The film and television world begins with the battle for the throne in Kowloon

Chapter 1211 Li You Receives the Imperial Order
As soon as the words fell, Zhang Xuansu agreed: "Yes, this war has dragged on for long enough, and it really can't be delayed any longer."

"But you don't have to worry too much, Jun Ji."

"In the past six months, the Turks have been attacking cities and seizing land. As a result of consumption, half of their troops have been killed, and now only 50,000 to 60,000 are left. They are also fighting in the heartland of our Great Tang. The time, the geography, and the people are all on our side. If you gather your talents, you will surely be like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves."

"This is a great achievement. It is because you have a special relationship with the emperor that this achievement belongs to you. But Yuchi Gong asked the emperor to fight many times, but the emperor didn't agree."

At this point, Zhang Xuansu winked, as if he was going to pick peaches.

Hou Junji saw that he had just made an excuse, but these three people were trying to put him on the front line. Are they trying to force him to come out?

To be honest, Hou Junji had spent his entire life in military service, and he would rather die in the battlefield than fall ill in bed.

If given the chance, who wouldn’t want to go to the battlefield?
But the situation this time was too serious. It was clearly a killing game set up by the emperor. The Turks were just executioners, targeting their own people. Li Ji and Cheng Yaojin, two prominent military leaders, were now in disgrace, and their lifetime of wisdom was ruined.

The real enemy that wants to kill you is not the Turks on the opposite side, but the people in power in the court. Who the hell can do that?

I’m afraid these two people still don’t know who has framed them and what the real reason for their defeat on the battlefield is?
It was because he was disobedient and mixed up with the nobles that he offended the emperor.

Hou Junji has now seen clearly that the emperor not only wants to deal with the nobles, but also wants to use the war to deal with some troublemakers in the court. In the past, the emperor had to look at the faces of military leaders like Li Ji and Cheng Yaojin who were highly respected and had made great contributions.

After this treatment, their lives and deaths depend on the emperor's decision. It was indeed a good move.

It was because he saw all this clearly that Hou Junji restrained himself and stayed in his mansion. He knew that if he couldn't help himself, he would probably end up like the two brothers, either in the Dali Temple prison or at the hands of the Turks.

Sometimes the more you know, the more afraid you are.

Hou Junji could only hope that the emperor assigned him the task of cleaning up the situation, rather than the next Li Ji and Cheng Yaojin. Originally, he thought that if the emperor came in person, he would accept it without hesitation and lead the troops to the battle.

But now with Changsun Wuji and Zhang Xuansu around, he couldn’t be sure of the emperor’s true intentions?

Is it just a formality at the request of the ministers, or is the situation really time to end?
Out of caution, he decided to be more conservative, so he smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Changsun, Lord Zhang, we are all your old ministers when you were the crown prince, and we have been dealing with each other for a lifetime. You know my character."

"As long as I have breath, I am willing to fight on the battlefield."

"Listening to the clash of war horses and the clash of swords and guns, I am willing to die. But my body can't stand it now! Life and death are trivial, but if I miss the military and national affairs, Jun Ji will never be able to redeem himself even if he dies a hundred times!"

Well.
Changsun Wuji and Zhang Xuansu were stunned and frowned secretly. They believed that Hou Junji was telling the truth. What he said in the imperial study yesterday about how the rabbit was dead and the dog was abandoned was just to provoke the emperor to go there in person.

The emperor's desire for power is not great now, and the court officials are all veteran officials from the Zhenguan period, so there is no fear at all. Besides, Hou Junji is the prince's grandfather, a core figure of the next generation, and he will obviously be of great use!

If Hou Junji was afraid of these things, even they would not believe it. Could it be that this old guy was really in poor health?

The other party now looks full of energy, with a rosy complexion, and the occasional coughs are obviously dry coughs, without any sign of shortness of breath.

While the two sides were secretly fighting, Li Yan waved his hand and said, "I don't think there is any problem. I'm not asking you to charge into battle. There are young generals who will fight in the battle. You just need to stay in the rear and give orders."

"Your Majesty, this old minister"

Hou Junji wanted to test it again, but Li Yan said without question: "Junji, the Shandong issue cannot be delayed any longer. It is a joke that a small group of Turkic thieves have been running rampant in the heartland of our great Tang Dynasty for half a year."

"It also cost me two generals. This is a disgrace to our Tang Dynasty."

"Whether the glory of the Tang army can be restored depends on you. It is settled. I will issue an order tomorrow that you will take over the post of General of the Eastern Expedition and be in charge of the war in Shandong. You can rest for two more days and then go to the battle!"

After saying this, Li Yan stood up and walked out without waiting for Hou Junji to find any more excuses. Seeing this, Changsun Wuji and Zhang Xuansu were also amused and stood up and followed him.

Just as he reached the door, Li Yan seemed to have thought of something, and turned back and said, "By the way, take the prince with you on this expedition!"

'Well'

The three people's faces suddenly changed, and Zhang Xuansu hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, you can't do that. The battlefield is dangerous and the prince is the heir to the throne. He must not be moved lightly. If something goes wrong, the foundation of the country will be shaken, which will be a great disaster."

Zhang Sun Wuji could no longer care about anything else: "Yes, Your Majesty, the front line is too dangerous, the prince cannot be put in danger."

"It's not that serious." Li Yan waved his hand nonchalantly. "Our Tang Dynasty was founded on military power. How can a crown prince not know military affairs? Xiang'er is seventeen years old this year. How can he stay in the palace forever? I went to Zhongshan County to guard the border when I was six years old, and I was a hostage in Luo Yi's army when I was eleven years old. I went to the grassland to make a living when I was fourteen years old."

"Storms and storms make real men. It's not a bad thing to go out and see the world."

"I am still young, and it will not be his turn to take over the throne for a while. Take this opportunity to see the real battlefield, so that you can shoulder the responsibility of the Tang Dynasty in the future."

Zhang Xuansu was embarrassed: "Your Majesty's words make sense, but the Turks are brave and valiant. What if one..."

"There is no such thing as an emergency. You Pushe is worrying too much."

Li Yan smiled and looked at Hou Junji: "I have not been in Chang'an for many years. Xiang'er grew up with Junji. His relationship with Junji is deeper than mine. I feel relieved to follow Junji."

"Your Majesty, I am terrified."

The relationship between the crown prince and the foreign ministers is better than that between him and his father. Just this sentence made Hou Junji feel frightened. Changsun Wuji and Zhang Xuansu were also at a loss for words. They looked at this scene with awkward expressions and didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Ok, deal."

Li Yan said decisively: "Jun Ji, I and my ministers will hold a celebration banquet in the palace, and we look forward to your victorious return soon."

"I accept your order."

At this point, even if it was a trap, Hou Junji had to jump down and immediately knelt down to accept the order: "I guarantee with my life that I will definitely wipe out the Turks and pacify Shandong. Otherwise, I will not be able to return to the capital and will die on the battlefield."

Although Hou Junji's words were tough, he was actually secretly reminding the emperor that the old minister was loyal, but he stood firmly on your side without wavering. You should take it easy and arrange yourself like you did with Cheng Yaojin and Li Ji.

Then I will have no choice but to die. Your Majesty, please decide for yourself!

"Haha, good, Junji's words are encouraging. I have no worries about the affairs of Shandong!" Li Yan naturally understood what Hou Junji meant. He smiled heartily, looked at the other party meaningfully, affirmed without comment, and turned and left.

Looking at the backs of the three people leaving, Hou Junji breathed a sigh of relief and thought to himself, this time it is not me who wants to move forward, but it is you, Your Majesty, who asked me to do so, so please don't cheat me.

Suddenly, thinking of the next arrangement, Hou Junji felt relieved.

If the emperor wanted to trick me, he would definitely not let me take the prince with me. But this time, he let me take the prince with me, which meant he really wanted to clean up the mess. With such a great achievement, Li Xiang's position as the prince would be more stable.

It's obvious that the emperor is consolidating Li Xiang's position as crown prince!
After understanding this, Hou Junji put down his worries and happily began to think about the situation in Shandong. He knew that as long as the emperor was determined to abandon his son, the Turks would be doomed and there was no need to worry about the war.

He needed to think about how to ensure his grandson's absolute safety while also getting some military merit to help him become famous.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims: Since receiving the title of General of the Eastern Expedition, with full authority to suppress the Turkic invaders in Hebei, Prince Li You has failed to live up to the Emperor's grace and neglected military affairs, leading to two major defeats in Hebei and the loss of many soldiers and generals."

"Your Majesty has always been firm in his support despite all objections."

"After another half a year, not only have the remaining bandits not been eliminated, but the bandits have expanded and have entered Henan, Jianghuai, Jingxiang and other places to plunder and rob people everywhere. Li You has fought for a long time without success, so he is dismissed from all his posts and ordered to return to Beijing immediately to answer for his crimes. This is my decree."

In the temporary residence of the General of the Eastern Expedition in Xiangyang City, the eunuch who announced the decree read out the last sentence in a loud and rhythmic voice, then he took up the bright yellow silk embroidered with a pattern of two dragons grabbing a pearl, raised his hands high, and looked down at Li You and a group of generals who were kneeling below to receive the decree.

He said calmly, "Prince Qi, please accept the order!"

"Your humble servant, Li You, accepts your order."

Li You, wearing armor, lowered his head with a gloomy face, listening to the eunuch's domineering scolding. His hands, lying on the ground, were clenched tightly, and the veins on his forehead were bulging. His heart was filled with aggrieved and endless anger surged.

Although I had expected this day to come.

But when this day really came, the court didn't even give me the slightest bit of dignity. At least they would appease me. I would talk about the punishment after I returned to Beijing!
No matter what, I was also a general leading troops at the front, chasing the Turks from the coldest days of winter to early summer, a full six months, fighting in most of Shandong without stopping for a moment. Even if I have no credit, I have at least worked hard, right?

Even if he was to be punished, he didn't have to face himself in front of so many subordinates. It was obvious how impatient the court was to punish him. Once he returned to Beijing, it was likely that he would be facing more than just imprisonment.

(End of this chapter)