Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

The news that Yinan Khan vomited blood and fainted soon spread back to Chang'an.

All the officials applauded and shouted that he deserved it.

After the farce of Yinan Khan's failed attempt to marry the Tang princess, it was already the end of December.

There are still five days until the most important festival in the Tang Dynasty, Yuanzheng.

In addition to the generals who were tasked with conquering Goguryeo, all the court officials above the third rank stationed outside the capital were summoned back to Chang'an one after another by Li Shimin.

On the eve of New Year's Day every year, Li Shimin would hold a banquet in the Taiji Hall to entertain all his hard-working ministers.

This will enhance the relationship between the monarch and his subjects.

East Palace, Mingde Hall.

Li Chengqian was also holding a banquet to entertain his aides including Du He, Xi Junmai and Pei Xingjian, as well as officials of the Eastern Palace including Ma Zhou, Liu Li and Cen Wenben.

As for Hou Junji, he did not attend the banquet because his identity was too sensitive.

The most unexpected thing was that King of Han Li Yuanchang also came, and he sat in the first seat at the bottom in advance.

Xi Junmai, Pei Xingjian and others showed a hint of anger in their eyes at Li Yuanchang's actions.

That position should have been occupied by Du He. Li Yuanchang had made no contribution to the crown prince, so how could he have the qualifications to sit in that position?

For Du He, Li Yuanchang deliberately took the first position at the bottom just to disgust him.

Moreover, judging from his identity, as the King of Han, he is indeed qualified.

Therefore, Du He ignored him and ran to sit with Ma Zhou and Liu Li.

If a small seat at an ordinary dinner party could be measured in terms of its importance in the prince's heart, then Li Yuanchang was thinking too much.

Li Chengqian raised his glass high and gestured to everyone, "Everyone, thank you for your support over the past year. I'd like to offer you a toast."

"Your Highness, please."

Everyone raised their glasses and gestured to Li Chengqian.

Next, Li Chengqian toasted Ma Zhou, Liu Li and Cen Wenben individually, and for a while, voices of gratitude and polite words continued to ring out.

While listening to them talk, Du He silently ate the food on his table.

At this time, Xi Junmai and Pei Xingjian came over, holding wine glasses filled with wine, and spoke in unison with grateful looks on their faces.

"Mr. Du, thank you for your recommendation. We would like to toast you."

"bring it on."

Du He filled his glass and clinked glasses with them.

After they went back, Liu Li also raised his glass and gestured to Du He.

"Minister Du, you and I will be in the same department from now on, and you have to contribute more."

Du He quickly stood up and offered a toast to him: "Liu Shizhong, you are my superior, I should offer you a toast."

As they spoke, the two of them gestured to each other and drank a cup.

Liu Li had helped him, so he should be the first to offer this glass of wine.

Ma Zhou, who was sitting nearby, said with a smile, "Liu Shizhong, you openly poached the capable people of Yan Shigu, the Secretary General. He is now full of resentment towards you."

Liu Li waved his hands, looking embarrassed: "Brother Ma, what you said is wrong. Minister Du was originally the counselor of our Ministry of Personnel. Now he was promoted only because of his merits."

"Yan Shigu has enjoyed so many benefits this year, he must be secretly happy when he goes to bed at night."

Thinking of the 10% loss in office expenses due to the Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival, Liu Li's face showed a painful expression.

"Hahaha."

Ma Zhou and Cen Wenben laughed heartily.

Even Li Chengqian, who was sitting on the main seat, as well as Xi Junmai and Pei Xingjian, joined in the laughter.

Only the King of Han, Li Yuanchang, had a gloomy face and was holding the wine glass tightly.

He was the high and mighty King of Han, but no one came to toast him. Instead, they all went to flatter Du He, a small eunuch.

What a bunch of tactless mediocre people.

What surprised Li Yuanchang even more was that Li Chengqian also raised his glass and toasted Du He alone.

"Du He, thank you for your strong support this year. I would like to offer you a toast."

Du He stood up with his glass in hand and said, "Your Highness, please."

This year, this group of the prince's followers were on the verge of death many times, but fortunately he managed to resolve them one by one without any danger.

When Li Yuanchang saw the prince toasting Du He alone, a look of displeasure suddenly appeared on his face.

It was really disgraceful for a prince of noble status to toast a small minister.

Li Yuanchang couldn't bear to see Du He's smiling face. He suddenly remembered something and a sly smile appeared on his lips.

He sneered at Du He and said, "Prince Consort Du, it has been half a year since we met in Baihua Tower in June. I should have a drink with you."

"By the way, you and a bunch of brothers were competing for the top spot in Baihua Tower. Did Cheng Huailiang and the others give it to you in the end?"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

As he said this he even made himself laugh.

Hearing Li Yuanchang's words, the other people in the hall suddenly became quiet.

Li Chengqian stared at Li Yuanchang with an unhappy expression, while the others also frowned and no one agreed with him.

Li Yuanchang, who was laughing, realized something was wrong and stopped immediately.

He turned his head and looked around, and his open mouth closed instantly.

hum.

Li Yuanchang suddenly felt something was wrong.

Why is no one laughing at Du He?

This is wrong!

Li Yuanchang suddenly found himself like a clown, being stared at coldly by a group of people.

In the end, it was Du He who broke the silence first.

"King Han, you are quite humorous."

Du He glanced at Li Yuanchang with a very calm tone.

People like Li Yuanchang, who have status and background but are not very smart, are just troublemakers.

Now that Li Chengqian has not yet come to power, there is no need to offend him as a member of the royal family.

Anyway, Li Yuanchang is no longer valued by Li Chengqian, and it is only a matter of time before he is squeezed out of the prince's party.

"Uh... hehe."

Li Yuanchang chuckled awkwardly.

In order to change the subject, he said with a smug look on his face: "Your Highness, I have good news for you. His Majesty has appointed me as the governor of Youzhou next year."

what!

Du He's heart sank when he heard this extremely bad news.

Youzhou has always been an important place since ancient times. It is the transportation hub between the Liaodong countries and the Central Plains. In the past few years, Li Shimin has always let the great general Cheng Yaojin take charge of it.

Such an important place, after Cheng Yaojin was recalled to Chang'an to take up the post, Li Shimin actually let Li Yuanchang, a waste, be the governor?

Moreover, this irrational decision was made when Li Chengqian was on the expedition to Goguryeo.

Isn't this cheating your son?

Even Ma Zhou, Liu Li and Cen Wenben had their brows tightly knitted together.

His Majesty didn't even mention such an important appointment at the court meeting!

Li Chengqian saw that his uncle had made great progress, so he clasped his fists and congratulated him: "King of Han, congratulations!"

Li Yuanchang raised his head, patted his chest and said, "Prince, next year you can attack Goguryeo without any worries. I'll be in Youzhou and will definitely provide you with all kinds of support!"

Hearing his words, everyone in the venue laughed.

Ha ha.

It's because you're in charge of Youzhou that everyone feels uneasy.

Today's originally joyful banquet ended in disappointment because Li Yuanchang was appointed as the governor of Youzhou.

Except for Du He, who stayed with a serious expression, everyone else left the East Palace.

Li Chengqian asked in a low voice: "Du He, why did your face change when you heard that the King of Han was appointed as the governor of Youzhou?"

"Could it be possible that the King of Han's appointment as the governor of Youzhou would have a negative impact on us?"

A moment of silence.

Du He said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, this is a major hidden danger!"