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

Chapter 1628 The Justice of the World Is in My Hands, Not in Others
In the Taiji Hall, Li Xuan calmly looked at the ministers, taking in everyone's expressions, and then continued calmly: "Now, the emperor is 'touring' in Yangzhou, the empress is 'recuperating' in Luoyang, and only we are in Chang'an..."

Before Li Xuan finished speaking, many people showed amused expressions on their faces.

Li Chongzhao had no choice but to flee to Yangzhou, and with the support of Pei Xingjian and others, he ascended the throne in Yangzhou.

Empress Wu deposed Li Xian, established Li Dan as emperor, and stationed him in Luoyang to control the world.

Li Xuan fought his way back from Changzhou and seized Chang'an as his base, but now he is talking about whitewashing.

Li Xuan looked at the ministers and said in a deep voice: "The Luoyang issue should be completely resolved within this year. From today on, all the departments in Chang'an need to prepare for the emperor's official enthronement ceremony next year."

"Yes!" All the ministers were suddenly solemn and bowed in unison.

Li Xuan continued, "However, the emperor is not in Chang'an. All matters east of Hangu Pass need a major war to be resolved. However, matters in the states west of Hangu Pass must be taken over by the various departments and offices to avoid chaos after the emperor returns."

"Yes!" All the ministers suddenly became excited.

Li Xuan’s words were very clear.

From then on, all matters west of Hangu Pass, before he took Luoyang, were under the responsibility of the six ministries and nine temples in Chang'an.

That is, they are responsible.

Now, three quarters of the core personnel are in Luoyang, and only they are in Chang'an.

However, although there are few of them, the court structure is still there. Although there are not many things to deal with, they can still handle things smoothly.

Li Xuan looked at the ministers and said seriously: "Although everything can be discussed, for the sake of safety, after discussing with the left and the land prime ministers, I have decided to appoint the Prince of Linzi, Li Guangren, and the Prince of Yongping as regents before the emperor returns from Yangzhou..."

"Your Highness, this is against etiquette." A figure couldn't help but stand up and interrupted Li Xuan anxiously.

Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at the official in the scarlet robe and said, "You are..."

"I am Wei Juyuan, a doctor in the Ministry of Rites." Wei Juyuan looked up at Li Xuan and said earnestly, "Prince of Linzi Li Guangren and Prince of Yongping are only princes. How can they be regents? Your Majesty, this is against the etiquette."

"I know this too." Li Xuan nodded to Wei Juyuan with a wry smile, and said, "But the central government's affairs must be handled by orders from above. The emperor is now in Yangzhou, and we are in Chang'an. Some matters can be handled by the six ministries and nine temples and reported to the Political Affairs Hall. Some matters are difficult for the Political Affairs Hall to handle, so we can send them to Yangzhou. However, some matters are difficult for the Political Affairs Hall to handle, but it will take too long to send them to Yangzhou, so we need someone to pass them around in our name."

Wei Juyuan raised his eyes slightly, and he understood what Li Xuan meant.

Some things can be handled by the people in Chang'an; some things can be sent to Yangzhou to wait for the emperor to deal with; but for some things, they need a more suitable person to take the blame.

This has always been the case with regents.

Even when the crown prince was older and served as regent, he was just a bystander. He didn't have to decide small matters, and he couldn't decide big matters.

Not to mention the still young Li Guangren and Li Chengqi.

"I understand what the prince means, but you can find someone to regent, but it cannot be the Prince of Linzi or the Prince of Yongping." Wei Juyuan still refused to back down.

Li Xuan nodded slightly and said, "I also understand what Doctor Wei meant. If possible, when the emperor is not in Chang'an, the most suitable person to be the regent would be either Empress Dowager Wei or Prince Ping'en. However, these two are now in Luoyang, so we can't honor them as regents from afar."

Regent of the country has always been the intention of becoming the crown prince.

Li Hong, Li Xian, and Li Xian all served as regents at one time or another, and at that time they were all crown princes.

Once something happens to the emperor, the prince regent can ascend the throne directly.

But now, Li Chongzhao had no son at all, and his younger brother Li Chongfu and his mother Empress Wei were all in the hands of Empress Wu.

How could they let them supervise the country?

Li Xuan continued, "Now that King Han and King Huo are both in the local area, I can call them back to supervise the country, but are you willing?"

The ministers immediately became cautious.

The King of Han and the King of Huo are both older princes of the royal family. If they act as regents and something happens, it will be hard to say what will happen.

Wei Juyuan was about to say something when Li Xuan calmly waved his hand and said, "In any case, the Prince of Linzi and the Prince of Yongping are the most suitable ones at the moment. After all, they are both descendants of Emperor Gaozong. Let's settle this matter. I will go to Yangzhou with the Left Prime Minister and the Lu Prime Minister and ask Your Majesty to make the final decision."

"Here!" All the ministers raised their hands at the same time.

When Wei Juyuan heard Li Xuan say that the Prince of Linzi and the Prince of Yongping were both descendants of Emperor Gaozong after all, his eyes slightly raised, then he bowed and returned to the train.

Li Xuan nodded, and then said: "Then everything will be based on this in the future. If there are any difficult issues to be resolved in the three provinces, six ministries, nine temples and five bureaus in Yongzhou Prefecture and other local prefectures and counties, they will be reported to the Political Affairs Hall for decision. If the Political Affairs Hall cannot make a decision, it will be reported to the Prince of Linzi and the Prince of Yongping for decision. If the two cannot decide, it will be reported to Yangzhou for handling after the emperor returns."

The ministers were slightly stunned, and suddenly a familiar feeling came over them.

They remembered that Pei Yan and Su Liangsi did the same thing last year. If there were any issues that could not be resolved, they would wait three years until the Prince of Xiang took power.

However, everyone knows that it is very likely that Prince Xiang will not have any chance to do it in person.

But this is the only hope we can hold on to.

Therefore, all matters in the court that can be handled will be handled, and those that cannot be handled will have to wait for the emperor to return from Yangzhou to handle them.

"In addition, I have discussed with the Left Prime Minister that in order to ensure smooth operation of government affairs, we will request that the emperor be informed and Prime Minister Lu be the inspector of the Secretariat and Prime Minister Cui be the inspector of the Palace Attendants. The memorial is here. Do you have any objections?" Li Xuan looked up at the ministers.

The ministers were slightly stunned. They did not expect that Li Xuan did not dominate the government.

Li Xuan was the Grand Marshal, and the Vice Prime Minister was even higher than the third rank of the Secretariat, but now the power was divided.

During the reign of Empress Wu, Liu Rengui had already been reduced to a figurehead without real power, and so was Lu Yuanfang. Cui Zhiwen was even more miserable, having been dismissed from the third rank of Tongzhongshu Menxia during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, but now Li Xuan had directly sent him to the throne of Shizhong.

In fact, most of the people in the court were similar to them, and most of them even had various connections with them. That was why they were thrown into Chang'an by Empress Wu.

Although Liu Rengui, Lu Yuanfang and Cui Zhiwen all have a good relationship with Li Xuan, if Li Xuan is willing to share power with the three of them, it means that many people present can also share power.

After looking at it for a long time, Li Xuan nodded and said, "In that case, let's report it this way. It will take a long time to go back and forth to Yangzhou, so the ministers should act first."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui, Lu Yuanfang, Cui Zhiwen, and other court officials bowed at the same time.

Li Xuan continued, "The Queen is recuperating in Luoyang this time. Although the time is long, she will return one day.

The officials in Luoyang are also different, some are wise and some are foolish, some can be used and some cannot be used. This king has discussed with the left prime minister, the prime minister Lu, and the prime minister Pei, and decided to dismiss some of the officials in Luoyang and retain some of them. When they return from Luoyang in the future, things will go smoothly.”

Many people in the hall didn't understand what Li Xuan meant for a moment, but the smart ones didn't speak.

Liu Rengui turned around, looked at the ministers and said, "Although Luoyang is in the hands of the Queen Mother, there are also many people who are loyal to the Emperor. We need to make them more resolute."

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Luoyang is not like Chang'an. People's hearts are united. Even if I want to attack, it will be difficult. We can win over the hearts of people in Luoyang. You also have relatives and teachers, and you can also make suggestions on appointments and dismissals."

To divide the people of Luoyang is Li Xuan’s fundamental purpose.

"Here!" All the ministers raised their hands at the same time.

Li Xuan nodded and looked at Cui Zhiwen.

Cui Zhiwen stood up and bowed to the ministers, saying, "Remove Dou Lu Qinwang from the post of Zhongshu Ling, remove Guo Daiju from the post of Shizhong, remove Fan Libing from the post of Zhongshu Shilang, remove Guo Zhengyi from the post of Shangshu Youcheng, remove Dou Xuande from the post of Minister of Personnel..."

As soon as Cui Zhiwen said this, all the ministers in the palace immediately understood everything.

This is to set things right.

All the Northern Gate scholars under Empress Wu and those around Prince Li Dan were to be dismissed from their posts.

Wei Juyuan and many other people from the Wei family showed a look of satisfaction on their faces.

Should!
After Cui Zhiwen finished reading it, all the scholars of the North Gate and the people in the Prince of Xiang's Palace appointed by Li Dan after he ascended the throne were dismissed.

Cui Zhiwen continued, "Summon Li Yiyan back to the court and appoint him as the Minister of the Secretariat, and the third rank official of the Secretariat."

Among the ministers in the hall, many looked up in surprise.

"Appoint Zhang Da'an, the Chief Clerk of Fanzhou, as the Minister of Personnel, appoint Yun Hongyin, the Governor of Qizhou, as the Minister of Revenue, appoint Wang Fangyi, the Protector-General of Anxi, as the Minister of War, appoint Xiao Siye as the Minister of Punishment, appoint He Yiqiu, the Director of Water Conservancy, as the Minister of Dali Temple, reinstate Wei Shishi, the former Governor of Huazhou, as the Vice Minister of Rites, appoint Wei Hongji as the Supervisor of the Lesser Treasury, appoint Wang Yinke as the Right Prime Minister, appoint Zhang Hongyu, the Attendant Censor, as the Chief Censor, appoint Zhao Xun, the Director of Personnel, as the Vice Minister of Personnel..." Cui Zhiwen then announced a series of appointments.

In addition to the previous series, many of whom were Li Xuan's confidants from Fanzhou, the rest were the prime ministers' personnel in Chang'an.

Even the Jingzhao Wei family had a large number of people entering the court.

This made Wei Juyuan, who was originally somewhat dissatisfied, silent for a while.

Soon, the main forces running the entire court were fully formed.

Cui Zhiwen finished reading the imperial edict, then bowed slightly to Li Xuan and stepped back.

Li Xuan nodded slightly, stepped forward, looked up at the ministers and said: "Everyone, all appointments will be sent to Yangzhou immediately. Before the emperor returns from Yangzhou, all ministers must immediately perform their duties.

The autumn harvest is approaching, and Chang'an, the entire Longxi, as well as Jiannan, Gan, Liang, Sha, Su, Chang and Fan states must ensure that the autumn harvest is not hindered."

"Here!" All the ministers raised their hands at the same time.

The officials of the Tang Dynasty today have not yet reached the point where they would rather eat meat porridge. They are all very aware that the price of grain in Chang'an will rise higher as the autumn harvest approaches.

Only if the autumn harvest goes smoothly can the city of Chang'an be stabilized. Moreover, it will be crucial to the military food needs for the subsequent expedition to Luoyang.

Li Xuan took a deep breath and continued, "The Taiwei Mansion is responsible for the rectification of the army, but the expedition to Luoyang cannot be delayed, so the Minister of War Wang Fangyi is appointed as the Inspector General of the Right Guard to lead 10,000 people from the Left Guard and 5,000 people from the Right Guard to immediately set off to Hangu Pass and Hejin Station to occupy the key points, and at the same time spy on Shanzhou and find out the situation in Luoyang."

"I obey your command." Wang Fangyi immediately stood up, bowed, and quickly turned and left.

Li Xuan nodded, and then said: "Appoint Gao Chongli, the Langjiang of the Right Guard, as the Lieutenant General of the Left Guard, and Cheng Chuzheng, the Commandant of the Luosi Guard, as the Lieutenant General of the Right Guard, to take charge of the defense of Chang'an.

Liang Xing, the General of the Left Guard, was appointed as the General of the Left Guard, to guard the Suzaku Gate.

Cheng Chubi, general of the Left Jinwu Guard, was appointed general of the Right Jinwu Guard.

Cui Ding was appointed as the General of the Left Jinwu Guard and the Inspector of the Left Jinwu Guard.

Zhou Qian, who was appointed as the Lieutenant General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, was promoted to General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard.

General Qiu Zhenmu of the Right Guard was transferred to General of the Right Thousand Oxen Guard.

Appoint Li Zhu, the military officer of Luoshui Road, as the Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard..."

A series of military generals under Li Xuan were quickly deployed to guard key locations.

This also means that Chang'an City has completely fallen into his hands.

(End of this chapter)