Chapter 57 first quarter

On October 14th, the second year of Xiantian in the Tang Dynasty (AD 713), in Xinfeng, more than a hundred miles east of Chang'an in Xijing, on the steep bank of the Weichuan River. The young emperor was dressed in a hunting suit, with an angry face, standing alone on the shore.Not far behind him, more than a thousand flying knights in brocade clothes and furious horses were waiting there quietly, with falcons perched on their shoulders and running dogs lying in the grass, only the emperor's big banner in the cold wind of late autumn Tear it down and make a hunting sound. It's not wartime now, but these people's military appearance is almost a little cautious.

This emperor is Li Longji, the famous Emperor Ming of Tang Dynasty in history. Later generations are more familiar with his temple name Xuanzong.However, at this time, he had only been on the throne for a little over a year. He was just thirty years old this year, and he was born with a tall and thin figure unique to the Li family. It implies a daunting evil spirit. Of course, some people think it is a kind of boundless enthusiasm.It's a pity that Li Chunfeng, the great fortune teller who once looked at Empress Wu Zetian, has long since died, and now no one can make a convincing judgment on this.

They set off from Xinfeng at the end of the early morning of this morning. In name, the emperor was going out to hunt, so as to dispel the unhappiness brought about by reviewing the army in Lishan these few days.This also allowed the emperor to get rid of the group of prime ministers and important ministers who surrounded him all day long. There was only one civil servant who followed the emperor, that is, Jiang Jiao, the emperor's close friend when he was still the king of Linzi. After so many careful arrangements, there is only one purpose, the emperor wants to meet someone here. Nine years ago, the emperor's uncle, Emperor Zhongzong, was forcibly pushed to the throne with the support of Zhang Jianzhi and others.The Empress Dowager Wu, who had dominated the Tang Dynasty for more than forty years, was forced to abdicate.

When the soldiers and civilians of the Tang Dynasty rejoiced, thinking that the Tang Dynasty had finally ushered in the Lord of ZTE, they suddenly discovered that the Empress Dowager Wu's position was not really handed over to the royal family surnamed Li, but was taken over by a more selfish shrew, Empress Wei. control.The Wei family is vulgar and greedy, and in just a few years, they have completely changed the country that was still clean under the Empress Dowager Wu.In the end, Empress Wei poisoned her husband Emperor Zhongzong to death in order to become a heroine like Empress Wu. Four years ago, that is, on June 15th of the first year of Tang Long, Li Longji, who was the king of Linzi at that time, with the full support of his aunt Princess Taiping, united with the warriors in the Habayashi Army, and wiped out the Wei family in one fell swoop. It saved Datang from the disaster of falling into the hands of the heroine again.At the same time, Li Longji's father, Xiangwang Li Dan, was also pushed to the throne.

Of course, because of this great contribution, Li Longji himself surpassed his two elder brothers and was canonized as the crown prince. Unfortunately, things didn't go as smoothly as expected.Soon, the alliance turned into sworn enemies, and Princess Taiping didn't like the crown prince.Some people say that Princess Taiping intends to restore the Great Zhou Dynasty of the Wu family, while others think that she just wants to control the government.Regardless of her motives, the crown prince, who had traveled around the counties of the Tang Dynasty for many years, was a stumbling block to her.

Sandwiched between his only half-sister and his own son, Li Longji's gentle father was really in a dilemma.In desperation, last August, he abdicated the throne to Crown Prince Li Longji, and he himself abdicated as Supreme Emperor, intending to use this fait accompli to calm things down. Regrettably, the good intentions of the Taishanghuang turned out to be evil. The young and energetic emperor could never tolerate being on the throne but being controlled by Princess Taiping's cronies, and Princess Taiping was not willing to let it go.So, just three months ago, in the early morning of July 4th, an hour before Princess Taiping was scheduled to seize power, the emperor launched a small-scale coup, and wiped out Princess Taiping's party cleanly. I also fled to the mountain temple and committed suicide.

Since Empress Wu took control of the government in the reign of Emperor Gaozong, fifty years of chaotic politics have finally come to an end, but what is left to Li Longji? The political affairs are chaotic, there are quite a lot of foreign troubles, and there are too many people in the court. There is no one who can support this situation.It's no wonder that before Princess Taiping's plot was thwarted, there were seven prime ministers in the court, and there were four of Princess Taiping's best friends: Zhongshuling Xiao Zhizhong, Yushi Dafu and Zhongshu's third-rank Dou Huaizhen, servant and household secretary Cen Cui is the order of Yi and the school's secretary.There were only two prime ministers standing firmly on the emperor's side: Minister Wei Zhigu and Minister of the Ministry of War Guo Yuanzhen.The last prime minister has the lowest rank. He is Zhongshu servant Lu Xiangxian. Although this person's official rank is low among the prime ministers, he is impeccable in terms of character, talent, and Confucianism. He is loyal to the Tang Dynasty and is not biased. to a certain force.It is a pity that he was recommended by Princess Taiping as prime minister.

After the coup, Princess Taiping's four buddies all died.Lu Xiang was first relegated to Yizhou Changshi and Jiannan Inspectorate. Although the officials were not small, Tang people valued officials in Beijing. Who else is the prime minister who can really play a role in the political affairs hall? "Your Majesty, look, he's here." At some point, Jiang Jiao, the warden in the palace, came behind the Emperor who was standing on a horse in deep thought. Although there was drought and little rain in October, the Weishui River was still turbid and turbulent.In the morning light, the emperor could vaguely see a little pigskin raft, commonly known as "One-person Crossing" by Longyou people, struggling towards the south bank.

"Help them get to shore." Following the emperor's edict, Jiang Jiao personally led a dozen soldiers down to the water's edge of the cliff, and one after another used hooks and sickles to set up the wooden frame on the pigskin raft, and helped the only ferryman on it ashore.But the more than a thousand flying knights behind the emperor raised their feet and stopped, and finally decided to stand neatly in place, waiting for the next order. "Your Majesty." The person who came was an old man in his sixties, with gray hair, a long beard, a short and fat body, and a well-maintained dough. When his eyes swept towards Jiang Jiao and the others, it was like a flash of lightning, dazzling people's eyes.Jiang Jiao, who was secretly guilty in his heart, couldn't help shrinking into a ball under the old man's blade-like gaze.

The emperor had already dismounted from his horse at this time, and there was an appropriate smile on his face eager to seek talents. "Brother Yuan, it seems that you are really old and strong." The emperor used this title when he was the king of Linzi in his early twenties when he was discussing friendship with this fair generation.Now that he is the Son of Heaven, this title can make any of his old friends feel heartbroken. The person who came did not respond to the emperor's overly intimate address, but knelt down on the ground, shouted long live, and then danced and bowed again.Even the censors who have been admiring the ceremony for many years in the court will be amazed by this series of grand gifts to greet the emperor. It is really difficult for those who are dignified and agile.

This man is none other than Yao Chong, who served as Minister of the Ministry of War twice in the Empress Dowager Wu Dynasty and the Taishang Dynasty, and was the third rank under Tongzhong Shumen.Two years ago, he and Song Jing, Minister of the Ministry of Officials and Song Jing, the third rank of Zhongshumen, jointly played a concert. In order to preserve the then crown prince Li Longji, he asked Princess Taiping to move to Luoyang, the eastern capital, and took away the military power of the four brothers of the crown prince. Renzhou county governor.At that time, it was the time when Princess Taiping's power was at its peak. For this reason, both Yao Chong and Song Jing were convicted. Shenzhou, 1,700 miles away.Later, the Supreme Emperor took the throne, and after the emperor ascended the throne, the emperor transferred Song Jing to the military town of Youzhou as the governor, and transferred Yao Chong to Tongzhou, which was less than 500 miles away from the capital, as the governor. The emperor held the military parade this time, instead of going to Jingyang and Liquan in the northwest of the capital, he came to the foot of Lishan Mountain in the southeast of Chang'an City. There are two reasons.One is that although the emperor has been a local official for several times, he has never had the exciting experience of pawning soldiers and worshiping generals. The first thing the ambitious emperor did after eradicating Princess Taiping was to calm the border troubles, so he wanted to see Let's see how Datang's army is doing.The result was mixed. The 200,000 soldiers and horses had a battalion of 50 miles, but the dispatch was out of order and morale was low.For this reason, Guo Yuanzhen, Minister of the Ministry of War, who had assisted him in eradicating Princess Taiping three months ago was almost beheaded by him under the banner. Tang Shao in the matter.But Guo Yuanzhen was also exiled to Xinzhou, more than 5,000 miles away from the capital Chang'an. The purpose of standing up for oneself has been achieved.The emperor thought to himself.But such an army really disappointed him.This also strengthened his belief that Yao Chong, who is proficient in Tang military, must be called back. Another important reason why the emperor wanted to go to Mount Li was of course Yao Chong.According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, the governors of prefectures and counties within three hundred miles of the emperor's car should come to the pilgrimage.When the emperor came to Weichuan, it happened to be three hundred miles away from Tongzhou, so he gave them a chance to meet each other. The reason why so much thought was wasted about meeting Yao Chong was because Yao Chong was too resistant to entering the cabinet to worship the prime minister. "Returning to the emperor, I hear chickens dancing every day in other states, and I have no meat for every meal, and my body is as strong as before. I know that if I have to keep a useful body, there must be a time to serve the emperor." Yao Chong's expression was dignified, although There is not a trace of self-boasting, but there is also no awe that is common to courtiers. Yao Chong, you are always so pompous, no wonder the Supreme Emperor doesn't like you.The emperor didn't say anything, based on his experience with Yao Chong, he guessed that since Yao Chong had agreed to serve, he would have something more important to say next. Sure enough, Yao Chong wrapped his arms around his long beard that was already wet by the river, pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his eyes to sweep the few people standing behind the emperor.Jiang Jiao, who is used to observing words and demeanor, saw Yao Chong's familiar movement, and led the guards back with great interest. Jiang Jiao didn't want to offend Yao Chong, especially after he did that stupid thing.Jiang Jiao knew how powerful this man was. Don't look at his bright smile. He always looked happy every day. It was a blessing for the officials of the dynasty.Especially those officials who have committed illegal affairs or made serious mistakes in their administration are more afraid of Yao Chong than they are afraid of the emperor and the icy Song Jing, because the emperor and Song Jing still talk about affection, and Yao Chong treats the emperor more or less. Tang's discipline-violating officials are based on the principle of eliminating all evil and doing everything they can, and they are merciless. "I have a few things I would like to ask the Pope." Yao Chong put his hands together in front of his chest and crossed his hands as a salute. "Yao Qing, please speak." Although he has only been on the throne for more than a year, the young emperor is very proud of his good use of words at this time.When we met for the first time, we used the old address, but after more than two years of separation, it seems like another day. At this time, we will talk about the courtesy of the emperor and his ministers, and add a word of invitation, which is also the way to treat veterans kindly.Yao Chong must be able to understand this deep meaning immediately.Thinking of the beauty, the emperor couldn't help but have a faint smile on his face.Yao Chong's city mansion is as deep as the sea, and he is not as sophisticated as the Empress Dowager Wu, if he wants to make good use of this person, he must work hard. Yao Chong certainly understood the emperor's intention at this time, and he was worried about it.The emperor was originally a man who was extremely intelligent, aggressive, and keen on scheming, but now he completely relied on cunning to win the throne from Queen Wei and Princess Taiping, and even from the Supreme Emperor and his elder brother Song Wang Li Chengqi. I'm afraid that he will be too keen on political tactics from now on, which will make his future political career go astray. "I beg your majesty to forgive me. I am in a state of confusion right now. Please let me play again later." Yao Chong thought it would be better to wait for a quieter time before negotiating terms with the emperor.