Chang He said: "The four women of King Li You of Qi, two of them hold heavy troops, one in charge of the court's business and the other in charge of the court's technology. Think about it, what a great force this is.

It is said that with such great strength, His Majesty and His Royal Highness of the Crown Prince support him so much, and he should play a greater role in the court. But since last year, he left Chang'an, why is that?"

Zhang Xuansu knew the reason for this matter. Li You first went to deal with the problem on the grassland, but later stayed in Shengzhou. This matter was indeed related to Li Chengqian. Li You was to avoid suspicion, or to leave his own space for Li Chengqian.

Zhang Xuansu asked: "What do you think he did this for?"

Chang He said: "As far as I know, the Persian Hamid betrayed his father and proclaimed himself king. Li You ran to Persia and got involved with him. In name, in order to accept the Angot province for the court, he took the opportunity to mobilize Tuyuhun and Xueyantuo's troops, and his two women also led their troops there.

Then, the woman in charge of the court's business department also went there and took away a large amount of food, grass and property. It was the court's business that he took over in Angot Province, so why did his family all participate?

Don’t you find it strange?”

Zhang Xuansu didn't find anything strange. He said, "It was the court's decision to take over Angot Province. Didn't he send Duke Su and Tang Army to? Besides, there is danger to His Highness King Qi go to Persia, so it's normal for his princesses to help him."

Chang He shook his head and said, "Master Zhang, this matter is not that simple. Think about it, Angot Province is backed by the Western Regions and Tuyuhun. Li You has a great influence in the Western Regions, not to mention Tuyuhun. The relationship between Su Guogong and him is closest. When he arrived in Persia, wasn't he covered the sky with his hands?!

He was not back when Xue Yantuo was not back, and now he took the initiative to go to Persia. Is it just to do things for the court?"

Zhang Xuansu seemed to have realized something, and he asked, "General Chang, just say whatever you think."

Chang He said: "In the court, the prince who can compete for the position of crown prince, His Highness the King of Wei left Chang'an. His Highness the King of Shu has now been marginalized, leaving only King of Qi Li You. In order to find a way out for himself, would he run to Persia to gain troops and seek independence?"

"This..." Zhang Xuansu suddenly felt that what he said made sense.

Zhang Xuansu knows Li You very well and admires Li You very much. He also knows Li You’s friendship with Li Chengqian. If it weren’t for Li Chengqian being the crown prince, Zhang Xuansu would have liked Li You more.

Li You is too capable and is a threat to Li Chengqian's position as crown prince. Therefore, Zhang Xuansu and Changsun Wuji target him.

In history, princes compete for the throne, but the losers end up not being good. Li You is unwilling to compete with Li Chengqian for the position of crown prince. He is a smart person and he will also find a way out for his future. He may have this consideration when he hides in Xue Yantuo.

However, Xue Yantuo's strength is too small, with a vast land in the north, sparsely populated, material scarce, and too little room for development. Moreover, there are powerful Uighurs stakeing in the north.

The Angot Province of Persia has a large population and area, and its strategic location is very important. It is backed by the Western Regions and Tuyuhun of the Tang Dynasty. It is the Persia controlled by his ally Hamid to the west. It has a rich Indian continent to develop to the south. If you really want to be independent, it is a good choice.

Zhang Xuansu believed that if it were him, he would have made such a choice. He agreed with Chang He's view in his heart.

Zhang Xuansu looked at Chang He and thought to himself: "I can't tell that this vulgar guy actually has such a vision."

In fact, Chang He is a rough man and has no culture. But as the saying goes, the word "serious" in the world is afraid of the word "serious". He has been thinking about Li You all day long, and almost all his energy is devoted to this. It is not surprising that he can find some famous things.

He wanted to charge Li You with treason or treason through this matter.

However, this matter is too big, and Zhang Xuansu cannot express his opinion. He said: "What you said may make sense. However, His Highness and I don't think so."

He said he didn't agree, but his expression clearly agreed with this matter.

Chang He had been in the officialdom for a long time, and he still had the ability to observe words and expressions. Seeing that he had achieved his goal, he stopped talking.

Zhang Xuansu thought that this matter could be done, but he was unwilling to involve himself and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He said, "I and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince don't believe this matter. However, if this matter is announced, someone may believe it. Who knows what Your Majesty will think?"

Chang He understood what he meant. Zhang Xuansu and the Crown Prince did not come forward and asked Chang He to come forward to raise this matter. He and the Crown Prince would add fuel to the fire behind him.

Chang He nodded, indicating that he understood Zhang Xuansu's meaning.

Zhang Xuansu said: "General Chang, we have never had any contacts, nor have we met, and we will never have any contacts in the future. Let's say goodbye."

Chang He said: "Master Zhang, please take a step first, and I will leave after a stick of incense."

Chang He returned home and explained to his confidants.

Soon after, the streets were circulating.

In a tavern.

"Have you heard that, His Highness King Qi ran to Persia." Someone said.

"What did he do there?" someone asked.

"That's right, I haven't heard the movements of His Highness King Qi for a long time. Didn't he say he went to the grassland?" someone asked.

"You don't know this, right?" said a well-informed person.

"Then tell me, what's going on?" Everyone asked anxiously.

A well-informed person said: "Originally, His Highness King Qi went to the grassland. Do you know why he went to the grassland?"

"Why?" someone asked.

A well-informed person said: "Everyone knows that His Highness, King Qi, is capable, but he runs to the grassland and doesn't come back. That's because he feels frustrated in Chang'an and wants to become king."

The people in Chang'an guarded the court and were keen on inquire about the court. They had heard a lot about the palace fighting. They said that His Highness, King of Qi, wanted to become king outside, but everyone thought it was possible.

A well-informed person said: "His Royal Highness of Qi is no longer on the grassland, and he went to Persia. Because the grassland is small, the conditions for him to become king there are immature.

The Persian king was good friends with His Highness King Qi. He prepared a place for His Highness King Qi, called Angot Province, which spans thousands of miles and has a population of one million. So His Highness King Qi ran there and prepared to become king there."

Someone asked, "Are you guessing nonsense? Why did I hear that His Highness, King of Qi, went to expand territory for the sake of the court?"

A well-informed person said: "What do you know? Three of His Highness's four princesses have gone to Persia now. Why is that?"

"Really? There is something like this?" someone asked.

"A relative of mine works as a guard in the Qi Palace, and my news is absolutely accurate. I have heard that once His Highness, King Qi, gaining a foothold in Persia, the people from the Qi Palace will follow him." said a well-informed person.

Not only this tavern, but also many other places.

Right Pushe Mansion.

Changsun Wuji was talking to the counselor Chu Suiliang, and the housekeeper came in to report: "Mr. (a respectful title for the prime minister in the Tang Dynasty outside the officialdom of the Prime Minister), Lord Zhang Xuansu asked for a meeting."

"What are he here to do?" Changsun Wuji asked in confusion.

Chu Suiliang smiled and said, "Mr. Changsun, I'm afraid it's related to the topic we just talked about. Otherwise, the subordinates should avoid it first."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "You go to the guest room to have tea first, and let's talk later."

After Chu Suiliang left, Changsun Wuji said, "Please come in."

"Yes, my husband." The housekeeper went out.

After a while, Zhang Xuansu came in, he saluted and said, "The lower-ranking official Zhang Xuansu has met Lord Pushe."

Changsun Wuji said, "Please sit down by Lord Zhang."

Zhang Xuansu asked: "Master Pushe, have you heard of the rumors about His Highness of the King of Qi?"

"I heard a little." Changsun Wuji said.

Zhang Xuansu said: "Master Pushe, the official came here specifically for this matter. I want to discuss some ideas with you."

"What do you think?" Changsun Wuji asked.

Zhang Xuansu said: "His Royal Highness of Qi has always supported His Royal Highness of the Crown Prince. He is very wise. Staying in Chang'an will not only be bad for His Royal Highness of the Crown Prince, but also for himself.

His Highness King of Wei has left Chang'an, and His Highness King of Qi has also left Chang'an, which is a good thing. After he left, His Highness King of Shu has no reason to stay in Chang'an.

Therefore, from any perspective, it is a good thing for His Highness King Qi to leave Chang'an."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "Your analysis makes sense."

Zhang Xuansu said: "No matter whether the rumors on the street are true or not, His Highness the King of Qi has gone to Persia now, so let him stay there and guard the western border for the court. For the court, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the King of Qi are all good choices."

Changsun Wuji asked, "What is the opinion of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Zhang Xuansu said: "Your Highness the Crown Prince values ​​friendship. He now feels deeply guilty about Your Highness Qi, and I am afraid he will not agree. Therefore, I have not told him about this matter yet."

Changsun Wuji said, "Mr. Zhang, I agree with your opinion. However, this matter is more troublesome.

First of all, His Majesty has great trust in His Highness King Qi, and he probably won’t agree. Secondly, His Highness the Crown Prince and the Empress owed His Highness King Qi, they probably won’t agree. Also, His Highness King Qi has a lot of energy, and if he doesn’t want to, this matter may not be possible.”

Zhang Xuansu said: "Don't worry, Lord Pushe, I have considered this matter repeatedly.

First of all, there is His Highness the Crown Prince. Although he has a close relationship with His Highness the King of Qi, he is the crown prince after all. His Highness the King of Qi is so outstanding. He is under great pressure to stay in Chang'an. If His Highness the King of Qi is not hurt, His Highness the Crown Prince should be optimistic.

Secondly, if the Empress is close to the Empress, His Highness King of Qi is not as good as His Highness. As long as we explain the interests to her, it means that this matter is beneficial to His Highness Prince and His Highness King of Qi, the Empress should not object to it."

Third, Your Majesty may not object. His Highness the King of Qi left Chang'an last year, so why didn't Your Majesty urge him to come back? The court is very calm and there is no internal friction. This has something to do with His Highness the King of Qi not in Chang'an. If the disputes within the court can be resolved once and for all, Your Majesty should be willing.

Fourth, His Highness King Qi is a smart man. If he wants to go back to Chang'an, who can stop him? But since he left Chang'an last year, he has not taken the initiative to come back. This time, when there was a problem in Persia, he did not ask for advice from Chang'an, and left Shengzhou and went to Persia directly.

What does this mean? It means that he wants to do this deep down, and maybe he doesn't want to return to Chang'an at all.

His Highness, King Qi, has outstanding talents. Letting him expand territory and boundaries for the court is of great merit to the court, and he can also give full play to his talents. Why not do it?"

In fact, Changsun Wuji's opinion is similar to Zhang Xuansu. The opinions he discussed with Chu Suiliang just now were similar to what Zhang Xuansu said. However, it was not as thorough as Zhang Xuansu thought.

Seeing that he had no disagreement with Zhang Xuansu, he ordered the servant: "Go and invite Lord Chu Suiliang over."

Afterwards, Changsun Wuji, Zhang Xuansu and Chu Suiliang discussed the next plan.

Li Zheng Hall.

Changsun Wuji told Empress Changsun about Li You on the street.
Chapter completed!