Chapter 191 The first step

The sky was gray and it was already past dawn, but the heavy snow was still densely covered in the sky, like floating bunches, clusters, densely hitting the earth. The northwest wind was rolling, shuttled through the vast gray mist. The snow in the various yards of Chang'an had passed its knees, soft and without a single footprint. Except for the officials and soldiers on duty, everyone was hiding at home, caged, hung anxiously on their faces, waiting for the snow to pass Tianji to go out to make a living.

There is a large house covering an area in Tonghuafang, Chang'an. The owner of the house Huangfu Weiming also looked out the window anxiously. He had finished packing and was preparing to go to Huaqing Palace to realize his dream. At this moment, he was waiting for news from Xianyang. He had sent three confidants to issue an order yesterday: order 20,000 garrisons to go to Huaqing Palace with the cover of Blizzard. It is reasonable to reply to the letter that he had arrived last night. Even if it was a little late and he missed the city gate, he should have come this morning. But now, the city gate has been open for two hours, but the person who replied to the letter was not even a shadow.

"Has things changed?"

Huangfu Weiming's neck began to stiffen, a little harder than the granite. No one knew the consequences of the leak of this matter. It was even less rude to confiscate the family and exterminate the clan. It would involve a large number of officials, be killed by a stick, exiled, and throw away the official position. The prince would be driven out of the Eastern Palace and even end the young man with a glass of wine.

Huangfu Weiming's heart became colder and colder. He forced himself to calm down and carefully examined the loopholes in his actions again. Li Longji's plan to go out to Huaqing Palace in the New Year was to learn two months ago. He had already started planning at that time, but he did not report it to others. There was no problem in this link; after the Battle of Longyou, he wanted to go to Beijing to offer prisoners. The Ministry of War approved it and ordered him to station troops in Xianyang. He did as he did it one by one. There was no problem. The Ministry of War approved it to release prisoners of 5,000 people, but he brought 20,000 people, but the prince sent to inspect the people sent by the Ministry of War to check had already greeted him in advance, and he left in a circle at the camp gate. The Yulin Army, who came to pick up the prisoners of war, did not enter the camp, and it should not be noticed.

Could it be that the king is rare? Huangfu Weiming shook his head. It should not be him. Not to mention that he has been with him for many years, he is his own hard-core confidant. Even if he is willing, he does not know his true intention before receiving the order. He can barely eliminate it;

Perhaps it was Li Qing, Huangfu Weiming immediately denied it, not so. Last night, the prince told him that Li Qing had already entered Beijing and met Li Linfu. Although it annoyed him, it only affected his retreat. The number of people who could find in Beijing that Li Qing could still enter Beijing from the official documents was still 5,000, and he could not guess his plan.

As for the person who issued the order, it is even more impossible. He used three people to issue orders, and each order was taken out of context, and it was complete only if the three people reported it at the same time.

There seemed to be no loopholes, but in fact, the messenger who should have returned did not come back. How can I explain this? I waited for two more hours, and it was almost noon, but there was still no news. Huangfu Weiming could no longer wait. He called dozens of personal soldiers and rode on horses and rushed towards Xianyang in person. The snow was still falling, and the sky was shaking, and the vastness was endless.

When Huangfu Weiming arrived in Xianyang with difficulty, the snow had stopped. It was dusk. A blood-red setting sun shone on the ice and snow world, and it was also reflected in Huangfu Weiming's eyes that were colder than ice. In front of him, the remaining barracks were particularly there, but the camp and the 20,000 soldiers seemed to have evaporated, and there was no trace.

"Master! Master!"

The personal soldiers next to him discovered Huangfu Weiming's strangeness. He seemed to be frozen and stared straight ahead without moving. At this time, a horse ran towards him. When he got closer, one of the three people who came to pass the order yesterday. He also discovered Huangfu Weiming and immediately jumped off the horse and reported, "Master, my subordinates have not completed the order, so I will take the crime."

As soon as he saw this person, Huangfu Weiming immediately came to life. He said anxiously: "Tell me quickly! What happened?"

"Master, my subordinates arrived here yesterday and found that the barracks were gone. My subordinates followed the trail and chased them to Fengxiang. The defenders there told me that the general Wang rarely received the order from the Ministry of War and had already left Fengxiang and headed west, missing."

"What! The Ministry of War transfer order?"

Huangfu Weiming was furious and felt dizzy in front of him. Then his eyes went dark and his body shook twice on the horse. Then he turned over and fell off the horse.

Three days later, the New Year's bustle moved from home to outdoors. The streets were filled with citizens who wished friends and colleagues New Year's greetings, especially Zhuque Street, East City and West City. There was no need to shovel snow manually. Passers-by's feet had almost flattened the snow. After holding it in for a few days at home, they had to go out for a walk even if they were fine, not to mention that there were countless people who needed to go out to find food.

In front of the Shugui Restaurant in Xishi, more than a dozen children were divided into two factions, fighting each other with snowballs, and snowballs were flying all over the sky, and sometimes they were unanimous to the outside world. They smashed the snowballs wrapped in gravel at the waiter who came to chase people. Then they ran away again. After rubbing the red and swollen bakery waiter back, the children slipped back and continued the unfinished battle.

At this time, several horses rushed from afar and arrived at the restaurant. The horsemen dismounted and walked towards the restaurant. It was Li Qing and his servants. Suddenly, with a "whip" sound, a snowball drew an arc and smashed towards Li Qing. He grabbed it and caught the snowball. Li Qing laughed, and his childlike heart was so childish that he lowered his head and pinched a few snowballs, joined the snowball fight, pointed at the east and the west, and he didn't distinguish between the enemy and the other, and beat the children to cry and run away in a few strokes.

"Governor, go for dinner! We are all hungry!" Several people watched coldly. Li Fei Yuanli despised him for bullying the child, so she raised her voice and reminded her.

"Haha! Let's go and have a meal." Li Qing patted the snow stains on his body, and led everyone upstairs with a smile. The waiter hurried over to lead the way.

"Waiter, is Du Sheren here?"

Du Sheren is Du Youlin, the protagonist of the East Palace case. After the East Palace case, he has been demoted to the crown prince’s case. He is a regular visitor here. Li Qing had something to ask him to meet him here.

"The guest official turned out to be looking for Du Sheren, he has arrived."

After going up the second floor, the waiter led him into a elegant room, but found that there were two people sitting in the room. One of them was gray-haired and quite old. It was Du Youlin, while the other was very tall, about thirty years old. He also knew Cui Guangyuan, the magistrate of Chang'an County who killed Xianyu Fuli.

When the two of them saw Li Qing coming in, they hurriedly stood up and bowed to Li Qing. Du Youlin thanked him in advance: "It was thanks to Governor Li for the last time, and I am very grateful."

He pointed at Cui Guangyuan again and introduced: "This is my colleague. I wonder if Governor Li still remembers it? Zuo Shanzang of the East Palace, the doctor Cui Guangyuan."

"Oh! When will Brother Cui be transferred to the East Palace?"

Cui Guangyuan seemed unwilling to mention this matter again, so he smiled and said, "I was lucky that I was not demoted. Although the Eastern Palace is a little more idle, there is no mistake if I have nothing to do. Okay, since you have something to do, I will take a step first."

Du Youlin grabbed him and said anxiously: "Actually nothing is wrong. Brother Cui might as well sit with him."

After a setback, he became extremely brave and did not dare to interact with officials alone. Li Qing asked him to do so, but he brought Cui Guangyuan. However, in this way, it was hard to say Li Qing if he had something to do.

"I heard that Du Sheren wanted to sell the store, but I wonder if he would take action?"

Du Youlin's eyes showed joy and shook his head quickly and said, "I originally wanted to sell it, but now I have changed my mind and don't sell it anymore?"

Li Qing smiled faintly, his face was expressionless, as if he was asking casually, "Why don't you sell it again?"

"Don't Governor Li still know?"

Du Youlin said in surprise: "That damn Yang Guozhong actually wanted to investigate officials, merchants and officials who occupied more land. Governor Li was ranked first. Such a big thing has spread all over Chang'an, but Governor Li didn't know?"

"I have heard of this a little bit. I heard that many people are going to sell the store. My shopkeeper told me that Du Sheren also wanted to sell the store. I intend to take over it. I don't know why I won't sell it now?"

Before Du Youlin could speak, Cui Guangyuan next to him sneered: "Yang Zhao is not clean and wants to sue others. Now he has stabbed a hornet's nest. Governor Li may not know that the lawsuit against Yang Zhao has almost blocked the office of the Ministry of Personnel in the past few days. Some sued him who lost public money in gamble in Shu, some sued him to occupy land, some sued his wife who opened a shop in Chengdu, some sued him to leave his housewives (that is, to have a mistress. Since the third year of Kaiyuan, the Tang Dynasty has strictly prohibited the mistress from being sentenced to exile). As long as the crime is taken, there are dozens of items. Yesterday, this guy was forced to publicly state that his investigation was wrong and he wanted to take back the note from the emperor."

Du Youlin also smiled and said, "This is called anger. Since he wants to take back the rebate, I don't plan to sell it anymore. Many officials who originally planned to sell the shop will no longer sell it."

Li Qing laughed and said, "This is an interesting thing. It seems that Yang Guozhong is crazy about being promoted. The law does not blame the public. Have he never heard of it? He committed the most taboo in the officialdom and see how he will do it in the future."

Cui Guangyuan snorted and said disdainfully: "He has the protection of the imperial concubine, what are you afraid of? At worst, he can push the responsibility on his subordinates. He has nothing to do with it."

Li Qing glanced at him and said a little surprised: "I heard from Brother Cui's tone, it seems that he knows Yang Guozhong."

Cui Guangyuan stood up with contempt on his face, "How could I not recognize him? He was the county magistrate of Xindu and I was the county magistrate. Speaking of which, he still owed me a hundred pounds of gambling debts and asked him to ask for it another day!"

After saying that, he said goodbye again: "If you have something to do, you really can't stay there for a long time, so I'll talk about it later."

Li Qing laughed and stood up to send Cui Guangyuan to his face, bowed and said, "Yang Guozhong also owes me an old debt, let's go together another day."

When Cui Guang walked away, Li Fei brothers and several subordinates stood at the door, and no one was allowed to approach. Li Qing looked at Du Youlin without saying a word, looking at Du Youlin and laughed dryly, saying, "Is there anything else in the governor?"

Li Qing smiled and said to Du Youlin as if nothing had happened: "Actually, there is nothing big. I have left the capital for too long and don't know many things. I heard that there was a grand event in Baisunyuan on the 16th day of the first lunar month. Many people have made great bets. I wonder what's going on?"

"So that's what happened."

Du Youlin was relieved, and he explained with a smile: "This year is the first Spring Festival for the Empress Yang to be the Imperial Concubine. The emperor attached great importance to it. In order to encourage the younger generation of the Li Tang royal family to be positive, he specially ordered Zongzheng Temple to hold an event at Baisun Academy on the fifteenth and sixteenth day of the first lunar month. The grand generation of the Li Tang royal family participated in the competition. There is no limit on civil and military affairs. This incident caused a great sensation in Chang'an. Several large casinos set up venues for people to place bets. The grand bets mentioned by Governor Li refers to this matter."

Li Qing said 'Oh!' and continued to ask: "I'm also determined to give out three thousand guan bets, but I don't know which little prince to make. Lao Du might as well recommend one or two."

"Haha! The prince ordered me to prepare for the preparations of Prince Guangping Li Chu. If you ask me, I will naturally recommend you to draw the bet of Prince Guangping."

Speaking of this, Du Youlin suddenly realized that Li Qing had a very good relationship with Zongzheng Temple Queen Li Lin, who was hosting the competition. He didn't ask him, but instead asked himself, did he want to.

Thinking of this, Du Youlin sneered slightly and said, "Governor Li has something to say, please tell me directly. Governor Li has great kindness to me. Are you still afraid that I will not agree? I have to turn around and ask, tell me! If you have anything to do, I need my help."

Li Qing smiled at the sky and pointed at Du Youlin and said, "It's really amazing. I guessed my thoughts all at once."

He pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I am also an old man from the Eastern Palace, so I naturally also made a note from Prince Li Chu of Guangping, which is 5,000 guan, and the amount is not small, so I want to ask Lao Du to hand over the little prince's competition to me to handle. I wonder if I can arrange it for me."

Du Youlin knew that Li Qing would never be so simple for gambling, but he had great kindness to him, so how could he refuse? It would be a big problem to agree to him, and it was considered to be a favor, but this matter must be approved by King Guangping himself.

"I want to ask His Highness King Guangping for this matter first, but I would like to ask Governor Li to pay attention to this matter. If you are training and fighting, you must not involve the on-duty officers. This is the rule set by the emperor."

"Where is the soldier?" Li Qing asked again.

Du Youlin shook his head and said, "It's just that the current officers are not allowed to participate in the competition, and no soldiers are mentioned."

Li Qing nodded slowly: "Okay, I want to meet King Guangping, please arrange it for me."

Although Li Longji issued an edict during the Kaiyuan period: "The royal family must not contact foreign relatives and foreign officials without authorization." However, there are many unreasonable orders. For example, there are also officials in the court. Can't we talk to our colleagues? In fact, the real purpose of Li Longji's order was to target the prince, but it was not stated clearly.

After more than ten years, it gradually became less strict than the beginning. In the end, this order was limited to the prince. As long as other royal families could not do too much, Li Longji turned a blind eye.

King Guangping Li Chu, also known as Emperor Daizong of Tang Dynasty in history, was born in the 14th year of Kaiyuan and was named King Guangping in the 29th year of Kaiyuan. He is exactly twenty years old this year, and just gave the twentieth day ago.

He was the eldest grandson of the emperor and was deeply loved by Li Longji. He hired famous teachers to teach him since childhood. Historical books say that he was profound in size, broad and capable of breaking, and he was happy and fearless, and was kind and filial, gentle and respectful, and he was polite and courteous. This was the result of a good education since childhood. When he grew up, he not only liked literature, but also liked martial arts. The prince invited Li Siye, the first general of the Tang Dynasty, to teach him how to practice martial arts and practice martial arts.

This battle between the children of the royal family during the Shangyuan Festival was still important at the rumor that the prince was deposed, and it was even a microcosm of the struggle between their fathers.

Prince Li Chu of Guangping also held his energy and was eager to try it out to earn face for his father. Although his literary talent is good, he is not absolutely ahead of the royal family. If he wants to win, he must be a surprise soldier.

On this day, as usual, he was about to go out to the East Palace to pay his respects to his father, but Du Youlin suddenly came to find him. Although there was no blood relative between them, Du Youlin was nominally his grandfather and had taken great care of him since he was a child. Moreover, he was responsible for the participation in this competition (equivalent to the agent of later generations). Li Chu was also looking for him for something and urgently summoned him to meet him.

"Grandpa, the day before yesterday, my father asked me to bring Li Huqin's guards to the field. I heard that many of the other people use the Yulin Army. I am really worried. I don't know what your opinion is?"

"Li Hu Gun?"

Du Youlin sneered and shook his head and said, "These guys are quite famous in the capital. If they are more familiar with food, drink, gambling, and fighting, they are more likely to compete with the two armies and fight. Not to mention the Yulin Army, they may not even be able to defeat the Jinwu Guard, and they will definitely lose with them."

"What should I do? I originally said that it would be enough to choose the same civil and military service, but now I have to compare both civil and military service, so there are only a dozen days left, so how can I have time?"

Li Chu scratched his head in distress and said, "I also want to ask Yulinjun for help, but my father is not sure. After thinking about it, only these guys have practiced a little. If they can't do it, what should I do?"

Du Youlin waved his hand and smiled and said, "Since I am sponsoring this matter, don't listen to your father. I have found a suitable army for you."

"Where is the army?" Li Chu couldn't help but feel excited.

Du Youlin took a step forward and approached him with an ear: "The 300 elite soldiers of the Doulu Army in Shazhou!"

"Doulu Jun!"

Li Chu was surprised in his heart. The Doulu Army in Shazhou was the most famous army in the Tang Dynasty in the past two months. The bloody battle in Shazhou, the enemy chiefs were killed thousands of miles away, and the surprise attack on Shibao City. These legendary stories were all done by them.

But he immediately reacted, "Have you seen Li Qing?"

Du Youlin nodded, "He took the initiative to propose it. I wonder if the little prince wants to see him?"
Chapter completed!