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

Chapter 1738: He declined three times and claimed that he was the only one left. Long live His Majesty!
At dawn, the people of Chang'an City looked towards the direction of Chunming Gate with a sense of expectation for some unknown reason.

What happened in the palace yesterday had already spread widely after all the officials left the palace.

The empress dowager adopted Prince Xiang Li Chengqi as his heir on the grounds that the emperor was not physically fit to shoulder the responsibility of ruling the country. However, Prince Xiang was unwilling and recommended a wise man from the royal family to inherit the throne.

After discussion, the empress dowager, royal family members, prime ministers, secretaries, ministers, and countless officials unanimously elected Peng Wang Xuan as emperor to inherit the imperial throne and offer sacrifices to the various temples.

After the news came out, the people of Chang'an inexplicably felt a sense of firmness and security.

With the elderly and wise King Peng as emperor, there will never be chaos in Chang'an City again.

It is said that when the emperor is strong, the world is strong, and when the emperor is weak, the world is weak.

Li Xuan commanded hundreds of thousands of troops across the country, and no one dared to disobey him. Any barbarians at home or abroad who dared to raise an army and rebel would be executed.

On the long street, many people cheered and headed towards Prince Peng's Mansion in Kaihuafang. When they arrived, countless Jinwu Guards had already protected Kaihuafang densely.

If you look from a high place, you can even vaguely see Liu Jinyu standing in front of the mansion gate, welcoming Li Yuangui.

……

In the Ganlu Hall, Zheng Xuankai grabbed a vase and threw it heavily to the ground.

With a "pop", the vase suddenly shattered into countless pieces.

Zheng Xuankai glanced outside with hatred, then looked at Zheng with reluctance and said, "Nineth Lady, are you going to give up the throne like this? That's the throne, isn't it?"

"What else?" Zheng looked at Zheng Xuankai calmly, her eyes slightly lowered, and said, "Father, you were not in the Imperial Ancestral Temple last night, and you did not see that when the Left Prime Minister proposed that King Peng inherit the throne, almost all the officials of the six ministries and nine temples inside and outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple responded in unison, not to mention the generals under King Peng, who had not even drawn their swords from their sheaths."

"What about the prime ministers? Are they just going to let King Peng do whatever he wants?" Zheng Xuankai gritted his teeth.

"Except for Prime Minister Yao, no one else objected." Zheng raised her head and looked towards the Taimiao, and said softly, "However, the Left Prime Minister easily skipped over Prime Minister Yao and didn't even ask for his opinion."

"Why?" Zheng Xuankai asked subconsciously.

"Because he is the vice prime minister, he is only the secretary of the Secretariat, and the third grade of the Secretariat. After asking the opinions of the two secretaries of the Council of State, there is no need to ask him again." Zheng couldn't help but sigh.

"Damn King Peng, he must have made preparations long ago, otherwise Yao Xiang, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, would not have been promoted to the Minister of the Central Secretariat." Zheng Xuankai clenched his fists tightly.

Zheng sighed and said, "Father should understand that if King Peng wanted to ascend the throne by force, he could have used the military power in his hands to ascend the throne by force in Luoyang. The reason why it has been delayed until now is just to have a name that no one in the world can deny."

"He is afraid that someone will follow his example in the future." Zheng Xuankai couldn't help but look excited.

"It's not the future. What he fears is not the future, but the world. There are 300 states in the world. If he doesn't have a suitable reason to inherit the throne, then there will be many governors in the 300 states, just like the end of the Sui Dynasty." Zheng shook her head calmly and said, "Now more than a year has passed, and the whole world has fallen into his hands."

Zheng Xuankai paused, looked at Zheng and asked, "Nineth Lady, are we just going to let it go like this? That's the throne!"

"Father, look at Chongjun. Since the incident of Princess Taiping, does he still have a chance to enter the court again?" Zheng turned sideways and looked at Li Chongjun, who was hiding in the inner hall and watching the two of them carefully. When he noticed Zheng's gaze, Li Chongjun instantly shrank his head in fear.

"Then we should choose a young member of the royal family to adopt!" Zheng Xuankai sighed helplessly.

"Who should we choose? The grandson of Li Chengqian or the grandson of Li Fu? They are both young. Moreover, they are descendants of Emperor Taizong. When they grow up, they will definitely kill their brothers. This is their fate." Zheng grabbed Zheng Xuankai's arm, looked at him pleadingly, and said, "My daughter really doesn't want to see Chongjun being slaughtered like his father and brother when he grows up."

Zheng Xuankai paused, looked towards the inner hall, and closed his eyes slightly.

“As for Prince Peng, Chongjun abdicated the throne to him. He should always take into account the feelings of his ancestors and set an example for the world. Only in this way can Chongjun grow up smoothly and have offspring to continue the bloodline of Emperor Zhongzong.” Zheng had completely given up as he spoke.

"It's not that simple. After all, he is the son of Emperor Zhongzong. Although Prince Peng was recommended by everyone to ascend the throne, he is not the orthodox successor after all. There are flaws in the etiquette and laws. The local governors and local clans will not obey him so easily. Even if they don't make trouble openly, they will use various means to intercept his power in secret. Within 20 years, the world will be in chaos. Chongjun, Chongjun still has a chance." Zheng Xuankai took a deep breath and looked solemn.

"There are deficiencies in the etiquette and law, opportunities?" Zheng looked at Zheng Xuankai in surprise, then shook her head and said, "Father is also a well-read man, how could he forget that although there were Emperor Wen, Emperor Wu, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Xuan in the Former Han Dynasty, the entire Han Dynasty also had the story of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, and that was the Later Han Dynasty!"

Zheng Xuankai's face suddenly became extremely embarrassed. Liu Xiu was a descendant of Liu Fa, the Prince of Changsha and the illegitimate son of Emperor Jing of Han. He was the ninth-generation grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han and had no blood relationship with Emperor Wu of Han.

Not to mention orthodoxy.

If he can become emperor, why can't Li Xuan?

"Father, let's make a bet." Zheng looked at Zheng Xuankai and suddenly spoke.

Zheng Xuankai looked at Zheng with some confusion.

"I bet that all the governors in the world can't cause any trouble under King Peng, I bet that King Peng will treat Chongjun well, and I bet that Chongjun can live a safe and wealthy life and have many descendants in the end." Zheng raised her eyes slightly and looked towards Luoyang.

Zheng Xuankai gritted his teeth and nodded: "Okay!"

Zheng smiled gently, and at this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall.

Xu Lu walked into the hall with a solemn look, bowed to Zheng and said, "Your Majesty, King Peng has led 10,000 soldiers to Huashan. After receiving the edict from the Queen Mother, he stopped at Huashan and sent someone to send back a memorial, saying that he was too weak to take on the important task of the ancestral temple, and that he must not talk about ascending the throne."

"Look, the tactics of three refusal and three concessions has already begun." Zheng Xuankai sneered.

Li Chengqi said firmly in the Taimiao that he did not want to ascend the throne, and he really did not want to ascend the throne.

But Li Xuan has now stopped his troops at Huashan, but said that he is unwilling to ascend the throne. Then he sent an essay in a very detailed format. This is the method of three refusals and three declines.

There was no stopping King Peng from ascending the throne.

"Next, it will be the people's turn to ask for help!" Zheng sighed.

"The common people, as well as the scholars of the Imperial College, retired officials, and elders." Zheng Xuankai looked towards Huashan with a worried look on his face and said softly, "Perhaps this time, Mr. Dou and the Duke of Bian will also go."

Zheng nodded slightly.

……

At the foot of Mount Hua, in the military camp.

Li Xuan was wearing a purple nine-python five-chapter nine-beam crown, and with a complicated expression he saluted Liu Rengui, Dou Xuande, and the countless people from Chang'an who had rushed to Huashan.

Dou Xuande held the memorial in his hand and said loudly: "The emperor is seriously ill and unable to perform his duties. The throne is vacant and the people all over the world are anxious. I, Dou Xuande, hope that Your Highness will put the world first, obey the public opinion, suppress your impulse and ascend the throne as soon as possible!" "The affairs of the world are in the hands of the emperor, the kings, and the wise ministers, but not in my hands. Therefore, my request is not granted." Li Xuan bowed.

Chen Zi'ang on the side took a step forward and handed the memorial in his hand to Dou Xuande.

Dou Xuande sighed, took the memorial, then turned and walked towards the carriage outside the military camp. Finally, he slowly left Huashan and returned to Chang'an.

Outside the military camp, countless Chang'an citizens were constantly surrounding the camp, and all of them prostrated themselves on the ground, begging Li Xuan to ascend the throne.

Li Xuan sighed softly and looked at Liu Rengui, who had white hair and beard and an old face. "Mr. Yue, please sit inside."

"Yes!" Liu Rengui nodded, and then entered the central military tent with the help of Li Xuan.

Sitting down at the main seat in the central army tent, Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan's fingers holding his pulse and asked, "How is it, how many years can I live?"

"Although Mr. Yue's spirit is not as good as before, his physical strength is much stronger than before." Li Xuan took a look at the tea soup brought up by the soldiers beside him, shook his head and said, "Send two pots of warm water over."

"Yes!" The soldier quickly turned around and left.

"Why? I can't even drink tea now." Liu Rengui pressed Li Xuan's arm with one hand.

Li Xuan sighed and said softly, "Even if you can't drink it, it's better to drink more warm water for your health."

"Just like this world." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan suddenly, his eyes filled with endless emotions, including emotion, regret, murderous intent, and a hint of hope.

"Although my grandson-in-law has not done much since he took office a year ago, he has all the affairs of the world under his control like a book in the palm of his hand. Do you know where the biggest problem in the world is now?" Li Xuan raised his eyes and looked at Liu Rengui.

"You say." Liu Rengui's expression became serious.

"This year, the amount of tax grain sent to Chang'an and Luoyang by various states was about the same as in the past, but the tax grain collected from the people by various counties and states was generally 40% to 50% higher, or even 10% higher, and..." Li Xuan's face darkened, and then he continued, "The grain in the granaries of the country has decreased by 20% in one year."

"What?" Liu Rengui slowly let go of Li Xuan's arm and looked at him in disbelief.

"Even the rations of the various government soldiers have begun to be replaced by inferior ones." Li Xuan sighed and shook his head: "The world is falling apart like this. If the young emperor lives for another ten years, I'm afraid the government soldiers in the world will collapse."

Liu Rengui slowly withdrew his hand, turned sideways, and said softly: "Be nice to the people in the future, and after I die..."

"Of course he should be buried next to his grandson-in-law. Why should he face the wrath of Emperor Gaozong? Besides, he doesn't even dare to face the wrath of Emperor Taizong." Li Xuan sneered.

Liu Rengui shook his head, not knowing what to say.

……

Lu Yuanfang, Li Yiyan, and Zhang Da'an stood in front of the big tent and bowed to Li Xuan solemnly, saying, "Your Highness, as long as the throne is without a master, the world will be in turmoil.

Your Highness is polite, filial, humble, and full of virtue and talent. He is truly the best choice for the throne. Although Your Highness is humble and resigned, for the sake of the ancestral temple and the country, you should ascend the throne and lead the world. "

Li Xuan sighed softly, bowed to the three of them, and said sincerely: "This king is young and incompetent, and his virtue is too weak to take on the position. Please don't force me. The throne of the emperor is a matter of great importance to the world. How can this king take on the position? Your request is not granted."

Wang Bo stepped forward and handed the essay in his hand to Lu Yuanfang.

Lu Yuanfang handed it to Li Yiyan and Zhang Daan, nodded, and said, "Send it back to Chang'an immediately."

"Yes!" Li Yiyan and Zhang Da'an bowed solemnly.

Only after the two of them left completely was Lu Yuan invited into the big tent by Li Xuan.

Taking a sip from the teacup, Lu Yuanfang said, "Within fifteen years, the emperor and the ministers have finally achieved what they wished for."

"Alas, there are always people who want to go one step further." Li Xuan looked outside the tent and said softly, "I am also helpless in all matters. Many things are done by my generals and officials without authorization.

To be honest, Uncle Shi, Xuan is really scared. One day, when I wake up, I find someone wearing the yellow robe. "

"Just like what happened to Cheng Zhijie back then?" Lu Yuanfang didn't know what happened to Zhao Da afterwards, but there was also Cheng Yaojin's remarks before.

"Hmm!" Li Xuan nodded, then took a sip from the teacup, and said, "At this point, no one can do anything about it. The affairs of the world will require Uncle Shi to continue to work hard in the future. There will be no major changes in the government and the country within three years."

"Okay!" Lu Yuanfang breathed a sigh of relief. With Li Xuan's words, there would be no chaos in the world within three years.

"As for next year, Jingchu will be the number one scholar in the world, and no one will say anything about it." Li Xuan suddenly laughed.

Lu Yuanfang was stunned, then nodded and said, "Yes!"

……

It's dawn and the sky is paved with rosy clouds.

Mount Hua is towering and the Wei River is tranquil.

Prince of Han Li Yuanjia and Duke of Liang Li Xiaoyi, who had just returned from Dingzhou, followed Prince of Huo Li Yuangui into the heavily guarded military camp.

Li Xuan, dressed in a purple dragon robe, was already standing in front of the tent, waiting solemnly.

Li Yuanjia, Li Xiaoyi, and Li Yuangui walked to the front of the big tent, handed over a memorial with a bow, and said at the same time: "Your Highness is handsome, dignified, talented, intelligent, filial, brotherly, and friendly. He is a role model for the royal family, and is in charge of royal affairs and sacrifices to the imperial temple. The auspicious signs are obvious to everyone. You should respond to the gods to meet the expectations of the people."

Li Xuan took the memorial with a solemn expression, opened it and read it carefully, then sighed, raised his head and said solemnly: "I have read all the petitions again and again, and I can see the loyalty and love of the kings and ministers. The affairs of the clan and the country are important, so I dare not refuse and will reluctantly comply with your request. The great decree of the emperor cannot be delayed.

Send an order to start the journey back to Chang'an immediately."

"We obey your order. Long live Your Majesty!" Li Yuanjia, Li Yuangui and Li Ne knelt down at the same time.

All the generals around him knelt down immediately and shouted "Long live the emperor" loudly, shaking the whole area.

Li Xuan looked to the end of his sight, where the city of Chang'an appeared vaguely, with a glimmer of hope in his solemn expression.

Return to Chang'an and ascend the throne!

(End of this chapter)