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

Chapter 551 I am the Emperor, Chang'an City is mine (Part )
March 15th, the beginning of the Chen hour.

The east is slightly brighter.

With a "creak", the door of Ganlu Palace opened.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a black robe with a golden dragon pattern, walked out of Ganlu Palace and looked calmly towards the Chang'an City in front of him.

The sun is hidden in the clouds.

The wind and smoke are sparse and beautiful.

Li Chengqian smiled lightly, and with just a glance, he had a panoramic view of the entire Chang'an over the past century.

Zhang Ananda had been waiting on the side for a long time and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian turned slightly and asked: "What happened with Yuan Tiangang?"

"His whereabouts were too erratic. One moment he was in Pingkangfang, the next he appeared in Kaihuafang. The people who were waiting along the way didn't even notice when he appeared and disappeared." Zhang Ananda bowed and said, "If Yang Sina hadn't appeared, I'm afraid I wouldn't have believed he was still alive."

Yes, if Yang Sina had not entered Chang'an City, no one would have thought that Yuan Tiangang would appear quietly, meet Yang Sina, and then leave quietly.

Of course, even Yuan Tiangang probably couldn't have imagined that the reason why Li Chengqian targeted Yang Shidao this time was for Yang Sina.

Yuan Tiangang, after all, was just a Taoist priest who faked his death.

Even if he has extraordinary abilities, he can only display them with the help of the power of the aristocratic family.

The Hongnong Yang family is the greatest force he can rely on.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Li Chengqian had tied the hands and feet of most of the Hongnong Yang family, and only a very small part of the Hongnong Yang family could have contact with Yuan Tiangang.

Even those who knew that Yuan Tiangang was still alive were only a small part of the core members of the Hongnong Yang family.

The appearance of Yang Sina answered this question for Li Chengqian.

The only ones who knew that Yuan Tiangang was alive were a few legitimate sons of Yang Gongren, the eldest son of Prince Guan Yang Xiong and Duke Guan.

They are the only ones who are in contact with Yuan Tiangang.

As long as he keeps a close eye on them, Li Chengqian is effectively keeping a close eye on Yuan Tiangang.

……

"After His Majesty issued the decree yesterday, Duke Zhao went to see Duke Ande, who then secretly met with Yang Sina. Meanwhile, Yuan Tiangang reappeared at night," Zhang Ananda added in a low voice. "Unfortunately, Yuan Tiangang disappeared again. I wonder where he ended up hiding?"

Li Chengqian turned and walked back to Ganlu Hall, sat down on the short couch in the inner hall, and said softly, "Although this is Chang'an, Yuan Tiangang has been working hard for many years. Who knows how many arrangements he has made? But now I have grasped some of his patterns, and the rest is just a matter of slowly figuring it out."

Li Chengqian looked very calm.

This is Chang'an City. If anyone has the ability to do the biggest thing in the entire Chang'an City, then no one dares to compete with Emperor Li Chengqian except for him.

Especially after the curfew, only the Jinwu Guards and soldiers holding gold medals could walk freely in Chang'an City.

This means that Li Chengqian has the whole night to make the arrangements.

As for daytime, surveillance is enough.

Throughout the city of Chang'an, every neighborhood and every corner is under constant surveillance.

They don't need to do much, just watch.

For a person like Yuan Tiangang, if someone really followed him, he might be able to notice it immediately.

Li Chengqian issued an edict yesterday allowing Yang Shidao to retire and granting him special advancement. At the same time, he asked Zhangsun Wuji to implicitly tell Yang Xuangan's concerns to Yang Shidao.

Yang Shidao met Yang Sina, and sure enough, Yuan Tiangang appeared again and then left.

Twice, the secret guards had begun to analyze the traces revealed by Yuan Tiangang while walking.

Sooner or later, all of Yuan Tiangang’s secrets will be revealed.

In the end, this person is nothing more than a pile of dry bones in a grave.

The real key is the Hongnong Yang family.

This time, he lured out the three Yang Sina brothers.

Caught them and pressed them back.

Everyone has a lucky hope.

Before, Li Chengqian had almost pushed them to their limit, but now as soon as he loosened his grip, the Hongnong Yang family would immediately start to feel lucky.

He would not immediately turn against Li Chengqian and then start a fight bit by bit.

However, Yang Sina's idea was not wrong. Li Chengqian did not intend to take action against the Hongnong Yang family right now.

The Hongnong Yang family, a powerful clan with a history of 800 years, had intermarriages with families all over the world, and its influence reached every corner of the Tang Dynasty.

If we act rashly, the foundation of the entire Tang Dynasty will be damaged.

Li Chengqian had a complete plan in mind. As for the Hongnong Yang family, he needed to build them up little by little, make them stand against everyone in the world, and then completely divide and disintegrate them.

This would require a long time to plan. However, at this time, he could slowly exchange moves with Yuan Tiangang and play a few tricks.

Li Chengqian leaned over and asked, "Have the Taiyi Qinghua Temple and Daci'en Temple been properly arranged today?"

"Your Majesty, the Hundred Cavalry Division has already brought the Thousand Oxen Guards and the Golden Guards to investigate more than once. Arrangements have been made inside and outside, so nothing will go wrong." Zhang Ananda bowed seriously.

"Be careful, Yuan Tiangang has finally shown up, he won't be willing to disappear like this." Li Chengqian raised his hand slightly.

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed solemnly, then whispered, "Your Majesty, Master Yuan Ke has been transferred to Wugong County and is serving as the county magistrate. Do you want to use him to find Yuan Tiangang?"

Yuan Keshi, son of Yuan Tiangang.

Li Chengqian turned his head to look at Zhang Ananda and said with a smile: "Using Master Yuan Ke to find Yuan Tiangang, and using my son to find me, you really dare to think of it."

Zhang Ananda bowed calmly.

Last year, the emperor decided to transfer Yuan Keshi to Chang'an. Wasn't the purpose to use Yuan Keshi to find Yuan Tiangang?
Li Chengqian calmed down and waved his hand, saying, "No need. Let Master Yuan stay in Wugong County first. Now is not the time to use him... Now is not the time to capture Yuan Tiangang either."

Zhang Ananda was a little surprised: "Your Majesty, since Yuan Tiangang has already appeared, why don't you just get rid of him and completely eliminate the hidden danger?"

Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and said softly, "Although I have been on the throne for nearly two years, my prestige still cannot compare to that of my father. My father-in-law once said that if I had the ability to completely destroy Goguryeo, I would find a way to lead the army in person, and then use the achievement of destroying the country to establish my prestige and shock the people. But in the final analysis, the people still do not submit to me."

After Li Shimin died, those arrogant generals and old ministers of the Zhenguan period, even if they didn't realize it, were definitely not as respectful to Li Chengqian as they were when Li Shimin was alive.

Not to mention, there are also kings and aristocratic families.

They have plenty of ways to secretly erode Li Chengqian's power.

It is inevitable that people's hearts will be divided.

"In comparison, I would rather face an ambitious person who has gathered all those who are dissatisfied with me, or even an opponent who is preparing to rebel, than face countless people who are making tricks in secret, causing the world to be full of crises." Li Chengqian glanced at Zhang Ananda.

This is how Chongzhen died, and this is how the Ming Dynasty perished.

"Yuan Tiangang is nothing more than a wild and barbaric demon." Li Chengqian leaned back slightly and said softly, "As long as he is exiled to the wilds, he will pose no threat. Even his prophecy is actually just an empty shell. But when the noble families start to spread it, it will become extremely dangerous."

The emperor’s enemies will always be the aristocratic families of the world.

Yuan Tiangang is just a tool used by Li Chengqian to lure out all his enemies.

"Moreover," Li Chengqian said with a serious expression, "If you don't believe me, let's give it a try. Killing him is much more difficult than we thought, so we have to do it when we are most confident.

It would be best if he could be spared. I want to ask him in person, is that prophecy really a destiny?"

Zhang Ananda bowed heavily.

It is not just the emperor who fears the will of heaven. Wasn't the previous emperor the same?
"Finally," Li Chengqian said, turning to look at Zhang Ananda, "and don't you think that with Yuan Tiangang acting outside and threatening the court, the ministers in the court will unite to support me and work together against the outside world?"

Zhang Ananda blinked.

In the court today, the only people who knew that Yuan Tiangang was still alive were the emperor and Zhao Guogong Zhangsun Wuji.

When Yuan Tiangang is away, Zhao Guogong Zhangsun Wuji will focus some of his energy on Yuan Tiangang, and at the same time, he will give his full support to Li Chengqian, which is what Li Chengqian really wants.

Zhang Ananda bowed in awe and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand and said, "Let the secret guards do their best to apprehend Yuan Tiangang. Of course, if we can kill him, it's fine. If not, keep Master Yuan Ke and our arrangements throughout Chang'an. Don't let him notice. I want to see how many secrets Yuan Tiangang holds."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and saw Lu Mingyue standing at the door. He knew that the meal had been delivered. He waved to Lu Mingyue and then said to Zhang Ananda, "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Send someone to Lizheng Hall to see how the Empress and the Crown Prince are doing. Also, Concubine Su and Qilang. They went with me to Taiyi Qinghua Temple and Daci'en Temple today."

"Yes!" Zhang Ananda bowed, then turned and left.

……

In Taiyi Qinghua Temple.

Li Chengqian came out from Taiyi Qinghua Emperor Temple after burning incense and walked to the bell tower of the rear temple.

Su Shu, Su Yi, Li Xiang, the seventh son Li Miao who was in Su Yi's arms, as well as Su Xu, Zhangsun Wuji and other civil and military officials in the court, came to the backyard together.

Li Chengqian turned sideways, glanced at Su Shu and Su Yi, then glanced at Li Xiang and Li Miao, and finally walked up the bell tower step by step.

Looking at the bronze bell in front of him, which was made from the old clothes left in the palace by his mother and his father, Li Chengqian always had a feeling of facing his mother directly.

"Mother, Chengqian has given you another grandson this year. I hope your spirit in heaven can bless him to grow up healthily." After Li Chengqian finished speaking, he picked up the hammer and hit the bronze bell hard.

“Boom boom boom boom boom boom!”

The loud ringing of bells rang out throughout the entire city of Chang'an.

Keep echoing.

Li Chengqian looked up at the clear sky, imagining that the voice, carrying his wishes, reached Zhaoling.

With a light sigh, Li Chengqian quickly walked down the bell tower: "Let's go to Da Ci'en Temple!"

"Here!"

(End of this chapter)