Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 114: In front of Wei Zheng, Li Tai is given a cold shoulder (Part )
Changan.

Taiji Palace, Zhaode Hall.

The sunlight shines into the hall through the window frames, colorful but straight.

Li Chengqian raised his eyes from the imperial edict on the table in front of him, and then looked to both sides, where he saw Wei Zheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Hou Junji, the Chief Clerk of Yongzhou, Su Dingfang, the Lieutenant General of the Left Jinwu Guard, and Zhang Xuan, the Lang General of the Left Qianniu Guard.

After the emperor's secret decree arrived, Li Chengqian only informed the four of them.

Wei Zheng was the prime minister, Hou Junji was in charge of Yongzhou Prefecture, and Su Dingfang was the General of the Central Army of the Jinwu Guard, in charge of arresting people.

Zhang Xuan, General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, and commander of the Hundred Cavalry Division.

……

"You all have read the Emperor's decree. Chang'an must take drastic action this time to uncover all the rebels we can find, while also playing the long game to catch the biggest fish.

As for those who are hiding deep inside, we must use this commotion to try to find them, and then when the time comes, we will catch them all in one fell swoop." Li Chengqian's expression was cold, and his fists were clenched.

"Yes!" Wei Zheng, Hou Junji, Su Dingfang and Zhang Xuan knelt down and bowed at the same time.

Li Chengqian's gaze fell on Zhang Xuan and he asked directly, "Mr. Zhang, has the man from Qianniu Prison confessed?"

"He was tortured for two days and two nights, but he didn't utter a single word." Zhang Xuan shook his head, his expression slightly grim as he said, "I suspect he's a murderer. Not only has he been trained since childhood, but even his family is in the hands of others. Torture won't make him speak."

"Since he doesn't want to speak, then he doesn't need to speak." Li Chengqian said this, and everyone looked at him in surprise.

"Find a death row prisoner, torture him severely, make his face look ugly, and finally make him 'bang' his head against the wall to death after the torture." Li Chengqian looked at Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood: "Your Highness's intention is to create the illusion that he committed suicide."

"Since he doesn't want to speak, let everyone think he is dead and no one will look for him. This way, we can investigate everything behind it more calmly." Li Chengqian knocked lightly on the table, and the others immediately understood.

"At the same time, we must also be careful. If anyone secretly searches his body, arrest them directly to prevent any possibility of information leaking." Li Chengqian looked at Zhang Xuan and nodded.

"Similarly, this step can also be our only backup plan after someone 'dies'. We can catch the person and then follow the clues to find the cause." Su Dingfang nodded in appreciation.

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan immediately bowed.

"Have you found all the traces of that person in Chang'an City?" Li Chengqian turned to look at Hou Junji.

Zhang Xuan, a General of the Thousand Oxen Guards, and Su Dingfang, a General of the Central Guards, were far less powerful on the ground in Chang'an than Hou Junji, the Chief Clerk of Yongzhou.

"Most of it has been found, but some things may still be uncertain, especially some of them involve the palace." Hou Junji looked at Li Chengqian with a serious expression.

He was talking about Pingkangfang. If you arrested one or two people in a brothel in Pingkangfang, the people in Pingkangfang would still complain. But if you check all the people in the entire brothel, you are cutting off their source of income, and the people behind them will be angry.

Especially since the palace is involved in this. If there is any chaos, even Hou Junji may not be able to handle it.

"Go ahead and do it! Mobilize all the places on your list: the Jinwu Guard, the Qianniu Guard, the Dali Temple, Yongzhou Prefecture, and the two counties of Chang'an and Wannian. Seal off these places and investigate them one by one." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian said, "The bigger the commotion, the better. It would be best if people would think that the people in the Qianniu Prison are alive and have confessed the truth."

Now everyone understood.

To confuse the fake with the real and to deceive the real with the fake.

……

"If someone from the palace is involved in this," Li Chengqian said, turning sideways, "Dou Zhijie."

The eunuch Dou Zhijie stepped out from the shadows at the back and bowed earnestly, "Your servant is here."

"The emperor's decree is here. The place was found outside the palace and Zhang Qing gave the name. I order you to lead people to seal it off immediately, and then deal with it after the emperor and uncle return from Luoyang." Li Chengqian looked at Dou Zhijie calmly.

"I obey your command." Dou Zhijie bowed immediately.

With the emperor's edict, the prince's order, and the prime minister sitting beside him, Dou Zhijie had no idea what to do.

When those in the palace asked questions, Dou Zhijie only had to bring out the emperor's edict, the prince's and the prime minister's orders, and no one dared to say a word more.

It’s too late to hide.

"After that, someone should be sent to investigate. All those who can be dealt with by the Qianniu Guards will be dealt with. For those who cannot be dealt with by the Qianniu Guards, write down their names and report to father." Li Chengqian looked at Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng bowed slightly. He knew that the person who would be caught in the end would be the one that the Qianniu Guards could not deal with.

Anyone who can get involved with Qianniu Guard, the palace, and have connections with local noble families is definitely not a simple person.

"Finally, let's talk about Qi Zhixuan." Li Chengqian looked at Zhang Xuan and said, "Cousin, investigate Qi Zhixuan's surroundings. Use spies from the Hundred Cavalry Division in various locations to find the true identity of the man in the Qianniu Prison. Then, find a way to track down his family... You don't have to escort him to Chang'an. Just leave a portrait and give it to him. I believe he will tell the truth."

Zhang Xuan, General of the Thousand Oxen Guards and Duke of Nan'an County.

His father was Zhang Cong, the former General of the Left Guard, former Prince's Left Guard, and Duke of Nan'an; his mother was Zhangsun, the elder sister of Empress Changsun.

Zhang Xuan's grandfather was Zhang Bian, the general of the Left Guard of the Sui Dynasty; his grandmother was Dou, the cousin of Empress Taimu.

Zhang Xuan's great-grandfather was Zhang Hao, General of the Cavalry of the Northern Zhou Dynasty; his great-grandmother was Princess Xindu Li, daughter of Emperor Taizu of Tang Li Hu, sister of Emperor Shizu of Tang Li Bing, and aunt of Emperor Gaozu of Tang Li Yuan.

……

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely make him speak." Zhang Xuan nodded vigorously.

Li Chengqian nodded in satisfaction. He didn't have to worry too much about Zhang Xuan's work.

In the entire Tang Dynasty, apart from close relatives of the royal family and a few direct descendants of the Changsun and Dou families, there were few people in the world whose status was higher than his.

Especially since he was one of the emperor's most trusted commanders of the Hundred Cavalry Division. "If, after all this, he still refuses to speak, then after a few days, tell him about his family's death and say it was the Qi family's doing." Li Chengqian's light words sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"If that's the case, why is he still unwilling to tell the truth?" Wei Zheng suddenly spoke.

"Then we should find him a place to marry a gentle and virtuous woman, have him have a big fat boy, and then take him away." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "If he still refuses to speak, then we have no choice but to kill him and send his head to Qi. We will wait for Qi to become angry and take action to defeat him."

Hou Junji couldn't help but lower his head. The prince was so unfamiliar that it was surprising. Such scheming and trickery... was definitely not something the prince could come up with.

"Alright, my lords, get back to work." Li Chengqian smiled and waved his hand, saying, "My father is planning an eastern expedition against Goguryeo, and you all might have to accompany him. All these hidden dangers must be completely eliminated...especially Duke Chen. He'll be at the forefront of the army, and he wouldn't want to see anything happen in Chang'an."

Hou Junji suddenly raised his head, then nodded solemnly and said, "Your Highness, rest assured. No matter who is behind this, I will definitely find out who they are."

When the emperor marches eastward to attack Silla, if nothing unexpected happens, Hou Junji will definitely be the commander of the army, or even the person who follows the emperor around to give him advice.

When you are at the front of the army, the last thing you want is chaos in the rear.

Especially troubles like that caused by Yang Xuangan.

"Then let's do it this way." Li Chengqian nodded.

Wei Zheng, Hou Junji, Su Dingfang and Zhang Xuan immediately stood up, bowed and left.

……

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, and then saw Wei Zheng coming back.

Li Chengqian asked in surprise, "Prime Minister Wei, is there something else?"

"Your Highness!" Wei Zheng bowed lightly and said seriously, "I know that Dali Temple Director Dai Zhide is quite capable and has come up with a hundred schemes, but Your Highness, it is best to use these almost conspiratorial tactics as little as possible."

Li Chengqian was stunned for a moment, then immediately nodded and said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister Wei. Dai Qing only uses this kind of method for matters like this. For other ways of governing a country, we should use legal means and overt tactics. I know what I'm doing."

"That's good." Wei Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "I heard that before the Chancellor Yu left the capital, he recommended Li Yanshou to Your Highness for the position of Minister of Food for the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, Li Yanshou is about to start preparing to edit the Southern History and Northern History." Li Chengqian was slightly stunned, then looked at Wei Zheng and said, "I almost forgot that Li Yanshou once worked with Wei Xiang to compile the Sui Dynasty History."

"Yes!" Wei Zheng nodded calmly and said, "The compilation of the Southern History and the Northern History will take a long time. Is Your Highness prepared?"

"Is Prime Minister Wei referring to Qingque's compilation of the Book of the Later Han?" Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Compiling history isn't something that should be rushed. The purpose of compiling history is to warn future generations and to teach them. But compiling history simply for its own sake, without any reflection, is better left alone."

"Your Highness, what you said makes sense." Wei Zheng nodded in agreement. When they were compiling the "Book of Sui", they discussed many issues from all aspects and reflected deeply on them. This is the true attitude of writing history.

Li Chengqian looked slightly forward, the sunlight was still warm.

……

As the morning light fell, the entire Tuyuhun Plateau was filled with a solemn atmosphere.

There are tall mountains, forests and green grasslands.

Ten thousand elite Tang cavalrymen, armed with long spears and flags hoisted high, were scattered in groups behind the Huan River at the foot of the Nanshan Mountains in Qinghai, at the Longyang Gorge where the Huan River flows into the Yellow River, and at the Chaka Salt Lake in the west direction of Fuqi City.

Anyone who understands military warfare would immediately understand that when the Tang army is still, it is as majestic as a mountain, but when it moves, it is as aggressive as fire.

Lu Dongzan talked to Li Xiaoyi for a few words, frowned, then turned around and headed towards Dayechuan.

Half a day later, he rushed through the Bailima Snow Mountain Road and arrived at the edge of the bitter sea on the top of the mountain.

Tens of thousands of densely packed military tents were spread out behind the Sea of ​​Bitterness.

Lu Dongzan entered the military camp and soon appeared in a military tent.

"Zanpu, King Jiangxia said that the name of Kuhai is unlucky and the scenery of Kuhai is not beautiful. In matters of marriage, we should avoid all inauspicious things. Therefore, we ask Zanpu to go down to the Tuyuhun Plateau to welcome the bride." Lu Dongzan bowed seriously to the Tubo Zanpu Songtsen Gampo.

"This is probably the strategy of the Tang people. From Tongtian River to Baihai, and then from Baihai to Kuhai, and now to Dayichuan, step by step!" Songtsen Gampo, wearing a thick red cloak and a golden armor inlaid with gems, had a calm face and a bit of heroism, which made his originally ordinary face look somewhat attractive. He raised his head from the map in front of him.

"I didn't want to do this originally, but the Tang Dynasty said that if we want to welcome the bride at Tongtian River, they will send 10,000 elite cavalry and recruit 20,000 Tuyuhun cavalry to see her off." Lu Dongzan looked a little embarrassed.

"Then let them do as they wish. The god of Hara Mountain will teach them a good lesson." Songtsen showed a hint of cruelty on his face.

"That's what you say, but if something goes wrong, I'm afraid the Tang people will realize the problem in the future, and it will be difficult to use this to severely damage them." Lu Dongzan advised seriously.

Songtsen nodded calmly, then asked, "How are the Tang emperor and his ministers?"

"The emperor is powerful and mysterious, and the prince is profound and wise." Lu Dongzan bowed with a solemn expression.

"Then who spread rumors on the plateau, killed the descendants of King Xuan in Tuyuhun, and decided on the wedding venue?"

"It's Crown Prince Li Chengqian." Lu Dongzan bowed solemnly and said, "Zanpu, these two generations of the Tang Dynasty will probably be very powerful. The only thing that can weaken them now is the internal fighting among them."

"You mentioned it, it was the King of Wei." Songtsen immediately understood.

"The emperor likes his youngest son." Lu Dongzan glanced at Songzan and bowed slightly.

Songzan waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Then let them fight among themselves first. However, they have already noticed something, and it would be inappropriate for me to do nothing. Send a message back to Lhasa, and kill all those who contacted King Xuan."

"Yes!" Lu Dongzan breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What about going down the mountain?"

"According to their opinion, it's a good opportunity for us to see what the Tang princess who marries me looks like. If she doesn't satisfy me, the Tang and Tubo will go to war." Songtsen's face was grim.

(End of this chapter)