I, the most powerful minister of the Tang Dynasty, have been exposed by the heavens.

During the Zhenguan era.

In the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin was smiling so broadly that his eyes were almost closed.

That's right! After more than a decade of struggle, the Tang Dynasty has finally made it!

Right now, we have plenty of food and troops, and the national treasury is overflowing with money.

Li Shimin stroked his meticulously trimmed mustache, listening to the ministers below reporting good news one after another, feeling extremely pleased with himself.

"Your Majesty, there has been a bumper harvest in all regions, and the people have enough grain stored up to last for two years with some left over!"

"The horrific scenes of people starving to death at the end of the Sui Dynasty are gone forever!"

"Our border troops are now strong and well-equipped; those tribes on the grasslands have to avoid us when they see our flags!"

"The national treasury is full, increasing by 30% compared to last year!"

……

As Li Shimin listened, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. The laughter echoed throughout the hall, and anyone could hear the smugness and joy in it.

He stood up and waved his hand.

"The prosperous era of Zhenguan is possible today entirely thanks to your dedicated assistance! The Tang Dynasty will never forget your contributions!"

The assembled officials below quickly bowed.

"Your Majesty flatters us! It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wise leadership that the Tang Dynasty has achieved what it is today!"

"well!"

Li Shimin nodded repeatedly, then suddenly his expression turned serious, and his voice became firm and powerful.

"I'll make this clear today: the Tang Dynasty is not the Sui Dynasty; it will not perish after only two generations!"

"I want this empire to be passed down for thousands of generations!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The thunderous cheers and congratulations that erupted inside the hall had just begun.

"BOOM!!!"

A thunderclap struck outside the Taiji Hall without warning, making the tiles rattle and clang.

Before anyone could react, a brilliant golden light burst forth in the sky outside the palace, so bright it was blinding.

"What happened?"

"Strange celestial phenomena?"

The ministers were in chaos, and Li Shimin suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and rushed to the palace gate.

Golden light gathered in mid-air and gradually condensed into a huge light screen!

The screen shimmered with light, and several large characters slowly appeared.

[A list of the most powerful minister in the Tang Dynasty: Lu Wuming!]

"What...what is this?!"

Li Shimin's pupils contracted.

The hall was completely silent.

Everyone looked at each other, their faces blank with confusion.

Li Shimin turned to the old minister beside him, known for his outspokenness and courage: "Xuancheng, can you see through this?"

Wei Zheng squinted and stared for a long time, then stroked his beard and pondered.

"Your Majesty, I do not know what kind of technique this is."

"However, 'Great Tang' undoubtedly refers to the Great Tang under Your Majesty's rule. The term 'powerful minister'... should refer to a minister who wields the most power in the court."

"As for this surname," he paused, "the Lu family is one of the five surnames and seven prominent families. This person's background is probably not simple."

Li Shimin stared at the three golden characters "Lu Wuming," his brows gradually furrowing into a knot.

It's strange. He has several officials with the surname Lu under his command, but which one of them deserves the title of "First Powerful Minister"?

Not to mention it's "nameless"...

"Your Majesty, look!"

Suddenly someone exclaimed.

The words on the light screen gradually faded, and in their place appeared a magnificent palace scene.

The image was so clear that it seemed you could reach out and touch the glazed tiles on the eaves, but the style of the palace... was completely different from that of the Taiji Hall.

……

Above the sky, during the Tianbao era.

Daming Palace, Xuanzheng Hall.

The atmosphere inside the hall was the complete opposite of the joyous atmosphere in the Taiji Hall; it was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Li Longji, sitting on the dragon throne, looked ashen-faced, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrests.

Below, a group of ministers, led by Yang Guozhong, were talking animatedly, their spittle flying everywhere.

"Your Majesty, the rebel army has already captured Luoyang and will soon be besieging Chang'an! The most urgent task is to temporarily avoid their advance!"

Yang Guozhong's voice was sharp and urgent as he spoke urgently.

"As long as Your Majesty moves your capital to Sichuan and summons troops from across the land to defend the throne, you will be able to wipe out that traitor An Lushan sooner or later!"

"What Prime Minister Yang says is absolutely right!"

"As long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell.

Li Longji had already made up his mind: run, he had to run!

He knew better than anyone that Chang'an couldn't be defended.

But he couldn't say these words himself; he was the emperor, and someone had to offer him a way out.

Yang Guozhong was clearly well-versed in this matter, and stepped forward again, speaking earnestly.

"Your Majesty's journey is not an escape, but a means to rebuild our nation! As long as Your Majesty is here, the spirit of the Tang Dynasty will live on!"

"We second that proposal!"

"I second that!"

Crown Prince Li Heng stood to the side, his fists clenched tightly. Several times he tried to speak, but was secretly pulled back by the people beside him.

The current imperial court is already under the Yang family's control.

Li Longji looked at the sea of ​​people kneeling below and was about to go with the flow.

"His Majesty!"

An old and hoarse voice suddenly came from outside the palace gate, each word distinct and resonant.

"Are you leaving to become a sinner for the Tang Dynasty for all time?"

The entire hall erupted in uproar!

Li Longji suddenly looked up, Yang Guozhong's expression changed, and everyone turned to look at the palace gate.

Then, a person with a full head of white hair walked in step by step.

They walked slowly, very slowly.

Each step seemed to be taken with all his might, yet he walked with exceptionally steady steps.

His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, the marks of time etched upon it.

The court was filled with civil and military officials, those high-ranking ministers who usually talked big and gave their opinions on the country, but at this moment they all fell silent.

Yang Guozhong opened his mouth, wanting to stop this old fellow who had trespassed into the main hall, but the words stuck in his throat.

All eyes were fixed on that hunched yet upright figure, and they inexplicably felt an overwhelming aura.

Li Longji, who was on the dragon throne, stood up involuntarily.

The old man finally reached the center of the main hall and stopped.

He slowly raised his eyelids, his cloudy yet unusually clear eyes sweeping over the faces that were filled with panic, confusion, or dissatisfaction, before finally settling on the emperor.

Then, he sighed very softly and very heavily.

His name is Lu Wuming.

Some of you may remember this name, while others may have already forgotten it.

After all, he had been away from the court for far too long.

He was born into the Lu family of Fanyang, which was the most prestigious of the "Cui, Lu, Li, and Zheng" families.

But he has another identity, a secret known only to himself.

He is a traveler.

He fell headfirst from his desk in the 21st century into the body of a newborn child from a collateral branch of the Lu family during the Yonghui era of the Tang Dynasty.

Over the course of more than a century, he witnessed Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi's lukewarm attitude and experienced the bloodshed and turmoil that swept the city during the Wu Zhou dynasty's usurpation of the Tang dynasty.

He witnessed the absurdities of the court during the reigns of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, and also lived during the most spirited Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji).

However, it is now the Tianbao era, the period of the An Lushan Rebellion.

That was the beginning of the Tang Dynasty's decline from its peak of prosperity.

He appeared here to prevent something from happening.

That is, Li Longji left Chang'an after being persuaded by Yang Guozhong and others.

He has to stop this!