Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 541: Fateful Reincarnation

Bang!

The door of the imperial study in the Qinzhengwu Building of Xingqing Palace was kicked open by a soldier.

The room was empty, no one had left.

The Tang Emperor Li Heng, who was standing outside the door, had a livid face and was shaking with anger.

This old guy ran so fast that even after blocking the entire Chang'an, we couldn't catch him!
At this moment, Li Heng was not only very angry, but also very worried.

That was Li Longji, the old emperor who had been the emperor for decades and created the Kaiyuan Prosperity!

Brother Ji’s power should never be underestimated at any time.

As long as he is not dead of old age, he may continue to stir up trouble.

Not only Li Heng, but also Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, Gao Xianzhi and others present all looked gloomy. They all knew very well that if Brother Ji gained power again, people like them would most likely die.

Now it is no longer a question of whether or not to take sides, but to nip all threats in the bud.

"Where is the emperor? Why is he not here?"

Li Heng asked the eunuch in charge of Xingqing Palace who was kneeling on the ground and trembling.

This unfortunate temporary worker had only been on the job for a few days, but he was facing a catastrophe today.

"I don't know. I am guilty of the death penalty. Please show mercy, Your Majesty!"

The eunuch knelt on the ground and kowtowed violently. He was so scared that he wet his pants.

Li Heng shook his head in disappointment and waved his hand gently, signaling this person not to get in the way here and to get as far away as possible.

It’s not that he has a good temper, but even if he skinned this “negligent” eunuch alive, he wouldn’t be able to get Brother Ji back.

This kind of impotent rage will only be directed at the ugly appearance of others, which will make bystanders look down on them.

"Marshal Fang, what should we do now?"

Li Heng turned his head and looked at Fang Youde, he was completely at a loss.

All the central government offices that manage carriages and the Imperial Stables that manage horses and carriages in the palace have been asked, and the answer is that Brother Ji did not use the carriage.

So, where has this dog emperor Ji Ge gone now?

At this moment, Fang Youde, who turned the tide against all odds, became the backbone of everyone.

If it weren't for him turning the tide, Ji Ge would still be giving orders in Xingqing Palace, and Li Heng would probably have become a prisoner.

"That's fine. I can just lead a hundred cavalrymen to chase them. Your Majesty still has many things to do. Let's stabilize the situation in Chang'an first."

Fang Youde nodded slightly and said, looking confident.

His self-confidence is a bit inexplicable and difficult for outsiders to understand.

Even if we lead a hundred men to pursue, we can’t say whether we can catch them. Even if we can track them down, it will be difficult to divide the troops into several groups.

It's really too arrogant.

Li Heng asked with concern: "Marshal Fang, do you want to bring more people? One hundred people are too few."

Everyone present had the same idea, but out of respect for Fang Youde, they did not say anything.

"It's okay. I know what I'm doing."

Fang Youde waved his hand gently, indicating that he could handle it and there was no need to create any unnecessary trouble.

It would not be good to mobilize a large army to capture the "emperor" and bring him back to Chang'an. The fewer people involved in this, the better.

Fang Youde said goodbye to Li Heng and walked out of the Jinguang Gate in the west of Chang'an. At this moment, Li Huaiguang had been waiting here for a long time with a hundred cavalrymen.

Obviously, Fang Youde knew that Brother Ji was likely to run away early, and he was well prepared!

What I said to Li Ying before was just following the procedure, not pretending.

"Godfather, shall we set off now?"

Li Huaiguang came over, clasped his fists and bowed, and asked.

Fang Youde nodded calmly and said, "Go west."

"Westward? Why?"

Li Huaiguang was bewildered, not knowing why Fang Youde was so sure.

He knew that this pursuit was to capture the "Emperor Emeritus" Li Longji.

But how did Fang Youde know that Li Longji was heading west?
In fact, if Brother Ji wanted to run away, he theoretically had many options.

Go east to Huazhou, then north to Hedong, or go south to Tongguan to Luoyang.

Go north to Yanzhou (Yan'an), and then go north to the grassland.

Going south through Wuguan to the Nanyang Basin, these are all possible options.

Why did Brother Ji definitely go west?

Li Huaiguang didn't understand.

"Just follow me, stop talking nonsense!"

Fang Youde scolded him coldly, then mounted his horse and rode away.

Li Huaiguang had no choice but to chase on horseback. The cavalry team of 100 people marched lightly, without carrying any armor or long weapons.

After crossing the Xiwei Bridge and arriving at Jincheng (Xingping City, Shaanxi Province), Fang Youde ordered everyone to dismount and look for clues along the way.

Fang Youde seemed to be confident and had already determined that Brother Ji was nearby.

At this time, heavy rain poured down, soaking everyone. It seemed that God was protecting Brother Ji and preventing anyone from tracking him.

……

The abandoned post station, the desolate mountains, the bare fields, everything was so lifeless.

The gate of the deserted post station was locked. On the railing in front of the post station, there was originally a flag with the three characters "Mawei Post Station" written on it, but it had now broken and fallen to the ground, making it difficult to identify.

Even the plaque on the door lintel had been taken down for some reason. From a distance, it looked like a large mansion of a wealthy family.

At this moment, in the lobby of the post station, Brother Ji, who was wearing cloth clothes and covered in mud, was staring at the wooden board on the wall with lifeless eyes.

There are many poets and writers here who left their masterpieces.

However, ever since Huangfu Weiming launched his rebellion and Li Heng proclaimed himself emperor, the Tang Dynasty's post station system suffered devastating damage, lost financial funding, and was basically abandoned.

For example, in Maweiyi, anything of value here has long been stolen by various bandits, and now there is not much left.

Most of the wooden boards on the walls with poems written on them were taken down and used for firewood and firewood burning. Only a few of them "escaped the disaster".

"Unsightly."

After reading a few poems on the wooden board on the wall, Brother Ji couldn't help but comment on them in four words.

At this moment, a man came from the backyard. Brother Ji turned around cautiously and found that it was Gao Lishi, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Saint, the carriage has been disposed of and the horses have been fed. Someone who was the previous owner of this courtyard left behind a jar of stone pancakes.

I think it's still edible, if you don't mind, please eat some."

Gao Lishi handed two cakes to Brother Ji and looked at him with a pleading look.

Brother Ji nodded slightly, took the stone pancake, took a bite, and found it dry and difficult to swallow.

Shiluo cake is very popular in Guanzhong and Hedong regions. The taste of this cake is just average, it just has salt added to it.

But it is very durable and can be easily stored for more than half a year as long as it is placed in a non-direct sunlight and non-humid environment.

In ancient times, stone cakes were often used as military rations. Many people would also make them after the autumn harvest when there was plenty of food, and store them until the lean season.

Therefore, this thing is very common among the people and can be found everywhere. There are also many people who can make this kind of cake.

If it was in the past, Brother Ji would not even look at this kind of food. But now that he was in such a state of poverty, he could no longer care about it.

They set out all the way from Chang'an, but due to the need to keep it secret and the fact that they set out in a hurry, they did not carry much with them.

Ji Ge's original plan was to find a government office first, control the officials there, and then go to Shu in a mighty way. Of course, he had to go farther, at least out of Guanzhong before doing this.

What Ji Ge didn't expect was that he could still run, but on the road the horse pulling the carriage fell into a mud pit and could no longer run.

The carriage also fell apart.

In desperation, Gao Lishi took Ji Ge to find Mawei Posthouse, which was closest to the accident site, and climbed over the wall (the door was locked), and hid there.

Gao Lishi took away the plaque and other landmarks of Mawei Posthouse and burned them as firewood to avoid attracting the attention of the pursuers.

Ji Ge choked after taking two bites of the stone pancake. Gao Lishi quickly handed Ji Ge a deerskin water bag filled with well water.

After swallowing hard, Brother Ji finally recovered.

"The people are in poverty, and they have to eat stone pancakes like this every day to fill their stomachs. Alas!"

Brother Ji couldn't help but sigh.

Gao Lishi didn't know what to say, because many poor people had sold their children and could not afford to eat stone-flour cakes.

Although this stone pancake is not delicious, not everyone in the Tang Dynasty can afford it.

At this moment, Ji Ge suddenly saw a poem out of the corner of his eye and immediately frowned.

"Although her beautiful face was covered by the dust of Mawei, her resentment and smoke locked up the Weijin. Her cicada-like temples did not follow the imperial carriage, and I still feel the people coming and going."

Ji Ge whispered.

For some reason, he always felt that this poem seemed to be mocking him.

Brother Ji walked forward, took down the wooden board, and handed it to Gao Lishi, saying, "Burn it. It looks unlucky."

Gao Lishi didn't understand where Ji Ge's emotional fluctuations came from, and he also took a look at the poem.

How should I put it? It feels so weird and eerie.

"I understand. I will deal with it now."

Gao Lishi walked out of the lobby of the post station and came to the backyard. The post station was still very large, but it was completely abandoned at the moment and looked particularly run-down. When walking, the wooden floor creaked, which made people feel creepy.

However, just as Gao Lishi casually threw the wooden board into a storage room.

He suddenly heard the sound of metal collision coming from the direction of the door!
Clang!
It seemed that the lock at the door, which was covered with copper rust, was cut off by a steel knife!
Then the door was pushed open, and the rusty door hinges made a grinding sound.

There were hurried footsteps coming, and the movement was uncontrolled. It was obvious that there were quite a few people coming.

Gao Lishi's heart was in his throat. He rushed to the lobby of the post station like a madman, but saw a scene that he would never forget.

Fang Youde brought a few soldiers wearing Tang army uniforms but no armor and entered the door of the post station lobby.

Everyone looked at Brother Ji who was in panic, but no one spoke.

Time seemed to have stood still.

"Your Majesty, I am here to take you back to the palace."

Fang Youde had a calm expression, looked directly at Brother Ji, and spoke in a cold tone.

He raised his hand and waved it twice. Li Huaiguang, who was beside him, took a few soldiers and retreated ten steps.

"Quanzhong! Quanzhong, you can't take the saint back to Chang'an!"

Gao Lishi rushed over and knelt down in front of Fang Youde, refusing to get up at all.

He kowtowed to Fang Youde frantically, as if the more he kowtowed, the greater the probability that the other party would let Ji Ge go.

"Li Shi, get up, don't embarrass me."

Brother Ji scolded Gao Lishi in a low voice.

The latter then stood up and returned to Brother Ji. He drew out his Tang sword and stood in front of Brother Ji like a clown, as if this small Tang sword could protect Brother Ji from death.

Brother Ji pushed Gao Lishi aside, walked forward, and faced Fang Youde, with a table between them.

"Quanzhong, I remember what happened back then. Without you, I would have died at the hands of my aunt.

When Shenlong started the rebellion, it was also because of your great efforts."

Brother Ji seemed to be recalling the past. Seeing Fang Youde's expression unchanged, he seemed unmoved. So he continued, "You have done a lot for me. I have given you a high position, power and trust. You made a great contribution to the Kaiyuan Prosperity. I remember that I also gave you a place in the Lingyan Pavilion!"

"But why did you betray me?"

Ji Ge's face became somewhat distorted and hideous, and his eyes pierced Fang Youde's eyes.

It seemed as if he wanted to find some clues from that calm gaze.

Brother Ji’s hatred for Fang Youde almost overflowed from his eyes.

Without Fang Youde, there would be no Li Heng.

Even without Fang Youde, Li Heng would have been arrested and imprisoned in Chang'an long ago.

All this is Fang Youde’s fault!
"Sanlang, I have always been loyal to the Tang Dynasty. But every time I say this, you always say that I am the Tang Dynasty.

But in my opinion, if you can maintain the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, then you represent the Tang Dynasty.

I will be loyal to you, no matter what happens.

But if you cannot maintain the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, then you cannot represent the Tang Dynasty.

Why should I protect an emperor who cannot bring prosperity to the Tang Dynasty?
I have never changed, it is you who has changed."

Fang Youde sighed softly, with infinite regret in his eyes.

He had never lied to Brother Ji, but Brother Ji always acted self-righteously and he had no way to deal with it.

"I don't believe it! What benefit did Li Heng give you? Why are you defending him like this? I don't accept it!"

Brother Ji was so upset that he pointed at Fang Youde and cursed him.

"Since you are the Emperor Emeritus, don't call me 'I'. The world is in such a mess now, it will be difficult to clean up the mess."

Fang Youde sighed, turned around and left.

Suddenly he heard a "thump" sound behind him. Fang Youde turned around and saw Brother Ji kneeling on the ground, like a paper man, his body shaking constantly.

"Quanzhong, please let me go! Let me go to Shu, it doesn't matter what, just don't let me go back to Chang'an!
You don't want to see me killed by that rebellious son, do you?"

Brother Ji knelt on the ground and cried loudly. At this moment, the dust had settled and death was approaching, and he no longer cared about his face.

As long as he can get through this hurdle today, it means he can die peacefully.

For this reason, let alone kneeling and begging for mercy, it would be fine even if he was asked to hurt himself.

"The Emperor, the father is kind and the son is filial, the brothers are friendly and the younger brothers are respectful, this is the normal human relationship. As long as the Emperor is in Chang'an, the country will be stable.

I'm sorry I can't let you go to Shu."

After saying that, he clapped his hands.

Li Huaiguang and others walked into the lobby of Mawei Posthouse and saluted Fang Youde with their fists clasped.

"Bring the Emperor back to Chang'an, there must be no mistakes."

Fang Youde gave the order coldly.

Li Huaiguang was not vague either. He dragged Ji Ge and Gao Lishi out of Mawei Posthouse. The lobby of the posthouse, which had been a little noisy just now, became quiet in an instant.

"Maweiyi, ah Maweiyi, it's still this damn place."

Fang Youde couldn't help but let out a long sigh, then turned around and walked out of the post station.

At this moment, night is approaching in the sky and the setting sun is blood-red.

(End of this chapter)