[The electric halberd waves frost, and the clouds reject the sundial. The beaded flag traces its shadow, and the silver rope leads to the east. 】
The majestic Luoyang Palace shines like gold and jade under the morning light, and the forest of swords and guns exudes bursts of murderous aura.
All around Zetianmen, there were Imperial Guards wearing bright light armor, holding sharp spears and halberds, with wide-eyed eyes, flags fluttering, and a serious momentum.
On the top of the city gate, a tall soldier holding a terrifying three-stone iron bow stared at everyone with piercing eyes, and his fierce aura rushed towards his face like a cheetah.
Li Xuan raised his head and glanced back, and with just one glance, he determined the identity of the general.
[Cheng Chubi, General Zuojin Wuwei, son of Lu Guogong Cheng Yaojin, a brave general. 】
The Cheng family stood firmly on the side of the emperor in the power struggle between Emperor Li Zhi and Changsun Wuji; later, in the power struggle between Queen Wu Fu and Emperor Li Zhi, they stood firmly on the side of the Queen.
For more than 20 years, the family has been honored and favored.
Last night, Li Xuan received an official document from Zongzheng Temple, ordering him to meet him at Qianyuan Hall today.
He prepared for a whole night before he was mentally prepared to face the only empress in the ages.
Wu Fu was finally able to ascend the throne and become the empress. In addition to killing all the Li Tang clan members who could threaten her position, the most important thing was to win over countless Yuan Gong nobles and noble families who had been loyal to Li Tang.
This is a woman with extremely terrifying scheming skills.
Looking at the trembling ministers and workers waiting respectfully around him, and thinking about the fierce generals above his head, Li Xuan's feelings became more profound.
At this moment, under the Zetian Gate on the opposite side, several Qianniu Guards soldiers wearing red clothes and golden armor led their troops past.
The leader was none other than Qianniu Beishen Qiu Zhenmu, whom Li Xuan had met outside the city before.
It's strange, isn't he supposed to be in charge of hunting down Tianyin Demon Girl Ye Wanwan? Why is he back?
Qiu Zhenmu also saw Li Xuan. She just nodded calmly to Li Xuan, who was wearing a county king's python robe, and then continued to lead patrols.
Li Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly, because he looked familiar to the Qianniu Guards generals behind Qiu Zhenmu.
These are all his acquaintances when he was working at Zuo Qianniuwei!
What on earth does this guy want to do? Is he just looking for someone to take a look at him?
Time came to Sishizheng without any sound. There were far fewer officials around Li Xuan, and many people had already gone in to see him.
Li Xuan was not familiar with these people. There were already so many officials at all levels in the Tang Dynasty, and they were updated very quickly. What's more, since the death of Prince Li Hong, a large number of senior officials in the court took the blame and resigned. The newly appointed officials he knew Even less.
Waiting behind Li Xuan were several distant relatives. Li Xuan had met them a few times before, but they were not very familiar with them. They just nodded slightly and said hello.
The Tang Dynasty has gone through three dynasties since the founding of the country by Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, to Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, and now Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi. Although there is endless bloodshed due to the change of thrones, they are all direct descendants. For collateral clans, , the impact is not big.
For example, the great ancestor Li Yuan had a total of twenty-two sons registered in Zongzheng Temple. Even now, several of them are alive and still hold important positions as governors.
In addition, tracing back to the ancestors Li Bing, Taizu Li Hu, Yizu Li Tianxi, Xianzu Li Xi, and prosperous emperor Li Hao, there are almost tens of thousands of clans registered in Zongzheng Mansion. In-laws and old friends are connected. , the number is absolutely terrifying.
There are only a few people in the Wu family.
After retracting his thoughts, a young eunuch with a white beard came out to deliver the order: "According to the Queen's oral instructions, the King of Nanchang is summoned to see him."
"I have received the order from King Li Xuan of Nanchang." Li Xuan solemnly walked out of the crowd, cupped his hands, followed the young eunuch, and walked all the way to the depths of the palace.
…
The Qianyuan Hall is magnificent and majestic, with shining purple beams and a Huangshu town.
Standing outside the palace, Li Xuan deliberately tidied up the fine linen short-arm shirt she was wearing under her python suit, and also tidied up the white cloth surrounding her black crown.
His face was solemn and sad.
Under the guidance of the palace servants, Li Xuan carefully entered the Qianyuan Hall with her head slightly lowered.
There was a faint sound of sunbathing all around. In addition to the eunuchs and maids, there were many people in the palace, including guards, historians, and many officials from the province.
After entering the main hall, Li Xuan instantly felt several firm and powerful eyes falling on him.
Walking to a position slightly in front of the main hall, the golden bead curtain blocked Li Xuan's sight.
Without any hesitation, Li Xuan immediately saluted solemnly.
"Li Xuan, King of Nanchang, pays homage to the Queen of Heaven." After saying this, Li Xuan took half a step back and knelt on the ground.
"Get back on your feet." The voice was clear but tired, and his scrutinizing gaze fell on Li Xuan, staying for two or three breaths, and then put it away.
The figure behind the bead curtain waved his hand indifferently and put down the ink pen he was correcting on the memorial: "The King of Nanchang received the notification on the eighth day of the lunar month. He rushed from Longhu Mountain to Luoyang within three days. It is really rare."
The queen's tone was very calm, very cold, and very direct, going straight to the heart.
"I have always been close to the prince. When I heard the bad news, my heart was filled with unbearable grief, so I rushed to the capital of the gods regardless of everything." Li Xuan's voice was filled with sadness.
"I'm interested!" The voice above became calmer, but still ruthless.
"This is what I should do. I wanted to go to pay homage to the prince yesterday, but Zongzheng Temple asked me to come and see him first."
"Let's go later!" Wu Zetian paused for a moment, then asked lightly: "I heard you want to go to Wuzhou?"
This sentence made the hairs on Li Xuan's back stand up, but he had already prepared himself and bowed deeply.
"Yes!" After a short pause, Li Xuan continued: "My mother and concubine have always hoped that I can revitalize the palace, and I have been trying my best...My father once served in Wuzhou, and there are still several aides at that time in my family. It should be able to help the court put an end to the disaster as soon as possible."
"What do you think is the problem in Wuzhou?"
Li Xuan's heart tightened, and after thinking for a while, she said: "Jiangnan Road has had good weather in recent years, although there have been occasional minor disasters, but it has nothing to do with the overall situation. It's just that land annexations in various places have happened from time to time, resulting in the displacement of children from good families, which often leads to disasters."
"There are always people who are greedy and not enough." Wu Zetian's words contained a profound murderous intention. How could Jiangnan's affairs be hidden from her eyes?
"Indeed." Li Xuan responded decisively: "In recent years, from Jiannan Road, to Shannan Road, to Jiangnan Road, such things have been banned repeatedly. Even though local officials are trying to curb it, the local wealthy families The subordinates always collude with each other internally and externally to exploit the people's wealth, which is very abominable. Some people's families are busy all year long, and their income is less than a year's use. If there is a natural disaster, the family will be destroyed and people will be killed. With the slightest incitement by some thoughtful people, rebellion will arise. .”
In recent years, natural disasters have been constant in the Tang Dynasty. Droughts, floods, and locust plagues have always occurred alternately. That is to say, both Wu Zetian and Li Zhi have pretty good governance abilities. The entire country can still work hard while maintaining huge foreign wars. to maintain people's lives.
It is precisely because of various disasters that many civilian families were unable to survive and were eventually forced to sell their fields to local wealthy families.
Although vassal kings of the Tang Dynasty like Li Xuan only had the power to collect taxes in their fiefdoms, their responsibilities were far more than just collecting taxes.
Not only must they always pay attention to local religions and communicate with religions on behalf of the court, but they must also always monitor the collusion between local officials and wealthy families.
"When you get back, write a detailed memorial and submit it." The murderous intent in Wu Zetian's words was not concealed at all.
Her son died, and there were people outside fanning the flames. At this time, someone handed over a knife, and Wu Zetian would immediately kill him with the knife.
Sometimes, if you want to stand in line, you must have a clear attitude.
