1.4 There was an expert named Hu Gao (pronounced the same as "Hu Go") in Shihao Village who was proficient in astronomy and astrology. When Li Congke was in Fengxiang, he said to Li Congke: "The king is so noble that if he acts, it should be in the year of Yiwei."
When Fengxiang was surrounded, Li Congke asked him about his fortune and misfortune. Hu Gao calculated with his fingers and said: "This year is not auspicious and it is not suitable to establish meritorious deeds. If you wait until next year, your blessings will last forever."
In short, "the position of a great treasure must have a secret number." Li Congke's political propaganda department also used people's feudal superstitions to promote that Li Congke's ascension to the throne was destined by God.
2. Emphasize people’s wishes
The Li Congke Group worked hard to portray Li Congke as Li Siyuan's legal heir, emphasizing that Li Congke inherited the mantle of Mingzong Li Siyuan.
First of all, it is to promote Li Congke's achievements. The specific content is Li Congke's cry on the head of Fengxiang City. The golden wounds on his body are the best military medals.
Secondly, it is the approval of the "first emperor". For example, Li Cunxu once personally praised Li Congke, "How magnificent, Asan!" Another example is that when "Zhuangzong entered Bian", he excitedly said to Li Siyuan and Li Congke, "I should take turns being emperor with you and my son."
Therefore, it is reasonable and reasonable for Li Congke to inherit the mantle of the "first emperor" (Zhuang Zong and Ming Zong).
Finally, he presided over the burial of Li Siyuan.
Li Conghou fell so quickly that Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan had not yet had time to bury him. Li Siyuan became a tool for Li Congke's political show.
The first thing Li Congke did when he entered Luoyang was to cry and offer sacrifices in front of Li Siyuan's coffin, and then ascended the throne in front of the coffin according to traditional etiquette. The enthronement in front of the coffin was very ceremonial, like taking an oath under the party banner. Later, Li Congke buried Li Siyuan ceremoniously, and gave his godfather a posthumous name and a temple name. Li Congke wore mourning, personally escorted the coffin to the cemetery, and stayed in the cemetery for one night.
Similar scenes appeared many times in the previous article, such as Zhu Wen crying and offering sacrifices to Wang Chongrong when he took over Hezhong. But their luck and results were not as good as Li Congke's. As a filial son, Li Congke personally wore sackcloth, escorted the coffin, and participated in the burial of the late emperor, which was equivalent to announcing to the world that Li Congke was Li Siyuan's legal heir.
In sharp contrast, the real "first emperor" Li Conghou could only be regarded as hastily buried, with only a thin layer of soil on the grave, which was extremely desolate and made all viewers feel sad.
In the decree, Empress Dowager Cao addressed Li Congke as "the eldest son of the emperor, King Lu Congke", emphasizing that Li Congke was the "eldest son of the emperor", playing off the edge, riding on the popularity of the "eldest son inheritance system", and deliberately blurring the identity of his adopted son.
"Successor of Mingzong" is the legal basis of Li Congke's regime and Li Congke's new personality.
By alluding to God's will and emphasizing people's wishes, Li Congke Group has initially solved the fundamental problem of legal foundation. However, these alone are not enough. This is only the foundation of the house. No matter how strong the foundation is, it still needs the upper frame and bricks.
Therefore, Li Congke will start from four dimensions to perfect this imperial palace.
2. Peel the onion
The distribution of political power in Li Congke's court can be seen as an onion. From the inside out, the innermost core is the central court, followed by the internal vassal towns (actually controlled by the Later Tang Dynasty), the periphery is the autonomous vassal town, and the outermost part is the external forces.
"One emperor, one courtier" is an eternal truth. The new emperor must use either gentle or rough means to eliminate political opponents, integrate resources, unify the central court's thinking, and implement policies, otherwise governing the country will be empty talk.
The emperor who succeeds in succession usually uses gentle means. The "moderate" here refers to its appearance. The procedures may seem reasonable and legal, but behind them there are often more sinister and cruel conspiracies;
Relatively speaking, the emperor who violently seizes power does not need to use his brains so much. He does not need to rack his brains to make up all kinds of accusations. Simple, crude, and effective.
Li Cunxu and Li Conghou belong to the former, while Li Siyuan and Li Congke obviously belong to the latter.
Therefore, when Li Congke dealt with the issue of redistribution of central power, he showed due strength. The closer he was to the core, the more ruthless he became, and the further outward he extended, the milder his attitude became. Geopolitics determines political attitudes.
1. Attack local tyrants and divide their fields
The central court was the nerve center and core power of the empire. Li Congke used "eating traitors" as the starting point to complete the strong integration of central power resources.
1.1 "Rocket School"
There is no doubt that the "Rocket Faction" is facing annihilation. They have the most resources but the weakest strength. Naturally, they are the big tycoons who will be blasted. The leading figures Zhu Hongzhao and Feng Yun were killed before Li Congke took control of Luoyang, and his followers could not escape their fate.
In the month after Li Congke came to the throne, he executed Kang Yicheng's entire family and killed Yao Yanchou. When An Zhongjie framed Li Congke before, Yao Yanchou was An Zhongjie's vanguard and contributed a lot. This time he was forced to rebel, and Yao Yanchou personally led the army to conquer him. If he doesn't kill him now, will he still keep it for the New Year?
Then an edict was issued: Zhu Hongzhao, Feng Yun, Meng Hanqiong, Wang Sitong, and Yao Yanchou "joined each other to instigate each other, recklessly resorted to war, and plotted to alienate each other, which almost caused disaster." These people were identified as the chief culprits. , announced the execution of the death penalty, "to express public sentiment."
In fact, except for Yao Yanchou, the first four had been killed before, and Wang Sitong's death was not Li Congke's original intention, but due to political needs, the sentence had to be pronounced this way.
1.2 Chu Kuangzuo
Li Congke wanted to kill Chu Kuangzuo because he was the murderer of Li Chongji. Han Zhaoyin, an aide, dissuaded him, saying that Chu Kuangzuo was only following orders at that time. It was Li Conghou who ordered the raids on his home and the execution of Li Chongji. If your Majesty slaughtered Chu Kuangzuo's family out of personal grudges, you would be breaking your trust in the world. Please consider the overall situation and think twice.
Therefore, Li Congke changed the death penalty to exile and exiled Chu Kuangzuo to Dengzhou.
1.3 Li Congzhang, Li Congmin
Both of them were Li Siyuan's nephews, both enjoyed the title of king and were in important towns in the empire. Li Congzhang was stationed in Hezhong to protect the national army and was granted the title of King of Foreign Affairs; Li Congmin was stationed in Songzhou and returned to the German army and was granted the title of King of Jing.
Especially this Comrade Li Congzhang, how did he become the governor of the National Guard Army in Hezhong? That is to say, he killed the former Jiedushi envoy An Chongjie. Later, Li Conghou ordered him to replace Li Congke in Fengxiang. When Li Congke heard that it was him, he strengthened his determination to rebel.
And this Comrade Li Congmin participated in the execution of Li Chongji in Songzhou.
Therefore, Li Congke hated these two people particularly. After taking the throne, he immediately dismissed them from their official positions. He always looked fierce and wanted to kill them.
One day, Li Congzhang and Li Congmin attended a private royal banquet. Halfway through the drink, Li Congke suddenly got mad and swore at the two of them, cursing: "Who are you two? You actually occupied an important city in the empire..." The swordsman next to him held the steel knife tightly and glared at the two of them fiercely.
The two of them were so frightened that their faces were ashen.
Empress Dowager Cao hurriedly slapped the table and shouted at the two of them: "The Emperor has drunk too much, what are you two doing in a daze? Get out of here! Get out of here!"
The two had an epiphany, stumbled and escaped, and finally saved their lives. From then on, I stayed at home, fearful and anxious all day long.
