Chang'an is good

After finalizing the matter, Li Xian immediately sent for several Taoists in Luoyang Palace who were in charge of supervising Fengxian Palace.

These Taoists all hold official positions and are usually responsible for the construction and layout of Fengxian Palace and Feng Shui matters. The leader is called Master Dongxuan. He has many followers in Luoyang City and is very prestigious.

After Dongxuan and the others left Li Xian's office, they ordered an altar to be opened in the city, and announced to everyone that they were going to perform sacrifices to heaven.

This sacrifice is a living sacrifice.

……

Before the flood occurred, Li Xian was ordered to investigate the collaborators of Xu Zhengye in Luoyang City. In order to obtain a detailed list of internal responders, Li Xian took away [-] people who used to have positions under Xu Zhengye's command from among the captured Xu's rebels. He was taken to Luoyang for interrogation.

Li Xian has obtained a rough list of the internal agents in Luoyang City, and has arrested many suspects. He only needs to follow the clues to find out the remaining accomplices.

The word "same party" is not just a superficial meaning.

In addition to the list that was pried out from Xu Zhengye's confidants, Li Xian also held another list in his hands - it was secretly handed over to him by the servant who came from the capital to deliver the decree.

Many of the surnames on it overlap with his interrogation results, but there are also many people who are not among them.

The emperor's intention was very obvious. Since he wanted to do something, he had to completely remove those sharp thorns called dissidents in one fell swoop—whether they participated in Xu Zhengye's affairs or not.

In other words, the theory of thoroughly investigating Xu Zhengye's accomplice was just a name from the beginning.

And the scope of this "investigation" is not only in the land of Luoyang, the place where the empress is watching is the gentry in the entire Central Plains, especially the most prominent surname, the one that is enough to tear apart the four gentry whose interests are closely linked. surname.

Therefore, Li Xian knew who he was going to deal with next and how to do it.

He no longer needed to interrogate the captives.

However, he soon discovered that these useless captives had other uses.

It was Li Xian's decision after discussion with some Luoyang officials to kill Xu Jun's captives to sacrifice to heaven.

The Taoist Dongxuan who presided over the ceremony claimed that the flood disaster and the destruction of Fengxian Palace by the flood were all because of Xu Zhengye's heinous crimes, and his sins were so serious that he offended the heavens. The remnants of evil have not been eliminated!

In the name of appeasing the wrath of heaven, they led two hundred prisoners onto the altar and beheaded them.

Blood flowed down the marks of the altar runes, mixed with the rain, and stained several streets in Luoyang City red.

This move was undoubtedly bloody, and precisely because it was bloody enough, it was able to shock people everywhere, and it succeeded in suppressing the rumors that were unfavorable to the empress for a while.

In order to prove this, they claimed to the outside world that they would sacrifice [-] captives to the sky every day until the wrath of the sky was appeased.

Although Li Xian and others' move was bloody, it was not considered a precedent. Since the establishment of the Dasheng Dynasty, although there were very few sacrifices of living people, there have always been examples of killing prisoners and offering sacrifices.

Although many literati in Luoyang City criticized this matter, they could only condemn one or two from the level of morality.

The nobles in the city were already restless. In addition to changing public opinion, Li Xian's move was obviously aimed at them!

You can kill prisoners of war today, and tomorrow you can kill them who are also Xu Zheng's amateur party to sacrifice to heaven!

All the gentry clansmen were angry but uneasy, and there were layers of Xuance troops guarding inside and outside Luoyang City to suppress them, and because of floods, many of the main roads were washed away. There were many literati, women and children in their clan, even if they wanted to escape Luoyang in time, they could not escape. cannot.

Under such natural disasters and man-made disasters, they have become trapped animals. The only way to save themselves now may be to seek help from the Zheng family in Xingyang!

Therefore, they decided to send a trustworthy person to secretly send a letter to Xingyang.

……

Li Xian also ordered a thousand soldiers under his command, accompanied by two Luoyang officials, to leave Luoyang in the rain and rush to Bianzhou.

They did not enter Bianzhou City, but went directly to the large army camp camped on a higher ground outside Bianzhou City.

Knowing that the coach Xiao Min was not in the camp, the leading general and two Luoyang officials ordered the camp to quickly count Xu Jun's prisoners of war and send them all to Luoyang.

Several generals in the camp went to talk to them and inquire about the matter. They took a tough stance and only said that it was the intention of General Li Xian and that the matter was of great importance and could not be delayed.

At this moment, the rain was light, and not far away, a group of prisoners with chains on their feet were filling sand into sacks in the rain. The general under Li Xian immediately signaled his subordinates to drive the prisoners over, took the hemp rope, and immediately They would be counted and tied up, as if they were treated like livestock.

The remaining prisoners of war in Luoyang City could not "sustain" for two days, and they needed to bring these prisoners back as soon as possible.

"Now there are more than [-] prisoners of war in the camp, and it will take at least a whole day to count them all." Captain Bai frowned and said seriously: "And this matter is not trivial, we have to wait for the commander to return to the camp and discuss it face to face with several adults. These prisoners of war can be handed over later."

The general sneered, put his hand on the scabbard at his waist, and said sharply: "It's about the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven, about the fate of the country, if there is any delay or mistake, not only we will be blamed, but you will also be unable to bear it." !"

As he said this, the prisoners of war who were being tied up all looked horrified.

sacrifice to heaven?

So, are the rumors heard yesterday true?
It's not enough to kill those people in Luoyang City, why should they all be taken away to sacrifice to heaven? !
"You...what are you doing?"

"let me go!"

As prisoners of war, it is naturally impossible for them to receive preferential treatment. These days, they are doing the hardest and most tiring tasks in the camp, and eating the worst and least food, but they know their status and situation, as long as they can survive.

And although being a prisoner of war was hard, fortunately, General Ning Yuan had spoken, so at least there was no abuse of prisoners of war in the camp, so they never thought of resisting.

When they were willing to surrender, they just wanted to survive!

But at this moment, these people wanted to take them to sacrifice to heaven, and under the fear of their lives being threatened, some people began to struggle and resist.

A thin prisoner of war staggered out of the team and shouted in a panic: "Lieutenant Bai, we don't want to go to Luoyang! General Ning Yuan and Commander Xiao have personally said that if you don't kill those who surrender, you can't—"

As an arrow pierced his heart, his voice suddenly stopped and he fell into the muddy water.

The one holding the bow and crossbow was none other than Li Xian's general.

His voice was harsh: "Those who dare to resist, this general does not mind beheading you on the spot to sacrifice to heaven!"

Seeing his companion lying in the muddy water, twitching slightly, with blood gushing out of his mouth, a burly prisoner couldn't help feeling sad and angry: "Shunzi never resisted and hurt others! He's just cowardly." !"

He turned his head abruptly, looked at the general who shot his companion, clenched his fists, and broke the hemp rope: "You go too far in deceiving others!"

"The left and right are dead. Instead of turning into sacrifices like pigs, sheep and livestock, why don't I kill them!"

From being forcibly conscripted by the Xu army to being defeated and becoming captives, how did they ever have a choice along the way... They thought all this had finally come to an end, but now they would be killed as sacrifices for no apparent reason!
What kind of cannibalism is this!

The man's eyes were red: "I will fight with you today!"

He had some physical strength, and he snatched the knife from a soldier with his bare hands.

And he should have some prestige among this group of prisoners of war. Seeing his actions, the prisoners of war immediately followed behind him.

"Stop all of them! Quickly control them!" Captain Bai said quickly.

"Pigs, sheep, and livestock?" The military commander sarcastically said, "I'm overestimating myself, but I'm just a group of ants who are overwhelmed."

While he was speaking, he motioned for his men in armor behind him to come forward: "If you dare to resist, no one will be left behind! Afterwards, their heads will be counted, and a lot of them will be brought back to Luoyang!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the burly man leading him running toward him with hatred in his eyes and a sword raised, he narrowed his eyes and raised the crossbow in his hand again, aiming at the man.

"call out!"

The sharp arrow pierced through the air, but it didn't come from his hand, but pierced from the side, piercing his arm!

His face was grim due to the pain, the crossbow in his hand fell to his feet, he took two steps back, and at the same time turned to look at where the sharp arrow came from.

"General congratulations!" The Luoyang official behind him supported him and exclaimed, looking in the direction where the sound of horse hoofs came from.

A group of people rode their horses, wearing coir raincoats on top of their armor. The leader held a longbow and reined in his horse five or six steps away from them.

She turned slightly and drew her bow again, but the arrow fell to the ground.

The burly prisoner who rushed forward with a knife looked at the sharp arrow that fell at his feet, and couldn't help but pause.

"Anyone who dares to take half a step will be shot and killed." The voice of the girl holding the bow was not heavy, but it was as cold as the rain of needles, which made people dare not make mistakes.

"...The great coach is back!"

"General Ning Yuan!"

"General!"

All of a sudden there were shouts, and there were soldiers around to salute.

Captain Bai took the opportunity to control the restless prisoners of war.

"...It turns out to be General Ning Yuan!" The general whose right arm was shot by Chang Sui Ning's arrow turned pale with pain. He stared at the man on the horse: "I dare to ask General Ning Yuan why he rashly hurt people. Lift?"

"I should ask you why you intervene in our military affairs without authorization." The girl drove the horse and walked a few steps slowly. She was riding a very burly and beautiful brown-red horse, and her eyes looked wild and unruly. , from time to time, he sprayed white steam from his nostrils, looking very provocative.

The man on the horse looked down at him and the two officials: "When marching outside, only the military regulations must not be messed up. On the premise that there is no general in charge in our army, you make mistakes without authorization, use knives and arrows, and shout If this is the case, even if I punish you with military law, why not?"

According to this, she was merciful?
"You..." A Luoyang official pointed at her angrily, "I have an order to escort these prisoners to Luoyang under the order of General Li Xian!"

They brought out Li Xian's name, but saw that the girl's attitude was still the same, and she was even more contemptuous: "Why did General Li Xian come to ask for prisoners of war again? The ones he took away before are not enough for him to interrogate." ?"

This tone seemed to be mocking Li Xian's incompetence, which made the general with an injured arm very angry.

He is the son of a domestic servant of the Korean government. His first and last name were given by the Korean government. He is called He Shan. He has followed Li Xianshen since he was a child, and he is extremely loyal.

But he was somewhat afraid of Chang Suining's name, and he didn't want to conflict with her, so he forcibly endured the anger of his arm injury, and explained to her that the purpose of these prisoners of war was to sacrifice to heaven, not to interrogate.

A sneer appeared in Chang Suining's eyes.

What a sacrifice to the sky, what a day to kill 200 people until the wrath of the sky is appeased.

Kill 200 people every day, and keep killing, the rain will stop one day, and then it will represent the end of the wrath of the sky, right?

She knew that the Fengxian Palace in Luoyang City was washed away, and there were rumors unfavorable to Emperor Shengji. Li Xian's move was to create another rumor to cover up that one.

In order to make the rumors he created more impactful, he chose the bloody method of sacrificing prisoners of war to divert the attention of the world.

At the same time, it can intimidate and suppress the Luoyang nobles and prepare public opinion for their complete elimination.

It’s indeed a good way that you can’t go wrong no matter how you look at it.

Seeing that she was silent for a moment, He Shan endured the pain and said firmly: "This matter is of great importance. Please ask General Ning Yuan to cooperate with us."

Chang Suining glanced at the prisoners who had been regained control, their expressions were either panic or sad, and said: "I can't agree to this matter, you can't take them away."

what?
He Shan only thought that he had heard wrong.

Most of the prisoners of war also had difficulty reacting for a while.

"I have personally promised them that those who surrender will not be killed. Although they are prisoners of war, they have their own corresponding military laws to deal with." Chang Sui Ning said.

An official from Luoyang asked in a deep voice, "General Ning Yuan, do you know what the charge is for bumping into and obstructing the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven?"

"May I ask who initiated this so-called ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven?" Chang Suining glanced at him: "Is it a saint, or are you adults who are eager to escape responsibility for fear of being charged with the disadvantage of supervising and guarding Fengxian Palace?"

The official's complexion changed a few times: "... General Ning Yuan must know that this is General Li Xian's intention. General Li Xian ordered to deal with the remaining members of the Xu family!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand in the direction of the capital and said, "Since General Li Xian is ordered to deal with the remnants of the Xu Clan, he can naturally decide how to deal with these prisoners of war!"

He moved out the name of a saint, but he heard the girl who still refused to dismount reminded softly: "But, I am also ordered to wipe out the remnants of the Xu family."

"And as far as I know, General Li Xian is only ordered to thoroughly investigate the remaining internal responses in Luoyang City, and I am in charge of the remnants of the Xu Army everywhere."

Another Luoyang official couldn't bear it and stepped forward and asked forcefully: "What if we must take away these prisoners of war today!"

The girl looked at him with a half-smile but said, "Then let's try it."

While she was speaking, the steed horse below her suddenly neighed and raised its hooves, as if it was about to step on it. The official backed back two steps in fright. Looking again, he saw the horse grunting and snorting at him.

The official's face was dull for a moment, and his expression was indescribable... He was actually frightened and laughed at by a horse!It just doesn't make sense!
At this time, the girl on the horse spoke again, uttering arrogant words.

good night lovely people