A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 1237: Wind Rising from Luoyang, Looking to Chang'an

Looking at Chang'an in the northwest, there are countless mountains.

Six miles west of Luoyang City is Lindu Post Station, the first post station on the grand post road leading west to Chang'an. Under the moonlight at Yangzijin, in front of the lights in Lindu Post Station, the upper hall of this grand post station outside Luoyang City is guarded in shifts by hundreds of armored cavalrymen with sharp weapons.

Outside the post station, soldiers from the Luozhou Military Governor's Office guarded the post station like an iron barrel. Outside, the county lieutenant from Luoyang was patrolling with his gang and runners.

Wu Huaiyu fell into a coma after being stabbed in Longxing Temple. The Hundred Cavalry Captain Zhang Shouxian and the team leader Liu Guangting immediately led a hundred cavalrymen to escort Wu Huaiyu out of the city and back to Lindu Posthouse.

After being assassinated, the two men completely lost trust in the Luoyang officials.

"Si Tu, General Xu, the Left General of the Chang'an Yulin Army, and Zhang Jian, the Supervisor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are here," Liu Guangting said at the door.

"Please let them in." Wu Huaiyu's voice came from the room.

Xu Luoren and Zhang Ananda entered the upper hall together.

They both came forward with concerned expressions to check on Wu Huaiyu's injuries.

There was a faint smell of blood and Chinese medicine in the room. Wu Huaiyu lay on the couch, looking a little pale. "Why are you two here?"

"Hurry up and lie down. Don't get up. Be careful not to disturb the wound." Zhang Ananda hurried forward to hold down Wu Huaiyu who was about to get up. "His Majesty was very angry and concerned when he heard that you were seriously injured in the assassination. He specially asked the two of us to come here immediately."

It took the two men three days to get from Chang'an to Luoyang, covering nearly 300 miles a day.

Xu Luoren was still in his prime, so it was fine. But Zhang Ananda was almost 80 years old, and he still managed to get to Luoyang in three days.

"Thank you for your hard work, Zhang Jian and General Xu."

Xu Luoren also secretly looked at Wu Huaiyu. He looked pale and tired, and it seemed that he was seriously injured.

"Auspicious people are blessed by heaven, and those who survive a great disaster will be blessed in the future."

"Your Majesty granted me the imperial medicine and sent me the imperial physician. He heard that dragon whiskers are very effective in healing wounds, so he did not hesitate to cut off all the dragon whiskers that he had carefully grown and asked me to bring them to Situ as the medicine."

As he spoke, Xu Luoren took out a beautiful little box from his arms.
When I opened it, there was a beard inside.
The dragon beard of the current emperor.

The Tang people considered thick beards to be beautiful. Emperor Li Shimin was born with a beautiful beard. He also paid great attention to the maintenance of his beard and trimmed it carefully.

The emperor had previously cut his own dragon whiskers to treat Qin Qiong's illness, and now he cut Wu Huaiyu's dragon whiskers again.

The ancients divided beards into relatively detailed categories. The part above the lips and below the nose was called moustache, the part below the lips and on the chin was called beard, and the part above the cheeks was called moustache.

This time, the emperor cut off the carefully trimmed beard on his chin that he had grown for many years and gave it to Wu Huaiyu as a medicine guide.

The emperor cut his long beard, which is roughly equivalent to a young man shaving his head in later generations.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty," Wu Huaiyu saluted with his hands crossed towards the west.

"I only have some minor injuries, nothing serious."

Zhang Ananda patted Wu Huaiyu's arm and said, "I have already asked the doctor who treated you outside. You were hit by two crossbows. The wound on your waist and abdomen was very deep. I heard that the blood was flowing non-stop and you fainted directly.

Later, we found out that the crossbow arrows were poisoned. Those assassins were really criminals and they were determined to kill you."

"He won't die." Wu Huaiyu said, "He just lost a lot of blood. The poison on the crossbow arrow is not that bad. We found out what the poison was in time and used the corresponding antidote."

"Look, it's only been a few days, and I'm fine now."

Zhang Ananda sighed, "You, you are so injured, but you can still laugh. It's because you are one of the three great medicine kings and a disciple of the Hidden Immortal. After you woke up, you were able to immediately determine what kind of poison you were in, and you were able to prepare an antidote immediately. If it were someone else, they would have been killed by the crossbow arrows or poisoned to death."

"It's not some rare poison, just an ordinary poison. If you detoxify it in time, it will be fine."

Xu Luoren called the imperial physician brought from Changan.

The emperor sent more than a dozen imperial doctors, but they were in a hurry and the older ones were still on the way, so only three arrived.

Wu Huaiyu cooperated with the imperial doctors' examinations.
Take off your clothes,

It even exposed the two wounds that had been bandaged.
The three imperial doctors examined Wu Huaiyu very carefully, and even asked the Luoyang doctor who treated Wu Huaiyu, and asked Wu Huaiyu some more questions.
Wu Huaiyu was very cooperative.

The three imperial doctors knew that they were showing off their expertise, but they came here on imperial orders, so these were the required procedures.

Wu Huaiyu also knew that the emperor sent the imperial physician not only to deliver medicine and medical treatment, but also to check his injuries.
What if it was a self-torture trick played by Wu Huaiyu?
Always check carefully.

After some examination and questioning, the three imperial doctors came to the conclusion that

Wu Huaiyu was hit by these two crossbows, which was quite dangerous, especially because the crossbow arrows were poisonous, but Wu Huaiyu was very lucky.
If the arrow in the thigh had been shot a little higher, it might have hit a vital position, and the arrow in the waist and abdomen almost injured the internal organs. If the two arrow wounds were a little off, Wu Situ would have died directly in Longxing Temple.

Especially the poison. They thought that if they were faced with it at that time, they would probably not be able to find out what kind of poison it was, let alone be able to quickly prepare an antidote for it.

"The medicine that Situ prescribed for me is very good. Situ is still young and strong. Now that the wound is not red, swollen or ulcerated, the next step is to rest well."

When Xu Luoren heard the result, he was amazed at the danger at that time and admired Wu Huaiyu's ability. If it was someone else who was assassinated, he might have confessed.

Let the imperial doctors leave.

There were only three people left in the room.

Xu Luoren asked Wu Huaiyu, "Does Situ know who tried to assassinate you?"

Wu Huaiyu shook his head. "I have been lying in Lindu Inn for a few days. I haven't left the house. I don't know much about the assassination case."

Zhang Annan asked, "Does Erlang have anyone he suspects?"

Wu Huaiyu smiled bitterly, "I have no idea either. I just passed by Luoyang temporarily this time, and it was a sudden impulse to go to Longxing Temple to appreciate the flowers. I really don't know who wants to kill me.

However, I have offended quite a few people over the years. Recently, I destroyed several countries in the Western Regions and captured and killed several khans and kings. In the distant past, I was responsible for the crackdown on illegal Buddhism and Taoism. I also presided over the new two-tax law, which also offended quite a few people."

Wu Huaiyu did not say that the biggest suspect in this assassination attempt was the current emperor.

Don't dare say such things casually.

But Wu Huaiyu believed that in today's world, anyone who knew about the assassination would definitely suspect the emperor first.

At this moment, Li Shimin was probably a little overwhelmed, maybe even angry and roaring. After all, no one could tolerate being blamed for something.

Wu Huaiyu didn't believe that the emperor had done this.

From the performance point of view, all clues point to the emperor, and the emperor's motives are also highly suspected. But the more so, the more it shows that it cannot be the emperor.

If the emperor really wanted to kill Wu Huaiyu, he could have used more covert methods.

You could even be generous and grant him death.

There is no need to use this method now, the key is that it has not yet been done. If Wu Huaiyu was really stabbed to death, then it is possible. Now he was stabbed and injured, but a few days have passed and there has been no follow-up action. This is probably not the emperor's doing.

There is no one in this world that Li Shimin cannot kill.

Who assassinated him?
In fact, Wu Huaiyu has been looking for the answer in his heart these days, but he has no clue for the time being.

The emperor might be willing to see Wu Huaiyu die, but he would never do it himself. As long as Wu Huaiyu retreated a little and was not such a threat to the imperial power, he would still be of great use. After all, Wu Huaiyu was both civil and military. Such a capable minister could be used when he was really needed. Even if he was not used and kept idle, he would still be a trump card.
Especially for the Western Regions, Lingnan, and the northern frontier, with Wu Huaiyu here, who would dare to mess around in these places?

Xu Luoren and Zhang Ananda asked for a while respectively, but neither got any useful information.

The assassination case is now under investigation by the Luozhou Military Governor's Office. Luozhou Military Governor Changsun Wuji has been promoted to the imperial court, and the position of military governor is temporarily vacant. The Chief Clerk Yang Guangwu was seriously injured in the assassination case. Now in Luoyang, the Military Governor's Office Sima Li Fenger is in charge.
He also worked very hard to investigate the case. After the incident, he sealed off the city of Luoyang for three days and searched the entire city, but he did not find anything useful.

Longxing Temple was temporarily closed and thoroughly investigated after a three-foot-deep excavation.
But after several days,

Apart from the bodies of four female assassins who committed suicide by taking poison after the assassination, they did not gain anything.

The assassin's true identity is unknown.

No one knows where the assassin came from or who is behind it.

Even whether Longxing Temple had any connection with these four assassins could not be found out.

Wu Huaiyu did not intervene in this case at all, and he could not intervene now. He had no one of his own around him, only this team of imperial guards, but now he did not trust this team of imperial guards.
So after the incident, when he was sent back to Lindu Posthouse, he just focused on detoxifying himself and healing his wounds, without even asking about anything else.

Xu Luoren said goodbye and left first.

He was going to enter Luoyang City, meet with Luoyang officials, and formally take over the investigation of the case.

Zhang Ananda was not in a hurry to leave. He also came to investigate the case, but he was in the dark and did not participate in the open investigation.

"What is Erlang's impression of Yang Guangwu?"

"He was humble and polite. When he was assassinated that day, he was very brave. He rushed forward with his bare hands to fight the assassin until he fell to the ground after being stabbed several times," Wu Huaiyu said politely.

"What do you think of Zhang Shouxian and Liu Guangting?"

“The two Hundred Cavalry officers are very skilled in martial arts and are elite veterans from the battlefield, but they are still a little inexperienced in terms of escort.

But the main responsibility for the assassination that day lies with me, and I should have been more careful."

"Liu Guangting was very brave. He rushed to my side immediately after I was stabbed and used his body to block several arrows from coming my way. Zhang Shouxian killed three assassins by himself."

Zhang Ananda wrote these down. The two men would be taken away for investigation soon. Regardless of whether they were related to the assassination or not, they would not have a good end. If they were really on the assassin's side, they would be miserable. Not only would they be executed, but their families would also be implicated.

Even if they had nothing to do with the assassin, they were seriously derelict in their duties and the best outcome would be dismissal and exile.

You must know that even in the army, if the commander-in-chief's personal soldiers cannot protect the commander-in-chief, they will be severely punished. If the commander-in-chief is killed and even his body cannot be recovered, he must be executed according to military law. Even if the commander-in-chief is injured, his personal soldiers will also be subject to military law.

These hundred riders were ordered by the emperor to guard the three highest officials of the court, but they were assassinated and seriously injured in Luoyang City, and they could not escape the blame.

"His Majesty is extremely angry and has issued an order to quickly find the assassin and the mastermind behind the scenes. I will definitely give you an explanation."

Zhang Ananda's words were to hint to the emperor that he had nothing to do with the matter. He also revealed the emperor's reaction when he learned the news, and he was so shocked that he fainted on the ground.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard that you were assassinated and broke into the palace to ask His Majesty about your situation. His Royal Highness requests that the real culprit be found for you."

Wu Huaiyu also understood the subtext of these words. The prince suspected the emperor, and the father and son might have had a quarrel because of this.

This touched him deeply, but he was also worried about the prince.

"Right now, Yang Guangwu, the chief officer of the Luozhou Governor's Office, is the most suspicious. He was the one who suggested going to Longxing Temple to enjoy the flowers, and then you were assassinated in the temple less than half an hour later. Even if he was injured in the fight against the assassination, he cannot clear himself of suspicion."

Since there were no outsiders around, Zhang Ananda spoke frankly to his adopted grandson-in-law.

"Yang Guangwu was promoted vigorously by Zhangsun Wuji during his five years in Luoyang. In five years, he was promoted from the seventh-rank magistrate of Gong County to the fifth-rank chief of Luozhou Military Governor's Office. Moreover, Zhangsun Wuji's second son took Yang Guangwu's daughter as a concubine."

Wu Huaiyu leaned there, "Mr. Changsun, that's not the case, is it?"

"He is the most suspicious now,"

Wu Huaiyu felt that the possibility was not high, but it was not impossible. After all, Changsun Wuji was famous for his ambition, greed for power, and narrow-mindedness.

Over the years, they have always been allies of the Eastern Palace Prince's Party, and their children have even been married to each other. There is no direct conflict of interest, and their relationship is quite good.

Zhang Ananda reminded him, "I heard that the sage asked Gao Shilian to resign the post of You Pushe, and originally wanted to give it to you, but after you were demoted, the sage said in the court that the emperor's uncle should take over You Pushe. Although the emperor's uncle refused at that time, if you were assassinated,
Does the uncle of the emperor really have a chance to be appointed as the Right Prime Minister?"

"For the position of Right Prime Minister, the King's uncle wants to kill me?" Wu Huaiyu shook his head, thinking it was impossible. The situation between them had not reached that point yet, and assassinating him would involve a huge risk.

"Whether he is the emperor's uncle or not, I will do my best to investigate it."

"The Saint has asked you to stay in Luoyang Palace temporarily for recuperation, and has sent 300 imperial guards from Chang'an to protect you. He will also ask your family to send some of their children and soldiers to take care of you soon."

"What about this team of 100 knights?"

Zhang Ananda said bluntly, "This team of 100 Cavalry is currently taking over from the newly arrived Imperial Guards. After the handover is completed, they will be taken away for investigation. Before the investigation is completed, they will all be stripped of their status as 100 Cavalry."

After the investigation is completed, even if these people have nothing to do with the assassination case, it will be impossible for them to regain their status as the Hundred Riders.

"Zhang Jian, if it is found that the assassination case has nothing to do with them, I hope that the Saint and the court will not punish them too much. At the very least, they can retain their status as Hundred Riders and give them a chance to atone for their crimes."

"Let's talk about this later." Zhang Anan said. "The most important thing is to focus on healing your wounds. When you are well, His Majesty will summon you back to court."

Wu Huaiyu refused to stay in Luoyang Palace to recuperate.

Although the Luoyang Palace is now only a temporary palace for the emperor, where he occasionally resides, it is, after all, the emperor's temporary palace.

"Lindu Inn is also quite good. It has a large space and can separate the upper hall from here without affecting recuperation."

"That won't work. Lindu Posthouse is a post house after all. It's neither quiet nor safe to welcome and send people off. We should go to Luoyang Palace, which will also be more convenient for the imperial guards to protect us."

Wu Huaiyu and Zhang Ananda argued for a while, and finally Zhang Ananda reluctantly agreed to Wu Huaiyu's suggestion to move to Dongcheng for recuperation.

Dongcheng is a small town in Luoyang.
In addition to the outer city, imperial city and palace city, Luoyang City also has six small cities guarding the palace city, southeast and west sides of the imperial city. They are Yaoyi City, Yuanbi City, East City, Hanjia Cang City, and the East and West Separation City.

The six small cities and the imperial palace correspond to the seven stars of the Big Dipper. These six small cities undertake some functions of the palace. For example, the two cities on the north are where the imperial guards are stationed, the city on the west is the palace area where the princes and princesses live, and the city on the east is the East Palace where the crown prince lives.

Hanjia Granary City was mainly used for storing grain and other supplies.

There are no neighborhoods or residents in Dongcheng, so it would be easier for Wu Huaiyu to recuperate here. The larger place also makes it more convenient for the imperial guards from Chang'an to escort him.

(End of this chapter)