A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 60 Crown Prince's Seal

That day and night.

Cover the city gate.

The carriages of the Imperial Household Department rumbled forward.

Although the cargo was small, the deep ruts left by the wheels proved that it was heavy.

Without any inspection, Tian Ren, the commander of the capital city gate, ordered his soldiers to pass through.

This scene caused the Imperial Household Department Director to sigh deeply.

The nation's money, grain, and taxes are collected in the Taicang granary, and the gold from the Taicang granary is stored in the capital. Meanwhile, the taxes from mountains, seas, ponds, and lakes are collected in the Shaofu treasury, and the gold from the Shaofu treasury is stored in the Imperial Treasury.

The capital is located in the southeast of Chang'an City, not far from the Southern Army's garrison. The Southern Army has now taken over Chang'an City, and the transfer of one million taels of silver from the national treasury to the Crown Prince's palace went smoothly.

The donations from Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin went even more smoothly, with the formalities of receiving the gold being skipped. The two chief agricultural officials directly deposited 300,000 taels of gold into the army.

Only the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Household Department were located within Chang'an City. After His Majesty went to Ganquan Palace, the city gates of Chang'an were closed tightly as soon as night fell. In order to send the 1.3 million taels of gold out of the city, Grand Marshal Wei Qing used his "connections".

Tian Ren, son of Tian Shu and a descendant of Tian Qi, once became a retainer of Wei Qing because of his strong physique. He accompanied the Grand Marshal on many expeditions against the Xiongnu. He was both intelligent and brave. He was recommended by the Grand Marshal and appointed as a Gentleman of the Palace. He was highly appreciated by the Emperor and was promoted to Commandant of the Capital. At this critical moment, he was guarding Fu'ang Gate, one of the twelve city gates of Chang'an.

In this era that values ​​gratitude, when faced with the Grand Marshal's letter requesting permission for the imperial carriages and horses to leave the city at night, Tian Ren agreed almost without hesitation.

This is why Weiyang Palace and Changle Palace cannot be moved. If they could be moved, the Imperial Household Department would have no doubt that Tian Ren could release the two palaces out of Chang'an City.

"Isn't Commandant Tian worried that these carriages and horses are carrying weapons?" the Imperial Guard Commander couldn't help but ask.

The Imperial Treasury was responsible for the emperor's clothing, as well as precious items, money, swords, jade, silk, and so on.

If it were truly a conspiracy between the Imperial Palace and the Crown Prince's Palace to transport all the swords and knives out of Chang'an, then the Southern Army and Imperial Guards guarding the city gates would have no choice but to fight with the swords and knives they already possessed.

However, swords and knives will dull after killing people. They can kill as few as one person or as many as five, at which point they must be replaced.

In open field warfare, warhorses suffer the greatest losses, while in siege warfare, conventional weapons such as swords, bows, and crossbows suffer the greatest losses.

Without replacement swords and weapons, the Northern army could take the city in three days. If Chang'an were lost, His Majesty in Ganquan Palace would go insane.

"Are they weapons?" Tian Ren countered.

"No."

"That's good."

Tian Ren's calm answer made the Imperial Guardian feel as if he was the one with the problem.

No, Captain, you believe everything you're told, and you're not even trying to cover it up anymore?

Is this the Emperor's faction or the Crown Prince's faction?

Do you live up to His Majesty's trust?

Hundreds of vehicles sealed by the Imperial Household Department passed through the city gate. Tian Ren and the Imperial Household Department Commander also came down from the city wall. Such an important matter required the Northern Army that came to pick them up to give them a receipt so that they could report back to the Minister of the Imperial Household Department.

Ok?
Before they even stepped out of the city gate, they heard the sound of cavalry charging behind them. Tian Ren and Yu Fuling immediately stopped and turned to look behind them.

By the light of the torches, they could see the approaching figure in the distance; it was the Imperial Physician. Before His Majesty left the palace, a large number of officials in both the central and outer courts underwent changes in their positions. The most significant change was to the Imperial Censor Mei Gao, followed by Li Gan, the youngest son of Li Guang, a rebel general from the Northern Army, a rising star in the Southern Army, and the Minister of the Imperial Guard. He was promoted to the position of Imperial Physician, one of the Nine Ministers, and put in charge of the defense of Chang'an.

Li Gan received much criticism for rising to the rank of one of the Nine Ministers without any merit, but as the Palace Attendant, he was in charge of the palace guards and was a close advisor to the emperor. The emperor's word was law, so there was nothing to say about it.

Of course, in addition to his main duties, the Langzhongling also had other responsibilities, such as campaigning against garrison troops, acting as an envoy to dismiss or appoint officials, participating in the emperor's funeral activities, editing and collating books, recommending virtuous and upright people, and so on.

This is also His Majesty paving the way for Li Gan. Given Li Gan's merits, it would be impossible for him to lead 10,000 cavalry to attack the Xiongnu alone in the spring. His merits are insufficient, so he can only make up for it with an official position.

Similarly, Han Shuo, another of His Majesty's favorite ministers, is now the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Under the astonished gaze of the Imperial Household Department Commander, Tian Ren preemptively asked, "What urgent matter brings the Grand Master of Ceremonies here in the dead of night?"

The young General Li Gan reined in his horse, looked down at the rumbling carriages and horses, then at Tian Ren and the Imperial Censor. Instead of answering, he asked, "What's in those carriages?"

“Items belonging to the Imperial Household Department are not within the jurisdiction of the Grand Master of Ceremonies,” the Imperial Household Department Director replied.

The imperial treasury contained many things that the royal family could not reveal, such as Zhou Yangyou's luminous pearls, beauties, and fine horses, and Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin's gold and precious silks. Apart from the captains on duty at the city gates, no high-ranking officials had the right to inquire about them.

Li Gan stared intently at the two men, remained silent for a moment, and then solemnly said, "In times of crisis, I have all the authority to act expediently within Chang'an City, which naturally includes intervening in matters that are not in harmony with the outside world."

"What critical moment?"

Tian Ren smiled faintly, "May I ask, Grand Master of Ceremonies, what is the most important matter at present?"

The struggle within the imperial family was almost an open secret, but neither His Majesty nor the Crown Prince acknowledged it. His Majesty publicly stated that he "felt divine retribution and exiled himself," but there was not a single word of coercion from the Crown Prince.

As for the possibility that the Crown Prince might lead the Northern Army to attack Chang'an, before the Crown Prince actually does so, and before His Majesty publicly questions the Crown Prince, the imperial father and son are the most harmonious father and son in the world.

Who dares to say that His Majesty is an unkind father and the Crown Prince is an unfilial son?

When Your Majesty was alive, there was nothing of great importance in Chang'an. Now that the Crown Prince has taken power, you say there is something of great importance in Chang'an. What does the Grand Master of Ceremonies mean by this? Please explain.

As a former officer who served under Huo Qubing, the "Piao Yao Colonel," Li Gan's cultural literacy was not particularly high; at least, he couldn't win a debate against the two men.

Li Gan was righteous and confident, but his face turned red and he was unable to speak.

The Imperial Household Commissioner suppressed a laugh and said coldly, "Besides, my Imperial Household's carriages have already left Chang'an City and are no longer within the city. Therefore, the Guanglu Xun's discretionary power is probably no longer applicable."

Li Gan remained silent for a long time.

Tian Ren and Yu Fu Ling blocked the road, and the two sides were locked in a standoff.

A heavy thud of horse footsteps approached, and the domineering aura immediately dispelled the atmosphere. Huo Qubing led a group of personal guards over.

"Greetings, Captain Piao Yao." Tian Ren and the Imperial Guard felt that not riding a horse was a real disadvantage, as they had to hold their heads high when looking at anyone.

Huo Qubing had General Zhao Ponu, known as the Eagle Strike General, retrieve the Crown Prince's reply and hand it over to the Imperial Household Officer. The Imperial Household Officer, without any hesitation, bowed and left.

Huo Qubing's sharp gaze fell upon the young general under his former command, "The Grand Master of Ceremonies?"

Even without any mockery, Li Gan instantly felt insulted by Huo Qubing's questioning form of address, and his anger flared up. "Champion Marquis?"

Huo Qubing sighed and said calmly, "Li Gan, I know your true nature and don't want to say anything to you. I could have kept quiet, but it's a pity about your talent. I specially requested a golden seal for you, hoping you would accept it."

Upon seeing the golden seal wrapped in yellow silk, Li Gan's face turned pale instantly!
(End of this chapter)