Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 402
Chapter 402 The Halberd of the Sovereign Sect, the Fury of the
The entire hall was silent, leaving behind only the gentle sound of the breeze whisking the white cloth.
“Patriarch, please fetch the filial piety cloth.” Li Shimin raised his head and said softly. His face was tense, and his eyes were already red.
“Your Majesty, this … My father’s spirit in heaven, how could I wish to see His Majesty like this? If I agree, I won’t dare to see my father in the Nine Springs!” Qin Tong’s face was full of tears as he clasped his fists and choked.
Li Shimin paused for a moment and got up. He tore a white plain in the hall with a sizzling sound and tied it to his left arm.
“Uncle Treasure and I are as close as brothers. It’s fitting that brother died while brother is filial.” Li Shimin picked up the incense and walked forward. He respectfully bowed and respected the incense. He whispered, “Besides, Uncle Treasure is a hero of the Tang Dynasty and a martyr of the country. His funeral should be a national funeral! I will cripple the dynasty for ten days. The entire dynasty will offer sacrifices together, and all the civil and military of the dynasty will come to mourn him!”
“Your Majesty” A burly man like Qin Tong couldn’t help but cry and didn’t know what to say.
Li Shimin walked to his side and patted his shoulder. “Qin Tong, I know that Uncle Treasure has always been reserved and unpretentious. At this moment, I understand why you didn’t publicly pay tribute to Uncle Treasure. Are you afraid of making things difficult for those people in the court? Because they don’t know whether to come to mourn or not, right?”
Qin Tong remained silent and turned to wipe away his tears.
“Time is winding and the sun is falling … My responsibility!” Li Shimin sighed again and said, “Many people are thinking more about their interests and future, and have forgotten about loyalty and integrity. Uncle Bao was so generous, righteous, and selfless in his life. In the end, he lost his life and no one took the initiative to pay his respects-is this still the Great Tang of Zhenguan, or the world of mine!”
The dragon roared angrily.
The Qin Family saw that the Emperor was truly angry today. His eyes were red and his face was tense, and his fists were also shaking slightly. When he looked at Qin Shubao’s Spiritual Throne, his gaze was filled with sorrow and regret.
“Uncle Treasure … You have always been a hero. You have always been a righteous Bo Yuntian. I have always respected you and admired you. Now, anyone can misunderstand you, evade you, or even slander you. Only I am not qualified to do so.” Li Shimin stared at Qin Shubao’s spirit tablet, trembling and stretching out his hand to gently stroke it. He whispered, “I know why you want to resist the decree to arise and fight eighteen consecutive battles, rushing thousands of miles to recover Gao Chang.” I know even more why you went into the Tiger’s den alone and passionately sacrificed your life … As a Sovereign King, it’s a great fortune to have a subject like you. As a man, it hurts to have a good brother like you! ”
When the Qin Family heard Li Shimin’s words, they were both sad and confused. Naturally, they did not quite understand the deep meaning behind Qin Shubao’s generosity.
At this moment, the Qin Manor’s open door was suddenly knocked open. A hysterical cry came from the door, and two burly men and a young man ran in.
Everyone looked out in surprise. The two men were not eye-catching. One had a horned beard that was as black as charcoal, and the other had a tiger’s back that was as strong as an iron tower.
If it wasn’t Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie, who else would it be?
As soon as the two of them stepped into the courtyard of the Qin Manor, they couldn’t help but burst into tears. The young man behind them was also silent with a worried expression.
“Second Brother Qin! My second brother Qin!!!”
The two burly men cried loudly and rushed through the door. They didn’t pay attention to Li Shimin’s presence or the Qin Family. They both leaned in front of the spirit pivot and kowtowed desperately, crying loudly.
The young man also walked in, knelt on both knees, and kowtowed without saying a word.
The Qin Family hurriedly saluted, but the two of them refused to stand up and only burst into tears while hammering their chests.
Li Shimin walked up and waved his hand to summon Qin Tong and the others. He squatted down beside the two of them and said, “Jing De, Zhi Jie, you two are not loyal to your duties in the far-away prefecture and county. What’s the crime of running to Chang’an without permission?”
Only then did Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie regain their senses. When they looked up together, they were immediately shocked, “Your Majesty!”
“It’s me.” Li Shimin looked at them.
Yuchi Gong stared fixedly at Li Shimin. He was stunned for a long time before he regained his senses. Then, he gritted his teeth and said, “Your Majesty, even if you want to punish me, chop off my head, you can wait for me to finish sacrificing Second Brother Qin!”
“Your Majesty, if Uncle Treasure returns to the heavens, how can Bite Gold survive alone?” Cheng Zhijie’s face was filled with tears as he looked at Li Shimin and clasped his fists and bowed, “Although this lowly official and Uncle Bao are not brothers, they are better than flesh and blood! As early as thirty years ago, this lowly official and he swore an oath to live and die together! Now that Uncle Bao has died at the hands of his enemies, bite gold … bite gold!”
Cheng Zhijie was already sobbing.
Li Shimin clapped his hands and signaled for him to stop talking.
“I’m just a little closer. I’m just a step ahead of you!”
Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie immediately began to kowtow in tears.
“Uncle Bao is your good brother, and also my good brother.” Li Shimin patted their shoulders and asked who was the junior behind them.
Yuchi Gong replied: This is Li Zhen, son of Li Ji. Li Ji heard that Shu Bao had come to offer his condolences for his death, but because he was at the border and could not take on any heavy responsibilities, he had sent his surrogate father to pay his respects.
“Li Ji … Although his anger and joy do not change, he is truly a hero of righteousness!”
Half an hour later.
Li Shimin, Yu Chigong, and Cheng Zhijie walked out of the mourning hall and persuaded the Qin Family to return to the main entrance.
The three of them coincidentally saw the Twelve Halberds of the Sovereign Sect.
He stared for a long time.
“Rumble–” Dark clouds billowed and thunderstorms approached.
“Jing De, Zhi Jie-follow me, Shang Chao!” Li Shimin strode forward and grabbed a thick Fang Tian painting halberd with both of his hands. He roared angrily and pulled it up and walked forward proudly.
Yuchi Gong and Cheng Zhijie stared at Li Shimin, who was holding a Fang Tian halberd in their hands and had forgotten to ride a horse, and were dumbfounded as they hurriedly followed.
Nowadays, the emperor held a Fang Tian painting halberd in his hand and swaggered across the market into the imperial palace, causing Chang’an to tremble!
On the bell and drum tower of Taiji Palace’s Martial Arts Hall, the two drums that had always been beating in the early hours of the morning were overshadowed by the rumbling hammers of two mighty owl generals that were like tiger lions, which overwhelmed the rolling thunder that descended from the sky!
“Shangchao!–”
The entire government and the public were shocked!
The officials, big and small, braved the storm and thunder and lightning as they rushed to Taiji Palace’s Martial Arts Hall in a hurry.
After entering the Martial Moral Hall, the officials who were already in a state of panic were even more shocked! –Emperor Li Shimin, who hadn’t shown his face for a long time, sat on the dragon throne in a plain suit with white arms and filial piety; In his hand, he was holding a Fang Tian painting halberd that had been cast from profound iron for many years and had lost its original color!
Although Li Shimin’s entire body was still drenched in embarrassment without Gun Mian, at this moment, he was like the young hero who had slashed across the battlefield thirty years ago. His spirits surged, and his dragon might burned with flames!
“Long live my emperor …” The court officials all knelt down and cried out nervously. “Long live my emperor …”
“Bang!”
Fang Tian’s painting halberd landed on the ground. This sharp sound shocked everyone in the hall.
“Flat up.”
At this moment, Li Zhi hurriedly ran in from the side courtyard while hastily tidying up the crown he was wearing. When he saw Li Shimin sitting on the dragon chair, he was dumbfounded and stunned.
Under the golden throne hall stood two auxiliary ministers, Chu Suiliang and Changsun Wuji, who were supposed to be standing at the side of the Dragon Chair Imperial Case. The two of them lowered their eyebrows and did not dare to look at Tian Yan, their faces extremely ugly.
“King Jin, you are the closest to the Martial Hall, but why did you come the latest?” Li Shimin looked sideways at Li Zhi and asked.
“Your son, your son” Li Zhi had never seen such an image of his father before, and the current situation made him unable to breathe. He panicked and said, “Your son felt a chill, so he took the medicine and went to bed early. Just now, he suddenly sniffed the drums. Only then did he …”
“Since you feel the cold, it’s easy to go back and rest.” Li Shimin turned around and no longer looked at Li Zhi. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the eldest Sun Wuji and Chu Suiliang below the stage. He slowly said, “There’s nothing else for you here.”
“Your son obeys the decree!”
Li Zhi left in a hurry as if he had been granted amnesty.
The night was like an ink breeze, and the candles in the hall flickered, and the figures of the officials danced like a group of devils; The surroundings were silent. All the officials had no choice but to hold their breaths and concentrate. They were afraid that if they accidentally coughed, they would run into bad luck.
“Does anyone recognize this?” Li Shimin suddenly stood up and spoke. He even took the Fang Tian Painting Halberd and walked down the dragon chair into the hall.
“This is … Fang Tian’s painting halberd.” Many people replied carefully.
“What kind of Fang Tian’s painting halberd?” Li Shimin asked in a deep voice.
This time, no one answered. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look at the emperor.
“I know.” At this moment, a thunderous voice rang out. It was Yuchi Gong. He loudly said, “This Fang Tian Painting Halberd that was specially set up for the Xun Sect!”
“Not only you, they all know!” Li Shimin suddenly shouted loudly, interrupting Yuchi Gong’s words!
The entire hall was shocked!
After a long pause, Li Shimin said, “There are even more people who know that I only allowed this Fang Tian Painting Halberd to stand in the only house. However, none of them are willing to say it, or dare to say it, or disdain to say it.”
The hall was deathly silent, and most of them were terrified. Today, the emperor was obviously unkind, and the good did not come. Whoever dared to provoke Long Yan at this time would most likely not be able to eat good fruit.
“This lowly official wants to say.” At this moment, an old yet fruitful voice sounded.
Fang Xuanling walked out.
Li Shimin turned to look at him and turned around, “Tell me.”
“Your Majesty, at this moment, we should put national affairs first and righteousness second.” Fang Xuanling said calmly, “The letter of request for battle between the Lanzhou Military News and Qin Mubai is here. It is for His Majesty to decide personally.”
“Bring it to me for a look.” Li Shimin casually threw the Fang Tian Painting Halberd at Yuchi Gong, took the memorial from Fang Xuanling, walked back to the dragon chair and sat down, staring at it.
Everyone held their breath and watched Li Shimin’s expression change as he watched the memorial.
Finished reading. Li Shimin said calmly, “Alright, I’ve finished reading them. Now, everyone has to express their opinions. I don’t want to hear all of you shouting. Come, serve them with ink!” He clapped his hands and said, “Alright, I’m done reading them. Everyone, you must express their opinions. I don’t want to hear all of you shouting.”
Several eunuchs carefully held paper and pen and other things as they entered, giving each subject a set of four treasures of the study.
“Write it now.” Li Shimin said, “Write down your views on Lanzhou. There are three main things, one is how to treat Qin Shubao’s death; the other is how to deal with the attacks from Tibet and the Western Regions; and the third is that Qin Mubai’s blood letter only has eight words: ‘Xi Rong is unfair, death is unhappy!’-What do you think, how do you treat it, and where should the Imperial Court treat it?”
Everyone was stunned. Many people were holding pens and their hands were trembling.
“Write!!!” Li Shimin bellowed angrily like a dragon’s roar, “If you don’t even think about such a thing and don’t have any opinions, what’s the use of me? If there are only mediocre people with corpses in the Tang court, how close is death?”
“I will obey the decree … Your Majesty, please calm down!”
The entire court had 136 ministers of the lowest rank, ranging from rank four to rank four. They were like students participating in an exam, all of them silent as they sat at their desks and wrote books.
About an hour later, the “exam papers” were all collected and piled up on Li Shimin’s Imperial Record.
Li Shimin didn’t say anything and picked up one by one and read it carefully.
Officials, no one dared to move. The weather was blazing and dull, and many people were sweating profusely.
After a long time, Li Shimin finally finished reading the 100-odd papers and patted the pile of papers with his hand. He said mockingly, “That’s right! They are all my ministers, the pillars of the Tang Empire! Everyone has insights, and there are many shocking golden and jade words that make people deaf or open their mouths.”
Many people let out a long sigh and secretly wiped their sweat.
“But I’m surprised.” Li Shimin suddenly changed the topic and said, “Why don’t you come up with a plan for our country like this?” “I’ve heard most of it from the ministers.” It seems that many of you won’t say anything else except this sentence. ”
The atmosphere changed drastically and immediately became tense again. It was pitiful that many of the officials who rushed to the court in the middle of the night were old and weak, but they were forced to follow Li Shimin to play this thrilling roller coaster game one after another.
“I am also curious. Since you are standing here, you are definitely not ordinary people. You will definitely be able to do something.” Li Shimin said, “Why are you wearing this silk robe and walking into this hall without any opinions, or are you just the echoes of the grass on the wall? Who caused you to become like this? Is it me?”
Many people were confused and did not dare to answer.
‘”Tell me, is it because I have always been narrow-minded, refusing to accept advice and indiscriminately executing violent punishment that has sealed your path of speech? Or is it because I, the old man, am so stupid and headstrong that all of you have lost the courage and patience to enter the path of advice?” Li Shimin asked again.
“No …”
“Who is that?” Li Shimin suddenly shouted!
No one answered.
Standing under the hall, Eldest Sun Wuji lowered his head and cupped his hands without saying a word, and his complexion turned even more ashen.
“Listen to me, remember.” Li Shimin pointed at the officials in the court and said word by word, “Before I die, my country will not be in chaos! Never forget, I am your only monarch! Other than me, no one can decide and change the fate of the Great Tang!”
“Long live my Emperor! Long live my Emperor! Long live my Emperor!” All the officials knelt down in fear and shouted, “Tsunami!
Changsun Wu’s face was as pale as earth, and beads of sweat rolled down his cold forehead, dripping wet the Nishikawa Hundred Flowers Silk Carpet in front of him.
“Du Feng, flatten your body.” Li Shimin patted the Imperial Examination Paper again and said, “I have already made up my mind on the matter of Lanzhou-Fang Xuanling, listen to the decree!”
“This lowly official is under orders to listen to the edict!” Fang Xuanling stood out and bowed.
“I order you to be the deputy chief steward of the Kansai Road army and take charge of Chang’an. The Governor of the Kansai army will transfer money, horses, armor, and other supplies to him.” Li Shimin said, “Tonight, I want to know how many millets there are in my warehouse, how many warhorses there are in Longyou, and how many elite soldiers and civilian mules and horses there are in the pass. Fang Xuanling, you are the butler of my Great Tang. The Kansai Battle is related to the fate of the Great Tang and cannot be underestimated. You must be viated and deal with it carefully.”
“I–I will do my best and die!” Fang Xuanling said loudly.
Everyone was shocked in their hearts … The Emperor’s move was simply a pioneering move that could not be concealed. He simply did not discuss with the crowd whether Lanzhou was a war or a peace. Instead, he directly dispatched troops to scourge the generals!
Cosmos is arbitrary!
Wu Fu, the emperor who opened the cauldron in the kingdom, has returned?
“Yuchi Gong, listen to the decree!” Li Shimin shouted again.
“I’m here!” Yuchi Gong stood out with a tiger in his hand.
“I entrust you with the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Sword South Dao Army. Lead the fifty thousand elite troops from the Guanzhong region down to Sichuan and lead all the prefectures and counties of the Liangchuan Region to guard Xichuan to check and balance Tibet.” Li Shimin said, “If Tibet comes to attack and kill, you should counterattack at the right time. If not, you should take the initiative to attack westward and make them suffer the enemy again! Fang Xuanling will also transfer all the grain and other items to you.”
“Jian Nan Dao” Yu Chi Gong was stunned and murmured, “Your Majesty, this lowly official wants to go to Lanzhou to avenge Second Brother Qin’s death!”
“Someone, show this memorial to Jing De.” Li Shimin said.
The attendant picked up the memorial from Lanzhou and gave it to Yuchi Gong. He stared at Qin Sanlang several times before suddenly laughing loudly, “So that’s how it is! Second Brother Qin has given birth to a smart and good son!”-Father’s revenge is only natural! This lowly official is willing to serve as Qin Sanlang’s flank assistant, defending against the enemies in the wild and attacking Tibet! ”
“En!” Li Shimin finally revealed his first smile and nodded. He said, “Cheng Zhijie, listen to the decree!”
“I’m here!” Cheng Zhijie stood up and clasped his fists, looking at Li Shimin with anticipation.
“I entrust you with the position of Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Liaodong Road Army, leading the elite cavalry of Guanzhong to travel northwest to You Zhou. I will listen to the commands of the Commander-in-Chief of You Zhou and the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong Road, King Wu Li Ke.” Li Shimin said, “I order you to assist Li Ke and defend Korea.”
“Ah, to Liaodong? You Zhou?” Cheng Zhijie was even more stunned.
Li Shimin waved his hand and said, “Let Cheng Zhijie see this memorial as well.”
Everyone in the dynasty trembled as they watched as Cheng Zhijie flipped open the thick stack of memorials to the border from Lanzhou.
After reading it, Cheng Zhijie clapped his hands and laughed, “So that’s the case! This lowly subject is not as blunt as His Majesty and Qin Sanlang!-This subject is willing to assist King Wu in the east of Liaoning!”
Li Shimin nodded and stood up. He walked into the hall with his hands cut off. He picked up the halberd again and said leisurely, “Once upon a time, the barbarians in all directions respected me as’ Heavenly Khan ‘.” Now, they all thought that Tian Khan was old and useless, but the Great Tang Dynasty had been in decline for a long time. As a result, groups of jumping clowns appeared one after another to disrupt the world and provoke me. I will let them know what the true meaning of the words “Tian Khan” is. “The so-called Great Heavenly Dynasty is not only rich in people from Wufu, it is also extremely romantic!”
“Someone, get the ink!” Li Shimin shouted loudly and wrote a letter in the blink of an eye.
“This is a letter from me addressed to Xue Yantuo’s Great Leader, Zhen Zhu Khan Yi Nan.” Li Shimin looked around the hall and said coldly, “I will tell him that we have already started a full-scale war with Tibet, the Western Regions, and the Western Turks. We still need to use troops against Liaodong. At that time, the northern border will definitely be empty and defenseless. If he has the intention to sweep the grasslands and establish his own khaganate, then this is a good opportunity bestowed by the heavens!”
Everyone was stunned and speechless!
“Chu Suiliang, immediately write an imperial edict and pass it on to Li Ji!” Li Shimin put down the letter to Yi Nan and said, “Zhen, give him half of the Turkic lands in the northern grasslands and the rivers and mountains in Hebei! No matter what Yi Nan wants to do in the future, no matter how chaotic the grasslands are, Zhen will not ask anymore and will leave it to Li Ji to deal with!”
Chu Suiliang breathed in a cold breath as he carefully promised, “This lowly official’s edict …”
Li Shimin finally sat down and let out a long sigh.
It was like a person who had run a marathon. He revealed a lot of exhaustion, but his eyes were still as cold as ice and as sharp as knives.
“I still have a decree. After the court meeting is over tonight, the court will be abolished for ten days. The whole country will mourn Qin Shubao … All officials above the fifth rank in the two capital cities of Guanzhong and the Gizifu region must pay their respects to the Duke of the Wing Kingdom! It is tentatively decided to bury Uncle Bao in the Zhaoling Mausoleum. After retrieving his spirit remains in the next day, he will be transferred to Zi Palace as a state funeral ritual.”
“I will obey the decree …”
‘”Whoosh” Everyone clearly heard Li Shimin’s sigh, filled with exhaustion, helplessness, and sadness.
“Chu Suiliang, I’m tired. Take my pen and write a letter to Qin Mubai in Lanzhou.” Li Shimin closed his eyes and leaned back on the dragon chair, saying, “Tell him to use his troops properly. There is no need to worry. If he is not a match for Garqin Mausoleum, I will personally bring up the master of the country to personally conquer him and praise the abandoned sect!”
