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

Chapter 1661: The Dark Heavens, What Wrong with the Emperor

At Dingding Gate, Yan Huaidan looked at Li Xuan with horror as he read out Emperor Gaozong's last edict below the city.

Li Xuan's voice was very soft and she spoke slowly, but it was clearly heard by everyone on the city wall.

In an instant, almost everyone seemed to see the figure of Emperor Gaozong sitting on the throne, suffering from illness but still caring about the people of the world.

During the thirty-four years of Emperor Gaozong's reign, the Tang Dynasty was prosperous and the people lived in peace and stability, especially in Chang'an and Luoyang, where the emperor's people lived in the capital and many people received the emperor's grace and regarded Li Zhi as their own father.

Li Xuan read out Emperor Gaozong's last will, and it was as if Emperor Gaozong was standing in front of everyone, teaching them in a sincere voice.

Yan Huaidan looked at Shatuo Zhongyi in disbelief.

Although he was well aware that the foreign generals in the court had great respect for Emperor Gaozong, he had never expected that when Shatuo Zhongyi heard Emperor Gaozong's last edict read out by Li Xuan, he would actually kneel there and cry like a child.

The veterans, who were in their sixties and seventies and were used to the killing on the battlefield, were crying with snot and tears, and they cried like children who had lost their fathers.

Fortunately, I didn’t lead the army to attack personally just now.

Yan Huaidan's hope had just risen in his heart, but then everything was shattered by the edict read out by Li Xuan.

“…The fate of the world lies with Heaven and the saints, but not with me.

My biggest worry is what will happen a hundred years later, and what will happen to the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Xian is intelligent, benevolent and filial, and is my only choice. However, the affairs of the world depend on the hearts of the people.

People's hearts are uneasy and the world is in turmoil, so this will was issued.

Prince Xuan of Peng, my twenty-seventh brother, is a simple and honest man who is good at governing the local area. He is the Crown Prince's right-hand man and the one who stabilizes the country... However, as the situation becomes more complicated, I suddenly become worried and unable to suppress it.

Therefore, he ordered Peng Wangxuan to lead the army and suppress the four directions, based on the stability of the central government and the consolidation of imperial power.

If there are changes in the future, unrest in the court and the country, and the imperial power is unstable, then order Peng Wang Xuan to ensure that the country is stable and the people are happy.

He raised an army to quell the rebellion and consolidate the government.

Therefore...he was granted the title of Grand Marshal, the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, the title of Jijiu of the Imperial Academy, the title of Co-Prime Minister, and the command of all military power in the world.

Put down the rebellion and stabilize the government..."

……

Yan Huaidan's expression suddenly became extremely terrifying.

He was granted the title of Grand Marshal, Vice Prime Minister, and commanded the military power of the whole country.

This means that if these people still recognize Emperor Gaozong, they must acknowledge the legitimacy of Li Xuan's "command over the world's military power."

If they did not recognize the legitimacy of Li Xuan's "command of the world's military power", it would be tantamount to not recognizing Emperor Gaozong.

In other words, he did not recognize the imperial edict of Emperor Gaozong in Li Xuan's hand.

The hope that he had just felt was shattered by Li Xuan's next words.

"...When the will is promulgated, if the country is stable and the government and the people are in harmony, then anyone who hears the will can use it to directly behead King Peng, confer the title of Duke, and appoint him as the General of the Sixteen Guards..."

Many people couldn't help but secretly look at Yan Huaidan.

If it was last year, many people would have admitted that the country was stable and the government and the opposition were harmonious, but now...

Everyone knows that as soon as Emperor Zhongzong died last year, the Imperial Guard General Zhang Qianxu rushed to Chang'an to massacre the Eastern Palace, but in the end the crown prince escaped from Chang'an.

These matters were originally kept secret, but last year, when Crown Prince Li Chongzhao ascended the throne in Yangzhou, they could no longer be concealed.

Why would Prince Xiang ascend the throne when the Crown Prince was still there?

Why would the Crown Prince run away from Chang'an when Prince Xiang had already ascended the throne?

Why did Pei Xingjian, Wei Siqian, Princess Wencheng, Prince Ze and others not approve of Prince Xiang becoming emperor when the prince was in Yangzhou, and instead support the prince?
Why did King Peng raise an army in Changzhou?
Why was Pei Yan, the regent left by Emperor Gaozong, placed under house arrest?
All the suspicions finally converged on one question: How did Emperor Zhongzong die?

When the people of Luoyang were guessing the evidence, their enthusiasm was no less than that of the people of Chang'an.

After all, we are all citizens of the imperial capital, and no one is worse than anyone else.

But based on this kind of speculation, all kinds of news were spread randomly. Some said that Emperor Zhongzong was strangled to death, some said that Emperor Zhongzong was poisoned, and some said that Emperor Zhongzong was stabbed to death by a sword. Even the location of the wound was clearly stated.

Zhang Qianxu is dead. Although the truth of many things can no longer be found, it is precisely because the truth cannot be found that there are more messy rumors.

But in the end, it all comes down to one sentence.

Emperor Zhongzong, the cause of his death is questionable.

It’s just that in the past, both Pei Xingjian and Li Xuan were far away and had nothing to do with the people of Luoyang. But now that Li Xuan has arrived at the city of Luoyang, the people of Luoyang have to seriously think about who is right and who is wrong.

Especially a few days ago, the regent minister left by Emperor Gaozong, the Minister of the Central Secretariat Pei Yan, was beheaded in Xishi.

This means that there is one less person who can actually speak up.

This is a person who has been silenced!
People's hearts are becoming increasingly uneasy.

Li Xuan raised his eyes, and his sad eyes fell on Yan Huaidan, holding the imperial edict and continued to read: "... Li Xianwu, although I have made many arrangements, you need to be attentive and strong to govern the world and nurture the people, and you must not slack off.

Consult all matters with your colleagues and do not act on your own.

When the world prospers and the people live in harmony one day, I will follow the spirits of my ancestors in heaven and have no regrets.

The sacrifices to the ancestral temples of heaven and earth and the state should not be neglected for long, and the worship of all gods should also not be discontinued.

I hereby give you a warning and everyone should follow it.

Admire this! "

As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, smart people immediately grasped the key to Li Xuan’s last words - sacrifice.

Sacrifices to the ancestral temples of heaven and earth, and worship of all gods.

The spirits of our ancestors in heaven.

Since Prince Yong ascended the throne, he had been in Luoyang all the time except for a trip back to Chang'an to bury Emperor Zhongzong.

The New Year's Day court was held in Luoyang. The emperor did not return to Chang'an at all. He did not offer sacrifices to Emperor Gaozong, Emperor Taizong, or Emperor Gaozu.

Perhaps, this itself is a kind of guilty conscience.

Not to mention, there is also the rumor that the emperor was a "puppet" that was widely circulated throughout Luoyang, and the rumor that "Tang lasted for three generations, and Wu replaced Tang"... the truth is already evident.

……

Li Xuan slowly put away the imperial edict.

Behind him, countless soldiers knelt on one knee and bowed at the same time: "Your subjects obey the imperial edict, and the late emperor will live long."

On the city gate, the kneeling soldiers kowtowed subconsciously: "Your subjects obey the imperial edict, and the late emperor will live forever."

When Yan Huaidan heard this, his face changed and his hand immediately pressed on the long sword.

"Stand up!" Li Xuan said lightly, and countless people on the city wall stood up suddenly, and then subconsciously looked at Li Xuan.

Suddenly, he saw Li Xuan's gaze fall on the city wall and on Yan Huaidan's hand.

It was okay under the city wall, as many soldiers showed disdainful smiles, but on the city wall, many people couldn't help but shudder.

They received the late emperor's will read out by King Peng, which meant they were willing to obey King Peng's orders.

But now, King Peng is at the foot of the city, and they are on top. If they really dare to act rashly, Yan Huaidan might really kill them.

Yan Huaidan looked at Li Xuan with great vigilance. As long as Li Xuan attacked the city, he would immediately dispatch 5,000 elite soldiers in the city.

Those people are much more loyal than those in the city.

He didn't dare use these people to defend the city. Once Li Xuan attacked the city, they might open the city and surrender.

Yan Huaidan even thought about beheading these people as soon as he got them out of the city.

As for those who did not kneel down, he promoted them one level higher.

At this moment, Li Xuan spoke again: "God, what is the emperor guilty of?"

"Revenge, revenge, revenge..." Countless soldiers immediately raised their long spears and white flags, gritting their teeth and shouting in pain.

The sound even spread to the entire Luoyang City, echoing in the air above the city.

Everyone who heard it was horrified.

Li Xuan sighed softly, shook his head and said, "God, what guilt have the people shown!"

With just one sentence, all the soldiers fell silent.

The next moment, Li Xuan turned his horse around and headed backwards.

The black banner followed closely, and all the soldiers turned around slowly with Li Xuan without any hesitation and left Dingding Sect.

At Dingding Gate, Yan Huaidan watched this scene and tightly gripped the hilt of the knife.

Now is the opportunity.

Li Xuan led his troops to turn around, which was a taboo in military strategy. As long as he led his troops to attack, he could immediately defeat Li Xuan. This was a great opportunity.

Yan Huaidan wished he could turn around and go down the city gate right now, and then lead the 5,000 cavalrymen on Dingdingmen Street to charge out directly.

But, he didn't dare.

He glanced at Shatuo Zhongyi, who was standing beside him with a still somewhat sad expression, and couldn't help but clench his teeth.

If he wins, then everything is fine, but what if he loses?

Then there is no doubt that Li Xuan will turn around and charge towards Dingding Gate.

Without him, Shatuo Zhongyi would definitely open the city gate completely before Li Xuan arrived at the city gate, and then King Peng could go straight into Dingdingmen Street and then kill his way to the palace.

Queen, you are not ready to just guard the palace now.

At this moment, Yan Huaidan, who had been looking ahead, couldn't help but change his expression. He suddenly saw the army beside Li Xuan slowly moving to both sides, and in front of Li Xuan, a group of 5,000 black-armored cavalry rushed towards him.

These are the 5,000 cavalrymen who just captured Xingluo Lake.

If Yan Huaidan had really rushed out of the city just now, he would have run into these five thousand cavalrymen head-on.

Not to mention being directly defeated by these 5,000 cavalrymen, as long as these 5,000 cavalrymen entangled them and Li Xuan turned around in time, these 5,000 people would definitely be finished.

"What a meticulous method!" Yan Huaidan's eyes became serious.

"General Yan should consider Yique Pass. If King Peng goes to Yique Pass, Su Honghui may not be able to defend it."

After Shatuo Zhongyi finished speaking, he saluted and said, "Looking at the current situation, King Peng will not attack the city in the short term. I will take a rest first. If General Yan needs anything, please call me."

After saying this, without caring whether Yan Huaidan agreed or not, Shatuo Zhongyi turned around and left.

Yan Huaidan immediately tightened the long knife at his waist, but then slowly loosened it.

The Shatuo are loyal and righteous and cannot be killed. If the newly appointed general to defend Luoyang is killed right after taking office, then who will help them defend the city in the future?

……

Standing at Xingluo Posthouse, Li Xuan looked calmly in the direction of Dingding Gate.

This place is only ten miles away from Dingding Gate, and they can be killed in a flash.

Therefore, there were 5,000 cavalrymen running back and forth around Luoyang City. As long as someone came out, they would immediately intercept them and then leave enough time for the people behind to prepare.

"Logically speaking, Dingding Gate is in the north and Yique Pass is in the south. To take Dingding Gate, we must first take Yique Pass."

Li Xuan turned his gaze towards Yique Pass and said calmly, "Yique Pass is located between Yique Mountain and Xiang Mountain, with the Yi River flowing down in the middle. The mountains are high and the city gate is strong. It is not easy to capture it, especially when someone may come out from Dingding Gate at any time."

"Then what can I do?" Tang Zhenxing looked at Li Xuan seriously. He could see that Li Xuan had no intention of attacking Yique Pass by force, just like he had no intention of attacking Dingding Gate by force.

"Wait!" Li Xuan raised his head calmly and said softly, "Some time ago, the Queen Mother ordered the transfer of 20,000 soldiers from Shannan Road to reinforce us. By now, they should be almost at Yique Gate."

"Twenty thousand reinforcements, shouldn't it be..." Tang Zhenxing didn't finish his words, but suddenly came to his senses and whispered, "Are there any of the prince's men among those twenty thousand soldiers?"

"They are not my people, but King Zheng's people. King Zheng is the governor of Anzhou, so it is normal for him to have some of his own people in the army, and..." Li Xuan paused for a moment, then said: "Also, the war in Hanzhong should be over."

"Hanzhong? General Qu?"

(End of this chapter)