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

Chapter 443: Li Jing is appointed as the Vice Minister of State Affairs, and can execute first and report later (Part )
"Return to Lhasa?" Princess Wencheng had just returned to the princess's residence from the palace. Before she took off her golden crown and dress, Lu Dongzan and Gal Qinling came up to her.

"I'm just asking so that we can be prepared." Lu Dongzan bowed sincerely.

Princess Wencheng thought for a moment and said, "Next year on March 15th, after accompanying the Emperor to offer sacrifices to his mother, we will then return from Yizhou to Songzhou via Luoshui... The Prince of Jiangxia will be transferred to become the Grand Commander of Yizhou, so it would be a good opportunity for us to travel together."

Minister of Rites, Prince of Jiangxia Li Daozon.

Lu Dongzan felt a chill in his heart. This was not a simple person!
Li Daozon was not only a famous general of the royal family, he had even participated in the battle in which the Tang Dynasty conquered the Tuyuhun Kingdom. He was extremely familiar with the conditions and terrain of the plateau.

Why would the emperor think of transferring him to be the Grand Commander of Yizhou?
Could it be that they wanted to use him to curb Tubo?

Or did the emperor not realize that they had already mobilized troops?

His plan was to start the war in March.

Yes, March is the best time to start the war. The weather in the plateau is still extremely cold in January and February.

Lu Dongzan wanted to slap himself on the forehead.

Yes, the weather on the plateau in January and February is not suitable for marching at all. No matter how well prepared the Tang people are, the war will not start until March.

Lu Dongzan breathed a sigh of relief, but then he became nervous again.

There is Li Jing in the northwest. If the emperor transfers Li Daozon to Songzhou after the war breaks out, then even if they have the advantage of the first move, it is hard to say what the outcome of this battle will be.

Not to mention, once the war breaks out, the emperor will never let them leave.

They would probably be trapped in Chang'an by the emperor and taken hostage.

It's even harder to leave.

Lu Dongzan suddenly smiled gently and bowed to Princess Wencheng, saying, "Princess, I have no objection to you and the Prince of Jiangxia going back to Luoxie from Songzhou together. It's just that I feel that the situation in Chang'an is a little off, so I was thinking, if there is any emergency, can we return to Luoxie earlier?"

"Accident, what accident?" Princess Wencheng looked at Lu Dongzan deeply. She accurately captured Lu Dongzan's subtext.

Lu Dongzan wanted her to return to Tubo as soon as possible.

But it was they who asked her to come to Chang'an, and it was the Zamp himself who said that he hoped to stay in Chang'an for a few more days to consolidate the relationship between the two countries. Why are they persuading her to go back now?
Do you really think that she is not clear about the real purpose of the Zamp?

"It's about the Khan of Heaven." Lu Dongzan bowed and said, "When I met the Khan of Heaven, he wasn't in good health. Later, others met him in the same way, especially Helu. He even spread the news that the Khan of Heaven couldn't move anything except his head..."

Princess Wencheng was slightly stunned and thought for a while. She remembered that when she met the emperor, he was indeed like this.

Taking a deep breath, Princess Wencheng waved her hand and said, "My father is in good health. You saw him that day in Songshan. However, what you said about the strange situation is probably true."

Lu Dongzan looked up suddenly. He didn't expect Princess Wencheng to say that.

"You forgot someone." Princess Wencheng looked at Lu Dongzan with a half-smile and said, "Master Sun Simiao, he has been taking care of my father's health. In addition, there is Li Qin, the imperial physician of my brother.

Back in the East Palace, it was the two of them who helped the emperor recuperate his health, so they should also be preparing for the emperor's father's matter. I think it will be no big deal."

I recuperated for half a year, and then used all my strength yesterday.

It might cause some harm to the body, but compared to what they thought, the idea of ​​using tiger and wolf medicine was much milder.

Sun Simiao, also known as Sun Zhenren.

Lu Dongzan had heard of the name of this miracle doctor, but he had never had the opportunity to meet him.

But considering the other party's great reputation, if that was really the method he used, perhaps it would be true.

"Yes!" Lu Dongzan bowed and said, "That's good. However, I will be returning to Luoxie in March next year, so I should go out and buy some things to bring back to Luoxie."

Princess Wencheng nodded calmly.

Lu Dongzan and Gar Qinling bowed and then left the princess's mansion.

Sitting in the carriage, Lu Dongzan suddenly said to Gar Qinling: "I'm afraid the two of us have fallen into a trap."

"Father?" Gar Qinling looked confused.

"Those involved are really confused!" Lu Dongzan couldn't help but sigh.

The clues before him and the voices from all sides were inconsistent with what he felt in his heart, as if he had really made a wrong judgment.

"After returning to Chang'an, go out more and find out about the treasury in Chang'an and the movement of food and fodder for the soldiers in the army." After a brief pause, Lu Dongzan said, "Don't you have many classmates in the Imperial College? Find a way to find out what's going on at their homes."

"Yes!"

"No matter what you do, the deployment of soldiers, generals, food, weapons, and horses cannot be deceived."

……

In Ziwei Palace.

Changsun Wuji accompanied Li Chengqian to inspect the ruins of Qianyuan Hall.

"There's not much opposition in the court regarding the reconstruction of Qianyuan Hall, even from Yu Zhining and Zhang Xuansu." After a brief pause, Changsun Wuji said, "However, after Your Majesty returns to Chang'an, you still need to visit Wei Zheng's residence and convince him. Then this matter will be a done deal."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded. Wei Zheng was in poor health. If Wei Zheng objected, he would never rebuild the Qianyuan Hall.

"Renovate the Qianyuan Hall with minimal expense, using more stone and less wood." Li Chengqian smiled and said, "One advantage of Luoyang over Chang'an is that transporting grass and wood from Yunnan, Burma, or Jinghu will cost much less, and there's also Liaodong."

Zhangsun Wuji suddenly looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "How could I forget Liaodong? Liaodong has just been conquered, and there are many hundred-year-old trees there."

"Yes, using the Liao River, then shipping to the mouth of the Yellow River, and then from there to the Luo River, is the most labor-saving." After a brief pause, Li Chengqian smiled and said, "Even if there are some expenses in the middle, these expenses are used to benefit the people of Liaodong and Hebei. I believe Prime Minister Wei will be willing to do so."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Changsun Wuji bowed with emotion.

Li Chengqian waved his hand, glanced at the distant Luoyang City, and then turned and headed towards the Zhenguan Hall. Entering the Zhenguan Hall, Zhangsun Wuji couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, do you really intend to use the Prince of Jiangxia to lead the Songzhou campaign?"

"I'm just talking. How can the war start in March? If my estimation is correct, the war will start in the first month of the year." Li Chengqian sneered lightly. It was already the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

"The weather in the first month of the year on the plateau is almost the same as in Liaodong. Who could have imagined that they would start a war in the first month of the year?" Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is truly wise."

"Lu Dongzan definitely has some tricks up his sleeve in Songshan, but we haven't found out yet because the time is too short. Who knows who will be in trouble in the future." Li Chengqian waved his hand, bringing the subject back to the present, and continued, "My father and I have made it very clear that the Duke of Guo will be in charge of the battle in Songzhou."

"The saint is wise." Changsun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian cautiously and said, "However, I think it might be feasible for Your Majesty to appoint the Prince of Jiangxia as the Grand Commander of Yizhou."

"Huh?" Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji in surprise, then he understood: "Uncle is talking about the Minister of Rites."

"Yes!" Changsun Wuji breathed a sigh of relief.

Ever since the Emperor Emeritus of Songshan was enthroned, Changsun Wuji felt that Li Chengqian had acquired an imperial majesty.

It’s not that he didn’t have it before, but before, Changsun Wuji regarded him more as his nephew, but now, he has become an emperor with great power and endless majesty.

All these changes originated from that Fengshan ceremony.

Not only Changsun Wuji felt this way, but Fang Xuanling and all the officials in the court also felt this way.

The emperor is already an emperor.

Golden words.

One word.

"Your Majesty!" Zhangsun Wuji bowed and said, "Your Majesty is now in control of the government, but the hearts and minds of the ministers still need to be smoothed over."

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "I understand what my uncle means. Since I ascended the throne, I haven't made any major personnel adjustments. Even though Mr. Zhang is still the Crown Prince's Secretary, his position as Grand Secretary of the Hongwen Academy and Third Rank Associate of the Secretariat, and Lai Ji's position as Huangmen Shilang and Vice Minister of State Affairs, will not be announced until the New Year. Therefore, there needs to be a position to give the ministers hope."

"Yes!" Zhangsun Wuji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "With the Duke of Jiangxia transferred to serve as the Grand Commander of Yizhou, the position of Minister of Rites has been vacated. I suggest that Your Majesty transfer one of the local governors. This way, the local governors will be more loyal to Your Majesty."

"Who do you think is more suitable, uncle?"

"Guangzhou Governor Du Zhenglun!" Changsun Wuji said firmly.

Li Chengqian looked at Changsun Wuji in surprise. Du Zhenglun was his man, but he didn't expect that Changsun Wuji would be willing to let him be the Minister of Rites.

After thinking for a while, Li Chengqian shook his head and said, "Uncle, Du Qing should stay in Guangzhou for two more years. I need him to stabilize southern Xinjiang."

"Yes!" Zhang Sun Wuji also looked at Li Chengqian with some surprise, and then said, "Then it must be Yizhou Chief Secretary Lu Chengqing and Lanzhou Governor Du Fengju."

"It's all the same. No, after the battle on the plateau, we need them to do their best to develop Songzhou and Tuyuhun." Li Chengqian hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "Uncle, what do you think of Li Xizhi, the governor of Guizhou?"

"Li Xizhi is old, isn't he?" Changsun Wujie was a little surprised, but then he understood and nodded, "Your Majesty means that he should serve as the Minister of Rites for a year or two, and then retire."

"Uncle, please spread the word. Du Zhenglun, Lu Chengqing, and Du Fengju all have the chance to succeed Li Xizhi as Minister of Rites. At the same time, provincial governors and officials of the third and fourth ranks in the court will have the opportunity to be transferred to important posts as Governor of Guangzhou, Chief Clerk of the Yizhou Grand Military Governor's Office, and Governor of Lanzhou."

"People's hearts were immediately stirred." Zhang Sun Wuji looked at Li Chengqian with emotion and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

"Of course, first of all, the governor of Guizhou!" Li Chengqian hesitated slightly and said, "Uncle, discuss with the Ministry of Personnel who will be the governor of Guizhou. Before the New Year, we will transfer a group of people first."

A third-rank governor of Guizhou, although the place is remote, is enough to mobilize a large number of people.

Moreover, a series of positions of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades will be vacant.

People are more moved.

At this moment, Li Anyan hurried into the hall and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Majesty, Lu Dongzan sent three groups of people to deliver the message to the plateau, and they have all been intercepted."

"Three ways?" Li Chengqian thought for a moment and said, "Let's investigate further. Perhaps he has other methods."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed, then turned around and left quickly.

Zhang Sun Wuji looked up at Li Chengqian and said, "Your Majesty is right. It is indeed the first month of the year."

"Just waiting for news from the Northwest."

……

On the 29th day of the first lunar month, the emperor returned to the capital.

Outside Chunming Gate, Ma Zhou, Qiu Xinggong, Li Jue, and all the civil and military officials who stayed in Chang'an welcomed the emperor and the retired emperor back to the capital.

However, before they could say anything, a fast horse rushed in from the Jinguan Gate in the west of the city and headed straight for the Chunming Gate.

Soon, the secret report from Songzhou reached Li Chengqian's hands.

Inside the imperial carriage, Li Chengqian handed the secret report to Zhangsun Wuji, who was standing beside him, and said, "Uncle, Songtsen, he's here."

"Your Majesty, you can arrest the person now!" Changsun Wuji looked up.

Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan and said, "Follow them. When they enter the embassy, ​​surround them and arrest them."

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji again and said, "Uncle, when you return, draft an imperial edict. This will appoint Li Jing, the Inspector General of the Northwest Road and Duke of Wei, as Vice Minister of State Affairs. He will be granted the imperial seal and the golden medal, commanding the war in the northwest and making decisions on the spot. Those below the third rank can be executed first and reported to the emperor later. Wherever this edict is passed, it will be as if I were present in person."

Changsun Wuji bowed solemnly and said, "I obey your command."

The Northwest War has begun.

(End of this chapter)