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

Chapter 1573 Sikong Li Xuan, Prime Minister Ouyang Tong

Behind the throne, the pearl curtain swayed gently.

Empress Wu looked to the side calmly.

Fan Yunxian stepped forward solemnly, opened the imperial edict in his hand, and said loudly: "In the first year of Guangzhai, on the 5th day of the 5th month of the year Guiwei, the emperor said:

Yu Xi!

I have heard that the waxing and waning of heaven and earth, the four seasons have their own rhythm; the rise and fall of emperors, the changes of the five elements have their own periods of change.

The titles are different, and the Liyuan is also different.

All those who receive the clear mandate come from this.

King Han Li Yuanjia can be given the title of Taifu and obey the emperor's orders without changing his respect for the emperor.

Prince Huo Li Yuangui can be given the title of Grand Tutor, and a clear edict should be issued to strictly prohibit him.

Prince Shu Li Yuanming can be given the title of Taibao to protect the mountains and rivers and prevent evil.

Li Lingkui, Prince of Lu, was promoted to the title of Grand Commandant.

Prince Ji Li Shen was given the title of Si Tu.

Li Xuan, the successor of King Peng, was given the title of Sikong.

All the princes and dukes of the royal family will be given an additional 100 households, and princesses will be given an additional 50 households..."

The titles of Taifu, Taishi, and Taibao were conferred on only a few people since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and even posthumously these titles were rare.

The position was so important that it was even higher than that of Taiwei, Situ and Sikong.

The ministers did not care about the affairs of King Han, King Huo, King Shu and others. What they really cared about was the promotion of Li Xuan to the position of Sikong.

The relationship between Li Xuan and Emperor Zhongzong is well known to the world. What will happen to Li Xuan if Emperor Zhongzong dies like this?

The position of Sikong was just an honorary title, and it was just a way for Empress Wu to win over Li Xuan.

But this also shows that Empress Wu did not want to break up with Li Xuan immediately, but what would Li Xuan choose?
Will Li Xuan, who has tens of thousands of elite cavalrymen from border states, accept such a reward, acknowledge Wu Zetian's coup, acknowledge Li Dan's ascension to the throne, or lead his troops back to Chang'an and re-establish Crown Prince Li Chongzhao as emperor?
These are what the entire court really cares about most.

……

Fan Yunxian continued to summon: "Confer the title of Prince Taifu Liu Rengui as Duke of Lecheng County.

Pei Yan, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, was given the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and the title of Duke of Wenxi County.

He was promoted to the title of General of the Imperial Guards, Chief Clerk of the Yangzhou Military Governor's Office, and Pei Xingjian, Duke of Jiang, was made the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and a third-rank official of the Secretariat..."

All the ministers looked up in surprise.

There is no problem in conferring a higher level of title on Liu Rengui, as Liu Rengui is qualified for it.

Conferring the titles of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Duke of Wenxi County on Pei Yan was an attempt to win him over, and he could accept it.

Then Pei Xingjian was appointed as the Prince's Grand Tutor and the third rank official of the Secretariat, which meant that Pei Xingjian was relieved of his posts as the General of the Imperial Guard and the Chief Clerk of the Yangzhou Military Governor's Office.

Without the military support of Yangzhou and the financial support of Jiangnan, Pei Xingjian would be nothing, but he was still appointed as the third rank official in the Secretariat, which meant he was the prime minister.

This is a great attempt to win over Pei Xingjian. Will he accept it?
In the Eastern Palace at that time, there were six people who fully assisted the Crown Prince: Liu Rengui, Li Xuan, Xue Yuanchao, Pei Xingjian, Yao Lingzhang and Su Liangsi.

Xue Yuanchao is dead, Liu Rengui, Li Xuan and Pei Xingjian have been given higher titles, Su Liangsi is now investigating a case in Suzhou, and only Yao Lingzhang is left in the court.

Yao Lingzhang had just been taken away and his life or death was unknown, while Liu Rengui, Li Xuan and Pei Xingjian were not in Luoyang.

The eyes of the ministers couldn't help but fall on Pei Yan.

Pei Yan paused for just a moment, and the next moment, he had walked out of the train without any hesitation.

The time to make a choice has passed, and now there is no chance to regret.

Fan Yunxian handed the imperial edict in her hand to Pei Yan and took a step back.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Pei Yan took the imperial edict, opened it, looked at the ministers, and announced loudly: "Appoint Shangshu You Pushe Liu Shenli as the Prince's Junior Tutor.

The Shizhong Wang Dezhen was promoted to the position of Prince's Junior Tutor.

He was promoted to the title of Yellow Gate Minister, and together with Liu Jingxian, a third-rank official in the Secretariat, he was appointed as the Prince's Junior Guardian.

Guo Daiju, the left chancellor of the Jin Dynasty, was appointed as the Palace Attendant.

Wei Xuan, the right chancellor of the Jin Dynasty, was also the left chancellor of the Shangshu, and was a third-rank official in the Secretariat.

Jin's Minister of Personnel Lu Yuanfang is the Prince's Left Assistant, a third-rank official under the Secretariat, and a minister of state affairs..."

Among the ministers, Lu Yuanfang suddenly raised his head and looked at Empress Wu in disbelief.

Although he had known for a long time that Prince Li Dan would reward his ministers after he ascended the throne, he could not understand why he would be appointed as prime minister for this reason.

He felt extremely absurd in his heart, but after a quick glance at Li Dan, Lu Yuanfang finally calmed down, then walked out of the train, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to express his gratitude.

Just like Pei Yan, Wang Dezhen, Liu Jingxian, Guo Daiju and Wei Xuantong.

Everyone has made their choice and there is no chance to regret.

……

“…Dou Xuande was restored to his post as Minister of Personnel, and was granted the title of Duke of Shiping County, and was granted the third rank of the Secretariat.

Jin's Minister of Revenue Dou Lu Qinwang is the Minister of the Central Secretariat..."

Dou Xuande was not in the hall, but Dou Lu Qinwang had already stood up and kowtowed to express his gratitude.

Although Dou Lu Qinwang felt that the prime minister had given too many titles today, he did not care too much about it. After all, there were precedents for Guo Daiju to become the Shizhong, Wei Xuantong to become the Shangshu Zuo Cheng, and Lu Yuanfang to become the Prince's Zuo Shuzi.

What Dou Lu Qinwang really cared about was that both he and Dou Xuande were prime ministers.

Although Dou Xuande has retired, he is still a member of the maternal family of Prince Xiang. Now that he has been reinstated as the Minister of Personnel and has become the Prime Minister, he will work with Dou Lu Qinwang to support Li Dan's control over the government.

After becoming the prime minister, Dou Lu Qinwang instantly changed his position and became a person who firmly defended Li Dan's power.

And his real opponent, vaguely, was only one person, and that was Empress Wu.

"... Jin's Minister of War Ouyang Tong was appointed Minister of Revenue, a third-rank official under the Secretariat, and was granted the title of Prince of Bohai County..."

Before Ouyang Tong could do anything, Dou Lu Qinwang in front of him had already looked up in surprise.

If it is understandable that Dou Xuande became prime minister as the Minister of Personnel and the third rank of the Secretariat, then it is a bit hard to understand why Ouyang Tong was promoted to the Minister of Revenue and the third rank of the Secretariat.

How come everything seems like a wholesale deal by the prime minister?

Ouyang Tong also looked up. He originally thought that even if he was not dismissed from office, he would be sent to be a local governor. But he never thought that he would have the opportunity to be promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and enter the cabinet as a prime minister.

There are actually differences between the six ministers.

It is divided into two levels, the first is the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Revenue, the second is the Minister of Rites, the Minister of War, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Works.

Now Ouyang Tong was promoted from the Minister of Xiaguan in the Ministry of War to the Minister of Diguan in the Ministry of Revenue, and even to the third rank of Zhongshu Menxia, ​​which really surprised him.

But think about it, Li Xuan had already been conferred the title of Sikong before, and Ouyang Tong was conferred the title of Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue, and the third rank of Zhongshu Menxia, ​​so there is nothing strange about it.

Ouyang Tong glanced at Wang Dezhen in front of him, sighed softly in his heart, then walked out calmly, knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude. …

Behind the pearl curtain, Empress Wu looked at Ouyang Tong calmly, with a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

Empress Wu raised her head and looked at Pei Yan again.

Pei Yan continued to announce the decree: "...Duan Baoxuan, the Minister of Justice, is promoted to the Minister of War; Wang Jishan, the Minister of the Supreme Court, is promoted to the Minister of Justice..."

Empress Wu's eyes fell on Wang Jishan.

Not long ago, Wang Jishan was the Minister of Dali Temple, the Inspector General of the Left Thousand Bull Guards, and the commander of the sixteen guards inside and outside Luoyang. Now he is only a Minister of Justice. The difference is huge, but there is no way around it.

If Wang Jishan does not accept it now, he will immediately suffer the same fate as Yao Lingzhang before him.

He had already kowtowed before, and now all the decrees were issued in the name of Li Dan, and it was Pei Yan who summoned him. What could Wang Jishan do if he didn't accept it?

Finally, Wang Jishan stood up and kowtowed to accept the order.

A hint of disdain flashed across Empress Wu's lips.

Pei Yan watched everything calmly and continued to read the imperial edict: "...Appoint the Minister of Rites Wei Daijia as Duke of Fufeng County.

Huang Rensu, the Minister of Works, was granted the title of Prince of Xinjin County.

Guo Zhengyi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was promoted to the position of Shangshu Youcheng.

Fan Lubing, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was promoted to the position of assistant minister of the Secretariat, the third rank of the Secretariat.

The Chief Censor Qian Weidao was promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Cen Changqian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Miao Chuke, the left historian, was promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Zhou Simao, the Right Historian, was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Wu Sansi, Junior Secretary, was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Han Chubin, the right historian, was promoted to the position of Vice Minister of Works.

Promote the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Duguqi, to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice..."

The faces of the ministers kneeling on the ground couldn't help but change slightly. Except for the new Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Cen Changqian, the Vice Ministers of the other six ministries were all replaced by the Scholar of the North Gate.

Of course there is also Wu Sansi.

Dugu Qi was the father of Xiang Wangpin Dugu.

Now, the six ministries and the only violent agency other than the Ministry of Personnel all fell into the control of Empress Wu.

Pei Yan's summons continued, and more and more court officials knelt down in the center of the hall.

Almost everyone received a reward, and even the lowest-ranking official or honorary title would be promoted by one level.

But if you listen carefully, you can find that the person who truly holds the real power is the Beimen Scholar under Empress Wu.

Others may be in higher positions, but there is no doubt that in the future, their places will be replaced by the Scholar of the North Gate.

But among the many personnel changes, some still attract attention.

For example, the Secretary General Wei Xuanzhen was transferred to be the Governor of Yuzhou, and the Governor of Yuzhou Dou Xiaochen was transferred to be the Secretary General.

It's simply a drama.

Half a year ago, Dou Xiaochen was transferred from the Secretary General to the Governor of Yuzhou, and Wei Xuanzhen was transferred from the Governor of Yuzhou to the Secretary General.

Now everything is reversed.

In addition, Wu Youning, the Commandant of the Imperial Chariot, was appointed as the Junior Secretary. He was the second member of the Wu family besides Wu Sansi.

Di Renjie, the Imperial Censor and Sima of Luozhou, was transferred to be the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, Yao Chong, the Imperial Censor and Langzhong of the Ministry of War, was transferred to be the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, and Song Jing, the County Magistrate of Henan, was promoted to the Imperial Censor.

Invisibly, the manpower Li Xuan deployed in Chang'an was quickly disintegrated.

I don't know how long it took, but all the officials on the left side of Qianyang Hall had knelt down, without exception.

……

Behind the pearl curtain, Empress Wu looked towards the generals on the right, her expression becoming truly solemn.

Pei Yan held a new imperial edict in his hand, took a deep breath, and continued to read: "Promote General of the Imperial Guard and Marquis of Fanyang County Zhang Qianxu to the rank of Grand General of the Imperial Guard.

Xue Guwu, the General of the Right Jinwu Guard and Duke of Liaoxi County, was promoted to the General of the Left Qianniu Guard.

The Right Guard General and Liaoyang County Bo Ma Si Zong were promoted to the rank of Left Jinwu Guard General.

General Wang Xiaojie of the Left Guard was promoted to General of the Left Guard.

Gao Kan, the General of the Left Guard and Duke of Pingyuan County, was granted the title of Duke of Liao.

Qin Shandao, general of the Left Jinwu Guard, was granted the title of Duke of Guangye County.

Cheng Chubi, general of the Left Jinwu Guard, was granted the title of Duke of Lu.

Qin Ming, the General of the Left Guard, was promoted to General of the Right Guard.

Zhao Gong, the General of the Left Jinwu Guard, was promoted to the rank of General of the Left Qianniu Guard.

Wu Youji, the charioteer of the imperial chariot, was promoted to General of the Right Guard.

......"

The generals on the right knelt down one after another. Even those who were not promoted were rewarded with titles, official positions and honors.

In the end, all the generals knelt down, without exception.

Seeing all the civil and military officials in the hall kneeling down, Empress Wu finally calmed down.

Li Xian was right when he said that if she controlled this palace, she would control the entire court.

If she controls the entire court, she controls the entire world.

Of course, this is not the end yet.

Pei Xingjian, Gao Kan, and Li Xuan, how they will react is the most important thing next.

Similarly, there are two other hidden dangers that Empress Wu needs to deal with immediately.

One was the Crown Prince Li Chengqi who was regent in Chang'an.

A deposed crown prince Li Xian in Bazhou.

If any one of these two people fell into the hands of others, it would be a huge threat to Empress Wu.

Even the division of the world is possible.

(End of this chapter)