Chapter 375: No Avoidance of Snowstorm
On the day of hunting, it suddenly snowed heavily.

Chai Zhewei, the fourteen-year-old General of the Left Guard, shivered when he saw the snow outside. When he had breakfast with his mother, Princess Pingyang, he kept muttering, "Mother, it's snowing heavily today. Should we not go hunting? Grandpa and uncles probably won't go out either."

Princess Pingyang glanced at him and said, "Stop talking nonsense and eat your meal. I have asked someone to prepare the bow and horse. Come with me."

Chai Zhewei said breathlessly: "Mother, it's snowing heavily, are you still going hunting? The horses can't run, and there's no prey to hunt in the heavy snow."

"Hmm? You want me to say it again?"

In the Chai family, whether before or after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the head of the family was Princess Pingyang. Chai Rong was busy with military affairs, and she raised the two sons by herself. Therefore, Chai Zhewei was quite afraid of Madam Li. Chai Lingwu, who was only four years old, ate while looking at his mother and brother, and dared not speak.

The same scene also happened in the Linde Hall of the palace. Zhao Wang Li Cheng'an and his brother Henan Wang Li Chengze also had no intention of going out because of the heavy snow, but their mother, Princess Zhaode Zheng, chased them out of the palace. "Your uncles are all heroes who are famous all over the world. They always braved arrows and stones in battle. Are you two still going to let your elders urge you?"

Li Chengze whispered, "That's not a war, what does it have to do with hunting?"

Although he grumbled, he still didn't dare to disobey his mother, thinking that it was just a trip, his grandfather was old, and his uncles were in high positions, so there was no point in going hunting on such a snowy day.

So, carrying the prepared bows and arrows, surrounded by a group of guards, Li Cheng'an and Li Chengze left the palace and headed towards the Qixia Gate in the south of the city.

But when the two men left the house with their guards, they were immediately surprised.

Outside the Qixia Gate, the three uncles and their aunt Princess Pingyang were standing in the pavilion outside the city gate and talking, while their troops were lined up neatly outside the city, each holding a flag of honor.

The two hurried forward and greeted the elders. After all, as the younger generation, it was a bit unreasonable to dawdle and make the elders wait for them.

Li Er is only twenty-six years old this year, and is not much older than his two brothers. However, the three of them look extremely calm and composed, which is totally unlike the demeanor of someone under thirty.

Li Si was as gentle as ever, and comforted the two, saying: "Chengze and Chengan don't have to worry too much, we are all family."

Li San also said: "You guys are not too late, some people haven't arrived yet."

The two were speechless. Didn't come? Are you talking about the royal grandfather? This third uncle...
Li Er spoke up, "When we were young, we went hunting with your father. No matter what the weather was, we would go hunting with a team of soldiers each, just like going to war. We acted according to military law. You are afraid of the cold even when hunting. Can we expect you to go to the battlefield in the future?"

Upon hearing this, the two men all bowed and said, "Yes, uncle. I will be glad to learn from you."

Princess Pingyang tried to smooth things over, saying, "Okay, Erlang, by the time they can go to the battlefield, the world will be stable."

"That may not be the case." Li Si added.

Princess Pingyang glared at him, and Li Si just smiled and said nothing more.

After a while, Li Yuan's carriage finally arrived, bringing with him Li Zhiji, King of Chu, and Li Xiaozheng, King of Wei.

When the original appointment was made, these two people were not actually included, but Li Yuan had his own considerations for bringing them along.

Chu Wang Li Zhiji is relatively low-key. Although his relationship with his brothers is not too close, it is not bad. As for Li Xiaozheng and Li Yuanhui, I don't know what the old man thinks. Is he going to laugh it off?

The key point is, there is no hatred, let alone any um, they just don't like each other. Will they get along well if they are tied together?
How is that possible? After saying hello to his sons, the team started to head towards Lantian, which was a hunting ground at the foot of Mount Li in Lantian. It was hundreds of miles away from Chang'an, so it was naturally impossible to leave early and return late. Therefore, in addition to the kings, there were also many ministers and guards accompanying the emperor. The imperial guards, including the guards of honor and the attendants, numbered as many as 10,000.

The accompanying Prime Minister Pei Hongde was also granted special honor and rode in the same sedan chair with the emperor.

"How is Mr. Pei's health these days?" Li Yuan asked with a smile to Pei Hongde, who had just got in the car from outside and was warming his hands by the fire.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am in good health." Pei Hongde also replied with a smile.

"That's good. Pei Gong is the backbone of the Tang Dynasty. Many things in the court depend on Pei Gong."

"Your Majesty, you are too kind. As the supreme ruler, you can make all decisions on your own. We are just trying to do our best to help with some trivial matters."

"Mr. Pei, I have been quite worried recently. I would like to ask you for advice today while I am out. I hope you will give me some advice."

"Your Majesty, if you ask me anything, I will tell you everything I know, but I don't deserve your advice."

Although Li Yuan was very respectful in his words, Pei Hongde still kept a low profile. His words made Li Yuan feel that this man really knew how to deal with current affairs.

Li Yuan nodded, then organized his words and asked, "Mr. Pei, what do you think of the King of Qi?"

Pei Hongde was a little stunned when he heard this. What about the King of Qi? Did he want to make the King of Qi his heir? That shouldn't be the case. Even if the King of Qin was ill, it should be the King of Jin. Although the King of Qi was also the legitimate son, there was still a hierarchy of seniority. Moreover, the King of Qi had almost no foundation in Chang'an at present. Most of the ministers in the court supported the King of Qin and the King of Jin. Even the King of Qi himself had expressed his support for the King of Qin to be the crown prince.
His ability and background are impeccable, but he is obviously not suitable to be the crown prince.

Thinking of this, Pei Hongde understood that Li Yuan was not trying to make the King of Qi the crown prince, but to reduce his power.

"The King of Qi is steady and good at planning. He has the ability to judge people and gather people's hearts and get their support. I think the King of Qi can be entrusted with a great task and ordered to supervise the various states in Guandong to conquer Northern Yan. If he is unable to do so, Your Majesty can lead the army out of Hedong and personally take charge of Jinyang. You can order the other kings to march out of Taihang Pass. With a commanding position, Hebei can be pacified and the world can be at peace."

After hearing this plan, Li Yuan immediately praised: "Pei Gong is very wise and thoughtful."

Li Yuan liked Pei Hongde's strategy very much.

It was said that the King of Qi was entrusted with a great responsibility, but it only meant that the King of Qi would lead the troops in Guandong to fight Hebei head-on, while Li Yuan would lead the troops in Guanzhong to recuperate.

"If they are not strong enough." This means that the King of Qi and Northern Yan will fight to the death, preferably until both sides suffer losses. Then Li Yuan will lead the Guanzhong army to defeat Northern Yan and eliminate the biggest hostile force in the world. Unifying the world will be a natural thing.

In this way, after consumption, the power of King Qi in the Guandong states will be greatly weakened, and Li Yuan will no longer have to worry about the problem of King Qi holding his own troops.

This plan can be considered an open one, and it is entirely possible to openly issue an edict to the King of Qi to send troops. The only thing that needs to be noted is that the timing of sending troops from Guanzhong needs to be well controlled.

It would be best to wait until both the Qi army and Northern Yan are defeated.

Once he could successfully reap the benefits, Li Yuan couldn't even imagine how high his prestige would be.

This strategy is tailor-made for him and the Tang Dynasty's current situation.

(End of this chapter)