Elegy of Tang Dynasty

Chapter 782 Replacement?
In the late autumn of that year, Hun Yu, the governor of Shuofang, dispatched Pugu Huai'en, a general from the Tiele tribe, to escort hundreds of Tibetan prisoners of war to Bianzhou to pay tribute, and announced that he would accept the control and dispatch of the Bianzhou court.

In response, Emperor Li Qi was "easy to talk to" and gladly accepted the return of the Shuofang Army, and promised not to interfere with personnel adjustments within the Shuofang Army.

For appointments above the military officer level, only a report is needed, and the rest can be arranged by themselves. According to the usual practice, a new "Shuofang Jinzouyuan" was set up in Bianliang City, and Hun Yu was asked to arrange officials from the Jiedushi's shogunate to come to Chang'an to assist in handling this matter.

In addition, Pugu Huai'en also brought a new piece of news: Li Longji's son Li Yan fled to the outside of the Great Wall, and it is said that he ran to the Uighurs, and he might make some moves that are unfavorable to the court.

As to where exactly this person is, it is still unknown.

Li Qi did not seem to care about the news, but praised the Shuofang Army for their "loyalty and bravery". As for Li Yan, Li Qi said that he was a brother of the prince, and was stranded outside the Great Wall by accident.

The imperial court will send envoys to negotiate with the Uighur royal court, so that Li Yan, who is living in exile, can return to Bianzhou to accept the new title and enjoy wealth and glory.

Seeing that the Bianzhou court was so easy to talk to, Pugu Huai'en finally breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, there was a lot of controversy within the Shuofang Army this time, and it had been divided into the "Huihe faction" and the "Central Plains faction". Of course, there were many people who bet on both sides.

It was just that this time, the Tubo attack touched the vital interests of the Shuofang Army, causing everyone to temporarily unite against the outside world.

In order to support its troops, the Shuofang Army relied on the "Lingzhou Road" to maintain grassland trade from Guanzhong to Lingzhou, and relied on collecting commercial taxes to maintain military expenses.

If the Tibetans succeed in their attack on the pass, Lingzhou Road will certainly be lost in the future, and the Shuofang Army will probably find it difficult to even survive, let alone develop.
So when Fang Chongyong sent an envoy to Lingzhou to find Hun Yu, the two sides reached an agreement with almost no dispute.

The Shuofang Army attacked Lanzhou to cut off the Tibetans' retreat and sent people to Bianzhou to hand over the fish token and seal, just to save face.

As for the Shuofang Army's ownership of military power, personnel appointment rights, land distribution rights, and the political affairs of the prefectures and counties under the Shuofang Army's jurisdiction, they were not mentioned at all.

The Shuofang Army only needed to issue a manifesto to support the Bianzhou court and recognize that this regime was the orthodox Tang Dynasty. They did not need to follow orders, accept official appointments, or provide financial tributes.

This is obviously beneficial rather than harmful to the Shuofang Army.

Although the Shuofang Army had no idea who Li Qi was, they were all convinced by Fang Qing's ability and vision. This "formal" affiliation was in line with the current core interests of both parties and was a typical case of each taking what it needed.

As for the future... Life is only a few decades long, who dares to say that they will be able to laugh until the end of their lives? Even if they can survive for one more day, it is a kind of skill.

As for things in the future, we can only talk about them in the future. What we should focus on today is the present.

However, just when everything was on track, something major suddenly happened in Bianliang City, catching everyone off guard.

……

It was already the beginning of winter and there was a hint of chill in the wind. Many leaves of the big trees on the roadside had turned yellow, and the ground was even covered with fallen leaves.

In a side room of the imperial palace in Bianliang City, Fang Chongyong was looking solemnly at the old man in front of him who had white hair and beard but looked energetic.

This person is Chen Cangqi, the director of the Imperial Medical Service, the number one figure in the hospital. He has spent more than ten years organizing various medical books from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, and he is also half-master of Anaye.

He and Fang Chongyong were old acquaintances, otherwise he would not have been allowed to be in charge of the Imperial Medical Service and deeply involved in the medical skills popularization movement advocated by the Bianzhou court.

"President Chen, what is the disease that your majesty has?"

Fang Zhongyong asked in a deep voice, his face was very unpleasant. A trace of surprise flashed across Chen Zangqi's face, and he looked carefully at the expression of this official Fang, and felt that the other party did not seem to be playing dumb.

So he sighed and said, "Your Majesty has obviously been poisoned by the golden elixir, but I don't know whether it was the golden elixir he took himself or someone else fed him the golden elixir."

Three days ago, the puppet emperor Li Qi suddenly fell ill and could not even speak. Upon learning of this, Fang Zhongyong, who was reviewing the navy training in Shouzhou, rushed back to Bianzhou overnight.

But nothing was gained.

Chen Cangqi was a sensible man. He had been suppressing the illness and had not told anyone else about it because he didn't know whether Li Qi was poisoned by Fang Chongyong's men or he had taken the elixir by mistake.

But now it seems that the latter situation is more likely.

In fact, judging from the situation in the court and the country in Bianzhou, there was no need for Fang Qing to do anything about a puppet emperor.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago, the emperor met a high monk from India, and they had a very pleasant conversation. Your Majesty said that as long as the emperor's affairs are not serious, you should not interfere, so..."

Da Congming on the side added.

Bianzhou government office had special people responsible for monitoring Li Qi's every move. At that time, these people just didn't understand whether the Indian monk was sent by Fang Zhongyong, so they didn't care and didn't dare to care.

The lord is plotting to usurp the throne. It would be a crime for those lackeys below not to take part in "persuading him to ascend the throne". How could they take the initiative to stop him?
This is the weakness and black hole of human nature, and we really can't blame others.

India, eminent monks, elixir, and immortality.

Considering Li Qi's attitude of completely giving up power, his pursuit of immortality doesn't seem surprising. In fact, everyone knows what happened, but they just don't know whether the missing Indian monk was appointed by Fang Qing.

There were many indirect "helpers" in this wave, and everyone was afraid that Fang Zhongyong would hold them accountable.

"Your Majesty... can't he be saved?"

Fang Zhongyong clenched his fists, took a deep breath and asked.

"In order to protect myself, I should have said something like, 'God blesses the emperor.' But, doctors are like parents, and I don't want to deceive you.

It is better to prepare for the funeral and arrange the emperor's funeral. Your Majesty's condition is no longer curable by medicine, so asking the gods may be more effective."

Chen Zangqi answered very frankly that he was now over 70 years old and it was no longer important whether he was alive or dead.

"Ah! Dean Chen, please prescribe some medicine, no matter how much it costs."

Fang Zhongyong shook his head and sighed, with a hint of pleading in his tone.

There are too many patients with advanced cancer in their previous lives who believe in folk remedies, even though they know that those remedies are of no use.

Chen Zangqi nodded, and the other party, Chongyong, saluted with his hands crossed and then left the room.

"Sir, I am your humble servant..."

Da Congming looked ashamed and didn't know what to say.

He was also responsible for this matter, and he was also selfish. Li Qi was just a puppet emperor, but in fact many people around Fang Zhongyong hoped that he could be "regular".

Therefore, no one took Li Qi seriously. Even those who noticed something was wrong regarded the "Indian monk" as an "assassin" sent by Fang Zhongyong.

How could they stop it!

"Forget it, go find Empress Wu."

Fang Zhongyong gave instructions to Da Congming in a dull manner.

When Li Qi was still the Prince of Sheng, his wife was Wu. Now that Li Qi has become a puppet emperor, Wu has become the queen. She usually keeps a low profile.

She gave birth to two sons for Li Qi, Li Chang and Li Pei, and two illegitimate sons for Li Qi, Li Su and Li Qi.

All are minors.

Soon, the crying Empress Wu was brought here. She was very ordinary in appearance, far inferior to Li Lin's former Empress Houmochen.

Li Qi had obviously taught Empress Wu a lesson on weekdays, letting her know who Fang Qing was and what power he had. When Empress Wu saw Fang Chongyong, she was so frightened that her face turned pale and she couldn't say a word.

Didn't even say hello.

Of course, in name Fang Chongyong was a subject, so he should pay his respects to Empress Wu first.

"Your Highness, the emperor is seriously ill and cannot manage affairs, but the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. How would you like to deal with the current situation?"

Fang Zhongyong looked directly at Empress Wu and asked in a deep voice, "The throne of the emperor was originally supported by the emperor. Now that the emperor is critically ill, the emperor can take it for himself."

Empress Wu said tremblingly.

You took it yourself, how dare you say that!

Fang Chongyong was so angry that he laughed. If he played a game that even Zhao Kuangyin didn't dare to play, wouldn't he be alienated from the world? If someone didn't know, they would think that it was him, the official Fang, who killed Li Qi!

"How dare you! How can a divine weapon be passed on privately? Your Highness, you cannot do this!"

Fang Chongyong said righteously.

Empress Wu was stunned and asked, "Since the emperor sent Indian monks to offer the elixir to the emperor and poison him, why didn't he take the throne himself?"

"Alas, that monk was not sent by me, and I have no idea about this matter!"

Fang Zhongyong sighed helplessly.

"If it's not the government, then who is it?"

Empress Wu asked again.

Fang Zhongyong had no way to answer this question. Who knew who sent this "Indian monk"? He might be a Tibetan!

But now, no matter how he explained, no one would believe him.

"Since you are not the emperor, then I don't care. Please do as you please."

After saying this, Empress Wu stood up and left.

She was straightforward, knowing that Li Qi was a puppet emperor and that others had the final say in everything. Regardless of whether Fang Qing did it or not, the final touches had to be taken care of by him, the official.

Empress Wu gave up the task and left the trouble to Fang Chongyong.

……

Three days later, the court announced the death of the emperor. After discussion, the ministers decided to give him the posthumous title "Xuan" and the temple name "Mu". Li Qi was Emperor Muzong of Tang.

His eldest son Li Chang succeeded to the throne and issued a general amnesty.

Although Li Qi's death was very strange and sudden, Fang Qing did not usurp the throne, and the eldest son inherited the throne, so it did not cause any waves.

On the surface, everything seemed calm within the imperial court, but undercurrents were surging beneath the surface.

Many of Fang Zhongyong's trusted followers wanted to "advance". If they wanted to advance, Fang Zhongyong had to "advance first", so these people secretly spread rumors that "the Li family was in decline, and the previous emperor was not unworthy, but was punished by heaven".

It implies that Li Qi did not do anything wrong, but that the Li family's fate has come to an end and he could not withstand the punishment from heaven, so he was killed!
There was no mention of Li Qi taking the golden elixir.

That night, Fang Chongyong called Yan Zhuang over and showed him what the Privy Council's Intelligence Department had found.

"This is most likely the work of the Tibetans. Indian monks have always had close contacts with the Tibetans.

Our army had just returned to the capital not long ago, and Li Qi died suddenly after taking the golden elixir. This is definitely not a coincidence!"

Fang Chongyong said with a melancholy look on his face.

He can stop himself and those around him from pursuing the superstition of immortality, but he cannot stop others from pursuing it.

Even a powerful emperor like Taizong later became obsessed with alchemy in an attempt to achieve immortality, and eventually died from it.

It was only natural that Li Qi could not resist the temptation given Taizong's behavior.

Thinking from another perspective, if Li Qi could live longer than Sima Yi and outlive Fang Chongyong, it would still be unknown whether he could regain power in the future. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that the puppet emperor took the risk.

Of course, there could be some other reasons, but no one could get the answer from Li Qi.

"Your Majesty, if you don't make a decision, you will suffer the consequences. Now is the right time, right place, and right people. Why don't you... take it yourself?"

Yan Zhuang suggested in a low voice.

At present, it seems that Li Qi's death was indeed a plot by the Tibetans, or perhaps it was really an accident. But what was supposed to happen had already happened. When the ruler is young and the country is in doubt, it is a good opportunity for a powerful official to take the throne.

Who says this has to be bad news?

Can a funeral be celebrated as a happy occasion?
"Guanzhong has just been settled, and Hexi is still in the hands of the Tibetans. If I were to proclaim myself emperor and force the emperor to abdicate, it would cause the people's hearts that have just been united to disperse.

It is not possible to claim the title of emperor at this moment."

Fang Zhongyong shook his head and rejected Yan Zhuang's proposal. The people below were indeed "doing it for his own good". But Fang Zhongyong understood that these people were doing it for their own good first! Only then would it be his turn as the "lord".

"Your Majesty, I am going to say something that is taboo. Nowadays, even the kids on the streets of Bianzhou know that Fang Qing will usurp the throne sooner or later.

In this case, what else does the government feel taboo about?"

Yan Zhuang asked anxiously.

"No need to say more."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, signaling Yan Zhuang not to say anything more. In any case, he would not hastily declare himself emperor.

At this moment, Da Congming pushed the door open and whispered in Fang Zhongyong's ear:

"Sir, Lu Mai wants to see you. He said he has captured the Indian monk."

Ok?
Fang Zhongyong and Yan Zhuang, who was discussing important matters at the side, were both stunned. They thought the Tibetans would kill them, but they didn't expect that the "killer" was still alive.

"Bring it in!"

Fang Zhongyong nodded with a sullen face.

Soon, a monk from India with a thick beard was brought in. It was not popular for Indian monks to shave their heads, but many of them had thick beards, and some even had wives and children.

It's really impossible to generalize.

"who are you?"

Fang Zhongyong asked bluntly.

"My name is Narasapa."

The Indian monk spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, his face very calm.

"Your Majesty, he is just being pretentious. The Indian monk who presented the golden elixir to Emperor Taizong was called this name. Emperor Taizong also died after taking the golden elixir."

Yan Zhuang reminded from the side.

"Break both legs of this Hu monk, and then bring him here to talk."

Fang Zhongyong suppressed his anger and waved his hands impatiently.

(End of this chapter)