Chapter 45 Section fifteen

As expected by Wang Ju, Princess Taiping was also having a hard time thinking about how to do it. The news that the emperor summoned Wang Maozhong and others was sent to Princess Taiping by Li Qin, the general of Zuojinwuwei, that night. This Wang Maozhong has always been a heart disease of Princess Taiping.She still has a way to deal with Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli. At least, she can ask their boss Chang Yuankai to transfer them or take care of them before doing anything. Only Wang Maozhong and Princess Taiping can't think of control for a while. his way. Although the Zuo Wanqi in Wang Maozhong's hands is the smallest team among the four armies of the North Gate, it is a team composed of the children of noble relatives and lunatics from the well market. powerful.Previously, the inhumane massacre of Wei Qu, where Queen Wei's family lived, was carried out by these guys.

"How can we control Zuo Wanqi and his gang?" Princess Taiping asked. Although it was very late, the buddies who heard the news still stayed at Princess Taiping's mansion and did not leave. A complete set of people came tonight, except for the prince Tai Bao Xue Ji who had gone to Luoyang, the eastern capital, and Li Qin, the general of Zuo Jin Wuwei who was on duty and rushed back after delivering the letter, Xiao Zhizhong, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and Xiao Zhizhong. Cui Shi, the school secretary, Cen Yi, who is also the minister of the household department, Zuo Yushi doctor, and Dou Huaizhen, the third rank of Zhongshumen, these are the three prime ministers; the generals include Zuo Yulin, General Chang Yuankai, and Zhi Youyu General Lin Li Ci; there is also Li Jin, the emerging king who leads the history of Yongzhou, who is Princess Taiping's plan to succeed the throne temporarily; You Sanqi often attends Jia Yingfu and Hongluqing Tang Jun.

The last important figure involved in the conspiracy was a Hu man. He was Hui Fan, a Hu monk from the Ximing Temple in Chang'an.It is said that he was the one who provided the poison that Queen Wei poisoned to kill Emperor Zhongzong, and now he is providing the present emperor with a special drug—red arrow powder through a secret channel.This is a very precious tonic. According to rumors, taking this medicine for a long time can increase strength, grow yin and strengthen the body, so as to prevent the emperor from being overworked and exhausted by the three thousand beauties in the harem.

In the weather at the end of June, there is always a slight breeze at night.Although the famous hall that Princess Taiping spent hundreds of thousands of copper coins to build was tall and spacious, it still felt a bit hot with so many anxious people gathered in it. The garden outside the hall was busy with flowers, and the guards were standing ten feet away, lest they hear important conversations in the hall. Qi'er was the only maid in the hall. However, this time she appeared as an accomplice. In Princess Taiping's plan, Qi'er had a very important task. "Who are we in Zuo Wanqi?" This is Li You, a young member of Zhongshushe, asking Chang Yuankai, the general of Zuo Yulin.Li You has been highly appreciated by Princess Taiping in recent days, especially in August last year when he instigated the censor Deng Guangbin to fight back and thwarted the plot of the right servant to shoot Liu Youqiu and the right feather general Zhang Wei to kill Princess Taiping , The emperor's prestige was greatly damaged.He hoped that one day he would be promoted to be the minister of a certain Ministry of Shangshu Province. With his ingenuity and ability, he would soon be able to obtain the honorary title of the third rank under Tong Zhongshu's sect and become a prime minister in the cabinet.

"Most of the old people in Zuo Wanqi have been sent to the states to serve as generals. The current team has not been established recently, and the ranks of the soldiers are complicated. However, the guards, Guo Yi and other mid-level and lower-level generals seem to be Wang Maozhong. Private." Chang Yuankai has been in the North Gate Fourth Army for more than ten years, and he has the most right to speak about the situation. "If a major event is launched," Li You said that the major event is a coup d'etat against the current emperor. "Can your troops hold them down?"

"There is a certain degree of difficulty." Chang Yuankai knows that this matter is no small matter. Even if the coup d'etat is successful, he cannot make the coup d'etat process more difficult because of his poor scheduling. It will affect his promotion. He hopes to get a job Because of the title specially bestowed by the royal family, the family with a humble background can contribute to the genealogy of the body. "Zuo Wanqi has four battalions. My troops can control the three battalions stationed in the east of the Daming Palace, but it will use up most of my strength." Chang Yuankai quickly revealed his professionalism when analyzing the situation. Military seriousness and precision. "As for the battalion stationed ten miles outside Tonghua Gate, I have no power. However, most of the battalion in that battalion are local ruffians. Maybe a paper edict and a censor can keep them quiet for a night. In the end What worries me is You Wanqi."

You Wanqi was stationed 30 miles north of Chang'an City. If the coup did not go well and the troops of both sides fought in the streets around the palace city, this army loyal to the Li royal family would have enough time to enter Chang'an. "I said a long time ago that You Wanqi's General Longwu should have been replaced by ours long ago." Dou Huaizhen was an idiot when it comes to major matters, and his yelling got nothing but a disdainful silence. Xiao Zhizhong, who sat on the side and never said a word, thought it was time for him to express his insights.He cleared his voice first to attract everyone's attention, especially Princess Taiping's.Because of his status and already outstanding reputation, everyone attached great importance to his speech.

"I think it's too early to discuss action now." This is Xiao Zhizhong's consistent approach, and he often negates the results of the discussions of the prime ministers at once in the court. "After arguing for a long time, everyone should be able to see that we are not sure of victory at all. Of course, we are not sure of that side either, so the situation is still stable for the time being." Although Xiao Zhizhong was old, his eyes were still very sharp. His eyes flicked over the faces of the prime minister's counselors one by one, and he said in a solemn and somewhat instructive tone: "What we are worried about now is that the emperor is too young. He's going to act recklessly, he's going to be the first to do it, and while he's not very good, and he's inexperienced, he's not lacking in courage, and he's better than many of us at that."

This is Xiao Zhizhong's indispensable opening remarks when he lectures people at length. "The more you win, the less you lose. It's the same in ancient and modern times. You can't take this matter as a joke, General Chang. If you explain to your subordinates that you want to attack the palace and kill the new king, how many of your people will think so?" Follow you without hesitation?" Chang Yuankai was silent. "Lord Dou, apart from the cliché that the emperor is not the eldest son, after the incident is over, what other crimes can you Yushitai accuse the emperor of?"

"Since ancient times, it has been said that the position of the eldest son should be enough." Dou Huaizhen has no brains. Everyone knew very well that since the emperor supervised the country as the prince, he and his subordinates have won the hearts of the people for their handling of political affairs.If there is no set of solid and credible reasons to announce to the people, even if the coup succeeds, it will be difficult for one's own side to get rid of the crime of traitors and traitors. "The most important thing is, what do you plan to do with the Supreme Emperor? Do you want to kill the Supreme Emperor together? Or ask him to re-elect? Or establish a new king and imprison the Supreme Emperor in the Daming Palace?"

Including Princess Taiping, everyone was convinced by Xiao Zhizhong's words. "Of course, if I have to do it, I won't shrink back. I will always live and die with the princess." Xiao Zhizhong stood up in awe. "I have a solution that is not a solution, although the chances of success are slim." "It's getting late, so let's stop here today. Let's discuss it after Mr. Xiao and I discuss a preliminary countermeasure." Princess Taiping also saw that there are so many people gathered tonight, and there will be no discussion. A good way.But to her delight, everyone here has at least shown her loyalty and confidence.There were no accomplices who hesitated, which made Princess Taiping feel at ease a lot. After seeing off the crowd, Princess Taiping said something discouraging to Xiao Zhizhong: "They all think that I am high and powerful, and it is easy to do this, but they didn't think about it, no matter how high I am, can I be higher than the emperor? Seriously, I have no right to mobilize troops without an edict. Mr. Xiao, why did you teach me?" Xiao Zhizhong knew that Princess Taiping had eyes and ears around the emperor, so he said bluntly: "According to the news that the princess got, will the emperor take action?" "Do it for sure, it's just a matter of time." "Although the emperor is young, he is extremely shrewd. If he wants to make a move, he must be at least 60% sure. Although the timing is not right now, we can create such an opportunity for him." Princess Taiping knew very well that Xiao Zhizhong often had a deeper view on things than others, so she didn't intervene and just listened quietly. "You Wanqi and You Yulin Army are unknown to both of us, and there will inevitably be changes when the opportunity arises. We are scruples, and the emperor is also scruples. The best way is to transfer these two troops out of the capital at the same time. Let them conduct a large-scale exercise to prepare for the war against the Turks with the soldiers from the northwestern states, and at the same time send Ge Fushun and Chen Xuanli, the emperor's favorite generals, to accompany them as observers. In this way, the forces of the two sides in Beijing will basically be evened out. Unknown changes, the emperor may take the lead in this simple and easy-to-control situation." "We couldn't wait to be stabbed then, could we?" "In fact, the emperor has no chance to make a move at all. Didn't the princess make the first move?" As he said, Xiao Zhizhong looked at the chess player standing beside him. "At that time, in order to paralyze the princess and express his trust in the princess, the emperor had to be lucky that night. This was Queen Wei's chance back then." Princess Taiping is very clear about what Xiao Zhizhong said about Empress Wei's opportunity back then.Just a few years ago, Empress Wei poisoned the cakes given to Emperor Zhongzong and killed the emperor. Xiao Zhizhong's words coincided with an idea that Princess Taiping had a few days ago.