The Legend of Shushan Xuanjian

Straight lovesickness is useless, but melancholy is innocent.

——Excerpt from "Untitled Mochou Hall under the Heavy Curtain" by Li Shangyin
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Only when you are in the game can you realize the great significance of the imperial contest.

In a sense, the reason why Li Chu entered the East Palace was not only because of his status as the eldest son, but also because of Li Chu's unrivaled military achievements in recovering the two capitals.

The prince cannot easily take risks, so when Li Chu was established as the prince, the position of the world's military commander naturally fell to the Yue king Li Xi.

Once Yue Wang Li Xi quelled Shi Siming's rebellion, won the world's prestige, coupled with military power, it would constitute a direct threat to the prince.

This is an inextricable knot in the Li Tang royal family.

The conflict between Prince Li Jiancheng and Qin Wang Li Shimin was born from this.In the end, Li Shimin had to go through a Xuanwumen change, killing his brothers and imprisoning his father to solve it.

Zhongzong Li Xian died, Empress Wei was in chaos, and Li Longji, the third son of Li Dan, launched the Tang Long Mutiny, killed Empress Wei, Princess Anle and his followers, and welcomed Li Dan to the throne.

At that time, although Li Chengqi was the eldest son of Li Dan, Li Longji had merit in supporting him.Most of the coup heroes such as Liu Youqiu also supported Li Longji.

Li Chengqi took the initiative to resign from the position of prince on the grounds that "the country is safe and the heir is the first, and the country is in danger and the merits are the first".Ruizong Li Dan made Li Longji the prince.Only in this way did a tragedy of brothers fighting against the wall be avoided.

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Since then, "the eldest son is the first to be the first to be in peace, and the first to be the first to be successful when the country is in danger" has become the rule of the Li and Tang royal family, and the position of the Eastern Palace is not necessarily inherited by the eldest son.

Today, the prince's party and the Yue king's Li family have once again formed a confrontation with each other.Undercurrents surged in the court, and many courtiers chose sides one after another.

The unspoken rules of court power struggle: In factional wrestling, if you want neutral courtiers or people from the opposing camp to defect to you, you must first show that your side has the upper hand through various channels, win the heir apparent, and cut off political speculators Two ends, wandering thoughts.

The method of fighting in front of the imperial court is an excellent way for the prince who wants to compete for the crown to show his strength and support.

In recent days, with the dismissal of Lu Chen, the prince's party has obviously declined in the court.

Tonight's court banquet, if the East Palace loses again in the imperial contest, once it is deliberately exaggerated by the Yue Palace, the consequences will be disastrous.

No wonder Prince Li Chu was so nervous.

Peng Wang Li Zhi, Yan Wang Li Zan and other princes were also quite surprised when they saw the result of the lottery.Because before the court banquet before Emperor Suzong came, Prince Li Chu made it clear that he would not participate in the pre-court contest, and even took the ivory pick with his name written on it from the stick.

Of course the princes knew what Li Chu meant, and this move could ensure that the princes and the prince lived in harmony.Why not do it?
Unexpectedly, someone had ulterior motives and secretly put the ivory stick representing Li Chu into the stick.

Isn't this obviously forcing the princes to fight with the crown prince?And he is such a sensitive prince.

Li Chu's face was livid. The reason why he announced that he would not participate in the martial arts competition before the court was not because he was afraid of the younger brothers, but because Yun Guangming, the number one master under his command, was going to perform an important mission tonight and did not accompany him into the palace.

If he wins the lottery, he has no chance of winning against princes such as Li Xi, King of Yue, and Li Zhi, King of Peng.Instead of making a fool of yourself in public, it is better to announce that you will not participate in the competition.

Unexpectedly, someone actually planned this situation carefully.

Li Chu suspected that this person must have tampered with the lottery, allowing Yue King Li Xi to win the lottery at the same time as himself, forcing him to a decisive battle.

Not only did this person have a good chance of winning, but he also cast eyeliner beside him and learned the top secret news that Yun Guangming could not play.

Li Chu couldn't bear the hatred, and gave Yue Wang Li Xi a hard look.

Yue Wang Li Xi looked calm, talking and laughing happily with his left and right, with a confident look.

After talking with the left and right staff, Li Xi, the King of Yue, laughed, stood up, and told Suzong: "My minister has newly hired a guest Qing, Mu Jinbai, who has excellent martial arts. Please allow him to represent the Yue Palace in battle."

Suzong nodded in agreement.

Most of the courtiers in the palace didn't know who Mu Jinbai was, and seeing that the people who were fighting were not some of the usual masters in the Palace of Yue Palace, all of them lost interest.

Even the courtiers guessed that the Yue king Li Xi was unwilling to be an enemy of the prince Li Chu, so he sent such a little-known warrior.

Only Bai Fu knew this person well.

When Bai Fu served as the envoy of the Northwest Court of Anbei in Shanzhou, Mu Jinbai was the commander of one of the battalions. He had a very good relationship with the commanders of the other two battalions, Guan Maung and Zhou Min. Known as "Jingyuan Three Jackals!".

In the process of pacifying Anlu Mountain, the powerful combat power of the Anbei Court Army made the court always fearful.After Li Siye's death, the imperial court was quite worried about the old generals of Anbeiting, and transferred Duan Xiushi, Li Feiyuanli and other generals and some troops away from Anbeiting for camp.

While splitting up the main force of the Anbeiting army, other generals and troops were also mixed into the Anbeiting camp.

It was at this time that Mu Jinbai, Guan Maung, and Zhou Min were transferred to the camp in the Northwest Court of An.

The three of them are veritable three jackals, they not only embezzle military pay, withhold military rations, and drink soldiers' blood, but also are vicious and cruel to the soldiers under their command.

After Bai Fu took charge of the army, he quickly learned about the character of these three men, and was about to find a fault and deal with them by military law.

Unexpectedly, the three of them secretly turned to Henan Yin Li Ruoyou, and Li Ruoyou took the initiative to intercede.

Bai Fu was so generous that he sent the three of them and their cronies to Li Ruoyou.

Now that Mu Jinbai is playing on behalf of Yue Wangfu, it means that Li Ruoyou, Jiannan Jiedu envoy and Chengdu Yin, has joined the Yue Wang Li family.

Although Mu Jinbai's character is despicable and inferior, he is indeed a disciple of the famous Kongtong sect. He possesses Kongtong unique skills and rarely meets opponents in the Anxi army.

Mu Jinbai was ordered to appear on the stage. This man's face was narrow and full of pockmarks. With a beard on his lips, he looked a bit like a goat. His eyebrows were like thick ink, and his long and narrow eyes shot out a chilling cruel light.At first glance, he is a cruel and merciless person.

The hall was silent, and the officials looked at the prince Li Chu who was in a dilemma.

Prince Li Chu also seemed to know Mu Jinbai very well, and when he saw this man appearing on the stage, he immediately frowned.Yue Wang Li Xi's face became more and more colorful.

The whole hall held their breath, waiting for Prince Li Chu's decision.Li Chu pondered for a while, and saluted Suzong: "Father, there is no need to compare, my son just admit defeat."

The audience was in an uproar and discussions abounded.

"No! I will compete on behalf of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" After hearing a crisp female voice, Princess Qingluan got up from the couch, pushed aside the mat, and was about to walk towards the center of the hall.

Princess Ningguo knew the power of it very well, she grabbed Princess Qingluan's hand tightly, and refused to let go, refusing to let Princess Qingluan end.

The internal servant Li Fuguo apologized and said with a smile: "It is a common practice that women are not allowed to participate in martial arts competitions in front of the palace. In the early years of the founding of the dynasty, martial arts competitions in front of the imperial court were popular. Even so, Princess Pingyang who guarded Niangziguan and Hongfu girl from Tiance Mansion were not allowed to participate in the competition. .”

Princess Qingluan's actions disrupted everyone's plans and made the whole scene even more chaotic.All the courtiers whispered to each other, Prince Li Chu was on pins and needles, feeling extremely tormented, and hoped that Suzong would announce the cancellation of the contest as soon as possible.

Princess Qingluan's actions brought infinite pressure on Bai Fu.Bai Fu twirled his fingers, his thoughts were like electricity, quickly thinking about how to end it.

With a thought in his mind, Bai Fu suddenly sensed it, looked up at Su Zong, and instantly understood it.

At the critical moment, Bai Fu lifted his robe, stood up, saluted Suzong, and said in a loud voice: "My minister is willing to fight on behalf of the Eastern Palace!"

As soon as these words came out, the croaking in the audience stopped immediately, and all eyes focused on Bai Fu, so quietly that even a needle could be heard falling to the ground.

Who is Bai Fu?

Recognized as the number one master of the Tang army, the royal son-in-law, the God of War in the Tang Dynasty, and the prime minister Shangshu Zuo Pushe?

Every identity is so prominent and jaw-dropping.

His appearance not only means that this competition has been won, but also represents the attitude of the military and the cabinet towards the Eastern Palace.

Mu Jinbai was dumbfounded, as if falling into an ice cave, his arrogance suddenly turned into a puddle of ice water.

Yue Wang Li Xi's face was ashen, his teeth were clenched, his fingers were clenched tightly, and his knuckles made creaking sounds.

Yan Wang Li Yan looked at Bai Fu adoringly, just like how excited and safe he was when he leaned on Bai Fu's shoulders on Yuanxi night and accompanied Bai Fu across the house.

Yan Zhenqing and other court officials and elders of the royal family let out a long breath.The appearance of Bai Fu was too timely, and the change of Xuanwu Gate had been killed here.

Princess Qingluan burst into tears, wept with joy, and looked at her sweetheart in disbelief.She had no extravagant hope that Bai Fu could support the prince at such a critical moment regardless of his own safety.

Li Yuan had a long beard in his hand, pondered for a while, and finally nodded and said: "Okay! As Aiqing asked. You will represent the East Palace in the battle!"

……