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

Chapter 229: False Imperial Edict

Under the night sky, the long street is quiet.

The second watch drum sounded, and the curfew began.

At the Tonghua Gate, Lang Jiang Jia Ping looked at the distant avenue with some uneasiness.

Suddenly, a burst of rapid horse hooves sounded in the farthest sight, and in a very short time it rushed to the outside of Tonghua Gate.

More than a dozen tall war horses suddenly stopped in front of Tonghua Gate, and their speed changed from extremely fast to extremely still in the shortest time.

The knight's superb horsemanship was fully demonstrated at this moment.

"I have received your orders. Open the door."

A blue-robed eunuch wearing a black cloak and holding a white talisman appeared in Jia Ping's sight.

His face was pale and his eyes were stern. One could tell at a glance that he was a palace eunuch.

Jia Ping was glared at coldly, and his whole body shuddered. Then he glanced at the talisman and said without hesitation: "Open the door."

For a moment, all the guards on the city wall looked at Jia Ping in surprise, but after a little hesitation, they quickly passed the order down.

There was nothing wrong with what Jia Ping did. After the city gates were closed, they could be opened in case of urgent military reports or imperial decrees.

But at least we have to check the imperial edict and the badge.

Jia Ping only realized his mistake after he opened his mouth, but he had already spoken, so he could only hope that he was right. At the same time, he quickly walked down the city wall.

With a creak, the city gate opened a gap wide enough for one person to pass through.

A dozen tall horses outside slowly came in.

The eunuch in blue stopped in front of Jia Ping and nodded calmly, saying, "His intentions are good, but the rules cannot be broken. Here are the waist badge and the imperial edict. Please check them."

Jia Ping was slightly stunned, then he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then he saluted and said, "I dare not."

Although he said he didn't dare, Jia Ping still took the imperial edict and the badge for inspection.

When he first checked, Jia Ping didn't notice anything wrong. It was indeed an imperial edict, but then Jia Ping was stunned.

At this moment, the eunuch in green came closer and whispered, "Do you still remember what others told you tonight?"

Jia Ping immediately looked up and looked at the other person in surprise, and then his face was filled with horror.

Tonight, someone told him to let someone into Chang'an City, but no one said it was someone who falsely conveyed the imperial edict.

Yes, it's fake.

The imperial edict was indeed very authentic, and was even modified from a real imperial edict, but the secret notes on it were wrong.

This is not a secret record passed down by the Secretariat.

No, this is an old secret note that has been used.

At this moment, the eunuch in blue calmly placed his hand on Jia Ping and said calmly, "Find someone to go to Suzaku Gate and tell the Duke of Wuyang County that His Majesty has sent someone to convey the decree, asking him to wait for the decree."

Jia Ping was suddenly confused. What was he doing?
"Go ahead and do it if you don't want to die!" The eunuch in green clothes released his hand.

Jia Ping raised his head and looked around subconsciously.

Before he knew it, he was surrounded by several people who looked like guards, and their hands were already on the hilts of their swords.

Jia Ping suddenly felt his scalp tingling. He wondered what they were going to do.

Taking a deep breath, Jia Ping turned around and said calmly, "Come here, go to Suzaku Gate and pass on the message. A messenger has arrived with His Majesty's imperial edict."

"Yes!" Outside the doorway, a personal guard immediately bowed, then quickly jumped on his horse and headed towards the Suzaku Gate.

Jia Ping then turned to look at the blue-robed eunuch and said with a forced smile, "Your Excellency."

The blue-robed eunuch nodded calmly, then turned and looked towards the still-open city gate.

At this moment, with a "creak", the entire city gate was pushed open.

Countless soldiers in blue and silver armor rushed in like a tide, occupying the entire city gate in the shortest time possible. All areas above and below the city were occupied.

Jia Ping looked at these familiar Zuotunwei soldiers and his mind almost exploded. What was going on?

The eunuch in blue gently patted Jia Ping's shoulder and said, "His Majesty has issued an order. Other matters have nothing to do with you. Send half of your men with me to the Suzaku Gate to deliver the order. The rest of you should stay quietly at the Tonghua Gate."

"Yes!" Jia Ping nodded with a grim expression, but beside him, thousands of Zuotun Guards had already rushed into Chang'an City.

……

The bright moon is cold in the Yongzhou official residence.

In the main hall, chess pieces fell.

Hou Junji picked up the black piece and placed it in the upper right position.

With great power, we surrounded and killed the dragon.

Zhang Liang, who was sitting opposite, looked up with a confused look on his face.

Hou Junji raised his head and shook his head slightly, "Are you still worried, my dear brother?"

Zhang Liang's expression grew serious, and he nodded gently, saying, "It's easy to take Chang'an, but it's hard to keep the world at peace... Are you and I truly a match for His Majesty?"

Zhang Liang and Hou Junji had both followed the emperor through the mountains of corpses and seas of blood. They had deep respect for the emperor's abilities.

However, when they thought about standing against Li Shimin, a trace of fear rose in their hearts involuntarily.

Especially Zhang Liang.

Hou Junji lowered his head calmly and said, "Your Majesty is currently in Dingzhou and has few troops at his disposal. He will only return once news of Chang'an has been relayed. By that time, we will have completely controlled Chang'an and the entire Guanzhong area. Only then will Your Majesty arrive near Luoyang... My dear brother, do you think Your Majesty will return directly to Chang'an?" "No!" Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty will maintain his position in Luoyang and then mobilize troops from the grasslands, Bingzhou, Longxi, Jiannan, and Luoyang to launch a counterattack on Chang'an from five directions."

Zhang Liang and Hou Junji knew the emperor best. They knew exactly what the emperor wanted to do and how to do it.

"So, the best way is for you to go to Luoyang before His Majesty sends troops." Hou Junji looked at Zhang Liang solemnly.

"I?"

"Yes, after Chang'an stabilizes, you will set off for Luoyang. You will say that you left Chang'an to transport military equipment before the King of Wei took action... Remember, it was Prime Minister Fang's order. You know nothing about what happened in Chang'an." Hou Junji raised his head and said softly, "His Majesty will definitely reorganize the army when he arrives in Luoyang. You will definitely be a general, especially since there was unrest in Qizhou before. His Majesty will definitely use Li Ji to quell the rebellion. At that time, you and I will coordinate internal and external forces..."

As he spoke, Hou Junji clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fierce.

Zhang Liang fell silent, then asked softly, "Aren't you afraid that I might, through Your Majesty's hand, eliminate all hidden dangers in Chang'an?"

"You can't do it." Hou Junji shook his head calmly and said, "Once His Majesty returns to Chang'an, he will not let you go even if he finds out the slightest clue."

"Okay, let's do as you say. I hope we can succeed in the end." Zhang Liang raised his head and looked deeply at Hou Junji.

Hou Junji smiled and nodded.

Neither of them trusted the other, but under the pressure of the situation, they had no choice.

At this moment, hurried footsteps could be heard outside the palace. A Jinwu Guard general strode in and, with a hurried expression, bowed to Hou Junji and said, "General, something has happened. Duke Liang was taken into the palace by the Secretariat before curfew."

Hou Junji's face suddenly changed, but fortunately Zhang Liang, who was standing opposite him, asked in confusion: "Enter the palace, there is no news from the Suzaku Gate!"

"I left from Fanglin Garden." The Jinwu Guard Langjiang immediately bowed.

Hou Junji thought for a moment and then asked, "Where is Duke Shen?"

"Duke Shen said he was out visiting friends and was not at home."

Zhang Liang frowned and looked at Hou Junji, asking, "Brother Hou, what's going on?"

Hou Junji suddenly smiled and said, "These old guys must have smelled something, so they hid away in advance."

"They?" Zhang Liang was about to speak when Hou Junji waved his hand and said, "Don't underestimate these people. They've been working in Chang'an for many years, so they've naturally heard some noises. They don't know the truth, but they'll hide, just like Li Jing and Li Ji did back then."

"I see." Zhang Liang relaxed all of a sudden.

Although Li Jing and Li Ji were also the most talented generals in the court, they all curled up and did not move in the political struggles between the court and the country.

The current situation is somewhat similar. Li Tai and Li Chengqian are fighting, the emperor is away, Fang Xuanling has no close relationship with the prince, and Gao Shilian has retired. There is not much they can do now.

"Fortunately, we still have the King of Wei." Hou Junji raised his head and looked at Zhang Liang meaningfully. Zhang Liang nodded slowly.

At this moment, a general in blue and silver armor strode in with a dozen elite soldiers. When he came before Hou Junji, he bowed earnestly and said, "General, I have arrived."

"Okay!" Hou Junji and Zhang Liang looked at each other, then stood up and said, "Now we should go find the King of Wei."

……

Bright moon, fresh breeze, majestic palace!
At the Suzaku Gate, a guard from the left gate bowed solemnly towards the city gate, then immediately dismounted and rode away.

Above the city gate, there were swords and spears everywhere.

Li Daliang was wearing red clothes and golden armor. He couldn't help but frown as he looked at the figure going away.

"General, are you thinking about the imperial edict?" Li Chengqian, wearing a black dragon robe and a golden crown on his head, with his hand on the sword at his waist, walked out calmly from the shadows.

Li Daliang immediately turned around and bowed, "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian walked to Li Daliang's side and stood still, his eyes fixed on the figure in the distance. He said calmly, "General, I also hope that the imperial edict is true. If it is, then tonight, a war and bloodshed can be avoided."

Li Daliang nodded in agreement.

"If the imperial edict is true, General, who do you think the emperor's edict is for?" Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at Li Daliang.

"Your Highness, Prime Minister Fang, Prime Minister Yu, and I." Li Daliang bowed seriously.

"Ordinarily, the messenger should have rushed to the Suzaku Gate immediately after entering the city. However, it seems he didn't come directly to the palace, but went somewhere else." Li Chengqian turned and looked at Li Daliang, smiling and saying, "General, do you think the imperial edict has already reached the Duke of Chen?"

"Hou Junji!" Li Daliang's face immediately turned cold. He knew that the emperor would never trust Hou Junji.

Li Chengqian turned sideways and looked at the steps behind him. He asked calmly, "What does the Prime Minister think about this?"

Amid the sound of footsteps, Fang Xuanling, dressed in a purple official robe, and Li Jing, dressed in black and golden armor, walked up from the bottom of the stairs.

Following behind them was Li Xuansi, the General of the Imperial Guard.

Fang Xuanling walked up to the city wall and saw Li Chengqian standing among the crowd at a glance.

On the west side are Li Daliang and several military generals, and on the east side are Yu Zhining, Chu Suiliang, Ma Zhou and others.

Li Chengqian was surrounded by the crowd in the center.

When everyone saw Fang Xuanling and Li Jing, they immediately bowed and said, "Prime Minister Fang."

"I believe someone may have forged the imperial edict. Your Majesty trusts Your Highness, so naturally, he wouldn't do anything more than this." Fang Xuanling walked up to Li Chengqian, bowed earnestly, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Li Jing followed suit and bowed.

Li Chengqian looked at the two people, smiled and nodded: "Prime Minister Fang, Duke Weiguo!"

Taking a deep breath, Li Chengqian turned and looked towards the Tonghua Gate, which was now ablaze with flames. He said softly, "If it was truly an imperial decree, then he should have come from Chunming Gate, not Tonghua Gate. Qingque, when did he learn how to forge an imperial edict?"

When Li Chengqian heard the words "falsified imperial edict", everyone present was awed.

Falsifying imperial edicts and forging imperial decrees are all deadly things.

(End of this chapter)