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

Chapter 1352 The Emperor's Suspicion

In Penglai Hall, Li Zhi slowly opened his eyes, and his deep gaze fell on Li Xuan, as if he could see through the deepest secrets in his heart.

Li Xuan's expression was calm and still solemn.

"Do you know about Duke Zhou?" Li Zhi finally spoke, going straight to the core.

"I heard that Qian Niuwei had gained something in the Qinling Mountains, but I don't know more about it." Li Xuan bowed slightly.

"Qian Niuwei discovered three secret workshops in the Qinling Mountains, one of which was dedicated to casting copper coins..." As soon as Li Zhi finished his voice, he saw Li Xuan looking up with surprise.

Copper coins, money casting workshop.

Li Xuan was really confused. He didn't expect that Wu Chengsi was so bold and dared to mint money. That was a taboo that no one was allowed to touch.

Seeing Li Xuan's confused look, Li Zhi couldn't help but feel a little funny. He waved his hand and said, "Don't pay too much attention to it, it's just bad money. No one in Chang'an and Luoyang can use it."

"Yes!" Li Xuan held up her hands and wanted to say something, but in the end she honestly shut her mouth.

Li Zhi nodded, and then said: "In addition to the money casting workshop, there is also a shield casting workshop and a harness workshop, but these two places have just been opened and are not of much scale."

"I dare to ask, what kind of shield is it and what kind of harness is it?" Li Xuan bowed solemnly, then raised his eyes carefully to look at Li Zhi.

"Don't worry, it's not an arm shield used by cavalry, but a round shield used by infantry. Although the horse equipment is horseshoes and saddles and stirrups, the output is not as much as the amount scrapped every year in Chang'an and Luoyang." Li Zhi waved his hand, and he understood at a glance I could see the worry in Li Xuan's heart, but fortunately, the matter was not that serious.

"Yes!" Li Xuan stood up slowly, but the seriousness in her expression did not diminish at all.

Li Zhi knew what Li Xuan was thinking.

Wu Chengsi made a big mistake by privately making weapons, armor, shields and horse gear in the mountains.

Not to mention Li Xuan, any prime minister in the court would fight Wu Chengsi to the death if he found out.

"Chengsi is just a little greedy for money. He doesn't have so many messy thoughts. However, this matter cannot be ignored after all. Twenty-seventh Lang, tell me, according to your opinion, how should he be punished for this matter?"

Li Zhi's eyes never left Li Xuan's face, as if he really wanted to know his true inner thoughts.

Li Xuan raised her eyebrows slightly, looking surprised. When did the emperor need to seek other people's opinions on such matters?

After gathering her thoughts for a while, Li Xuan took a deep breath, and then said cautiously: "Reporting to Your Majesty, although the consequences of Zhou Guogong's incident are not serious, the impact is indeed not small. Therefore, I suggest that you let him return to Bingzhou to worship his ancestors. ?”

"Hide?" Li Zhi nodded slowly, as if he was really considering this issue. Then he tasted some flavors, squinted his eyes and asked, "Is that all?"

Li Xuan handed over his hand again and said: "If your Majesty still has ideas in his mind, then it would not be a bad idea to let Duke Zhou inspect Anton, Hebei."

"Inspecting Anton." Li Zhi understood the real intention of Li Xuan's words in one sentence.

The so-called hiding is just a nice way of saying it.

So the unpleasant way to say it is to be demoted, to be exiled, to exile Anton.

"As the Minister of Rites, I will inspect Anton and take a look at the situation in Silla and Japan. After a year or two, when things calm down, how about bringing Duke Zhou back?" Li Xuan raised his eyes carefully and looked at Li Zhi.

Li Zhi smiled, waved his hand and said, "Don't be so cautious. You can go to patrol Anton, Mobei, Fuguang, and Lingnan."

"Yes!" Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and stopped talking. He knew that the emperor had already made up his mind.

"Those who should be eliminated, Qian Niuwei have already been eliminated in advance. Chengsi, just let him go." Li Zhi waved his hand.

"Yes! Li Xuan lowered his head gently."

……

"By the way, let's talk about what happened in Luoyang?" Li Zhi looked at Li Xuan with a half-smile and said, "This time I suddenly recalled you from Pengzhou. You won't blame me for not letting you have a good rest. After all, I promised you two months of rest after the war."

"Your Majesty has called, even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire, I will go straight forward. Moreover, this time in Songshan, there is Taoist tranquility. I have gained nothing." Li Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, and then said: "There is nothing else. The children promised to have fun with them, but they didn’t.”

Li Zhi nodded. He could tell that Li Xuan's words came from the bottom of his heart.

The only thing he regrets is the matter of his children.

Children don't understand how difficult their parents are. If you don't accompany them, they will immediately shame you.

But as a parent, what can you do?

"I have already sent people to pick up Princess Peng and the others back to Beijing. In the remaining days, you can spend time with your family." Li Zhi sighed lightly, and then said: "Although you don't need to take care of the Luoyang matter in the future, You still have to explain to me what happened before.”

"Yes!" Li Xuan cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, although the incident in Luoyang was settled easily and did not involve much, it was probably because Qian Niuwei checked in advance and had the right target, so I was able to catch all those people. "Li Zhi smiled. Although Qianniu Guard was involved in this matter, it was the secret guard who actually handled the case, and even the one who took action directly was Li Xuan's cousin Zhao Gong.

However, Li Xuan didn't know about this from the beginning, otherwise he wouldn't have returned to Pengzhou so quickly.

"Go on, what do you see from your perspective?" Li Zhi's face was full of relief, but deep in his eyes that no one could see, there was a hint of coldness.

"Yes!" Li Xuan held up her hands, looked at the emperor carefully, and said seriously: "Actually, I still feel that this matter was a bit too easy. Perhaps it is because I have been fighting on the front line for many years, and I always feel that the rebellion of the King of Yue this time is too much. Child's play."

"What a joke?" Li Zhi leaned back slightly, his expression gradually becoming colder.

"It's too unrealistic." Li Xuan bowed and said, "I have interrogated Xiao Guan. Although he and Xiao Decong had a plan, this plan was just to take advantage of His Majesty's eastward tour and seize the opportunity of His Majesty's relaxation. , but there is no chance at all. How can we break through the extremely tight guards with only five hundred people?"

What Xiao Guan and the others were looking for were indeed soldiers who had retreated from the grassland battlefield, but these people had retreated after all.

During training, most of the killing intent has been reduced. How can it be compared with the strict guards in the army?

If the person in charge of the palace is a mindless loser, then they might be able to take advantage of the chaos and win.

But the emperor in charge of everything is Li Zhi, how could they succeed.

"Your Majesty's safety, not only the prime minister of the court, but also the generals of the guards will be extremely vigilant."

After a slight pause, Li Xuan cupped his hands and said: "Throughout the history books, things here have always been caused by internal and external collusion. Anyone who works in isolation will never win."

Several rebellions in this dynasty, including Prince Li Xian, Prince Li Chengqian, and King Qin Li Shimin, all launched attacks from within the palace.

Almost instantly, he was able to defeat the Xuanwu Sect.

Li Xuan did not believe that King Yue had the ability to appear directly at Xuanwu Gate.

Li Zhi didn't seem to notice that Li Xuan had brought the topic to a very dangerous situation silently.

Li Xuan cupped his hands and continued: "To be honest, I mean, if there is something really wrong in Luoyang, so what can I do? The King of Yue is just the son of the late emperor. His Majesty has inherited the throne for more than thirty years. Officials, aristocratic families, and common people have all bowed their heads. Even if the King of Yue really has something, and the world is united, King Qin will assist him, and he will only die."

After saying that, Li Xuan knelt down directly, saluted and said: "I exaggerated, please punish me."

Li Zhi raised his hand gently and said: "Get up, you are right. Luoyang is only the eastern capital after all, and Chang'an is the center of the world. Even if I patrol the east, even if I am enshrined, Chang'an will leave enough people." The manpower, let alone the emperor’s grandson and Shiro’s son, will not go to Luoyang.”

Li Xuan's forehead was pressed against the cold floor, her face solemn and filled with a hint of resentment.

"Although the King of Yue is confused, he still understands that there is a prime minister sitting in Chang'an, and there are all kinds of dangers. You are in Fanzhou. If something happens, you can lead the army to fight back in seven days. You will never face the danger of Guguan. , I can't even last seven days." Li Zhi seemed to see through the fog in front of him and said with emotion: "Someone is plotting secretly."

Li Xuan lowered his head solemnly.

Li Zhi continued to speak and asked: "Twenty-seventh Lang, tell me, who is most likely to benefit from this situation?"

In this situation, what situation, Luoyang fell completely, the emperor died, Empress Wu died, Li Xian died, Li Dan died, then in this situation, who might benefit in the end?

Two names suddenly flashed in Li Xuan's mind, and his whole body couldn't help but tremble.

"Say!" Li Zhi suddenly grabbed the incense burner on the side and slammed it on the floor in front of Li Xuan.

The censer lid flew up and hit Li Xuan directly on the forehead.

Li Xuan immediately felt the impact of a huge force. He couldn't help but fall backwards, but he still held back.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it depends on where the deposed prince will be at that time. If he is in Luoyang, then the beneficiaries will probably be King Qi and King Xu. If he is in Chang'an, unless someone strongly supports him, it will not be his turn. In the end, it was King Qi and King Xu." Li Xuan bowed to the ground again.

The entire Penglai Hall suddenly fell silent. After a long time, Li Zhi sighed and said, "I am counting on Xiao Dezhao too much for the King of Yue. If Xiao Dezhao kills Xiao Guan at the critical moment, all the plans of the King of Yue will come to nothing. ”

Li Xuan's expression suddenly dawned, and he bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty's eyes are as bright as a torch, but I was unaware."

"You are just looking at it from a normal perspective. The love between father and son and the worry of genocide. At the critical moment, it is normal for Xiao Dezhao to choose his own son. But the real gluttons think very carefully. Look at this case now. It seems straightforward and simple, and the threat is great, but in fact it is just a child's random imagination." Li Zhi sneered coldly.

"Child?" Li Xuan turned sideways and looked up at Li Zhi and said, "Your Majesty, is this possible..."

"No need to say anything, this matter is the result of the random thoughts of two brats." Li Zhi waved his hands directly and said: "When the secret guards arrested the King of Yue, the King of Yue was still handling official business. The King of Yue had no idea about the rebellion and conspiracy. , there was no preparation for everything, and it was finally found out that the person who planned everything secretly was Li Chong, the king of Langya County. "

"Li Chong?" Li Xuan's face was full of disbelief, but at the same time she held her hands and said, "I haven't actually met Li Chong a few times. How can this person...what?"

"Why did you suddenly lose your mind?" Li Zhi stared at Li Xuan.

(End of this chapter)