The Emperor ordered Zhao Tang

Chapter 248 September
"Canglang!"

"boom!"

"Dong, dong dong..."

A group of people in green clothes wearing white footwear and red headbands were playing. They hacked at the pillars, smashed the walls with their spears, and poked the cracks between the bricks with their spears... The ground was pierced with deep holes as big as copper coins.

"The compacted earth and bricks can't withstand a spear. The edge is gone." A warrior pulled out his spear, looked at the round hole in front of him, then shook off the soil, squinted his eyes and looked at it: "Who is softer and harder, the iron-clad man or the iron-clad man?"

"He must be weak. How can he withstand being stabbed in the face?"

"I heard that Zhu Wen's body was chopped up like this."

"Just wait, Li Keyong won't grow up either."

"Humph! How can a Hedong warrior be a servant of the Hu people? Li Keyong is a Hu person! If it were the Guangde years, would he still want to live?"

"Since he took over the throne, he has been delaying his rewards and often asked us to kill corpses for food... If he didn't have so many lackeys... I would have to endure this! He is just a chieftain of a foreign tribe. Why is he pretending to be a general in front of me... Ha! It's a pity that Shangyuanyi didn't kill him. He is such a waste. No wonder he was killed."

"Hey, speaking of Zhu Ze, have you heard about his wife and daughter who are living among the rebels?"

"It's all spread. The concubine Chen was tortured to death, and there was also a man named Li who couldn't bear the criticism and went crazy. Tsk, I wonder what will happen to the beautiful Zhang Hui and her two daughters. I'm afraid they will sleep with the emperor, hahaha..."

"Isn't it said that saints are unisex? Sleeping with a pig and a slut? I think the two sons of Zhu Ze can't escape either."

"Shi Yu, Cao Xiang, Cui Jikang, Kang Chuangui... we can kill them, and we can also kill Li Keyong's entire family."

"Hahaha!"

The noisy conversation was sometimes loud and sometimes quiet, with occasional laughter and cursing. When the topic got exciting, it was like being tickled, and all kinds of obscene words were thrown out.

Hedong is also a bit traditional.

In the fifth year of Qianfu, the militias stirred up a commotion, killed the cavalry and infantry commander Deng Qian, and carried his body to Jinyang. Dou Huan loaned 500,000 yuan to put down the rebellion. Afterwards, Cao Xiang, the governor of Zhaoyi, moved his garrison to Hedong, but was killed in just two months.

The court also summoned Cui Jikang of Yiwu Army as the governor of Hedong, but he was killed not long after.

Next came Li Kan, the governor of Bining who came from Guanzhong. After several disturbances and the killing of dozens of officials, he had to leave on the grounds of illness. Then came Li Wei, the governor of Dongdu, who suddenly became ill and died within two months. The army appointed another successor.

The general Kang Chuangui was appointed as the imperial commissioner. The next year, the army was in chaos and Kang Chuangui was killed.

Finally, Prime Minister Zheng Congtang went out to conquer Hedong for a few years, and then it was Li Keyong's turn.

Unruly, cruel, fearful of power but not virtuous, respectful but not submissive, hard-hearted, bullying, bullying the weak and afraid of the strong... These are the characteristics of the Hedong soldiers, and also the common characteristics of the Central Plains. The lower class often has no logic when they overthrow their superiors. They can rob their own folks and set fire to the capital. What saints, what family and country, the safety of the vassal, go to hell.

During the Kaicheng period, the Dangxiang rebelled, and Liu Mian, the governor of Hedong, was ordered to fight against them. Guess what troops Liu Mian used? -- "He led 10,000 soldiers and 3,000 horses from the Tuhun, Qibi, and Shatuo tribes to Yin and Xia."

What was the reason for the Hedong uprising during the Pang Xun Rebellion? —— "Cheng Xun petitioned the three Shatuo tribes to have Zhuye Chixin, as well as the chieftains of Tuyuhun, Tatar, and Qibi, lead their own people to follow him."

Who were the main forces in Hedong fighting against Li Guochang and his son and the rebels?

Answer: Shatuo, Tuyuhun, Qibi, Sage, etc.

During the Chao Rebellion, who was the main force in Hedong who came to support the king?
The Shatuo chieftains Qu Zhen and Li Youjin went to Daizhou to recruit 30,000 soldiers, all of whom were northern Hu people. When Li Keyong was released, he led 10,000 Tatars and 30,000 other soldiers, a total of 40,000 foreign soldiers, into the pass.

Isn't it funny?

I can only say that you really deserve a big knife. The emperor picks up food and you turn the table, Li Shuai asks you to eat corpses and you dare not fart.

Of course, Li Keyong could only hold out for a while. After falling into a disadvantage in the later generations, in the Battle of Qingshan, the natives of Hedong played an impressive record of "the infantry collapsed without fighting", abandoning Li Sizhao and the cavalry and running away.

This is one of the reasons why my uncle couldn't defeat Zhu Wen. His infantry was too bad. When the wind was against him, he would just walk away, point, and rebel. The cavalry protected his lower limit, and the infantry determined his upper limit, which meant that he was doomed to be helpless against Zhu Wen. This was also the reason why he sent almost all cavalry. If you dare to send this kind of stuff, others will not dare to take it.

No matter what the reason, these tens of thousands of warriors in Hedong were all the inferiors that Li had decided to have their ears and tongues pierced. My uncle was too gentle to these people. He, Li Qilang, was not the delicate Du Yuhou or the submissive Li Keyong. He had many ways and means to kill people.

"Here they come, shush!" Suddenly, the green-clad men gestured to each other, stopped laughing and shouting, and pretended to be busy practicing.

Outside the courtyard, a large group of people passed by. The leaders, Li Siyuan and Li Siben, embraced an official in red clothes and said, "Your Excellency, turn this way!"

"Please." Fei Yi was elegant and graceful, with a warm and decent smile on his face. When asked the name of this middle-aged man with extraordinary demeanor, he was Liu Feng, the current Imperial Counselor, who was here to announce the imperial edict.

The sage wanted to confer titles on Li Luoluo, Li Cunmei, and Li Cunxu as the Marquis of Mayi, the Marquis of Xiurong, and the Marquis of Yangqu. The sister-in-law Li Miaowei was conferred the title of Lord Chang'an, and it was obvious that the sage really loved her. Another Zhuxie girl, Li Tingyan, was conferred the title of Lord Meiyuan.

In addition, many people were given official positions and titles. Li Siyuan also got a title of Yingyang Zhonglang Jiang.

Could it be that the saint still remembered the hardships they had shared in Tongguan? Li Siyuan bit his cheek, his face as calm as an old dog, but he was already smiling in his heart. But when he learned from Liu Feng that Zhazhu had been appointed as the governor of the Ever-Victorious Army and the General of the Expedition to the Barbarians, his expression darkened again, and he pursed his lips and said nothing, sulking.

The back molars are almost broken.

I am afraid that my brother is having a hard life, and I am also afraid that my brother will suddenly drive a Land Rover.

If it were someone else, he wouldn't have such emotions, and he is not that kind of person, but... they are all retainers, with the same starting point, and they were once good buddies... This makes people feel hard to accept.

Zhazhu, you deserve to die!

Why wasn't I included in the dowry? I want to cry.

The Shogun, so domineering. The Jiedushi of the Ever-Victorious Army, what a beautiful meaning, which shows the saint's love for pigs.

Wang Shuai...

It's hard not to be jealous.

Oh my god, it’s so difficult!

Bah! Fatty! Slutty pig! Fate is unfair, it made this guy take 20 years less, woo woo woo... Li Siyuan thought gloomily, frustrated, and yearning, his mind was not in the right place, mixed with emotions, not feeling good. Study! I must study hard and attract the attention of the Holy Lord as soon as possible! Immediately, he made up his mind.

"Your Excellency, we are here." After a lot of twists and turns, Liu Feng was led to the gate of a large mansion. The servants were taken to the guesthouse by Li Siyuan to settle down, and Liu Feng followed Li Siyuan into the mansion. The mansion was very large. After passing through the gates, lakes, rockery, bamboo forests, and corridors, it took about an incense stick of time to arrive at a square building with a bright red body, snow-white walls, and green tile roofs.

"Please wait a moment, sir." Li Siyuan went in to report.

Soon, a heroic, refreshing chuckle was heard. Two women came out one after the other. The former was wearing a red dress that trailed the ground, covered with a light yellow gauze, with her breasts exposed, holding her hands, walking slowly, with a graceful demeanor and a smile on her face. The latter was wearing a sandalwood Hu clothing, with a long belt around her waist. Both women were beautiful, and they were still charming even though they were middle-aged.

"Greetings, Princess!" Liu Feng only took a glance and immediately crossed his arms.

Liu lowered her posture, with a warmer smile on her face, and replied, "I am so sorry. I am so sorry. I have been delayed by something and neglected the angel. Please forgive me!"

Mrs. Cao and the Li family's children behind her also bowed together.

After the polite words, Liu's voice was charming, clear and steady: "Your Excellency, please come in."

"please!"

After sitting down and drinking tea, Liu greeted him and asked, "Has the thief Zhu been chopped into pieces?"

"Yes." Liu Feng nodded and said, "This thief brought chaos to the world, and all the princes were angry. He was dismembered and burned to powder in Ziwei City. His head was burned on firewood as a sacrifice to the heavens, and the skull was kept by the eunuchs."

"Good death!" Li Luoluo, Li Cunxu and Li Miaowei clapped their hands at the same time and smiled.

Liu glared at them, and the three of them put on stern faces again and refused to smile.

"Is the saint still in Luoyang?" Liu asked again.

"When I set out, the troops were already prepared to return," Liu Feng replied.

"There is a serious crime in Bian, but we won't punish them until the end?"

"This is the major policy of the empire. I don't know about the affairs of the saint and the prime minister." Liu Feng observed Liu's expression with his peripheral vision and added: "Ge Congzhou and Yuan Xiangxian have each been appointed as generals. As long as they don't rebel again, they probably won't take the initiative to attack. We should appease them."

"Is that so..." Liu narrowed her beautiful eyes and nodded slightly.

Liu Feng was inexplicably nervous and awed by the woman in front of him. But thinking that things were different now and he had the emperor's support behind him, he calmed down again. After chatting for a while, Liu Feng was eager to report: "Princess, I have come with an imperial edict, the Minister of Works..."

Liu smiled helplessly and said apologetically: "Sikong is ill and cannot see anyone."

Huh? Really? Is it serious? Will I die?

"Ah?" Liu Feng looked surprised and worried, and asked hurriedly, "What's the disease? Have you sent a doctor? If there is no effective one, I will report to the court and ask for a famous doctor to treat it."

"It's inevitable that soldiers will have obvious injuries or hidden diseases, which are more likely to flare up in late autumn." Liu said briefly, her eyes gentle, "We can only slowly recuperate. I appreciate your kindness."

"Ah, this is really..." Liu Feng felt the same way and sighed, "He has fought in battles for three thousand miles, and his sword has been as powerful as a million soldiers. Sikong has served the Holy Tang for half his life... In this case, the imperial edict will be given to the princess. Please convey my wishes to you, and rest assured and don't overwork yourself. The two capitals and forty-eight regions of the Holy Tang are on the shoulders of the three ministers, and we can't abolish them all."

After saying that, he took out a stack of imperial edicts.

Liu walked up to him and took it with both hands: "Your grace is so great. We are limited to guarding our frontier and cannot thank the heaven..."

Having accomplished her mission, Liu Feng felt that there was no point in staying any longer: "Princess, I don't want to disturb the patient. I'll take my leave." Liu did not try to persuade him to stay. She turned around and ordered: "Luoluo, Siyuan, send the angel to the guesthouse and prepare a banquet for him."

"Yes."

When Liu Feng left, Li Miaowei couldn't help but applaud and congratulate him, with a charming and happy look: "Chang'an Jun? Why do I feel that Meiyuan Jun is better? No... Chang'an Jun is still better."

Brother-in-law, brother-in-law...

Li Miaowei called out silently in her heart, chanting his real name, recalling his voice and appearance, feeling warm. How she wanted to see him again, look at him carefully, and remember him deeply...

Taiyuan is so boring.

But my sister might be unhappy if she is really a saintly person with deep feelings... Besides, my parents have already said that they would marry me off to someone else. Thinking of this, Li Miaowei felt guilty and powerless. She subconsciously touched her hair with her backhand, and she laughed at herself again: A river crossing and a Chang'an Jun bought me off. I am so cheap, so materialistic, so realistic, and so vulgar. He definitely won't like this kind of woman.

He likes Wenren Chuchu, a fairy in the cold palace who is only interested in ascending to heaven and is not tainted by the worldly world, and Yuwen Rou, who is red-faced, panting, sweating profusely, and still insists, "Stop talking nonsense!" She is beaten so hard that she grits her teeth and whimpers but does not give in and screams... In short, they all have their own characteristics. He cannot see ordinary women, even if they are of noble status and very beautiful...

If I look at you again, will I still feel the same? It's better not to see you. It's better not to see you... She was afraid of falling in love completely, and being unable to get the love she wanted. She was afraid of not being able to get out of it and not being able to let it go. Thinking of the marriage partners mentioned by Li Keyong and Liu, Li Miaowei's heart ached.

I could have accepted those "gentlemen" if I had never met you. I could have endured the darkness if I had never seen the light...

"What are you thinking about?" Liu asked, seeing that she was distracted.

"No, nothing, I just miss my sister..." Li Miaowei noticed the severity and suspicion in Liu's eyes and said so.

Liu glanced at her daughter calmly and slowly walked towards the stairs.

She knew her daughter's character.

How many girls can resist a handsome and handsome young man like the Saint... Didn't I fall in love with Keyong at first sight and willing to suffer with him? After playing in Chang'an for a while, I learned how to dress myself up and serve men even though I never put on makeup... I'm afraid I've already fallen in love with the Saint.

On the second floor, in a dark room, Li Keyong, wearing a moon-blue Taoist robe with white floral patterns, sat cross-legged on a cushion. His eyes were closed and his hair was disheveled. A lifelike colorful painting of a bodhisattva was flying on the wall behind him, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

It's also true that he is sick.

His figure was visibly haggard. He had only one meal a day in the last few days, and the food was often the same as when it was served. He did not see anyone, and did not ask about the military or government affairs; he was isolated from the world.

It's not entirely correct to say that he is sick, he is more like emo or depressed.

The Daochang Temple Incident was a happy one, but the rabbit died and the fox was sad. He began to feel unhappy after the Hengshui victory. When the news of the Luoyang Alliance arrived, he locked himself in a small dark room. When the Zhao people escorted Liang Xiaoyao, Xiao Wangqing, Dugu Hua, and the tribute and dowry team to pass through the capital, he fell ill and did not show up at all.

People who are familiar with him know that this is actually a manifestation of Li Keyong's extreme sadness, anxiety, anger, and helplessness!

He thought that his situation was very bad. If he was not careful, he might end up like Qian Fu in a panic or die of old age, which would be more cruel than killing him. What was the point of living if he could not dominate the world and laugh at the rivers and lakes! Instead of this, he would rather die in the Tatars, die under the Tatars' knife!
Recently, his first love, Zhu Xiewusi's mother, frequently appeared in his mind. The days of rolling in bed with her and shooting birds with a slingshot were probably the most indifferent times... Thinking of the mother and daughter, and the instructions of his lover before her death, Li Keyong's heart softened again and again, but then hardened again and again. At the most extreme time, even if Zhu Xiewusi wanted to stand on the opposite side and turn against him, he would not hesitate to deal with his daughter and old subordinates together!
But he eventually suppressed his evil thoughts and the evil side of his personality, and then he was enveloped by unprecedented decadence and self-mockery.

"Knock, knock, knock." Liu knocked on the door: "Sanlang."

"Get out!" Li Keyong overturned the incense table and said, "I don't want you to care about me! Get out! I don't want you to care about me! Get out, get out..."

Liu choked up outside the door and whispered, "Sanlang, why is it so, why is it so..."

There was silence in the room for a long time, as if there was nothing to say: "It's up to you... Anyway, I am a useless man now, a useless man... When Tian Lingzi whipped him in public, he didn't even dare to say a word. Later, he was bullied by the eunuchs and was as light as a puppet, but he took advantage of the four thieves and forced Yang Fugong to flee... Ximen died of illness... He made a huge profit. I said it wouldn't work, all because of this boy, and Zhu Wen, that waste..."

Liu also agreed with what he heard. In their view, saints are more tolerant of mistakes and it is easy for them to start their careers. It cannot be said that life is easy now, but it is definitely not difficult. Unlike them, they have to face one mountain after another and live a life where the loser gets the treasure and the loser survives. They are afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, and one wrong move will lead to death.

"Marriage, haha, setting a trap for yourself, locking your hands and feet, and getting yourself into trouble..."

"Hu..." After a long breath, the darkness was silent again.

Liu burst into tears.

She is smart and understands the problem.

Seeing her father like this, Li Miaowei cried at the window: "What's wrong with being a loyal minister? Appearing in the history books of the Holy Tang Dynasty as Zhou Gong, and appearing in the eyes of future generations as a hero, as Guo Li, isn't it good? Isn't the savior who can turn the tide what you have always pursued? Our wealth and power are enough, what else is there to covet?"

Li Miaowei opened the door and walked in, kneeling down opposite Li Keyong, tears in her eyes: "Brother-in-law is not cruel, he is affectionate and righteous, he would never do a beastly act like Liu Bingyi..."

Li Keyong sat cross-legged with his head down, his long hair hanging on his face, just like Sadako.

"He is very good at disguising himself and manipulating people's hearts." He stood up, emotional and ferocious, "He talked a lot about restoring peace, but he annihilated the city in Henan. Even I can't do it. He pretended to be forced, but if he had to do it again, he would still do it. Why?! Because it consolidates his power. He will do anything to rule. Liu Bingyi? He is not Liu Bingyi, just because I am not Huo!"

Li Miaowei just cried.

Suddenly, Li Keyong smiled again: "I can't beat anyone. I can't be as shameless, vulgar and hypocritical as Zhu Wen, nor can I be as good as my son-in-law, who says one thing to one person and another to another, swallows his anger and gambles everything. What can I use to fight them..." With his hands behind his back, he walked out of the room in a daze, muttering to himself as he walked.

Liu looked at him with pity.

"Father..." Just as Li Cunxu was about to comfort him, Li Keyong shrugged his shoulders and said, "Isn't the rejuvenation of the country a good thing? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just in a bad mood, inexplicably irritated, and taking my anger out on others."

"Li Lang." Mrs. Cao's eyes moved and she reached out to pull Li Keyong.

Li Keyong patted the back of her hand and said, "Don't contact me during this period. I want to be alone."

……

The wind was strong and the sky was high, the monkeys were howling, the dusk was heavy and the autumn rain was falling. On the roads of the two capitals, there were continuous carriages and horses. The carriages were swaying, making people drowsy. The saint leaned against the corner, his head against the wall, and took the documents from Zhao Ruxin across from him.

On the third day of September, former Prime Minister Kong Wei, who was known as "a hero who saved the country from danger and defended justice," died of illness at his home in Bashang.

It was also on this day that Grand Commandant Du Rangneng died in his dream in his villa in Fanchuan.

Hanzhong submitted a memorial on behalf of Cui Yi: Cui Anqian, the governor of Jiannan and Liangchuan, died of illness in the army of Deyang on August 20th. He failed to recapture Chengdu, and the last strongman of the Cui family came to an end.

An era, Yuan and Yuyin, has ended.

The old man's fading speed was much faster than expected. I remember when I first came here, Du Rangneng was still a lively and hardworking man. When I first met Cui Anqian, he had missing teeth, but he could still select soldiers with his fists. The saint was silent, his head was dizzy, like a ball of paste, and his eyes went black from time to time: "Ruxin..."

Zhao Ruxin hurriedly sat next to him, hugged him in her arms, patted his face, and said nervously, "Saint!"

The saint lay in her arms, his face pressed against her belly and crotch, and whispered, "There should be a final conclusion before and after the death of the Taiwei. On the day of the funeral, the prime minister and others should go to see him off. Let Zheng Yanchang write a biography of the Taiwei in the National History Museum, a true record. You draft the Shinto Scripture. Confer the title of Taishi posthumously. Inform the Censorate and send personnel to Sichuan to transport back Cui Gong's coffin. Confer the title of Taifu posthumously. Confer the title of Taiwei posthumously on Kong Gong, and send his coffin back to Qufu."

Zhao Ruxin nodded: "Please accept my condolences. Be more open-minded. Everyone has to die one day."

The saint whispered, "It wasn't your minister who died, so of course you can let it go. I can't... If I die, will it be the same? The court will arrange my fate with just a few words, and no one will be truly sad. Some people will even secretly be happy and celebrate..."

"How could that be?" Zhao Ruxin laughed and asked, "If I die, will the saint be sad?"

"I will definitely cry my heart out, then put you in a glass coffin and hide you in the palace. I won't announce your death for three years, and I will come to see you whenever I have time. Just like what Emperor Daizong did to Concubine Dugu."

The Privy Councilor was somewhat touched, and pecked him on the cheek, confirming, "What if it was Concubine Shu? If she and I were to be captured by the rebel army at the same time, who would the Saint save first?"

"No choice...I can't choose!"

"What if."

"I don't think it's a good time to talk about this."

"Then I have the answer, it's Concubine Shu."

"You... Hey! Read the rest of the memorial." The saint sat up, holding the memorial in his hands and reading it quietly. The privy envoy sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder, chatting with him. Suddenly, his thighs squeezed together: "Take your hands away, why are you touching the incense burner?"

"My hands are cold." He stared at the incense burner in the window that was slightly stained by wind and rain.

"You can't keep warm if you're wet."

"No... the rivers and lakes are flooding before the thunder even sounds?"

"No, what I mean is..." The Privy Councilor was so ashamed that he could not continue talking to the lecher.

"Then let's change places, Nanny."

The Privy Councilor's defense was broken.

Where did you learn these words?
"Because Zhao is the biggest and sweetest."

"Hiss, wrong, wrong, it hurts!" The saint grimaced instantly as his flesh was pinched fiercely.

The privy councilor let go of his hand, and the birdman immediately changed his expression: "What did I do wrong? Open your mouth!"

The carriage and horses drove away, lost in the wind and rain.

Tianshui Rose gradually fell asleep, drooling as she hugged the emperor. She turned over in a daze and muttered in her sleep: "My mouth is numb... My mouth is numb and I can't eat anymore..."

On the ninth day of the ninth month, the emperor arrived at Bashang.

(End of this chapter)