Thief Emperor

Chapter 894: Sharing Fruit

"Your Majesty is joking."

Li Yu lowered his head slightly and said, "The Hedong Army is full of talented people, not just me. In terms of leading troops and fighting, I can only be considered mediocre in the Hedong Army."

"But you are the brother of the governor of Hedong."

Li Yun looked at him and said with a smile: "Among you Li brothers of this generation, it seems that you are the only one who can lead the army. At this time, Li Zhen should let someone from another family lead the army."

Mr. Li said with a smile: "Aren't you afraid that the generals will lead the troops to surrender?"

Now, the general trend of the world has become very clear, especially the Central Plains has been stabilized.

Since ancient times, as long as the Central Plains is settled and there are no natural barriers, even if there are separatist forces in other places, they usually will not become anything major.

Now, all the major rivers are in Li Yun's hands. His administrative power has spanned the north and south. There are only a few places that have not been conquered.

Even among the remaining few places, only Guanzhong and Youyan are relatively difficult.

Hedong is relatively the easiest.

Li Yun didn't even need to completely wipe out the Hedong Army. Under the prevailing trend, as long as he could win a few battles, the generals of the Hedong Army would probably surrender directly.

This was also the reason why Li Hao rushed to Luoyang from Taiyuan this time.

The reason is simple. If you surrender now, you may be able to negotiate a good price. But when the enemy is at the gates, even if you want to surrender, there will probably be no way.

By then, I'm afraid that the whole family, young and old, will die under the butcher knife of the Jiangdong Army.

Li Hao forced a smile on his face. He looked at Li Yun and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Hedong Li family has never committed any act of treason."

"Nothing wrong."

He whispered, "Back then, my father took me to the capital of Guanzhong to quell the rebellion. After the rebellion was quelled, my father was also the first to leave the capital."

What Li Yu said at this time, "there was no major rebellion", meant that the Hedong army did not do anything too rebellious against the Great Zhou.

Although Li Yun is not from the Great Zhou, he is about to take over the legal system of the Great Zhou. In a sense, this is actually a kind of inheritance.

In other words, the Hedong Army would not rebel against the "imperial court", whether it was the former Zhou court or the later Tang court.

"I know."

Li Yun lowered his head and drank tea, saying, "It is precisely because of this that General Li has been in trouble with the Jiangdong Army several times. I still took the time to see you today."

"I admire General Li Tong very much."

Li Hao looked at Li Yun and said, "Your Majesty, since we have come to this point, let's be frank. The Hedong Li family would like to ask for your Majesty's grace."

"I met you to talk about this."

Li Yun put down the teacup and said, "Two conditions."

"The first condition is that the entire Hedong Province surrenders unconditionally, and the Hedong Army accepts the reorganization of the new dynasty. As for you, the Hedong Li family, I will only regard you as innocent, but you have no merit either."

"You are going to move out of Taiyuan and relocate to Jiangnan Road. I will have someone in Jiangnan Road arrange some land for your family. It won't be a lot, but it will be enough for this generation and the next generation of your Li family to have no worries about food and clothing."

"From now on, you have to fight and earn it yourself."

Li Hao lowered his head and asked, "Your Majesty, what is the second condition?"

"In the second half of this year, or at the latest the beginning of next year, the new court will start conquering Guanzhong and taking back the old Zhou's capital."

"By the time."

Li Yun looked at Li Hao and said calmly, "If the Hedong Army is willing to serve as my vanguard and assist the royal army in pacifying Guanzhong, once Guanzhong is pacified, the Hedong Li family will have made contributions to the new dynasty. When the time comes, I can give the Hedong Li family a hereditary lordship."

"You brothers of the Li family can also serve as officials in the court."

"The generals of the Hedong Army will be the same as those of the Jiangdong Army by then."

Upon hearing this, Li Hao's expression immediately turned pale.

Li Yun’s meaning was very simple. To attack Guanzhong, the Hedong Army had to make every effort, and to do their utmost. Only in this way could the Hedong Army and the Hedong Li family have their own place in the new dynasty.

He lowered his head and thought for a long time, then looked at Li Yun and asked, "Your Majesty, I dare to ask a question."

Li Yun lowered his head and drank tea.

"You ask."

"If we brothers don't go to Your Majesty to be the vanguard, will Your Majesty still let them attack Guanzhong after you have incorporated the Hedong Army?"

Li Yun thought about it and shook his head: "No."

"At that time, all the generals of the Hedong Army will either be dismissed or become ordinary soldiers, and the ordinary generals of the Hedong Army will be selected and incorporated into the Jiangdong Army."

"The rest who fail will serve three years of hard labor in the Hedong Army, and then return home."

"As for the Hedong troops that were incorporated into other armies, they will act according to their respective missions. After being incorporated into the Jiangdong Army, they will be no different from the Jiangdong Army. I will never favor one over the other."

After hearing this, Li Hao thought seriously for a long time, and then said: "Your Majesty, I need to go back and discuss this matter with my eldest brother." "It's okay, just go back."

Li Yun smiled and said, "I was just joking. I won't really take you down."

At this point, Li Yun looked at him and continued, "To put it bluntly, I'm giving you a chance to make achievements. It's up to you whether you take it or not."

"Furthermore, if you refuse to surrender."

Mr. Li smiled and said, "Then at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, we will attack you Hedong."

"It's easier to fight Hedong. You don't need to prepare too much and it takes too much time..."

“Maybe even earlier.”

Upon hearing this, Li Hao's face turned pale. He stood up and saluted Li Yun with his fists clasped: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I understand."

Li Yun also stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "Okay, my dear, don't think too much. Stay in Luoyang for a few days and take a walk and have a look until the ceremony is over."

"You can leave on your own."

Li Hao took a deep breath and lowered his head and said, "Yes, I..."

"As ordered."

…………

The sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

Li Zheng finally rushed back to Luoyang.

However, after he returned to Luoyang, Li Yun was not in the city. After Li Zheng inquired, he learned that Li Yun had gone to the altar on the outskirts of the city.

This altar has been under construction for a long time. It was supervised by the Minister of Works Zhuo Guangrui himself and was ready years ago.

At this time, Li Yun and the two prime ministers Du Qian and Yao Zhong, the ministers of the six ministries, and all the high-ranking officials of the new dynasty gathered at this altar.

Outside the altar, there is a plaque inscribed by Li Yun himself.

Temple of Heaven and Earth.

Although these three words are not particularly amazing, they carry an unquestionable sense of dominance.

Li Yun led a group of officials to the sacrificial hall. Du Qian stood beside Li Yun and said to him, "Your Majesty, everything has been prepared. Once the auspicious day arrives the day after tomorrow, Your Majesty can offer sacrifices to heaven and earth here."

Li Yun looked at the hall.

There was no statue in the main hall, only a plaque.

It says "The Throne of the Emperor of Heaven".

This is a deity worshipped by the imperial courts of all dynasties, but this deity represents heaven and is therefore not personified.

There are no idols.

After Li Yun walked around the hall, he nodded with satisfaction and asked, "How was the day arranged? Tell me in detail so that I can have a better idea."

"Yes."

Du Qian did not reply directly. Instead, he looked at the Minister of Rites Tao Wenyuan, who stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites and the two prime ministers have already decided on the day's schedule. The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty will hold court in the Taiji Hall and accept the abdication of the Zhou Emperor in the Taiji Hall."

"After the abdication ceremony, the coronation ceremony will be held in the palace immediately."

"At noon, the emperor can move here, offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, and establish a new dynasty."

Li Yun stroked his chin, pondered for a while, shook his head and smiled: "The day after tomorrow, there are really a lot of things to do."

Du Qian smiled and said, "After tomorrow, the throne will be decided. I think it won't be long before the country is at peace and the people are at peace."

Li Yun shook his head slightly: "It will probably take at least five or six years to restore some peace."

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at the officials, and slowly said: "Today, everyone has put aside the work of their respective offices and followed me. Then I will take this opportunity to announce something."

"The day after tomorrow, I will officially take the throne. After that."

Li Yun looked around at everyone, put his hands behind his back and said, "On the 20th of the first lunar month, I will hold a court in the Taiji Hall and reward all the founding heroes according to their merits."

At this point, he looked at everyone and said with a smile: "Everyone present here is a founding hero of the new dynasty."

"By then, the official positions and titles will all be determined."

Hearing Li Yun's words, all the officials, including Du Qian, knelt down and kowtowed to Li Yun respectfully.

"Your Highness..."

"Thank you, my Lord."

(End of this chapter)