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

Chapter 553: We are willing to die for your majesty (Part )
Under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Changsun Wuji and Li Anyan stood guard beside Li Chengqian.

Other civil and military officials, under the command of Yuchi Jingde and Cheng Zhijie, guarded the gates of various courtyards.

The sounds of fighting came from all directions, and throughout the Da Ci'en Temple and the Dunyifang outside, bursts of hurried footsteps could be heard.

A chaotic and unclear situation is the most worrying.

Li Chengqian held the Qianniu Sword in his hand, and the cold blade reflected his indifferent eyes as he looked at the people around him.

Now, all the important officials in the court of the Tang Dynasty looked around with stern expressions.

The present Tang Dynasty has only survived the Sui Dynasty for thirty-two years.

These important officials in the court had all experienced the chaos of the previous Sui Dynasty.

It is common to carry a knife or a sword.

Unlike the Song and Ming dynasties...

Li Chengqian raised his head and looked towards the sky where the sounds of fighting could be heard in the distance.

Now the sounds of fighting in the distance are becoming more intense and closer, and one can even vaguely see flames rising into the sky.

Zoroastrianism.

It seemed that countless Zoroastrians were rushing towards the Da Ci'en Temple.

Li Chengqian sneered lightly.

Zoroastrianism, bullshit.

Zoroastrianism had long been severely suppressed in Chang'an City.

Qiu Xinggong, the governor of Yongzhou, was not a soft-hearted man. Combined with Li Chengqian's spies in Chang'an City, how could it be possible that Zoroastrians were walking around Chang'an City at will and even planned to assassinate him?

This is simply a joke. If that were really the case, then Qiu Xinggong would have no business being the governor of Yongzhou.

So, of course, that can't be the case.

Only Yuan Tiangang.

The reason why Li Chengqian suddenly felt something was wrong today was because he was already full of vigilance against Yuan Tiangang.

Therefore, we made timely arrangements to target the issue.

Unexpectedly, he actually did this.

"The most worrying thing about the current situation is chaos." Li Chengqian looked at Li Anyan who was standing to the side and said, "Anyan, go and pass on the order now. Sun Wukai, the Lieutenant General of the Imperial Guard, will command the entire Imperial Guard within Da Ci'en Temple. Qiu Xiaogong, the Lieutenant General of the Left Jinwu Guard, and Qin Huaidao, the Lieutenant General of the Right Jinwu Guard, will command all the Jinwu Guards throughout Dunyifang. Everything outside Dunyifang will be handed over to the Duke of Tianshui."

Li Anyan bowed solemnly and said, "I accept your command."

After saying that, Li Anyan immediately turned around and left.

Changsun Wuji, who was standing aside, looked at Li Anyan leaving in a daze and whispered, "He just left like that."

"Just delivering an imperial edict." Li Chengqian looked at Zhangsun Wuji, raised the Qianniu Knife in his hand, and said with a smile, "How could you forget, uncle? Although I didn't fight on the battlefield like you, on the night of Xuanwu Gate, besides my mother holding a knife to protect everyone in the Qin Palace, I also held a knife to protect several of my brothers and sisters."

Changsun Wuji suddenly realized that he always forgot that Li Chengqian also came from Xuanwu Gate.

Although he was only seven years old at that time, he could already remember things at the age of seven.

Moreover, in his early years, Li Chengqian was personally trained by Li Shimin, Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Zhijie and other old ministers of the Prince of Qin's Palace.

Later on, he performed well in this area, but after he fell off a horse and broke his leg that year, he basically stopped doing these things.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said softly, "That person really put his heart into today's matter."

Changsun Wuji followed Li Chengqian's gaze and looked at the three bodies burned to ashes on the ground, his expression becoming solemn.

Changsun Wuji knew very well that the identities of these three people were questionable.

Especially the man’s last Turkic words pushed the seriousness of the matter to the extreme.

If you are not careful, something big will happen.

For a moment, Changsun Wuji couldn't help but curse in his heart.

Damn Yuan Tiangang.

……

On the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Yuan Tiangang curled up in the small space, but his eyes were always fixed on Li Chengqian below through the tiny hole.

In the silent space, one could clearly hear the shouts of fighting coming from all directions, which were rapidly becoming smaller.

The emperor's men were quickly taking control of the situation.

Yuan Tiangang stared at Li Chengqian, who was holding the Qianniu Sword and chatting and laughing with Changsun Wuji.

He had to admit that he had made a mistake.

Li Shimin's son was not incompetent.

The feast that Yuan Tiangang carefully prepared for him: assassination, fire, self-immolation, and the Turks. If it were anyone else, they would probably have been so frightened that they could not stand.

If he, the emperor, showed any weakness or incompetence at this time and was seen by others, they would immediately become alienated from the emperor.

Yuan Tiangang didn't expect that Li Chengqian's response would be so fierce and direct.

He was so calm as he stood under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda holding a knife.

Although the burning of the three corpses not far away had come to an end, Yuan Tiangang believed that the pungent stench of the corpses was not something that anyone could bear.

In the face of death, Li Shimin's son was surprisingly calm.

Yuan Tiangang sighed softly.

He really misjudged it.

The emperor might really be able to inherit Li Shimin's imperial career.

An extremely strong thought suddenly flashed through Yuan Tiangang's mind.

Yuan Tiangang looked at Li Chengqian below.

He was calculating the distance between him and Li Chengqian in his mind.

If at this time, he ignored his own hiding and attacked directly from above, could he kill Li Chengqian?

Yuan Tiangang asked himself.

Maybe.

But if he did it, he would be dead too.

And now he has to re-evaluate Li Chengqian, the new emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

This emperor, who grew up in the deep palace, was not as strong as he originally thought. If Yuan Tiangang really rushed forward, he might not be able to kill Li Chengqian.

But as long as he shows up, he will definitely be the one to die.

No one is a weak little chicken. Just the fact that Changsun Wuji is standing next to Li Chengqian is enough to make people afraid.

Although that guy was a civil official, he was the commander-in-chief when the army was conquered from Luo Yi in Hebei. Later, when Li Shimin conquered Liaodong, he personally led his army to encircle the Goguryeo army from behind, and he was also extremely fierce.

Time passed silently, and the sounds of fighting around Da Ci'en Temple gradually became heard.

Yuan Tiangang sighed lightly. Everything was over and it was too late to do anything.

……

The distance gradually calmed down.

All around, more and more guards gathered outside the courtyard gate, standing solemnly with spears in hand.

All the civil and military officials couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Yin Yuan, dressed in red and golden armor, hurried back from outside and bowed to Li Chengqian, saying, "Your Majesty, everything has been resolved."

The civil and military officials around him all held their swords upside down and bowed earnestly to Li Chengqian, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian nodded calmly, reached out to take the scabbard handed to him by Yin Yuan, and put the blade in his hand into the scabbard little by little.

But Li Chengqian did not return the Qianniu Sword to Yin Yuan.

He looked at the blades in the hands of the ministers present and said calmly, "Gentlemen, please stand."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." All the ministers bowed.

Li Chengqian looked at everyone, a satisfied smile on his face, and nodded, saying, "Thank you all for protecting me today. I don't have anything else to give you, so I will give you the Thousand Oxen Sword in your hands. You can keep it in the palace. When I leave the palace in the future, you can carry this sword with you to protect me."

According to court regulations, officials were required to remove their weapons when entering the palace.

When the emperor left the palace, all officials were by his side. Except for the imperial guards, the Qianniu Guards and the Jinwu Guards, no other civil or military officials were allowed to carry weapons with them.

This was strictly considered from the perspective of the emperor's safety.

But now, the emperor granted them special permission, that in the future, when they leave the palace, they can guard the emperor with knives.

What a trust.

An unbearable feeling of emotion rose from the bottom of their hearts, and all the ministers bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace. We are willing to serve you with all our strength and die for you."

"Stand up." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently, sighed, and then said seriously, "Today, I and you have shared life and death, and danger together. I am deeply grateful for your protection and will remember it in my heart. In the future, I hope that you will join me in creating a prosperous Tang Dynasty."

"We are willing to work with Your Majesty to create a prosperous Tang Dynasty." The ministers bowed solemnly again.

Li Chengqian nodded and waved slightly at Yin Yuan.

Yin Yuan immediately ordered the scabbards to be delivered to the ministers, and then ordered them to retreat.

The ministers then stood on both sides of the emperor, holding their scabbards.

……

On the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Yuan Tiangang heard all of this clearly.

He looked at Li Chengqian deeply.

He had to admit that in terms of people's hearts, at least, Li Chengqian completely inherited Li Shimin's way of seeking fame and reputation.

Just a Qianniu sword was enough to win the hearts of countless experienced and sophisticated officials of the dynasty.

It's even more than that.

Yuan Tiangang knew clearly that since the death of Li Shimin, countless important officials in the court and aristocratic families throughout the world had actually begun to become alienated from the emperor.

They did not have many common interests with the emperor, nor had they experienced life and death together. It was normal for them to become disunited because their feelings were not deep.

But today, a crisis, an extraordinary crisis that everyone faces together, has made everyone once again gather closely around the emperor.

That Thousand Ox Sword may seem like just a Thousand Ox Sword, but it is actually much more than that.

Yuan Tiangang even had a vague feeling of the White Horse Alliance of Emperor Gaozu of Han.

With a Thousand Ox Sword, Li Chengqian actually made a promise similar to the White Horse Alliance.

The Tang Dynasty today is still far from its peak, and there are still countless difficulties and obstacles in the way. Just like the assassinations that happened today, they will continue to occur tomorrow.

Therefore, as long as the ministers present and their descendants assist him in governing the Tang Dynasty to its peak prosperity, he will never let them down.

Just like that Thousand Ox Knife.

A knife is a dangerous weapon, but it can be used to kill thieves or to slay the king.

This is what Li Chengqian promised. If he betrays others in the future, others can use this Qianniu Sword to kill him.

Some things didn't need to be said so clearly, but all the ministers understood the meaning.

When they held the Thousand Ox Sword, it was equivalent to entering into an invisible contract with the emperor.

They served and the emperor rewarded them.

Now, people's hearts are united.

……

Under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Li Chengqian raised his head slightly and looked towards the top of the pagoda.

Changsun Wuji followed his gaze and asked, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Li Chengqian shook his head. He always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell where it was.

"Duke Tianshui, what's going on outside?" Li Chengqian looked at Qiu Xinggong, the governor of Yongzhou who had just arrived.

Qiu Xinggong bowed and said, "Your Majesty, all the assassins have been eliminated, eighty-seven in total. However, the vast majority of them were set ablaze by their companions after their death. As they died, they even chanted Zoroastrian prayers."

"Burn my remains with blazing flames." Li Chengqian stepped forward, walked to the three bodies lying on the ground, and sneered softly, "Are these people really Zoroastrians?"

All the ministers around were silent.

Li Chengqian raised his head and said, "Duke of Tianshui, order the entire city to hunt down the Zoroastrians. After murdering my father, they are now plotting to murder me. I hereby order that anyone who has any information about the Zoroastrians and verifies their identities will be rewarded with one string of silver coins. Ten strings of silver coins will be rewarded for capturing their heads."

"Yes!" Qiu Xinggong bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian turned and looked around. Outside were densely packed guards, and nearby were countless court officials. He nodded calmly and said, "Let's go back to the palace first."

"Yes!" All the ministers bowed.

Li Chengqian strode towards the west gate, still holding the black-sheathed Thousand Ox Sword tightly in his hand.

(End of this chapter)