In today's Tang Dynasty, the imperial power has long been stable and the world is at peace. It does not necessarily need a decisive decision to kill. An energetic emperor can continue the great cause of opening up the territory. It also needs a conservative king to protect the numerous achievements since Zhenguan and bring them to the present.
This heritage of the prosperous age settled down, permeating every inch of the land of the Tang Dynasty, and then took root and sprouted, creating an unprecedented glorious and prosperous age.
In this regard, the Sui Dynasty, which was destroyed just a few decades ago, is a lesson learned from the past.
Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty was a wise emperor of his generation. In terms of his achievements in governing the country, few others in history could match him. He was hardworking and simple, diligent in government and caring for the people. He managed the dilapidated country during the Southern and Northern Dynasties to have abundant rice, corn, and money. It can be said that he had established a prosperous age.
As a result, after Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty came to power, he imposed tyranny, treated the people harshly, and attacked with powerful troops from all sides. In more than ten years, the Sui Dynasty was broken into pieces and the country finally fell.
What would the world be like today if the man who came to power was not the talented and decisive Emperor Yang of Sui, but a gentle, knowledgeable and capable emperor?
There are no ifs in history, but there are traces to follow. Just eliminate wrong answers.
But His Majesty Li Er is obviously on the wrong path now. He is too ambitious and too arbitrary, and is not satisfied with his current achievements. After all, his ideal is to surpass the Qin Emperor and Han Wu and become "one emperor through the ages."
"This is not something he can do on his own, so he wants a successor who can forge ahead and extend his achievements infinitely, so as to demonstrate his greatness.
But he forgot that if he took too big a step, he would tear his balls...
*****
The heavy rain has washed away the flowers and trees in Zhongnan Mountain, making them lush and lush. When you look up, everything is green and full of vitality, but the inside of Dayun Temple is full of gloom and mist.
The Guanlong clan has been prosperous for hundreds of years, and has always been entrenched in this land and arrogant among the others. In the past ten years, it has reached the peak of its prosperity with the help of His Majesty Li Er who ascended the throne, and has the power of the world in its hands. However, a mutiny happened just a short distance away.
The moment he was almost on the verge of success, he was defeated by the East Palace and fell from the pinnacle of power to the abyss.
Hundreds of years of luck also came to an abrupt end.
Although His Majesty Li Er thought of Changsun Wuji's past achievements and Empress Wende's kindness, he agreed to organize Changsun Wuji's funeral, but how could the Guanlong officials have any thoughts on organizing it? Everything was kept simple, and the Guanlong clan in Chang'an City had close contacts.
Relatives and old friends came to express their condolences, but they only came and went in a hurry, handed over a few knives to burn paper and a memorial ceremony, and then left.
In such a sensitive situation, no one wants to get involved with the Guanlong clan...
The mourning flag cut from white paper was drooped by the heavy rain and stuck to the bamboo pole. Incense smoke filled the mourning hall. The children of the Changsun family were kneeling on both sides, all listless and lost. Changsun Wuji was not only the head of the Changsun family, but also the head of the Changsun family.
In the years since he took charge of the eldest son's family, he has made this family the first in Guanlong and even the first in the world, but no one in the family is capable of inheriting his mantle. Now that he has committed suicide, the entire family
The spine collapsed and became a mess.
In the side room on one side, Yu Wenshi stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, looking haggard, looking at the cold mourning hall with bloodshot eyes, and let out a heavy breath.
Even if His Majesty misses the old love and cannot bear to send the entire family to the border, without Changsun Wuji, the Changsun family has completely fallen into the mortal world, and there will be no chance of recovery within three generations.
He has been fighting with Changsun Wuji for many years, always thinking about surpassing Changsun Wuji and climbing to the status of "Guanlong's first family". Now that his wish has been achieved, he feels empty, because Changsun Wuji's death means that Guanlong is the most important. The glorious era has passed, leaving such a dilapidated situation. Even if you become a leader, what joy is there?
Presumably, Sun Wuji brought the Guanlong Clan to its peak back then. Now that he wants to rescue the Guanlong Clan from the abyss, it is as difficult as climbing to the sky...
On the side, Linghu Defen, who had white hair and beard, was holding a tea cup in one hand, leaning on the back of the chair and looking at the beams, his mind a little empty.
In fact, the regret in my heart is unbearable.
Back then, he was humiliated by Fang Jun and Wu Meiniang, causing him to lose all face. He had already decided to hide in the mansion and write books in peace, and no longer pay attention to the affairs of the court. However, he came out again under Changsun Wuji's half threat and half persuasion. He led his family to raise an army with his eldest son Wuji.
And then came to such a failed ending...
Different from the other families in Guanlong, the Linghu family has become a true Confucian since he started. The academic style in the family is very strong, and there are several talented people among the descendants. It only takes a few generations for the Linghu family to completely separate from Guanlong. The tradition of the family has become one of the few scholarly families in the world. This is the right way for the family business to be passed down for thousands of years!
Now, because of his confusion, he has become a rebel...
A lifetime of hard work is in vain.
The survival of the family depends entirely on the one thought of His Majesty Li Er...
He regretted it, while Dugu Lan next to him was so full of regret that his intestines almost turned green with regret!
I think back then, he was the one who most firmly stated that he would not be involved in the mutiny. The whole family stayed out of the matter, and even the guarded city gates were not allowed to allow the Guanlong army to enter the city, just to completely cut off the relationship with the Guanlong families.
However, under the threat of Changsun Wuji, he became timid and got involved in confusion.
Now think about it, even if he fights back Changsun Wuji forcefully and is willing to join the mutiny even if he is willing to die, what will happen? Is it possible that Changsun Wuji dares to destroy his Dugu family regardless of internal unity? In the final analysis, his position is still not firm, look. Not understanding the situation, he subconsciously believed that Changsun Wuji could succeed, fearing that if the mutiny was successful, Changsun Wuji would retaliate and suppress him, which would also allow other families to share their achievements and completely suppress the Dugu family.
Now that Changsun Wuji is dead, the mutiny has completely failed, and His Majesty Li Er has returned, where should Guan Long go, and where should the Dugu family go?
…
There were footsteps outside the door, and a servant pushed the door open and said respectfully: "To inform Duke Ying, His Royal Highness the Prince has come to express condolences to Duke Zhao, and he has already arrived outside the mountain gate."
The three people in the room were refreshed. Linghu Defen suddenly stood up and asked urgently: "Is there a guard of honor for the prince?"
Whether or not there is a guard of ceremony has absolutely different meanings. If there is, it means that the prince has come to express condolences on behalf of the court. The court will definitely not express condolences to a treasonous person, which means that His Majesty Li Er is not responsible for the Guanlong mutiny; if there is not, then the prince has come to express condolences on behalf of the court. He only came here alone to represent himself. Although it also indicated that His Majesty Li Er would not pursue the crime of treason against Changsun Wuji, he would not expose it.
The servant did not understand this: "Only the prince came with dozens of guards, and there was no guard of honor."
There was silence in the room. The three of them looked at each other, and then sighed in unison...
Yu Wenshiji cheered up and said: "In any case, it is a good thing that the prince can come to express condolences at this moment. We can't expect too much."
Since rebellion is a capital crime, a more benevolent monarch will kill the culprit, and the whole clan will be exiled to the frontier, and their descendants will never be hired. A slightly crueler one will be the "Yi Tribe". Now that His Majesty Li Er has ordered the prince to come, it is obvious that he will commit treason.
The crime was attributed to Changsun Wuji, and the rest of the "thieves" will not be pursued excessively. He is already generous and merciful, and shows mercy beyond the law.
Linghu Defen nodded and said: "Let's go, call the children of the eldest grandson family, and go out together to meet the prince."
The three of them each held an umbrella, walked out of the wing one after another, and called the children of the eldest son's family. More than 20 people went straight to the mountain gate, welcomed Li Chengqian into the temple, and came to the mourning hall to express their condolences.
Li Chengqian's face was gentle. Not only did he not show any hesitation because Guan Long raised an army to kill him, but he was also not depressed because the matter of Yi Chu could not be changed. After giving a solemn ceremony and offering incense, he comforted him with a pleasant look.
The heads of the Sun family and their family members then exited the mourning hall and were invited by Yu Wenshiji to sit down in the side room.
The servants served fragrant tea, and only Li Chengqian and Yu Wenshi sat opposite each other. The tea was fragrant and the wind and rain outside the window were heavy. The two of them were silent for a moment.
What to say?
The two sides who were originally fighting to the death, preparing each other for death, and snatching the central power of the Tang Dynasty, are now defeated like a mountain, and the wealth accumulated over hundreds of years is about to be destroyed. The glory and prosperity of the past will no longer be restored. Although one side has won, it has failed.
Suffering heavy losses at the time of Leji, the reserve position can no longer be retained, and the end may not be better than shutting down the Longmen valve...
There is no winner, both losers.
Yu Wenshiji held the tea cup and smiled bitterly after a long while: "For all the things that have happened before, Guan Long was ashamed of His Highness and did not dare to say words such as forgiveness, but Your Highness knows that we are aware of the seriousness of our sins. Here, I would like to express my gratitude to you."
Your Highness apologizes."
After saying that, he put down the tea cup, stood up and bowed his head to the ground.
Li Chengqian hurriedly stood up and supported him with both hands, and said with emotion: "What happened in the past is meaningless. Even if there is no military uprising in Long, the prince is destined to give way... I only hope that Duke Ying will remember the lessons learned from the past and will take the lead in the future."
Keep the people of the world in mind and do not let the desire for power corrupt the original intention, let alone shake the foundation of the country and poison the people for your own selfishness."
In fact, he is indeed very tolerant.
Who can not be greedy for power? This is human nature. At this moment, Li Chengqian knew that he had no way to save his life, so how could he completely let go and not care about the supreme power that was once at his fingertips? The Guanlong Rebellion was certainly a
Wrong, but if it were anyone else, he would definitely be the same as Guan Long.
Standing at their level, they have already transcended ordinary right and wrong.
No one is as pure as water, and no one is necessarily as dark as ink, black and white, right and wrong, intertwined, and there is only benefit in front of us.
Either it is for the benefit of the world, or it is for one's own selfishness, that's all.
The two sat down again, and Yu Wenshiji asked: "What are your plans for the current situation?"
Li Chengqian said calmly: "My father has great talents and strategies, and his policies are arbitrary. As a son and minister, I should strictly abide by the imperial edict and obey orders."
Don't tell me that I'm already lying down. Even if I'm unwilling to do so, I can't possibly tell you if I really plan to take any action.
Of course Yu Wenshiji understood that he was just bringing up the topic. Wen Yan nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "I respect your highness's benevolence, but if you stand clearly on the side of the East Palace, Guan Long's fate will be over soon. But
Please rest assured, Your Highness, if there is a glimmer of hope, Guan Long will spare no effort to support His Highness."
This is not compensation for the nearly destruction of the East Palace due to Guan Long's previous rebellion, but Guan Long's way of surviving in the face of numerous crises, but it is of great benefit to both of them.