Chapter 279: Alarming the Snake
Gosuhan’s military talent was indeed good, and Li Heng had thought of recruiting him for his own purposes at the beginning. However, plans were not as good as changes, and not everything could develop according to his plan. When faced with such changes, he needed to make choices.

The highest criterion for making choices is loyalty.

An Sishun thanked Li Heng again, and then said worriedly: "Geshu Han does have a bad temper, but he is the deputy governor of Longyou after all. If he doesn't cooperate when fighting against Tubo, it may be disadvantageous to the war."

Li Ying knew this without An Sishun telling her.

But Geshu Han was only a deputy after all. He was the Jiedushi of Longyou, the Inspector, the Governor of Shanzhou, and the Military Envoy of Lintao Army. He was in charge of the military, politics, finance, and law of Longyou. If he was timid from the beginning and tolerated those who challenged his authority, he would be really doomed in the end.

Li Heng pondered for a moment, then said to Zhang Guangsheng beside him: "Let Gao Shi, Ma Lin, and Li Sheng come to see me. Also, order the governors of all prefectures in Longyou and the military envoys of all military garrisons to come to Shanzhou to report on their work."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng took the order and went out.

After a while, Gao Shi, Ma Lin and Li Sheng arrived one after another.

Gao Shi was currently the military commander of Longyou and the military envoy of Heyuan Army. Heyuan Army was 120 miles west of Shanzhou, so it was not supposed to arrive so soon. However, he knew that Li Heng had arrived in Shanzhou, so he came to pay a visit in advance.

Ma Lin had previously followed Li Heng in attacking Shibao City, where he had made outstanding contributions. Later, he followed Wang Zhongsi and made many military achievements, eventually becoming the commander of the Baishui Army.

Li Sheng joined the army after Wang Zhongsi arrived in Longyou. He followed Wang Zhongsi to attack Songzhou and resist Tubo. Because of his bravery in combat, he was promoted to the commander of the Lintao Army.

Among the three, Li Sheng had the lowest rank and had only met Li Heng a few times. He was surprised that Li Heng asked him to come, and the others were also surprised.

Li Heng looked at the three of them and said, "Deputy Envoy Geshu Han is only one step away from controlling Longyou, so he seems to be somewhat dissatisfied with my controlling Longyou."

Gao Shi and the other two were shocked when they heard this.

These three people were not simple people. They all knew that a new emperor appoints new ministers. As the new governor of Longyou, no matter how benign Li Heng was, he would punish those who were disobedient. However, they did not expect Li Heng to speak so bluntly and act so quickly.

Gao Shi was most familiar with Li Heng and was always grateful for Li Heng's kindness in the past, but he was somewhat prejudiced against Geshu Han.

The reason for the prejudice is that Geshu Han joined the army later than him, fought in fewer battles than him, but climbed higher than him.

Therefore, Gao Shi was surprised and said without hesitation: "In a war, the most feared thing is that the generals will have different ideas. If Deputy Envoy Geshu can change, then so be it. If not, Your Highness should dismiss him as soon as possible."

"Yeah." Li Heng nodded to indicate that he heard it, and then looked at Ma Lin.

Ma Lin said: "I will follow your instructions. If you want to arrest someone, I will go there immediately."

Li Heng smiled slightly, then turned to ask Li Sheng, "What do you think, Li Canjun?"

Li Sheng hesitated for a moment and said, "The deputy envoy of Jiedushi is not an ordinary position. To dismiss him, the court must agree. The best way is to let Deputy Envoy Geshu lead the vanguard army to attack Tubo. If they can win, everyone will be happy. If they lose, Your Highness will have reason to dismiss him."

Li Sheng gave Li Heng a plan. The plan was not brilliant, but it showed his intention to stand on Li Heng's side.

Li Heng stared at Li Sheng, pondered in his mind for a while, and said: "The war with Tubo is related to the safety of the Tang Dynasty. We can only win and not lose. Who to use as the vanguard should be based on war considerations, not on personal grudges."

Li Heng rejected Li Sheng's plan, but Li Sheng did not feel depressed. Instead, he felt somewhat fortunate.

Because he was testing Li Heng just now. If Li Heng really mixed personal grudges into the war, he would think it was a bad thing.

Li Sheng said: "Your Highness clearly distinguishes between public and private affairs. I am short-sighted."

Li Heng smiled back and said, "I asked you to come and tell you this, not because I want to do anything to Deputy Envoy Geshu, but because I think you are all rare generals in Longyou, and it is necessary for you to know the conflict between me and Deputy Envoy Geshu, so that when the war breaks out, you will not know who to listen to and miss the military and national affairs."

Gao Shi and the other two looked at each other after hearing what Li Heng said, and then said in unison: "We will obey your Highness' orders." "Very good." Li Heng nodded, "Just the three of you know about this, and don't tell anyone after you go out, so as not to affect the morale of the army. Okay, you can go back first."

"Yes." The three answered in unison, and then went out, each of them thinking.

Li Ying looked at the backs of the three people and said to Zhang Guangsheng who was standing beside him, "Send someone to keep an eye on Li Sheng. He is very alert, so be careful."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng accepted the order and then asked, "Your Highness, do we need to send someone to keep an eye on Geshu Han?"

Li Ying said: "Not for now."

"Yes." Zhang Guangsheng said.

……

Geshu Han Mansion.

Geshu Han drank a few cups of tea, sat down on the chair with a sense of loss, and said angrily: "I expected that Prince Shou would favor An Sishun, but I didn't expect that he would personally take action."

Deputy General Wang Sili said, "Since the crown prince recommended the deputy commander to control Longyou, Prince Shou must have hated you. Even if An Sishun was not there, he would have targeted you."

Geshu Han pondered, "I originally thought that Prince Shou was really not interested in the position of Crown Prince as the outside world had said. Now it seems that he and the Crown Prince are fighting openly and secretly."

Wang Sili said: "Now the Prince of Shou is the most favored, and he is also a prince. It would be difficult for anyone to not have some thoughts if they were in his position."

"That's true." Geshu Han sighed, "Prince Shou secretly met with Gao Shi, Ma Lin and Li Sheng yesterday, and summoned the governors and military envoys of Longyou to report on their work. He is going to take action against me! My situation is very dangerous now."

Wang Sili lowered his voice and said, "Deputy Commander, we should fight back."

"How to fight back?" Geshu Han lowered his voice.

Wang Sili said: "I have three strategies: good, medium and bad."

"Please tell me in detail." Geshu Han said.

"The worst option." Wang Sili made a gesture of wiping his neck, indicating the assassination of Li Heng.

Geshu Han stood up in fear and shook his head quickly.

Although Li Heng had only nominally taken over Longyou, he had once served as the Jiedushi of Longyou. Half of the soldiers in Longyou had been Li Heng's subordinates, and these people would not listen to him at all.

Of course, he could also target his confidants, but Li Heng had two thousand personal guards around him. Those two thousand people were more than enough to kill not only a few of his confidants, but even a small military garrison.

And even if he had the ability, he wouldn't dare to do so.

Regardless of his willingness, strength, or consequences, Geshu Han would not take action against Li Heng.

Wang Sili had anticipated Geshu Han's refusal, and continued, "The middle strategy is for the deputy commander to take the initiative to fight against Tubo. As long as we take down Shibao City, the deputy commander will be a great hero, and the saint will naturally favor you at that time."

Geshu Han said: "King Shou took over Longyou just to fight against Tubo. If I take the initiative to ask for a fight, isn't that a waste of time? The saint will probably not agree."

(End of this chapter)