Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 538 I am just a commoner from Tang Dynasty
Luoyang.

In the late winter of the sixth year of the Datong era, Li Shuang led his subordinates, surrendered vassal states, and envoys from various countries to Luoyang.

The local garrison troops of Sizhou and the garrison troops of Luoyang were mobilized to maintain order inside and outside Luoyang, and a tight guard line was set up along Tongtuo Street.

Yu Jin, the garrison commander of Luoyang, and Hu Sichun, the prime minister, led the officials and nobles of Luoyang to greet them outside the city.

The scale of the event was comparable only to the scene when Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital.

"See you, Your Majesty!"

On the imperial road, which only the emperor could walk on, the Qin king's carriage was traveling at this moment, but everyone seemed to ignore this fact and took it for granted.

After exchanging greetings with his officials, Li Shuang settled the surrendered vassal lords and envoys from various countries at the Sitong Pavilion south of Luoyang, and then led his subordinates into Jinyong City.

On this day, seeing the grand scene on Tongtuo Street, everyone knew that the world was about to change.

The military officers from Chang'an took over all the defenses inside and outside Luoyang.

Inside Xianyang Hall, Yuan Baoju was filled with unease; inside Ganquan Palace, the sound of the wooden fish drum never ceased.

To everyone's surprise, as winter turned to spring, there was still no movement in the majestic Golden Yong City.

One day, a group of Luoyang nobles, who were getting impatient with their wait, were summoned to Jinyong City.

A large group of elderly nobles dressed in purple court robes slowly entered Jinyong City and met the young King of Qin whom they had not seen for a long time.

Kim Yong Palace is built on a floating island, with lush trees planted along the waterfront, making it a scenic spot.

Dressed in a round-necked robe and wearing a simple hat, Li Shuang stood on the water's edge beside the Jin Yong Palace, smiling as he looked at the assembled officials.

"I am deeply honored that you gentlemen have come from afar."

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Lu Wenwei and the others were respectful and polite, and looking at Li Shuang's attire and demeanor, they couldn't help but admire him.

A true gentleman!

Li Shuang walked along the water's edge with his hands behind his back, and a group of nobles followed him.

Li Shuang deliberately slowed down his pace so that the officials could keep up.

From a distance, it looks very harmonious.

In fact, it was indeed very harmonious.

The group walked along the water's edge, just like on a spring outing.

Until Li Shuang asked a question.

"Recently, some people reported that auspicious omens had appeared in Mangshan. Upon learning this, Prime Minister Husichun led his men to the area and discovered a hidden tomb from the Han Dynasty, from which they found an imperial seal. Are you all aware of this?"

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines. Were they finally getting down to business?
"We've heard a bit about it, and rumors are spreading in the city that this is a sign of a change of destiny!"

Li Shuang listened, smiled slightly, and asked:

"With the Holy Emperor in power, the country is at peace, and the surrounding barbarians are subservient, how could such treasonous words be uttered?"

All the nobles present understood immediately upon hearing this.

This is a way of saving face!

"Your Majesty, that is not true!"

The speaker was Li Yuanzhong.

He stood out from the crowd, appearing somewhat out of place. Although he was from the Li family of Zhao County, he did not share the same mindset as the other aristocratic families.

"During the reign of Emperor Ming, the harem was in chaos and treacherous officials were rampant, which led to uprisings in the Six Garrisons and the disaster caused by Er Zhu. The Prince of Qin pacified the four seas and quelled the chaos, thus bringing about the prosperity we enjoy today. This empire was entrusted to Your Majesty by the Prince of Qin. Today, auspicious omens have descended, which is in accordance with the principle of the change of the Mandate of Heaven and to clarify the correct calendar."

Li Yuanzhong wasn't on the same page as the others, but since he set the example, everyone else was more agreeable.

At that moment, everyone expressed their opinions.

Yes!
Upon hearing this, Li Shuang sighed:

"I was born into humble circumstances. Even if I have made some contributions to the state, how can I be expected to emulate the virtues of Yao and Shun?"

Hearing this, the assembled nobles who had been speaking so passionately earlier paid no attention. Lu Wenwei even said, "Your Majesty is from the Li family of Longxi. How can you claim to be of humble origin!"

Li Shuang waved his hand and said:

"This is a misconception. I am a commoner from Tang territory, not a member of the Li family of Longxi."

This casual remark sent a chill down the spines of the once enthusiastic nobles, as if they had been doused with a bucket of ice water.

The spring breeze was gentle and the sun was shining brightly, but Li Shuang's words were like a knife, piercing into everyone's hearts. As a result, at the banquet held later in Jinyong Palace, the nobles and officials drank with a sour taste and hurriedly dispersed.

……

Lu Mansion.

After leaving Jinyong City, most of the officials did not return to their residences but instead gathered at Lu Wenwei's mansion.

This was naturally taboo, but Lu Wenwei couldn't care less about that at the moment.

"Before he became King of Qin, people said he was from the Li family of Longxi, and he never refuted it; but after he became King of Qin, people said he was from the Li family of Longxi, and he no longer acknowledged it."

At this moment, someone expressed dissatisfaction:

"If he's not, he's not. If he wants to say he's a bastard, what can we do about it?"

This immediately drew a rebuke from Lu Wenwei.

"Confused!"

Lu Wenwei had never lost his temper like this in front of aristocratic scions before.

Those words acted as a trigger, causing Lu Wenwei's anger to erupt.

"If he is not from the Li family of Longxi, then how should we conduct ourselves!"

Lu Wenwei's words made all the officials understand.

The Yuan clan of the Northern Wei imperial family was the most prominent clan in the land, the head of all aristocratic families.

This status may seem prestigious, but the Yuan clan is merely on the same level as many other aristocratic families, only ranked higher. In essence, the Yuan clan is no different from the other aristocratic families.

Now that Li Shuang says he is not from the Longxi Li clan, is it to rank him below other aristocratic families?

After they came to their senses, someone asked:
"Lord Lu, what does the King of Qin want?"

"Back then, Emperor Gaozu of Han made an oath with his ministers on a white horse, vowing that anyone who was not of the Liu clan and yet became king would be punished by all under heaven!"

Lu Wenwei's words were tactful, but everyone understood.

Li Shuang now clearly intends to rule over the various aristocratic families, rather than to be their leader.

As he spoke, someone immediately became enraged and cursed:
"What kind of commoner is he? That sounds nice, but he's clearly just a bandit who got his official position through Erzhu Rong's connections. He's the one who got to where he is today. He was behind every major upheaval, from the Six Garrisons Rebellion to the Heyin Incident! Erzhu Rong died under mysterious circumstances back then, how could he possibly escape responsibility?"

The angry shouts calmed Lu Wenwei, who was initially hot-blooded, and he said:
“The prince was drunk, so we helped him down to rest.”

"promise!"

Hearing the faint curses, Lu Wenwei shook his head. The remaining, still conscious, gathered around and asked:

"Lord Lu, what should we do?"

Lu Wenwei didn't want to completely break ties with Li Shuang because he was very clear about one thing.

What Erzhu Rong dared to do back then, Li Shuang dared to do as well.

The new faces in the army, both inside and outside Luoyang, are the best illustration of this.

Lu Wenwei clenched his fists and said angrily:

"He is from the Li family of Longxi, so he is qualified to be the emperor; he is not from the Li family of Longxi, so he is not qualified to be the emperor."

"We are willing to follow Lord Lu!"

……

(End of this chapter)