Video Editor

Chapter 1368: The Aristocratic Family Misled Me
Gao Lishi, the only one who escaped from Mawei, returned to Chang'an and brought back the "last will" and the imperial seal of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji. Looking at the imperial seal in front of him, even he who was used to seeing everything in the world became excited. After all, this thing is really too important to the Chinese people.

Moreover, Suning discovered that it was not as huge as it was in the TV series. It was exactly four inches square as recorded in history books. In addition, the size in ancient times was smaller than it is now, so the imperial seal seen in TV series now is very large. This is mainly because the imperial seal in TV series is designed according to the current size.

This has also led to a great misunderstanding among our descendants about the imperial seal.

Of course, because the imperial seal was lost, we today have no way of seeing what it looks like with our own eyes.

It is said that the imperial seal was made from the ancient Heshi Bi.

This was mainly because Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and in order to leave behind an item that could be passed down through the ages, he asked Li Si to use the He Shi Bi to create a jade seal.

Because only in this way can he be worthy of the status of Qin Shi Huang.

Li Si also added the words "Received the Mandate from Heaven, May You Live Long and Prosper" on it.

So in the end this became a symbol for each dynasty to prove its legitimacy.

Many warlords fought to the death for the imperial seal.

At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang usurped the throne. The Han emperor at the time was very young, so he gave the imperial seal to the empress dowager for safekeeping. When Wang Mang's plan to usurp power was basically completed, he immediately sent his brother Wang Shun to Changle Palace to force the empress dowager to hand over the seal. The empress dowager was furious and threw him to the ground, breaking a corner of the imperial seal.

Wang Mang later ordered people to complete it with gold.

After Emperor Guangwu of Han restored the Han Dynasty, the imperial seal was passed to Liu Xiu.

But now there is no trace of the imperial seal.

No one knows where this jade seal is.

This is mainly because the change of Chinese dynasties caused the imperial seal to be displaced.

However, in modern society, the imperial seal no longer has any function, and people just regard it as a cultural relic.

There are many different opinions about the time when the imperial seal disappeared. The main possibilities are the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and the end of the Tang Dynasty. You must know that these three periods were the darkest moments in Chinese history.

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period: According to historical records, the imperial seal was lost in the hands of Li Congke, the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Before the Khitan army captured Luoyang, Li Congke and his concubines burned themselves to death in the palace, and all the imperial belongings were thrown into the fire. Since then, the "Imperial Seal" has mysteriously disappeared.

Late Yuan Dynasty: Another theory holds that the imperial seal disappeared again at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

When the Ming army attacked Yuan Dadu, they seized some of the jewels that Emperor Shun of Yuan had taken with him when he fled, but there was no jade seal of the Yuan emperors or the imperial seal among them.

Late Tang Dynasty: There is also a saying that the imperial seal was lost in the late Tang Dynasty.

The imperial seal was lost after the last emperor of the Tang Dynasty set himself on fire while holding it.

Therefore, there are many different opinions about the time of disappearance of the imperial seal, and the specific time is difficult to determine, but it has always been in the hands of the Tang Dynasty emperor.

After being convinced of the authenticity of the imperial seal, Suning reluctantly put down the treasure in his hand, and then looked up at Gao Lishi who had been kneeling in front of him.

Looking at Gao Lishi, who was kneeling before him in a very standard manner, Suning still felt a little strange in his heart. You know, Gao Lishi must have thought that he was humble.

At this moment, Su Ning, holding the Imperial Seal, looked at Gao Lishi in front of him and asked, but he did not take the blood edict beside him seriously. "Second brother, tell me! What exactly happened at Mawei Slope?"

However, Gao Lishi, who witnessed Liao Kai slaying the dragon with his own eyes, was really scared. The moment the dragon was slain made him understand everything, especially when Liao Kai had someone write this blood edict with dragon blood, and realized that Suning in front of him was the mastermind behind all things.

Although Gao Lishi understood that Su Ning was asking knowingly, he still explained cautiously in front of Su Ning, "Your Highness, I dare not call myself your brother. The Jinyiwei of Luoyang, led by Commander Liao Kai, attacked a large group of people touring Yizhou in the early morning of yesterday morning and slaughtered the accompanying imperial guards, all the nobles in the court, and the princes and grandchildren of the emperor."

"Oh? His Majesty has really passed away?"

"Yes! Li Shi simply buried His Majesty's body, and then fled back to Chang'an overnight to report to the prince."

Su Ning immediately revealed a hypocritical expression and said, "Damn it! The fake emperor of Luoyang is too cruel."

"Your Highness, His Majesty left a blood edict for you before he died." Gao Lishi naturally cursed Su Ning in front of him a thousand times in his heart, but he reminded Su Ning to quickly read the more important blood edict.

"What? Your Majesty's blood decree? Show it to me now."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

At this time, no one was willing to correct Suning's rudeness. Gao Lishi quickly stood up and handed Li Longji's blood edict to Suning. As the mastermind behind the scenes, Suning naturally knew the specific content of the blood edict a long time ago.

Because this blood edict was concocted by Liao Kai at Mawei Slope under Suning's command. Of course, the blood used in this blood edict was indeed Li Longji's. As for his own people, it would be very easy to imitate Li Longji's handwriting.

Suning saw that the contents of the blood edict were indeed forged according to his own wishes. "I only think that the virtues of heaven and earth are combined, the merits of civilization and education are flourishing, the internal and external governance are complete, and the use of peace and harmony is flourishing. The ceremonies are prepared here, and education is flourishing. I advise you, Suning, the Prince of Wuwei, that you are my right-hand man and the pillar of the Tang Dynasty.

We hereby inherit the legacy of our ancestors and emperors of the Tang Dynasty and confer the title of Prince of Wuwei, Suning, as Prince of Yong.

I will soon die today, and this is the misfortune of the Taiping traitor Li Lingyue and the Tang Dynasty's noble families. I hope that Prince Yong can wipe out the Luoyang rebels and exterminate the ten clans of the Taiping traitor Li Lingyue and the noble families who betrayed me."

At this moment, Su Ning suddenly asked Gao Lishi unexpectedly, "Gao Lishi, was this blood edict really written by His Majesty before his death?"

"Of course! Li Shi witnessed it with his own eyes, and before His Majesty died, he shouted that the aristocratic families had misled him." Gao Lishi suppressed his curse on Suning and drew circles, still cooperating with Suning, the biggest beneficiary, to act here.

Then Su Ning turned to look at the personal guard beside him and said, "Well, Su Yi, go call the two gentlemen Song Jing and Yao Chong, and then ask them to come and verify the authenticity of this blood edict."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, fled Chang'an in a hurry, Yao Chong and Song Jing, two old foxes, stayed behind on the grounds of their age and did not leave Chang'an with Li Longji's large group.

Suning naturally understood that this was because the two old gang members were not optimistic about Li Longji's trip to Yizhou. After all, the foundation of the Tang Dynasty court was still in Guanzhong and Chang'an. The Tang emperor who left Chang'an would eventually become a fish on the chopping board.

Soon, the two old guys, Yao Chong and Song Jing, arrived at the Prince of Wuwei's Mansion and noticed the eunuch Gao Lishi standing beside them. However, their hearts were filled with surprise and shock.

Su Ning asked Gao Lishi to pass the blood edict to Song Jing and Yao Chong. "My two lords, your majesty's eunuch Gao Lishi has escaped from Mawei Slope and brought back your majesty's blood edict and the imperial seal. I have already confirmed the authenticity of the imperial seal, but I am unsure about your majesty's blood edict."

"What? The imperial seal? The blood edict? Did His Majesty really die at the hands of the rebels?" Sure enough, Su Ning's explanation shocked Song Jing and Yao Chong. They hurriedly took the imperial seal and the blood edict and examined them.

"Yes! Gao Lishi has temporarily buried your Majesty's body at Mawei Slope. After we in Chang'an have eliminated the rebels in Luoyang, we will then find a way to bring your Majesty's body back and bury it in the imperial mausoleum."

However, Yao Chong and Song Jing were unconcerned about the aftermath of Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji's death. After all, the Tang Dynasty's Li royal family was completely destroyed, with the Imperial Guards slaughtering nearly all of the legitimate princes and grandchildren at the Battle of Mawei. Then, Yao Chong and Song Jing, the two veterans, carefully examined the blood edict. The more they looked, the more they felt its significance. Looking up at Su Ning, they began to speculate, "Your Highness, this blood edict is indeed written by His Majesty. It seems His Majesty still relies most heavily on you, Your Highness. However..."

"My two husbands, what's the matter? Do you feel that there is something unusual about this blood edict?"

Suning didn't think that his plan could be hidden from the two old foxes in front of him. After all, they were both top civil officials who had served in five dynasties. This blood edict could only be a real blood edict with their approval.

Yao Chong and Song Jing exchanged a glance before turning to explain to Su Ning. His words were filled with admonition, "Your Highness, the aristocratic families are crucial to the safety of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, it's impossible to follow His Majesty's will. Furthermore, exterminating the ten clans of Li Lingyue, the false emperor of Luoyang, is unthinkable, even if the entire Li royal family is included in the ten clans."

"Ah! You two gentlemen have a point! However, we must obey His Majesty's will. After all, His Majesty revealed the false emperor Li Lingyue and the aristocratic families before his death. Next, I will lead the Chang'an garrison out of the city to fight the rebels. We must completely eliminate these rebels in Luoyang."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

"Also, the mercenaries from the Anxi Protectorate will arrive in Chang'an soon. We will definitely be able to fulfill His Majesty's last wish."

"..." Seeing that Suning did not listen to their advice, Yao Chong and Song Jing both smiled bitterly.

Then, the two old foxes, Yao Chong and Song Jing, left the Prince of Wuwei's Mansion. Of course, the plaque here will be changed to Prince Yong's Mansion tomorrow, and this will be the most important power center in Chang'an City in the future.

After leaving the Wuwei County Prince's Mansion, Yao Chong did not leave immediately. Instead, he asked Song Jing, who was looking at the side, "Song Xianggong, what do you think?"

"Hey! Mr. Song, what do I think? Is there still any meaning?" However, when Song Jing thought about the current situation, he felt a little bored.

"Yes! The changes in the world are so unpredictable. The Tang Dynasty court was completely slaughtered. The next Empress in Luoyang may not have a good ending."

Then Song Jing, who had been deep in thought, suddenly came up with an idea. "Prince Yao, what do you say about us forming a new court as soon as possible and then welcoming a member of the royal family back to the imperial family?"

However, Yao Chong rejected Song Jing's proposal without a second thought. "Hmph! Your Majesty's descendants were all slaughtered by the rebels, and the remaining ones are inextricably linked to the false emperor in Luoyang. Furthermore, Your Majesty's will requires Prince Yong to exterminate the false emperor's ten clans. If this continues, there will be no royal family of the Li family left in the entire world."

"Huh? What should we do? Besides, can Prince Yong really resist the rebels outside the city?"

"It shouldn't be a big problem! The Anxi mercenaries will be able to return to Chang'an soon. Besides, the Anxi mercenaries are Prince Yong's direct troops. Combined with the 100,000 defenders in Chang'an, Prince Yong can definitely sweep away the rebels in Luoyang."

"Prince Yao, I heard that it was the Jinyiwei and Liao Kai from Luoyang who attacked Mawei Slope. But the strangest thing is that Liao Kai and the 200,000 Jinyiwei suddenly disappeared. Even the pseudo-emperor in Luoyang didn't know where these Jinyiwei had gone."

Song Jing, standing by, suddenly stopped Yao Chong from rambling. After all, these words were too sensitive to say in front of Chang'an and Prince Yong's mansion. "Hush! These things are not for us to consider. Once the world is a little more stable, I will submit my resignation to Prince Yong."

"Hey……"

Tonight in Chang'an is destined to be a sleepless night for the people of the Tang Dynasty. The ever-changing situation has exhausted all their brain cells, and they are unable to figure out the rules and inside stories.

……

After the two old foxes, Yao Chong and Song Jing, left the Prince of Wuwei's Mansion, only Su Ning and Gao Lishi were left in the study again, and Su Ning looked at Gao Lishi with a complicated look.

"Gao Lishi, have you ever thought about the future?"

"The wrestlers are at the prince's beckoning."

"I've never had a eunuch serve me before, because I feel that eunuchs are a violation of human nature. Now that Your Majesty has passed away, how about you serve me from now on?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your support, Lishi."

"Well, Lishi, you are a wise man. I hope you can keep your original intention."

"Yes! Your Majesty, the powerful warrior must keep this in mind."

……

The next morning, Yao Chong and Song Jing still cheered up and came to the Prince of Wuwei's Mansion, and found that the plaque here had indeed been changed to Prince Yong's Mansion.

Wuwei was formerly known as Liangzhou and Yongzhou. They believed that it was very appropriate for the late emperor to enthrone Suning as King of Yong, and that no one was more suitable to be a leader than Suning.

Yao Chong and Song Jing both politely saluted Su Ning, "Your Highness, we pay our respects to Prince Yong."

"No need to be polite! Prime Minister Song, Prime Minister Yao, I have decided to make His Majesty's blood edict public and will reform the court's official gazette. It will be printed and distributed throughout the Tang Dynasty every week. This time, His Majesty's blood edict is just one of my attempts."

"What? The court bulletin?"

"That's right! The price of a copy of the court bulletin is one penny. It's no longer limited to dissemination among court officials, but will also be available to all the people of the Tang Dynasty. Of course, it can also bring in some revenue for Prince Yong's Mansion."

"Your Highness, ordinary people wouldn't understand it, would they? And they wouldn't necessarily be interested, would they?"

"That's all right! The new court bulletin is different from the previous ones. It not only contains the court's policies and decisions, but also some folk songs and gossip that the people love to hear."

"This……"

"I'll have the new imperial gazette delivered to the residences of the two gentlemen later. Then you'll be able to clearly feel the power of the new imperial gazette."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

"Also, before I led my army to fight back against the rebels, I first established the administrative structure of our palace."

Song Jing and Yao Chong both looked at Su Ning in front of them and asked, suddenly sensing the difference between Su Ning and the others, "Your Highness, do you have an idea?"

"That's right! From now on, our Yongwang Palace will still adopt the six-department system, but we will abolish the three-province system and establish a seven-member cabinet system and the palace secretariat. The cabinet members will be called elders or ministers. All political affairs will be reported from the local areas to the six ministries, and then gathered in the cabinet. The cabinet elders will handle them separately and write down their opinions. Then they will be handed over to the palace secretariat for summary and collation before being presented to this prince for final decision."

"Ah? Cabinet? Secretariat?" At this time, Yao Chong and Song Jing both realized how terrifying this centralization was.

"Yes! What do you two gentlemen think?" After saying this, Suning looked at the two old foxes meaningfully and asked.

"Huh? Your Majesty, this is a brilliant plan! It's perfect for the current situation in the palace."

"Well, since both of you support my king's decision, then you two can directly enter the cabinet as the first ministers. After we have eliminated the Luoyang rebels, we can slowly fill out the cabinet."

"Yes! Your Highness Prince Yong."

……

(End of this chapter)