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

Chapter 221: This King Can’t Wait, This King Doesn’t Want to Let Zhinu Get A Free Pass (Part )
As the sun set in the west, the sedan chair slowly stopped in front of Cheng'en Hall.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black python robe, walked calmly into Cheng'en Hall.

The maid on the side immediately stepped forward and took off Li Chengqian's coat.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief, then walked to the main couch in the central hall and sat down, with a medical book that he had read many times placed on one side.

At this moment, the eunuch Xu An walked quickly in from outside the hall, walked to Li Chengqian's side, and placed a secret letter on the table in front of him, saying, "Your Highness, this was just delivered by the Minister of the Household."

Li Chengqian glanced at it and opened it immediately.

Li Chengqian entrusted most of the Eastern Palace's spies in Chang'an City to Changsun Xiang and Ma Zhou, but some of the most core personnel were still in the hands of Li Anyan.

The most important task for these people now is to keep an eye on Chai Lingwu.

Yes, only Chai Lingwu.

Whether it is Li Tai, Hou Junji, or Zhang Liang, they are not so easy to track and investigate. If you are not careful, you may be exposed.

Therefore, tracking Chai Lingwu is the most effective and safest means of monitoring.

After all, whether it is Li Tai, Hou Junji, or Zhang Liang, there are too many eyes watching them. No matter what they want to do, it will all be reported to Li Tai in the end.

Keeping a close eye on Chai Lingwu is equivalent to keeping a close eye on everyone.

Li Chengqian flipped through the memorial.

The son-in-law made an appointment with Zhang Xi at Pingkangfang, and Zhang Xi then met Duke Xun Guo, seemingly having an appointment.

Li Chengqian's breathing suddenly stopped.

After a moment, he began to breathe again, but his eyes were already fixed on the words on the memorial.

Chai Lingwu wants to see Zhang Liang.

……

Li Chengqian leaned back suddenly and his eyes closed slightly.

What is Chai Lingwu going to do? He and Zhang Xi have not been in contact for a long time, let alone Zhang Liang.

In recent years, Chai Lingwu has never met Zhang Liang in private.

All matters were conveyed through Zhang Yi.

So, if Chai Lingwu wants to meet Zhang Liang, it means that they are going to have a showdown.

Li Chengqian leaned forward instantly and opened his eyes.

After Li Tai met Hou Junji, everything became quiet until now, except for Chai Lingwu who had a suspected meeting with Hou Junji.

Of course, everything went quiet.

Everything is quiet before the storm comes.

But Hou Junji must have made some preparations.

He was the Minister of Personnel and had once been the Minister of War and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. If he wanted to do anything, Li Chengqian would not be able to detect it.

However, Li Chengqian does not need to care about this. Hou Junji's actions will not be too big. Li Daliang is the one who really keeps a close eye on the deployment of all soldiers in Chang'an.

Even if Hou Junji did something, it was all extremely covert, and he didn't even dare to let it into Chang'an City.

After all, he also has to be careful of Fang Xuanling.

At least Fang Xuanling has not been dragged into this by Li Tai yet.

But Hou Junji and Li Tai must have agreed on the time of action, and before taking action, Li Tai had to deal with Zhang Liang.

In other words, Li Tai has to confront Zhang Liang. After persuading Zhang Liang, all that remains is for Zhang Liang to mobilize manpower.

Li Tai would not give Zhang Liang too much time, as he was worried that the longer he stayed, the more trouble he would have.

Zhang Liang didn't need to mobilize too many people, just some key personnel from the sixteen guards outside the city.

Once mobilized, wind and thunder gather.

Therefore, if it is just personnel, it will only take three to five days.

But the real killer is the crossbow.

Minister of Works, within three to five days, he can make as many crossbows as he wants.

Two to three thousand pairs.

This is the result of the best efforts of Zhang Liang, the Minister of Works.

With Li Daliang around, this is all the troops Zhang Liang and Hou Junji can mobilize.

But it's enough.

At Xuanwu Gate, there were only 800 people.

Two or three thousand is enough.

This was the largest number of people Hou Junji and Zhang Liang could mobilize together without alerting Li Daliang, Fang Xuanling, or the Hundred Cavalry Division left behind by the emperor.

Three to five days.

Li Chengqian turned around, looked at Xu An, and said solemnly, "Pass the message down. Keep a close eye on Chai Lingwu tonight. I want to know who is meeting with Zhang Liang."

"Yes!" Xu An bowed, then immediately turned and left.

Li Chengqian sat on the short couch and let out a long sigh.

My heart couldn't help but feel heavy.

Today, Concubine Yin had just mentioned the matter of the King of Qi, and at night, Li Tai immediately couldn't help but take action.

Someone in the palace is spreading the news!
Li Chengqian sneered softly, "Okay, very good. I'll just see how many surprises this exposed chess piece can bring me in the future."

……

The evening drum stopped and a curfew was established.

The moon is almost full, and its silver light covers the ground.

In the quiet backyard of Duke Xun's Mansion, Zhang Liang stood at the door of the study, looking at "Chai Lingwu" who was wearing a black hood and walking from the pavilion with his head lowered. He frowned slightly, but also breathed a sigh of relief. "Chai Lingwu" was still cautious enough.

Zhang Yi led "Chai Lingwu" into the study, and Zhang Liang bowed and said, "Greetings, Prince Consort!"

Chai Lingwu lifted his hood, revealing Li Tai before Zhang Liang. "King Wei!" Zhang Liang's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't help but step back half a step before coming to his senses. He shook his head and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, King Wei!"

Zhang Xi, who was standing beside him, was also startled. He quickly bowed to Li Tai and said, "Greetings, King Wei."

"No need to be so polite." Li Tai looked at Zhang Liang calmly and waved slightly to Zhang Xi next to him.

"Yes!" Zhang Liang bowed, then stood up and looked at Li Tai solemnly. He bowed again and asked, "Why did your highness come here in person? Where is your husband?"

"My cousin is in the palace." Li Tai smiled, then walked to the main couch in the study and sat down. He then looked at Zhang Liang and said, "My cousin will wear my clothes tonight and pretend to be me in the palace study. This will be a good opportunity for me to come and see the Duke."

Zhang Liang felt an inexplicable chill. He looked up at Zhang Xi and said, "Okay, go down. You're not needed here anymore."

Zhang Xi immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Seeing Zhang Xi leave the study, Zhang Liang turned to look at Li Tai and said with a bow, "Your Highness, is there something that brings you to my residence today?"

It was clearly agreed that Chai Lingwu would come to see him today, but suddenly it became Li Tai.

Zhang Liang is not stupid. He thinks that Li Tai’s visit this time must be for some big event.

"I have something to trouble you, Duke. I would like to ask you..." Li Tai leaned forward slightly, as if smiling, and said, "Mobilize the troops."

"Mobilize troops?" Zhang Liang clenched his fists instantly, his expression cold. Looking at Li Tai, who looked determined, he bowed again and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what is the purpose of mobilizing troops?"

"Attack the city!" Li Tai looked up calmly.

Zhang Liang's pupils dilated, and he bowed again, "Your Highness, where will you attack?"

"The palace!" Li Tai said, staring at Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang's face twisted. He bowed deeply to Li Tai and said, "Your Highness, I will pretend I didn't hear what you just said. Please return home!"

"Duke, I heard today that two daughters of convicted officials in the Taichang Temple died of illness this month. They were in their prime, as beautiful as flowers. It's such a pity." Li Tai shook his head slightly, his face full of emotion.

Zhang Liang looked at Li Tai in surprise, wanting to say something, but in the end he didn't say a word.

The study became quiet for a moment.

……

After a long moment, Zhang Liang bowed solemnly and said, "Your Highness has some plans in mind, I understand, but why should Your Highness do so? Your Majesty is now in the prime of life, and even if the Crown Prince enjoys some favor, he will inevitably make mistakes in the future."

Li Tai shook his head slightly and said, "Zhi Nu is already fifteen and will be married in a year or two. But if I go to the countryside, my foundation in Chang'an will be gone. How many opportunities will I have...especially since the governor of Yongzhou has been vacant."

Li Tai was able to stay in Chang'an only as the governor of Yongzhou. That is to say, after Li Zhi gets married, once he is appointed as the governor of Yongzhou, he can also stay in Chang'an for a long time.

How much chance does Li Tai have as a prince who lives in a remote place and cannot see the emperor for a whole year?

The Tang Dynasty did not practice the system where the second son became the crown prince after the eldest son died. Instead, the Tang Dynasty practiced the system where the second son succeeded to the throne after the eldest and third sons died.

"Is there no other way? Your Highness insists on taking such a risky approach." Zhang Liang bowed and said solemnly, "Your Highness, this is treason!"

"Duke, I have something to tell you." Li Tai smiled softly and said, "Before the end of the year, I sent a voodoo doll with my father's birth date inscribed on it to the Eastern Palace through the Zhang family. Now, that thing should be in the hands of the Crown Prince's wife, Zhang... Duke, I remember that it was you who asked the Zhang family to marry their daughter off, right?"

Zhang Liang's pupils instantly dilated, and he looked at Li Tai in disbelief. He said bitterly, "So, Your Highness has been plotting against me since that time."

Li Tai ignored Zhang Liang and continued, "Anyone involved in the witchcraft incident will not have a good ending. My royal brother, Zhang, the Duke, and of course, possibly me... Duke, you and I have no other choice."

Zhang Liang clenched his fists, but he suppressed his anger and said, "Your Highness, why don't you wait until the future? When the witchcraft incident happens, I will be implicated. Why bother implicating Your Highness yourself, let alone taking the risk of mutiny?"

"I still say the same thing. This king can't wait." Li Tai shook his head and said, "This king doesn't want to let Zhinu get away with it."

Zhang Liang took a deep breath and bowed again, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that I will report this to His Majesty?"

"Duke, how much do you think the Emperor knows about your affairs?" Li Tai shook his head slightly and said, "You know the Emperor better than I do. If the Emperor wants to march east, he must naturally eliminate all the troubles.

Duke, do you think the Emperor will keep you in Chang'an, or take you to the Liaodong battlefield to fight, or... "

"Your Highness, there's no need to say more." Zhang Liang waved his hand, looked at Li Tai and said directly, "Your Highness, relying on me alone is not enough no matter what."

"Don't worry, Duke. If you transfer half of your troops here, Duke Chen will also transfer half of his troops there."

"Hou Junji, him?" Zhang Liang didn't expect that Hou Junji had also defected to Li Tai and wanted to rebel with him.

Li Tai raised his head and said calmly, "The princess will give birth in a few days. Three days after the birth, I will host a banquet for all the officials in Chang'an. I will then drug their wine to make them think they are drunk and sleepy. At night, I will lead my troops into the city, then directly into the imperial palace, and finally into the Eastern Palace. I will find the witchcraft and convict the crown prince!"

"City gate?" Zhang Liang asked doubtfully.

"Someone will open the city gate. The Duke just needs to mobilize the troops, and I will tell him which city gate to open." Li Tai looked at Zhang Liang calmly.

"Jinwu Guard?"

"This has my seal of the Grand General of the Left Golden Guard, held by Duke Chen, which leads to the Vermillion Bird Gate."

"Suzakumon?"

"Prime Minister Fang." Li Tai took a deep breath and said, "Prime Minister Fang, lead us into the Suzaku Gate, capture the guards directly, and then rush into the East Palace."

"Prime Minister Fang?" Zhang Liang looked at Li Tai in surprise.

"It's Fang Yiai. I have evidence against him that can confiscate his property." Li Tai nodded lightly.

"Your Highness is using coercion like this. Aren't you afraid that we will change our ways?" Zhang Liang narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Tai.

"Don't be afraid!" Li Tai breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Duke Chen wants to be prime minister, Fang Yiai wants to take a step further, and as for the Duke, how about being prime minister as well, and becoming the Minister of the Central Secretariat?"

"Your Highness is quite arrogant." Zhang Liang nodded slightly, then asked, "What about His Majesty?"

"My father is currently inspecting Dingzhou. If anything happens in Chang'an, he will definitely rush back..."

"No!" Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "His Majesty will not return to Chang'an. He will go to Luoyang first..."

"Duke Chen has already deployed troops in Luoyang," Li Tai interrupted Zhang Liang. "Before Father arrives in Luoyang, the Prince of Qi will raise an army in Qizhou. We will then accuse the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi of colluding. We will deal decisively and then go to Luoyang to apologize. However, the Duke and Duke Chen arrived in Luoyang ahead of schedule, stormed the Ziwei Palace, and honored Father as the Supreme Emperor."

Zhang Liang looked at Li Tai in surprise and whispered, "So His Highness has already planned everything."

"I still have many shortcomings. When the time comes, I will ask Duke Guo and Duke Chen to check for them and fill in the gaps." Li Tai shook his head calmly.

Zhang Liang suddenly smiled wryly. He looked at Li Tai and asked, "Your Highness, are you really not afraid of me, or that Duke Chen will betray you?"

"I'm not afraid!" Li Tai stood up, walked to the window, and said softly, "Compared to returning to Xiangzhou, I would rather fight, even if it means death."

Zhang Liang was slightly stunned.

Li Tai suddenly turned around, looked at Zhang Liang, and said with a hint of pride: "And Duke, do you really think that this king only has you and Duke Chen to work on this?"

"Uh!"

(End of this chapter)