Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

After Du He and Wu Meiniang walked down the stage, they returned to their original seats as if nothing had happened.

On the high platform.

Li Lizhi said loudly: "Today's poetry gathering was very successful. I hope we can hold another poetry gathering during the Mid-Autumn Festival this year!"

Upon hearing Li Lizhi's proposal, all the concubines and princesses responded.

Although they did not receive any reward, they felt that the trip was worthwhile because they were able to see Du He compose famous poems on the spot.

Besides, the palace is lonely, and they also yearn for liveliness.

When Li Lizhi announced the end of the poetry meeting, the eunuch walked up to Du He and bowed respectfully to him.

"Duke Hanguo, His Majesty summons you to Ganlu Palace."

"Okay." Du He nodded.

He was also somewhat relieved that he had just handed the secret letter to Wu Meiniang, otherwise he would not know when he would have the chance to meet Wu Meiniang again.

Moreover, after the first face-to-face communication, the two of them established a sense of trust and tacit understanding, and subsequently they only needed to send palace maids to deliver secret messages.

As Du He followed the eunuch, he secretly nodded to Wu Meiniang who was walking towards him.

A faint smile appeared on the corner of Wu Meiniang's mouth.

After a cup of tea.

Led by the eunuch, Du He came to Ganlu Hall to wait.

After a while, Li Shimin walked in from outside the hall.

He walked very slowly, like an old man, and his back seemed to have become hunched over from some unknown time.

Du He stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."

"Sit down."

Li Shimin waved his hand and then walked towards the Huchuang.

After sitting down.

Li Shimin then whispered, "Du He, I have decided to go to Cuiwei Palace on the first day of July to escape the summer heat. I will then appoint the Crown Prince as regent."

Pause and count your breaths.

Li Shimin stared at Du He and said, "Du He, I intend to let the Crown Prince serve as regent for a long time. What do you think?"

what!

Let Li Chengqian be the regent for a long time?

Upon hearing Li Shimin's decision, Du He suddenly raised his head.

He looked at Li Shimin with an indifferent expression, and for a moment he didn't know whether what Li Shimin said was true or a test.

Think about it for a moment.

Du He then bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has over ten years of experience as regent. With the assistance of veteran ministers like the Duke of Zhao, the Duke of Liang, and the King of Jiangxia, His Royal Highness is fully capable of stabilizing the current situation."

"Besides, with you in charge behind the scenes, the Tang Dynasty will surely prosper even more."

If Li Shimin was willing to step back behind the scenes, this would be the best way to transfer power.

After all, Li Shimin's health is too poor now. Letting him continue to worry about state affairs will only accelerate his death.

Li Shimin retired and allowed Li Chengqian to gradually take control of the military and political power of the Tang Dynasty, and then announced Li Chengqian's ascension to the throne at the right time.

It can not only give Li Shimin dignity, but also completely calm Li Chengqian's impetuous heart.

Now it depends on whether Li Shimin is obsessed with power!

"Ok!"

Li Shimin nodded slightly.

He changed the subject and asked, "Du He, what is the current progress of the various armies?"

"According to your estimate, how long will it take to end the battle?"

When the war just started last year, the armies were able to flourish in many places and were invincible in every battle.

He thought the war could be ended in midsummer this year, but he didn't expect that Cheng Yaojin, Xue Wanche and Li Daozon were all defeated, causing the battle to be delayed for several months.

According to the current situation, the development of the Western Regions will have to be postponed again.

Du He quickly responded, "Your Majesty, based on the progress of the various armies, we should be able to destroy the Xueyantuo before July and the Eastern Turks before September."

"Duke Chen and Duke E, who led their troops to attack the Mohe, have yet to report back, and I have no idea of their current battle situation."

"As for Western Turkestan, it will probably take a little longer."

At present, the Xueyantuo only have a few troops from the imperial court. The Eastern Turks and Mohe, who had already been severely defeated, had more than half of their remaining main forces destroyed.

It is only a matter of time before these three countries are destroyed.

The Western Turks are a variable. It is unknown whether Cheng Yaojin can quickly annihilate them with the addition of Xue Rengui.

Li Shimin frowned and said, "Li Ji, Cheng Yaojin, and Hou Junji's three armies are advancing too slowly!"

"If I had known earlier, I should have sent you to lead the troops to attack the Western Turks. Perhaps the vast territory of the Western Turks would have been incorporated into the territory of our Tang Dynasty!"

"If the battle can't be ended until winter arrives, won't the army be able to expand into the Western Regions until the year after next?"

Well...

Du He's expression paused slightly.

Judging from Li Shimin's tone, he was obviously a little anxious!

But judging from the current situation, the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty do not have the absolute crushing strength, so there is no point in being anxious.

Du He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the strength of the Western Turks is far greater than that of the Khitan, Xi, and Xun tribes. They are not that easy to defeat."

"Besides, Duke Lu and Duke Guo are far superior to me in both combat experience and command ability."

Even though Li Shimin praised him so highly, Du He was still very self-aware.

In terms of military strategy, he may not be as good as that tough guy Cheng Guo Yaojin, so he should not think too highly of himself.

There was a pause.

Du He continued, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I will send someone from the Ministry of War tomorrow to gather the latest battle reports and urge all armies to advance faster."

He didn't dare to push too hard, lest the armies suffer defeat.

The people in the rear had no idea what was happening on the battlefield, and they had no way of telling the generals on the front lines what to do.

Li Shimin gave the order in a deep voice: "Du He, after Su Dingfang and Xi Junmai have destroyed the Xueyantuo, have them immediately lead their troops to attack the Western Turks."

"As for Li Ji and Hou Junji's armies, tell them to end the battle before September!"

Du He stood up and replied, "As you wish!"

After saying this, Li Shimin waved his hand and asked Du He to leave Ganlu Palace, and did not continue to plan to retreat behind the scenes.

...

Harem.

In an inconspicuous side hall.

Wu Meiniang sat alone in her bedroom. After she read the secret letter Du He wrote to her with anticipation, a look of confusion suddenly appeared on her face.

She thought Du He agreed to let her conceive a "dragon seed", but it turned out that he wanted her to do something else.

There was silence for a long time.

Wu Meiniang murmured softly, "Asking me to collude with the Prince of Jin and then set me free after the success, this reward is a bit too low!"

The condition Li Zhi had given her before was that she seduce the prince and be named a noble concubine after he ascended the throne.

Compared with the promise made by Li Zhi, Du He was obviously not sincere enough.

She walked to the fire and burned the secret letter, then slowly walked back to the table and sat down. After thinking for a long time, she picked up a pen and wrote three words.

"New Palace."

After sealing the paper, Wu Meiniang called her personal maid in and gave her instructions.

"Shuang'er, have someone deliver the letter to Duke Han's attendant."

The maid replied without hesitation: "As you command!"

Although she didn't understand why the queen of the Prince of Jin, who was a close relative, would get in touch with the Duke of Han, she believed that the wise queen must have a deep meaning behind her arrangement.