Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 534 Assassination
When Chen Qingsi received the news of Li Zhi's death, he was in Shanzhou and was rushing towards Chang'an.

When he learned that Li Zhi had passed away, he was completely stunned.

Chen Qingsi had the thoughts of later generations, which meant that he could not be like the people of this era, who were so loyal and loyal that if the king wanted his subjects to die, they had to die. In this era, that was a praiseworthy story, but in Chen Qingsi's eyes, it was extremely stupid.

But it did not prevent him from being grateful to Li Zhi for his kindness...

In this era, people paid attention to their family background. Even in order to suppress the big families like the Five Surnames of Guandong, the ones who were given important positions were the second-rate noble families and commoners. It was extremely difficult for real common people to get promoted.

Only an emperor like Li Zhi, who would do anything to achieve his goals, who didn't care about his family background or status, and who only wanted to use him when it was convenient for him, could use him so recklessly.

Chen Qingsi’s current success is certainly due to his own abilities and advanced vision, but it is also inseparable from Li Zhi’s extraordinary use of him.

Therefore, although Chen Qingsi knew that Li Zhi was not a king like Goujian who would hide his bow after all the birds were gone, nor was he an emperor who could share wealth and honor, he did not care too much. On the one hand, he knew that Li Zhi's methods were indeed sinister, but he was not a bloodthirsty person. As long as he did not violate taboos like Zhangsun Wuji, his life would be guaranteed. The worst outcome would be to stay away from the center and serve as a local governor in other places.

Of course, this was not Chen Qingsi’s own plan. He still wanted to do something after Li Zhi died.

But when Li Zhi really died suddenly, Chen Qingsi couldn't help feeling a little sad.

After calming down, Chen Qingsi looked at Zhou Kui who came to intercept him and asked, "Tell me the details of the situation in the capital..."

Li Zhi had already died of illness, so there was no need for him to rush back to see him for the last time.

Moreover, according to Zhang Jianzhi's analysis, Li Zhi did not issue an obituary immediately after his death, which obviously meant that he was plotting something. There would be no point in going back early or late, so it would be better to understand the situation first.

"We can start with Empress Wu's story. We are not in a hurry!"

Chen Qingsi had just received the news that Empress Wu had been put into cold storage and Li Yifu had been executed. He was happy about this, thinking that the three great detectives were indeed amazing. With just such trivial evidence, they were able to uncover Li Yifu and even bring down Empress Wu.

Chen Qingsi naturally didn't know that the one who really dealt with Empress Wu was none other than Li Zhi.

Chen Qingsi relied on his own "foresight", while Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi took an open-book exam and knew the answers early on.

However, Li Zhi detected the problem through his sense of smell.

The reports from Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi just filled in Li Zhi's doubts, and he was able to quickly resolve the matter and handle it in a low-key manner.

After listening to Zhou Kui's story of how Di Renjie, Xu Yougong and Su Wuming unraveled the mystery, Chen Qingsi could not help but secretly smack his lips. The thoughts and logical reasoning of these three people were indeed different from those of ordinary people and could be of great use.

Next is the situation in the court before and after Li Zhi's death...

Chen Qingsi immediately judged that there was a problem with this will: it made some sense for him, Pei Yan, and Li Jingxuan to assist the new emperor in governing the country and check and balance each other, but there were serious problems with the selection of candidates.

Needless to say, Chen Qingsi had no objection to this.

In terms of civil and military affairs, who can surpass him except Li Ji who is far away in the Western Regions?
Judging from the speed at which Li Zhi changed prime ministers, his prestige and connections in the court as a Shangshu were truly unmatched by many prime ministers.

Just like when he had a head-on confrontation with Prime Minister Zhang Wenguan, if Li Zhi had not stepped in to give both of them a beating, Zhang Wenguan might not have gotten any benefits.

The main targets of the civil service system are the descendants of nobles who are just sitting there doing nothing but eating and drinking, and the officials who have been in the system for more than ten years or even decades without getting promoted and are lazy and idle in their work. These people either have a certain background or have been in the system for a long time and have more or less some connections.

If Zhang Wenguan did not have the support of the Qingliu faction, he would not have been able to carry out his plan to take action against this group of people.

To put it bluntly, if Chen Qingsi is really determined to go against Zhang Wenguan and stand with those nobles and old officials, Zhang Wenguan will have to step down, not to mention governing the country.

Although Chen Qingsi is not the prime minister, his connections in the court and his prestige in the army are unmatched.

He deserves the title of assisting the new emperor.

Pei Yan is also reasonable. In terms of achievements, he is not ranked first, but he has been a close minister beside Li Zhi since he entered the government, the one closest to the emperor. In recent years, Li Zhi also wanted to promote him, giving him a lot of power, and letting him serve as an assistant minister, which is barely acceptable.

But who is Li Jingxuan?
Once the fourth in command of the Eastern Palace?
His rise was due to the fact that Zhang Wenguan was killed by Li Zhi, and Dai Zhide, the second-in-command, was ordered to take charge of the transportation of grain and grass by land and water, and was not in Chang'an. He also used his own means to force Xiao Dezhao to retreat, and only then did he temporarily assist Li Hong in managing the administrative secrets of the Eastern Palace as the top leader.

Li Zhi wanted to choose a regent, not a prime minister, not someone of high moral character and prestige. Why did he choose this thing?

Chen Qingsi didn't believe it. Even if Li Zhi was terminally ill and lacked certain judgment ability, he would not choose Li Jingxuan.

Even if the demoted Zhang Wenguan was recalled, it would be more reliable than choosing Li Jingxuan.

"Li Jingxuan!"

Chen Qingsi whispered the man's name, and a feeling of disgust arose spontaneously. This guy had nothing else but liked to stand on the moral high ground to criticize others. He himself was nothing.

"Zilong!"

He read Pei Yan's calligraphy again.

Since there were problems with Li Zhi's will, Pei Yan could not have stayed out of it. As another minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor, he must have been involved.

"Tell me, do the two of them intend to kill me?"

Chen Qingsi suddenly asked Zhou Kui. Zhou Kui thought for a moment and said, "Pei Yan is not sure, but Li Jingxuan is certain. He is the most radical. When the Lord was fighting with Zhang Wenguan, he was the most radical and slandered the Lord many times. If the Lord had not asked us to handle the matter in the court, the court would have solved it. Not to mention the subordinates, even the bad commander would have been unable to resist and taught him a lesson."

Chen Qingsi nodded silently and said, "The affairs of the court involve power, which is more dangerous and unpredictable than the martial arts world. I don't think they will show mercy. Now that they have given this path, I think there will be resistance. In this case, the only one who can give them resistance is the prince, the current emperor."

He thought for a moment and said, "In that case, let's return to Chang'an as victims."

As he said this, he looked at Zhou Kui and said, "Go and plan an assassination. It doesn't have to be successful, and no one has to die. Just create chaos and shoot an arrow in my direction."

Zhou Kui said: "I understand!"

Chang'an, Chengqian Palace.

Li Hong has ascended the throne as emperor...

A country cannot be without a king for a day, and the world cannot be without a master for a day.

Whenever kings died in office, the succession ceremony of the new king was always very hasty. He would ascend the throne directly in front of the coffin without any special ceremony.

Li Hong had no time to feel sad. As a new emperor, he had too many things to do. How to appease the old ministers left over from the previous dynasty and how to promote the officials of the Eastern Palace were all top priorities.

What's more, they are still fighting against the Arab Empire in the Western Regions, and Li Hong also has to calm the hearts of the soldiers on the front line.

The Arab Empire was no ordinary opponent. In this struggle of competing in national strength and environment, they would use every possible means.

Once they knew that the Tang Dynasty had a new emperor and the political situation had changed, they would inevitably take advantage of this issue to make a fuss.

A new emperor has new ministers. If the troops are not appeased in advance, the morale of the army will inevitably be affected, leading to unnecessary losses.

Li Hong had been the crown prince for many years and had served as regent many times, so he was familiar with these basics.

Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan were also quite capable, and the basic base left by Li Zhi was still there. Although Li Hong was busy, everything was in order.

On this day, Li Hong was discussing state affairs with Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan.

As two regent ministers, Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan were full of vigor and vitality.

When Chen Qingsi was not around, their words took precedence in the court.

However, in front of Li Hong, Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan were very cautious and did not show any arrogance at all.

Li Hong knew exactly how they came to be ministers. His father's dying will only allowed Chen Qingsi to assist in the administration, Pei Yan was appointed to assist Chen Qingsi, and Li Jingxuan was not even mentioned.

Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan did not dare to put on airs in front of Li Hong.

Li Hong was quite satisfied as he looked at the two people who were working hard to display their abilities in front of him.

Li Hong initially intended to follow Li Zhi's will. He also had a good impression of Chen Qingsi, knowing that he was a rare talent in a thousand years, and that he had made an indelible contribution to the Tang Dynasty. It was his honor to have such a person assist him in governing the country.

Li Hong's kindness also made him not as suspicious as his father Li Zhi, and he always thought the best of people.

But just after Li Zhi died of illness, Li Hong was persuaded again and again by Li Jingxuan.

Li Jingxuan used the examples of Yi Yin, Zhou Gongdan, Huo Guang, and even Wang Mang to prove his point.

Yi Yin was a famous prime minister in ancient times, but he pioneered the practice of exiling kings, as did Duke Zhou. As for Huo Guang, he single-handedly led the dethronement and enthronement of the emperor...

Not to mention Wang Mang, who directly pushed the Han Dynasty to destruction. If it were not for Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, who continued his life, the Han Dynasty might have been extinct.

Although Li Hong respected Chen Qingsi, Li Jingxuan had been a close minister in the Eastern Palace for ten years, so there was still a difference in their views on closeness and distance.

What's more, Li Hong is a benevolent man, and his mentality will change to a certain extent after he becomes emperor.

Who would like to be an emperor and still be controlled by others and have to look at other people's faces?
There is a difference between actively listening to advice and passively listening to advice, so just acquiesce.

It's not that he didn't trust Chen Qingsi, but he felt that Chen Qingsi had Pei Yan and Li Jingxuan to restrain him, which would make it easier for him to control the government.

Just then, a man came hurriedly to report.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Chen was assassinated on Suzaku Street!"

This news was like a bolt from the blue, shaking the sky above Chengqian Palace.

Li Hong was so shocked that he stood up suddenly, then glared at Li Jingxuan.

Pei Yan, who was standing aside, was also furious and looked at Li Jingxuan with disbelief and anger.

Li Jingxuan was at a loss, with a somewhat flustered look on his face, and said: "Your Majesty, I am not a subject, I am really not a subject."

(End of this chapter)