The Guanlong clan reached its peak when Changsun Wuji was promoted to Situ and assisted His Majesty Zuo in taking charge of the government. At that time, Changsun Wuji could be said to be below one person and above ten thousand people. Even Li Ji, who was known as the number one man in the military, had to temporarily To avoid the sharp edge, the entire Guanlongmen clan moved in all directions due to the power of Conglong, and their momentum was unparalleled.
However, prosperity will eventually decline, this is an eternal law.
Since then, the Guanlong family has been deteriorating. Although it is closely related to His Majesty Li Er's suppression of powerful families and support for poor families, the most worrying thing is that the younger members of the family are embarrassed.
Those with ordinary talents like Changsun Chong were already considered outstanding among the Guanlong children, while the others, such as Changsun Huan, Dou Dewei, and Du He, were all dandy children.
The family is not afraid of troubled times, nor is it afraid of temporary difficulties and loss of power. The most afraid is that there will be no successors. The descendants are unworthy, and no matter how many properties the ancestors have accumulated, they will one day fail...
This led to the fact that since the tenth year of Zhenguan, although there were many disciples of Guanlong in the army, they were at most partial generals, and none of them could lead the army and take control of one side. Guanlong started his career with military exploits and dominated the Six Towns of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Daibei, who threatened the world, actually completely lost control of the army within a few decades after entering the Tang Dynasty. How sad is it?
Otherwise, the previous mutiny would not have ended in a disastrous defeat.
…
The right marquis guard under Yuchi Gong is already the last organized army that the Guanlong clan can control. If you want to succeed, you must count on Yuchigong to go all out, regardless of losses. If this person changes his mind midway and completely returns to the East Palace, Guanlong Every family will die without a burial place.
Therefore, Yu Chigong showed doubts about his intention to betray the East Palace. Yu Wenshiji was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat and quickly issued a warning...
Yuchi Gong said in a muffled voice: "I am just feeling emotional for a moment. How can I question the decision of each family to join forces? Don't worry, I will go all out this time."
He is not a fool, how can he be willing to make knives for the Guanlong clan?
There are more than ten families in the Guanlong family. They seem to be very powerful, but in fact he is the only one who controls the army and can be useful. Look at Cheng Yaojin sitting in Chang'an and having both sides, how can you not envy him? It's just that his family is connected with Guanlong. , the entanglement is too deep and it is really impossible to separate.
Otherwise, he would have waited for the price a long time ago and changed his mind, but now he can only go to the dark side...
*****
In Chang'an City, Cheng Yaojin also sat in the central army tent and worried.
People outside the account were shouting and screaming, and the rain was in full swing. Even the rain could not stop the troops from gathering. Groups of troops rushed from the barracks to the school grounds to line up. Then, under the leadership of their respective commanders and school lieutenants, they rushed to various parts of the city to implement security and martial law. .
As the most important force in Suwei's capital, Zuowuwei was under great pressure.
After all, everyone knows that once His Majesty is buried, a turmoil over the throne will ensue, and it is very likely that a war will break out that will sweep the entire Guanzhong...
Naturally, everyone is not afraid of war. Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Zuo Wuwei has been the main force in various battlefields during the Eastern Expeditions. He fought bravely with five thousand soldiers and was invincible. However, since returning to Beijing from the Eastern Expeditions, the weapons have been delayed. Without supplements, not only the firearms training regulations compiled by officers at all levels can only be left vacant, but even the weapons and stomachs of the first troops cannot be collected...
Niu Jinda was tall and thin, with a dark face. He was as lean and powerful as copper poured into iron. Sitting under Cheng Yaojin, he said with a worried look on his face: "Right now, our morale seems to be high, but in fact we are seriously short of weapons. Once the situation worsens and the war begins, What do brothers use to fight?"
General Niu Jinda of Zuowuwei was Cheng Yaojin's most trusted lieutenant. Over the years, Cheng Yaojin gradually delegated power, and Niu Jinda actually became half of the commander-in-chief of Zuowuwei. He was convinced by his subordinates, generals, and soldiers, and had great prestige.
Cheng Yaojin stroked his beard, looked away from the horse stall standing in the corner, glanced at the troops gathering outside the window in the drizzle, and said slowly: "The Foundry Bureau was destroyed, and the ordnance production capacity could not keep up for a while.
There is nothing we can do about it. Besides, not only us, but many armies of the Sixteenth Guards now lack weapons and equipment. If everyone is on an equal footing, the battle will still be fought in the same way."
Niu Jinda has followed Cheng Yaojin for many years, and has grown from a bandit to a famous general in the Tang Dynasty. Just listening to Cheng Yaojin's tone, he knew there must be a reason, and quickly asked in a low voice: "What exactly is the commander-in-chief?"
Charter?"
Now that His Majesty is seriously ill and dying, the ownership of the throne is naturally a top priority.
The Crown Prince has a great reputation and naturally has countless fans; the King of Jin is favored by His Majesty, and his power has expanded rapidly in the past two years, with many dependents; the King of Wei seems to be the weakest, but His Majesty is determined to abolish the crown prince, and there are many people in the government and the opposition.
It is believed that once the crown prince is deposed, the successor must be the King of Wei according to the ranking, so there are many supporters...
The civil and military officials in the DPRK and the Central Government all took sides, whether it was the prince, the king of Jin, or the king of Wei, or they did not participate in the fight for the throne, and they just openly stated that they would support whomever your majesty chooses.
But Cheng Yaojin, an important minister, never made it clear which side he was on...
Cheng Yaojin raised his eyelids and glanced at Niu Jinda, waved his hand to repel the soldiers in the tent, and then whispered: "If your Majesty is here, we will naturally obey your Majesty's orders. We will support whoever your Majesty appoints as the crown prince."
Who? Your Majesty is no longer here. If there is a posthumous edict, he will act according to it. If there is no posthumous edict, the prince will still be the crown prince. Since he is the king of the Tang Dynasty, why do we need to have any regulations? "
"hehe……"
Niu Jinda sneered twice, with a very disdainful look on his face: "Others don't know the commander, and they may be fooled by these words, but I have been following the commander for decades, and I know exactly what you want to fart when you raise your butt...
Who does this mean?"
The two of them have a good reputation, but in fact they are like brothers. After all, they have fought side by side for many years, and they have climbed out of piles of dead people countless times with each other's support. When no one else is around, they get along very casually.
Cheng Yaojin was immediately dissatisfied, blowing his beard and glaring: "Is this something that a subordinate can say to a superior? It's your fault that you've never been promoted or demoted. You're still just a Zuowuwei general. If I don't retreat, what will happen to you?"
I will never be able to sit in the command of the General of the Sixteenth Guards in my whole life!"
Niu Jinda chuckled: "What's the good thing about being a coach? At the end of the day, you can't be promoted for your merits, but if you make the slightest mistake, you will be blamed by the whole army. You will be trembling all day long for fear that you will make a big mistake and be deprived of the title of Duke of the country.
Even if you are greedy for a few copper coins, you will be frightened. Even if you drink wine, you must be careful of the imperial censor's impeachment. Do you think I am stupid? It's just that you can't see through it!"
"Hey!" Cheng Yaojin looked Niu Jinda up and down and marveled: "You are so promising, but you still have such eloquence and knowledge? When I go to your house to drink, I have to talk to my siblings. This stubborn Niu in her family is not only
Thinking about being greedy for money and learning to drink flower wine, this is a great joy. I must give birth to several concubines who are like flowers and jade, and give birth to a few smart sons to inherit the family business."
"Ah this..." Niu Jinda was dumbfounded. He was not afraid of anything except for the fact that his old wife at home would go crazy...
He quickly apologized: "It's just the general's unbridled boasting. Don't take it seriously... Having said that, if something happens to your majesty, the prince wants to eliminate hidden dangers and launch an attack on King Jin first, or King Jin wants to aspire to the great treasure."
Soldiers advise, what should we do?"
So what Cheng Yaojin said before was nonsense. He was in the middle of the court and in charge of the army. How could he really stay out of the situation when the imperial power changed?
Even if you don’t take sides, you still have to have a tendency and set a rule, otherwise you will be messed up first when things happen...
Cheng Yaojin looked at him and said slowly: "Do you have an opinion?"
Niu Jinda was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "What can I say? Every time for so many years, you have made the decision and I charge, and it is naturally the same this time. I am too lazy to use my brain. But we can't just sway left and right and fall with the wind, right?
?You have failed His Majesty’s great trust.”
The Sixteen Guards were elite with strong horses and weapons, and the Sixth Army of the East Palace were even more powerful. As a result, His Majesty Li Er transferred all these troops out of Chang'an and ordered Zuo Wuwei to enter the city to guard the city. This was already entrusted by the Imperial Government. How much trust?
If Zuo Wuwei has no opinion on matters related to the succession of the throne and only knows how to pursue profit, he will be really unworthy of His Majesty Li Er...
Cheng Yaojin thought for a while and said: "There is no rush. It is not the critical moment yet. Let's stabilize it first. It will not be too late to make a decision until the moment when our efforts are needed."
Now that Zuo Wuwei openly declares his position, can the other side be completely despaired and cease all activities? Not necessarily.
The temptation of imperial power is enough to crush everything. No one can stop when they are one step away from that position. Even if they know that they will be beaten and bloodied, they must do it with all their strength. Family ties, blood, human ethics and morality are all insignificant in the face of imperial power.
Because there are no absolutes in the world, there are countless examples of counterattacks from disadvantages. What if it is your turn to be lucky this time?
People all have a sense of luck...
Niu Jinda nodded and said nothing.
Having been together for half his life, he knew Cheng Yaojin's character. Although he said it was not time to make a decision yet, he must have already made a decision in his heart.
That's good. No matter what decision Cheng Yaojin makes, he believes that it must be a plan that weighs the interests of his own interests and the interests of the empire. He should try his best to balance both, and he will never make a decision just for his own selfish interests.
The empire ignores the country...
Soldiers outside the account quickly stepped inside and reported quickly: "Commander Qi, news just came from outside the city. The Sixth Army of the East Palace has assembled on the north bank of Kunming Lake and is leaving the camp and marching slowly towards Chang'an City."
"His Royal Highness is indeed unwilling to sit still and wait for death!"
Cheng Yaojin was refreshed, stood up suddenly, strode to the map hanging on the wall, and drew his fingers from the north bank of Kunming Pool to Chang'an City. The path he took during the process was clear at a glance.
Niu Jinda came behind him, looked at the map and frowned and said: "The right marquis guard is at Chunming Gate in the east of the city. If Dong Gong Liu directly arrives at Chang'an, his troops will arrive at Jinguang Gate in the west of the city... One on the left, one on the right, one on the east and one on the west. This is
We want to see who can annihilate us first and break through Chang'an City?"
Cheng Yaojin pressed his palm on the map and said slowly: "So this is why we can't stand in line early. Your Majesty... is not dead yet."