People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1620: Under the Chang'an City, interrogating Ma Sizong
Throughout Chang'an City, countless eyes fell on Ma Sizong at that moment.

He was in a disarray and his steps were staggering.

The collar of his shirt was already torn and stained with something that might have been blood or dirt.

There were also bruises on his face.

His face was pale and he looked like he hadn't eaten for several days.

This was indeed the case. Ma Sizong had no strength at all when walking.

As he moved forward, he relied entirely on the rope that was being pulled by someone.

Even his mouth was tightly blocked with sackcloth, so he couldn't utter a word.

Finally, we arrived in front of the late emperor’s mausoleum.

……

Xue Guwu stood on Chunming Gate, looking at the unfortunate Ma Sizong, and wanted to issue an order to send people to snatch him back. However, looking at the hesitation of the soldiers on the left and right guards under the city, he knew that if he asked these people to charge at Li Xuan and the late emperor's mourning shed at this time, their morale would probably collapse before they could even move forward.

Li Xuan kicked Ma Sizong hard on the back, making him kneel down in front of Emperor Gaozong's spirit tablet.

Li Xuan raised his head calmly, looked at the countless soldiers in and out of Chang'an City, and spoke calmly.

His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by every soldier.

"The former Right Guard General Ma Sizong was promoted from Right Guard General to Left Jinwu Guard General on May 15th of the first year of Emperor Zhongzong's reign. According to the Tang Dynasty system, one cannot be promoted to General without great merit.

Ma Sizong, today, in front of the spirit of the late emperor, you come and tell me, on May 15th, why did you get promoted directly from the general of the Right Guard to the general of the Left Jinwu Guard?" Li Xuan said, and all the soldiers' eyes were focused on Ma Sizong.

Being granted a title of nobility or becoming a general has always been the greatest pursuit of all men in the army.

Ma Sizong served as the General of the Left Jinwu Guard for many years and had been guarding Chang'an all the time, but he did not have many military achievements.

In addition, he was born into the Buyeo tribe of Baekje, so it was difficult for him to move up.

It was because of his more than ten years of experience and the vacancy of the chief general in the army that Emperor Gaozong promoted him to the rank of General of the Right Guard.

To be honest, it has only been a few years, but suddenly he was promoted to the rank of General of the Left Jinwu Guard.

I am afraid that my brothers are not living well, but I am also afraid that they are living too well.

Everyone is childish to be jealous.

Ma Sizong was promoted from General of the Right Guard to General of the Left Jinwu Guard, which made him the envy of countless men in the army at that time.

There are also many sour words among them.

But no one will think much about it, because throughout history, the winners become kings and the losers become bandits.

Ma Sizong was already the Grand General of the Left Jinwu Guard and a close confidant of the Empress, so others did not want to offend him too much.

But today, Li Xuan's light words directly revealed the secret of Ma Sizong's promotion to general.

On May 15th of last year, Emperor Zhongzong suddenly passed away, and Ma Sizong took the opportunity to be promoted to the general of the Left Jinwu Guard.

Anyone can guess what role he played in this.

The soldiers under the city of Chang'an looked at Ma Sizong with eyes full of disdain and contempt, while the soldiers behind Li Xuan looked at Ma Sizong with eyes full of anger and dissatisfaction.

Why, why.

Why were they ordered to fight in the front of the army, while a villain like him was able to rise to prominence in the rear?
Why?
Endless anger was gathering madly.

Countless gazes fell on Ma Sizong like swords.

At this time, Li Xuan raised his head and his eyes fell on Xue Guwu on the city gate.

Xue Guwu suddenly felt a chill all over his body.

He had a feeling that once he fell into King Peng's hands, he would probably suffer the same fate.

But fortunately, Xue Guwu was only promoted from the General of the Right Jinwu Guard to the General of the Left Qianniu Guard.

That’s all. From the third rank to the third rank, with his qualifications, it is still enough.

Li Xuan smiled gently, and with this smile, Xue Guwu's face suddenly became extremely ugly.

He had a feeling that one day in the future, he would face Li Xuan's questioning directly like Ma Sizong today, Wang Xiaojie and Fan Yunxian the day before yesterday.

……

Li Xuan lowered his head and looked at Ma Sizong, his expression suddenly becoming sad.

With a "bang", Li Xuan kicked Ma Sizong hard on the back.

With a "thump", Ma Sizong fell heavily to the ground.

On the cold ground, Ma Sizong only felt a force rushing straight to his throat.

"Oh!" All of a sudden, the smelly linen cloth that was blocking his mouth was spit out.

For a moment, Ma Sizong felt a lot more relaxed. The next moment, he turned his head and looked at Li Xuan with resentment in his eyes.

He also looked at the entire Chang'an city behind him.

Emperor Gaozong's mourning pavilion was located west and faced east.

Ma Sizong knelt toward the spirit tablet of Emperor Gaozong in the mourning shed, but his back was actually facing the city of Chang'an.

As soon as he turned around, he saw Xue Guwu on the Jinguan Gate.

Xue Guwu noticed Ma Sizong's gaze and shook his head slightly.

Now, although Li Xuan led his troops to the outside of Chang'an City, the two sides did not formally fight after all. Li Xuan's army did not even get close to Chang'an City, and the soldiers did not have a strong desire to charge.

In addition, Li Xuan placed the spirit tablet of Emperor Gaozong.

Although he was just riding on a horse, the grief and anger in his heart silently infected the entire army.

Facing the spirit tablet of Emperor Gaozong, no one dared to charge forward in full view of the crowd.

After all, Emperor Gaozong reigned for more than thirty-four years, and his prestige awe-inspiring throughout the world.

Especially in Chang'an City.

The people of Chang'an and the Sixteen Guards guarding the Chang'an Road were all deeply immersed in the imperial power and majesty of Emperor Gaozong.

Now that Li Xuan has displayed the spirit tablet of Emperor Gaozong, anyone who acts rashly before the next matter is clarified will inevitably be condemned by the public.

Although Xue Guwu and Ma Sizong share the same stance, their relationship is not that good.

Li Xuan turned around, looked at the mourning shed, and said softly: "Please bring the portrait of the late emperor."...

"Please bring the portrait of the late emperor." A thunderous voice resounded between heaven and earth.

In the eyes of Xue Guwu and the soldiers in Chang'an City, a six-foot-tall portrait of Emperor Gaozong was carried out from the back by four Qianniu Guards.

Li Xuan rode his horse slightly back and watched calmly as Li Zhi's portrait was carried into the mourning shed.

Li Xuan glanced at the extremely surprised Ma Sizong, then turned to look at Xue Guwu on the Jinming Gate of Chang'an City, and said calmly: "Don't be surprised. This portrait of the late emperor was allowed by Emperor Zhongzong, and I painted it myself, and then Emperor Zhongzong stamped it with the emperor's seal for me to use in Luoshui and the Western Regions to worship the late emperor and pray for him. Everyone in Fanzhou and Luoshui Road knows it."

The corner of Ma Sizong's mouth twitched slightly.

He always knew that Li Xuan had a very good relationship with Emperor Zhongzong, but he never thought it was so good.

That is the portrait of the late emperor!

With such a portrait of the previous emperor, as long as Emperor Zhongzong is in power, no one in the northwest can shake Li Xuan's position.

Li Xuan said calmly: "I saw it, General Ma, so, seeing the portrait of the late emperor, why don't you kowtow and kneel down in worship!"

"Bow and kneel!" Countless soldiers behind the mourning shed shouted at the same time, and the heavy pressure was directly pressed on Ma Sizong.

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. Under Li Xuan's cold gaze, Ma Sizong could only kowtow solemnly: "Your Ma Sizong, I kowtow to the late emperor. May the late emperor live forever."

"I bow to the late emperor, and wish him a long life."

Countless soldiers behind the mourning shed shouted at the same time, then all half-knelt on the ground and kowtowed solemnly.

Li Xuan raised his head and looked towards the city gate, his eyes fixed on Xue Guwu like swords.

A hint of amusement flashed across Xue Guwu's lips. He always knew that Li Xuan was good at playing with people's hearts, but so what.

Even if he had the portrait of Emperor Gaozong in his hand, could he still rely on the portrait of Emperor Zhongzong to command the Sixteen Guards of Chang'an?

A "thump" sound came from the front left.

Xue Guwu looked up blankly, and then saw a captain of the Right Guard half-kneeling on the ground, then kowtowed solemnly and said: "Your servant, Su Qi, the captain of the Right Guard, is deeply blessed by the late emperor. Today I kowtow to the late emperor, and wish the late emperor a long life."

Xue Guwu's expression changed instantly.

Before he could do anything, more Right Guard Captains, team leaders, and even ordinary soldiers all knelt down and kowtowed at the same time, saying, "We kowtow to the late emperor. May the late emperor live forever."

Xue Guwu gritted his teeth immediately, Right Guard, Right Guard.

The most numerous troops in Chang'an City today are the Right Guards.

Even though Ma Sizong had served as the General of the Right Guard, his prestige among the Right Guard was far less than that of Li Xuan.

Not to mention that he was later transferred to the position of General of the Left Jinwu Guard. Even if he had some close confidants in the Right Guard, they were all transferred out.

This is also the reason why the Right Guard mobilized the least troops in the expeditions to the east and west.

The five thousand Right Guards guarded the city of Chang'an, but now it seems that they have become a hidden danger to the city of Chang'an.

"I bow to the late emperor, may he live forever." The voice came from Xue Guwu's right side.

Xue Guwu couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth and looked over subconsciously.

That's the direction of the left guard.

How could Xue Guwu not understand?

Emperor Gaozong reigned for more than 30 years, and the government was clean and orderly. Even though there were occasional setbacks, the future would soon become bright.

Over the years, Emperor Gaozong implemented the imperial examination system, suppressed the aristocratic families, and promoted the poor. Countless people have directly or indirectly received the favor of Emperor Gaozong.

Especially during the years of Emperor Gaozong, the reign title would be changed every three or two years.

When a new era comes, either a general amnesty is declared or taxes are reduced or exempted.

Therefore, Emperor Gaozong was posthumously named the Great Emperor, and there was no objection among the court and the public.

Now, when Emperor Gaozong's mourning hall and his portrait appeared, especially when it was allowed by Emperor Zhongzong and even had a seal on it, countless people could not help but kneel down.

They were not worried that Li Xuan would attack Chang'an City at this moment, because across from them,
More and more soldiers outside the city knelt down, except for the left and right gate guards on the city wall.

It’s not because they have no feelings for Emperor Gaozong, but because that is his duty.

When guarding the city gates, they did not need to kneel even if the emperor himself was present.

Perhaps it was because of this that Xue Guwu felt more and more that everyone’s hearts were surging.

……

Li Xuan was still riding on his horse. He glanced at Xue Guwu, then looked at Ma Sizong calmly and said, "Ma Sizong, I have a copy of the late emperor's will in my hand. You should know about this."

Ma Sizong immediately looked up with horror in his eyes.

Li Xuan, Pei Xingjian, Pei Yan, and Su Liangsi, each of them had a copy of the late emperor's will in their hands, the purpose of which was to check and balance each other.

Even Li Xuan and Pei Xingjian, one was sent to the Western Regions and the other returned to Yangzhou.

The two people, one in the east and one in the west, balance the world.

There were also Pei Yan and Su Liangsi in the court.

The four of them worked together to consolidate the world.

The four edicts were the key that the late emperor left for them to use to check and balance each other.

No one knows what is actually written in these edicts.

Even they themselves don't know.

No one has even seen these wills.

In Pei Yan's hands and Su Liangsi's hands, it is not even certain whether these wills are still in their hands.

Now, Ma Sizong finally heard the news of such a will.

……

Li Xuan waved his hands back calmly.

Qiu Zhenmu, dressed in black clothes and black armor, rode up from behind, holding a sandalwood box solemnly in his hand.

Li Xuan took the box from Qiu Zhenmu calmly, then raised his head calmly and said, "Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince, General of the Right Guard, today I am here in compliance with the will of Emperor Gaozong to question Ma Sizong, the then General of the Right Guard."

Li Xuan lowered his head and looked at Ma Sizong: "I ask you, are you willing to tell the truth?"

(End of this chapter)