Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Chapter 83 Tian Huan, plotting to capture the tiger with a knife and axe, devises an unexpected strategy; Prime Minister Zheng single-handedly welcomes the emperor.

So Tian Lingzi stopped trying to dissuade him and simply bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. I will immediately arrange the ceremonial procession and carriages for your return to the capital, and I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust."

Li Xuan nodded, tossed the moon staff into the servant's arms, and strode toward the palace.

He walked very fast, as if he wanted to leave the pent-up frustration in his chest behind in the autumn wind.

Tian Lingzi stood there, watching the emperor's figure disappear into the palace gates, before the respectful expression on his face slowly faded, replaced by a sinister look.

He stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, gazing at the old sycamore trees in the courtyard that were shedding their leaves, his eyes as deep as a still pool.

Zheng Tian.

His feud with this old gentleman was not something that happened overnight.

Tian Lingzi mentally recounted those old grievances, page by page, as if they were precious treasures.

The first incident occurred when Huang Chao was still wreaking havoc in the south.

At that time, Zheng Tian had already been prime minister for the second time, and he hindered him in everything and opposed Tian Lingzi at every turn.

On that day, during a meeting at the Secretariat, Gao Pian, who was then serving as the Chief Administrator of the Yangzhou Grand General's Office, Deputy Military Governor of Huainan, Commander-in-Chief of the various circuits, Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner of Jianghuai, Grand Commandant, and Chancellor, refused to fight Huang Chao while guarding Yangzhou. Zheng Tian impeached Gao Pian on the grounds that he was "nurturing the enemy to enhance his own importance." This led to a dispute with Lu Xie, who was also a chancellor. Zheng Tian directly accused Lu Xie of protecting Gao Pian and harming the country and the emperor. Lu Xie was furious and threw his inkstone at Zheng Tian, ​​shattering it on the ground.

Tian Lingzi was standing behind the curtain at the time and heard it clearly.

He and Lu Xie were of the same ilk, and Gao Pian was a general from an outer town whom Tian Lingzi had tried his best to win over. Zheng Tian's words were not only insulting Lu Xie, but also slapping Tian Lingzi in the face.

Afterwards, Tian Lingzi sowed discord in front of the emperor, eventually causing the emperor to dismiss Lu Xie and Zheng Tian from their positions as prime ministers on the grounds of "discord among the prime ministers".

Lu Xie's dismissal was one thing, but the whole spectacle of being severely punished was just a show for the officials. Afterwards, Tian Lingzi would naturally have ways to reinstate Lu Xie as prime minister, and might even be able to use this opportunity to completely gain the upper hand in this alliance.

But who would have thought that Huang Chao was already approaching Tongguan, while Gao Pian, who was in charge of the various armies to besiege Huang Chao, remained on the sidelines.

The emperor then remembered Zheng Tian's words, which led to Zheng Tian's reinstatement and appointment as the military governor of Fengxiang and Longyou. Zheng Tian then made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion, which made Tian Lingzi feel like he had a thorn in his side.

The second matter was the case of Peng Jingrou.

Peng Jingrou was originally a disciple of Tian Lingzi. When the emperor wanted to send a eunuch to Fengxiang to supervise the army, it was Tian Lingzi who selected Peng Jingrou.

Unexpectedly, Li Cenji arrested people in public, and Zheng Tian even wanted to bring Peng Jingrou to the emperor for punishment.

Although Tian Lingzi secretly instructed Peng Jingrou to recant his testimony afterward, he saved the life of this pawn and also saved his own face.

But what difference is there between Zheng Tian's actions and slapping him in public?

Not to mention that Zheng Tian was always upright and never showed any courtesy to Tian Lingzi in court.

Tian Lingzi saw Zheng Tian's "upright and honest" demeanor as a thorn in his side.

Now that Zheng Tian has made unparalleled contributions, he is about to enter the court to assist in government affairs. When a meritorious old prime minister sits in the hall, how can Tian Lingzi, his "father," still hold power in front of the emperor?

The autumn wind swept up a few withered leaves, which swirled and landed at Tian Lingzi's feet.

He glanced down, then stepped on it, crushing the leaf into pieces.

He raised his head again, his gaze passing over the high walls of the courtyard, looking towards Chang'an. He let out a soft hum, as if talking to himself, or perhaps addressing the distant city of Chang'an: "Zheng Tian, ​​Zheng Tian, ​​don't be so smug. After the Emperor returns to the capital, I will have my own ways to deal with you. You'll see whether your title of 'loyal and virtuous minister' is stronger, or my long-standing influence by the Emperor's side."

After saying this, he didn't linger any longer and turned to walk towards the side gate of the palace. His figure cast a long shadow in the slanting autumn sun, falling on the blue brick ground like a silent snake.

In the seventh month of autumn in the first year of Guangming, Huang Chao's head had been displayed to various regions. Chang'an had been recovered for more than a month, and the date for returning the capital to Chengdu had also been agreed upon.

At that time, an official from the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial stating: "The execution of Huang Chao and the recapture of the two capitals are the result of Your Majesty's virtuous rule and the valiant efforts of the soldiers. Now that the world is at peace and everything is renewed, it is appropriate to change the era name to accord with the times and in accordance with the will of the people."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan pondered for a moment and then said, "Your words are very good. Since I ascended the throne, I have changed the reign title three times. At the end of the Xiantong era, I changed it to Qianfu, and in the sixth year of Qianfu, I changed it to Guangming (the previous reign titles were incorrect; Guangming was used until July of 880 and 881, not Zhonghe). During that time, Huang Chao rebelled, the two capitals fell, and I was forced to flee to Sichuan. I have never had a day of peace. Now that Huang Chao has been quelled and Chang'an has been recovered, it is time to change the reign title and start anew to comfort the people."

He immediately ordered the Ministry of Rites to select an era name for his review.

The Ministry of Rites official and other scholars examined the classics and deliberated for several days before selecting several names, including "Zhonghe," "Xianning," and "Yongchang," and presented them to the Emperor.

Li Xuan read through all the titles one by one, but lingered for a long time on the two characters "Zhonghe," asking those around him, "What does this title mean?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites bowed and replied, "The character '中' (zhong) means to uphold the middle way and maintain righteousness, without bias or favoritism. '和' (he) means the harmony of yin and yang, so that all things are in harmony. The combination of these two characters implies the harmony of yin and yang, the cessation of disasters and chaos, the upholding of the middle way by the ruler, and the restoration of the court. This is truly what the world urgently needs today."

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan clapped his hands and laughed, "What a wonderful name, 'Zhonghe'! Let's use this title. From now on, the whole world will know that I wish to bring peace to the nine provinces and let all people live in happiness."

He then issued an edict changing the second year of Guangming to the first year of Zhonghe, granting a general amnesty, and declaring that he wanted to start anew with the people.

On that day, the Chengdu Imperial Palace was brightly decorated, and congratulatory messages from officials poured into the palace like snowflakes. Li Xuan sat high on the throne, looking at the kneeling officials below, and the young emperor felt a long-lost sense of joy.

With the return of the capital now agreed upon, the emperor's departure was put on the agenda.

In August of that year, just after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the summer heat had mostly dissipated, and the emperor's carriage exited from the north gate of Chengdu.

The procession was led by the Imperial Guards, the Dragon Guards, and the Shence Army, followed by civil and military officials, imperial concubines, palace attendants, and supply wagons.

Stretching for dozens of miles, banners blotted out the sun, and armored soldiers like clouds, they marched north along the Golden Ox Road in a grand procession.

The journey was fraught with high mountains and deep valleys, and the plank roads were treacherous. Although the emperor's procession had simplified many of its ceremonial regalia, it was still inevitably burdened with heavy carts.

It was a difficult journey.

They could only travel thirty or forty li each day before they had to rest and set up camp. Officials from various counties, prefects, and military governors along the way would come in turn to greet and pay their respects.

Some offered gifts of soil, some offered rare fruits, and some presented reports on local benefits. They also encouraged the people along the way to kneel and welcome them, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" in unison.

As a result, while the scene was lively, the carriages moved at a snail's pace.

Counting on one's fingers, it is about 1,800 li (approximately 650 kilometers) from Chengdu to Chang'an. At this speed, it would take at least two months to arrive.

Li Xuan sat in the imperial carriage. For the first few days, he was quite pleased with himself. He lifted the curtain to look at the mountains and rivers and listen to the cheers of the people. He boasted that he was a restorer of the dynasty and could be compared with Emperor Guangwu of the Later Han Dynasty and Emperor Xianzong of the current dynasty.

After traveling for ten days, he found it boring and tedious. He spent all day in the car, and his buttocks were numb from sitting. He kept complaining, "Why is this Golden Bull Road so long?"

On this day, the carriage traveled into the territory of Jiange. A scout came to report that after traveling for a few more days, they would pass Guangyuan and enter Xingyuan Prefecture. After passing Xingyuan, they could turn onto Chencang Road.

Li Xuan was idly flipping through a volume of the Book of Han in his carriage when, upon hearing the news, he suddenly remembered what Tian Lingzi had said by the polo field that day:

Li Cenji, that scoundrel, hurriedly returned west to Fengxiang after recapturing Chang'an, without even staying in Chang'an for a single day longer.

While this could certainly be described as "dutifully fulfilling the duties of the town," from another perspective, isn't it also clear evidence of "holding up troops and arbitrarily obeying orders but not proclamations"?

Li Xuan felt increasingly uneasy as he thought about it, so he threw the book on the table, summoned the Vice Minister of War, and asked, "I remember Chencang is located within the territory of Fengxiang, isn't it?"

Upon being summoned, Wei Zhaodu, the Vice Minister of War, bowed and replied, "Your Majesty's record is accurate. The Chencang Road leads out of Sanguan Pass and into the territory of Fengxiang. When you reach Baoji County (Chencang County), it is under the jurisdiction of Qizhou."

Li Xuan frowned slightly, paced back and forth in the carriage for a couple of steps, then suddenly said, "I don't want to take the Chencang Road anymore. Investigate whether there are any other routes available."

Wei Zhaodu was taken aback upon hearing this, wondering why the emperor suddenly wanted to change the route.

The Ministry of War had a subordinate Department of Transportation, which was in charge of maps and records of post roads, passes, and imperial palaces throughout the country.

When the emperor was about to travel, the Imperial Carriage Officer would first present two alternative route plans:

The calculations included the total mileage, daily travel distance, capacity of post stations/palaces along the way, width of mountain roads to accommodate large entourages, and supply capacity of grain and fodder from prefectures and counties along the route.

After a moment's hesitation, he truthfully reported: "If Your Majesty wishes to bypass the Chencang Road, there are three routes to choose from: the first is the Baoxie Road, which exits through Xiegu Valley, passes through Mei County, and enters Guanzhong; the second is the Ziwu Road, which exits through Ziwu Valley and goes directly south of Chang'an; the third is the Tangluo Road, which exits through Luogu Valley and also reaches the capital region. However, all three routes are mountain trails, narrow enough for only one horse to pass at a time, and the plank roads are old and dilapidated, with many sections rotten. Your Majesty's grand procession, the carriages of the officials, and the supplies of the harem are all far from being able to travel light. If you insist on taking such dangerous routes, I fear you may perish halfway. I am not exaggerating—last year, a merchant came from the Baoxie Road and said that there are several sections of the cliff face that have collapsed, and travelers must climb over them, making it extremely dangerous."

How could the emperor's carriage be allowed to travel on such roads?

At this point, he added, "If Your Majesty insists on changing the route, I humbly request that Your Majesty first order the prefectures and counties along the way to repair the plank roads and replace all the official carriages with light cavalry. This would likely delay the journey for several months before it can be barely completed."

Upon hearing the words "delayed for several months," Li Xuan felt deflated.

He was a playful person by nature, and had been bored in the Chengdu palace for almost a year. Now that he was finally on the road, he looked forward to going to the Daming Palace in Chang'an to ride horses, play ball, shoot arrows and hunt to his heart's content. He was unwilling to wait for several more months.

He sighed and waved his hand: "Enough, enough. I was just asking casually. Since Chencang Road is the best to travel, then let's take Chencang Road. It's just that the local officials are too negligent. The plank road is already rotten, why don't they repair it sooner? Also, issue an edict to all the counties along the three roads, ordering them to widen and repair the plank road as soon as possible."

Wei Zhaodu accepted the order, bowed, and withdrew. Although he was puzzled as to why the emperor suddenly did not want to take the Chencang route, he wisely refrained from asking further questions.

After Wei Zhaodu had retreated some distance, Tian Lingzi rode up from the side of the imperial carriage and whispered through the curtain, "Your Majesty's question just now, was it because of that Li Liuhou from Fengxiang?"

Li Xuan didn't hide anything from him. He lifted a corner of the curtain, glanced at Tian Lingzi, and said in a muffled voice, "I originally wanted to avoid Fengxiang and take the Chencang Road to avoid seeing Li Cenji. But Wei Zhaodu said the other roads were too dangerous and unsafe. I had no choice but to agree. Father, tell me—if Li Cenji comes to greet me, what should I do with him?"

Tian Lingzi's mind raced, and he decided to retreat in order to advance, saying only, "Your subject dares not make any rash remarks."

Li Xuan sighed, frowned and pondered for a moment, then smiled again and said, "Since Li Cenji is in Fengxiang, he will inevitably come to welcome the Emperor. If he comes, I will directly issue an edict appointing him as the Right General of the Martial Guard and granting him the title of Grand Master of the Golden Purple Light, allowing him to accompany the Emperor back to the capital without having to return to Fengxiang. He can't possibly disobey the edict to his face, can he? As for the position of Military Governor of Fengxiang, I will select a loyal and experienced officer from among the accompanying military officers to take over. What do you think of this plan, Father?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Lingzi couldn't help but secretly praise him.

This young emperor usually only cares about playing ball and having fun, but once the string of "imperial power" is touched, he can also come up with some scheming.

He stroked his sparse beard, a thoughtful expression on his face, and slowly said, "Your Majesty's plan is indeed a good one. Li Cenji is the acting governor of Fengxiang, and the military governor of Fengxiang, Zheng Tian, ​​is still in Chang'an. According to protocol, he must greet Your Majesty along the way. Your Majesty can then privately summon him to the imperial court for an audience. At that time, he must travel light and with minimal entourage..."

He came empty-handed; he couldn't possibly bring soldiers and weapons to the Emperor. When His Majesty issues the decree, if he accepts, he will enter the court alone, stripped of all military power; if he refuses, he will be disobeying the decree and showing no respect for the Emperor, and His Majesty can then order the Shence Army to surround him and arrest him on the spot for questioning. At that point, whether to kill or imprison him will be entirely up to His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan looked worried and asked, "But Zheng Tian has been operating in Fengxiang for over a year, and Li Cenji has led the Fengxiang troops to great merit in the battles of Longweipo and Chang'an. There may be some who are loyal to him in the army. If we take him down, will the Fengxiang troops change their ways? If those arrogant and fierce generals rebel in anger, I—I am certainly not afraid, but the world has just been pacified. If war breaks out again, it may not be a blessing for the court and the country."

Although he was young and impetuous, he knew that a coup by the regional military governors was no child's play.

Since the An Lushan Rebellion, there have been numerous precedents in the Tang Dynasty where the improper handling of military governors led to war.

Li Xuan would then be in Fengxiang territory. If this led to a mutiny in Fengxiang, he might have to flee to Chengdu again, just like last year.

Tian Lingzi shook his head and lowered his voice, saying, "I don't think it's necessarily untouchable. Your Majesty should think about it carefully: Li Cenji was originally an unknown minor captain in the Shence Army. Who in Fengxiang knew him? He only rose through the ranks after joining Zheng Tian's forces. Did he kill Shang Rang? In my opinion, I doubt it."

"What does Father mean?"

"In the Battle of Longwei Slope, tens of thousands of troops were annihilated in one battle. Shang Rang, the Grand Commandant of the pseudo-Qi state, was surrounded by armored soldiers. How could a mere junior officer have been so easily beheaded? It was most likely that Cheng Zongchu's Jingyuan troops or Qiu Gongyu's Qinzhou troops killed Shang Rang in the chaos. Zheng Tian, ​​in order to claim credit for his own disciple, attributed the victory to Li Cenji, even fabricating a story of a hundred cavalry charging into the enemy lines to intimidate others. The death of Huang Chao was much the same: Huang Chao clearly had no way out and committed suicide, but in Zheng's report, it became that Li Cenji forced Huang Chao to his death amidst ten thousand troops." How could such acts of stealing credit and appropriating the achievements of others go unnoticed in the Fengxiang army? Those soldiers who truly fought and risked their lives, though they might not say it, were certainly not convinced in their hearts. If Your Majesty were to transfer Li Cenji away from Fengxiang, I fear the veteran soldiers in the Fengxiang army would not only not stand up for him, but would secretly applaud it!

Tian Lingzi's words were seven parts conjecture and three parts personal motives, yet he spoke them in a very logical and earnest manner, as if he were thinking of the emperor's country and its people at every turn.

Li Xuan listened with skepticism: "Father, do you mean—Li Cenji's achievements were all fake?"

Tian Lingzi quickly waved his hand, making a gesture of "I didn't say that": "Your Majesty must understand that in this world, what the superiors like, the inferiors will do even more to." Zheng wanted to elevate his disciple to the status of a famous general of the time, so his subordinates followed his lead in creating hype: rumors from the streets, word of mouth in the army, even victory reports—what couldn't be embellished? His Majesty thought, Li Cenji had only been out of the gate for half a year, yet he was able to kill Shang Rang and Huang Chao. Even if you searched through the history books, you couldn't find many such feats. Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, broke the cauldrons and sank the boats at the age of twenty-four and became famous in one battle, but Xiang Yu had been training in martial arts and military affairs with his uncle Xiang Liang since childhood, accumulating more than ten years of experience. What virtue or ability did Li Cenji have to compare with Xiang Yu in just half a year at the age of twenty-six or twenty-seven? At least when this fellow was a colonel in the Shence Army, he did not show any outstanding ability.

After saying this, he said no more and waited quietly for the emperor's reaction.

Li Xuan was silent for a moment, then swiftly pulled down the carriage curtain and said in a muffled voice, "I understand. When we arrive in Fengxiang, we'll see how Li Cenji handles the situation. If he knows what's good for him and obediently follows me to court, I'll give him a respectable official position; if he doesn't—then, as Father said, arrest him on the spot as an example to others."

There was no more speech inside the imperial carriage; only the rumbling sound of wheels crushing gravel echoed as it wound its way north through the mountains, carried by the westerly wind.

Meanwhile, Li Cenji, while in Yong County, received official documents from the Chengdu Imperial Palace in August regarding receptions along the way.

The official document, spanning several pages, detailed when the emperor's entourage departed Chengdu, traveled along the Jinniu Road, passed through Mianzhou, crossed Sanguan Pass, and entered Baoji.

The estimated itinerary for reaching Chang'an was listed in detail, along with the number of provisions, lodgings, and post horses that needed to be prepared in each prefecture and county along the way.

Li Cenji read through the document from beginning to end, placed it on the table, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the hassle of welcoming the emperor.

Although welcoming and sending off the emperor was indeed a laborious and demanding task, it would be a month before the emperor arrived in Baoji. By then, after two months of his efforts to rectify the situation, Fengxiang would not be in any major chaos.

What really gave him a headache was something else:

The accounts of the anti-corruption campaign in his hands have not yet been completely settled. Currently, in most of the counties of Fengxiang, officials are still working in shackles.

Needless to say, in Yong County, although the county magistrate Shen Yifang had taken office, most of the assistants in various departments were criminals, and their footsteps made a clattering sound.

When the emperor traveled through Chencang Road into Guanzhong, Baoji, Guoxian, and Meixian were all places he had to pass through, and he would inevitably have to stop along the way to rest and meet with local officials.

However, he had taken down most of the county magistrates, assistant magistrates, and registrars in these three counties, and now there are many who work in shackles.

When the emperor arrived, he would see a group of officials in shackles kneeling by the roadside to greet him.

Faced with this scene, Li Cenji would likely be bombarded with impeachments from censors before he could even utter a word.

After much deliberation, Li Cenji had no choice but to send the official document to the three counties, instructing them to prepare in advance:

The roads need to be repaired, the palace needs to be cleaned, enough provisions need to be prepared, and the procession to welcome the emperor needs to be rehearsed in advance.

As for those officials in shackles—

Li Cenji thought for a moment and then added a sentence at the end of the document: "On the day of welcoming the emperor, temporarily remove the shackles and change into new clothes. Put them back on after the emperor has passed through the territory."

, 7

He knew this was a self-deceiving act, but it was also a helpless expedient.

On the other hand, Li Cenji invited County Magistrate Lu to inquire in detail about the etiquette and rules for welcoming the emperor.

Although he was a member of the imperial family and served in the Shence Army, he was only a captain at the time. Such a rank was more common than turtles in the Wei River, and the emperor would not even give him a second glance.

Not to mention receiving and responding to imperial edicts?

Therefore, he was not proficient in the formalities and procedures of the imperial court.

This County Magistrate Lu had served as the master of ceremonies when Li Cenji became his apprentice, so he was quite proficient in court etiquette.

Li Cenji went to consult him every day, asking about everything from "how a county official should greet the emperor's carriage and where he should kneel" to "how to perform the proper etiquette and what words to use when presenting a memorial to the emperor," leaving no detail unexplained.

Seeing that he was humble and eager to learn, Magistrate Lu taught him everything he knew, and Li Cenji wrote it all down without hesitation.

By mid-September, after a flurry of activity, news arrived from the front lines:

The emperor's carriage has passed Sanguan Pass and will arrive in Baoji in about ten days.

Li Cenji calculated the time and ordered his men to prepare light clothing, preparing to set off three days in advance to Baoji to welcome the emperor.

He was discussing with Chen An and Xu Tai how many men to take and which route to take when a guard came to report: "Regimental Commander, the General Jie has returned from Chang'an, accompanied by five hundred Swift Thunder Generals. They are now about a mile outside the city. He sent someone ahead to report."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji was taken aback at first, then abruptly stood up: "My mentor has arrived? Quickly! Prepare the horses! Go out of the city to greet him!"

He changed out of his official robes and into civilian clothes, mounted his horse and left the city, with Xu Tai leading a dozen or so guards following closely behind.

About three miles from the west gate of Yong County, a group of soldiers in bright armor escorted a blue cloth carriage slowly approaching on the official road.

The carriage curtain was half-rolled up, revealing a slender yet familiar face—it was Zheng.

Li Cenji urged his horse forward, and Ji Lei recognized him and dared not stop him.

So he urged his horse to the carriage, dismounted, straightened his robes, and solemnly bowed: "Disciple Li Cenji greets my revered master! My master has come from afar, and I have failed to greet you properly. I beg your forgiveness!"

The carriage stopped, and Zheng Tian sat up straight inside. He lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "Jingzhi, get up. I acted on a whim and didn't inform you beforehand. What crime have you committed? Come, let's go into the city and talk."

""

Li Cenji quickly got up, personally took the reins of Zheng Tian's carriage, and led the way into the city.

He made his appearance at Caishikou that day, and many people in the city had already seen his true face.

At this moment, the people along the way saw a blue cloth carriage being driven into the city by the person in charge, followed by hundreds of valiant armored soldiers, and they all stopped to watch.

Zheng Tian also lifted the curtain and looked out the left and right windows, seemingly wanting to see the changes in Yong County over the past six months.

Some sharp-eyed observers recognized the elderly gentleman in the carriage as Military Governor Zheng, and immediately whispers filled the streets: "It's Minister Zheng!" "Minister Zheng is back!"

Zheng Tian bowed slightly to the roadside from inside the car. Although he looked tired, there was a hint of relief in his eyes.

Upon entering the inner hall of the military governor's mansion, Li Cenji invited Zheng Tian to sit in the main seat, while he himself sat to the side to keep him company.

A pot of warm wine and a few small dishes were placed on the table; although not lavish, they were all steaming hot.

Zheng Tian picked up his wine cup, took a small sip, put it down, and looked Li Cenji up and down. Seeing that Li's eyes were clear and bright, and although his face looked a little tired, he was full of energy, so he was relieved and said, "It seems you are doing well in Fengxiang. When I was in Chang'an, I heard that you were busy with military reforms and anti-corruption campaigns, and I was worried that you would overwork yourself. But now I see that you are even more robust than when you were in Chang'an."

Li Cenji smiled and said, "This disciple dares not slack off. My master has entrusted Fengxiang to me; if I do not do my utmost, wouldn't I be letting him down?"

As he spoke, he recounted the events of the past three months, including: how to reorganize the army, how to clean up official corruption, how to resettle displaced people, how to distribute land and lend cattle, and how to patrol the border fortresses and strongholds.

He reported everything to Zheng Tian in detail.

He spoke in detail, and Zheng Tian listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with questions about the details, which Li Cenji answered one by one.

When Zheng Tian heard that Li Cenji had dealt with the corrupt officials by "working under shackles," he was slightly taken aback. He put down his wine cup, stroked his beard, and pondered, "You arrested those corrupt officials on the spot and made them work under shackles—that is indeed a clever method. It does not interfere with official business, punishes the criminals, and makes those who come after you fearful."

He paused, then changed the subject: "But Jingzhi, you've dismissed so many officials in one fell swoop. Who will fill the vacant positions in each county? Having officials in shackles is ultimately a temporary measure. In the long run, those people will inevitably harbor resentment while carrying out their duties; and those under your supervision every day, how can they possibly be expected to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to doing a good job for you?"

Li Cenji truthfully replied, "I was forced into this situation. As my master said, if all the officials who committed minor offenses were arrested and imprisoned, the county government would be left without anyone to manage its affairs, and the household registration, land taxes, and corvée labor of tens of thousands of people would be left unattended. But if we let them off lightly, we fear that old habits will resurface. After much thought, I came up with this compromise: let them work in shackles, and then deal with them according to their performance after the new officials take office."

Zheng Tian nodded, a look of approval on his face: "To be able to walk on a knife's edge without hurting your feet, you have that kind of mindset. You're very good."

He then became more serious: "Those military officers may be able to temporarily handle general affairs, but they may not be proficient in matters of finance, law, or education. If this drags on for too long, the administration will inevitably fall into disarray. Talent! The key to governing a town lies first and foremost in talent. Without talent, even the greatest ambitions cannot be realized."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji cupped his hands and said, "Master's concerns are very valid. I have also been pondering this matter. However, I am currently only the acting governor and have not yet been formally appointed as a military governor by the court. If I were to rashly issue a proclamation to recruit talented individuals and appoint staff, it would be against the rules of etiquette. In the meantime, I can only send people to secretly investigate talented individuals in various counties, including those from humble backgrounds, those who failed the imperial examinations, retired military officers, and hermits in the mountains. I have recorded the names and hometowns of all those who have some talent and upright character, and I will recruit them after I have officially assumed the position of military governor."

As he spoke, he got up, took a book from the book box on the table, and presented it to Zheng Tian with both hands.

Zheng Tian took it and opened it. Inside, dozens of names were written in dense writing, with notes on their place of origin, background, and reputation.

Zheng Tian turned the pages one by one, becoming more and more amazed. He looked up at Li Cenji with a hint of approval in his eyes: "You haven't been idle these past few months."

He closed the register, placed it on the table, stroked his beard, and smiled, "Since you have this intention, I'll save you some trouble. I still hold the title of Military Governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, and I've just returned from Chang'an. I'll post a notice in my name to recruit talented people and appoint staff; it's perfectly acceptable according to etiquette. This way, we won't have to wait for your formal appointment. I'll write a recruitment notice, and you can have it printed, stamped with the Military Governor's seal, and then with my personal seal. Post it on the main roads of all the prefectures and counties in Fengxiang and Longyou. Anyone with talent and upright character can apply. It doesn't have to be limited to people from this town; even scholars from other prefectures who come upon hearing the news can be selected based on merit."

Upon hearing these words, Li Cenji felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He immediately rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Zheng Tian: "Master, I am deeply grateful for your consideration!"

Zheng Tian reached out to help him up and said with a smile, "Don't act like a child. Go get some paper and pen, and I'll write the notice for you right away."

Li Cenji hurriedly went to fetch the finest Xuan paper, Huizhou ink, and Huzhou brushes, and spread them out on the table.

Zheng Tian rolled up his sleeves, pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and finished the work in one stroke.

He was a man of exceptional literary talent, and also held the positions of general and prime minister. The proclamation he wrote was truly beautiful in its language and clear in its meaning. It first quoted the stories of sage kings throughout history seeking out talented people, then mentioned that the world was newly settled and everything needed to be rebuilt, and finally concluded with the intention of "recruiting talented people from all over the country". It was a captivating read.

Standing to the side, Li Cenji watched as Zheng Tian wrote the last paragraph with powerful strokes, as if carved by a knife and axe, and a sense of respect arose in his heart.

After Zheng Tian finished writing, he put down his pen, picked up the notice, blew on the still-wet ink, and handed it to Li Cenji: "What do you think?"

Li Cenji took the document with both hands, read it from beginning to end, and nodded, saying, "My teacher's article has both a grand style and a sincere desire to seek out talented people. If it gets out, I'm afraid not only the people in Fengxiang will be interested, but scholars from Jiangnan and Yanzhao will also come to seek it out."

Zheng Tian smiled slightly: "Then it depends on your ability. After the notice is posted, you must carefully screen all those who come to apply, and not let any mediocre people slip in. I can only set the beginning for you; the rest is up to you."

Li Cenji solemnly replied, "This disciple will remember my teacher's teachings."

After finishing the recruitment, it was already late at night.

Li Cenji then had some free time to sit opposite Zheng Tian under the lamp.

He poured Zheng Tian a cup of warm tea, then took one for himself before asking, "Master, you've come all the way from Chang'an not just to write the recruitment notice for me, are you? May I be so bold as to ask, has something happened in the court?"

He asked the question tactfully, but his gaze was fixed on Zheng Tian with a hint of worry.

Zheng Tian picked up the teacup, but did not drink it. He simply held the warm porcelain bowl, feeling the warmth in his palm.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "It's not a sudden change. It's just that when the emperor returns to the capital, the military governors of the various towns along the way must welcome him; this is the proper etiquette. As the military governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, I naturally cannot be absent."

He glanced at Li Cenji, his tone turning slightly somber, "If I hadn't come, you would have gone. If you had gone, that scoundrel Tian Lingzi would surely have tried to manipulate things before the Emperor. Although I dare not say he would do anything to you, the human heart is unpredictable, especially the heart of that eunuch, which is unfathomable. I am unwilling to gamble with you."

Li Cenji was shocked by these words.

He was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Is Master afraid that his disciple will be detained before the Emperor and unable to return to Fengxiang?"

Zheng Tian paused slightly in his teacup, then slowly put it down. His gaze fell on Li Cenji's face, and after a long while, he sighed softly, "Jingzhi, you are even smarter than I imagined."

He straightened up, his expression becoming more serious: "During my time in Chang'an, I've heard some rumors. Tian Lingzi has repeatedly slandered you before the Emperor, saying that you and I are colluding internally and externally, and that you are amassing military power." Although the Emperor hasn't said it explicitly, based on letters from old friends, he already seems somewhat suspicious of both you and me. This time, the Emperor's return to the capital will inevitably pass through Fengxiang. You have made a name for yourself by beheading Shang Rang and forcing Huang Chao to his death, and you also command the troops in Fengxiang.

If Tian Lingzi wants to weaken me, the first person he'll target is you. If the Emperor listens to his slander and forcibly keeps you before him...

Having taken away your military power, even if you have three heads and six arms, can you still draw your sword before the emperor? Now that I'm here, you don't need to go anymore.

"I am the rightful military governor, and it is my duty to see the emperor; you are the acting governor, and it is your responsibility to remain in your post. Even if Tian Lingzi wanted to take action, he would have no pretext."

After hearing these words, Li Cenji felt a mix of indescribable emotions.

He looked at Zheng Tian's thin and tired face. This old minister had traveled all the way from Chang'an to Fengxiang to take this blow for him. He had also lent him the title of military governor to post notices to recruit talents and helped him solve the shortage of staff. Now he was going to greet the emperor and face the emperor's suspicion and Tian Lingzi's treacherous attacks.

His throat tightened slightly. He stood up and bowed deeply to Zheng Tian, ​​his voice low but earnest: "My esteemed teacher has considered my needs so much. I have no way to repay you."

Zheng Tian waved his hand and laughed, "What's this talk of revenge? This matter arose from my feud with Tian Lingzi. Besides, you are my disciple. If I don't think about it for you, who will?"

He picked up his teacup, gazing at the tea leaves floating in it, and lowered his voice: "This old man has been navigating the treacherous waters of the court for years, and I've seen it all too well. Even if I were to personally greet the Emperor, he wouldn't dare to do anything to me to my face. But you are different. You are young and vigorous, and you have rendered great service; you are the fattest prey in his eyes. I really can't bear to let you face that old fox alone."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji's eyes welled up with tears, but knowing that his mentor disliked affectation, he suppressed his excitement and simply nodded, solemnly saying, "This disciple will obey your orders, Master. When you go to welcome the Emperor, I will keep watch over Fengxiang for you in Yong County."

Zheng Tian smiled and patted Li Cenji on the shoulder.

The next morning, Zheng Tian set off for Baoji.

Li Cenji escorted him to the ten-mile pavilion outside the city. The master and disciple rode side by side for a while. Suddenly, Zheng Tian lifted the carriage curtain, glanced back at the Yongxian city wall, then looked at Li Cenji, and whispered, "Jingzhi, I am going to greet the Emperor. If everything goes smoothly, that's fine. But if something unexpected happens—"

'

He paused, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't. He simply waved his hand and said, "If anything unexpected happens, you must guard Fengxiang well and not make any rash moves. The Emperor is young, and although Tian Lingzi is cunning, he wouldn't dare to go too far. As long as Fengxiang remains as stable as a rock, they won't dare to do anything to this old man."

Li Cenji's heart skipped a beat, and he wanted to ask more questions, but Zheng Tian had already lowered the carriage curtain, and the "thunderbolts" escorted the carriage away towards Baoji.

In the following days, responses came one after another to the recruitment notices issued by various counties in Fengxiang.

Li Cenji met with them one by one, selected the best candidates, and assigned these newly recruited civil servants to various counties to temporarily fill vacant positions.

When the old officials who were still in shackles met their new colleagues, they were filled with fear and resentment. But with shackles on their bodies and knives and axes at their side, none of them dared to cause trouble. They could only obediently hand over their duties and transfer the account books.

The administration of Fengxiang town gradually became smoother during this transition from the old to the new.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, Zheng Tian's carriage had already arrived in Baoji.

He settled in the post station, sending people to inquire about the emperor's whereabouts while waiting for the young emperor to arrive.

As night deepened, the lights of the Baoji Inn flickered in the autumn wind. Zheng Tian stood by the window and sighed softly.

He knew in his heart that this welcoming ceremony, on the surface, was a matter of courtesy, but in reality, it was another round of competition between him and Tian Lingzi.

And this contest has only just begun.

As September drew to a close, the emperor's carriage traveled north and entered the territory of Fengxiang.

After noon that day, the emperor's carriage slowly traveled to a place five miles outside Baoji City and set up camp in an open area.

The camp consisted of dozens of tents, among which the bright yellow imperial tent was the most magnificent. In front of the tent stood the guards of the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Martial Guard, their armor gleaming and their banners fluttering.

Tian Lingzi had issued a secret order long ago:

Two hundred elite Shence Army soldiers were mobilized and divided into two groups. One group surrounded the camp, while the other group lay in ambush behind the tents on both sides of the imperial tent. Their swords were drawn and their bows were strung, ready to capture people at a single command.

Standing before the emperor, Tian Lingzi mentally planned how the emperor would announce the decree, how he would respond, and when the axemen lying in ambush would appear after Li Cenji entered the tent. He had rehearsed all the details in his mind several times to ensure that everything would go smoothly.

Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly heard the announcer loudly proclaim: "Zheng Tian, ​​the Grand Commandant, Vice Minister of the Chancellery, Chancellor, Commander-in-Chief of the Capital's Four Garrisons, and Military Governor of Fengxiang and Longyou, along with the Magistrate, Assistant Magistrate, and Commandant of Baoji County—is waiting outside the camp for an audience."

The official's voice was loud and clear, each word distinct and clear.

Tian Lingzi, who had been standing leisurely with his hands behind his back, froze on the spot as if nailed to the spot when he heard the name "Zheng Tian," and his expression changed instantly.

He abruptly turned his head towards the camp gate, a glint of light flashing in his narrow eyes, countless thoughts racing through his mind like lightning—

Zheng Tian? Isn't he in Chang'an?

When did you come to Baoji?

He's here, but where's Li Cenji? Why didn't we hear Li Cenji's name called?

Tian Lingzi glanced almost instinctively toward the imperial tent, then quickly looked away, the composed smile on her face completely gone.

Inside the imperial tent, Emperor Li Xuan was reclining on a soft couch, passing the time with a book in his hand.

When he heard the official outside the tent announce the long list of official titles, he didn't react at first, only grunting in response, and casually said, "Zheng Tian? Isn't he in Chang'an?"

He then put down his book, sat up straight, and showed a hint of surprise on his face: "This old prime minister is indeed diligent. I thought he would be waiting for me in Chang'an, but I never expected him to come all the way to Baoji to greet me."

His tone carried a hint of emotion that was hard to define:

While Zheng Tian's past actions against him in court were certainly unpleasant, his willingness to travel a great distance to welcome the emperor this time made him appear loyal, devoted, and respectful.

The scales in the young emperor's heart swayed twice between "suspicion" and "gratitude".