Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 135: The emperor’s wrath, just prove it in your heart
The leaders and envoys of various Tiele tribes participating in the alliance left Lingzhou one after another within two days and headed for the grassland.

Generally speaking, Li Longji was quite satisfied with the results of this alliance. He accomplished the feats that only Taizong could achieve back then.Among the emperors of the Tang Dynasty, Taizong was the first and he was the second. Now there should be no controversy.

Li Longji's vanity was greatly satisfied. This was an almost flawless alliance ceremony!

If Yang Yuhuan's disappearance is not included.

Zhang Xun, the tenth general of the Youzhou frontier army who was on duty that day, and the following 50 people have all been imprisoned.Although these people unanimously said that Yang Yuhuan insisted on attending a banquet on the grassland north of the Yellow River and left, they did not know where they went and could not stop him.

But what Brother Ji needed wasn't an explanation, and he didn't want to delve into the truth of the matter at all.

Brother Ji just wants results!

If the result is satisfactory, he will not pursue it. If the result is not satisfactory, then he will be sorry.

As for whether these Qiu Ba people were innocent, Ji Ge didn't think much of it. He thought it didn't matter and didn't take it to heart.

If Yang Yuhuan comes back, then these people can just deal with them casually, or even let them go lightly.

If Yang Yuhuan cannot come back, it is inevitable that these people will be buried with him.

There is no reason to explain, whether it is malfeasance or conspiracy, it doesn't matter, Ji Ge doesn't want to bother to dig into it.Brother Ji didn't even listen to the words Zhang Xun and others prepared in advance, let alone spend any effort to interrogate and investigate.

The only thing that can be confirmed is that Yang Yuhuan and his party should have fallen into the water while crossing the bridge.The temporary wooden bridge collapsed for no reason on the night of the banquet!Yang Yuhuan and his party most likely encountered an accident while crossing the bridge.

In fact, this is easy to understand. This temporary bridge is a disposable consumable, and it also has a secret door for "one-click destruction".During a battle, if the enemy's cavalry pursues them, the team behind them can destroy the bridge in an instant.

Most of the bridges in Fang Chongyong's previous life also had this function, making them easy to dismantle.

The local stone bridge on the Yellow River is further away.To be honest, Brother Ji was also one of the culprits. He was the one who set the venue of the banquet in the open grassland north of the wooden bridge.This is not a road well traveled.

Too many people have walked on this bridge recently. There are more than 2000 leaders and envoys from Tiele tribes alone, not including the Youzhou border troops.The quality of the wooden bridge itself was very average. When Li Longji was crossing the bridge, he felt a sound of wood rubbing under his feet.

Duan Xiushi, the Shuofang army general who was responsible for building the wooden bridge, was also affected by Chi Yu this time and was taken down for interrogation.However, his treatment is still much better than that of Zhang Xun and others.

Three days later, the first bad news came.

In a certain section of the lower reaches of the Yellow River, when local fishermen lowered their nets to fish, they picked up a man wearing eunuch clothes. He was one of the eunuchs who served Yang Yuhuan.

The body was quickly sent to Lingzhou City, where the best local policemen were responsible for the inspection.

Wu Zuo is not an official position, it is just a collective name for those people who are responsible for funerals and often deal with corpses.These people occasionally assisted in the examination of injuries and corpses when the government needed them. This line of work was called "仵zuoxing".

The old man who participated in the autopsy came to a very definite conclusion: he died of drowning!

When Li Longji heard the news, his heart sank!

The suspected interceptions, vendettas, and conspiracy assassinations may not exist. It is very likely that Huan Huan and the others happened to be on the bridge when it broke and fell into the water and died.

As if to confirm Brother Ji's conjecture, these corpses were found one after another, including the corpses of several eunuchs and palace maids.All of them drowned.

Only there is no body of Yang Yuhuan!

No news is good news. Brother Ji hopes for a miracle in his heart, but he also understands that hope is slim.

On the Yellow River in spring, the flood season has just passed, but the broken ice in the river has disappeared.It was fine during the day, but the water temperature was still frighteningly low at night.If you fall into the river at night, unless you can be fished out in a very short time, you will be warmed by the fire and warmed up with ginger tea to relieve the cold.

Otherwise, even if you don't drown to death, you will be frozen to death.

The situation that Brother Ji is facing now is like one of the boots upstairs falling to the ground, waiting for the other one to fall to the ground as well.

In the lobby of Shuofang Jiedu Mansion, Li Longji walked around anxiously.Youzhou Jiedu envoy Fang Youde, Shuofang Jiedu envoy Zhang Qiqiu, Lingzhou governor and others all said nothing and looked down at the ground, no one wanted to get into trouble.

At this moment, Shi Yangaoqing, the marching commander of the Youzhou frontier army who was going on this expedition, walked in sweating profusely.He looked at Li Longji, whose face was as dark as water, and then at Fang Youde and others who dared not express their anger. He had been brewing something in his stomach for a long time, but now he didn't know how to say it.

"Any news?"

Li Longji walked forward excitedly, grabbed Yan Gaoqing's sleeve and asked.

"Back to Saint, there is indeed news..."

Yan Gaoqing lowered his head, not daring to meet Li Longji's burning eyes.

When he saw the other party's expression, Li Longji's heart sank to the bottom.

He slowly loosened Yan Gaoqing's cuffs, adjusted his dragon robe, and then scolded in a deep voice: "Just tell me if you have anything to do!"

"Back to Saint, Brother Taizhen has been found and his body has been cleaned..."

Yan Gaoqing could hardly speak anymore.

"Everyone go away, let me be alone."

Li Longji sat down on the ground dejectedly, waved his hands to everyone and said.

No one dared to move, and no one knew what Li Longji meant by these words.

Gao Lishi stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Sage, do you want to see Taizhen for the last time..."

"Go away!"

Li Longji roared at Gao Lishi!
Now everyone understands!
Zhang Qiqiu, Fang Youde and others all filed out, and the entourage and soldiers in the government hall also quietly retreated, leaving Li Longji sitting on the ground alone.

Looks like a lonely person!

Only Gao Lishi was in a corner of the lobby, waiting for Li Longji's instructions at any time.

It hurts, my heart really hurts!
For a moment, Li Longji no longer knew how to describe his mood.

Emptiness and sadness cycle back and forth.Thinking of the passion and excitement of being with Yang Yuhuan for more than a year, it made his heart feel like a knife.

After sitting there lamenting for a long time, Li Longji waved to the "transparent man" Gao Lishi in the corner.

"Find someone to put makeup on Huanhuan to make her look better. I want to see her one last time..."

Li Longji sighed and said.

People fished out of the Yellow River must have looked unsightly, their bodies covered with yellow sand.Yang Yuhuan's body naturally needed to be restrained and put on makeup before Li Longji could see it.

"I'll do it right now, and ask the saint to express his condolences.

With Brother Taizhen gone, the saint can be kinder to her family.Bring Brother Taizhen's family to Chang'an so that they can pay homage to her from time to time.

It also lets outsiders know that saints value love and justice.

Especially the sisters of Monk Taizhen, the saint can canonize them to show his kindness to Monk Taizhen. "

Gao Lishi suggested calmly.

Li Longji's eyes lit up, and he instantly recalled the stunning beauty of Yang Yuhuan's three sisters at the Yang family's birthday party a few months ago.

It can only be said that each has his own merits and is on par with Yang Yuhuan.

The grief in his heart was immediately diluted a lot.

"This matter can be done earlier, there is no need to wait for me to return to Chang'an."

Li Longji put away the lament on his face and said calmly.

"I understand, the saint can rest assured.

Please don’t be sad, saint. There are thousands of women like Monk Taizhen in the Tang Dynasty.

But you are the only saint of the Tang Dynasty.If the saint damaged the dragon's body because of his sorrow, that would be the misfortune of the thousands of people in the Tang Dynasty. "

Gao Lishi urged.

Li Longji sighed, patted Gao Lishi's hand gently, shook his head and said, "I understand, you don't need to say more, just go and do your work." He had recovered from his extreme sadness, and now What fills my heart is no longer sadness, but anger!
The majestic emperor can't even protect his favorite woman!It was a small thing for Yang Yuhuan to die, but it was a big thing for him, the emperor, to be slapped in the face!
When the emperor was angry, he laid down millions of corpses!Haha, these people are just waiting for his wrath!
……

In the coffin made of fine sandalwood, Yang Yuhuan, who had been dead for a long time, lay quietly inside.She has been put on the palace clothes that only a noble concubine can wear, her face has been painted with the heavy makeup that only a noble concubine can wear, and the body has been processed so that it can be stored for a long time without decay.

Li Longji will not bury her in Lingzhou. He will take Yang Yuhuan back to Chang'an and bury her in Chang'an.

Looking at Yang Yuhuan lying in the coffin, she is still so beautiful, as peaceful as if she is asleep.From a certain perspective, she was freed from this period of incestuous sadomasochism and no longer had to think that she should be Princess Shou instead of the emperor's concubine.

For her, this may just be an escape from an illusory dream where desire and evil thoughts are intertwined.She no longer has to bear the infamy of Qing Shi, nor does she have to endure curses and criticism from all sides.

Perhaps this is not a bad thing for Yang Yuhuan.

She is still Yang Yuhuan, but she will no longer become Yang Guifei.

"Huanhuan! Huanhuan!"

Without warning, Li Longji suddenly burst into tears and beat the coffin feebly.

"Huanhuan, don't leave, Huanhuan! What will I do if you leave!"

He was the only one in the mourning hall at this moment, even Gao Lishi had gone out.

Li Longji held the coffin and cried like a child.

The last time he was so sad was when his mother was killed for no reason when he was still young.

In the second year of Wu Zhou's longevity (AD 693), the two concubines of the emperor Li Dan, Liu and Dou, were summoned into the palace by Wu Zetian. They were eventually killed with a stick and their bodies were buried casually.Among them, Mrs. Dou is Li Longji’s biological mother.

That time, Li Longji's sadness flowed into a river, but he didn't dare to cry at all. He was surrounded by spies sent by Wu Zetian.

After a long time, Li Longji finally cried enough. All his tenderness for Yang Yuhuan flowed away with his tears, and all that was left in his heart was coldness.

Li Longji walked out of the mourning hall. Outside the door, Gao Lishi and the border army generals had been waiting for a long time, and no one was willing to take the initiative to speak.

According to the itinerary, Li Longji has stayed in Lingzhou for ten more days, and it is time for him to return to Chang'an.

It’s just that everyone knows that Li Longji has not yet spoken out, and the person who should be punished has not yet been punished. He will not leave no matter what!
Anyone who mentions this will definitely die!

"I'm going to Jiedu Mansion to discuss matters. I have something to say."

Li Longji said a word and left. Everyone followed cautiously, for fear that the saint's anger would be directed at themselves.

The group of people arrived at the government office lobby. Li Longji sat on the main seat and looked around at everyone. At this moment, he had regained his majesty as an emperor.

"Fang Aiqing, as a guard, let the person he was protecting die. What crime should he be punished in the military?"

Li Longji asked in a deep voice.

"Return to the saint, and according to military law, be the leader of the owl."

Fang Youde crossed his hands and saluted and said with a calm expression.

"Well, all the guards on duty that night from Zhang Xun on down will be dealt with according to military law."

Li Longji said expressionlessly.

It's like killing fifty chickens.

"Sage, although Zhang Xun and others made serious mistakes, their crimes are not worthy of death. Let them live and let them go to the battlefield and perform meritorious service!"

Fang Youde knelt down and begged.

Then Zhang Qiqiu and others, including Shuofang's border troops, all knelt on the ground!
Now is not the time to laugh at jokes, the rabbit is dead and the fox is sad!After dealing with the Youzhou Army, the next wave will be the Shuofang Army!
This bad precedent has been set, and the emperor will be able to find excuses to kill his generals!In the future, wouldn't the emperor be able to kill the generals of the border army at will because the women in the harem are unhappy?
"Don't you all take me seriously anymore?"

Li Longji slammed the table, stood up and yelled angrily.

Huanhuan is dead, how can people like Zhang Xun still be alive!They must also be buried with him!Whether there is a direct relationship or not!

"I am a humble minister. I am willing to give up all my duties and return to my fields. I only ask the saint to spare the lives of Zhang Xun and others. Please grant the permission to the saint."

Fang Youde took off his helmet, placed it on the ground, and knelt down without getting up.

"Are you threatening me?"

Li Longji stepped forward angrily, kicked Fang Youde to the ground, pointed at him and cursed:

"I trusted you so much and entrusted Huanhuan to your subordinates to take care of me. How did you repay my trust? Ah!
How sorry am I for you!ah!

Your son was appointed as the governor at the age of ten. Who has this kind of treatment?

Is this how you repay me for my kindness to your family? "

While Li Longji was scolding, he kicked and hit Fang Youde. The latter did not resist and did not even use his hands to resist.

"You pay me the Huanhuan, and you give me the Huanhuan back! What do I want from your official hat? It's what I gave you in the first place!"

Li Longji roared at Fang Youde.

The whole hall was silent except for his voice.

"I am guilty, please punish me. People cannot be resurrected after death. I am sorry that I am helpless. Please express my condolences to the saint."

After a long time, Fang Youde, whose mouth was bleeding, knelt on the ground and begged.

"Go to Lingnan! Go to Lingnan! I don't want you to resign. I want you to go over there and watch the border for me, and reflect on your mistakes! You owe me what you owe me, and you will never pay it back in your lifetime!"
I never want to see you again!You should never go back to Chang'an! "

Li Longji roared at the loud voice, like an angry lion.

"Zhang Qiqiu! You temporarily take over the post of Youzhou Jiedu Envoy and take down all the sergeants on duty below Zhang Xun!
Your subordinate Duan Xiushi will be dismissed from all military positions, tattooed on his face, and sent to the border area forever!No!Narrative!use! "

Li Longji turned his head and ordered Zhang Qiqiu, the newly appointed military commander of Shuofang, with a solemn tone!

"The end will be done."

Zhang Qiqiu crossed his hands and saluted and said, he was so sophisticated in human nature and knew very well that Fang Youde was just making a start. He was temporarily acting as the governor of Youzhou, but Li Longji was worried that there would be no one to take care of the military affairs in the border town.

Yang Yuhuan died in Lingzhou, how could he, the military governor of Shuofang, escape?
It's just that it's not convenient for Li Longji to take action now.He was certain that none of the sergeants involved in building the bridge would be able to escape, and Duan Xiushi was just the first unlucky one.

"Lishi, prepare to return to Chang'an. Take the coffin with you on the road together."

Li Longji said tiredly to Gao Lishi beside him.

……

What happened next was indeed not beyond Zhang Qiqiu's expectations.

After Li Longji returned to Chang'an, he immediately demoted him and transferred him to Hedong as governor. He was never promoted and rotated among several lower states in Hedong.

Duan Xiushi, who built the wooden bridge, was assigned to join the army in the Western Regions. No news about him was heard later.

Hundreds of sergeants, regardless of rank, who participated in the bridge repair were collectively mobilized by the Ministry of War to the most dangerous Longyou front line and were deployed by the Longyou Jiedu Envoy.Participated in the front line against the Tibetan people. After many years, only ten of these people remained and disappeared without a trace.

The Youzhou frontier army that won this battle not only received no rewards for the whole army, but also basically all the generals in the army were demoted and transferred.Except for a few people who followed Fang Youde and went to Lingnan Jiedu Mansion to serve as generals, everyone else was in bad luck.

Needless to say, Zhang Xun and others were personally executed by Li Longji.The soldiers on duty on the day of the accident were also beheaded. Brother Ji did not give them any chance to explain, and he didn't even bother to ask.

Yan Gaoqing was transferred to Hebei as a county captain, and Xu Yuan became a low-ranking civil servant, still working at the grassroots level in Youzhou.This time, no one who could be angered by Li Longji escaped, and all the immortals were dealt with.

Two Jiedu envoys were killed in the north, one of whom was a famous general who had conquered the north. The situation in the north of the Tang Dynasty also ushered in drastic changes.

As Fang Youde was dealt with, the hearts of the Youzhou frontier troops were quietly undergoing subtle changes.

To use a popular saying, that is: no one believes in love!

(End of this chapter)