In front of the two armies, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yuchi Gong knew that as long as he said something that was not suitable for the palace, his reputation would be ruined in an instant and he would become a traitor who was disloyal and unjust and trying to conspire against him. No matter whether the King of Jin could compete for the throne in the future. If you succeed, you will be engraved in the history by historians and be infamy for thousands of years...
When I thought of this, there was no way to retreat, even if I had to walk through the dragon's pond and tiger's den in the palace, my heart suddenly relaxed.
He is not an ungrateful, disloyal or unkind person. Although he was once a surrendered general, he has followed His Majesty Li Er for so many years to build a career, make a wife and son, and achieve a lifetime of achievements. His Majesty Li Er treats him with the most favor, trust and respect. Now that His Majesty Li Er has passed away, is there no sadness in his heart?
Although he was dissatisfied with His Majesty Li Er's favor to Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, and was even relegated from the capital...
But no matter what, it is only reasonable to go into the palace to mourn and escort the majesty’s coffin for the last time.
In order to cooperate with King Jin, he was naturally reluctant to enter the palace at this moment. He was afraid that when he entered the palace, swordsmen and axes would rush out from both sides and chop him into pieces. Now, he has no choice but to enter the palace. Instead, he feels a little relieved that he got what he wanted. …
Yuchi Gong turned around and said to the deputy general beside him: "Give me the order, the army will retreat ten miles and camp on the spot. My commander's military order is that no one can move without authorization. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed!"
"promise!"
His deputy general, Youhouwei General Sujianai, is from Xianbei, his wife's tribe. Hearing this, he quickly accepted the order: "I will obey the order!"
Then command the army to retreat slowly.
Only then did Yuchi Gong mount his horse. Surrounded by his own soldiers, he and Niu Jinda drove into Chunming Gate and rushed to Tai Chi Palace.
Outside the city, Su Jia called his close soldiers on the way back: "Immediately go and inform Duke Ying that the commander-in-chief has been forced into the palace, and ask Duke Ying to make a decision."
"Here."
The soldiers rode into the wind and rain.
…
From Wude Hall, go straight south from Wude Gate and pass through a bamboo forest garden to reach Zhaode Hall, where the government office for preparing national funerals was temporarily set up. Further south are Hongwen Hall and Hanlin Academy, separated by a wall from the East Palace.
When Yuchi Gong entered the palace and arrived here, he saw countless civil servants, servants and guards coming in and out, very busy. Not far away, there was the melodious and sad sound of drum music from the direction of Wude Hall. It was the monks and Taoist priests who were performing rituals, Pray for blessings. After entering Zhaode Hall, he was invited to the side hall on one side and saw Li Xiaogong, Li Ji, Fang Jun, Xiao Yu and others all sitting there, discussing various procedures for the national mourning.
Li Ji stood up and invited Yuchi Gong to take his seat, and said in a deep voice: "Jingde is the heart of your Majesty's humerus, and I have always been close to your Majesty. Therefore, Prince Jun ordered Jingde to enter the palace to see your Majesty on his last journey."
Yuchi Gong looked around, blinked, and asked: "Thank you, Your Highness, Prince... But General of the Sixteenth Guards, am I the only one who has such a special experience?"
It stands to reason that as a general in command of the army, he should be in charge of the army at this critical moment to maintain the stability of the situation. Even if he weeps blindly because of his kindness, he will not be treated like a mourner in the palace. After all, state affairs are greater than private matters, and everything should be treated as such. National affairs are the most important thing.
But since entering the palace, none of the other sixteen generals have been seen. Only he was summoned into the palace. This was obviously targeted...
Li Ji looked indifferent and avoided talking about this: "There is no need to worry about this matter. Let's go to Wude Hall. There is no need to worry about military affairs."
"Here."
Yuchi Gong was unavoidably worried, but he couldn't ask any more questions. After saluting, he turned around and went out, led by a chamberlain to the Wude Hall at the back.
Very dissatisfied.
Although his status in the army is not as good as that of Li Ji, he is comparable to Cheng Yaojin and Fang Jun, and is higher than Zhang Shigui, Li Daliang and others. In this way, the military has the responsibility to stabilize the situation when His Majesty is in power. Since Li Ji and Fang Jun are here, and Cheng Yaojin leads his army to guard the center of Chang'an Town. In any case, Yuchi Gong should have a place.
This means that who can ignore the status of the new emperor after he ascends the throne?
Worried that now he is excluded from the center, and even summoned into the palace by Prince Jun, depriving him of military power in disguise...
Yuchi Gong felt heavy. It seemed that the King of Jin had been completely at a disadvantage in the fight for the throne. After all, compared to the legitimate prince, he really lacked a position in the absence of a posthumous edict. It was too difficult to win against him.
…
When Yu Chigong left, Xiao Yu was a little dissatisfied: "The Sixteenth Guards General is responsible for the important task of guarding Guanzhong. Your Majesty is traveling and the world is in turmoil. It is these people who should stabilize the situation and guard one side. How can they be easily called into the palace to participate?" National mourning?"
Li Ji came back and sat down, his face solemn and he didn't answer.
Fang Jun on one side said: "The relationship between the Duke of E and His Majesty is very different. The prince is kind-hearted, so he allows the Duke of E to attend the state funeral to see off His Majesty. This should be a good story, and the Duke of Song does not need to worry too much."
Xiao Yu sneered: "Even so, why is it that only the Duke of E enters the palace, but none of the other sixteen generals are missing?"
This is clearly a suppression against the Jin Wang family.
Fang Junqi asked: "Dong Guogong of Song, are you confused? Just now you yourself said that the Sixteenth Guards are responsible for guarding Guanzhong. If they are all called into the palace, who will lead the army of Sixteenth Guards? Wouldn't it be a chaos in Guanzhong? Besides, Come on, although the generals of the Sixteenth Guards are all your Majesty's trusted ministers, they can never be compared with Duke E."
In terms of merit, there are many Zhenguan ministers who surpass the Duke of E, but when it comes to the number of fights alongside His Majesty Li Er and the deep feelings between them, few can compare with Captain Chi Gong.
Xiao Yu sneered and shook his head without refuting.
The prince is the crown prince, and after your majesty's success, he will be the only successor. No matter how strong the king of Jin is and how he won your majesty's heart at the beginning, he will temporarily take second place. Li Xiaogong and Li Ji were not inclined to support the crown prince immediately, but they firmly supported the crown prince presiding over the funeral.
Of course Xiao Yu can understand this. After all, the prince is not only the crown prince, but also the eldest son...
However, since the throne has not yet been assigned, King Jin still has a chance. At this time, there is no benefit in arguing with Fang Jun.
The palace is not monolithic. It is like a broken ship leaking everywhere. There is a lot of room for maneuver.
Who will win is yet to be determined...
…
According to regulations, after the death of an emperor, the spirit must be placed in Liangyi Hall, but now that Liangyi Hall is dilapidated and has not yet been repaired, the only option is to clear out all the furnishings in Wude Hall and leave the spirit here.
The process of the emperor's funeral was extremely cumbersome to demonstrate the dignity of the supreme being in the world.
As the eldest son, Li Chengqian nominally presided over the national funeral, and could hardly leave the body of Emperor Daxing for even half a step. In the first stage of the funeral, during the "soul calling", five important officials of the imperial court, Li Ji, Xiao Yu, Cen Wenwen, Liu Jie, and Fang Jun, held the Gun Mian robe and shouted His Majesty Li Er's name three times, and then handed the Gun Mian robe by Throwing it down from a high place, his filial son Li Chengqian knelt down to catch it and then covered the body of His Majesty Li Er.
After "Calling the Soul", His Majesty Li Er's body was placed on the large royal bed, his mouth was supported by its spoon-shaped Jiao Shao, and the jade Han was put into his mouth.
Afterwards, the emperor would heat up rice soup, bathe the emperor with it, change his shroud, and cover his face with a square scarf. These are all done by a filial son himself, and cannot be done by others...
Today's funeral process came to an end. Officials from the Ministry of Rites and Zongzheng Temple retired after their busy work. The emperor's sons knelt in front of the soul to "keep vigil" while the palace servants were responsible for hygiene and chores.
Li Chengqian was not in good physical condition at first, but now he is exhausted after working hard for a long time. He is kneeling on the side of the soul, looking at a tall and thick golden nanmu standing on the west side of the hall, and rubbing his sore and red eyes. , The sadness in my heart is unspeakable.
This tall golden nanmu is now called the "hanging weight", and it is the medium for the emperor to return to his soul after summoning the soul...
Behind him, Li Zhi said in a low voice: "Brother Prince, you should take care of your health. This is only the first day. The next six days will become more and more tedious and tiring. If you are unable to bear the disease and fall down, your father will be killed." I am extremely disappointed, and it makes people all over the world feel that they have been entrusted to someone else, and they may not recognize that you, the crown prince, have ascended the throne."
The filial sons knelt in front of the spirit to keep vigil, not simply in order of eldest and youngest, but in order of eldest son and concubine, eldest son and eldest son, so the three eldest sons were in the front, and there was Li Tai between Li Chengqian and Li Zhi. This became more and more important. This made Li Zhi feel unhappy and he spoke without any scruples.
Tomorrow there will be a "little coffin", with the prince, princess, concubines, palace officials and clan members all present to mourn. The day after tomorrow will be the "big coffin". All the emperor's relatives, civil and military officials will be present, and the "six jade" such as jade bi, jade cong, jade gui, jade Hu, jade Zhang, jade Huang, etc. will be prepared, and the emperor's body will be placed in the coffin. Officials cry.
According to the etiquette system, during the "burial" the emperor's body is placed in the coffin, the new emperor formally ascends the throne, and the sacrificial inscriptions are read in public...
"The emperor will be buried in seven days and buried in seven months." If he couldn't last even seven days and fell ill due to fatigue, what qualifications would he have to be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty?
Give way to talented people as soon as possible...
And these words are not just a mockery of Li Chengqian's poor health. Li Tai is fat and weak, has a round chest and abdomen, and does not have a strong and capable physique...
Li Chengqian suppressed the sadness in his heart and did not look back. He said calmly: "As the eldest son, I not only have to guard the funeral of my father, but also inherit the heavy burden left by my father. Although my brother is in poor health, he also has perseverance." No matter how hard and difficult our ambition is, we must persevere to comfort my father’s spirit in heaven.”
I am the legitimate eldest son, and I shall inherit the throne. You want to overtake me and get involved in the throne?
Just wait until I die!
Li Zhi was dissatisfied and was about to speak when Li Tai, who was in front of him, suddenly turned back, glared at him and scolded: "This is in front of my father's soul. Do you have any respect for disturbing my father's soul with your nagging? Is it possible?" Do you want your father to be disturbed by fighting with his heirs? Shut up!"
His words were loud. The kings of Shu, King Jiang and other concubines behind him, headed by Qi Wang Li You, stretched their necks and looked over curiously. The drama of brothers fighting against each other is always attractive...
Li Zhi shut up decisively.
However, his heart has not calmed down. The order and position of kneeling before the spirit means that it will be difficult for him to surpass the two brothers in front of him... but it is not impossible.
Tomorrow, only tomorrow night, everything will be clear.
