People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1074 I want to see his head within three days

"He said you killed Ming Chongyan, is this true?" Li Zhi turned over the memorial in his hand, raised his head, and looked at Li Xuan coldly.

Li Xuan stood in the Penglai Hall, held his hands solemnly, and said: "Since I left Beijing on the ninth day of the first lunar month, I have been traveling westward, passing through Tianshui, passing through Taozhou, and finally arrived in Changzhou. Then I never came back. I picked up the place half a month ago. After receiving His Majesty's imperial decree, I finished handling the government affairs and returned in a hurry."

After a slight pause, Li Xuan bowed heavily and said: "I don't know when and where Master Shiyin was killed. It's just that there wasn't much conflict between me and Master Shiyin, let alone any grudge. Yes, sir..."

Li Xuan didn't know how to defend himself for a moment, so he could only say: "I don't even know whether Master Shiyin was really killed?"

Hearing what Li Xuan said, Li Zhi was stunned, then nodded slightly, looked at Li Xuan, and said with emotion: "What you said makes sense. Now we don't even know whether Ming Qing was really killed."

Although it shows that Chongyan has been missing for more than half a year, to be honest, as long as his body is not found, no one can be sure that he is dead.

"The secret guard finally found out that he seems to have appeared between Anyang and Handan. You should take the time to go there." The emperor couldn't help but sigh, this matter has finally come to an end.

"I accept the order." Li Xuan bowed again.

"Okay." Li Zhi waved his hand and said, "Tell me about Thief Xiao. Where do you think he is now?"

"Your Majesty, I believe that that person has either escaped from Chang'an City or gone to Anxingfang." Li Xuan said with certainty.

"Why?" Li Zhi suddenly became interested.

"I now have a general understanding of how he escaped from the sight of Jinwu Guards in the city, Wanglou Guards and Chang'an Wannian County Police." Li Xuan handed over his hands seriously.

"Oh?" Li Zhi waved his hand: "Tell me about it?"

"It's a drainage canal." Li Xuan took a deep breath and said: "Although Chang'an is not as full of water canals as Luoyang, there are drainage canals in all directions. It's just that the smell of that place is so unpleasant that most people don't even want to go there, so that's why Someone took advantage of me.”

Li Zhi nodded slowly and had to admit that the drainage channel was indeed out of his sight.

"Thief Xiao fled into Kaihua Square. For the sake of the family in the square and the safety of all the palaces and palaces, I led the Jinwu Guards and Qianniu Guards who came to pursue him. Finally, he jumped over the wall of the square and jumped into the drainage channel. He disappeared in an instant... Chen, for the sake of safety, I stopped pursuing him." Li Xuan lowered her head in shame.

"This is none of your business. If I were to be tricked into luring the enemy in and driving the tiger away from the mountain, I would be the one to lose in the end." Li Zhi waved his hand carelessly, then he looked at Li Xuan and asked, "Since I know him How did he leave, can you still find him?"

"Your Majesty, it's not difficult." Li Xuan handed over his hand and said, "He has used this road once, and he will naturally use it a second time. All he wants to do is to help Ashina Nishugo and Ashina "Jana just fled Chang'an, so they will definitely take action in Anxingfang and Jinchengfang. As long as they check the surrounding drainage canals in detail, they should be able to find his traces."

"You want to slowly hunt him." Li Zhi somewhat understood what Li Xuan was thinking.

"Yes." Li Xuan cupped his hands and said, "This person is sinister and vicious. He slandered my ministers and framed the prince. He really deserves to die."

Li Zhi nodded lightly and said, "Yes, he said you killed Ming Chongyan for the prince."

"The prince is the king, and ministers are ministers. If the prince gives an order, the minister will complete it at all costs. But the prince has never given such a ridiculous order. The prince does not even need to do anything randomly. He only needs to handle the government affairs well. Your Majesty will naturally help him deal with all the problems. Now that someone is spreading rumors, I really deserve to die." Li Xuan gritted his teeth.

"Alas!" Li Zhi sighed softly, nodded solemnly, and said: "Twenty-seventh Lang is right. Ming Chongyan is indeed doing something, but it is just to lure the Turks in Mobei. I also want to see it. Look, Xian'er's methods and strategies when dealing with this kind of thing, what he did is actually pretty good."

Since Li Xuan reminded him, Li Xian has been seriously handling the government affairs of the court, especially the matter of checking the fields.

Although the methods were not ruthless enough, they did achieve some results.

Regarding Ming Chongyan's matter, Li Xian did have some suspicions, and many people had even concluded that Li Xian was colluding with Li Jingye, and was even involved with the Demon Cult, but in the end, there was no evidence.

Without any evidence, it is not easy to punish an ordinary official, let alone a prince of a country.

Li Xian made mistakes, but his current mistakes are far from being deposed.

If there is really enough evidence to prove that Li Xian killed Ming Chongyan and convict him, then the Turks in Monan and Mobei, as well as Li Jingye hiding under the water, will immediately take action.

For the sake of the overall situation, we really can't do anything to Li Xian at this time.

Not to mention, there is no evidence yet.

Originally, everyone expected Li Xuan to find evidence that Li Xian conspired to murder Ming Chongyan, but unfortunately, so far, the only ones involved were the Demon Cult.

……

"Forget it, let's not talk about it. Since you have returned to Chang'an, you will have full authority to deal with the Turks in Chang'an, and you will also be responsible for arresting the Xiao thief from the Demon Cult." The emperor breathed a sigh of relief and gave Li Li Xuan has the right to arrest and kill people in Chang'an.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Nanchang County, Xuan, the young minister of Honglu Temple who inspects the school, has received the order." Li Xuan bowed seriously, then raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, please mobilize your troops. The Xiao thief is too strong, and I don't have enough troops under my command. Can’t catch him.”

Li Zhi nodded and said: "It is true that the twenty or thirty men under your command cannot capture anyone. The right guard has a thousand troops in Luoyang... but Chang'an cannot give you that many troops."

"Your Majesty, I don't need so many Jinwu Guards. Two hundred Jinwu Guards are enough." Li Xuan quickly handed over his hands and said: "With one hundred Jinwu Guards, I can guarantee a tie with him. With two hundred Jinwu Guards, I can Make sure you catch him."

"Okay, let Masizong send someone to you." Li Zhi waved his hand directly, two hundred Jinwu Guards, this is not a problem.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Xuan quickly bowed and saluted.

"You have to catch him quickly." Li Zhi paused for a moment and said, "At the same time you were assassinated, someone sneaked into the palace with the intention of sneaking into the East Palace. He was detected in time and killed."

"What, Your Majesty, then the King of England, the Prime Minister, and Her Royal Highness the Princess..." Li Xuan immediately became anxious. Li Xiandong Palace is located in the palace and is guarded by countless soldiers all night long. There will not be much problem at all, but Li Xian, Li Dan and Princess Taiping will be in trouble.

"They are all fine." Li Zhi shook his head and said, "I suspect that the reason why he assassinated you today was because you noticed his plot to attack the East Palace in time, so he finally changed his target and finally fell on you."

"Attacking the East Palace?" Li Xuan's face was suddenly filled with astonishment, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes, and then he handed over his hands in a low voice: "I am acting carelessly."

"It's none of your business, but I always feel like there's something fishy here." Li Zhi lowered his head slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

"Your Majesty, I know where the problem lies." Li Xuan raised his head and earnestly handed over his hand.

"Oh, tell me." Li Zhi leaned back slightly and looked at Li Xuan with a half-smile.

"I suspect that someone among the prison guards has communicated with Li Jingye." Li Xuan felt solemn in his heart and said seriously: "On your Majesty's birthday, Li Jingye can easily enter and leave the palace. Although there are many people on the birthday, but There must be someone to support it, otherwise it would not be so smooth."

"So you suspect that the same thing happened today?" Li Zhi understood what Li Xuan said.

"Yes!" Li Xuan cupped his hands and said, "My memorial was sent from Luoyang to Chang'an overnight. The most vulnerable place for manipulation was at Chunming Gate. I would like to check who was on duty at Chunming Gate that night. , who followed Your Majesty to Luoyang in the summer?"

"Pass the order and ask Masizong to investigate immediately." After Li Zhi finished speaking, he looked up at Li Xuan and said, "You don't have to worry about this matter. You can just concentrate on arresting people... Regarding the handling of Li Jingye, Just do as you say, let him disappear forever, and don’t let the British Duke’s reputation be tarnished.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Xuan had been worried that Li Jingye's matter would affect Li Ji. It seemed that the emperor still had some affection for Li Ji.

There was a sound of slight footsteps in front of the rear hall door. Li Zhi raised his head and asked, "What's the matter?"

Wang Fulai entered carefully, then raised his hands and said: "Reporting to your Majesty, the officials have found out who is in the residence of Shiyin Zhenren in Luoyang?"

Li Zhi leaned forward involuntarily and asked, "Who is it?"

"This is Kong Zhiliang from Hengshui, Jizhou." As Wang Fulai spoke, he placed the memorial on the imperial case and pushed it away.

Li Zhi didn't know why he became nervous. He opened it quickly and seriously and read a series of small words in the notebook.

He didn't look at it at all, and directly unfolded the drawing paper attached to the back. Finally, he nodded slowly and said softly: "He is indeed Kong Qing's younger brother. I didn't expect that Li Jingye would be so crazy."

"Your Majesty, are you the son of Kong Yingda, the former prince of the country?" Li Xuan's face was filled with horror.

Li Zhi nodded and sighed: "Yes, he is also the younger brother of Kong Zhiyue, the former Minister of Rites. When Kong Qing was the Minister of Rites, he also edited "Compendium of Materia Medica" and "Record of Surnames" under the British Duke. It is still hidden in the secret palace."

Kong Zhiliang, the 33rd grandson of Confucius, and the youngest son of Kong Yingda.

Kong Yingda, one of the eighteen bachelors of the Qin Dynasty, was a Confucian scholar, Confucian scholar, Confucian scholar, and Yi scholar.

Kong Zhiliang served as an official when he was young, but later resigned and lived in Hengshui, Hebei Province.

Although Kong Yingda was a descendant of Confucius, he was not from the Confucius Mansion in Qufu.

The current owner of the Confucius Mansion in Qufu is Kong Delun, the thirty-third direct grandson of Confucius and the Blessed Saint.

Although Kong Zhiliang was not the 33rd direct grandson of Confucius, he was well-known in his family tree, had been an official in his early years, and had a reputation as a virtuous person himself.

What's more, he is the son of Kong Yingda, the former imperial minister, and the younger brother of Kong Zhiyue, the former minister of the Ministry of Rites. Just because of this incense, Li Jingye killed him, which was enough to make the court ministers angry.

What's more, he can do this to Kong Yingda's youngest son today, and he can do this to the descendants of all the ministers of the Manchu Dynasty tomorrow.

It's so unscrupulous, almost the same as the devil.

……

"King of Nanchang." Li Zhi said softly.

"The minister is here."

"I grant you the right to kill first and report later. You will be inspected by the young minister of Honglu Temple, and you will be commanded by two hundred Jin Wu Guards. You will be inspected by the right guard general, and you will be commanded by a thousand right guard cavalry. Capture him and kill him. Within three days, you will be killed. I want to see his head." Li Zhi's face was already terrifyingly cold.

"When I accept the decree, I will live up to His Majesty's expectations."

Li Xuan bowed seriously, then turned around and left without hesitation.

……

Li Zhi looked at Li Xuan's leaving figure and said softly: "I originally wanted to give Mr. Yingying a little favor and cut him off secretly, but he went too far today. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep Mr. Yingying's memorial tablet in Lingyan Pavilion. ”

"It's all your own fault." Empress Wu walked out from one side of the back hall and said softly: "I originally wanted to see if the King of Nanchang was related to Ming Qing's life and death as Xiao Thief said, but it seems that everything was framed by others, and Xian Son, if he is really caught, Your Majesty..."

Li Zhi shook his head calmly and said: "It doesn't matter, the King of Nanchang will take care of it... By the way, go to Hengshui to check. Li Jingye moved Kong Qing, and Ming Qing finally appeared in Anyang and Handan. Maybe he really Lost and trapped there.”

"Chen and concubine lead the order."

　The whole court was angry, beheaded first and played later

　　

　

(End of this chapter)