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

Chapter 222: The Emperor's Secret Order: Vice Minister, Act at Your Own Ease (Part )

The moon moves and the stars rotate, and a night has passed.

I tossed and turned all night in Cheng'en Hall.

Before dawn, Li Chengqian had already sat up.

Looking at the darkness outside the hall, he couldn't help but pinch his eyebrows.

My heart was churning.

If Li Tai wanted to plot a rebellion, Li Chengqian would first have to ensure that his plot was completely crushed.

Hou Junji and Zhang Liang, neither of them can be let go.

As for Fang Xuanling, Li Chengqian hoped that Li Tai could drag Fang Xuanling into the water, so that Qiu Xinggong, who was hiding the deepest, would rush out.

Yes, Qiu Xinggong.

Because the emperor suddenly went on an eastern tour and Qiu Xinggong was still in seclusion for self-reflection, the emperor did not take him to Luoyang at all, let alone Dingzhou.

In Chang'an, Qiu Xinggong, who did not lead troops, did not hold any military position, and was self-reflecting at home, has gradually faded from people's sight.

Qiu Xinggong was watching, and the emperor was watching too.

Look at Li Tai, Hou Junji, Zhang Liang, Fang Xuanling, and even Li Daliang, Zheng Rentai, and Li Chengqian.

All of Li Chengqian's actions in Li Tai's rebellion case will be scrutinized by the emperor under a magnifying glass.

The Emperor was a contradictory creature.

He hoped that his prince would be able to handle all matters well and safely when he was not in Chang'an, so that he could fight on the front line with peace of mind.

At the same time, he hoped that he did not have too much ambition, or perhaps that he had the ability and means to deprive his prince of all his rights.

Even if others were in front of the army, he could guarantee that with just one word, he could deprive the prince of all his power.

This is the emperor.

This is Li Shimin.

Everything about Li Chengqian was magnified and examined by the emperor, and then absolute adjustments were made before he went on the eastern expedition.

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled. He looked towards the Liangyi Palace and the emperor sitting on the dragon couch, watching everything with a cold expression appeared in his mind.

Father, let me show you how big a surprise I can bring you this time.

……

In the Wude Hall, a secret memorial had been placed in front of Li Chengqian.

King Wei secretly met with Duke Xun.

He returned home after one night.

Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief. This step had been taken and there was no turning back.

Li Tai met Zhang Liang. After inspecting the Ministry of Works today, Zhang Liang left the city and returned in the afternoon.

Li Chengqian looked outside the Wude Hall, where the light and shadow were slanting to the west.

It won't be long before the next value is reached.

Li Chengqian turned around gently and looked at the black and gold box behind him.

Inside the box was the secret decree left for him by the emperor.

The secret decree can only be revealed when absolutely necessary.

A burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall. Chang Sunxiang suddenly entered from outside and bowed to Li Chengqian with a solemn expression, saying, "Your Highness, the craftsmen transferred from the Eastern Palace to the Ministry of Works have suddenly reported back that there have been unusual movements with the crossbows produced by the Ministry of Works recently."

Li Chengqian looked up and asked, "What unusual transfer?"

"The weapons produced by the Ministry of Works in the past few days that have not yet been put into the armory of the Guanglu Temple will be sent to Luoyang." Chang Sun Xiang's face was solemn.

"how many?"

"Two thousand crossbows and ten thousand crossbow arrows." Chang Sun Xiang bowed and said, "Although there are a lot of things, their transfer is within the authority of the Minister of Works. However, I have carefully checked and found that neither the Secretariat nor the Ministry of Chancellery has any official documents on record, nor has there been any imperial decree from Your Majesty. Therefore, all of this is the Duke of Xunguo's own decision."

"Don't let anyone investigate." Li Chengqian waved his hand. He took a deep breath, looked at the black and gold box on the table next to him, and said softly, "At this point, no one can stop it. Cousin."

"I'm here!" Changsun Xiang immediately bowed.

"Go and invite Lord Yu and Lord Chu, as well as the Junior Secretary and Li Yanshou, the scholar of the Chongwen Academy, to come over, and tell them that I want to discuss with them the compilation of the 'Records of the Five Dynasties'." Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Xiang.

Zhang Sunxiang was a little surprised, then he bowed and said, "Don't we need to ask for the Prime Minister?"

"No need!" Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "It's not time for Prime Minister Fang to intervene yet. When the time comes, I will find him."

"Yes!" Chang Sun Xiang bowed, then quickly turned and left.

Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at the eunuch Xu An beside him and said, "After dark, go and invite the Duke of Wuyang to come over."

Li Daliang, Duke of Wuyang, was the General of the Left Guard.

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

Li Chengqian's face became solemn. It was finally time to reveal the mystery.

……

sunset.

The evening drum sounded. Fang Xuanling stretched himself, and another day passed.

Turning around, Fang Xuanling looked at the person in charge and asked, "Where is the Crown Prince now?"

"Reporting to the Minister of Works," the official immediately bowed and said, "The Crown Prince is currently discussing the compilation of the 'Five Dynasties History' with the Crown Prince's Junior Secretary, Yu Shilang, and Chu Shilang."

"Editing the "History of the Five Dynasties"? " Fang Xuanling was slightly stunned, then he immediately reacted.

The "History of Five Dynasties" had actually been compiled long ago, with five volumes: "Book of Liang", "Book of Chen", "Book of Northern Qi", "Book of Zhou", and "Book of Sui".

However, because "History of Five Dynasties" only contains history but no records, we have to start adding "Records of Five Dynasties" into it.

Especially now, most of the people who are compiling the "History of the Five Dynasties" are in the Eastern Palace.

Fang Xuanling shook his head slightly and sighed, "The Crown Prince has really tried his best to make Yu Zhining the Prime Minister. Let's go, it's time to go back."

Fang Xuanling stood up and walked towards the duty room door.

He no longer cared about the compilation of the "History of the Five Dynasties", as this matter still had to be reported to the emperor in the end.

If the emperor agreed, it meant that the emperor agreed that Yu Zhining could be appointed as prime minister after the compilation of "History of the Five Dynasties" was completed.

But this will take at least a year.

Moreover, these things had little to do with Fang Xuanling. After all, he was just a Yellow Gate Minister and Vice Prime Minister.

……

"Prime Minister Fang has left the palace?" Li Chengqian held the black and gold box in his hand and looked at Changsun Xiang on the side.

Chang Sunxiang immediately bowed and said, "I left the palace half a quarter of an hour ago!"

Li Chengqian nodded and looked at Yu Zhining, Chu Suiliang and Ma Zhou in front of him and said, "Before my father left, he left me a secret decree, saying that when everything becomes a last resort, I can open this secret decree."

Yu Zhining, Chu Suiliang, and Ma Zhou looked at each other and said, "Yes!"

Yu Zhining was the Imperial Court Assistant Minister, Chu Suiliang was the Secretariat Assistant Minister, and Ma Zhou was the Chief Censor. If the Right Chancellor was present, they could decide everything in Chang'an City with the emperor's edict, and even bypass Fang Xuanling.

A burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, and then Li Daliang, the general of the Left Guard, dressed in red and golden armor, entered the hall.

Li Daliang paid little attention to the others in the hall and bowed directly to Li Chengqian, saying, "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian nodded and looked at Li Daliang and said, "My Lord, I called you here because my father left a secret decree. I don't know what it contains, but my father said that when everything becomes a last resort, I can open this secret decree. And now, I think the time has come."

"Yes!" Li Daliang bowed his head, but his brows were tightly furrowed. How come a secret decree from His Majesty suddenly appeared?

Li Daliang glanced at the crowd and felt even more confused, wondering why Duke Liang was not there.

"Very good." Li Chengqian looked at everyone, then raised his head and said, "Mr. Li, will you read the imperial edict?"

"Yes!" Li Xuansi, also dressed in red and golden armor, stood out from behind a curtain on one side.

When Li Daliang saw Li Xuansi, he was shocked, but he immediately confirmed that the secret decree in the prince's hand was real.

Li Xuansi was originally a general of the imperial guards, but before leaving Beijing, the emperor promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general of the imperial guards.

Even after the Imperial Guard General Zhang Shigui left Beijing, he was allowed to command the entire Imperial Guard, which shows his trust in him.

Li Xuansi stepped forward, opened the box, and took out the imperial edict inside.

Li Chengqian stood below and then knelt down with the others.

Li Xuansi opened the imperial edict and said loudly: "In the seventeenth year of Zhenguan, on the day of Wushen on the first day of the third month of the year Guimao, the Emperor said:

Yu Xi!

To serve the ruler, one must be kind and to support his virtue, one must seek the wisdom of the Three Palaces before increasing the weight of the Nine Cauldrons.

It is in accordance with the traditional ethics, and the vital energy is in harmony. I am grateful for your talent and will serve as my good advisor.

Yu Zhining, the Silver and Green Guanglu Doctor, the Yellow Gate Assistant Minister, and the Duke of Liyang County, has a body that is condensed with essence, a smooth and rational mind, a profound knowledge of the entire classics, and a profound and elegant language. He is expected to carry out the merits of supporting good deeds, overcome difficulties, ascend to a humble position, participate in politics, and should be honored with the letter from the Duke of Shan, so as to illuminate the destiny he seeks.

He could be the Yellow Gate Minister, the Vice-Chancellor, and assist the Crown Prince in governing the country.

You can act according to your own discretion and make decisions on all matters in Chang'an.

The honors and titles of scattered officials remain the same.

Admire this! "

Yu Zhining looked up in surprise and looked at the imperial edict in Li Xuansi's hand.

As the Vice-Chancellor, he can act at his discretion.

Why is this so?
What kind of thing has happened that requires him to act expediently?

Where is Duke of Liang?

He is Sikong!
Why didn't the emperor do what was best for him, but instead handed the power to Yu Zhining?

Could it be said that Your Majesty no longer trusts Duke Liang?
……

"Mr. Yu, please accept the imperial edict." Li Chengqian glanced at Yu Zhining, then looked at the imperial edict.

Although the emperor allowed Yu Zhining to participate in government affairs and act at his discretion, in fact, he was the one who had all the power.

Because he is the only one who knows best what is happening in the entire Chang'an City now.

It was he who truly decided how many people would die in Chang'an City this time.

(End of this chapter)