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

Chapter 469: The Death of Lu Dongzan and His Son, the Cold-blooded Li Shimin (Part )

The outer courtyard of Honglu Temple.

With a "squeak" sound, the door opened.

Gar Qinling walked out of the room with a pale face, and heavy and suppressed breathing sounds came from the room.

Under the stone pavilion at the end of a corridor, Changsun Wuji was drinking tea calmly.

Gar Qinling gathered his composure, walked up to Changsun Wuji, and said, "Sikong, I have fulfilled my mission. Tubo is willing to pay 50,000 taels of gold to seek forgiveness from the Tang Dynasty."

Changsun Wuji nodded.

The emperor's three judges tried Lu Dongzan and Gar Qinling in order to make all the illegal acts of Tubo known to the world.

With this name, no matter how the Tang Dynasty treated Tubo, it would be reasonable.

Now in Tubo, the heir is young, and Songtsen's health is failing.

If Songtsen died one day, the Tang Dynasty would send troops to Tubo, and Tubo would be in big trouble.

Wrong, lost.

You have to admit it.

When Gar Qinling stood opposite, the Tubo envoy and new prime minister Thonmi Sambhota was completely stunned.

Afterwards, the Honglu Temple opened its mouth wide, saying that as long as Tubo paid 10,000 taels of gold a year, and as long as Tubo did not mobilize troops, the Tang Dynasty would not attack Tubo.

At the same time, it is required to start with five years.

Thonmi Sambhota had no choice but to agree.

With the assistance of Gar Qinling, the Tang Dynasty's understanding of Tubo will be far greater than before, and it may even be possible to completely exterminate Tubo.

Thunmi Sambhota had to swallow this bitter pill.

He agreed to pay 50,000 taels of gold as compensation, and the agreement could be continued five years later if Tubo needed it.

"Thunmi Sambhota said that Songtsen asked the Queen to return to Tubo." Gar Qinling sensed something was wrong and quickly said, "Yes, Princess. Tubo is willing to pay an additional 10,000 taels of gold to invite the Princess back to Tubo."

"You want to use the princess's power to stabilize the situation." Changsun Wuji shook his head slightly and said coldly, "That's a good idea, but His Majesty will not agree to it."

Gar Qinling's expression became serious. This matter would not be resolved so easily.

Even if the Tubo plotted to murder the retired emperor and failed, and even if the Tubo had suffered heavy casualties at the hands of Tuyuhun, the emperor would not let it go.

This is about filial piety.

It’s just because the Tang Dynasty is not yet ready to exterminate Tubo, so it has temporarily stopped.

Both Thonmi Sambhota and Songtsen understood this, but they also understood that although the Tang Dynasty was not prepared to exterminate Tubo, it did not mean that the Tang Dynasty would stop.

He sent a small group of cavalry to harass Su Bi and Yang Tong constantly, destroying all their survival bases.

He sent people to sneak into Tubo to assassinate Songtsen and Mangsong-mangtsen.

They even colluded with some internal opposition groups and plotted against each other.

Songtsen himself had nothing to worry about. As long as he was alive, his grandson would not be able to suffer any evil tricks.

But if he died, could Mangsong Mangzan survive?

So, he wanted a guarantee.

Li Chengqian promised that he would not take any action against Tubo, either openly or secretly.

They are willing to pay the price for this.

And Gar Qinling's betrayal only made the price a little heavier.

But with this money, Datang will be able to do a lot.

As for Princess Wencheng, as long as Songtsen was alive, even if the Tang Dynasty sent people to escort the princess back to Tubo, he could still use various means to strip the Tang Dynasty of its manpower.

But once he died, Tubo no longer needed the princess to return.

"You did well." Changsun Wuji stood up and said, "Let's go. I'll take you to see your father."

"Thank you, Duke!" Gar Qinling breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes full of joy.

With what happened today and the fact that the Tang Dynasty will attack Tubo in the future, Gar Qinling will be able to gain a foothold in Chang'an with his own abilities.

"Tomorrow, His Majesty will give you the reward." Changsun Wuji said as he walked forward. However, just as he walked out of the corridor, two guards in red clothes and golden armor suddenly appeared and blocked his way.

Chang Sun Wuji looked at the two people in front of him, frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Duke Huiguo, the Supreme Emperor has ordered Gar Qinling to come over immediately." A guard bowed solemnly.

Zhang Sun Wuji suddenly realized what was happening, turned around, patted Gar Qinling on the shoulder, and said, "Well, your luck has come."

"Thank you, Duke!" Gar Qinling relaxed.

The benevolence of the retired emperor is known to the world, otherwise he would not be respected as the Heavenly Khan by all the countries in the world.

The ministers of Crown Prince Li Jiancheng who later served the retired emperor will not be mentioned as examples.

Gar Qinling was a foreigner, and his opponent was General Zuo Xiaowei and Duke Anguo Zhishisili.

Zhishisili was Jie Li's confidant and vanguard general. He even led troops to attack Chang'an. Later, after Jie Li surrendered, Zhishisili also surrendered to the Tang Dynasty.

Afterwards, Zhishisili fought for the Heavenly Khan through life and death. The Heavenly Khan not only granted him an official position and title, but also married Princess Jiujiang to him.

There are too many examples like Zhishisili, Qibi Heli, and Ashina Zhong.

After bidding farewell to Changsun Wuji, Gal Qinling was taken into the harem.

When Changsun Wuji saw this scene, he finally nodded in satisfaction.

……

At sunset, the evening glow is like blood.

In the Secretariat, Changsun Wuji put down the brush in his hand and couldn't help stretching.

The Tang Dynasty and Tubo reached an agreement not to attack each other within five years. Given the current situation on the plateau, the Tang Dynasty would not have to worry about any threats from Tubo after five years.

You can develop Xichang Prefecture and the Silk Road with peace of mind.

This brought huge wealth to the Tang Dynasty.

Turning around, Changsun Wuji asked, "Where is Gar Qinling now?" Du Yuanji, the Left Secretary, who was standing nearby, bowed and said, "Prime Minister, is Gar Qinling still in the palace?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned and subconsciously asked, "Beiyuan?"

"No." Du Yuanji bowed and said, "Today he was summoned by the Emperor Retired and entered Ganlu Palace. He has not come out yet, and no one has taken him to Beiyuan."

"What do you mean?" Changsun Wuji blinked and asked, "Didn't anyone at Xuanwu Gate see him?"

"No!" Du Yuanji bowed with a serious expression.

Zhang Sun Wuji's expression grew serious. He looked outside the palace and raised his head, saying, "The palace curfew will be lifted in a quarter of an hour. How could the emperor still keep him in the harem? Did he get to Beiyuan from somewhere? You don't know."

"There is no news from the Imperial Guards." Du Yuanji bowed.

Changsun Wuji's face darkened.

He was the prime minister of the dynasty, the minister of the left, and the brother-in-law of the retired emperor.

When the retired emperor was in power, he was granted some power to manage the imperial guards and could even enter and exit the Beiyuan freely.

After the emperor ascended the throne, Changsun Wuji's power was not taken back and he could still enter Beiyuan.

Then enter Xuanwu Gate from Beiyuan and meet the emperor.

Of course, this is when the emperor is in Chang'an.

The matter of Gal Qinling was strongly advocated by Zhangsun Wuji, Li Chengqian did not object, and the emperor...

Suddenly, Zhangsun Wuji couldn't help but stand up, looked at Du Yuanji and said, "Go find Zhang Da'an, I want to see His Majesty..."

"No, let's go to Beiyuan first!" Changsun Wuji suddenly turned around and strode out of the hall.

Du Yuanji hesitated for a moment, but still followed.

A moment later, Du Yuanji followed Changsun Wuji to a remote courtyard in the northwest of Beiyuan.

All the guards inside and outside disappeared.

Changsun Wuji's lips trembled slightly, then he strode into the courtyard and finally came to the inner room. The room was empty and there was no sign of Lu Dongzan.

One of the prerequisites for Changsun Wuji to let Gar Qinling serve the Tang Dynasty loyally was that Lu Dongzan was still alive and his family was in the hands of the Tang Dynasty.

Now Lu Dongzan is missing...

A burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and Changsun Wuji immediately walked out of the house.

A general of the Imperial Guards quickly entered the courtyard. Seeing Changsun Wuji, he immediately bowed and said, "Greetings, Sikong?"

Changsun Wuji's face was gloomy and he asked directly, "Where are the people here?"

"Reporting to the Duke, the person has been taken away."

"Who took it away?" Changsun Wuji stared at the imperial guard in front of him.

"It was the eunuch who personally brought people here to raise the matter." The general of the imperial guards bowed solemnly.

"Zhang Ananda!" Changsun Wuji couldn't help but look up in the direction of Ganlu Palace.

The retired emperor abdicated and the emperor ascended the throne, but the palace was still managed by the eunuch Zhang Ananda.

The emperor did not touch him, but brought the eunuch Dou Zhijie to his side. At the same time, he promoted Xu An to the position of eunuch.

In fact, part of the power in Zhang Ananda's hands was taken over by Xu An, but he was still the chief eunuch.

Through him, the emperor still had great power in the palace.

"Boom, boom, boom!" The sound of evening drums came from the direction of Chang'an City.

The evening drum sounded, and it was not long before the curfew. At this time, all the officials in the palace had begun to leave the palace after their shifts.

When the evening drum stops, the palace will also be closed and locked.

“Let’s go, the eunuch Sun Wuji walked directly out of the hall, and Du Yuanji followed immediately.

Entering Chang'an City from Fanglin Gate, Anfu Gate is not far ahead. To the north of Anfu Gate is the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ye Ting is behind the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The families of Lu Dongzan and Gar Qinling were also imprisoned in the palace.

Zhang Sun Wuji had just arrived at Anfu Gate when a black carriage pulling a black coffin came out of Anfu Gate, surrounded by a team of Qianniu Guards escorting it.

Zhang Sun Wuji waved his hand, and Du Yuanji immediately went up to the leading Qianniu Beishen and asked, "What is this?"

The young Qianniu Beishen, who was no more than twenty years old, saw Zhangsun Wuji and bowed nervously, saying, "Greetings to the Minister of Works. Reporting to the Minister of Works, this is the body of Lu Dongzan, the Prime Minister of Tubo who was beheaded today."

Zhang Sun Wuji frowned and said, "Lu Dongzan's body was not collected by the Ministry of Justice, so how did it end up in your hands?"

"I don't know either. I just followed the order of the general to pick up the body from the palace and then take it to Beiyuan for burial." The young Qianniu Beishen bowed seriously.

Zhang Sun Wuji looked at the Qianniu attendant in front of him and felt that he looked familiar. He asked, "What's your name?"

"Replying to the Prime Minister, I am Wang Jishan. My father, Lord Wang, was shocked." Wang Jishan bowed seriously.

"So it's Duke Xing." Zhangsun Wuji looked at Wang Jishan in surprise and asked, "You are twenty years old this year, right?"

"I am only twenty years old!" Wang Jishan bowed slightly.

Chang Sun Wuji looked at the black coffin on the side and asked, "Have you confirmed the identity?"

"Confirmed." Wang Jishan bowed and said excitedly, "This is the Tubo Prime Minister. His execution a while ago caused a great stir in Chang'an, and so did I. Today, I am attending the Tubo Prime Minister's funeral. I have compared the portrait three times and confirmed that it is Tubo Prime Minister Lu Dongzan."

Looking at Wang Jishan's excited expression, what appeared in Changsun Wuji's mind was the image of Lu Dongzan lying in the cold black coffin.

Inexplicably, Changsun Wuji looked up at Wang Jishan and asked, "Did you just say Chang'an was in an uproar?"

"Yes!" Wang Jishan looked at Zhangsun Wuji in surprise, and bowed sincerely, saying, "Duke Weiguo led a large army to destroy a Tibetan army of 100,000 in the northwest in just three months.

Now that Your Majesty has beheaded the Tubo Prime Minister in Chang'an, the people are naturally excited and excited, and they all praise Your Majesty's power and wisdom."

"Your Majesty is mighty and virtuous!" Changsun Wuji muttered these words, but he couldn't help but look in the direction of Liangyi Palace. Then, he raised his head and looked in the direction of Ganlu Palace.

Not knowing what he was thinking about, Changsun Wuji's body trembled slightly.

Then he turned his horse and said directly, "Go to see His Majesty!"

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)