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

Chapter 1303: Your Majesty, the King of Nanchang is the most loyal

June is full of fire and cicadas are chirping.

To the west of Luoche City, on the towering central watchtower of the Tang Army camp, Li Xuan looked far away at the majestic city a few miles away.

Rows of catapults were lined up from outside the west gate to outside the south gate. There were as many as two hundred densely packed.

One trench after another lined up in front of the catapults.

The trench was not deep, only one foot long, half a foot wide, and three feet deep, with sharp barbed wooden stakes embedded in it.

Three consecutive rows of trenches completely cut off any chance of a cavalry surprise attack, let alone the crossbows arrayed in the catapult workshop.

Li Xuan's eyes fell on the high slope one mile southwest of the city wall. Wei Hongji raised the red flag in his hand high and then waved it down suddenly.

In an instant, countless fireballs pierced the clear sky and crashed into Luoshu City.

Suddenly, sparks flew everywhere and fireworks exploded.

A few water trucks rushed out to try to extinguish the fire, but to no avail. They could only watch the flames burn until the entire house was completely burned down.

Fortunately, there was no strong wind today, but the fire stopped after burning the house.

The fireball overhead was still streaking across the sky.

Under the fireball, most of the entire West City and South City had been burned to ashes by months of fireball rain.

All the people who could run had already reached Dongcheng and Beicheng, and even escaped from Luozhe.

Today, in the South City and North City, only the people hiding under the city walls are left to survive.

But even so, fireballs would hit the city wall from time to time, then bounce off the city wall, and finally fall under the city wall, causing wailing all around.

……

Outside the city, Li Xuan stood on the watchtower, his eyes falling on the city wall.

On the chaotic city wall, a famous soldier lowered his head and hid under the female wall, looking at the catapults and trenches outside, his eyes full of hatred and helplessness.

The Tang army didn't even attack the city. They were full of resentment, but they couldn't do anything.

Even if they stood on the city wall and shouted curses, rolling stones would immediately fall down on them.

They are hiding under the parapet now because so many people were killed by rolling stones before.

Li Xuan withdrew her cold eyes and asked sideways: "My lord, why are they unwilling to come out and attack the camp?"

Xiao Siye, who was standing next to Li Xuan, whispered: "Maybe it's because they are worried that even if they rush into the camp, they will encounter countless traps densely packed in the camp. In the end, if they fail to steal the chicken, they will lose the rice."

Li Xuan smiled and said: "There are so many traps there. If they are really willing to take risks, they might gain something extra."

Xiao Siye nodded helplessly and looked in the direction of Dangxiong. He knew that there were at least 15,000 cavalry there ready to kill at any time.

The Tibetans sent fewer people to attack the camp, which was of no avail.

The Tubo people sent more people to attack the camp, and they immediately started beating the dogs with meat buns, and there was absolutely no return.

Xiao Siye followed Li Xuan to fight for more than a day or two.

Even when he fought with Pei Xingjian, he was not as calculating as Li Xuan, almost to the extreme.

No matter what the Tubo people choose, it is all under Li Xuan's calculation. Since they besieged the city for two months, the Tubo people have become weaker and more dangerous day by day.

Xiao Siye subconsciously looked at the Luoshu River in the distance.

Just a few days ago, the Luoche River was officially closed, and the well water in Luoche City suddenly gushed out and almost half of it was missing.

In this way, fireballs continued to be thrown outside the city.

Even if everything that can burn has been burned away, they are still throwing fireballs.

The trees and dead grass on the mountains outside the city have all been cleared away, but they continue to make fireballs from a distance, continuously creating psychological tension in the city.

A burst of rapid hoofbeats suddenly sounded in the east, and then ten Qianniu Guards rushed directly into the camp.

Soon, an urgent message fell into Xiao Siye's hands: "Commander, Linzhi has been captured by General Black Teeth. General Black Teeth has begun to return to Junluo and will arrive within three days."

Li Xuan waved her hand and said, "Tell him not to rush back. First go to Linzhou in the north and completely cut off the Tubo royal family's last escape route."

"Here!" Xiao Siye held his hands solemnly, and then quickly passed down the order.

Li Xuan stood on the towering watchtower, looking far away at the white palace on the red mountain in Luoshu City.

He believed that there would also be people watching him.

Now, although Li Xuan only blocked the south and west gates of Luozuo, the east and north gates were open.

However, if you go out for a hundred miles from the east gate, you will immediately be blocked back. Although there is a small town of Linzhou in the mountains to the north, it is blocked by mountains inside and outside.

And even if you cross the mountains, it's still a straight line.

The Tubo people could only send three to five hundred people at most to attack Li Xuan's grain road. If there were any more, they would immediately fall into the dilemma of being empty in the city.

As for the sneak attack on Li Xuan's grain road, that was because they had no idea how many people Li Xuan had arranged on the other side of the mountain.

The mountain roads everywhere have long been blocked by the Tubo people who surrendered. Even if someone comes out occasionally, they will be densely packed into the vast sea.

Just having sneak attacks by soldiers is useless. We don’t know Li Xuan’s food arrangements, his food transportation rules, and how many people he has to transport food and protect it.

In the end it can only be a dead end.

The fact that Li Xuan's grain road is still intact is proof.

Li Xuan's eyes were raised high. High in the sky, groups of goshawks were circling the entire city. Everything in the city was within their sight.

The sound of rapid footsteps sounded under the watchtower.

Xiao Siye quickly climbed up to the watchtower and handed an official document to Li Xuan, saying: "Commander, the central government is sending it urgently."

Li Xuan's expression suddenly became solemn. He took the official document and opened it. Instantly, his expression became strange. Passing the official document to Xiao Siye, Li Xuan said calmly: "After Prime Minister Pei was transferred to the position of Minister, the vacant Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice was taken over by Liu Boying, the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, and the vacant Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites was taken over by Wu Chengsi, the governor of Fenzhou. "

"What?" Xiao Siye immediately took the official document in surprise, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

The previous ministers of the Ministry of Rites, whether it was Li Boyi, the king of Longxi County, or Liu Boying, the former minister of Honglu Temple, were able to convince the public no matter what the reason was, but what did Wu Chengsi have?
He was not the king of the royal family, nor was he the minister of Honglu Temple who followed Li Ji in the north and south in his early years and later presided over external ceremonies.

Just because he was the nephew of the Queen of Heaven, Wu Chengsi became the Minister of Rites, which made Xiao Siye feel dissatisfied for a while, but then, this dissatisfaction completely disappeared.

Others can complain, but he, Xiao Siye, is not qualified because his Xiao family is Yang Guang's wife family.

Xiao Siye himself had a similar status to Wu Chengsi.

Lowering his head again, Xiao Siye instantly saw the announcement that Ouyang Tong, the minister of Weiwei Temple, had taken over as Minister of War.

Xiao Siye suddenly raised his head in surprise, then calmed down and said with his hands, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Ouyang Temple Qing is now in charge of the Ministry of War. We no longer have to worry about our future."

Li Xuan smiled faintly, waved her hands and said, "My uncle is an honest man and will not favor us."

"Getting justice is already the greatest blessing." Xiao Siye bowed slightly, the joy in his heart already appearing on his face.

"That's a good word." Li Xuan nodded and said, "Send the official document to the entire army and tell them that as long as they fight hard, I guarantee that they will get nothing less."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xiao Siye handed over his hand, then quickly turned around and left, looking excited.

After Pei Xingjian's incident, even Xiao Siye felt a little sad and even worried about the future of Luo Xuedao.

But now, Ouyang Tong has become the Minister of War.

He himself is so honest that everyone can be convinced. The key is his relationship with Li Xuan, which makes everyone feel at ease.

For many things, it doesn't matter how many things you do, what matters is the position you stand on.

With Ouyang Tong as Minister of War, at least their military achievements as frontline generals will not be exploited by the DPRK and China.

Xiao Siye believed that with this incident, everyone in the army would respect Li Xuan extremely.

……

Li Xuan raised her head and looked at the Tubo Palace not far away, then turned to look in the direction of Chang'an.

This time the changes in the court started with Pei Yan as prime minister. The emperor promoted Wu Chengsi to check and balance Ouyang Tong.

By promoting Cui Mi, Qian Weiwei, and Yang Zaisi, Lu Yuanfang and Di Renjie were checked and balanced.

At the same time, it also pushed Wu Chengsi completely against the Wei family.

Several forces restrained each other, and finally formed a new political situation.

What amazed Li Xuan the most was that no matter whether Pei Yan ascended the throne or Wei Shi stood up, the other parties would work together to check and balance him.

In this way, the emperor can easily use the power of all parties to control the situation of the court and control all parties.

As for Jiangnan, how could Li Xuan not see clearly the hands and feet of King Cao Li Ming, but he didn't understand why Li Ming would choose to take action at this time.

Li Xuan always feels that something is being ignored by him...

Wait, Li Xuan's face suddenly turned serious.

An unlikely guess flashed through his mind.

That is, King Cao Li Ming also received news that the emperor was unwell from a certain channel, and then he took action.

"Li Ming is dead." Li Xuan sighed softly. The emperor would never allow such people to spy on his own safety, especially when King Cao Li Ming still...

No, Li Ming should not have received such news. If others in Guizhou Province could communicate so smoothly between the north and the south.

Unless, unless someone is sending the message deliberately.

days later.

Empress Wu's figure suddenly flashed in Li Xuan's mind.

Immediately, Li Xian, dressed in plain clothes, also appeared in Li Xuan's mind.

The only person who would be implicated in the matter of King Cao Li Ming is Prince Li Xian.

Empress Wu is paving the way for the future.

Although Li Xian has many sources of help, his talents are limited. As long as you grasp his weaknesses, you can easily control him.

But once Li Xian takes office, he will immediately have the power to pass at will, including visiting Li Xian.

This kind of thing is beyond the control of any outsider, not even Li Xuan. Once Li Xian and Li Xian are allowed to speak, the consequences will be unpredictable.

It was obvious that the emperor's body could not last long. This could not be hidden from Empress Wu, so she had already begun to make preparations.

Li Xuan looked up at Luoche City in the distance, sneered slightly at the corner of his mouth, and then said softly: "Your Majesty, I am the most loyal."

……

Countless cavalry came from the west and finally stopped in front of Luoxue City.

Counting closely, there are tens of thousands of people.

The leaders were surprisingly King Yangtong and Queen Subi.

Queen Subi stepped forward, opened the imperial edict, and shouted loudly under the gaze of countless Tubo soldiers: "Mrs. Changguo of the Tang Dynasty, Queen Subi was ordered to read out the imperial edict: By decree of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the Lord of Qinghai was promoted, and the Lord of Tubo was Chi. Du Songtsan is the general of Zuo Wuwei in the Tang Dynasty, and a regular attendant of Zuo Sanqi. When the imperial edict arrives, he immediately goes to Beijing to take up his post. He is of great importance and I appreciate this."

After saying that, Queen Subi handed over the imperial edict to Wei Hongji who was standing aside.

Wei Hongji bowed and put the imperial edict into the catapult. In an instant, the imperial edict had been thrown out, and finally landed on the top of the city with miraculous precision.

The next moment, Queen Subi waved her hand to the left.

In an instant, Su Biyang and tens of thousands of cavalry had roared away, and an extremely heavy pressure suddenly fell on the city.

(End of this chapter)