Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 621: Literary and Sports Blossoms

Today is another court meeting, but this time the agenda is very simple: to determine the candidate for the crown prince.

Li Lin sat on the main seat in the lobby of Kaifeng Prefecture, feeling as if he were being pricked by needles. Looking around at the many officials in the lobby, he suddenly realized... why were some people missing?

"Right Prime Minister, there seem to be fewer ministers present today."

Li Lin looked at Fang Zhongyong with some doubt and asked. Now this puppet emperor has become a little nervous because of various things.

It would be fine if the generals under Fang Chongyong were not here.

Deputy Privy Councilor Li Quan was not there, nor was the Minister of Personnel Yan Zhuang, and even the Governor of Bianzhou Yuan Jie, who had just been promoted to "Jingzhao Yin", was not there.

These people are missing. Where did they go and what did they do?

Li Lin felt very suspicious.

"They all have things to do, and it won't affect the court meeting."

Fang Zhongyong saluted Li Lin and said calmly, "I had no intention of explaining to this puppet emperor at all."

Li Lin nodded slightly, with a bad feeling in his heart.

"I want to make my second son Li Xuan the crown prince. What do you think?"

Li Lin straightened his back and spoke calmly.

In fact, he didn't want to bring this up himself, but none of his staff and confidants were willing to come forward and bring up the matter.

In desperation, Li Lin had to speak up himself.

Why are those people unwilling to mention it?

Li Lin actually didn't think it through, but the noble way of saying it is: No one wants to stand on the side of someone who is bound to lose.

"Your Majesty, to depose the eldest and enthronize the youngest is a path to death, and will lead to endless troubles.

The eldest prince, Li Wei, is kind and loving. He was born to your Majesty's concubine, Houmo Chen, before he ascended the throne. He should be the crown prince.

I beg you to make Li Wei the crown prince! The eldest son should be made the crown prince! "

Fang Chongyong stepped forward, faced Li Lin directly, and refuted him righteously, his voice as loud as a bell!

Li Lin seemed to have anticipated this. He waved his hand and said, "Li Wei only knows military affairs, but not how to govern a country..."

"It is enough for the ministers to assist in governing the country. The eldest son is the heir. It is natural and right! Your Majesty, the clan law cannot be abolished!"

Fang Chongyong was too lazy to argue with Li Lin, so he directly used his trump card!

Don't you always like to emphasize the clan system to ensure your legitimacy? Then I will insist on one thing: Li Wei is the eldest son and the heir of the family.

Such a person has an indisputable advantage when fighting for the throne. As long as he does not commit suicide, he will be invincible.

The so-called legitimate son is the popular heir after a "struggle", and in the system of imperial power, he is the crown prince.

The so-called eldest son is only the heir of the family. He can inherit the family business, but he cannot naturally inherit the "national throne."

The eldest son is the natural candidate for the legitimate son, but there is no guarantee that he is the legitimate son. There are many variables involved.

But then again, since Li Wei is the eldest son, as long as he gets the support of the ministers, he will be the crown prince and will definitely be able to win the support of the people.

No one, including Emperor Li Lin, can say anything bullshit!

"Your Majesty, the eldest son of the heir should be the heir, the clan law cannot be abolished!"

Seeing that Li Lin didn't say anything, the ministers behind Fang Chongyong stepped out and shouted in unison!

Even Wei Zichun was among them.

Obviously, Wei Zichun didn't think there was anything wrong with Fang Zhongyong's proposal.

If Marshal Fang wanted to depose the emperor and establish himself as the emperor, he would definitely be the first to stand up and oppose it. If he could not defeat the other party, he would definitely die in this court.

But making the eldest son the crown prince seems to be...no problem at all.

Wei Zichun couldn't think of any reason to oppose this proposal.

Except for Wei Zichun, several other aides under Li Lin also did not speak out.

In an instant, Li Lin felt abandoned by the world.

Fang Chongyong does things by going with the flow. He stands at the forefront of the trend of the times and is able to call the shots.

This is his ability, but the general trend of the world did not go according to his ideas, but his ideas conformed to the times.

So it seems unmatched to outsiders.

Fang Chongyong had weapons in his hands, but he didn't hold a knife to force others to admit something they were unwilling to admit.

This is because he is very good at using the power of weapons. To stop war is to use force, and weapons are used to consolidate the foundation, not to waste energy blindly.

If Fang Zhongyong wanted others to hold their noses and support Li Yi as the crown prince, then of course it could be done. However, people would not be convinced and there would inevitably be disputes in the future.

It would be better to support the eldest son Li Wei as the crown prince so that everyone would have nothing to say.

"Your Majesty, the trend cannot be violated."

Gao Shang leaned close to Li Lin's ear calmly and spoke in a low voice.

This game was lost from the beginning. If you are smart, you should stop being stubborn and just admit defeat, accumulate strength and prepare for the next game.

Gao Shang lamented in his heart that it was really difficult to win a round against an opponent like Fang Zhongyong. The opponent was not a rough man who could only carry a knife, but was extremely skilled in political tactics and controlled the timing just right.

You can't beat him in a physical fight, and you can't beat him in a literary fight. This situation makes people feel a little desperate.

"Then...let's make Li Wei the crown prince. Wei Qing's family, have the Ministry of Rites handle this matter quickly.

Retreat! "

Li Lin helplessly announced Li Wei as the crown prince, then shook his sleeves impatiently, stood up and was about to leave.

"Your Majesty, please take a rest in Kaifeng Prefecture. Chenliu County is not peaceful. There are bandits everywhere. I will lead the troops to wipe out the bandits."

Fang Chongyong saluted Li Lin with his arms crossed.

Upon hearing that there was danger, Li Lin sat back in his original seat.

It should be said that the six states of the former Xuanwu Town had a very good public security because of its dense population and developed economy. At least Li Lin had never heard of such large-scale bandits.

As a result, there are bandits in Chenliu County, which is just a stone's throw away from Feng County.

This is a bit unbelievable!

Li Lin felt strange, but didn't think much about it.

After Fang Zhongyong led the ministers out, Gao Shang leaned close to Li Lin's ear and whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard that there was a mutiny in Songzhou. The governor Li Jiayou and Sima Yan Bojun rebelled and joined forces with some wealthy families in Songzhou and other prefectures and counties to rebel."

Huh? Is that true?

Li Lin was shocked and quickly grabbed the sleeve of Gao Shang's missing arm, then slowly let go, trying to make his disordered breathing smoother.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Li Lin stared at Gao Shang and asked, seeming a little dissatisfied, but he didn't show it for the time being.

Gao Shang was also helpless, thinking to himself: I tell you, and then you don’t understand the situation, and you collude with those people, and finally you are deposed by Fang Qing, and support Li Wei to take the position?

He smiled bitterly, not knowing whether he should tell Li Lin what he was thinking.

"Your Majesty, I learned about this matter when I came to Kaifeng County today and heard it from some soldiers who were preparing to march.

I cannot confirm the truth, how can I report it to Your Majesty?"

Gao Shang complained to Li Lin.

He actually knew about this a long time ago, but he couldn't say it because Li Lin would feel bad if he did.

As expected, Li Lin sighed and said, "What a great opportunity! If I had known this, I would not have let Li Wei become the crown prince."

He still seemed to be in a sorry state.

"Your Majesty, please stay in Kaifeng County for a while and visit the market here."

Gao Shang suppressed the helplessness in his heart and tried not to show it on his face.

……

In Xiangyi City, northwest of Songzhou, soldiers and horses continued to gather from all directions. Some of these people were united soldiers, wearing military uniforms that were only dyed black, but were obviously several grades lower.

Some were private soldiers kept by local wealthy families, wearing all kinds of clothes. Among these people, only a small number of them carried armor.

At a glance, there are quite a lot of soldiers, and there are probably no less than 10,000 people who have come here to set up camp!
The powerful families are powerful!

How could they allow the small court led by Fang Chongyong to confiscate the land on which they depended for survival?

That was all they had obtained through years of plundering and robbery!

"Alang, is everything really okay?" Li Jilan, dressed in a white skirt, asked while holding Li Jiayou's arm. The two stood on the low city wall of Xiangyi City, watching the private soldiers coming in and out of the city, just like a vegetable market.

Even an outsider like Li Jilan can see that Li Jiayou's team currently has big problems. So as the person involved, why is Li Jiayou not worried at all?

Li Jilan didn't know about this kind of thing. Since she was humiliated in Bianzhou last time, she was abandoned by her old lover Yan Bojun. Fortunately, another old lover Li Jiayou didn't despise her, so Li Jilan naturally became Li Jiayou's woman.

Or it would be more appropriate to call her a woman who lives in the government office, or "house prostitute".

Anyway, she had no status and was not good at serving others. All she could do was to accompany Li Jiayou to attend social gatherings between scholars and writers, then recite poems and compose essays, and sleep with him at night after returning.

"If I didn't have a backup plan, would I do something so reckless?"

Li Jiayou smiled triumphantly and deliberately pinched Li Jilan's perky buttocks in front of Yan Bojun.

The latter pretended not to see it and continued to stare at the soldiers below the city wall.

What a mob indeed!
Yan Bojun cursed in his heart.

"Ah Lang, what's the back-up plan?"

Li Jilan asked curiously, her voice so soft and crisp that it seemed as if it would melt one's bones.

"Hey, it's okay to tell you.

Li Guangbi, who was in charge of the Hexi Army, had agreed to start an uprising and attack Bianzhou from Bozhou.

We are here just to lure the enemy."

Li Jiayou took out a letter from his pocket, waved it in front of Li Jilan, and continued with a sneer: "He has his own handwritten letter as proof!"

Li Jilan immediately recalled the day when she was humiliated by Fang Zhongyong and then molested by several soldiers. Although those people did not do it at the same time, it was an indelible nightmare.

"Ah Lang, I want to do it myself. You must give me a chance!"

Li Jilan said to Li Jiayou with gritted teeth.

"Okay, okay. By then, Fang Qing will be a pile of dried bones in a grave. You can do whatever you want to him!"

Li Jiayou said confidently.

Although the quality of Li Guangbi's elite soldiers is certainly not as good as that of the Silver Spear Filial Piety Army, they are also very combat-capable. Moreover, he is a famous general who is good at fighting. If he fights with Fang Zhongyong, he will not be at a disadvantage!
Besides, now is the time to "clean up the court", and when the time comes, we can still use Li Lin's name, and not many people will object. As long as Fang Zhongyong and his cronies are dealt with, it will be over.

"If you are righteous, you will have many supporters; if you are righteous, you will have few supporters. With the wealthy and powerful people in several states contributing money, manpower and effort, why should we worry about not accomplishing our great cause?"

Li Jiayou clenched his fists tightly, imagining what a wonderful scene it would be after he got rid of Fang Chongyong.

"Ah Lang... forget it."

Li Jilan wanted to say something, but in the end she stopped herself.

In her opinion, Lu Yu was a deep-minded person with good communication skills, but he was currently serving in the imperial court and was completely unwilling to participate in the mutiny. He even rejected Li Jiayou's "persuasion".

Li Jilan felt that the fact that Lu Yu was unwilling to get involved in this matter was enough to show that the risk was great. After all, Li Guangbi was not of the same kind as them. Even if he agreed to start a rebellion, would he really follow Li Jiayou as his leader after reaping the fruits of victory?

She felt that things might not be as smooth as Li Jiayou thought.

If Li Guangbi does not abide by martial ethics, what can a letter of guarantee prove?

"Coming, coming, coming!"

Yan Bojun suddenly pointed at a group of cavalry in the distance and shouted, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.

That was coming from the direction of Bozhou, which is southeast of Xiangyi County. Fang Zhongyong's troops would not come from here, and in this direction, there were only Li Guangbi and his Hexi Army.

Regular troops are different, so majestic!

Li Jilan couldn't help but have such thoughts in her mind. Although she was an amateur, she was not blind.

After a while, the cavalry team arrived at the gate.

At this moment, Li Jilan suddenly had an illusion, not knowing if she was thinking too much.

There seemed to be something wrong with this group of cavalrymen in armor and armed with sharp weapons.

It's too solemn.

"kill!"

Hao Tingyu, who was riding in the front, raised his lance and stabbed the private soldier closest to him to death!

The cavalry began to rush into the city gate and kill anyone they saw!

Soon, the private armies of the wealthy and powerful families who were lurking at the city gate were killed and scattered like birds and beasts!
Eh?
Li Jiayou, Li Jilan and Yan Bojun on the city wall were dumbfounded!

Aren't these reinforcements? They are flying under Li Guangbi's banner, so why are they killing their own people?
Li Jiayou was so frightened that he was shaking all over. He seemed not to realize what was happening at all. He also didn't know why Li Guangbi would completely deny what he had already agreed to.

"kill!"

The Hexi soldiers had already charged onto the city walls. Li Jiayou hid behind Li Jilan and shouted to the soldiers who were killing anyone they saw: "Don't kill me, I'm Li Jiayou, the governor of Songzhou!"

"I am Yan Bojun, the Sima of Songzhou!"

Yan Bojun on the side also came to his senses and shouted to the soldiers who were covered in blood.

At this moment, they all felt the approach of death.

"Catch him! Send him to see Marshal Li Jie!"

Hao Tingyu pointed at the two of them and said.

The two guards behind him quickly stepped forward and tied them up. They took them away, leaving Li Jilan shivering in the wind.

"Damn it, beauty is a disaster! Let's go together!"

Hao Tingyu stabbed Li Jilan in the abdomen with a knife, and then the beautiful woman fell in a pool of blood, with blood flowing all over the ground.

Li Jilan did not die immediately. Instead, the pain in her abdomen made her more conscious.

Why do you want to kill me?
I am so beautiful, why do you want to kill me?
These words echoed in Li Jilan's mind.

She heard distant voices of conversation receding.

"General Hao, why don't you keep that beauty and play with her slowly?"

It seemed that a personal soldier was asking.

"Keeping this bitch around will only ruin military discipline. What if the brothers start fighting over her?

It’s better to chop it off and let everyone stop thinking about raping women.

"Haven't you heard that the problem is not that there is a lack of wealth, but that there is an imbalance of wealth?"

Hao Tingyu rebuked righteously.

"General Hao is still righteous!"

The personal soldier beside him couldn't help but compliment him.

As these people walked further and further away, Li Jilan's life was slowly slipping away.

Why! Why kill me! What mistake have I made?

Li Jilan screamed desperately in her heart.

In fact, she didn't know that if she was in a house in the city at this moment, it is very likely that nothing would happen to her.

Perhaps Hao Tingyu killed her without any deep hatred.

Maybe, I just simply don't like it.

As for why he disliked her, perhaps it was just because Li Jilan was standing next to Li Jiayou.

In short, the soldiers control the force, and if there are no special restrictions, they will fight casually.

Killing someone by mistake is more common than eating or drinking.

Li Jiayou and Yan Bojun were brought before Li Guangbi, and the fighting in the city gradually subsided.

"search!"

Li Guangbi said calmly.

Soon, the guards found a "letter of guarantee" on the other party, which was written by Li Guangbi himself.

In front of Li Jiayou, Li Guangbi tore the letter into pieces.

"Behead the two men and send their heads to Kaifeng."

Li Guangbi turned his horse around and rode away. He seemed to be in a hurry to go to the next place.

"Li Guangbi, you are despicable and shameless!"

Li Jiayou, who was pinned to the ground and about to be beheaded, cursed at Li Guangbi's departing back, but the latter did not even bother to turn around.

(End of this chapter)