Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 454 Identity
"I will give Xue Bai a noble life experience."

At the end of the conversation between Li Cong and Du Wulang, he gave such an ambiguous promise.

In this regard, Du Wulang felt that something was wrong. From his understanding, what Xue Bai wanted was never nobility, but he couldn't tell what Xue Bai wanted. Anyway, everyone was dead.

He then took Li Cong to the study room in the second courtyard.

Du Jin was wearing a sackcloth and mourning, and was sitting there sorting out the books. From the corner of her eye, she saw Li Cong coming in. He neither saluted nor raised his head, showing no respect for the prince.

With her status, there is actually no reason to pay tribute to Xue Bai. This outfit shows that she no longer cares about others talking about her relationship with Xue Bai.

"Du Erniang." Li Cong, who has been very polite to everyone recently, said: "My condolences."

"Of course I can express my condolences, but I'll be careful." Du Jin's voice was calm.

Li Cong didn't know how to answer. He stood aside like one of her subordinates. After thinking about it, he simply said, "Xue Bai's life experience..."

"Instead of talking about who his parents are." Du Jin interrupted Li Cong and said, "It's better to talk about why he wants to help you become the prince."

"what?"

"Does Xue Bai also have subordinates in Shu County?"

Du Jin did not answer, but said: "The saint noticed it and thought he had ulterior motives, but in fact he only wanted to do one thing."

"I always believed that my three younger brothers had suffered a great injustice, so I adopted the second younger brother's children as my own. When I went to the palace to receive them, I was shocked when I heard that Li Qian had died in infancy, but I didn't know how he survived. ?”

But what Li Cong needs most now is not respect and apology. What he urgently needs is power.

Du Wulang then stepped forward and respectfully led Li Cong out. He also said that the second sister was in a bad mood and had lost her temper. Please don't blame her.

She was too lazy to deal with Li Cong's temptation anymore.

Du Jin said, wiping the tears on his face and saying, "I'm tired. Your Highness, please come back."

"Me? What can I do? I just think that if he can regain his name and return to the ancestral hall, I will have nothing more to ask for. I will just hand over the big stall he left behind."

Li Cong was stunned and murmured: "Xue Pingzhao?"

"What concerns does Your Highness have?"

Du Jin said and said no more.

"What's a newspaper? There's also flying money. When we were in Yanshi, we began to mint copper coins privately as reserves, and exchanged coins for merchants, wealthy households, officials and even the army. With just the interest, the annual income was as much as the rent of a government. Money. What do you think this money can do?”

~~
"You say, how about I reverse the case of three common people?"

The words didn't sound pleasant, but Li Cong listened very carefully, and even breathed a little softer unconsciously, fearing that she wouldn't continue talking.

“The injustice is brought to justice.”

“You didn’t make a mistake.”

People care more about not losing anything than what they can gain. He couldn't help but willingly fall into the trap of Du Jin's words.

Li Cong didn't dare to think about it. His eyes fell on the book in Du Jin's hand, and he finally understood why she always had unfinished documents.

This was the second time he read the name. This time, Du Jin's tone immediately became indifferent.

"No, it's because he can do it." Du Jin said, "He doesn't do anything he's not sure about. He helps you because he does have such strength, which is far more than what you see in the Chang'an market."

"This was his wish, but it's a pity that he can't see it."

Li Cong waited for a long time, wanting to ask her what to do with the things left by Xue Bai now that he was dead. But it was obvious that he couldn't say that, so he continued: "When the siege of Chang'an is resolved, I will definitely redress the case of the three common people."

Li Cong's tone suddenly became firm, showing the responsibility he has always had.

Du Jin interrupted him again and said, "I understand that Xue Bai is Li Qian, the third son of the deposed Prince Ying. If Your Highness is willing to let him return to the ancestral hall and fulfill his will, then everything he plans will This is just to help His Highness, everything belongs to its owner.”

"I know, he regards me as his uncle."

"Your Highness, sit down for a moment."

"He's still dead now."

Du Jin sighed, but did not express his willingness to be loyal to Li Cong.

"If His Highness can't do it," Du Jin said again, "That means Xue Bai has misjudged the person..."

Li Cong heard the words "Everything belongs to its owner" and felt his own strength. He was the eldest son, and the throne and the throne should originally belong to him.

"Since His Highness has accepted Bian Lingcheng as his confidant, why do you pretend to be ignorant? If you don't want to take action, just say so."

Li Cong could only say some innocuous words, and then asked: "I wonder, Er Niang, what are your plans for the future?"

"The war is in danger. I am afraid that this is not a good time. I am even more afraid of angering the saint."

"You mean, Xue Bai's newspapers are available in every state and county in the world?"

"Also." Du Jin continued: "Yang Guozhong encouraged the saint to go to Shu County, but he forgot who put down the Nanzhao rebellion."

Li Cong couldn't help but be excited when he heard that the forces left behind by Xue Bai might be handed over to him, but he still kept a cautious eye and pretended not to know, and asked: "Xue Pingzhao?"

"Since he can make paper and publish newspapers, he has the ability to influence people's public opinion. Which kings are virtuous and which are stupid? What the saints think is one thing, but how the newspapers publish it is another matter."

"It's a misunderstanding. It's been a long time, and many old things from back then can no longer be distinguished from the truth..."

It's not surprising that Li Cong always asked such questions. He had been imprisoned in the Ten Kings' Residence for too long and had too little contact with state affairs. He really didn't know many things.

"Yes, when he was sent as an official slave, others asked him his name. Although he was still a child, he knew how to name him based on his life ambitions."

There was no one else in the Yanying Palace, so Bian Lingcheng helped Li Cong sit down first and went to light the candle.

When the light gradually brightened, it could be seen that Li Cong had just sat on the imperial couch. But neither of them noticed this irregularity, and then got down to business.

Bian Lingcheng said: "Your Highness is afraid of angering the saint, but if your highness controls the private newspapers and has the financial resources of the bank, maybe you can invite the saint back and explain it in person?"

Li Cong naturally understood the meaning of "please bring back the saint" and said, "Do you think you can agree?"

"If you can get real support for clearing a dead man's name, His Highness should naturally agree."

Bian Lingcheng completely betrayed his original position and said: "As for the timing, there is an opportunity now..."

The next day, there was a small court in Xuanzheng Hall.

Yan Zhenqing's condition has improved. He came to His Highness with a cane and is still diligent in his work.

After briefly announcing a few political decrees, Li Cong encouraged Yan Zhenqing and said, "I heard that Yan Xiang wrote a "Manuscript for the Son-in-law's Commemoration" in his hand. Can you give it to me to read?"

Yan Zhenqing said ashamedly: "The national affairs are critical, why does Your Highness care about such trivial matters?"

"Those who have made great contributions to the country should not be chilled."

Li Cong first praised Xue Bai's achievements and insisted on paying homage to Xue Bai in person. Yan Zhenqing had no choice but to ask Yan Jiming to get the manuscript.

When Yan Jiming returned to the Xuanzheng Hall and presented the manuscript to Li Cong with both hands, he couldn't help but shed tears. He wiped it silently and stood aside.

Li Cong unfolded it and read it word by word. His voice was depressed at first, and then became more and more sad and angry. After reading it, he burst into tears.

"Alas! Shang Xiang!"

After reading the last word, Li Cong staggered back two steps and fell to the ground.

"Your Highness!"

All the officials were shocked and stepped forward to help him. However, Li Cong was extremely sad and could not get up. He could not calm down for a long time and looked at the sky with tears streaming down his face.

"Your Highness is worried that once Xue Lang leaves, the traitors will invade Chang'an?"

"No, I live and die with Chang'an, so why should I be afraid?" Li Cong said: "What I grieve for is... Mr. Yan sacrifices his son-in-law, but I sacrifice my nephew..."

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

Li Cong couldn't control his emotions. He clapped his legs and cried loudly: "Xue Bai is the son of my second brother Li Ying. He and I are called Junchen, but we are actually uncle and nephew. We are like father and son!"

"what?"

"What on earth are you talking about, Your Highness?!"

Most of the officials were surprised and stunned, but there were also a small number of people who had heard some rumors before, and now that they were finally confirmed, they showed expressions of sudden realization.

But it's not easy to convince everyone.

Especially Li Cong's four sons, they all didn't believe it. They stepped forward to support him and questioned him all the time.

"Did I make a mistake? If Xue Bai is not an orphan, he must be Xue Xi's son."

"Yes, Grandpa must have misunderstood."

Li Cong shook his head and said, "I was the one who experienced what happened back then. How could I not know about it?"

He took Li Qiu's hand and asked softly: "Silang, you have only had two brothers all this time. Do you know why you are Silang? Because you have a third brother, who is Xue Bai."

"The third brother has passed away." Li Qiu said: "My grandfather told me since I was a child."

Li Cong did not wipe away his tears and spoke in a narrative tone.

"I didn't say anything about this to protect him. Everyone in the world knows that the three common people were wronged by Concubine Wu Hui, but no one dared to speak out at that time. Only a six-year-old child dared to speak out. He took Li Ying's suicide note and went to Accused Concubine Wu Hui in front of the saint."

"Concubine Wu Hui's confidant saw him and wounded him at that time. In the chaos, Li Jing, who was responsible for supervising the matter, rescued him. When I arrived, he had faintly woken up. I said, 'Follow the uncle. "I will be my uncle's son from now on," do you know what he said? "

"He said, 'Please uncle, please adopt my brother and brother. However, I can't live without my son. I have to succeed him.' I called him a stupid boy and told him that living is more important, but he said, 'Adopt him out.' It means admitting that grandpa is guilty, but he is unjustly accused. I was moved on the spot and asked Li Jing to please forgive me."

"Li Jing promised me that he would protect the child. He found a similar corpse to convince the saint that Li Qian was dead, and sent him to Xue Xi's villa. Unexpectedly, the villa was soon confiscated. You will know what happened next. Over the years, Li Qian has changed her name to Xue Bai, but she has never given up on redressing the case of the three common people. "

As soon as Li Cong finished speaking, Du Youlin started crying.

This cry touched the hearts of all the officials. They thought that since the saint killed three sons in one day, the country's affairs had been deteriorating, which finally led to the current situation, and they all cried.

Even Li Cong's four sons were wiping away tears, regretting not having met Xue Bai earlier.

Li Cong asked Bian Lingcheng to unfold the "Manuscript of Son-in-law Memorial" so that all officials could see the handwriting written by Yan Zhenqing out of grief and anger on the scroll, which gave people a very strong visual impact.

"Since the Wu family encouraged the saint to kill his three sons, the country's affairs have been deteriorating day by day in the past sixteen years."

He openly criticized Chengyu in a measured tone, but he was also establishing his own authority.

"My father favored and trusted Hu Ni, which eventually led to a catastrophe. Now I and you all are guarding Chang'an, and I want to rebuild the country. Where do we start?!"

Du Youlin was incited by him, fell to the ground, and shouted in mourning: "Your Highness, please vindicate the case of the three common people!"

Many officials immediately agreed, but some were deeply worried about it. Now that the saint has run away, and the prince overturns the rebellion decided by the saint without authorization, it is no different from rebellion. At present, there is a powerful enemy, and internal fighting has resumed, adding to the variables.

But these worries cannot stop Li Cong.

"Xue Bai suffered a great injustice and did not forget the Li family clan. In times of hardship and danger, he acted as a target and served his life with integrity. However, he was jealous of heaven and died in a national disaster. I have sons and nephews who are like this, and there are descendants in the clan who are like this, but I can't pay him back. A name?”

After saying this, Li Cong raised his hand and shouted: "Bring me a pen!"

Immediately, a eunuch prepared the four treasures of the study. Li Cong cleaned up his beard that was scattered from crying. He went over, picked up his pen and wrote an edict to restore Xue Bai's status as a clan member.

The "Manuscript of the Son-in-Law Sacrifice" was still displayed there, and soon, another edict was also unfolded. Although Xue Bai died, he also gained another name, Li Qian.

~~
Du Zhai.

In the back garden, Du Jin rarely had time to relax and sat on the porch to enjoy the snow.

Du Wei came over, also dressed in mourning, and said softly: "You have fulfilled his wish."

"No."

Du Jin shook his head and immediately denied this statement, saying: "Sister, I like him too much but don't understand him. What he wanted was never to be a descendant of the Li family or Li Longji's grandson. These are just means. For his ambition, he is willing to use any dirty means."

"Second mother."

Du Wei sighed, tears rolling down like pearls. Since the news came back, her appetite for tea and food has decreased a lot.

Du Jin was always calm and said: "You all think that I am doing it for his last wish, but no, this is actually my plan."

She has always been someone who refuses to give up easily, and the ambition in her eyes has not been extinguished because of Xue Bai's death.

"I don't believe he is dead at all. Can I believe the news released by the rebels?"

At this point, Du Jin even had a sneer on his lips and said: "I had known that this villain Bian Lingcheng had come to Li Cong. I could have killed him, but I deliberately kept him here just to make him tell Li Cong." , the saint doubted that Xue Bai was the grandson of the emperor. This time, I deceived Li Cong and asked him to give Xue Bai a life experience first, and then..."

She looked towards the corridor and murmured, "We'll wait for him to come back."

~~
The next night is New Year's Eve.

With heavy snow falling, Chang'an did not wait for reinforcements, but finally waited for the vanguard of the rebels.

The first person to lead the army to attack Chang'an was Ashina Congli. He deliberately chose the time of the New Year's Day and wanted to take advantage of the Chang'an garrison's lack of defense due to the New Year's Day to make a sneak attack.

Fortunately, Yan Zhenqing was on guard and kept the city gate tightly closed.

However, most of the Chang'an garrison were newly recruited. Not only were their combat effectiveness low, but their willpower was not strong, let alone any experience. During the Chinese New Year, when they saw the thieves coming, they were panicked and their morale was shaken.

Yan Zhenqing had no choice but to go to the city in person to encourage morale.

"Guard today, tonight is the New Year's Day, and the army has prepared meat."

"Don't worry, Mr. Yan. The city wall of Chang'an is so tall that once the city gate is closed, the rebels will not be able to capture it."

The speaker was wearing a suit of iron armor and looked very majestic. Yan Zhenqing took a closer look, a little surprised, and asked: "Jia Chang, the chicken prodigy?"

"It's me."

Yan Zhenqing looked Jia Chang up and down again.

After understanding his doubts, Jia Chang smiled bitterly and said: "The day the saint left the city, I wanted to follow him, but I was not good at riding. I fell off my horse and was injured, so I had to stay."

"Who appointed you as general?"

"I don't want to be a general. No, there is no garrison in Chang'an, and all the men are dragged up to the city walls. I have donated money, and I have more servants in my family than the average general. I was in Xicheng before, Yan I haven’t seen you yet.”

"I've also gone to Xicheng." Yan Zhenqing said, "Don't pretend that I didn't know that you made someone pretend to be you."

"I haven't recovered from my injuries that day."

Jia Chang chuckled, avoided the topic, and began to talk about how the fighting cocks under his command usually eat a lot and are strong, and they are the most elite group of people in the army.

Later, he said that fighting is similar to cockfighting, it is nothing more than making use of strengths and avoiding weaknesses.

After Yan Zhenqing heard this, he didn't blame Jia Chang, because the fighting cock boys he led were indeed the most elite group of people in the Chang'an garrison. Others, who used to eat less salt, didn't even have the strength to draw a bow.

"What is that?!" Suddenly a soldier shouted.

Yan Zhenqing also had a telescope. When he raised it up and took a look, he saw cavalry rushing towards him in the wind and snow. Looking at the flags, he saw that they were the troops of Wang Sili, Li Chengguang and others from the defeated Tongguan army. Farther away, Ashina Cheng Qing's soldiers and horses are in hot pursuit.

Those defeated soldiers were originally resting in Weinan. They must have been encircling the rebels today for reinforcements, and lured them out of the city to aid Chang'an. They ambushed them on the road and deliberately drove them into the city.

Sure enough, the rebels who originally surrounded Chunming Gate quickly surrounded them from both sides, preventing them from going around the city. They wanted to fight below the city and lure the defenders on the city out of the city for rescue.

Yan Zhenqing wanted to save him, so he turned around and looked around. All the generals bowed their heads and said nothing. It’s not necessarily timidity, but self-awareness.

In this way, they would have to watch the rebels annihilate the reinforcements under the city, which would be a huge blow to morale.

"Yan Xiang, what should I do?" Jia Chang asked.

At this time, he didn't say that fighting was like cockfighting, he had to use his strengths and avoid his weaknesses. He has realized that this side is all short and not long.

Yan Zhenqing ignored him and kept staring outside the city. Seeing Wang Sili's flag waving, he kept signaling to the top of the city for help.

He wondered if the rebels were trying to trick him, but as the war progressed and Tang soldiers died on the snow one by one, he realized that the rebels didn't need to trick him at all.

He wished he could personally lead his troops to rescue him, but it was right not to save him in this situation, but he would have to bear more pressure.

"Are the rebels so powerful?"

The soldiers on top of the city have been frightened by the fighting situation. These are residents of Chang'an, enjoying the best life in the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty. It is the first time for many of them to see how those fierce soldiers who fight in the bitter cold land kill people. of.

If this continues, the morale of the army will be defeated, and I am afraid that some soldiers will defect before the thieves can reach them.

Yan Zhenqing was finally able to understand Gao Xianzhi's feeling of powerlessness when he was defeated in Luoyang, but he was far inferior to Gao Xianzhi, a famous general in the world.

If Chang'an was destroyed, he was already prepared to die.

Moving the telescope in his hand, something suddenly appeared in his sight. Yan Zhenqing quickly looked to the north and saw another group of cavalry approaching from afar in the wind and snow.

~~
"Report!"

The sentry horses rushed in and rushed to Ashina Congli, reporting: "Tang Army reinforcements have arrived."

"north?"

Ashina spat out the courtesy and said: "The soldiers and horses from Hedong or Shuofang? How many people?"

"Not many, two to three thousand people."

"Whose flag?"

"Haven't seen it yet."

Ashina then decided to surround and kill the defeated Tang army who had escaped from Tongguan as soon as possible.

"Warriors!" He raised his sword and shouted: "Kill the enemy! Break through Chang'an, everything you need!"

These Dayan generals still have no idea of ​​governing the country. The method of boosting morale is the same as before, mainly relying on the pleasure of robbery.

Although short-sighted, it was useful and the morale of the rebels was boosted.

Just as they were enjoying the killing, the horn sounded to the north of them. The Tang army's reinforcements were about to arrive, and the sentries finally confirmed which general they were leading.

"Report! We have detected it. The enemy's reinforcement flag has the character 'Xue' written on it, and his official name is Changshan Prefect."

"impossible!"

Ashina Congli's first reaction was surprise, and then he shouted: "Xue Bai has been surrounded and killed by me!"

At that time, he had already persuaded An Qingxu to surrender, but when he returned to the camp, he saw Cui Qianyou's messenger coming over and told Ashina Chengqing that he would definitely defeat Ge Shuhan's army and let him surround and kill him. Xue Bai.

When he arrived with his army, An Lushan was already dead. Just as Xue Bai was about to retreat, he immediately ordered his men to surround and kill the Tang army in the rear. Xue Bai's remaining troops had no choice but to leap into the Yellow River.

That is the Yellow River in the Sanmenxia section. The water is fast and does not freeze even in the middle of winter. Even the old water transport sailors couldn't survive if they fell into the river, let alone those wearing armor, so Xue Bai must be dead.

An Qingxu would only announce that Xue Bai was dead, otherwise he would only lose his prestige.

"It's not Xue Bai."

Ashina Congli was very sure, thinking that maybe the Tang court appointed a new Changshan prefect, or it might be a trick of the Tang army generals.

He personally rode his horse to observe the formation, and saw beside the flag of Changshan Prefect, there was also the flag of Xie County Magistrate Yuan Jie.

Because Jiezhou produces salt, Yuanjie is very famous in Hedong. Ashina Congli knew his cunning, and immediately sneered and said to himself: "I see."

Yuan Jie must have heard that Xue Bai had regained Luoyang and captured An Lushan alive, so he deliberately used his name to scare people.

~~
"Bang the drum!"

Ashina Congli didn't believe that Xue Bai was coming, but Yan Zhenqing, who had a telescope on the top of the city, had already issued an order loudly.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The drums were beating loudly, and Yan Zhenqing had selected a group of cavalry, got on his horse, and was about to leave the city from the south gate to meet Wang Sili.

Of course, this move carries the risk of losing Chang'an.

~~
into the night.

Tonight is the New Year's Eve, and it will be the thirteenth year of Tianbao.

In Du's house in Shengpingfang, one can still hear shouts of killing outside the city.

Du Jin didn't listen to what was going on outside the window. When she was alone, she no longer wore sackcloth or mourning. She just read documents in the room as usual.

Suddenly, she heard a noise coming from the front yard.

She was stunned for a moment and wanted to put down the document in her hand, but then she gave up because she was afraid of being disappointed.

"Second mother!"

Qu Shui stumbled in and almost knocked over the table.

"Go quickly! Er Niang, go and see..."

Du Jin thought about it, guessed something, and hurriedly ran towards the corridor.

Although she had always acted extremely confident, at this moment, she felt inexplicably nervous, fearing that she had guessed wrong.

The pace became faster and faster, but stopped again when he turned around the wing. Because there was no sound of joy coming from the front yard, she hesitated whether to go back.

Just as he was about to turn around, someone strode over in the wind and snow.

"Niang Niang."

Du Jin looked around, and his eyes that were originally full of ambition and determination suddenly melted.

It's like the scorching sun shining on the winter snow. The snowflakes instantly turned into water, flowing down from those beautiful eyes.

She raised her hand, but couldn't wipe it clean no matter how hard she wiped it.

"I knew it... I knew it..." Du Jin choked with sobs, her tone still full of pride, and she raised her head and said, "Do you know? I gave you a big gift, and from now on you will be..."

Before she finished speaking, she was already embraced by the person in front of her.

After more than half a year of turbulent times, this embrace is still not easy.

(End of this chapter)