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

Chapter 1658: Assassinating King Peng, Empress Wu uses mixed poison
Empress Wu looked at Dou Xuande, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Mr. Dou, please speak!"

"Yes!" Dou Xuande bowed earnestly, and then said: "Empress, as the saying goes, 'attacking the city is inferior, attacking the heart is superior'. Based on my understanding of King Peng, if he attacks Luoyang, I am afraid he will not use force.

With the precedent of Emperor Taizong, he will probably use more psychological tactics, which is what he is best at. "

All the ministers in the hall fell silent.

They have a deep understanding of how powerful Li Xuan's psychological tactics are, not to mention in the early years, but now.

The reason why Li Xuan was able to capture Shanzhou quietly was that he took advantage of the court's perception that he would not send troops to rescue Ouyang Tong. On July 15th, he quietly sent out troops and directly captured Shanzhou when everyone was most relaxed. Then he rushed to Xishi Pass at the fastest speed.

There was also the defeat in the Luo River Plain.

Although they still don't know the specific circumstances of Pei Shaoye's defeat, there is no doubt that Li Xuan must have used powerful psychological tactics.

In this case, the court's decision to replace Cheng Wuting with Pei Shaoye was most likely a plot by Li Xuan.

Looking back now, the fundamental reason why the court exchanged Pei Shaoye for Cheng Wuting was, in addition to Li Xuan's attack at Xishi Pass, that Li Xuan sent someone to Luoyang to deliver a letter to Pei Yan.

That letter cost Pei Yan his life.

When Li Xuan attacked Xishi Pass, the court saw clearly that it was impossible for Cheng Wuting to defeat Li Xuan, so they decisively replaced him.

In addition to the relationship between Pei Yan and Cheng Wuting, Cheng Wuting's death was foreseeable.

Having come to this point, he planned to use Cheng Wuting's death to make a fuss, first capture Lou Shide at Yanling Pass, and then join forces to defeat Pei Shaoye.

This is the method used by Li Xuan to defeat the enemy as deduced by the Ministry of War.

It can even be said that all the calculations and human hearts involved started from the moment he arrived at Xishi Pass.

One link after another, layer upon layer, the enemy is defeated in the final battle.

This kind of method is no longer a method used by ordinary military generals, but more of a method used by politicians to manipulate people's hearts.

……

"Once Prince Peng's troops arrive at the gates of Luoyang, if nothing unexpected happens, he will use all means to shake the morale of the army and the people in Luoyang." Dou Xuande carefully looked up at Empress Wu.

Empress Wu nodded slowly and said, "No need to worry, he will definitely do it. I haven't forgotten that Xue Guwu is still in his hands. When the time comes, he will definitely play tricks under the city of Luoyang."

At the gate of Lanzhou, Li Xuan used Fan Yunxian and Xue Shao to shake the morale of Wang Xiaojie's army; at the gate of Chang'an, he used Ma Sizong to shake the morale of Xue Guwu's army.

Now that we have arrived at the city of Luoyang, it is time to use Xue Guwu as a chess piece.

All the officials in the palace became solemn at the same time.

The death of Emperor Zhongzong has always been the most taboo thing in the central government.

Now that Li Xuan wants to expose this matter completely in front of the world, the world will surely be shaken.

Maybe by then, Li Xuan won't need to contact anyone at all, because someone in the city will open the city gate for him.

"So, in order to suppress King Peng's tactics, I dare to do this." Dou Xuande raised his head and bowed his hands seriously, saying, "When the time comes, please ask the Queen to let Your Majesty appear at the city gate to boost the morale of the army and the people and calm their hearts."

"I second the motion." Dou Lu Qinwang immediately stood up and bowed to ask for the order.

"I second the motion." Fan Lubing sighed inwardly, stood up and bowed to ask for the order.

"I second the motion!" More people stood up and asked for the order.

Among them were quite a few Northern Gate Scholars… Northern Gate Scholars who had once worked in the Prince Xiang’s Palace.

Most other court officials thought so too.

King Peng has already reached Luoyang, and it is time for the emperor to step in.

The emperor's appearance can not only boost the morale of the military and civilians and stabilize people's hearts, but it can also, in turn, suppress Li Xuan's morale.

Wu Sansi stood behind the ministers and looked at these people, his eyes narrowed slightly.

Empress Wu nodded calmly and said, "If that day ever comes, I will ask the Emperor to come forward."

"The Queen is wise!" The ministers bowed and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

With the emperor's intervention, the situation became much better.

In fact, they didn't have much interest in going to war with Li Xuan.

Everyone can see that nowadays, almost all of the truly heavyweight generals in the Tang Dynasty are under the command of Li Xuan.

After all, whether it was the attack on Tubo or the later attack on Western Turks, the outstanding generals of the Tang Dynasty were concentrated in Lhasa Road and the Four Towns of Anxi.

It is difficult to win a head-on battle.

Now Li Xuan has led so many people back, under the pretext of revenge for Emperor Zhongzong.

So as long as this matter is resolved, the world will naturally be at peace.

After all, none of them wants to see the Luoyang today become the dilapidated Luoyang city that was guarded by Wang Shichong and finally conquered by Emperor Taizong.

After all, the emperor is the legitimate son of Emperor Gaozong, and he has a good relationship with King Peng. As long as they can persuade King Peng to withdraw his troops, they would dare to agree even if they ask him to be the King of the Northwest.

Empress Wu nodded slightly and said, "But no matter what, we must defend Luoyang City first. Send a message to Yan Huaidan, and mobilize all the sixteen guards in Luoyang. All the checkpoints in the north and south must be sealed. Prince Peng must not be allowed to advance easily."

"Yes!" All the ministers responded loudly.

……

The lights were dim in the Qianyang Palace.

Empress Wu stood calmly in the shadows, watching the backs of the ministers leaving in the darkness, with a strong murderous intent flashing in the depths of her eyes. Now that King Peng was attacking the city, there was a very simple way to solve it.

Empress Wu issued an edict of repentance, vowing never to return to the previous dynasty again.

The emperor personally ruled the country and held great power.

With the precedent of Emperor Zhongzong, Li Dan would never easily give Empress Wu the opportunity to rule again.

Even the officials in the court would not give him any chance anymore.

As for Li Xuan, perhaps he will really be rewarded with the title of King of the Northwest and let him rule the Northwest forever.

Although it was called a permanent garrison, in fact he was only given the post of Pacifier of the Northwest Road and Governor of Changzhou and Fanzhou.

If the negotiation goes well, he might even give up the four towns of Anxi.

And for the court, this was just a repetition of the situation in Tubo in the past.

Moreover, as long as the operation is carried out well, Li Xuan will not face any threat from Tubo, which is perfect for the imperial court.

Li Xuan might really agree to it.

However, in this case, Empress Wu would never have the opportunity to rule the previous dynasty again.

Perhaps Empress Wu could have endured it.

But considering her age, in just ten years, no court official would be willing to bet on her anymore.

unless……

"Aunt!" Wu Sansi's voice sounded from behind.

Empress Wu turned slightly and looked at Wu Sansi with a frown: "You didn't leave?"

"Aunt, I have a plan as well." Wu Sansi looked at Empress Wu with a hint of ruthlessness in his expression.

Seeing his expression, Empress Wu finally showed some interest, nodded, and said, "Go ahead."

"Prime Minister Dou said before that we can have the emperor come to the city gate in person and have a talk with King Peng." After a brief pause, Wu Sansi said carefully, "Perhaps before that, we can have someone meet King Peng first, bring a handwritten letter from the emperor, and then find a chance to kill him."

"You mean assassination." Empress Wu nodded slightly.

Although assassination is not the right way, the effect of assassination is definitely not bad.

In the distant past, there are the three great assassins of the Warring States Period. In recent times, there are Cao Rui, the Sima family, and the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Those are good assassins.

Isn't this what the secret guards of this dynasty do?
Wu Sansi nodded slightly, and then said: "We only need to send two good fighters to follow them, find the right opportunity, and kill King Peng with one strike, and the world will be at peace."

"Is it so easy to assassinate King Peng?" Empress Wu looked at Wu Sansi with disdain and said, "I'm afraid it would be difficult for anyone to get close to him easily. Even if someone could get close, they would probably be searched again and again and would not be able to bring any weapons with them. And don't forget that King Peng himself is an expert."

Wu Sansi was stunned, then he quickly bowed and said, "My nephew is wrong. If assassins don't work, then poisoning is the only option. Put poison in the emperor's handwritten letter to King Peng. As soon as he opens the letter, the poison powder will hit his face and kill him immediately."

Wu Sansi said this and became excited again.

"Prince Peng is an expert in medicine and he also knows poison. In fact, if you let someone else take a look at it first, your poison will be useless." Empress Wu glanced at Wu Sansi with a sneer on her face.

Wu Sansi's expression became increasingly ugly. He bowed his head, not knowing what to say.

"We have to use mixed poison." Empress Wu said this, and Wu Sansi looked at her in surprise.

Empress Wu turned around and looked at the entire Luoyang City. She said softly, "The poison cannot be delivered once. It must be delivered twice, or even three times. As long as King Peng is exposed to the poison twice, it will be enough to kill him. It is also secretive enough that it will not be easily discovered and cannot be concealed by various surveillance methods."

"The Queen is wise." Wu Sansi lowered his head in surprise, his eyes instantly becoming solemn. Only now did he remember that his aunt was also a top-notch poisoner in the world.

It was rumored that Helan Minyue died because of poison used by Empress Wu, as well as her own father and uncle...

"Let the Prince Consort go." Empress Wu sighed and said, "The Prince Consort and Peng Wen have always had a friendly relationship. Let him run twice and bring the things over. Maybe he can kill King Peng. Be careful, maybe he can really succeed..."

Since returning from the northwest, the son-in-law Xue Shao has basically stayed in his own mansion, not going out or participating in state affairs.

But from the vague rumors, Xue Shao was still affected by Li Xuan's psychological warfare tactics.

After all, he was also in the Qianyang Palace when Emperor Zhongzong died.

He was also at the outskirts of Lanzhou.

Even the second time, Li Xuan questioned him.

After returning to Luoyang, Xue Shao was still brooding over the death of Emperor Zhongzong and could not let it go for a long time.

That's why.

At this moment, if he takes Li Dan's handwritten letter to see Li Xuan and looks more ashamed and sincere, it will be easy for Li Xuan to let down his guard and then... be poisoned.

"Let's do this. Let the prince consort go to see Prince Peng." Empress Wu made the decision instantly.

Wu Sansi immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Empress Wu raised her head, looked outside the palace, and said softly, "Since the court can send people to see King Peng, then naturally they can also send people to see others. Tang Zhenxing and Li Duozuo can all be sent to see the generals, the dukes, the generals, and the tutors. I don't believe that no one will be tempted if I give them whatever they want."

"Yes!" Wu Sansi's expression suddenly became excited, and he said with a cupped hand: "Even if they themselves don't want to, what about their subordinates? What about their subordinates' subordinates? Power, money, beauties, whatever they want, give them whatever they want. I don't believe that they will not betray King Peng."

“Sometimes, it is not necessary for them to betray King Peng. It is enough to make King Peng think that they have betrayed him.” Empress Wu narrowed her eyes slightly.

When it comes to calculating people's hearts, Empress Wu is no worse.

(End of this chapter)