Chapter 14 Li Bai Chases Er Feng
When Li Bai received Du Fu's letter for the first time, he was living in seclusion in Mount Lushan and was about to go to Huainan to follow Prince Yong.
Yong Wang's staff came to him and said that the Jiedushi Yong Wang planned to lead his army out to sea from Jiangnan and take a boat directly to the rebel area in Yanbei.
After listening to this, Li Bai felt that Prince Yong was a very brave man with a lot of passion and ambition.
As the country was in crisis, Li Bai planned to work as an aide to Prince Yong and write a few poems for him. At this time, he received a letter from Du Fu.
In the letter, Du Fu talked about various things in Chang'an, especially how King Yan Li Shimin personally went to the battlefield and defeated the enemy troops many times with a smaller force.
With just a few sentences, Li Bai was able to imagine how brave and fearless Li Shimin was at that time, which made him fascinated.
So Li Bai decided to go to Chang'an and defend the capital with Li Shimin.
Just before he arrived in Longxi and prepared to march east to Chang'an, Li Bai received another letter from Du Fu, asking him to help write a poem about the Uighurs borrowing 100,000 troops.
Knowing that poetry could be used as a sword to quell the wars in the world, Li Bai immediately wrote several poems about the Tang Dynasty's use of the 100,000 Uighur cavalry to defeat the enemy army, and asked his servant to copy these poems down and send them everywhere.
He was delayed on the road for a few more days. When he entered Chang'an City, Li Bai learned that Li Shimin had set out overnight to defend Taiyuan.
After hearing this, Li Bai couldn't help but shake his head with regret:
"What a pity I arrived a few days too late and didn't get to see the King of Yan conquer the battlefield and defeat the enemy! I'm really a step too late!"
Fortunately, even though he did not meet Li Shimin, he soon met Du Fu.
After more than ten years, Du Fu saw his long-missed brother Taibai again, and he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
More than ten years ago, he and Brother Taibai and others climbed Mount Tai together. At that time, they were all young and full of vigor, and they picked up their pens to write poems and describe the mountains and rivers.
When we met again today, both of them were already very old and looked dusty.
For a moment, the two of them were filled with emotion. Du Fu invited Li Bai back to his home to talk about what had happened in Chang'an in recent days.
After hearing how Li Shimin used various strategies to subdue the people inside and outside Chang'an City, Li Bai didn't want to wait even a day longer!
He did not stay to rest, but took up his sword, said goodbye to Du Fu and left Chang'an, determined to follow Li Shimin to Taiyuan to defend the city.
Today, he is no longer like he was in his youth, dreaming of soaring into the sky like a roc. However, he still hopes to do what he really wants to do with his own talents.
Before leaving, he said to Du Fu:
"For decades, Bai has never achieved his ambitions. Although I am now in my twilight years, if I can finally fulfill my wish, I will die without regrets."
Just as Li Bai was heading north to Taiyuan, Li Shimin was heading west to Lingwu, the Western Capital.
Before leaving, Guanyinbi specially caught up with him and gave Li Shimin the clothes she had made overnight.
"My dear, when you go, remember to eat on time, have a snack at night, and take good care of yourself."
Li Shimin was deeply moved when he held the hand of his beloved wife. He immediately changed his coat and put on the clothes sewn by Guanyin's maid.
"I just love this color! It's bright and looks great!
It is Guanyin who understands me!"
[Ahhhhh, we are being serious on the History Channel, and a bunch of dog food hit me in the face!
Are we single people going to be able to survive? Wuwuwu! 】
[Oh my god, this bright color is blinding me! It's so colorful and yellow, just like my parrot.]
Is Erfeng's eyesight damaged, or is Empress Zhangsun's aesthetic sense wrong?
[No, Li Shimin's aesthetic has always been like this. He likes bright, colorful things with strong and prominent colors...]
[It was he who decided that the emperor’s uniform should be bright yellow!]
Erfeng likes the gold and silver armor, which is covered with gold and silver flakes and sparkles in the sunlight! The base clothing under the armor is usually red or purple!
And my own horse is also various colors! 】
[Oh my goodness, this is totally non-mainstream! Erfeng is out of fashion, I can’t accept it…]
What's wrong with dressing brightly?
He likes bright colors, which fits his personality very well!
Li Shimin complained in his heart that these modern people did not understand aesthetics, then he took Guanyinbi's hand and said goodbye reluctantly, and finally said before getting on the horse:
"Don't worry, Guanyin, I will be back soon. I will never change this outfit until the next time we meet."
[Ahhh, the CP I'm obsessed with is giving out sweets again]
[That's not right. Empress Changsun didn't even know Li Shimin's current size, so how come the clothes she sewed for him were so perfect?]
[The last time Li Shimin secretly met Guanyinbi, there was a period of time in between when he stopped live streaming. It must have been during that time that the two of them secretly measured!]
"What? You're not showing us this good thing! Er Feng, you're really treating us like outsiders!"
[Ahhhh, so ambiguous, they must have met in private and were being all affectionate and affectionate!]
What happened to these descendants?
He is not sensitive to any issues concerning the court, but is very sensitive to his personal matters. Can they be analyzed in every detail?
[Oh, Master Erfeng, you don’t understand. We, the descendants, just have nothing to do after eating.
I'm not good at politics, but I'm the best at eating melons! 】
These descendants... really have plenty of free time, and they live a really good life!
It’s really enviable!
Chatting like this all the way, Li Shimin soon arrived in Xijing and immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor.
Li Heng was discussing with Li Mi who would take over Fang Guan's position as prime minister when he heard that the Prince of Yan, who was supposed to be defending Chang'an City, had suddenly returned to Xijing. Li Heng immediately said angrily:
"Prince of Yan! Why did you return to the capital without an imperial decree? What was your intention in leaving Chang'an without authorization?"
This kind of problem could be big or small, but Li Shimin knew very well what these fathers were thinking.
After all, he had an old dad.
His old father wanted to use Li Yuanji to send troops to kill him in front of Xuanwu Gate, so Li Shimin at this time would not underestimate the fear and suspicion in his new father's heart.
After hearing this, Li Shimin immediately fell to the ground and burst into tears.
This cry scared Li Heng, Li Mi and others.
After all, the Tang Dynasty is no longer the Wei and Jin crying style that was popular in the early Tang Dynasty. What is popular now is the Tang style, and men no longer cry easily.
[Hahaha, I finally saw Erfeng cry! Historical records say that Erfeng cried hundreds of times.
Could it be tear incontinence? 】
[Crybaby Erfeng is adorable, but I think sometimes it's genuine emotion and tears, and sometimes it's acting. Like now.]
[This is so funny, I guess this acting skill was learned from Li Yuan.]
[What a white lotus Li Shimin is! Erfeng has so many skills! ]
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the 40,000 troops that were about to enter Taiyuan were completely defeated. But Taiyuan is the place where the Tang Dynasty was founded!"
If we really fall into the hands of the thieves, how will our ancestors, generations of grandchildren, face us in the future? I have been thinking about it and I am really worried. I have come to ask the emperor to let me guard Taiyuan!"
[Is it okay to be too embarrassed to see your ancestors?]
Your ancestors are here to scold you, saying you won’t be able to face them in the afterlife!
[I feel like Erfeng is hinting at something sarcastic, but the other party doesn't understand at all.]
Li Heng and others did not know Li Shimin's identity. When they heard Li Shimin crying, Li Heng was also very sad and sighed.
He personally helped Li Shimin up:
"Your filial piety is truly commendable. With Guo Ziyi and the Crown Prince in Chang'an, it should be no problem. In that case, I will allow you to go to Taiyuan."
However, at this time Fang Guan had just defeated 40,000 troops, and the Tang Dynasty really could not find more manpower.
Li Shimin saw Li Heng's hesitation and immediately said:
"I have heard that Lord Yan Zhenqing once gathered an army of volunteers in Hebei, so I would like to invite Lord Yan to go to Taiyuan with me.
Lord Yan's reputation is known throughout the world, and perhaps we can gather righteous troops along the way with his name."
After Hebei was captured by the rebels, Yan Zhenqing retreated from Hebei to Lingwu and was appointed Imperial Censor. Unfortunately, he was soon demoted because of his outspokenness and courage to criticize, which offended the eunuch group.
Since this bastard great-grandson doesn't want to use such a talented person, then of course he should be brought under the command of his ancestor.
Both requests were reasonable, so Li Heng agreed to them. At this point, Li Shimin's goal was achieved, and he asked him to allow him to marry the daughter of the Wei family.
Li Heng pondered for a moment.
Sanlang's previous fiancée died suddenly the day before her wedding, and a rumor spread from nowhere that Sanlang had frightened her, so he never remarried. This was indeed not good.
"You are not young anymore, it's time for you to marry a wife.
But I heard that Wei Shu's daughter has already been engaged?"
Li Shimin had already greeted the Wei family in the court.
For example, Wei Jiansu, once Xuanzong's prime minister, was now being pushed out of power by Li Heng, and the Wei family was naturally willing to marry him. After receiving a response, Li Shimin wrote another letter of apology and instructed the man to initiate the cancellation of the engagement.
"I fell in love with the young lady of the Wei family at first sight. I will definitely marry her. If I can't marry her, I would rather not get married in this life!"
Li Shimin's words sounded like the angry words of a child, but Li Heng smiled:
"Sanlang is now able to lead troops into battle, and his temper is still the same as when he was a child.
Okay, I will ask the Wei family later. If they agree, I will grant you the marriage."
"Thank you, Father!"
The engagement was basically a done deal, and Li Shimin was so happy that he laughed out loud on the spot.
After Li Shimin left, Li Heng lamented that his Sanlang was as moody as a child, but because of this, he felt much more at ease with Li Shimin.
"Sanlang's personality, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, is becoming more and more innocent and pure.
But it’s a good thing.”
The audience in the barrage laughed so hard because of Li Shimin's innocence and purity.
Li Shimin was already sitting in Li Mi's mansion, leisurely drinking a cup of tea, waiting for the return of Li Heng, the famous aide.
Li Mi is quite legendary. He was a Taoist monk. Emperor Xuanzong appointed him to the throne in a time of crisis, but he refused to take on an official position, remaining a staff member. However, he offered many useful suggestions.
[Overall, Li Heng trusted Li Mi very much, but Li Mi was a person who did not fight for it. Later, he was squeezed out by the eunuchs and retired.
However, Emperors Daizong and Dezong later successively employed him to give them advice, making him a think tank for three generations of emperors.
Just as Li Shimin was reading this, Li Mi, dressed in a green and white robe, returned home. Seeing Li Shimin here, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Just as he was about to exchange a few pleasantries, he heard Li Shimin say bluntly:
"Sir, you are so talented. If you don't become the Prime Minister, I would be really sorry for the people of the Tang Dynasty."
Li Mi declined calmly:
"Yan Wang's praise is unjust. A man who practices Taoism does not aspire to be an official in the court. Bi has never sought power or profit in his life."
"You are indeed noble in not seeking fame or gain, but the world is in chaos now, with corrupt officials in power. You could do something about it, but you don't. If you let it go, if you let it go, how can the people of the world be safe?
How can you feel at ease, sir? "
This was a very harsh insult, and even Li Mi, a Taoist monk, felt it stung his heart:
"Your Highness, did you come to my house just to scold me?"
"I simply wish to invite you to step down and become prime minister, to check and balance the powerful eunuchs of the dynasty. When the country is at peace and the people live in peace, you can then leave, indifferent to fame and gain.
At that time, if one were to retire and cultivate the immortality like Zhang Liang, it would be a great story in the world."
Li Mi sighed deeply:
"So what if Mi wants to learn from Zifang? It's just..."
"It's just that my father is not Liu Bang. He is not as decisive and good at judging people and appointing them to positions as Emperor Gaozu of Han, right?"
Even a secluded person like Li Mi was shocked by Li Shimin's boldness in speaking.
"King Yan, please be careful with your words."
However, Li Shimin was not only not careful with his words, but also opened his heart to Li Mi, whom he had just met, and spoke to him in a profound manner.
He had someone serve them both wine, drank it all in one gulp, and said with a smile:
"If there is no wise ruler in the world, what good is it even if Zhang Liang is born?
So it is not my father who wants Li Mi to be the prime minister, but I hope that you will come out of retirement and serve as the prime minister for me!"
[Oh my god, Erfeng, you are so bold! Even I, a modern person, understand what you said!
This is the rhythm of planning to do it myself! 】
Li Mi's current thoughts: "We're not brothers! We're not familiar with each other. This is our first meeting. Are you trying to get me killed by saying so much?"
Are you okay? I'm just eating some Yo-Lyume instead of talking!
Although Li Mi didn't show it on his face, his heart was really broken.
For a moment, Li Mi really wanted to use cakes to block Li Shimin's mouth, but as a cultivator, he took a deep breath, tried to calm down and asked:
"Your Highness is so ambitious. Aren't you afraid that I will tell His Majesty what I said today?"
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