A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 990: When I first heard about the eunuchs' rebellion in Shu, the generals fought a hundred battles and died in conspiracy
December 9, the third year of Tongguang in the Later Tang Dynasty

In the Daliang Palace in Chang'an, Li Cunxu looked at the mountain of memorials, frowned, and asked the eunuch Xiang Yansi:
"Have any memorials been submitted from Shu in the past few days?"

"Yes, a few days ago, the King of Wei sent several letters to the emperor, saying that the Xia Kingdom took advantage of the war between the Tang Dynasty and the Shu Kingdom to seize the land that should belong to us."

"Request to send troops to conquer and recover Shannan West Road, Tongzhou and other places, and include the necessity of Tongzhou."

While listening to Xiang Yansi's explanation, Li Cunxu looked at the military appendix in his hand and asked pointedly:

"This is not the King of Wei's own opinion, right? He is not capable enough to write such a detailed military plan."

Xiang Yansi did not dare to comment on the prince's behavior casually, so he did not dare to speak. Li Cunxu's face turned serious and he scolded sternly:
"The one who delivered the message was a eunuch beside the King of Wei. Don't think I don't know that you eunuchs are the most talkative and well-informed in private. You must have learned some secrets from the visitor. I ask you to speak."

Xiang Yansi was frightened by Li Cunxu and immediately knelt on the ground and told everything he knew like pouring beans.

Including Guo Chongtao who moved into the home of the surrendered minister Wang Zongbi in Shu and amassed a huge amount of money, so that many women and treasures that originally belonged to Wang Yan were transferred to him by Wang Zongbi.

Later, Li Jiji sent people to ask Wang Yan for money to reward the troops, but Wang Yan could not hand over enough money.

"I heard from Xiao Huanzi that once General Guo asked the King of Wei to let him stay as the governor of Shu, but the King of Wei refused. Since then, their relationship has deteriorated and they hardly see each other for several days."

When Li Cunxu heard this, his eyebrows jumped inadvertently, and then returned to normal.

"How can we get things done if the commander and generals are not in harmony? It just so happens that I also want to summon Guo Chongtao back to ask him how to deal with the Xia Kingdom."

"Well, you immediately bring my edict and order Guo Chongtao to return to the court. Explain to him that at this stage, our Tang Dynasty has just conquered Shu and the soldiers are very tired. It is not appropriate to send troops. Wait for him to come back and discuss it carefully."

"The slaves obey."

Just as Xiang Yansi was about to get up, he did not hear the voice allowing him to get up, so he put his head on the ground, waiting for orders.

"Do you know what else needs to be done besides announcing the decree?"

"I am stupid and don't know."

"Stupid, during this period, observe for me whether Guo Chongtao really has the intention to rebel, and tell me when you come back, got it?"

"I will obey your command."

"Hmph, get up, there's no time to lose, let's go now."

"Yes, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will take my leave. May Your Majesty be in good health."

"get out."

December 14
Xiang Yansi, the angel sent by Li Cunxu to Shu to announce the imperial edict, arrived in Chengdu.

Because the conflict between Guo Chongtao and the eunuchs around the King of Wei had reached a fever pitch these days, he also did not look kindly upon the eunuchs who were sent by Li Cunxu to announce the imperial edict.

So not only did he not go to the suburbs to greet him according to etiquette, but after receiving the imperial edict, he directly asked Xiang Yansi to leave without giving him a chance to speak.

Xiang Yansi was angry about Guo Chongtao's actions. At this time, the eunuch Li Congxi of the King of Wei added fuel to the fire:

"Father, you don't know how rampant Guo Chongtao is in Shu. The King of Wei is a prince and the eldest son of your Majesty. He will be the master of the country in the future, but Lord Guo holds all the power and does not take the King of Wei seriously."

"A few days ago, he sent someone to ask the King of Wei to make him the chief of Shu. His son Guo Tinghui even has many people around him, and his manners are just like the prince's."

"Moreover, all the generals in the army are now on Guo Chongtao's side. They only know Guo's orders, but not Wang's orders."

"The King of Wei is alone and has little power to protect himself. If he orders Guo Chongtao to return, it will probably lead to chaos, and we won't know where our bodies will be."

After saying this, the two of them shed tears facing each other.

The next day, Xiang Yansi saw no one and rode back to Chang'an at full speed.

After returning to Chang'an, Xiang Yansi complained to Li Cunxu, exaggerating that he was in a tiger's den in Chengdu and was afraid that he would lose his head the next day. This showed what kind of environment the King of Wei was in. When he heard this, Empress Liu, who was beside Li Cunxu, was frightened and cried and begged Li Cunxu to find a way to save her son Li Jiji.

Li Cunxu was annoyed, angry, and worried by the two people's crying. He slammed the table and stood up, veins popping out, and shouted loudly, "How dare you."

After saying this, he turned away, leaving Empress Liu crying on the table.

Fortunately, Li Cunxu did not immediately believe what the eunuch said, but wanted to wait a little longer. After all, Guo Chongtao was an old man around him and would not rebel so quickly.

The first month of the fourth year of Tang Tongguang

Li Cunxu was really annoyed by Empress Liu, so he summoned the eunuch Ma Yangui and ordered him to rush to Shu to investigate whether Guo Chongtao had returned.

If you want to return, then that's fine. But if you intend to delay your stay, then stay in Shu and work with Li Jiji to get rid of him.

Ma Yangui did not set out immediately after receiving the order, because he had heard that Shu was a den of dragons and tigers, and Guo Chongtao regarded the eunuchs as his enemies and wished to kill them all.

So he came before Empress Liu and said:
"If a disaster strikes, it will happen in an instant. How can we have time to ask the emperor for an order from thousands of miles away? If so, the king will be in danger."

When Empress Liu heard this, she panicked and went to talk to Li Cunxu again.

Li Cunxu was not a tyrant, and he would never hand over the life of a general to a eunuch, so he refused explicitly.

When Empress Liu saw that Li Cunxu was unwilling to order the killing of Guo Chongtao, she was eager to save her son and personally wrote an order and asked Ma Yangui to give it to Li Jiji, asking him to kill Guo Chongtao first.

The 18th day of the first lunar month

When Ma Yangui arrived in Chengdu, he saw that Guo Chongtao had not yet left, so he went straight to see King Wei Li Jiji.

But what he didn't know was that Guo Chongtao had already shown signs of returning to the capital, and the reason he was delaying action was simply because Shu had just been pacified and there were many bandits in the mountains and forests.

The newly appointed Shu garrison commander, Meng Zhixiang, had not yet taken office, and the Xia army was eyeing Tongzhou covetously.

Guo Chongtao had no choice but to postpone his return and send troops to different places to pacify the people and take away the military power of the former Shu generals.

He was afraid that once he returned, the area would be in chaos again.

Moreover, when Ma Yangui arrived, Guo Chongtao had already set the date for departure and arranged for generals to stay behind and wait for Meng Zhixiang to take office.

The twenty-third day of the first lunar month
Li Jiji, who was originally willing to execute Guo Chongtao according to the Queen's order, was inevitably shaken by the crying of Ma Yangui, Li Congxi and others.

Moreover, in order to strengthen Li Jiji's ideology, Li Congxi and others deliberately created trouble to make Guo Chongtao offend Li Jiji, and then instigated him.

After all, Li Jiji was young and inexperienced, so he couldn't help but stand on their side.

On this day, Li Congxi summoned Guo Chongtao to discuss matters in the name of Li Jiji.

Guo Chongtao did not suspect anything and came alone. Li Jiji could not bear it and went upstairs to hide.

After the target entered the hall, the ambush troops arranged by Li Congxi on the left and right came out together and smashed Guo Chongtao's head with blunt weapons.

Guo Chongtao died.

Not only that, Li Congxi also sent people to various places to capture and kill Guo Chongtao's sons.

January 24th
Of Guo Chongtao's five sons, two died in Shu, and the other three were killed elsewhere, and all their property was confiscated.

Li Jiji went up to the tent to discuss the matter. He showed the Queen's decree, declared Guo Chongtao a traitor, and took control of the military power as the commander-in-chief and the commander-in-chief.

The twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month
Li Jiji returned with his troops.

(End of this chapter)