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

Chapter 1135 The emperor asked: How about deposing the prince?

At the end of July, on the banks of the Wei River, the autumn wind was bleak.

Li Xuan, dressed in black clothes and armor, rode a horse and stopped at Weinan Station, followed closely by two hundred Qianniu guards with indifferent expressions.

"Your Majesty, do you want to inform your family?" Li Zhu stepped forward and asked for orders.

Li Xuan shook her head calmly and said: "Go to Luoyang first. After meeting His Majesty and the Queen, the news will naturally spread to Chang'an. There is no need to do it now."

Li Xuan looked sideways at the people behind her and said, "Let's go, we'll get to Dongdu tonight."

"Here!" A group of Thousand Oxen Guards handed over their hands without any hesitation. The next moment, two hundred Thousand Ox Guards cavalry were already rushing east again.

Of these two hundred Qianniu Guards, one hundred were actually from Luoyang to Changzhou Qianniu Guards, and the remaining one hundred were Li Xuan's people.

The horse galloped, and Li Xuan's eyes fell on Luoyang, which was out of sight in the distance.

The emperor was worried that he would be out of control. Even though the relationship between Li Xuan and Li Xian was extremely estranged, in order to avoid an accident, he still sent one hundred thousand Niu Guards to go there personally.

But it doesn't matter.

On Qinling, in June, he sent two thousand troops to sneak into Changzhou. He originally planned to wait until the incident in Chang'an in August before mobilizing, but unfortunately things changed too quickly.

Li Xuan unexpectedly burned Qamdo with a fire.

Li Zhi unexpectedly moved Li Xian in advance.

The two thousand light troops from Qinling are now lurking in Maji Snow Mountain, unable to advance or retreat, they can only wait for the opportunity.

However, Lun Qinling had no idea that the communication channels of the two thousand Guangjun had been completely controlled by Li Xuan.

It would be strange if Li Xuan didn't discover him when he used a flying eagle to send messages in Changzhou.

Li Xuan originally planned to quietly deal with this group of Tubo troops in the mountains between Tongren and Xiahe, but now, he was suddenly called back to Beijing.

This group of Guangjun suddenly became Li Xuan's back-up force to deal with unexpected changes in the DPRK.

Although Li Xuan is confident, in today's chaotic situation, no one knows how many people will die if a mistake is made.

If something unexpected happens and involves him, the sudden appearance of this group of light troops will immediately win him a chance.

……

The war horses were galloping on the mountain road from Chang'an to Luoyang, and Li Xuan's eyes fell on the rich fields on both sides.

Countless people are harvesting in the fields.

The autumn harvest has arrived, and the people have a good harvest.

Even though there are tax collectors running back and forth in the countryside, you can still see the smiles on the faces of the people.

Li Xuan subconsciously slowed down her horse to bring as much harvested wheat into her sight as possible.

After a long time, he sighed softly, swung his horsewhip vigorously, and rushed towards Luoyang at high speed, with the Qianniu Guards following closely behind him.

Horse hooves galloped, and a few hours later, they had arrived in Luoyang.

Luoyang Dingding Gate.

Li Zhu stepped forward and presented the token, and the guard at the door immediately cleared a path.

The next moment, two hundred thousand cattle guards had rushed in and entered the city directly.

The people around him immediately dispersed.

Li Xuan turned around and saw the letter flag flying on the tower.

The news of Li Xuan's return to Luoyang was immediately reported to the palace.

After coming back to his senses, while running at high speed, Li Xuan's eyes fell on the ordinary-looking Luoyang people on the long street.

The people of Dongdu all stared at Li Xuan curiously.

It seemed that the prince's dethronement had little impact on them.

Continuing forward, the closer we get to the palace, the fewer the smiles on the faces of the people.

Li Xuan suddenly remembered that the closer to the palace, the more dignitaries and nobles lived here. Even the occasional common people were inextricably related to the dignitaries.

When the prince conspires to rebel, no one knows when he will be involved with whom.

Li Xuan looked in the direction of the East Palace. Although he rushed back from Changzhou, he heard a lot of news on the way.

Li Xian's servant Zheng Su, the prince Zuowei led the recorder to join the army, Su Kui, the right prisoner led the cavalry Cao to join the army Cheng, and a total of thirteen East Palace officials, all of them hanged themselves.

This does not include Huangfu Gongyi, who originally planned to commit suicide, and Gao Qi, who was killed and beheaded by his biological father, uncle and cousin.

In addition, there were many others whose names did not deserve to be known, all of whom died quietly.

Li Xuan roughly estimated that in Li Xian's turmoil, from top to bottom, at least a thousand officials in the DPRK and Central Government were killed, demoted, and exiled.

No wonder so many people in the DPRK are worried.

Fortunately, no prime minister has been involved yet.

But everyone's eyes fell on Xue Yuanchao, the father of Xue Yao, the prince's minister, the third-rank official of Zhengjian doctor and Tongzhongshu sect.

……

"Your Majesty has a decree to summon Wang Xuan of Nanchang to see you immediately." The chamberlain in green shouted loudly under the Chengtian Gate.

The eyes of countless internal and external officials, servants, and guards all fell on Li Xuan, who was dressed in black clothes and black armor, and was covered in dust.

"I accept the order from Nanchang Wang Xuan to express my gratitude." Li Xuan earnestly handed over his hands and then stepped forward. The mixed gazes around him did not attract his attention at all, and all his real attention was focused on the front.

In the Qianyang Palace.

Walk up the steps step by step and enter the palace gate.

Li Xuan lowered his eyes, and with just a glance, he could already see that Li Zhi was the only one in the entire palace.

Empress Wu, who originally accompanied Li Zhi to handle political affairs in the court, was not here at this time for unknown reasons.

"Your Majesty, Wang Xuan of Nanchang, pays homage to Your Majesty." Li Xuan solemnly held up his hands, then lifted up his clothes and knelt down directly in the hall: "Your Majesty, you will live forever and enjoy eternal blessings."

"Okay, get up." Li Zhi smiled gently, looking at Li Xuan's tired appearance, he said with some emotion: "How many days have you been back this time?"

"Three days." Li Xuan bowed, then stood up, cupped his hands and said, "When I received the imperial edict, I handed over the military power to the left guard general Wang Xiaojie in the Tanggula Mountains. Then I turned around and returned to Maduo. He entrusted the governor's seal to Zhang Gong, then returned to Xinghai, asked Yao Changshi to harvest this autumn, and then rushed back to Luoyang without stopping."

"I know that when you passed through Chang'an, you didn't even send a letter home." Li Zhi sighed softly.

Li Xuan cupped her hands: "Where the sacred destiny lies, everything must give way."

Li Zhi smiled darkly, then his face softened, and he whispered: "You already know everything about the prince, right?"

Li Xuan bowed deeply and said: "I was extremely surprised when I heard in Changzhou that the prince had changed. Therefore, when I handed over the military power, I ordered that no one in Changzhou, except for the logistics auxiliary troops, is allowed to retreat."

"That's not what I'm asking, I know it in my heart." Li Zhi stared straight at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan handed over his hand again: "Your Majesty, I don't know much about the prince's affairs, but since it has been discovered by the court, it is irrefutable.

As for what happens after that, it’s up to the Three Law Departments and the Political Affairs Hall, as well as His Majesty’s disposal. No matter what His Majesty decides, I will bow my head and obey orders. "

"You're still the same naughty guy!" Li Zhi's expression softened, he looked at Li Xuan, shook his head and said, "I don't care about the Third Division and the Political Affairs Hall, Twenty-Seventh Lang, what do you think about this matter?"

Li Xuan bowed, remained silent for a while, and then said: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is a kind-hearted person. When he was the Prime Minister, he performed a lot of filial piety. As the Queen Crown Prince, there are many courtiers around him, including prime ministers, counselors, and talented people to assist in government. But no matter how wise a king is, there will inevitably be villains around him who can cause mischief with ulterior motives and willful intentions, which can lead to catastrophe."

Li Zhi sat above him, nodded slightly, and waved his hand, indicating to Li Xuan to continue.

Li Xuan cupped her hands and continued: "The prince is both a subordinate of the king and the responsibility of a minister. He is careful to flatter, so that he cares about the superior and forgets about the inferior. He is blind both internally and externally. He is temporarily confused and falls into a hopeless situation, both internally and externally. Everyone has heavy responsibilities...so do I. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

After saying that, Li Xuan knelt down again and kowtowed to the ground.

"Everyone inside and outside has heavy responsibilities." Li Zhi sighed, shook his head slightly, and said, "I am also responsible for not taking good care of Erlang."

"The government is in chaos and enemies are everywhere. Your Majesty has worked hard and achieved peace in the world. Although it is inevitable that there will be mistakes, God will not blame you." Li Xuan kowtowed again.

"Yes, I have tried my best." Li Zhi raised his hand and sighed: "Okay, stand up."

"Here!" Li Xuan bowed again, and then stood up carefully.

"Now in the court, among the officials in the East Palace, there are many people who hang themselves because of uneasiness and self-blame, and there are also people who are frightened and frightened at home. I don't want to involve too much, so what if I want to indulge in it?" The emperor leaned forward slightly and stared directly at him. On Li Xuan.

Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. What did the emperor mean by this? Did he want to let go of the staff in the East Palace?

No, he was asking, should he let the prince go?

Li Xuan immediately tightened his lips. The words to depose the crown prince must not come out of his mouth first.

Li Xuan cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I returned from the northwest, passed through Longxi, entered Sanfu, and entered Changluo. Along the way, the fields have had a good harvest and the people are happy. All the officials in the East Palace have made great contributions in the past two or three years. Although now, although There are serious mistakes, but the three judges still need to consider their merits when judging crimes. After that, whether to kill or demote is all at the discretion of your majesty."

After Li Xuan finished speaking, she bowed deeply again.

He believed that the emperor could understand his words.

The ministers in the East Palace have merits and demerits, and the three laws will judge their crimes.

The prince has made meritorious deeds and will be judged by the three laws.

Everything is done according to the law of Tang Dynasty.

Li Zhi sighed softly and said, "Family scandals should not be made public!"

Li Xuan lowered his head. Now that he knew that the family scandal should not be publicized, why didn't he stop the prince when he did something wrong in the first place?

Now that everything is irreversible, I begin to regret and lament...hypocrisy.

Li Xuan cupped his hands and said: "The prince's affairs are your majesty's family affairs and also the state affairs of the Tang Dynasty. The prime ministers also have their own attitudes on this matter. Your majesty may wish to listen to it."

The emperor wanted to depose the prince, but he was worried about the negative consequences of deposing the prince.

Ordinary people are not important, what is important are those who truly see through the power operation behind all this.

These people are the most intelligent people in the world, and they also have a lot of say in Datang.

The emperor didn't want these people to make irresponsible remarks about him.

Well, let the prime ministers talk about these things.

After the prime ministers finished speaking, there was also the censor.

Just a deposed prince.

The ministers in the world can come up with countless reasons for him.

Li Zhi nodded lightly, and then said, "There are also many clan members involved in this matter, such as King Jiang Li Hun and King Cao Li Ming."

Li Xuan raised her head slightly, looked at the emperor and asked in surprise: "Isn't there a Yue King?"

"No." Li Zhi shook his head and said: "When you were serving in Wuzhou, you noticed that the King of Yue was uneasy. Over the years, I have repeatedly beaten him to calm his mind."

"That's it." Li Xuan took a deep breath, then cupped her hands and said: "Your Majesty, according to the law, King Li Hun of Jiang and King Li Ming of Cao should be deprived of their royal titles and demoted to common people and exiled. However, due to your majesty's mercy, I may be exempted from exile. How about building a secluded palace in Chang'an and being imprisoned forever?"

(End of this chapter)