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

Chapter 373: Pei Xingjian, the Left Guard, is transferred to the Eastern Palace (Part )
In the Lizheng Hall, Li Chengqian sat on a short couch with an expressionless face.

Chang Sunxiang stood before him and said, "Your Highness, today Princess Gaoyang went to the Jin Palace to visit the Jin Princess. Everything was normal, but suddenly, Princess Gaoyang left inexplicably and angrily."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Gao Yang is a bit arrogant. If there is something wrong, she can't hide it in her heart."

"Yes, my people were watching the Prince of Jin's Mansion and found this matter a bit strange, so they followed for a while..."

Chang Sunxiang continued to bow, then said, "Originally, the princess was going back to her mansion, but when she reached the gate of Yongxingfang, she suddenly turned and headed back to the palace. However, something happened along the way and she suddenly turned back for some unknown reason."

"There's something going on here!" Li Chengqian raised his head calmly and asked, "Then how did you find out about Bian Ji?"

Gao Yang left Li Zhi's mansion. Although there were some problems, she finally returned to the princess's mansion.

If she didn't say it herself, it would be difficult for others to know from her that the dispute between her and Li Zhi was because of Bian Ji.

They shouldn't even have contacted Bian Ji.

"Your Highness!" Chang Sun Xiang looked at Li Chengqian, smiled bitterly, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, this should have been the case, but the princess couldn't help herself and sent someone to find Bian Ji. Although the Dongdong move was secretive, I was going to investigate the matter thoroughly, but I didn't expect to uncover the princess and Bian Ji's private affairs."

It's a scandal, not a private matter.

A princess and a monk, and the emperor's favorite princess, the daughter-in-law of the then prime minister, Fang Xuanling, the inspector of the Shangshu and the left, and the wife of Fang Yiai, the junior supervisor of the Shaofu.

She had an affair with Xuanzang's disciple.

Once this matter is exposed, I don’t know how many people will be in trouble.

Not only would Fang Xuanling be so angry that he would fall ill, Fang Yiai would be completely ashamed to face anyone, and even the emperor would be angry about it.

In other words, Chang Sunxiang is also one of us, otherwise if this matter really gets out, it will be a big trouble.

Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said, "Things need to be dealt with quickly... Cousin, how many people know about this now?"

"Not many. Some of my men, and some people in the Princess's Mansion..." Before Changsun Xiang could finish his words, Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Quite a few people already know about this matter, and I estimate that quite a few people knew about it before this as well. Unless everyone who knows about this matter is killed, someone will know about it sooner or later."

Gao Yang is just an idiot and didn't do enough to keep the secret.

"We can't deal with Gao Yang, we need to deal with Bian Ji." Li Chengqian looked at Chang Sun Xiang and said seriously: "Cousin, Bian Ji must die."

"Yes!" Chang Sun Xiang bowed solemnly.

"But he is Master Xuanzang's disciple, so we need to be more flexible in dealing with him." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly, looking thoughtful.

Master Xuanzang is ultimately the leader of Buddhism.

If his disciple died like this, it would cause a lot of trouble.

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked at Changsun Xiang: "Cousin, will Master Xuanzang know about what you said about Bian Ji and Gao Yang?"

Zhang Sunxiang was slightly startled and looked at Li Chengqian: "Your Highness?"

"Bian Ji was his disciple. Even if he wasn't fully aware of Bian Ji's affairs, he must have noticed something. And the way he ultimately chose to handle it was to acquiesce." Li Chengqian sneered softly and said, "Buddhism is naturally fond of playing tricks in these areas."

"Your Highness!" Chang Sun Xiang bowed slightly.

"Tell everyone in the Eastern Palace who knows about this matter, and tell them to shut up. Also, make sure the people sent by Gaoyang Prefecture to see Bian Ji fall into the water." Li Chengqian said calmly, and Changsun Xiang immediately bowed: "Yes!"

In Princess Gaoyang's mansion, everyone who knew about the affair between Gaoyang and Bian Ji was more or less Gaoyang's accomplice. Sorry, they all had to die.

"And then there's Bian Ji himself." Li Chengqian sighed softly and said, "Cousin, he must die in a reasonable and fair way, without arousing any suspicion from others."

"Yes!" Chang Sun Xiang nodded solemnly. The Gao Yang incident had a very bad impact.

Especially now that the emperor is not in good health, what will happen if something goes wrong once the emperor knows about this?
This matter must be resolved as quickly and quietly as possible.

"I remember that the court has been discussing the selection of a site for Master Xuanzang's new temple recently, right?" Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Xiang.

"Yes!" Chang Sunxiang bowed and said, "After completing the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, Master Xuanzang began preparing to translate the Buddhist scriptures he brought from the Western Regions. Although Hongfu Temple is not small, Buddhist sects all over the world have sent people to assist, and even more people will come in the future."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Let Master Xuanzang write a petition requesting the construction of a temple at Sanmenxia on the Yellow River."

"Your Highness?" Chang Sunxiang was a little confused for a moment.

"Let Bian Ji repair it." Li Chengqian looked at Zhang Sunxiang and said calmly, "I mentioned this matter two years ago. It's not surprising that Master Xuanzang knew about it. After all, two years have passed, and they really need a place that is completely their own, rather than competing with others."

"Yes!" Chang Sun Xiang remembered something and nodded in agreement.

"Sanmenxia is a dangerous place. When Bian Ji was repairing the mountain road, he accidentally fell into the water..." Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said, "This has nothing to do with anyone else."

"I understand." Changsun Xiang breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Bian Ji died, the matter would be over.

"Let Gao Yang go as she pleases. As long as this matter was brought up by Xuanzang, it has nothing to do with me and my father." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently, and Changsun Xiang immediately bowed and turned to deal with it.

Li Chengqian stood in the hall, watching Changsun Xiang's leaving back with calm eyes.

He raised his eyes and looked in the direction of Prince Jin's Mansion.

Li Zhi was planning to take over Fang Xuanling.

To put it more directly, Li Zhi was clipping Li Chengqian's wings.

It’s just that Li Zhi was very careful. He made plans through Gao Yang in a subtle way. He was a smart man.

But unfortunately, Gao Yang might be used by Li Zhi for a while.

But once Bian Ji died, she would become Li Zhi's gravedigger.

Li Chengqian turned his gaze towards Wanchun Palace.

His eyes were deep and cold.

……

In the Liangyi Hall, the emperor sat high on the imperial couch.

Li Baiyao, the Minister of Zongzheng Temple, stepped forward, holding a memorial in his hand. He said, "Your Majesty, Xuanzang of Hongfu Temple has submitted a memorial requesting Your Majesty grant a piece of cliff on the north side of Sanmenxia as the site for the new temple. I beg Your Majesty's approval."

"Sanmenxia, ​​Xuanzang." Li Shimin leaned forward slightly, frowning and asking, "What's going on? Didn't I tell you to choose a temple in Chang'an for the monk to live in?"

"Your Majesty!" Li Baiyao bowed with a solemn expression and said, "Xuanzang has taken a liking to the Taiyi Qinghua Temple. He said that the Buddhist energy is strong there." Li Chengqian, Li Zhi, and all the ministers in the hall looked up in surprise.

Where?
Taiyi Qinghua Temple?
"Of course it's a good place. It was built with the money I earned from the clothes left by my mother, the Queen Mother, who donated them. It also includes clothes my mother left for my father, clothes for my brothers, and a golden Buddha statue that the Tibetans used to marry Princess Wencheng." Li Chengqian looked up at Li Baiyao with a cold expression and asked, "What does Xuanzang mean by this?"

At this time, Minister of Rites Li Daozon looked up and looked at Li Baiyao in surprise. Xuanzang really dared to speak.

It had become a regular practice for the emperor to go to Taiyi Qinghua Temple to offer sacrifices every year.

Moreover, the person who assisted in the construction of Taiyi Qinghua Temple and is now the abbot of Taiyi Qinghua Temple is none other than the Taoist Louguan Dao.

Xuanzang was not afraid that this incident would cause a war between Buddhism and Taoism.

You know, Buddhism is only just beginning to show signs of prosperity.

Although His Majesty favors Xuanzang, it is only because Xuanzang is useful, not to the entire Buddhist community.

If a war breaks out between Buddhism and Taoism, the emperor will definitely not side with the Buddhists who are the instigators of the incident.

"So, Xuanzang means that if I don't give him the place for Taiyi Qinghua Temple, he will build his own Buddhist temple in Sanmenxia?" Li Shimin couldn't help but feel angry.

Li Baiyao felt somewhat helpless, but still bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is what he meant."

"Well, let him go to Sanmenxia and build a Buddhist temple. He should do it well. The court has already discussed that area, right? We can leverage the power of Buddhism to improve the terrain there and connect Chang'an and Luoyang." The emperor waved his hand and said, "So be it."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed.

Li Zhi stood behind Li Chengqian, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Why did he feel that something was wrong about this?

……

"Your Majesty!" Chu Suiliang stood up, holding his hu tablet and bowing, saying, "The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War have generally agreed to send troops to Kucha. The only issue regarding the southern front is still under debate."

"Southern Front?" The emperor leaned forward, looked at Chu Suiliang, and said, "You say."

"Your Majesty, this battle will be divided into four armies. The Left Guard General Ashina She'er will be the Grand Commander-in-Chief, who will attack Western Turkestan directly. The Right Guard General Qibi Heli will be the Deputy Grand Commander-in-Chief, who will attack Kucha directly and then cut off their connection with Western Turkestan. The Anxi Protectorate General Guo Xiaoke will be the Deputy Grand Commander-in-Chief, who will attack Kucha head-on."

After a brief pause, Chu Suiliang said, "There is another route. Starting from Lanzhou, we will lead 3,000 cavalrymen, cross the 3,000 cavalrymen of Eastern Tuyuhun, and attack the Western Regions from Western Tuyuhun. At the same time, we will support Xi Junmai's 3,000 cavalrymen on his mission to India and attack Qiuci from the south."

"The Tang Dynasty and Eastern Tuyuhun will send troops together, crossing Western Tuyuhun to attack Kucha." Zhangsun Wuji stood up, bowed to the emperor, and then looked at Chu Suiliang and said, "Will Western Tuyuhun think that the Tang Dynasty is coming for them?"

Although Eastern Tuyuhun and Western Tuyuhun were uncle and nephew, their relationship with each other was very poor.

Everyone wanted to completely destroy the other and unify the entire Tuyuhun.

"It's just that I'm worried about being used as a pretext to destroy Guo." The emperor waved his hand and said, "Tell the Western Tuyuhun to also mobilize 3,000 cavalry from them to attack Qiuci."

The ministers were slightly surprised, then they bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

The Tang Dynasty has drawn 3,000 cavalry from Western Tuyuhun, and the plan of this westward journey will also be told to them.

So, there is no need to worry anymore.

This is how human hearts are. Once they change a little, they will settle down.

Li Shimin looked at Chu Suiliang and asked, "What are you worried about, my dear?"

"The commander of the southern front." Chu Suiliang bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please appoint the commander of the southern front."

Li Zhi turned slightly to look at the emperor, and his breathing became lighter.

Li Shimin waved his hand slightly and said, "What suggestions do you have?"

"Three people." Chu Suiliang bowed and said, "General Zheng Rentai of the Left Jinwu Guard, General Zuo Kuangzheng of the Left Jinwu Guard, and General Tian Renhui of the Right Jinwu Guard."

The left and right Jinwu Guard generals, although there seems to be no difference between the three, but if you really have to choose, you can only choose one person.

The three people standing on the right side of the ministers looked up in surprise at the same time.

"Zheng Rentai." The emperor glanced at Zheng Rentai, then looked at Li Chengqian and asked, "Prince, what do you think?"

Li Chengqian was momentarily unresponsive, but he quickly bowed and said seriously, "I think it's possible. The Duke of Susong County once participated in the battle to destroy Tuyuhun and is familiar with the terrain. He can serve as the commander-in-chief of the route."

"Okay, that's it." The emperor nodded with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty!" Chu Suiliang continued to bow and said, "Xi Junmai, the General of the Left Thousand Oxen Guard, is leading 3,000 cavalrymen and is almost at Pamir Ridge. To prevent them from worrying about their retreat, I request that someone contact them."

"Okay." Li Shimin nodded. This was serious business.

"I ask the Eastern Palace to send someone." Chu Suiliang bowed to Li Chengqian and said, "What candidates does Your Highness have?"

Xi Junmai is from the Eastern Palace, so it would be more appropriate for the Eastern Palace to send someone to contact him now.

Li Zhi's expression became serious and he frowned slightly. Chu Suiliang was too direct.

"Your Majesty, there are actually quite a few people that the Eastern Palace can send, but I think it's better to let Xue Wanbei go. His two elder brothers are both very famous in the Western Regions. It will be more convenient if he goes." Li Chengqian couldn't help but smile.

The ministers smiled and nodded.

Xue Wanjun and Xue Wanche were both great generals who fought their way out of the Western Regions. Now that Xue Wanbei is gone, the name alone is enough to frighten people.

"That's it." The emperor nodded directly and said, "It's time for Xue Wanbei to have some good training."

"The Eastern Palace is cultivating talents for the country, and you ministers should do this." Li Chengqian bowed sincerely, and the ministers felt relieved all of a sudden.

The emperor also nodded with satisfaction, only Li Zhi stood behind Li Chengqian with a puzzled look.

Can't the prince notice the hidden danger here?
"But Father." Li Chengqian looked up at the emperor and said, "Since Xue Wanbei has been transferred from the Eastern Palace, it's time to send someone to replace him."

"Who do you want to transfer?" The emperor looked at Li Chengqian with some curiosity.

Li Chengqian smiled softly: "Pei Xingjian, the assistant general of the Left Garrison Guard."

(End of this chapter)