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

Chapter 1528 Empress Wu’s Ingenious Methods

In the Huiyou Palace, Empress Wu put down Li Xuan's congratulatory letter and said softly, "Although Prince Peng is a wise man, it is not difficult to deal with him. It's just that Chang'an and Luoyang are not convenient... The real trouble is Su Liangsi and Li Zhaode."

Qiu Huan's expression suddenly became solemn, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.

Su Liangsi and Li Zhaode were both commanders of the secret guards.

It's not easy to deal with these two people.

Empress Wu suddenly smiled, looked forward and said: "Since we can't deal with them for the time being, let's put them aside for now and deal with them later."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan responded with a slight bow, his face solemn.

Empress Wu raised her head, looked at Shangguan Wan'er, and asked, "Is Wang Fulai still with His Majesty?"

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er stepped forward and said, "Eunuch Wang just came over to pay his respects to the Queen Mother, but I stopped him."

Empress Wu nodded indifferently and said, "Tell him not to come anymore and to serve His Majesty well. Don't let His Majesty get hurt or catch a cold."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan lowered his head slightly, and the moment he lowered his head, his eyes became stern.

"We need to hurry up with the work in Yangzhou," Empress Wu said.

"Yes!" Qiu Huan breathed heavily.

Empress Wu continued, "The emperor has just ascended the throne, and the world is bound to be in turmoil. I have ordered General Wang Guo of the Left Guard, General Linghu Zhitong of the Left Guard, General Yang Xuanjian of the Right Guard, and General Guo Qizong of the Right Thousand Cattle to go to the four major military governorships of Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang to guard the place together with the governors."

When Qiu Huan heard this, his face was immediately filled with shock.

Shangguan Wan'er on the side had the same expression.

Because it is difficult for the outside world to know, these four people are Wu Zetian’s confidants among the Sixteen Guards, and they were all promoted by Wu Zetian herself.

In particular, General Linghu Zhitong of the Left Guard was from the Linghu clan of Longxi and had many intermarriages with the Li clan of Longxi.

At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the Linghu family formed a group with the Li family, the Dugu family, and the Dou family.

They were the ones who truly supported the founding of the Tang Dynasty.

However, with several prince rebellions, the families that made wrong bets were gradually excluded from the core of power.

The Linghu family is among them.

In recent years, few people know that Linghu Zhitong is Empress Wu's man.

……

"Since your majesty ascended the throne, the Taiyuan Guo family's position can no longer be concealed. Guo Qizong's identity has been suspected, so it will not be difficult to find Wang Guo, who had a lot of dealings with him. It is only a matter of time before Yang Xuanjian and Linghu Zhitong are found."

Empress Wu walked to the center of the hall of Huiyou Palace and sat down, she said calmly: "Instead of waiting for them to be completely uncovered and then plotting against them in secret, it is better to send them out first."

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er and Qiu Huan bowed and nodded, but a hint of doubt flashed in their eyes.

Even if their position was discovered, there was no need to send them out. Empress Wu had enough power to protect them.

"Bingzhou, Yizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou, the four major military governorates are of great importance. Now that the emperor has just ascended the throne, it is inevitable that some people will be ready to make moves. It is better to send someone from Luoyang to keep an eye on him." Empress Wu looked forward and even became serious.

Bingzhou, Yizhou, Jingzhou and Yangzhou are located in the southeast, northwest and northeast of the Tang Dynasty and are the most prosperous places.

If you control them, you control the financial and tax sources of the entire court.

"Wan'er, draft an imperial edict and send it to Prime Minister Pei. He will be very happy to see this scene in the future." A sneer flashed across Empress Wu's lips.

She took the initiative to send her trusted generals to all corners of the country, so that Wu Zetian's power in the central Luoyang would be left empty.

Pei Yan was eager for this kind of thing, so how could he refuse?

"Wang Yinke's imperial edict should also be drafted and sent over." Empress Wu added.

Shangguan Wan'er immediately bowed earnestly and said, "Yes!"

Now Shangguan Wan'er has vaguely guessed what Empress Wu wants to do.

"Tell Fan Lubing to work hard for the next period of time and not to come to the palace again. If there is anything, go directly to Prime Minister Pei and His Majesty." Empress Wu's eyes were deep.

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er nodded heavily.

Empress Wu looked up and said softly, "It's time to be quiet. Tell the emperor that if anyone wants to see him, just say that I am praying for the late emperor and I will not see anyone else."

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er's face looked heavy.

Empress Wu looked at Qiu Huan and said, "Hurry up and don't delay the matter in Yangzhou."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan nodded seriously.

Empress Wu sighed softly and whispered, "It's time for me to remember the late emperor."

……

In Yulong Garden, Li Xuan put down the bowl of porridge and looked at Liu Jinyu, Pei Shitong and the four children who had also finished their meals. He said softly, "During the days of mourning for the late emperor, try not to let Xia'er and the others go out alone, so as to avoid being accused of something."

"Yes!" Liu Jinyu nodded, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but she smiled and looked at Li Xuan and said, "My husband has offended the Queen today."

Seeing that Liu Jinyu was not that worried, Li Xuan smiled and said, "We always have to do things, but fortunately, although we were targeted by the Queen Mother, we have finally achieved something. At least Your Majesty can withstand everything."

Li Xuan did so much just to help Li Xian consolidate his throne.

If Li Xian's throne is stable, he can in turn protect Li Xuan.

"Even if someone in the court impeaches me, it will eventually be handed over to Your Majesty, especially now that the final seal to be stamped is Your Majesty's seal of the emperor." Li Xuan smiled and said, "As for the rest, as long as the Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards don't come to confiscate my property directly, then openly, no one can do anything to me."

Liu Jinyu nodded slightly. Before the late emperor passed away, anyone who wanted to deal with Li Xuan had to get through the late emperor.

Now that the previous emperor was gone, the new emperor gradually began to take control of the government. Li Xuan was the second-rank Prince's Guardian and the Right Guard General, so anyone who tried to deal with him had to go through Li Xian.

If Li Xian had not targeted Li Xuan, it would have been treason.

Li Xuan can kill anyone.

By then, the husband will have his own reasons and the wife will have her own reasons.

The living have the final say.

"Moreover, the Left Thousand Oxen Guard has the Prince of Beiping, the Right Thousand Oxen Guard has the General of the Household Li Lingwen, the Left Golden Guard has my uncle, and the Right Golden Guard has the General Li Dazhi. If they really want to mobilize the troops, I will be the first to know..."

Before Li Xuan could finish her words, a burst of hurried footsteps was heard outside the door.

Li Xuan turned his head subconsciously and saw Li Bi quickly walked in from the door. He bowed to Li Xuan, handed over the official document, and said softly: "Your Majesty, something happened."

Li Xuan took it in surprise, opened it and his face immediately darkened.

He ordered General Wang Guo of the Left Guard, General Linghu Zhitong of the Left Guard, General Yang Xuanjian of the Right Guard, and General Guo Qizon of the Right Thousand Cattle to go to the four major military governorates of Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang respectively, and guard the place together with the governors.

Li Bi stood to one side and whispered, "Your Majesty, these are the Queen's trusted followers."

"I know." Li Xuan nodded slightly.

The Right Thousand Oxen General Guo Qizon was from the Guo family of Taiyuan, the Right Jinwu General Yang Xuanjian was from the Yang family of Hongnong, and the Left Guard General Linghu Zhitong had personally escorted Li Xian from Luoyang to Chang'an in his early years.

These three people had already fallen into Li Xuan's sight.

"But I didn't expect that General Wang Guo of the Left Guard would also defect to the Queen." Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, raised his head and looked at Li Zhu, and said, "Continue to investigate these four people. The Queen threw them out, which means that she already has another group of forces that are not weaker than them."

"Hmm!" Li Bi suddenly became serious.

If Empress Wu still had four of the Sixteen Guards generals in her hands, then there would be real trouble.

"Is it really that serious?" Liu Jinyu took the document from Li Xuan in surprise.

Li Xuan nodded, sighed and said, "Not all of these four people may be as loyal, but there are definitely some. After the death of the previous emperor, it is inevitable that some people will feel that they are not trusted by Your Majesty, and it is inevitable that they will surrender to the Queen Mother. What we need to do now is to find those people before they are exposed."

If the person is not exposed, then all the means against him can continue to operate.

Once the person is exposed, Empress Wu can publicly protect him, making it difficult to take action.

"These four people can't be ignored. They went to the local areas, connected with various families, and penetrated deeply into the four states of Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang. It's even possible that they will make a surprise attack." Liu Jinyu looked at Li Xuan with some concern.

Li Xuan smiled and said, "My wife is right."

He turned sideways, looked at Li Bi, and said, "Send someone to keep an eye on these four. If they don't go to Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang, but turn back halfway, the family should be careful."

"Yes!" Li Bi immediately bowed.

"As for the four states of Bing, Yi, Jing, and Yang, Bing is the former emperor's former homeland. If we go there, we should see the Wang family of Taiyuan. Yizhou has the deposed Crown Prince Xian. Jingzhou has many royal princes, such as Prince Ze... Yes, Prince Ze was transferred to Suzhou at this time, and that place is under the jurisdiction of the Yangzhou Grand Military Governor's Office."

Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He thought that the Right Thousand Bull General Guo Qizon went to Yangzhou with the intention of tracking down that person.

The other people probably also have secret orders.

Li Xuan shook his head slightly and said, "Duke Jiang will be back in Yangzhou soon, don't worry."

"Just like the Chief Secretary was transferred to be the Sima of Fanzhou, there's no need to worry?" Liu Jinyu looked at Li Xuan with some amusement.

Li Xuan smiled softly and said, "When Sima arrives in Fanzhou, it will be like when my husband arrives in Chang'an. His life and death will be controlled by others."

Liu Jinyu raised her eyebrows, and immediately understood Li Xuan's power. Thinking of Qu Dou'er and the fourth wife Liu Shubi, Liu Jinyu said with emotion: "It would be great if I could live in Fanzhou with my husband one day."

"If that's the case, you and I will never want to go back to Chang'an." Li Xuan smiled slightly, then turned around and said, "Before I leave Luoyang, I will ask your Majesty for advice. Can my wife, Tong'er, and the children return to Chang'an to live?"

"I don't think it's possible." Liu Jinyu saw it very clearly. How could Empress Wu and the Emperor let them leave?

Not only her, but also members of the royal families, provincial governors, and their families in the court and the government had to keep someone in Luoyang.

Especially since it was the mourning period for the late emperor, the emperor and Empress Wu had enough reasons to keep them.

"Then let Tong'er leave first." Li Xuan looked up at Pei Shitong and said softly, "My mother is still in Chang'an and needs someone to take care of her. Tong'er will take Erlang and Silang back to Chang'an first. As for Sanniang, she will accompany His Majesty to escort the late emperor's coffin back to Chang'an."

Li Xuan smiled helplessly and said, "Sanniang is in Luoyang, and Xia'er and Dalang can't leave either..."

Liu Jinyu stared straight at Li Xuan. She knew what he was worried about, but she still said calmly, "Don't worry, my husband. With Grandpa here, nothing will happen."

"Yes, nothing will happen." Li Xuan suddenly relaxed and said with certainty: "My husband is safe in Fanzhou, so nothing will happen to my wife."

"That's right." Liu Jinyu also breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, Li Xuan is the governor of a border state who commands tens of thousands of troops. If something happens to Liu Jinyu in Luoyang, Li Xuan will probably go crazy.

Conversely, once Li Xuan leaves Luoyang, Liu Jinyu and the others will be safe.

Li Xuan stood up, picked up Xia'er and said, "Let's go, Princess Fuchang, Aye will take you to play on the swing."

In the backyard of Yulong Garden, there stands a three-meter-high swing.

At its highest point, it can even be level with the city wall in the distance.

……

The second day of the first lunar month, Mount Song.

Zhongyue Mountain Temple.

Li Xian offered incense and bowed, then turned to look at Li Xuan and said, "Uncle Wang, the Queen Mother has sent a message that she wants to pray for the Emperor, and will not see any outsiders except for the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month."

(End of this chapter)