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

Chapter 1580: Enemies on all sides, changing situation

Empress Wu turned to look at Shangguan Wan'er and said solemnly, "Send a letter to Wang Yinke, Cheng Wuting and Dunhuang Governor Linghu Mou again, prohibiting anyone from going from Longxi to Fanzhou and the Western Regions within one month."

"Yes!" Although Shangguan Wan'er was confused, she still bowed seriously.

Empress Wu shook her head and explained, "Prince Peng is far away in the Western Regions. Logically speaking, it is impossible for him to manipulate such a detailed plan in Chang'an. Even if he is behind this, there must be someone in Chang'an City to take charge for him. We need to find this person and prevent Chongzhao from being taken to Luosi."

Once Li Chongzhao was brought to Luoshui, Li Xuan could easily make him emperor and split the entire court.

After a short pause, Empress Wu looked at Guo Daiju and said, "Of course, what Mr. Guo said makes sense. This may have nothing to do with King Peng, so we can't just focus on King Peng. After all, he is far away in the Western Regions. Even if he has any plans, it will be difficult for him to react in time. So, think about it, who else could it be besides King Peng?"

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her head slightly, then suddenly raised her eyes and whispered, "Empress, could it be the Imperial Censor?"

Imperial Censor Su Liangsi.

The second most important minister to Li Xian besides Li Xuan.

Although people like Xue Yuanchao and Yao Lingzhang have some abilities, they always lack courage at critical moments.

Only Li Xuan and Su Liangsi are capable, courageous and have strong ability to take action.

Especially Su Liangsi, who was the commander of the secret guards and Li Xian's confidant. It was normal for him to make some arrangements in advance before setting out for Suzhou.

Especially at that time, Su Liangsi had already vaguely sensed something.

He stayed in Luoyang much longer than Li Xuan.

While hesitating, Empress Wu suddenly noticed that Guo Daiju was hesitant and wanted to say something, but she couldn't open her mouth.

Empress Wu said directly: "Mr. Guo, if you have anything to say, just say it."

"Yes!" Guo Daiju breathed a sigh of relief, then cupped his hands and said, "Empress, there are actually three people in charge in Chang'an right now, the left prime minister, Minister Fan, and General Cheng."

"Do you mean Cheng Chubi?" Empress Wu's brows suddenly frowned.

Guo Daiju continued to bow and said, "If I remember correctly, the governor of Qizhou and the general of the Zhenjun Army is the son-in-law Duwei Cheng Chuliang, who is married to Princess Qinghe."

Empress Wu couldn't help but frown.

Although the Cheng family often stood on Wu Zetian's side, their position would be shaken if Wu Zetian and the emperor were in serious conflict.

This is also the reason why, after Xue Rengui passed away, Empress Wu directly sent Cheng Chubi to the north.

It also indirectly excluded Cheng Chubi from being at the core of the palace coup.

But this does not mean that Cheng Chubi knows nothing.

On the contrary, Cheng Chubi knew a lot.

It's just that at the critical moment, he chose to dodge, and Cheng Chubi is not the only one like this.

However, it is not difficult to explain why Cheng Chubi found an excuse to save the prince when Zhang Qianxu came to the Eastern Palace with murderous intent.

Empress Wu calmed herself down and looked at Shangguan Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, immediately draft an order to summon Imperial Censor Su Liangsi back to the palace."

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er immediately bowed and walked quickly to the side.

At this moment, Qiu Huan appeared in front of the gate of Qianyang Palace and bowed slightly.

Empress Wu nodded and said, "Bring someone in."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan turned around respectfully.

The next moment, Li Lingwen, dressed in black cloth, appeared in the hall. In less than two days, Li Lingwen already had a beard, was sloppy, and looked decadent.

"Li Qing!" Empress Wu raised her head and looked at Li Lingwen calmly.

Li Lingwen came back to his senses, raised his head with some pain, looked at Empress Wu, then bowed solemnly and said, "Greetings to the Queen Mother."

Li Lingwen didn't know what his current identity was.

Emperor Zhongzong died because he failed to defend his position, allowing Zhang Qianxu to lead his men directly into Daye Gate and kill the imperial guard general Li Yi.

Although Li Lingwen was not a member of the royal family, he was the grandson of Li Keshi and a descendant of the Danyang branch of the Longxi Li family.

Considered half a royal family.

He is somewhat related by blood to the murdered Imperial Guard General Li Yi.

But it was precisely because although he looked like a member of the royal family, he was not actually a member of the royal family that he was able to keep his life.

Of course, it is also because he is the great-nephew of Li Jing.

After all, even Zhang Qianxu didn't really want to offend the whole world for Empress Wu.

Especially in the military.

In the officialdom, at least if others want to get you, they have to frame you, but in the military, a random arrow from behind can take your life.

The emperor is just a symbol in the army, but Li Jing is a god in the army.

Even when Li Xuan killed Li Jingye, he used every possible means to kill him in the most legitimate way.

Therefore, when he failed to kill Li Lingwen at the beginning, Zhang Qianxu knew that he would never be able to kill him again.

……

Looking at Li Lingwen, Empress Wu said calmly: "Last time, you were just doing your duty. Now that the matter has passed, I want to ask you, if I asked you to go to Chang'an now and serve as the general of the imperial guards, what would you say?"

Li Lingwen suddenly looked up, his eyes full of disbelief.

Xu Zhou next to him was also extremely shocked.

You know, when they broke into the Daye Gate, they not only captured Li Lingwen, but also killed several of Li Lingwen's cronies. Now they let Li Lingwen return to Chang'an to serve as the general of the imperial guards. What is the Queen Mother planning to do?

Li Lingwen's expression quickly eased, and he bowed earnestly and said, "I wonder what the Queen wants me to do?"

"Return to Chang'an and guard Ganlu Gate." Empress Wu whispered softly, and Li Lingwen opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

The position of Ganlu Gate in Taiji Palace is equivalent to the position of Zhenguan Hall in Ziwei Palace.

The Taiji Hall is where the grand court is held, the Liangyi Hall is where the guests are entertained, and the Ganlu Hall is where the emperor sleeps and is already within the harem.

In the entire Taiji Palace harem, Ganlu Gate is the south gate and Xuanwu Gate is the north gate.

Of course, there are Liangyi Gate, Zhuming Gate, Jiade Gate and Taiji Gate in front. It's just that Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu often lived in Daming Palace, so Ganlu Hall is not well-known.

But now, Li Dan is going back to Chang'an, so he will naturally live in Ganlu Palace.

Li Lingwen was guarding Ganlu Gate, and Empress Wu used him to guard the emperor.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Li Lingwen spoke subconsciously, but he was so surprised that he could hardly utter a complete sentence.

Empress Wu waved her hand, then looked at Xu Zhou and said, "Xu Zhou, I'll appoint you as the General of the Imperial Guards, responsible for guarding Xuanwu Gate, under the command of Li Lingwen. Are you willing?"

Xu Zhou opened his mouth in astonishment, but in an instant, he immediately shut up, then kowtowed solemnly and said: "I am willing to die for the Queen."

Empress Wu nodded with satisfaction and said, "It seems that you know what you should do. Very good. Tomorrow the emperor will set out to return to Chang'an. The two of you will accompany him to escort him. After arriving in Chang'an, the emperor will order Zhang Qianxu to reflect on himself behind closed doors. The two of you will keep an eye on him and don't let him interfere in any of the imperial guards' affairs again."

"I obey your command." Li Lingwen knelt down without any hesitation.

His current situation was all caused by Zhang Qianxu. Now that he has the chance to take revenge on Zhang Qianxu, how could he not be willing to do so?

Empress Wu nodded and said, "Both of you should go down. Li Qing, it's time for you to go home. Your father must be waiting anxiously. What's going on in the palace?"

"It is the secret of the royal family. How can a minister discuss it in private?" Li Lingwen said it without any hesitation.

Xu Zhou, who was standing by, was extremely surprised.

Empress Wu nodded with satisfaction and waved her hand.

"We will take our leave now." Li Lingwen and Xu Zhou immediately bowed again and this time retreated.

Empress Wu looked at the two men's backs and said softly, "Li Lingwen can be used, but only in a small way, but Xu Zhou can be used in a big way."

Guo Daiju stood aside and bowed solemnly.

Xu Zhou, born in a poor family, is a smart man.

Empress Wu continued, "Send an order to have Zhang Qianxu lead his troops to search Weiqu. Tell him not to destroy any grass or tree in Weiqu, and not to allow anything that violates military discipline to happen."

"Yes!" Guo Daiju's expression changed slightly.

Empress Wu turned to look at Qiu Huan who was standing to one side and said, "Go and call Fan Yunxian over."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan immediately bowed and turned away.

……

Empress Wu sat behind the imperial desk and thought calmly. Zhang Qianxu had messed up things in Chang'an. The original plan was no longer feasible, so it needed to be changed.

Maybe we can use this to set up a new situation...

A light sound of footsteps sounded at the side door. Fan Yunxian, who was wearing a dark blue collared robe, quickly walked to the left side of the imperial desk, then bowed solemnly and said, "Empress!"

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded and said, "The emperor will leave for Chang'an tomorrow. You will serve him and be in charge of all the affairs in the palace. If there is anything, go directly to the General of the Imperial Guard, Xu Zhou."

"Yes!" Fan Yunxian immediately bowed.

The emperor will return to Chang'an tomorrow. Once he arrives in Chang'an, the final conclusion on the death of Emperor Zhongzong will come from Emperor Li Dan's mouth.

It will be recorded in history and will never be changed.

Empress Wu nodded and said, "When you are in Chang'an, keep the affairs of the palace under control and keep an eye on the affairs outside the palace. Let them do whatever they want, and you just need to keep an eye on them."

"Yes!" Fan Yunxian bowed again.

Empress Wu nodded and said, "Go, call Xu Lu over."

Fan Yunxian looked up in slight surprise, but then bowed and said, "Yes!"

Fan Yunxian turned and left. A moment later, Xu Lu, who was wearing a light blue round-necked robe and had wrinkles on his face, and whose age was unclear but whose hands and feet were still quite agile, appeared in the Qianyang Palace and bowed, saying, "Greetings to the Queen Mother!"

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded and asked, "How did things go next?"

"The Queen of England, the Queen's concubines and others have already moved into the Lu Palace. The guards inside and outside are strict, and no one is allowed to enter or leave at will." Xu Lu bowed solemnly.

Before today, Xu Lu was also imprisoned in Lugongyuan.

But compared to others, Xu Lu is responsible for communicating with the outside world and is relatively flexible.

Empress Wu raised her head, stared at Xu Lu and said, "From today on, Qiu Huan will manage the front of the palace, and you will manage the back of the palace. Is that okay?"

Xu Lu was stunned for a moment, then he bowed solemnly and said, "I obey your orders."

Empress Wu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Take good care of Princess Ying and Princess Ying. Let them stay well and give birth to the baby in their belly. When the emperor's three-year mourning period is over, I will let them leave the palace. At that time, they will live in Luoyang like Princess Dai and never return to Chang'an."

"Yes!" Xu Lu bowed seriously.

There were too many unexpected things in the death of Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian.

In Wu Zetian's original plan, there was no death of Li Xian. Even now Li Chongzhao has disappeared. All she can do now is to treat Wei and Zheng well.

When appropriate, she would even allow them to appear in public again.

"In addition, the Queen, the Crown Prince, and Prince Xiang's concubine must also be taken care of." Empress Wu raised her head and glanced at Xu Lu.

Xu Lu cupped his hands and said, "Yes!"

……

On May 17, the new emperor Li Dan carried the coffin of Emperor Gaozong back to Chang'an.

The Minister of the Secretariat Doulu Qinwang was in charge of all internal and external affairs, and he was assisted by the Shizhong Wang Dezhen, the Minister of Personnel and the third-rank official of the Secretariat Dou Xuande, and the Minister of the Dali Temple Dugu Qi.

Wei Xuantong, the left chancellor of the Ministry of War, Miao Chuke, the vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, Pei Judao and others accompanied him.

General Xue Guwu of the Left Qianniu Guard and General Ma Sizong of the Left Jinwu Guard accompanied him to ensure his safety.

Empress Wu watched the emperor leave on the Tianjin Bridge.

Standing beside Empress Wu were the newly appointed General of the Left Guard Wang Xiaojie, the Minister of the Central Secretariat Pei Yan, and the Palace Attendant Guo Daiju.

Afterwards, Princess Taiping left the palace.

(End of this chapter)