Dong Mingyue's slender eyebrows frowned, a little worried: "Does the prince think Chai Zhewei will be attached to Guanlong?"
"Oh!"
Li Yuanjing sneered: "Chai Zhewei is selfish and has no character. He will not rely on anyone. He will definitely have a heavy army to watch the fire from the other side, and then look at the direction of the situation to choose the most profitable side. He only cares about his own interests.
No matter who is the emperor! Don't worry, as long as the situation is favorable to us, Chai Zhewei will come closer without any lobbying."
"Um……"
Gently patting the hand that was causing trouble between his waist and abdomen, Dong Mingyue said: "So, let's just wait and see how the situation develops?"
Li Yuanjing nodded and said, "Yes, we must keep our minds steady at this time."
In fact, he always had a frightening feeling in his heart. Changsun Wuji was indeed very cunning, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not think of any good plan to deal with the aftermath.
Maybe it's not completely unimaginable, but some thoughts flashed through my mind, and I didn't dare to think about it at all...
*****
The Liaodong battle report was suppressed by the imperial court and was not disclosed to the outside world. Only a handful of officials from the Eastern Palace knew about it, for fear that if it were leaked, the situation would collapse.
However, in the early morning of the next day, the news of "His Majesty fell from his horse and was injured" and "the Tang army was defeated in Pingrang City" spread all over Chang'an City. Various rumors followed and became very popular. The whole city of Chang'an was panicked and the situation was violent.
turmoil.
Many ministers gathered in front of the Xingqing Palace and asked His Highness the Crown Prince, who was temporarily staying here, to give a clear answer to reassure people.
Inside the Li Zheng Hall.
Li Junxian knelt down on one knee with a look of shame on his face: "It was the general's negligence that caused rumors to spread in the city and people were panicked. The general is willing to be punished."
This matter was indeed his negligence. After all, he was in charge of the most powerful intelligence system in the Tang Dynasty, but he failed to detect this trend in advance and nip it in the bud in time. This was his duty.
However, the blame cannot entirely be placed on him. After all, before this, he had never received any news that His Majesty was injured after falling from a horse in Liaodong. Naturally, he could not grasp the situation in time and take precautions.
Li Chengqian's face was solemn, but he did not criticize harshly. He said slowly: "At this time, it is not the time to judge the crime. I just want to ask you, do you have a proper strategy to eliminate the rumors in the capital, stabilize people's hearts, and place those Goguryeo in Chang'an?"
Are the details in the city uncovered one by one?"
When the two countries are at war, they will naturally send spies to sneak into the heart of the enemy country to spy on intelligence, assassinate important personnel, and spread rumors. The Tang Dynasty not only placed high-level spies like Chang Sun Chong in Pingrang City, but there were also many spies who spied on ordinary intelligence. Similarly,
Goguryeo must have also placed many elaborate works in Chang'an City.
It's just that although "Hundred Qisi" has conducted many searches and arrested many people before, it is obvious that there are still people lurking in the dark, waiting for opportunities.
Li Junxian knelt down on one knee, hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "Your Highness clearly knows that it is not the general who shirks responsibility. In the past several large-scale searches, many enemy agents were arrested inside and outside Chang'an City. Even if there were one or two
It is absolutely impossible for a fish caught in a trap to stir up such a big storm and cause such an effect."
Li Chengqian's face darkened, he stared at Li Junxian, and said word by word: "You mean, this rumor about his father being injured after falling from a horse was not deliberately spread by Goguryeo?"
Li Junxian naturally knew that the stakes were very high. It was just Goguryeo who was secretly spreading rumors. He, the commander-in-chief of the "Hundred Qisi", was responsible for his negligence.
But if someone else did it intentionally, the implications would be huge...
He said cautiously: "I dare not say anything for sure, but as long as Your Highness gives me three days, I will definitely find out the source of the rumors!"
Li Chengqian rubbed his swollen temples, fearing that the situation he was most worried about was about to happen.
It is easy to defend against foreign enemies, but difficult to defend against domestic thieves.
Nowadays, it is just Goguryeo who is stirring up trouble in Chang'an City, and it is not difficult to find him out. However, if someone in Chang'an City deliberately spreads rumors that his father is injured, making the situation turbulent and people panic, then this person's true intention is
It's really terrible.
If you are not careful, a mutiny may occur...
Taking a deep breath and calming down, Li Chengqian said: "I'll give you three days. If you can't find out the mastermind behind the scenes, I'll ask you!"
"Here!" Li Junxian quickly responded.
Li Chengqian said in a deep voice: "Not only do we need to find out those who spread rumors, but we also need to pay more attention to the turbulent situation in Chang'an City, especially the recent movements of the Guanlong clan. We need to keep a close eye on them!"
After a pause, he added: "The most important thing is Chai Zhewei, the Duke of Qiao. The entire Zuotun Guard is closely watched by your spies. Who did Chai Zhewei see? When did he see him? What did he even talk about?"
, they must be mastered word for word! Do you know how powerful it is?"
Li Junxian's heart was tense, and he nodded and said, "I will understand in the end!"
Under pressure, Zuotunwei is the only fully-organized and fully-staffed army in Guanzhong, with a strength of 50,000. It is also stationed at the Xuanwu Gate at the entrance to the Forbidden Palace, which can be said to be of great importance.
As long as the Zuotun Guards are stable, Chang'an will be stable. Even if someone commits rebellious behavior, the East Palace can still turn the tide.
However, if Zuotunwei changes... the situation will completely collapse.
Thinking of this, Li Junxian asked in a low voice: "Your Highness, you are secretly monitoring and you can only punish them when their counterattacks are revealed. Why not simply send the 'Hundred Cavalry' experts to enter the Zuotun Guard to frighten Zuanxiao, so that even if he has any
If you don’t have a disobedient heart, you won’t dare to do anything rebellious?”
Surveillance and secret surveillance, people may not notice it at all. If you are bold and passionate, you may do those rebellious things. It is better to send people to Zuotunwei openly and openly tell Chai Zhewei: I am suspicious.
You have a disobedient heart and I will keep an eye on you!
In that case, how could Chai Zhewei dare to act rebelliously?
However, Li Chengqian shook his head and said: "How can this happen? Chai Zhewei is a distinguished relative of the country and a general in charge of the army. The 'Baiqisi' can secretly monitor him, but Guruo is suspicious of Chai Zhewei when he openly fights without showing any sign of indignity.
What do the other ministers think? Seeing Gu's suspicion so heavy, who would still work for the court in a down-to-earth manner? This matter is absolutely unacceptable."
Li Junxian had no choice but to give up.
He understood what Li Chengqian meant, "The people of the world can betray me, but I will never betray the people of the world first." It is true that this will make the ministers feel more at ease, but it is too pedantic.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince used to be sensitive, suspicious, and paranoid. Now he has gradually established himself as the crown prince and his temperament has stabilized, but he has a tendency to develop in the direction of "being a good person"...
The difference between the prince a few years ago and the prince now is so huge that they can be called two extremes. Li Junxian didn't know how to evaluate this.
For his ministers, a kind-hearted, generous and forgiving monarch is naturally the greatest blessing. He can forgive even small mistakes in daily life. It is definitely not like "accompanying the monarch like a tiger" in front of such a mean and unkind monarch.
” panicked and frightened.
However, for the empire, a monarch who lacks courage will naturally be unable to shoulder the important task of pioneering and enterprising. He can only rely on the virtuous ministers, and it is easy for power to slip away...
Li Chengqian said in a deep voice: "In short, no matter what happens in Chang'an City, Gu must grasp it as soon as possible. At this critical moment, I hope that the general will do his best to not let down the expectations and trust of his father and the emperor, to cut off the traitors and support them."
Protect the country!"
"Here!"
Li Junxian obeyed the leader's order, stood up, took three steps back, then turned around and strode out of the hall.
After Li Junxian left, Li Chengqian said to the chamberlain standing at one side: "Immediately send someone to ask Duke Wei to come. If you have any important matters, please inquire in detail."
"Here."
The chamberlain hurriedly walked out and sent someone to the Duke Wei's mansion to deliver the order.
Recently, Wei Guozheng was responsible for the military training of the academy students, and the sixth leader of the East Palace was conducting training. He was very busy and his body was a bit unbearable. Therefore, the prince specially ordered that he be allowed to return to the mansion to rest at night, and all access control gates were opened to him.
Crown Princess Su walked out of the back hall, holding a cup of hot tea in her hand. She took a few steps forward and placed it on the coffee table next to Li Chengqian. Her soft face was full of worry: "I shouldn't be involved in political affairs, but
Rumors suddenly spread all over the palace in the city, and even the maids in the Xingqing Palace were panicking... But I don’t know whether my father is really injured, or is it a traitor spreading rumors? "
Li Chengqian was usually weak-tempered and often lost his temper when things happened, but this time he behaved well and seemed very calm. He smiled and patted Crown Princess Su's snow-white hair, and said comfortingly: "It is true that the father is injured, but it is definitely not a rumor.
It's so serious, but it's just Goguryeo's elaborate work hidden in Chang'an City, taking the opportunity to exaggerate and disturb people's hearts. My beloved, there is no need to worry."