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

Chapter 1500: A generation of genius, Empress Wu, only knows how to embroider flowers and birds in the deep palace
"Everyone, please stand up." The emperor spoke calmly. His voice was not loud, but it was heard throughout the entire Chengtian Gate.

"We thank Your Majesty very much." All the officials and ordinary people stood up at the same time.

Li Xian stood in front of the left of all the officials, with Li Dan beside him. The two stood under the city gate, looking up with concern in their eyes.

The emperor stood at the city gate, wearing a heavy cloak.

Empress Wu stood beside him, looking calm.

Li Xian's gaze fell on Li Xuan who was standing on the emperor's left. He was dressed in red and golden armor, with a solemn expression.

Li Xian understood that at this moment, the emperor called Li Xuan to his side to protect him, and his purpose was not so simple.

When the officials at Chengtian Gate saw Li Xuan, they immediately understood the emperor's favor for Li Xuan.

Especially since Li Xuan is Li Xian's man.

The connection between the two is deeper than anyone could imagine.

To a certain extent, Li Xuan can fully represent Li Xian.

Especially at this special moment, the emperor was not feeling well. He called Li Xuan to his side, and his desire to confide in him was obvious at a glance.

Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief, but then his heart began to tighten.

The emperor was obviously preparing for the future.

This made Li Xian even more worried about his health.

Although it seems that the emperor does not have any serious health problems now, people still feel uneasy.

If there is a chance...

Li Xian was extremely panicked for a moment. Although other people had said a lot in his ears, in fact, Li Xian was still not prepared for any further development.

……

On top of the city gate, Li Xuan stood on one side with a solemn expression and steady breathing.

The emperor stood in front of Li Xuan, in a more central position of Chengtian Gate.

The emperor glanced at Li Xuan, then looked at the ministers and the people in front of him.

Raising his eyes, the emperor looked towards the Duanmen Gate not far away, and the Luoyang City further away.

Although the main streets in the city were cleared, the roofs of the alleys and even the trees were covered with thick snow.

Further away, Mount Song outside Luoyang City is a sea of ​​silver.

The emperor waved his hand and glanced at Luo He in front of the palace. He sighed and said sideways: "King Peng!"

"I'm here!" Li Xuan took a half step forward and bowed solemnly.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "Today's grand occasion has overwhelmed my heart, but I don't know how to express it. Please write a poem for me as a memorial."

Li Xuan was slightly stunned. He did not expect that the emperor would be in the mood to ask him to compose a poem when the edict to change the reign title was about to be read.

But when the emperor spoke, Li Xuan could only bow his hands and respond: "Yes!"

He had a vague feeling in his heart that the emperor seemed to be waiting for him to make a footnote to his life.

Li Xuan raised his eyes and looked at the Duanmen in the distance, the Luo River, the entire Luoyang city, Mount Song in the sky, and the endless heaven and earth.

Beneath the vast white snow, the world is endless.

Finally, Li Xuan slowly said: "The scenery of the north is a thousand miles of ice and a thousand miles of snow.

Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, there is only wilderness; looking up and down the great rivers, there is no longer any roaring sound.

Silver snakes dance in the mountains, originally driving wax figures, hoping to compete with God.

It must be a sunny day to see the snow-covered scenery, which is particularly enchanting. "

The emperor nodded slightly, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face as he considered. The poem Li Xuan wrote last night was quite realistic, and now it has gone a step further and is extremely gorgeous.

Li Xuan bowed again and said loudly: "This country is so beautiful that it attracts countless heroes to compete for it.

It is a pity that the Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han were slightly inferior in literary talent; Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Taizu of Wei were slightly inferior in style and charm.

The great emperor of Sui, Yang Jian, was ultimately jealous, mean and cruel.

All gone.

If you want to count the heroes of the time, look no further than today."

Li Xuan bowed solemnly. Although he changed the Tang Dynasty's ancestors and Song Dynasty's ancestors to Emperor Guangwu of Han and Emperor Taizu of Wei, their momentum was still not bad. As for Genghis Khan, he was indeed incomparable to Yang Jian.

The most important thing is that Li Xuan believed that Emperor Li Zhi was absolutely worthy of this heroic poem.

During his lifetime, Li Zhi conquered the Western Turks, Baekje, Goguryeo, the Western Turks, and Tibet, thus expanding the territory of the Tang Dynasty to its largest level.

Although Li Xuan made great contributions here, the emperor's trust in him was unmatched by anyone else.

Even during the time of the previous Emperor Taizong, Li Xuan would not have been able to do what he did.

……

"To count the heroes of the time, look no further than today." Li Zhi had an endless smile on his face, as these words really touched his heart.

Li Zhi calmed down a little and said, "You should also include your father in this poem. Revise it when you have time."

"I obey your order!" Li Xuan bowed again, and the moment he lowered his head, he looked extremely embarrassed.

You know, that was the late Emperor Taizong.

If he showed the slightest sign of disrespect on the ground, he would immediately be stripped of all his official positions and titles and exiled indefinitely.

Although the emperor has spoken now, Li Xuan can only treat it as a casual remark of the emperor, especially now that the emperor is not feeling well and it is hard to say whether there will be a tomorrow.

If he really wanted to change it, maybe he would change it to "It's a pity that the Qin Emperor and Han Wudi were slightly inferior in literary talent; Taizong and Gaozong were slightly inferior in style.

The great queen, Empress Wu, only knew how to embroider flowers and birds in the deep palace.

All are gone, a few romantic figures, but also look at the present. "

Perhaps one day in the future, he will take out this poem directly, but at that time, the person standing in the most central position of Chengtian Gate will be him.

……

Li Zhi restrained his expression, looked behind him gently, and said in a deep voice: "Let's start."

Wang Fulai immediately stepped forward and said loudly: "The emperor has ordered it."

At Chengtian Gate, all the officials and common people knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Your Highness, we respectfully accept the imperial edict."

Wang Fulai took a step back, and then the attendant Wang Dezhen walked up quickly, and then walked to the front of the city wall, and then opened the imperial edict and said: "In the second year of Yonglong, in the year of Renwu, the twelfth month of Guichou, the full moon of the 24th day of Jihai, the emperor said:

Yu Xi!

Although I am young and ignorant, I have the honor of inheriting this great legacy. I have always been diligent in seeking the truth, cautious in dealing with people, and careful every day. This has been thirty-four years now.

Why? Cold feet hurt the heart, labor hurts the country, the people are at ease, the ruler is at ease, and the times are bad, the ruler is worried..."

Li Xuan was standing on the right side of Wang Dezhen. Hearing this, he couldn't help but look at the emperor.

Although these words were about the hard work of governing, they were vaguely referring to the emperor's own physical condition. Many perceptive people in Chengtian Gate had already noticed the emperor's thoughts.

……

"I am a person of little virtue, but I have the honor of changing the customs. I will always remember the people and feel ashamed of myself.

Kuang's continuous ties, the signs are from Yuan Yuan, often want to be far away, the leaves are first, the light spreads the Tao, transforms the soil in the longevity domain, and helps the people live in Fulin.

Thinking of Hua Xu, they worked hard day and night, and tried their best to be sincere. They urged the people to be simple and honest, and they all advocated simplicity and innovation.

Rely on the great way to open up a new era and make the whole world anew.

It is appropriate to apply for Pei Ze and be widely used by Hong Gui.

A general amnesty can be granted to the whole country, and the second year of Yonglong can be changed to the first year of Hongdao.

He was exiled and released after being blamed for his feelings.

Elderly people who are over 100 years old will be granted the title of Governor of a lower state, and women will be granted the title of Lady of a county.

Those who are ninety years old and above are granted the title of Sima of Shangzhou, and women are granted the title of County Lady.

Those who are eighty years old and above are appointed as county magistrates, and women and officials of different ranks are given grain and silk in appropriate amounts.

A filial son and an obedient grandson, a righteous husband and a virtuous wife will bring honor to their family and will not have to worry about anything throughout their lives.

The widows, widowers, orphans, the lonely and the seriously ill who are unable to support themselves will be given relief according to the state's budget.

He also ordered all provinces in the country to establish Taoist temples, three in the upper provinces, two in the middle provinces, and one in the lower provinces, with each temple housing seven Taoists.

In order to show the pure wind, it becomes the transformation of inaction.

Admire this. "

A centenarian is supported with the salary of a provincial governor, a ninety-year-old is supported with the salary of a provincial governor, and an eighty-year-old is supported with the salary of a county magistrate.

Loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness are praised by the world.

The widowed, the orphaned, the lonely and the seriously ill who are unable to take care of themselves will be supported by the state.

There are not many such imperial edicts in history.

With the execution ability of the Tang Dynasty, it can be fully guaranteed to be implemented.

All officials in and out of Chengtian Gate kowtowed and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I will obey your Majesty's instructions. May your Majesty live forever."

The people in the rear also kowtowed in cheers: "Long live your Majesty."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, and then said: "All the ministers, please stand up. The summons for the new year will end here. You have worked hard today, and there are rewards from the palace."

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, dozens of eunuchs came out of the palace gate quickly, holding trays with a pile of gift money on top.

Gift money given as reward to officials during festivals.

One coin is worth more than ten ordinary copper coins. The key is that it contains the blessing bestowed by the emperor.

"We thank Your Majesty very much." All the officials and common people bowed deeply at the same time, their eyes falling on the gift money on the side.

……

Seeing that all the officials and common people could not help but grab a handful, Li Zhi smiled with satisfaction. He turned sideways and looked at Empress Wu. Both the husband and wife showed satisfied smiles.

The emperor turned his head and looked forward, saying, "Prince Peng, Duke of Pingyang."

"I'm here!" Li Xuan and Xue Rengui bowed at the same time.

The emperor said calmly: "You two will guard Chengtian Gate for me today and you are not allowed to leave without permission."

"Yes!" Li Xuan and Xue Rengui bowed at the same time.

The emperor and Empress Wu nodded, then turned and walked down the city gate towards the Zhenguan Hall.

Li Xuan looked up at Xue Rengui. Xue Rengui nodded slightly, then took a step forward and stood solemnly on the city gate.

Li Xuan took a calm step forward, his hand on the hilt of the black sheathed sword at his waist, his expression stern.

The officials at the city gate were the first to notice the emperor and Empress Wu leaving, and immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we respectfully send you off, and the Empress Dowager."

The people behind also saluted in panic, but no one paid attention.

But soon, all the officials returned to their offices one after another, and the common people and retired elders were sent to the palace by the Jinwu Guards.

Li Xuan stood on the city gate, watching the people in the distance happily leaving the palace, with a hint of indifference in his eyes.

These people are happy today, but what about tomorrow?

What would be their expressions when they heard that the emperor who had just rewarded them with a large amount of gifts and money had passed away.

Li Xuan was trying to figure out people's minds carefully, but his face was calm and indifferent.

……

One by one, the eunuchs quickly ran out of Chengtian Gate, and one by one, the officials were called into the palace and to the Zhenguan Hall.

From some key provincial and county governors, the chief secretary of the Grand Marshal's Office, the nine temple ministers, to the six ministers and the chief censor, they all entered the Zhenguan Hall one after another.

By the end, all the sixteen generals, princes, and prime ministers in the court were waiting at Chengtian Gate.

An eunuch walked out of the palace quickly, came to Chengtian Gate, and said loudly: "Your Majesty has ordered that the Duke of Pingyang and the General of the Left Guard Xue Rengui come to the audience."

Watching Xue Rengui quickly walk down the palace gate, Li Xuan lowered his head slightly.

An inexplicable sadness surged in my heart. The emperor was already saying his final farewell.

While he still had the strength, he said goodbye to all the old ministers whom he had promoted personally over the years.

The sixteen generals of the guards entered the palace one by one in a solemn manner.

Finally, a eunuch walked quickly to the Chengtian Gate and said loudly, "Your Majesty has ordered that Prince Peng and Right Guard General Li Xuan come to see you."

"I obey your order." Li Xuan turned around, walked steadily down Chengtian Gate, and bowed deeply to the eunuch.

The eunuch turned around and led the way, and Li Xuan followed steadily.

When they were almost at the Zhenguan Hall, Li Xuan saw Su Liangsi coming out of the Zhenguan Hall with a sad face. He was holding a purple box in his hand, and no one knew what was inside.

Standing under the Zhenguan Palace, Li Xuan's expression suddenly became solemn.

Taking a deep breath, Li Xuan stepped onto the golden steps. With a creaky sound, the palace door opened and the heavy curtain was lifted.

Li Xuan saw the blurry figure behind the curtain at a glance.

Walking steadily into the hall, in an instant, Li Xuan heard countless heavy breathing sounds in the hall.

With a quick glance out of the corner of his eye, Li Xuan saw more than a dozen Zhongshu Sheren, Jieshi Zhong, Mishu Cheng, and Zuo Shi, all of whom were in the hall.

It looked like the emperor was delivering his last will and testament.

　On December 12, the Emperor changed the reign title and issued a pardon to the whole country. The Emperor wanted to go to the gate tower of Zetian to announce the pardon, but he was too weak to ride a horse, so he summoned the people to the front of the palace to announce it. That night, he summoned Pei Yan to come in and receive the will to assist in the administration. The Emperor died in the Zhenguan Hall. (Zizhi Tongjian)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)