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

Chapter 1625: Three Rules, Chang'an Elders

The sun sets and the sky turns dark.

Liu Rengui walked towards the Jinguan Gate step by step. Liang Xing, the guard of the Jinguan Gate, immediately bowed and then stepped back several steps.

Liu Rengui nodded gently and walked step by step to the city gate.

Standing beside the women's wall, Liu Rengui looked up outside the city wall.

Tens of thousands of cavalrymen dressed in white linen mourning clothes stopped calmly less than thirty feet away from the city gate. The catapults, crossbows and crossbow carts in the rear were aimed at the top of the city.

Under the city wall, the guards who originally relied on the city wall for defense have returned to the barracks under the leadership of their generals and lieutenant generals.

There are now less than 20,000 people guarding the entire Chang'an city, not to mention the North Gate Imperial Guards which cannot be mobilized by anyone.

Under this circumstance, taking into account Li Xuan's years of preparation in Chang'an City, as long as he wanted, he could step into Chang'an City in one step.

Liu Rengui couldn't help but look towards Luoyang.

After Emperor Gaozong was buried, Empress Wu stayed in Chang'an for only two months at most before returning to Luoyang in a hurry.

It was said that it was for the burial of Emperor Zhongzong, but Liu Rengui knew in his heart that, after all, Empress Wu still felt unsafe in Chang'an.

It's not safe in Taiji Palace.

Although the Taiji Palace and the Ziwei Palace are of the same area, there is a palace every three steps and a pavilion every five steps in the Taiji Palace. The number of pavilions and towers, as well as the number of palace maids and eunuchs in the palace are far beyond what the Ziwei Palace can compare to.

During the decades since Wu Zetian became the empress, she spent more time in the Daming Palace than in the Taiji Palace.

The palace maids in Taiji Palace included those from the reign of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong. The personnel were so complicated that only the emperor could deal with them.

It was simply impossible for Empress Wu to rule the country alone.

In comparison, Ziwei Palace is much simpler.

All the palace maids, both inside and outside the palace, have served her for many years and know her almost inside and out. It is impossible for her to be restless day and night.

There is also the story of Cheng Chubi.

Cheng Chubi's opposition to Li Dan's succession to the throne and his request to retire greatly shocked Empress Wu.

Among the imperial guards of Taiji Palace, they had been stationed in Chang'an for many years and had been targeted by too many people.

It's so unsafe here.

It was precisely because of this that after Empress Wu took Li Dan away, Chang'an gradually ceased to be the center of the world.

Most of the defending generals in Chang'an City were not trusted by Empress Wu, so when something happened, they would not try their best for her.

In addition to the Chang'an aristocratic families, officials, and royal family members, countless hands reached out to the Sixteen Guards of Chang'an.

Xue Guwu, a man of foreign origin, had no way of controlling the Sixteen Guards of Chang'an.

As long as Li Xuan is more determined, he can capture Chang'an City by attacking the Sixteen Guards head-on.

……

Looking at Li Xuan, who was still holding the late emperor's will and was guarded by countless soldiers, Liu Rengui's expression became solemn.

He never knew that the content of the late emperor's last will to Li Xuan was like that.

The Grand Marshal was in charge of the military power of the whole country.

This is too exaggerated.

But if you think about it carefully, such a will is the most appropriate one in the current situation.

Liu Rengui could only sigh in his heart.

Looking at Li Xuan under the city, Liu Rengui, who was dressed in purple robes, nodded: "King Peng."

"Left Prime Minister!" Li Xuan, sitting on his horse, raised his head and looked at Liu Rengui solemnly: "Left Prime Minister, how is General Xue?"

"He was ambushed just after crossing the middle street. Except for himself, all the other personal soldiers were killed." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan with a complicated expression.

Although he was cursing Xue Guwu as a fool in his heart, Li Xuan's arrangements in Chang'an City showed that he had foreseen many things a long time ago.

"Okay, there are still many things that we need to ask General Xue about." Li Xuan glanced at Yun Hongyin sideways, and Yun Hongyin bowed and nodded.

Although the truth about Li Xian's death had been revealed to the world, Ma Sizong's sudden suicide in the end hid the last and most fatal part.

That’s good. Xue Guwu is still here, and Li Xuan can still ask him about many things.

Of course, you have to choose a good place.

"General Xue has been captured, and there is naturally no problem with Prince Peng entering the capital." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan solemnly and said, "But even if Prince Peng enters the capital as the Grand Marshal, he still needs to abide by the court system."

"Of course. I have no intention of causing chaos in Chang'an." Li Xuan nodded slightly.

Liu Rengui and other officials and generals guarding Chang'an were actually afraid that Li Xuan would become the second Dong Zhuo.

By then, the soldiers will wreak havoc on Chang'an City, Li Xuan will cause chaos in the government, and in the end the world will inevitably be in chaos.

"Very good." Liu Rengui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Prince Peng is entering the capital as the Grand Commandant, and the number of guards entering the capital shall not exceed 500 people."

There are sixteen guards in Chang'an. Even if Li Xuan completely controlled the sixteen guards, the number would not exceed eight thousand. Not to mention, he could control far less than that.

"Other guards can be included, but Qianniu Guard and Jinwu Guard are not included. In addition, the Imperial Guards also need to be rectified. If the Left Prime Minister agrees, it will be fine." Li Xuan looked at Liu Rengui calmly.

There are at least several thousand Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards in Chang'an City. If someone controls Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards, they can compete with Li Xuan in the city.

Even in some special cases, the opponent could directly use the Sixteen Guards to attack him, which was something Li Xuan did not want to see.

As for the imperial guards, the role they played in the process of Li Xian's dethronement was very disgraceful.

Once Li Xuan enters Chang'an City, he will have to purge the imperial guards, and it is inevitable that more of his men will join the imperial guards.

Otherwise, he wouldn't mind disbanding the entire imperial guard. "Okay." Liu Rengui finally nodded.

In fact, the backbone of Chang'an's imperial guards had been drained after Empress Wu went to Luoyang.

The rest actually couldn't cause any waves.

"This is the first chapter of the agreement. If the Left Prime Minister and my colleagues have anything else to say, please speak up now." Li Xuan looked at Liu Rengui calmly.

"Prince Peng can make adjustments to military affairs on his own, but regarding all matters of state, he needs to discuss with us." Liu Rengui stared at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan smiled bitterly. He knew that Liu Rengui's words were intended to test Li Xuan's intentions.

After all, Li Xuan controls an army of 100,000 in Chang'an City. If he really wants to reform Sun and Moon, I'm afraid no one can stop him.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "The Crown Prince will ascend the throne in Yangzhou. No matter when Luoyang is pacified, the Crown Prince will rush back to Chang'an as quickly as possible, and then hold a coronation ceremony on the first day of next year. At that time, the Emperor will ascend the throne and execute major events. The Political Affairs Hall will take charge of state affairs, and the six ministries, nine temples and five prisons will run the country. Is that ok?"

"It's basically okay, but the details need to be discussed again to avoid a repeat of the Guangzhai disaster." Liu Rengui nodded with extreme vigilance.

Crown Prince Li Chongzhao was young, so naturally Empress Wei had to rule the country from behind the scenes.

Li Xuan's approach is still the same as that left by Emperor Gaozong.

The Council of State and the Emperor were in charge of state affairs. If there were any undecided matters on major issues, they would be resolved under the order of the Empress Dowager.

"Cancel the regency. As for the undecided matters, after all the departments have discussed it, we can invite the empress dowager to attend the court." Li Xuan nodded calmly.

The power of Wei to rule behind the scenes was abolished, and Wei would only be invited to make the decision when other departments were undecided.

Once it is decided, invite Wei back to the court.

"Let's discuss it again. I'm afraid Wei won't agree." Liu Rengui shook his head helplessly.

This was already the case with Empress Wu, not to mention the Jingzhao Wei family behind Empress Wei, which was even a much larger family.

Li Xuan nodded and continued, "Now the emperor is in Luoyang and the emperor is in Yangzhou, but the government affairs in Chang'an also need to be fully operational immediately. In the future, before Luoyang is pacified, Hangu Pass will be closed, and the three provinces, six ministries and nine temples will all need someone to be in charge."

Li Xuan looked at Liu Rengui and said seriously: "The left prime minister will be Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the right prime minister will be Shangshu You Pushe, Dou Lu Qinwang will be dismissed from the post of Zhongshu Ling, Lu Yuanfang will be appointed Zhongshu Ling, Guo Daiju will be dismissed from the post of Shizhong, Cui Zhiwen, Huangmen Shilang, will be appointed Shizhong, and Li Yiyan will be reinstated as Zhongshu Shilang, with the same Zhongshu Menxia third rank.

Zhang Da'an, the chief officer of Fanzhou, was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, Yun Hongyin, the governor of Qizhou, was appointed as the Minister of Revenue, Wang Fangyi, the protector-general of Anxi, was appointed as the Minister of War, Xiao Siye was appointed as the Minister of Punishment, Wei Shishi, the former governor of Huazhou, was appointed as the Vice Minister of Rites, He Yiqiu, the former Director of Water Conservancy, was appointed as the Minister of Dali Temple, and Wei Hongji was appointed as the Director of the Lesser Treasury.

The other departments will wait for the emperor to return to the court for a decision."

Looking at Li Xuan, who had a serious face and was determined to not give in, Liu Rengui's mouth twitched slightly.

Lu Yuanfang, Cui Zhiwen, and Li Yiyan all have a good relationship with Li Xuan.

Zhang Da'an, Xiao Siye, Wang Fangyi, Yun Hongyin, and Huang Rensu in Chang'an are almost all Li Xuan's people.

This means that Li Xuan will rely on these people to control the court in the future.

Of course, these positions are also vacant in Chang'an now.

Because the people in these positions are still in Luoyang.

However, Dou Xuande, Ouyang Tong, Duan Baoxuan, and Wang Jishan were all imprisoned.

The only thing that makes sense is that these people can be used right now.

Even if others want to object, it may be difficult for them to withdraw a more suitable candidate.

If we only look at the present, there is no problem. However, Crown Prince Li Chongzhao will eventually return from Yangzhou. If he does not approve after returning from Yangzhou, will we have to fight again at that time?

Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan and finally couldn't help asking, "What if the prince returns from Yangzhou someday?"

"The position of the Eastern Palace is still vacant. We can discuss it later. Although there is no crown prince now, it does not prevent us from using the position of the Eastern Palace to arrange some personnel." After a brief pause, Li Xuan said, "At worst, he can take the position of the Eastern Palace and then serve as a provincial governor."

"Okay." Liu Rengui breathed a sigh of relief. Li Xuan might be able to be discussed with him.

"There is one last thing." Liu Rengui looked at Li Xuan solemnly and asked, "How do you deal with the Crown Prince?"

The prince here refers to Li Chengqi.

Li Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "He will be made the Prince of Yongping again, and the Prince of Yongping's Palace will be built in Kaihuafang, and he will live in Kaihuafang forever."

It was impossible for Li Xuan to let Li Chengqi live in the Eastern Palace, or the Prince Xiang's Mansion. The only place he could go was Kaihuafang.

Liu Rengui heard it.

In the future, Li Xuan will definitely stockpile heavy troops in Kaihuafang.

Kaihuafang and the Imperial Palace are the only two places Li Xuan will stay in Chang'an in the future until the emperor returns.

"Kaihuafang, the Wang residence, is fine." Liu Rengui nodded and said, "As for the matter in Luoyang, we will discuss it later."

"Yes!" Li Xuan nodded. The affairs in Luoyang could not be handled by him alone. It required everyone to work together to deal with it.

Liu Rengui turned to look at Liang Xing and nodded, "Open the door."

"Yes!" Liang Xing bowed solemnly, then quickly walked down the city gate and waved to his men.

The next moment, the gate of the Golden Light Gate opened.

……

Hundreds of cavalrymen rushed into the Jinguan Gate at the same time, some entered the Jinguan Gate, and some rushed deeper into Chang'an City.

It was at this time that Li Xuan slowly entered Chang'an City under the escort of hundreds of guards.

The familiar city of Chang'an came into his sight again.

It was at this time that the bell of the Da Ci'en Temple in the distance rang: "Dangdangdang!"

The whole city was in silence.

(End of this chapter)