Chapter 365 Lushan sends a cow

It has been three days since Li Qing'an returned to Chang'an. In these three days, he has almost become Li Yu's agent. Groups of court officials came to visit him, and they expressed almost the same meaning. They were willing to be loyal to the crown prince and hoped that the crown prince could ascend the throne as soon as possible. According to Li Qing'an's statistics, almost 80% of court officials supported Li Yu's ascendance to the throne, but this was not a basis for Li Yu's ascendance to the throne. These middle and lower-level officials were more a kind of follow-up. If Li Longji woke up, they also expressed opposition to the crown prince's ascendance to the throne without authorization. The key was that the Political Affairs Hall would pass the final resolution.

Li Qingan was not in a hurry. In the past few days, he also visited many important officials one by one, including Zhang Yun, the Minister of Revenue, who tested his words. Zhang Yun was a key figure. If he expressed his support for Li Yu ascending the throne, the support of the Political Affairs Hall would account for the vast majority, and Li Yu could ascend the throne naturally. Unfortunately, Zhang Yun still maintained his own opinion and wanted the emperor to make a decision after returning to Beijing.

Of course, Li Qing'an could also forcibly support Li Yu ascend the throne. With his three thousand cavalry, no one could object, but the problem lies with Li Yu himself. He also insisted on waiting for the emperor to return to Beijing, but if the Political Affairs Hall unanimously passed, he could also temporarily take over the throne.

At noon, Li Qing'an was about to go out to the East Palace. At this time, the county magistrate of Wannian County Cui Guangyuan urgently found him, and a low-level official was following behind him.

Cui Guangyuan was one of the few officials who had been loyal to Li Qing'an. He wanted to give up his humble position as a county magistrate and go to Anxi, but Li Qing'an dissuaded him. Cui Guangyuan stayed in Chang'an as a county magistrate, which was more effective than going to Anxi.

Indeed, with the help of Cui Guangyuan, many of the arrested Han and Tang dynasties successfully escaped from Chang'an, and the often-entered Rehai Idiots shop was not sealed. There were millions of money from the Han and Tang dynasties. It was lucky to escape, and Cui Guangyuan made great contributions, but today, Cui Guangyuan came to Li Qing'an for even more important things.

"General, I have a major report on my job." Cui Guangyuan said impatiently when he returned to the living room.

Li Qingan glanced at the official standing behind Cui Guangyuan. He was about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance and an inconspicuous low-level official. It is estimated that the urgent matter Cui Guangyuan said was related to this person.

Li Qingan was not surprised, and smiled and said, "Eunuch Cui, who is the one behind you?"

The official quickly bowed to Li Qing'an, "Yao Shengping, the official of the Taipu Temple Dianli Office, is a close friend of the magistrate Cui. He asked the magistrate Cui to recommend it. If there are any major issues, he should report to the general."

The Dianjian Bureau is responsible for raising horses and cattle and raising miscellaneous animals. The order is only a seventh-rank young official. Li Qing'an couldn't help but wonder, what did the order for the Dianjian Bureau ask for him to do? Is there something wrong with his cavalry and horses?

"What's wrong?"

Yao Shengping thought for a while and said, "This morning, Bei Zhi accidentally got a news that An Lushan was going to send 6,000 cattle and horses into Beijing."

"And the Taipu Temple Minister Da Xixun has approved An Lushan's request." Cui Guangyuan next to him added.

"Why did An Lushan send cattle and horses to Beijing?" Li Qingan didn't quite understand what they meant.

Yao Shengping said: "I heard that it was because the Hedong disaster victims had stolen many plowing oxen when they fled Guanzhong. An Lushan wanted to repay Guanzhong, so he sent someone to send cattle and horses to Beijing."

"This is strange. It is also the local officials' business to send cattle and horses to Beijing to repay Guanzhong. What does it have to do with him, An Lushan?"

Li Qingan really didn't understand An Lushan's intentions. He took two steps behind his back, and suddenly stopped and asked, "If you take care of the cow and horses in Beijing, how many entourages are needed at most?"

Yao Shengping was very experienced. He immediately said: "Depending on the careful care of the need, generally speaking, a person can take care of five livestock on the road, but if the care is meticulous, it requires a livestock to be paired with one person. A good war horse needs to be taken care of in this way."

"A livestock is paired with one person, and that six thousand livestock requires six thousand people."

Li Qingan murmured to himself. He suddenly understood the key point, that An Lushan was going to lead his troops into the capital.

Thinking of this, Li Qing'an immediately ordered: "Prepare the carriage immediately, I want to go to the East Palace immediately."

He praised Yao Shengping again: "You reported it very promptly. If An Lushan's conspiracy is defeated, you will be the first contribution."

Yao Shengping was flattered and said: "I dare not, I just think something is strange."

Li Qing'an nodded and said to Cui Guangyuan: "Guangyuan, do something for me, check how many industries An Lushan has in Chang'an or Guanzhong, how many employees or slaves there are, and report to me immediately when there is news."

"I understand, so check it now."

Cui Guangyuan agreed and hurried away with Yao Shengping. Li Qing'an cleaned up briefly and rushed to the East Palace in a carriage. Li Qing'an had already realized that the first crisis had arrived.

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In the East Palace, Li Yu stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back. The afternoon sun was particularly dazzling, shining on Li Yu's face, making it difficult to open with his eyes narrowed. However, through the sun, you can still see the unconcealed worry in Li Yu's eyes. Although he publicly stated that he would wait for the emperor to come back to discuss his ascension, this was by no means his original intention. Li Yu was even more anxious and uneasy. He knew very well that Guanzhong was empty. If his throne was uncertain, once the strong soldiers entered the pass, his status would be in danger.

Most of these local warlords were involved with the prince, and the only one who clearly supported them was Li Qing'an. Although Geshuhan had expressed support, after a major change, the news about Geshuhan was cut off, and his true mentality was unknown.

Li Yu was particularly worried that Jiannan's army would go north. He had learned that King Ying and Gao Xianzhi had colluded, and the ambitious King Ying had the army as a backing. How could he not want to get involved in the throne?

There is also An Lushan, who has sent troops to occupy Hedong, will he point his sword at Guanzhong again? Li Yu was full of worries. The situation he would face was complicated and complicated. It would be easier to rebuild the Kaiyuan prosperous era. Not to mention the Kaiyuan prosperous era, even if the Tang Dynasty was reunified and the local warlords were removed, it would be extremely difficult.

Finance is not sustainable, military strength is weak, land annexation is serious, fleeing households are intensifying, people are living in poverty, and conflicts between officials and the people have intensified to a point of rupture. Now, what can he use to pacify the four sides?

Li Yu sighed, "Master, where should I start with the chaos in the middle?"

Not far behind Li Yu, his master Li Mi stood. Since Li Mi left Li Qing'an, he has been concentrating on assisting Li Yu. Li Mi persuaded him to actively participate in the government affairs and gradually seize power, especially to trust Li Qing'an in order to obtain foreign aid.

Li Mi understood Li Yu's troubles and slowly walked forward and said, "Your Highness doesn't have to be too anxious. Everything has its own rules. There is life and death. Although it will not be too good, it will not be too bad. After all, Your Highness is orthodox, and no one dares to stand up easily. Even An Lushan dares to say that he took over as the governor of Hedong. The key is to stabilize the situation and not let the situation get out of control. Then slowly plan it. Don't alarm the enemy. When the opportunity arises, you will take action decisively."

"Master, everything is prioritized. What is urgent for the current affairs? What is the rush? Please teach me."

"Your Highness, the most urgent task is to ascend the throne and gain the support of the people of the world. This matter cannot be delayed, and it will change. Your Highness, there is a saying that I don't know whether to say it or not."

"What else is there to say to me sir? Please just say it bluntly."

Li Mi sighed and said, "Actually, what I am most worried about is not the kings or the governors, what I am most worried about is King Yong."

"My father!" Li Yu was stunned and asked quickly, "Where does this start?"

"Don't Your Highness think that King Yong has been in Shuofang for too long?"

Li Mi's eyes were full of worries. Li Heng clearly had an absolute advantage in his troops and could quickly defeat King Rong, but he insisted on falling into a stalemate with them and disregarding Chang'an's emptiness, which made people have to doubt his motives.

Li Yu said nothing for a long time, and after a long time, his voice was a little hoarse, "Maybe my father has other difficulties. He is running around for me. We should not doubt him. Besides, the throne is his. If he wants it, I should give it to him. This is the duty of the Son of Man."

Li Mi nodded silently, and he smiled again: "No matter what, Your Majesty must ascend the throne as soon as possible and cannot be delayed anymore. I will discuss this with Li Qing'an."

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard reported at the door: "Your Highness, Prince Anxi, asks for a meeting and says there is an urgent matter."

Li Yu was stunned for a moment before he realized that it was Li Qingan who came. He hurriedly said, "Please come in quickly!"

Li Mi walked forward slowly and said with a solemn expression: "He said that something urgent must have happened."

After a moment, Li Qing'an walked in quickly and bowed to Li Yu, "See Your Highness!"

"The general doesn't have to be polite. He is so anxious to come, but what's wrong?"

"I just got a piece of news that An Lushan was going to Beijing to offer cattle, and each of them was 3,000 cattle and horses. I wonder if Your Highness knows this?"

Li Yu said in surprise: "I don't know about this, how did the general know about it?"

"I just learned that An Lushan used the excuse of compensating the Hedong disaster victims' cattle stealing in Guanzhong, so he offered the cattle to the court, and Taipu Temple has approved it."

Li Yu frowned. There were indeed many counties in Jingzhao complaining about the Hedong disaster victims. He had heard of this, but he did not ask An Lushan to compensate him. This was very unreasonable. Unreasonable things often reveal a hint of strangeness. What does An Lushan mean?

At this time, Li Mi, who had been silent next to him, suddenly said: "I understand what the general means, An Lushan is going to march into Guanzhong."

"What does this mean by sir?"

Li Qingan also sighed: "Sir, 6,000 livestock enter Guanzhong, and each livestock is given one person, that is, six,000 troops or cavalry. This is An Lushan's plan to hide the truth."

Li Yu was a little stunned. An Lushan, who was most worried about, finally took action. He hurriedly said, "If this is the case, how should we deal with it?"

Li Mi didn't say anything, so what else can I imagine? Since Li Qing'an took the initiative to come to the door, the solution to this will naturally fall on Li Qing'an.

Li Yu also reacted after a second thought. He bowed deeply to Li Qing'an and begged: "Guanzhong is empty, I hope the general will share my worries about this matter."

Li Qing'an nodded and said, "An Lushan's entry into Beijing is tantamount to Dong Zhuo's entry into Beijing. Guanzhong has empty troops. Although my troops are small, I have no choice but to do so. I heard that Tongguan Marshal Wang Sili is loyal to His Highness. I hope His Highness will write him a letter immediately, asking him to obey my orders so that I can concentrate my military strength and perhaps break An Lushan's conspiracy."

Li Mi also said: "Your Highness, what the General said is that there are three thousand defenders in Tongguan. If Wang Sili obeys the general's orders, then we will have six thousand troops in our hands, which is enough to deal with An Lushan's invasion. Please write a letter immediately."

Li Yu obeyed Li Mi's words. Without any hesitation, he immediately compiled two letters of the book and stamped them with the seal of the East Palace. One letter was handed over to Li Qing'an, and the other letter was sent to Tongguan quickly, ordering Wang Sili not to release An Lushan's cattle and horse team into the pass without authorization, and obey Li Qing'an's orders.

At this time, Li Qing'an said again: "If I go to Tongguan, my only worry is Chang'an's defense. Chang'an has only two thousand troops. It has to defend the palace and the city gate. The troops are too small. I suggest recruiting township warriors in Chang'an immediately to strengthen the city defense. I know that many refugees in Chang'an are actually soldiers from the past. As long as your highness pardon their crime of fleeing households, it is no problem to recruit more than 10,000 troops. In this way, Chang'an's city defense can be strengthened. Please adopt this policy."

"But I am worried that Zhang Yun will obstruct this matter and it will be difficult for the Political Affairs Hall to pass."

"Why, I can guarantee that Zhang Yun cannot stop this matter. In the afternoon, Your Highness can hold an urgent meeting of the Political Affairs Hall."

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After leaving the East Palace, Li Qing'an immediately ordered someone to find Nan Jiyun and said to him: "You can lead 500 people to stay in Chang'an and be responsible for commanding the local heroes recruited by the Crown Lord."

Nan Jiyun was shocked and asked quickly: "Where is the general going?"

"Among Lushan invaded the territory, I want to hurry to Tongguan to defend, but I am worried that An Lushan will have a backup plan, or that King Ying will lead troops into Beijing, so you must absolutely guarantee the safety of Chang'an. Without my orders, no one will be allowed to enter Beijing."
To be continued...