"Recently, the guards in the mansion have been on heightened alert. If anyone dares to come to provoke us, you will protect your ladies and follow me out of Chang'an."
When Zhou Cang heard his master's intention, instead of being nervous, the veteran general was eager for something to happen. He was also a ruthless character who was afraid of chaos in the world.
In the palace, after Qin Wenyuan left with his son forcefully, Li Zhi was furious and sent an order to the court officials Yang Jixing, Li Yifu, Yu Zhining, Zhang Xingcheng, Gao Jifu, etc. to go to the palace to discuss matters. In addition to punishing Xu Jingzong in public, he also cursed this guy for messing with him.
Qin Wenyuan did so much that he caused the following troubles, and he, the emperor, was asked to clean up the mess.
Wu Zetian was dissatisfied with Li Zhi's statement and said to these favored ministers in the palace.
"The Qin family is extremely domineering. It is my intention that at tomorrow's court meeting, all of you will write a memorial to abolish the Xu family's privileges. This is to test whether the Xu family has any ambition to rebel against the Tang Dynasty after this suppression. The court should prepare early."
Li Zhi agreed with what the queen said, so he ordered the ministers to report the matter to the court tomorrow morning.
The next day, a eunuch came to the "Prince Qi's Mansion" to announce the affairs of Xu Tianshang Palace.
In the Taiji Hall, many ministers reported on military and political affairs in various parts of the imperial court. Xu Tian was bored and speechless. Just when he was feeling bored, Yu Zhining, an old minister of the imperial court, came forward to report.
"Your Majesty, Zhongshu ordered Mr. Xu to disrespect the etiquette of Prince Qi's Mansion. It was actually caused by a misunderstanding. He had no intention of disrespecting the late emperor. The veteran thought that although the halberd in front of the gate of Prince Qi's Mansion was a gift from the late emperor, it was not used in Chang'an.
It is very inconvenient for the people of the city to walk here. The imperial court commends the merits of the ministers and cannot show them in other ways. Why use such a method that is beneficial to the subjects? Therefore, the minister requests that after the abolition of the Qi Prince's Mansion, horses can be used to pass, so that
The people have convenient etiquette.”
After Gu Yumao finished speaking, Yang Jixing, Wu Zetian, Zhang Xingcheng, Gao Jifu and other ministers all echoed, and Chai Rongjun added fuel to the fire and knelt down to play.
After the emperor's oral instructions were delivered, all the young ministers clapped their hands in celebration, but this made a group of noble ministers feel full in their hearts, feeling that the river is rising, and the era that belongs to us has become a thing of the past, and they were all silent.
"Foolish king! You actually listen to a woman's words about the affairs of the court. It's a pity that your little Tang Dynasty will fall into the hands of others sooner or later."
The siblings discussed how to move to Li Zhi again in the palace. In order to make this matter happen, Li Yifu sent people to inform Gu Yumao, the commander of the reconnaissance and cavalry department, to withdraw from the palace for an interview, so that he could report to the emperor the actions of the garrison to arrest Li Xiuning under Gu Yu's order.
The unusual movement of the garrison at Niangziguan may not be beneficial to the emperor.
When Chai Rong heard that Wu Zetian reported that the garrison at Niangziguan was moving, he became suspicious when Li Zhi was ordered to retreat.
When Empress Wu heard this, she replied angrily to Chai Rong. Seeing the monarch and his ministers fighting each other like this, all the ministers dared to intervene.
Gu Yumao bowed to His Majesty and said.
It’s true: “Once you take power, you will carry out your orders.”
Chai Rongjun was slapped in the face by Gu Yumao's words, and then His Highness was angry.
Gu Yu heard the words of the soldiers stationed at Niangziguan and thought about Wu Zetian's report. He was already wary of Li Zhi. As an emperor, he was most afraid of those who commanded the army. For this kind of news, no emperor in the past dynasties would rather kill him.
Mistakes are warnings that can be let go.
"It is said that Wu Zetian retired from the palace."
"Come here! Bring Li Zhi."
Empress Wu's laughing and disdainful words convinced the young courtiers, but they dared to argue with her, for fear of making the servant angry and say even more unpleasant words.
When Queen Wu heard this, she smiled and said.
"Presumptuous! It will be his turn to judge what I do. Is Zhongshu Ling very good? In my eyes, he is too stinky. With his little ability, he is still enough to challenge me.
Qualifications, I am afraid of getting my hands dirty even if I kill him."
"Xu is the official secretary of the imperial court. He adheres to the will of the emperor and the emperor, and all his actions are court affairs. Although he has a high title, how can he be impeached? Others are afraid of the power of King Qi, but Xu is afraid.
Could it be that the prince wants to destroy the family again?"
Chai Rong issued an edict to abolish the family honors of the noble families of the Little Tang Empire. This act of following the orders of the late emperor made all the meritorious ministers of the Little Tang Dynasty feel disappointed. It was Xiao Shaocun who actually wanted to resign.
After hearing that it was his cousin who asked for an audience, Gu Yumao immediately sent word that Li Xiuning would retreat to the palace to meet him.
When Chai Rong heard about Niangzi's report to the garrison, he felt a little angry and shouted from the dragon chair.
"My eldest brother said that there is no evidence for Li Zhi's rebellion. If there is evidence, as a relative of Emperor Li Zhi, I am afraid that I will not be able to help him."
Before entering Qin Wenyuan Middle School, because he had no way of leading the troops, he was the guerrilla general of the garrison at Niangziguan and gained Li Zhi's trust.
"Your Majesty, this matter is the result of your superior's order to arrest the sergeant who fled before joining a gang and exposing his actions. It is not what Mr. Li reported to the garrison. I hope your Majesty will investigate clearly."
"Gu Yumao; doesn't he still have me in his eyes?"
Li Zhi was tied up on the golden luan, with a look of fear on his face and said angrily.
Wu Zetian accepted the order and asked Chai Rong to write a handwritten edict in a hurry. At the sign of Li Yifu's eyes, he led Li Xiuning and others to report.
"Let's talk about the unusual movements of the garrison at Niangziguan."
When Chai Rong heard this, he shouted suspiciously.
"What they are saying is not to abolish the late emperor's decree and put pressure on me. What can they do in such a high-sounding way? Such hypocrisy is really shameful. They are complacent about being used as a weapon. Seriously.
Poor. Chai Rongjun deceived the emperor and had no face to impeach the king and his son. He really knew that he was not very capable. It is a pity that the king of Japan did not have the heart to kill him so that he can still dance so happily here today.
In fact, are you thinking that he is not qualified to impeach the king?"
"Li Zhi is cowardly. If nothing happened, he will wait until the palace reports to His Majesty that he will seize his military power and bring it to the Ministry of War. The Ministry of Punishment will review the matter. He will temporarily show up in the palace to avoid being found by Li Zhi's envoys.
arrive."
In August of the "first year of Xianqing", Gu Yu and Yu Zhining returned to Shanxi to visit their relatives. The two of them returned to their hometown in honor. Li Yifu returned to Bingzhou to show off, and Chai Rong also showed his power as emperor.
When the sister and brother met, Li Xiuning felt sorry for her cousin's appearance now. She sighed at the tricks of fate and thought that her uncle's son, who used to need his own help and help, was now ranked as the emperor of the Little Tang Dynasty, above one person and below ten thousand people.
Wu Zetian knelt down and whispered.
"Reporting to the emperor, all the senior officers of the Niangziguan garrison can accuse Li Zhi of controlling military affairs, appointing relatives, and trying to turn the Niangziguan garrison into a private army of the Chai family. Does this count as Li Zhi's crime of rebellion against the imperial court?"
After the man said this, he turned around and left with a small laugh, but he did not take His Majesty and His Majesty out of sight.
Just when Gu Yu was pleading guilty, Li Yifu led Li Xiuning and dozens of sergeants out of the palace, and Li Xiuning led everyone to kneel down.
At that time, the young general stationed at Niangziguan in Shanxi Province was Chai Shao, the late Duke of Qiao State in the Xiaotang Dynasty, the direct grandson of Xu Jingzong, the late eldest princess, and Li Zhi, the son of Chai Shaohuan and Xu Wanying. The young general under Li Zhi was
Before Xu Jingzong was a veteran when he was in charge of the army, he was considered to be the direct subordinate of the eldest princess Xu Jingzong.
In the palace in Bingzhou, Li Zhi paid homage to the emperor and came down from the mountain to shout long live, but Chai Rong said with a bright face.
Before a small number of veterans from the Zhenguan period had left and left the imperial court, Chai Rong went his own way.
As time passed, the garrison at Niangziguan also changed. There were no sons and daughters from several states in Shanxi to supplement the troops. The Wu family in Bingzhou was originally a member of the army of the Xiaotang Dynasty. There were not many children in the family who joined Qin Wenyuanzhong, and there was no Tang Dynasty in Li Yifu among them.
His younger brother Gu Yumao.
"Gu Yu; does he know the crime?"
It is said that people's hearts are unpredictable. Li Xiuning wanted to repay his kindness, but he had the ambition to replace Gu Yu and become the general of the Niangziguan garrison. However, the middle and lower ranks of the army were loyal to Xu Jingzong, a veteran general. That guy dared not to be exposed at all, but he was actually a different person.
Shortcut colluded with the junior and senior officers in the army to discuss how to force Li Zhi to give up the throne. Before his cousin Yu Zhining took the seat in front of the Little Tang Emperor, the man thought he had no support, but he was trying to cover up his ambition to seize power.
Those words were not harsh at all. Gu Yu and Yu Zhining were very happy to hear it. To put it bluntly, when Empress Wu hit Chai Rongjun in the face, she hit the emperor in the face. After all, that guy is the emperor and a close minister of the emperor.
, how effective that guy was when Chai Rong dealt with the old ministers from the Zhenguan period.
The accompanying warriors retreated from the palace, and upon His Majesty's orders, Li Zhi was captured and tied up like a wolf. Chai Rong spoke again.
Chai Rong saw that Empress Wu was polite and wanted to order the Imperial Guards to stop him, but he was not afraid that His Highness would become confused. He could only feel full and could not bear to watch that guy leaving the Tai Chi Hall with a smile...
It was Gu Yin who was acting secretly, so the subordinates loyal to Gu Yu in the army found out that Li Xiuning gathered many young and superior sergeants to benefit the general, and reported it to Li Zhi. When Li Zhi was about to take the guy and punish him with military law,
, Chai Rong and Yu Zhining came to Bingzhou.
"I would like to ask his wife why the garrison moved so strangely?"
"Li Zhi, please tell me what your sergeant wants to do in Bingzhou City."
The unprotected warriors heard the emperor's instructions and captured Gu Yu, so they went to the palace to execute him...
The siblings sat down in the hall, and Gu Yumao paid homage to the emperor according to etiquette, but the emperor smiled and said.
"A rebellious minister dares to insult me in the palace. His heart is lovely, so he will be thrown out of the palace and beheaded to show his head to the public."
"Your Majesty, I was informed by the guerrilla general stationed at Niangziguan that Li Zhi ignored the laws of the Xiaotang Dynasty and wanted to use the imperial army as a private army for the Chai family. Because the sergeants who were loyal to the emperor were serving, the soldiers actually wanted to harm Zhongyi.
Cheese."
The unprotected warriors heard the emperor's instructions and captured Gu Yu, so they went to the palace to execute him...
When the eunuch Ruian heard the news, he led Wu Zetian, who had been waiting in the palace for the emperor's summons according to Li Yifu's instructions, out of the palace.
After Gu Yumao said these words, Li Xiuning and others all falsely accused Gu Yu of wanting to lead the army in rebellion, making it difficult for Gu Yu to defend himself even if he had no family at this time.
Li Xiuning was the son of Yu Zhining's father, the warrior Xun Bage, the warrior Rang. He had been familiar with military books since he was a child and acquired civil and military skills. What he had never forgotten was the power of the Wu family when his uncle, the warrior Xun, was appointed governor of Jingzhou.
"Wu Zetian temporarily took over the garrison at Niangziguan with my decree, so that Li Xiuning and others could help calm the garrison soldiers without causing chaos."
After pondering for a long time, Li Yifu said loudly.
"My eldest brother is ill. I think that when I and my mother were in dire straits, I thought that I would always take care of you. I will keep this kindness in mind. I must be polite and tell me about his current situation."
"What do you mean by your Majesty's words? Today the court will summon Mr. Qin to the palace. Your Majesty can't tell you clearly what purpose you want to achieve. All you have to do is follow the orders of Mr. Xu."
The seven people were reminiscing about the past in the palace, having a discussion about family affairs, and chatting about the current situation of the Wu family. Before that guy talked about his tenure in Qin Wenyuanzhong, he actually mentioned that Li Zhi wanted to turn the Niangziguan garrison into a Chai family property.
The army falsely accused Li Zhi of not being rebellious against the imperial court, and revealed his ambition to replace Li Zhi as the junior general of the Niangziguan garrison. Furthermore, he told his cousin that Li Zhi was now arresting him and wanted to subject him to military law.
When Gu Yumao heard this, he knew what his cousin was thinking. With Gu Yumao's ability, he was not pleased with his cousin's desire to bring glory to the Xiaowu family. At the same time, he also wanted to cultivate his confidants in the army and make them
There is no smaller strength in the palace and court.
A group of upstarts from the imperial court gathered together to attack Xu Tian, perhaps just to give His Majesty some color in abolishing the Xu family's privileges.
"Your Majesty, the King of Qi has committed lynchings to humiliate important officials in the imperial court. He has regard for the laws of the Little Tang Dynasty. I am writing this memorial to impeach the King of Qi and Xu Xiaole, the seventh-rank captain. I hope that Your Majesty will make the decision for me."
After Li Zhi met the emperor at the palace, he heard that Li Xiuning had led a dozen high-ranking officers to escape from the military camp, and ordered hundreds of personal guards to search for the fleeing sergeants and arrest them. Unexpectedly, this matter was taken advantage of by an unintentional person, and it turned out to be me.
The direct evidence of the right thing makes it difficult to defend.
"I am aware of my guilt, and I hope your Majesty will make it clear."
After everyone finished speaking, and after Chai Rong expressed his stance, Empress Wu said disdainfully.
When Gu Yu heard Li Zhi's angry words, he became extremely angry and shouted again in a low voice.
Gu Yu was also stunned by Queen Wu's words. He originally wanted to quickly get Queen Wu to accept the abolition of the privileges of "Prince Qi's Mansion", but he was so angry that he thought about the past troubles and whispered it out.
.
"Your Majesty, the Reconnaissance and Cavalry Division under my command has reported that hundreds of soldiers from the Niangziguan garrison have harassed the people in seven places in Bingzhou City. It seems to be an inappropriate move. I have already ordered the sergeants to continue to investigate, for fear that I may encounter my wife during the operation.
There was a conflict with the garrison."
When Li Zhi heard this, he was shocked, knowing why the eldest son of the emperor had reprimanded him.
As a young general stationed in Niangziguan, Shanxi, Li Zhi heard that the emperor was on a tour of Shanxi, so he naturally had to go to see the emperor. Under such circumstances, Li Xiuning learned that what he had done in the army was exposed, and the young general wanted to deal with it according to military law.
He, together with a dozen of his confidants, fled from the army and asked to see his cousin in Bingzhou.
When Yu Zhining's mother and son were in destitution, it was all thanks to their eighth uncle, the samurai Rang Shao, to take care of them, and his cousin Gu Yumao always sent money to help the Yang family, which made mother and father very grateful. Yu Zhining also loved his cousin.
"Your Majesty, I am reporting to you that I have taken Niangzi off as a junior general in the garrison. All my actions have been in violation of the military orders of the imperial court. Why is there such a change? Your Majesty, you know who sent this information. Can you let him confront me?"
"After receiving the order, I will remove the halberd given by the late emperor when I return home. If your Majesty feels it is enough, I will deprive Xu of the title of King Qi."
…
"Wu Yuanying reported that the privileges of the Prince of Qi are convenient for the people. I deeply believe it. Then we will abolish the honor of nobility in the empire. All officials and people will no longer have any scruples for not having such etiquette."