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

Chapter 1713 Princess Taiping's Ambition

On Suzaku Avenue, Li Xuan and Tang Zhenxing walked side by side, with soldiers on both sides following closely on the central road.

The people of Chang'an all around looked at them curiously, but did not dare to step onto the road casually.

"Don't be anxious." Li Xuan glanced at Tang Zhenxing and said, "It's New Year's Day now, and most of the soldiers in the army are intoxicated. It's not a good idea to mobilize the troops rashly, and the officials of the Ministry of War may not be able to take care of it."

"Yes!" Tang Zhenxing bowed slightly. He knew that this was not what Li Xuan meant.

"But we don't have to do nothing." Li Xuan looked up at the mountains in the south and said softly, "We can send someone to tell the Five Zhaos that I want Fanzhou to intercept the water in the upper reaches of the Nujiang River, Canglan River and Jinsha River. I think they will not dare to advance rashly and should think about their retreat."

"Yes!" Tang Zhenxing immediately understood that Li Xuan's real killer was the one who blocked the water upstream of Fanzhou, and it was even possible that this would destabilize the people's hearts throughout the Wuzhao.

“After all the departments have taken up their duties, take the certificate from the Ministry of War to select soldiers from the Sixteen Guards who are good at mountain warfare. Now that they are in Jiannan, they can adapt faster.” Li Xuan sighed lightly. Yunnan is a land of many mountains and rivers, so it is not difficult to pacify it.

"I understand." Tang Zhenxing looked solemn.

Li Xuan nodded and continued, "The key lies in food and grass. There is no need to rush to leave Chang'an. Once everything is ready, we can quickly reach Chengdu.

After arriving in Chengdu, don't rush south. Recruit another group of people from the Dangxiang area, prepare enough food and fodder, and then wait for the right time to set off quickly.

If we don’t send troops, then it’s fine. But once we send troops, we will surely defeat the enemy.”

"Yes!" Tang Zhenxing looked stern.

"Finally, let's talk about the story behind this turmoil." Li Xuan sneered, and then said, "When they heard that I was going to conquer the Five Zhaos, the leaders of the Five Zhaos immediately came to Chang'an to apologize. Now that I am still in Chang'an, they dared to mobilize their troops and even massacred an entire city. If there is no trick behind this..."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will make sure to get to the bottom of it." There was a hint of coldness in Tang Zhenxing's expression.

He originally wanted to stay in Chang'an for two more years to rest, but the sudden outbreak of war and the fact that someone deliberately mentioned his name really annoyed Tang Zhenxing.

"Keep steady and watch the road behind you." Li Xuan raised his head slightly and looked forward.

Tang Zhenxing immediately bowed, and in a blink of an eye led his troops away on horseback.

Li Xuan turned his horse and headed towards Kaihuafang.

……

At the princess's mansion, Princess Taiping and her husband Xue Shao returned to the mansion at the same time.

Since Xue Shao was appointed as the Junior Supervisor of the Palace, naturally he had to attend court.

Although Princess Taiping did not have to attend court, she stayed in the palace until the banquet after the grand court session.

She asked the maid to take Xue Shao, who had drunk a lot, to wash up, and Princess Taiping went into the study alone.

At this moment, there were already two people waiting in the study. When they saw Princess Taiping, they immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness!"

Princess Taiping walked to the table and sat down, then looked up at the two people in front of her and asked directly, "Do you know what happened in Wuzhao today?"

Bi Gou and Yang Shan bowed at the same time: "Yes!"

"Tell us all." Princess Taiping breathed a sigh of relief and looked straight at Bi Gou and Yang Shan.

Imperial Censor Bi Gou cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I feel that this matter is unusual. It is too coincidental. Today is the first day of Your Majesty's ascension to the throne, and this has happened. It's as if someone deliberately wants to intimidate Your Majesty."

“It’s not a show of power to the Emperor, it’s a show of power to King Peng.” Princess Taiping waved her hand, raised her head slightly, and narrowed her eyes.

"That's the work of the three families, Cui, Lu and Zheng." Yang Shan, the Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple, bowed slightly and said, "Nowadays, if we were to say who is the most hostile to King Peng, it would be the Cui, Lu and Zheng families."

"Yes, they want to become foreign relatives like the Later Han Dynasty... No, in this dynasty, there is also the Changsun family who can be emulated, especially the Changsun family." Princess Taiping completely understood Cui Zhiwen's thoughts.

Cui Zhiwen wants to be Changsun Wuji.

After the head of the Lu family died early and the Zheng family was implicated by Madam Cui of Tong'an, Cui Zhiwen, now the Minister of the Central Secretariat, is the de facto head of the Cui, Lu and Zheng families.
With such an identity, the empress dowager was the daughter of Zheng family, and the emperor was the grandson of Zheng family. With this identity, Cui Zhiwen gradually became the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, the head of the Political Affairs Hall.

The Executive Yuan actually ruled the country.

In the end, he became a figure like Changsun Wuji, and at the same time brought the three families of Cui, Lu and Zheng to prosper.

"If they want to do so, then King Peng will be a thorn in their side, just like the King of Wu in the past." Bi Gou bowed slightly.

When Emperor Taizong died that year, Prince of Wu Li Ke was granted the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi, the official title of Sikong, and was granted the title of Governor of Liangzhou.

After Emperor Gaozong consolidated his throne, Li Ke was promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Ansui, Wenmian and Fuwuzhou Military Affairs, and Governor of Anzhou, and was given the title of Prince Grand Tutor.

Such a person was eventually easily framed and brought down by Changsun Wuji.

Given the precedent, it is understandable that Cui Zhiwen was tempted to take action.

"So, they want to clip King Peng's wings, so the first step is to create a border war to transfer the Left Guard General Tang Zhenxing." Yang Shan looked sideways at Bi Gou and asked in confusion: "But the Left Guard only transferred 10,000 people, which is not very effective!"

"They should have a backup plan." Bi Gou sneered, and then said: "Leaking the army's military intelligence, troop routes, numbers, food and grass transportation supplies, and even calling on local soldiers to attack the Zuowei army, cutting off food and grass, bedding, there are too many ways to make you fail, aristocratic family!"

Yang Shan's expression changed slightly. He was one of the few people in the entire Yang family who was not implicated during the Wu family's chaotic rule.

Because he had served as the Shaoqing of the Honglu Temple for many years and had always been a low-key person, he did not step forward when Empress Wu was in power, so he was not included in any of the various rewards bestowed by Empress Wu.

Therefore, no one was held accountable for the subsequent reckoning.

Of course, it was also because he and Li Xuan had been colleagues for a period of time.

But it's just unclear. Compared with his other fellow clan member Yang Jiong, Yang Shan was treated much worse.

Yang Jiong, Zhongshu Sheren Yang Jiong. Du Shenyan, Yang Jiong was one of the few ministers who was imprisoned by Empress Wu on the day Emperor Zhongzong was deposed.

Later, after Li Xuan took over Luoyang, he rescued both of them.

Now the two of them, Du Shenyan is the Imperial Censor, and Yang Jiong is the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, which seems to be no different from before, but Li Xuan granted them both the official title of Fourth Grade Senior Counsellor.

In the future, if there are vacancies in the positions of the Secretary of the Central Secretariat, the Secretary of the Imperial Household, and the Secretary of the Six Ministries, these two will be immediately appointed to fill the vacancies.

In comparison, Yang Shan's future is doomed.

Even this time when Yuan Ming was transferred to be the Minister of Taifu Temple, the vacant Minister of Honglu Temple was not given to him, but to Zhang Xi, the Junior Minister of Taipu Temple.

Zhang Xi was the son of Zhang Wencong, Zhang Wenguan's brother. Many of the Zhang family's children were talented, but unfortunately, like the descendants of Hao Chujun, most of them were not liked by Empress Wu.

But Li Xuan likes to use the children of Zhang family very much.

Therefore, Yang Shan's future was completely blocked. If he wanted to make further progress, it would be difficult for him to have a good future except to be transferred to a local governor.

Especially when Li Xuan was in power.

……

Now when Bi Gou mentioned the Five Zhaos, he couldn't help but mention the methods of the noble families. This made Yang Shan feel a little unsure about what to say. In the end, he said, "These are actually the most common methods used by the Shandong noble families. They loved to do this the most during the Sui Dynasty."

Bi Gou looked at Yang Shan and a strange thought flashed through his mind. Could it be that when Yang Xuangan started his rebellion, he cut off Yang Guang's food supply?

"No matter what, they didn't take Prince Peng into account this time." Princess Taiping waved her hand slightly, thinking about the plan of cutting off the water supply mentioned by Li Xuan, and looked at Yang Shan and asked, "Mr. Yang, you are the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple. Prince Peng said that he wanted to cut off the Jinsha River, Nu River, and Canglan River upstream to store water. Is it feasible?"

Yang Shan hesitated for a moment, then he said after a pause: "It's hard to say. If King Peng is in Fanzhou, then I can be sure that this will be accomplished. But King Peng is not here... unless he personally instructs... that's not right. This kind of thing requires a detailed investigation."

"So, it must be impossible." Bi Gou gave a positive conclusion, then looked at Princess Taiping and said, "But this is what we know, not what the Five Zhaos know.

If they become cowardly and retreat, Tang Zhenxing will quickly end the war and return to Chang'an."

"He won't come back so soon." Princess Taiping waved her hand, sneered, and said, "Prime Minister Cui thought he was doing it secretly, but many things were seen clearly by us, not to mention King Peng. Therefore, King Peng must not only catch all the officials involved in this matter, but also take the opportunity to destroy Prime Minister Cui."

"Your Highness." Bi Gou and Yang Shan looked stern at the same time.

Princess Taiping waved her sleeves and said directly: "This is not a strange guess. Prime Minister Cui wants to destroy King Peng, and King Peng will naturally retaliate with corresponding means. At that time, it will depend on who can't hold on."

Bi Gou and Yang Shan immediately understood that the one who could not hold on must be Cui Zhiwen.

"Prime Minister Cui has fallen. Given the current situation in the Council of State, I'm afraid we will have to nominate someone to enter the Council of State." Princess Taiping said softly. Then she looked at the two people in front of her with a serious expression and asked, "Who do you think would be the best person to replace Prime Minister Cui if he falls?"

"Mr. Zhang." Bi Gou and Yang Shan thought for a moment and gave the name at the same time.

"Minister of Personnel Zhang Da'an." Taiping nodded gently, and then said softly: "In this way, the position of Minister of Personnel is vacant again."

"Yes!" Bi Gou and Yang Shan could tell that Princess Taiping was eyeing the position of future Minister of Personnel.

But he is the Minister of Personnel. Will King Peng let go so easily?
……

Bi Gou and Yang Shan left, and Princess Taiping was the only one left in the study. She leaned casually to one side, and her spring beauty bloomed for a moment under her loose skirt.

Princess Taiping's eyes fell on the shadows opposite her, and she slowly asked, "How is the matter with the Right Jinwu Guard going?"

"It's very tricky." In the shadows, Guo Huihui, who had disappeared for a long time, stood up and bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, although the Duke of Pingyang was transferred to the general of the Right Jinwu Guard and is in charge of the Right Jinwu Guard of Chang'an, there are many generals in the Right Jinwu Guard who are the confidants of King Peng transferred from the Left Jinwu Guard, the Left Guard, the Right Guard, and the Right Leading Army Guard. It is difficult to control them completely."

Xue Na, Duke of Pingyang, son of Xue Rengui, Duke of Pingyang, was transferred to be the general of the Right Jinwu Guard.

Princess Taiping took a deep breath and said, "Don't worry, take your time and let him gather enough trusted men from the army. It doesn't have to be many, three hundred will be enough."

Guo Huihui's eyes changed slightly, and then he bowed solemnly.

"How is the Dou family doing recently?" Princess Taiping suddenly changed the subject.

Guo Huihui bowed slightly and said, "Dou Chi, Junior Secretary of the Sinong Temple, and Dou Xiao, General of the Right Guard, are both highly valued by King Peng."

"Dou Xiao was a military officer under my brother in the Prince of Ying's Palace in his early years. As for Dou Chi, when he was the magistrate of Wugong County, my brother attached great importance to Wugong County and transferred him to be the Shaoqing of Sinong Temple. He also paid more attention to the matters of farmland, which was also the credit of Prime Minister Lu." Princess Taiping sighed. She could see that both Lu Yuanfang and Li Xuan attached great importance to the farmland.

Guo regretted bowing slightly and didn't say anything.

"What do you think about recommending Dou Chi as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?" Princess Taiping's voice was very soft, but it sounded like thunder in Guo Huiyue's ears.

"Princess, isn't the Dou family out of the game?" Guo Hui looked at Princess Taiping with some surprise.

"The Ministry of Revenue now has two assistant ministers, one is Bi Jing and the other is Pei Judao. Bi Jing managed to keep his position as assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but it is difficult for him to move up a level. However, Pei Judao is a filial father-in-law to the emperor. Over the years, he was promoted from General of the Left Jinwu Guard to assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, and then from assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

If the Minister of Revenue Yun Hongyin was transferred to the Minister of Personnel, it would be perfectly legitimate for Pei Judao to be promoted to the Minister of Revenue, and then Dou Xiao would be promoted to the Vice Minister of Revenue.

In this way, with Dou Xiao and Bi Jing as the two assistant ministers of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Revenue belongs to me."

"Your Highness, will Dou Xiao be obedient?" Guo Huiyue looked at Princess Taiping uncertainly.

"After all, the Prince of Prime Minister is the son of the emperor's brother and the Dou family. Once Prime Minister Cui steps down and the emperor's position is shaken, the Prince of Prime Minister's chance will come. What do you think they will choose?" Princess Taiping sneered.

"Yes!" Guo Huiyue finally understood Princess Taiping's plan and deposed Li Chongjun and enthroned Li Chengqi.

Princess Taiping looked up and said softly, "The next step is to completely eliminate the three families of Cui, Lu, and Zheng."

"Imperial examination fraud!" Guo regretted and bowed slightly.

(End of this chapter)