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

Chapter 1636: King Peng's letter to the emperor, burn it

Empress Wu glanced indifferently at Wang Dezhen and Su Liangsi, who were the few opponents she had left in the court.

Among these people were Cen Changqian who had just been taken down, Wei Xuantong, the Shangshu Zuo Cheng who was still standing calmly, and Liu Jingxian, the Huangmen Shilang and the third-rank official of the Zhongshu Menxia.

One was a Shizhong, one was a Tongzhongshumenxia third rank official, one was a Yushi doctor, one was a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and one was a Shangshu Zuocheng.

These people were getting closer.

Empress Wu glanced at Wei Xuantong and Liu Jingxian. She knew that it was not that these two people did not want to stand up, but that they had already reached a tacit understanding in private.

Who is it this time and who is it next time.

While they are trying their best to resist, they are also trying their best to maintain.

Empress Wu looked at Wang Dezhen and Su Liangsi. This time it was Cen Changqian who paid the price.

Empress Wu had just promoted a Minister of Revenue, so it was impossible for her to promote the Grand Secretary to the position of Grand Secretary.

Otherwise, all the upright people in the world will riot.

The Qingliu were tools that the emperor got to check and balance the aristocratic families. Once these tools were gone, the aristocratic families who stood with Empress Wu on the surface would send her to the guillotine at a faster speed.

Empress Wu suppressed her anger and said, "In this case, the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Dali Temple will judge Ouyang Tong. Two months later, Ouyang Tong will be beheaded in Xishi."

Su Liangsi bowed and was about to say something when Wang Dezheng in front of him suddenly turned around and shook his head at him.

Su Liangsi was slightly stunned, then his eyes jumped, and he bowed to Empress Wu and said, "Yes!"

The officials in the court had already realized quickly that Empress Wu wanted to behead Ouyang Tong not just to deal with Ouyang Tong, but also to deal with Li Xuan.

What's the point of killing Ouyang Tong who is already in prison?

The key still lies in Li Xuan.

For two months, even though King Peng was preparing for a water attack, the attack strategy could not be finalized. However, by that time, Cheng Wuting's army had been transferred back from Yangzhou and would be quickly deployed to the entire Qiaohan Ancient Road.

At that time, if Li Xuan wanted to save Ouyang Tong, he must quickly fight his way out of Hangu Pass.

When facing tens of thousands of troops and city fortresses, Li Xuan's chances of winning are rapidly decreasing, and there is a high possibility that he will die on the road in the end.

This is Empress Wu’s purpose.

Empress Wu lowered her head and looked at the end of Li Xuan's article again.

"I left the capital in February of the first year of Sisheng and it is now May of the second year of Sisheng.

Time flies, and my heart is uneasy; alas, the cries are heard everywhere.

How cruel God is to his subjects.

It has been nearly seventeen months since the late emperor died of illness, and it has also been a year since Zhongzong passed away.

I cry and feel pity, but it is hard to see my old face; I am afraid that I am cruel and will still cause me sorrow in the future.

I only wish to go to Chang'an as soon as possible and respectfully invite the Queen Mother to return to the court.

The world is stable and the people are free from disasters.

Your humble servant Xuan bows his head on this day, May 12th, the second year of Sisheng.

I bow once again, may the Queen of Heaven bless you with long life and good health. "

Empress Wu narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists tightly.

At the end of the memorial, a figure wailing and wailing in sorrow across the sky and earth had clearly taken shape.

Crying and wailing, what are you crying and wailing about?
The death of Emperor Gaozong, the death of Emperor Zhongzong.

And there is Li Chongzhao.

The sorrow that lingers is what is referring to Li Chongzhao.

It has been nearly a year and a half since the death of the previous emperor. Li Xian is dead, and Li Chongzhao is still being hunted down.

Therefore, Li Chongzhao must be alive, he must be alive. Once Li Chongzhao died, before Li Xuan's writing style, public opinion in the world would be extremely unfavorable to Empress Wu.

That would have been fine, but when Empress Wu saw the words: "I only hope you can go to Chang'an as soon as possible to respectfully invite the Empress Dowager to return to the court, so that the world can be stable and the people will be safe," she was even more upset.

It was as if she was the one who caused the chaos in the world.

It's really weird to the extreme.

Empress Wu gritted her teeth, picked up the pen, and wrote vigorously on the memorial: "Approved. I am in Qianyang Palace, waiting for Prince Peng to arrive. Please do not let anything unexpected happen."

After writing the last word, Empress Wu swung her hand vigorously and threw the entire memorial to the ground. She gritted her teeth and said, "Send someone to Hangu Pass immediately."

"Yes!" Qiu Huan hurried forward, picked up the memorial from the ground, and walked outside quickly.

At this time, he had noticed that several people had quickly scanned the memorial.

The memorial that could cause the Queen Mother to lose her composure several times at today's court meeting was definitely not ordinary.

Many people were curious about what Li Xuan had written in it to make the queen so angry.

This kind of thing hasn't happened for many years.

Hao Chujun, Shangguan Yi, and Zhangsun Wuji.

Now another King Peng has emerged.

Many people's minds began to slowly turn.

……

"Queen, please calm down." Shangguan Wan'er stepped forward gently on the golden steps and bowed.

The ministers in the palace reacted at the same time and bowed their hands and said, "The Queen, please calm down."

Empress Wu's eyes flashed with a hint of sneer, and she said directly: "From now on, all rumors will be banned in Luoyang City. Liu Qing, use some strength. King Peng has always been unscrupulous."

"Yes!" Liu Zhirou, the chief officer of Luozhou, stood up and bowed to accept the order, with no sadness or joy on his face.

The relationship between him and Li Xuan was not very deep. He and Li Xuan were predecessors and successors of the Honglu Temple, and the two sides did not have much contact time.

Moreover, he was born into the Pengcheng Liu family and was the nephew of Liu Shenli, the Shangshu You Pushe.

Since Empress Wu came to power, she has not done anything to Liu Shenli. Even when the Anxi army was controlled by Prince Peng, she did not make things difficult for Liu Shenli, let alone Liu Zhirou.

However, Liu Zhirou still felt dissatisfied, and this dissatisfaction came from Di Renjie.

Di Renjie was previously the Sima of Luozhou. After Li Dan ascended the throne, he was transferred to the position of Shaoqing of the Dali Temple.

Everything was going well until Prince Peng started a rebellion, and Empress Wu sent people to arrest Di Renjie and put him in prison.

I heard that Di Renjie was tortured from time to time.

Liu Zhirou was unable to do much to help Di Renjie, but don't expect him to be very kind to Empress Wu.

The heroine is Dai Tang.

Liu Zhirou said in her heart and returned to the train.

……

Empress Wu lowered her head, looked at the letter written by Li Xuan to Li Dan in her hand, and then opened it directly.

Looking up, it was indeed familiar content. "Your Excellency Xuan Yan: The will of heaven is changeable, and the affairs of the world are unpredictable.

I was ordered to march west to pacify the Western Turks and resist the Arabs. It was hard to predict, and the world had changed dramatically over the years.

Your Highness is kind and respectful, calm and gentle. I know that it is difficult for you to exercise control in the face of great changes.

The times are difficult. The emperor is in a state of confusion and change. The inside and outside are different, and it is difficult to follow. I know the suffering your Highness is going through.

I still remember that when the late emperor was still alive, Your Highness was appointed Governor of Yongzhou and in charge of Chang'an because of his kindness.

Unfortunately, it has not arrived yet.

However, the late emperor once said that in three to five years, he would let Your Highness take charge of the Jingzhou Grand Military Governor's Office, and I agree with this.

If nothing changes, after I return to the court from Fanzhou, Your Highness can take charge of Fanzhou exclusively, manage the Western Regions, plan against the Arabs, and serve as a barrier for the western frontier of the Tang Dynasty.

Unfortunately, unexpected events have occurred.

When I arrived in Chang'an and met Prince Yongping, I learned that Your Highness had not seen his son since he went to Luoyang last year.

Times are tough, and I have so many feelings.

However, change will eventually happen, and order can be put back in place. I have already reported this to the emperor, and he has granted permission. When Your Highness returns to the court in the future, you can be appointed governor of Fanzhou, manage the Western Regions, and plot against the Arabs.

There is a strong bond of affection between uncle and nephew.

If you have any reply, please send it to Shanzhou.

The last thing is, before I set out on my journey east, I went to Qianling Mausoleum to offer sacrifices and speak of offerings. It has been nearly a year since the late emperor was buried last year, but in the past year, no royal family of the Tang Dynasty has offered sacrifices, which is really inappropriate.

Respectful Emperor, Emperor Zhongzong, His Royal Highness Prince Yong.

Of the late emperor's sons who are still alive, only Your Highness is left. All sacrificial matters will have to be performed by Your Highness personally. Please take care of yourself.

All affairs of the world are in the hands of Heaven and the saints, but not of you and me.

If anything unexpected happens, Your Highness should not blame yourself, take care of yourself, and plan for the future, so that you will have freedom.

I, your humble servant, bow my head and wish Your Highness long live the throne.

The second year of Sisheng, May 12th.

Empress Wu read the entire letter word by word, and the more she read to the end, the more she could not help gritting her teeth.

Li Xuan had a clear understanding of the facts behind Li Dan's ascension to the throne, so he had no intention of pursuing him.

He might even be sent to Fanzhou to govern the country in the future, after all, he was the only legitimate son of Emperor Gaozong while still alive.

When Empress Wu looked at the three names in a row on the envelope, "Emperor Xiaojing, Emperor Zhongzong, and His Royal Highness Prince Yong," she knew that Li Xuan's words were actually meant for her.

Li Hong, Li Xian, Li Xian.

Accident, future, freedom.

Tao Yuanming has a poem that says: "After being in a cage for a long time, I can finally return to nature."

What Li Xuan actually meant was the cage.

What he was talking about was Li Dan’s current life in captivity, like a puppet.

There are no surprises, just for the future, just for future sacrificial activities.

In this letter, Li Xuan contained too many things that were implicitly communicated to Li Dan.

If this letter fell into Li Dan's hands, Empress Wu was sure that Li Dan would not do much in the short term, but his heart would definitely be shaken.

This was something Empress Wu did not want to see.

Empress Wu raised her head, picked up the envelope between her middle and index fingers, handed it to Shangguan Wan'er and said, "Burn it."

Shangguan Wan'er was startled, but still bowed and said, "Yes!"

The ministers in the palace also saw this scene. They were really curious about what Li Xuan wrote in the letter that made Empress Wu not even have the courage to show it to Li Dan.

Lou Shide delivered three letters and a memorial from Li Xuan today.

The first letter, with just two words "water attack", caused the ministers to discuss for a long time in the court.

After that, the letter that Crown Prince Li Chengqi wrote to the emperor did not cause much trouble.

But it is unsettling that the crown prince has fallen into the hands of King Peng.

What really made Empress Wu lose her composure several times was Li Xuan's memorial. The ministers didn't even know what was written in it.

Now, after reading the last letter, which Li Xuan wrote to Li Dan, Empress Wu actually had it burned.

This is really inconsistent with the Queen's previous style.

……

Seeing the changing expressions of the ministers, Empress Wu said calmly, "The late emperor had wanted to appoint Prince Peng as the Imperial Academy's chief academic officer several times. Now it seems that the late emperor saw his ability but failed to see his virtue. I have ordered the officials to judge his crime and issue an imperial edict to make it known to the world."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed at the same time.

Empress Wu collected her thoughts and continued, "In any case, the King of Peng has already led his troops to Hangu Pass. Before Cheng Wuting returns, you gentlemen can't just stand there. Do you have any suggestions that can weaken the King of Peng or even defeat him without a fight?"

Empress Wu's eyes fell on Fan Lubing.

Fan Lubing paused for a moment and bowed his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, King Peng is the best at attacking people's hearts, and we can also use the same attack on people's hearts... If what I guessed is correct, I'm afraid that few people in Chang'an know about the fall of Yangzhou, and even within Hangu Pass, I'm afraid that there are only a few people who know about it."

"Lou Qing." Empress Wu looked up at Lou Shide and said, "Lou Qing, I will arrange secret guards to handle the affairs of Chang'an, but I will rely on you for Hangu Pass."

"I obey your order." Lou Shide stood up and bowed.

Empress Wu hesitated for a moment and said, "Not only Chang'an, but also Yangzhou's fall. All the states in the world should know about it, even Fanzhou. Heichi Changzhi is still in Fanzhou. Ministers, who will go to Fanzhou and bring back a letter of imperial edict?"

The ministers in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.

Heichi Changzhi has been Li Xuan's deputy for many years. The relationship between him and Li Xuan is naturally self-evident. It is precisely because of this that if Heichi Changzhi can be made to betray Li Xuan, it will be the greatest blow to Li Xuan.

He even sent troops from Fanzhou, passing through Changzhou, Lanzhou, Qizhou, and finally Chang'an, without any obstruction along the way.

In one month, Heichi Changzhi will be able to pacify Tu Chang'an.

At that time, Li Xuan could be easily killed by attacking from both sides.

Good means.

But the question is who will go?
"Your Majesty, I recommend someone." Wu Sansi stood up and bowed to Empress Wu, saying, "Sima Guo Huihui of the Youzhou Governor's Office has lived in Fanzhou for many years. He is familiar with Fanzhou and King Peng. You can send him to Fanzhou to communicate with Heichi Changzhi."

Empress Wu's eyes jumped, and she nodded with satisfaction, and said sideways: "Transfer the Sima of Youzhou Dudufu, Guo Huihui, back to the capital, and appoint him as Sima of Luozhou, and inspect the Lieutenant General of the Right Thousand Bull Guards, and go to Fanzhou."

"Yes!" Wu Sansi immediately bowed, with a hint of joy flashing across his face.

Guo Huiyao not only had been in Luosi for many years and had worked under Li Xuan, but the key was that he was Guo's man.

Although they are the Xuzhou Guo family, the Xuzhou Guo family and the Taiyuan Guo family are actually one and the same.

Look at the names Guo Daifeng and Guo Daiju.

Especially at this time, Guo Daiju and Guo Zhengyi are very useful to Wu Sansi in Chang'an.

(End of this chapter)