows immediately furrowed.

"First attack and kill me, then attack and kill the prince, and finally set fire.

"The Turks are quite organized and they are really good at it..."

He muttered to himself as he looked at the raging fire.

He immediately regained his composure and issued a series of instructions:

"It is not advisable to stay here for long. Li Dao Zong will temporarily lead the imperial guards of the left and right guards to escort the princes out of Jiucheng Palace.

"Travel lightly and stay temporarily in Qizhou Prefecture. Ask the prefecture to quickly mobilize the prefecture troops to gather at Jiucheng Palace.

"I will guard this place and personally command the 100 cavalrymen and the rest of the imperial guards to capture all the rebels in one fell swoop!"

This is also a kind of insurance measure to "don't put all your eggs in one basket".

It is true that Jiucheng Palace is dangerous, but the danger of the rebels setting up an ambush on the road outside Jiucheng Palace cannot be ruled out either.

In order to prevent being "wiped out" by a wave like just now, he rationally decided to separate the family.

"Father, I am willing to follow you to defeat the enemy!" Li Tai was the first to speak out.

"Your son is willing to go too!" Li Chengqian was unwilling to be outdone.

Li Shimin was very satisfied with his sons' positive and enterprising attitude, and smiled and refused:
"It's good to be filial, but if you are allowed to go, then go. This is also for the sake of the country and the people of the Tang Dynasty."

Since our father has said so, we brothers can only obey.

Before the children evacuated, Li Shimin counted the number of people one last time out of caution.

Li Chengqian, Li Tai, Li Zhi, Li Mingda...

Huh?
He rubbed his eyes and counted again.

There are still only these four legitimate sons.

Hiss... Why do I feel like someone is missing...

"Where's Li Ming? Where is Li Ming? And his signature?!"

Li Shimin looked around in confusion.

He was with us all the way, and we didn't encounter any danger. I saw us escape from Liren Hall with my own eyes.

How could two healthy people suddenly disappear?

It can't be an enemy, could it be...

Did they slip away during the chaos???