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

Chapter 440: Li Shimin, He Stands Up (Part )
Qianniu Prison is located in the southwest corner of the imperial palace.

Remote and eerie.

This is true whether it is Chang'an or Luoyang.

Officials in the court basically never come to this area.

Li Chengqian seldom came here, but he was sure that he would send people in there many times in the future.

Chang He took Li Chengqian into a cell of Qianniuwei, where a white-haired old man was tied to a rack.

"This is Xu Shimo." Li Chengqian looked at Xu Shimo with a cold expression.

"Yes!" Chang He bowed and said, "I recognize him. I recognize all the people in that group."

Chang He glanced at Li Anyan who was standing behind him. Compared to him, Li Anyan was more familiar with Xu Shimo.

"Did he find out what he was asking?" Li Chengqian looked up and said, "I want to know everything he knows about the true situation of Prince Yin and his faction."

"He refuses to speak." After a brief pause, Chang'an bowed and said, "I cannot torture him severely. I'm afraid I might accidentally kill him."

After all, Xu Shimo was old, and if he was hit a little harder, he might die.

Once a person dies, there is nothing to ask.

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "His grandson is still alive in Chang'an. Have him brought to Luoyang and tell him that if he confesses everything, I will let him go, change his surname, and send him to Hongzhou to live out his life in peace."

"Your Majesty is merciful." Chang He bowed.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan who was standing to the side and said, "An Yan, go check. There must be clues with Sun Shi. Also, check all the correspondence between them and all the people they came into contact with on a daily basis."

"Here!"

……

In the Huiyou Hall, Li Shimin looked at the memorial in front of him and shook his head with emotion, saying, "I really didn't expect that Xu Shimo was still alive."

"Back when he was serving as the Sima of the Prince of Han, he married his illegitimate daughter to Sun Shi, the Prince of Han's household official. Then, he found an opportunity to fake his own death, escape into the mountains, and hide in the dark. He collected money through the caravans of the Prince of Han's palace, and then colluded with the remnants of those who had been involved back then." Li Chengqian shook his head and frowned. "That's what we've already discovered, but the rest, with Xu Shimo now dead, is difficult to know."

Yes, Xu Shimo is dead.

After seeing his grandson, he bit his tongue and committed suicide.

"He committed suicide, which means there's someone more important behind him, and it's very likely that Luo Binwang is hiding there." Li Shimin looked at Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling and said, "So, it's very likely that Luo Binwang is Yuanji's illegitimate son."

Li Chengqian was stunned.

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "This is the only way it makes sense."

"It's possible they had no connection before, but after the events in Chang'an, they must have become connected." Fang Xuanling looked up and said, "Gongsun Chang is from Hebei, and Xu Shimo is from Yanzhou. They each have their own forces behind them, and King Chao Ci was previously the King of Qi, so they can be connected."

"Investigate, find the person." Li Shimin turned to look at Li Chengqian and said, "And over at Songshan, they might do something. The emperor should send someone to investigate and get to the bottom of it."

"I will personally go to Mount Song." Li Chengqian paused for a moment and said, "Before the Fengshan ceremony, Mount Song will be closed. This is a good opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation."

"There are also Tibetans." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty, the Tibetans might have contacted Xu Shimo through the caravan. They might have a plan to join forces to cause trouble in Songshan, or even in Luoyang. We must investigate this thoroughly."

"Uncle, let's go to Songshan together." Li Chengqian nodded. In some aspects, his people were not as experienced as Changsun Wuji's.

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed.

Li Shimin leaned against the soft cushion and said, "We still have to investigate. How many people have escaped the sight of the Hundred Cavalry Division by faking their deaths over the years? We need to find out."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian and Zhangsun Wuji both bowed solemnly.

……

The imperial carriage drove slowly along the mountain road of Songshan.

Countless Qianniu guards stood solemnly on both sides holding spears.

Li Chengqian took a look at the scenery outside, then looked at Zhangsun Wuji across from him and asked, "Uncle, why can't we clean up those people completely?"

"This is inevitable, Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji said calmly with a calm expression, "Although Xu Shimo was a close friend of Prince Yin back then, he was forgiven by Your Majesty after the Xuanwu Gate Incident. For a while, he must have been full of hope, but then his career didn't go smoothly. I'm afraid it was at that time that he picked up Prince Yin's affairs again."

Li Chengqian fell silent.

After a moment, Changsun Wuji sighed and said, "Not everyone is Wei Zheng and Wei Ting."

Wei Zheng was the Prince's Groom, and Wei Ting was the Prince's Left Guard Commander.

After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, they were highly valued, and even Wei Ting died because of Gongsun Chang.

"Every period, no, every year, even every month, there are a group of people whose official careers are not going well, or even completely cut off." Changsun Wuji looked up and said, "There's no way around it. The higher you go in the court, the fewer official positions there are. Everyone has emerged from the battles, and the remaining losers can only fall into the dust and despair."

The official system structure in the court is pyramid-shaped, with fewer people as you go up.

And at the top of the entire pyramid is Li Chengqian.

Even he, the emperor, ascended the throne only after he finally won the battle with Li Tai and Li Zhi.

Even in this step, he used many dishonorable means.

"Those who can accept it will retain their current position, or even be relocated." Changsun Wuji sighed softly and said, "Those who cannot but accept it are those who take bribes and pervert the law. Some people have served as honest officials their entire lives, but in the final act, their reputations are ruined. Wasn't that what happened to Lu Shanzong, the former governor of Huaizhou?"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly in agreement.

"Therefore, Your Majesty must ensure the loyalty of those in positions of power, whether high or low." After a brief pause, Changsun Wuji continued, "As for others, even those who have lost in the court struggle, you must give them a glimmer of hope to return to the court. At the same time, you must monitor them closely and execute anyone who attempts to act improperly with lightning speed."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

His biggest shortcoming as emperor was that he killed too few people.

"Tang Law is the most useful weapon in your Majesty's hands. As long as Tang Law is properly implemented, it will be difficult for anyone to cause a big disturbance if they plot rebellion." Changsun Wuji's eyes became sharp.

"Thank you for your teachings, uncle." Li Chengqian looked solemn. Tang law was his most advantageous weapon, and court rules and regulations were his best assistants.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"hehe!"……

On the top of Mount Song, Li Chengqian stood in the north wind, looking out at Luoyang City.

The city is well-organized and clearly visible.

Li Chengqian turned slightly, looked at Li Daozong, and asked, "Have you checked everything?"

"I checked, but didn't find any problems." Li Daozon bowed.

"Starting from today, check it once every morning, noon and evening." Li Chengqian looked stern. Ever since Xu Shimo appeared alive in front of him, he keenly realized that there were many more secrets in this world that were beyond his control.

If he is really self-righteous, he might die a miserable death.

"I obey your order." Li Daozon bowed solemnly.

"Master." Li Chengqian looked at Pan Shizheng, who was following behind him, and asked, "Master, haven't you noticed anything amiss these days?"

"No." Pan Shizheng shook his head and said, "A few days ago, many people came to Songyue Temple to worship. To be honest, there are only a few places I can take care of."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded, and finally looked at Li Daozong and said, "Uncle Wang, the day before our father's enthronement, please check as many times as possible."

"Yes!" Li Daozon bowed solemnly.

"Your Majesty!" Master Pan, standing nearby, bowed and said, "When the time comes, send someone to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan to ask if they can send someone over on the day of the Fengshan ceremony."

"What can they do here? Among the rituals, there are sacrifices to the gods, so there are Taoist masters. What can the Buddhists do during the sacrifices?" Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Send the order down, and tell them to carefully prepare for the seven-day Buddhist and Taoist water and land ceremony to sacrifice to the souls of the dead on the battlefield and the innocent people in the world. Don't let them have any extravagant thoughts."

"Yes!" Li Daozon bowed slightly.

"Let's go back to Chang'an!" Li Chengqian turned around and looked at the only passage down the mountain in front of him.

At the foot of the mountain, Changsun Wuji sat in the carriage and whispered, "We really didn't find any problems this time. Perhaps Lu Dongzan and the others didn't do anything, or perhaps their methods weren't here."

"There are still six days left, uncle!" Li Chengqian looked up and said, "Lu Dongzan will not be able to cause any major disturbances no matter what. I am worried about Songzan."

"Your Majesty, do you mean that Songtsen might mobilize troops in advance?" Changsun Wuji suddenly became stern.

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian leaned against the carriage, squinting his eyes. It wasn't until they reached Tianjin Bridge that he suddenly opened his eyes, looked at Changsun Wuji, and said, "Uncle, pass the order down. From today onwards, from Shanzhou, Songzhou, Lanzhou, Yizhou, Qizhou, and Hanzhong, all channels leading to Tubo will be closed step by step. I want to completely stifle all news from them."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji bowed seriously.

"Wait, it will be here soon."

……

The twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month is Little New Year.

The imperial carriage left Chang'an, passed through Dingding Gate, and then headed towards Songshan from the east of the city.

Lu Dongzan and Gar Qinling followed the group and headed towards Songshan. Their eyes kept falling on the carriages that were heading their way.

"Tonight, no matter how late it is, whether it succeeds or not, the message must be delivered." Lu Dongzan said seriously.

"Yes!" Gar Qinling nodded solemnly.

"Heavenly Khan!" Lu Dongzan's gaze passed over the endless mountains and fell on Mount Song.

Their traps were very well hidden. Only two people, one carrying the other on their backs, would step on them at the same time to fall into the knife formation. No matter what they did before, they couldn't collapse the trap, so naturally they couldn't find it.

As long as something happened to the emperor and the emperor emeritus at the same time, Tubo would immediately invade Shanzhou under the pretext that the emperor was plotting to murder the emperor emeritus, to purge the court, and to enforce justice.

It will be soon. It will be soon.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the foot of Mount Song.

Although Lu Dongzan was a little later, his eyes were always fixed on the front.

At this moment, the emperor got off the carriage first, and immediately after that, the emperor emeritus got off the horse.

The emperor himself got down from the carriage.

Lu Dongzan was stunned.

Isn’t the emperor paralyzed?

But in an instant, Lu Dongzan's expression changed.

Oh no, this is a trap.

Zanpu...

……

On the Tongtian River, a row of boats were frozen to death on the river.

One by one, Tibetan cavalrymen crossed the Tongtian River from the boat and landed on the south bank of the Tongtian River.

Looking at the dense crowd, there were at least tens of thousands of cavalrymen, and even more cavalrymen were coming from the rear.

And this place is already the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

The Tubo army landed on the territory of the Tang Dynasty.

In the distant jungle, a scout in black clothes was lying on the ground, watching everything from afar.

Until all 20,000 cavalrymen crossed the river.

Until the world became completely dark.

He carefully retreated from the back of the jungle, and then ran madly towards Songzhou.

Songtsen, who was on the south bank of the Tongtian River in the distance, knew nothing about this.

(End of this chapter)