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

Chapter 1631 Wu Sansi and Li Dan, one dies first

The candlelight is bright, but the hall is quiet and cold.

Li Xuan personally brought a cup of hot tea and placed it on the table beside Liu Rengui, then respectfully stepped aside.

Seeing Li Xuan standing there calmly, Liu Rengui looked at him in surprise: "You knew about the incident in Yangzhou a long time ago?"

"Secret reports from Luoyang to Chang'an, whether by people or pigeons, will all be intercepted around Hangu Pass." Li Xuan sighed and said, "My grandson-in-law once wrote a letter to Duke Jiang, saying that Yangzhou City cannot be defended. If they are forced to retreat to the south of the Yangtze River, they will be able to relax when my grandson-in-law takes Chang'an. I didn't expect that..."

"I didn't expect that I was still a step too late." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan with scrutiny and asked, "How is the emperor?"

Li Xuan shook his head directly: "My grandson-in-law doesn't know, that's the Duke of Jiang's business, but there are ships from Hangzhou that have been waiting in Yangzhou. If you can't make it in time, you can board the ship directly from Yangzhou and go down the Yangtze River to Hangzhou. With Runzhou, Suzhou, and Huzhou to defend, it won't be that easy for the Queen to take Hangzhou. After all, my grandson-in-law will reach Hangu Pass in three days."

Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan and suddenly said, "I said you had a plan that was perfect, but the late emperor didn't believe me. Now it seems that the late emperor is really not as good as me."

Li Xuan lowered his eyes and said softly, "With Duke Jiang in Yangzhou, the emperor will be fine. The Queen Mother was able to capture Yangzhou, and she must have used a method that cost her money. It is already difficult to capture Yangzhou, and going further south may be beyond her ability. Duke Jiang can protect the emperor."

"Can I?" Liu Rengui stared at Li Xuan, his expression hesitant for a moment.

The defeat in Yangzhou was not unexpected.

Empress Wu was never a person who was greedy for military power and reckless, and Pei Xingjian was indeed capable, but even a good cook cannot cook without rice.

It was easy for Pei Xingjian to make Li Chongzhao the crown prince in Yangzhou, but it was not so easy to resist the imperial army.

Empress Wu didn't care about the damage to the world's elite troops at all. She relied entirely on head-on consumption and beat Pei Xingjian so hard that he had no temper at all.

Especially there is Li Xuan who is unwilling to contribute in the background.

"It must be so." Li Xuan nodded confidently and said, "Once my grandson-in-law arrives at Hangu Pass, Luoyang will have to send reinforcements to Shanzhou. Where will the troops come from? It can only be Yangzhou."

"Maybe." Liu Rengui sighed, then changed the subject: "I remember that when Sanniang passed through Yangzhou, Duke Jiang and the Emperor didn't know about it at all, and Sanniang didn't go to see the Emperor?"

"It's impossible to see him in the first place." Li Xuan shook his head calmly and said, "Many people only saw the emperor once when he first ascended the throne, and he rarely showed up after that."

"Forget it. Anyway, the Prince of Linzi is in Chang'an. Chang'an will be fine no matter what." Liu Rengui compromised. He looked up at Li Xuan and asked, "When will Sanniang come back to Chang'an?"

"About a month." Li Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "My grandson-in-law has already sent a letter to Wuzhou. After receiving the letter, Sanniang should go to Nanchang, take a boat from Nanchang to Anzhou, and then go from Anzhou to Shuzhong. The journey is a bit long, but it is safe. Moreover, Si Niang should come back before Sanniang."

After Li Xuan arrived in Changzhou, he first brought Qu Douer and the third brother Li Zhiyou to Changzhou, but Liu Shubi and the fifth brother Li Zhigao stayed in Fanzhou.

Now that Li Xuan has arrived in Chang'an and is serving as the Grand Marshal, he is no longer the Governor of Fanzhou, so he has to bring Liu Shubi and the fifth son Li Zhigao back.

"What? You don't leave any way out?" Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan in surprise.

Li Xuan was always well prepared when doing things. Before Emperor Gaozong passed away, he sent Qu Douer and Liu Shubi to Fanzhou, but now he brought them back.

Li Xuan bowed slightly, smiled slightly, and said calmly: "Chang'an is Sunxu's retreat."

Liu Rengui's eyebrows jumped, and he couldn't help but ask, "Are you so sure that you can take Luoyang?"

Luoyang is the most fortified city in the world. Even when Emperor Taizong fought against Wang Shichong, it took him several years. He finally besieged Luoyang for eight months. The food and grass in the city were exhausted, and external reinforcements were cut off. Finally, Luoyang was completely captured.

Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan and asked, "Are you going to follow the old rules of Emperor Taizong?"

"That's the last resort." Li Xuan nodded slightly, and then said: "Perhaps the grandson-in-law may be smoother."

Liu Rengui was stunned, and then he couldn't help but stand up immediately, looking at Li Xuan, and asked anxiously: "Do you know what's the key to Luoyang?"

Li Xuan calmly bowed his hands, and then said: "If there is a vital point in Luoyang, the first one is the Queen Mother."

Liu Rengui raised his eyebrows, but before he could speak, Li Xuan shook his head and said, "It is so difficult for people in the world to find the weak spot of the Queen of Heaven."

"Then what about the second one?" Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan in disbelief. He knew that the key point Li Xuan mentioned must be the second one.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Originally, there was only one place in Luoyang, the second most important place after the Queen Mother, but now we have to add one more."

"Wu Sansi." Liu Rengui was such a smart man that he understood the situation in Luoyang better than anyone else in Chang'an. As long as Li Xuan gave him a hint, he would understand what was going on.

Wu Sansi's arrogance in Luoyang was so great that even Empress Wu could not stop him.

No, to be precise, Empress Wu had no intention of curbing Wu Sansi at all. Many court officials who were related to Li Xuan and Pei Xingjian were all impeached and imprisoned by her.

If Empress Wu had not been so stupid, Luoyang would have been a river of blood.

Of course, Su Liangsi also contributed to this.

Every time Su Liangsi faced Wu Sansi, he acted as if he was ready to risk his life. Even before Wu Sansi did anything, Empress Wu already felt something was wrong.

Nowadays, although the officials in Luoyang are facing some difficulties, they can still maintain a balance.

Liu Rengui was even more aware that the strange balance here was somewhat related to the fact that Yangzhou had not yet been pacified and Li Xuan was approaching from the west.

Now that Yangzhou has been pacified and Li Xuan has forced his way to Hangu Pass, no one knows what will happen in Luoyang.

At that time, they just need to find some ways to stir up conflicts between Wu Sansi and Li Dan. Then, if Empress Wu cannot control herself, the situation will explode immediately.

"The Tang Dynasty lasted for three generations, and Wu replaced the Tang. If the Tang Dynasty had not perished, how could Wu replace it?" Li Xuan shook his head lightly, sighed helplessly, and said, "My grandson-in-law is so close to Luoyang, I'm afraid Wu Sansi is going to kill someone in Luoyang. Sometimes, when suspicion arises, there will be chaos in front of and behind the army, inside and outside the court, unless..." "Unless the Queen Mother is willing to abandon Wu Sansi." Liu Rengui immediately understood what Li Xuan meant.

If Empress Wu had to choose between Wu Sansi and Li Dan, she would probably choose Wu Sansi.

After all, Li Dan and Li Chongfu were killed, and even...

Liu Rengui shook his head and said, "You have to be careful. The Queen is wise and intelligent, and the government will not get out of control so easily."

"Yes!" Li Xuan cupped his hands, and then said: "The affairs of Luoyang will be carefully planned by my grandson-in-law, but Changan, please keep it safe and sound."

Among the current court officials, Lu Yuanfang is ultimately too inexperienced. Only Liu Rengui can completely suppress the people's hearts in Chang'an and prevent Li Xuan from being distracted in this regard.

"It's OK in the short term, but for a long time, my body can't bear it, so Sanniang has to come back." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan deeply.

The reason why he saw through Li Xuan's lack of confidence in Li Chongzhao was because Liu Jinyu did not stay in Yangzhou at all and went straight across the river.

In the Jiangnan region, not to mention others, the Yuezhou Governor Lai Jingye and Li Xuan have always had a close relationship.

After Empress Wu conquered Yangzhou, even if she sent people across the river, they would probably be no match for Lai Jingye in the south of the Yangtze River.

As long as Lai Jingye did not openly oppose Empress Wu, she would not treat Lai Jingye excessively.

After all, Li Xuan has already reached Hangu Pass. As long as he can fight his way out of the Xiaohan Ancient Road, Luoyang will be within one step.

Li Xuan's military strategy has always been based on shaking people's hearts. Once he finds a flaw, Luoyang will be difficult to defend.

Li Xuan lowered his head and pondered seriously, then said: "Regarding Sanniang's matter, my grandson-in-law can only write a letter to persuade her to return quickly, but in the end, there is nothing I can do about it, thousands of miles away. However, there is still Wang Yinke, and my grandson-in-law appointed him as Shangshu Youcheng to help Yue Weng.

Nowadays, people working in the six ministries in Chang'an City all have special abilities. As long as the censors supervise, there won't be too many complicated policies for Yue Weng.

The best help for your grandson-in-law is to take care of your health."

Liu Rengui smiled bitterly, shook his head, and said, "I only have one or two years left in my body, so let's give it a try."

"There, may you live a long and healthy life, Mr. Yue." Li Xuan stepped forward and supported Liu Rengui again.

Liu Rengui waved his hand and said, "Forget it. You have been busy recently. I am sorry to bother you. Besides, I have to go back and rest."

"Then I will take my father-in-law back." Li Xuan supported Liu Rengui and said, "My father-in-law will return to Chang'an in the next few days. When the time comes, I will let him be a doctor of the Zuosi. With him by his side, I will feel relieved."

Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan deeply, then shook his head and walked out of Prince Peng's Mansion.

……

Under the cover of night, in the carriage, Liu Rengui was drowsy, but his mind was already racing.

In fact, when he was in front of Li Xuan, he tried very hard to suppress the words.

That is what to do after Li Xuan takes Luoyang.

Liu Rengui saw very clearly that what happened in Yangzhou was the result of Li Xuan's deliberate indulgence.

Although Pei Xingjian was in Yangzhou, he was unable to keep the city under Empress Wu's loss-making offensive.

But the problem lies next.

If Li Xuan was willing, Pei Xingjian could safely bring Li Chongzhao to the south bank of the Yellow River, and then use Runzhou as a base and the Yangtze River as a barrier, so that even if Empress Wu wanted to kill him across the river, it would not be so easy.

But Li Xuan didn't do that. He just watched calmly and didn't show any extra support for what was happening over there.

It was as if he was waiting for Li Chongzhao to be defeated.

Li Chongzhao’s defeat immediately put his life and death in danger.

Thousands of miles away, it would be difficult for Li Xuan to change his mind and do anything.

If Li Chongzhao got into trouble, the throne of Emperor Zhongzong would naturally fall to Prince Ping'en Li Chongfu, but Li Chongfu was in Luoyang.

Li Xuan just said that he wanted to do something about Wu Sansi.

Wu Sansi would not let Li Dan go, so how could he let Li Chongfu go?

If something happened to Li Dan and Li Chongfu, the throne would only be in the hands of Li Chengqi and Li Guangren.

Everything was back in Li Xuan's hands, so there was no need to ask Liu Rengui's question.

After conquering Luoyang, can Li Xuan rescue the descendants of Prince Xiang and Emperor Zhongzong?
In the carriage, Liu Rengui smiled bitterly.

The results of this kind of thing have already come out.

Why ask again?

(End of this chapter)