In Huaili, north of Lintao City, a series of green bricks and Chinese tiles, and gorgeous and exquisite palaces stand majestically among the jungle streets.
There are many pavilions, solemn and solemn, and the palace is majestic and quite spectacular.
On the plaque directly in front of the main hall, there are four big characters "Li Family Dragon Palace" engraved on it, which is solemn and domineering with bold strokes of pen and ink.
These are the personal letters written by the late Emperor Taizong.
Because this Li Family Dragon Palace is the ancestral hall of the Li family in Longxi.
Li Xian and Li Xuan, wearing purple python robes, walked backwards from the Dragon Palace, and the clansmen on both sides slowly closed the door.
The morning light is shining, cool and pleasant.
Li Xuan and Li Xian suddenly woke up.
The two of them paid homage to the tomb of Taizu Emperor Wu Zhaowang Li Hao yesterday, and today they came to pay homage to the ancestral temple.
After all, compared to worshiping Emperor Taizu's tomb, worshiping the ancestral temple is more solemn and more elaborate.
The real mausoleum of Emperor Taizu and King Wuzhao Li Hao is in the Jianshi Mausoleum in Jiuquan, which is further northwest and basically close to Jiayuguan.
As soon as Li Xuan and Li Xian came down from the steps, three elders wearing black sacrificial robes walked forward slowly, cupped their hands towards Li Xuan and Li Xian and said, "Your Highness, King of Nanchang, I wonder if you want to go to Yuelu Mountain Taishang Xuan." Emperor Yuan flew up to the Pavilion to have a look."
Of course, after I left Hangu Pass in the west, I climbed the plateau to Tianzhu and transformed the Hu into a Buddha.
In the middle, he passed through Yuelu Mountain and preached on the mountain.
One day, while looking up at the majestic Yuelu Mountain and the rolling Tao River, I couldn't help but admire the accompanying disciples and said: "The mountains here are beautiful and the water is beautiful. It is a truly beautiful scenery!"
Later generations built Yuxiu Pavilion as a commemoration. Those who admire Yuxiu are also called Zhongling Yuxiu.
After Lao Tzu returned from Tianzhu, he finally came to Yuelu Mountain to live in seclusion and cultivate himself. After his ascension, later generations built Fulong Pavilion to commemorate him.
The word "Fulong" comes from "Historical Records", which means the hidden dragon.
Confucius once asked Laozi for a courtesy, and then praised his disciples: "When I saw Laozi today, he looked like a dragon!"
Since then, Lao Tzu has had descendants who are descendants of the Didao Li family.
Therefore, the Li family in Longxi claimed to be a descendant of Laozi and respected him as Taishang Xuanyuan Daojun, which was not a forced attachment.
…
"I'm not going. I came to Taozhou on this trip. I originally came here to conquer Tubo. I've already wasted a lot of time in worshiping our ancestors, so don't delay the business anymore." Li Xian spoke calmly, and several elders immediately bowed to accept the order. : "Here!"
"The king needs someone to accompany him who has sufficient knowledge of Taozhou, and even the surrounding states, the humanities, terrain, astronomy and climate. I wonder if any of you elders can recommend him?" Li Xian looked at the three elders, his expression although Calm, but respectful in tone.
There was no way, the seniority of these clan elders was really high enough. Even when Li Zhi came, some of them had to call them grandpa. Li Xian simply called them all their elders.
The person at the front pondered for a moment and then said: "If you want to talk about this matter, no one can talk about it more than Liu Lang Li Ming. He also has a vacant position in the state government. He is also familiar with the big families in the surrounding states. Leave this matter to him and everything will be fine." well."
Li Xian nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Li Xuan and said, "In this way, everything has been agreed with Uncle Wang."
"I obey the order." The three elders nodded immediately.
After saying that, Li Xian had already taken the first step towards the outside, while Li Xuan left the three elders behind.
Li Xuan looked at Li Xian's leaving figure and nodded with satisfaction. Through the training and training along the way, Li Xian finally gained some prestige.
Li Xuan withdrew her gaze, turned around and cupped her hands and said: "Three elders, please send that one now..."
"Li Ming is from the third room, and he happens to be the prince's uncle."
Li Xuan bowed slightly and nodded in response.
Not long after, a middle-aged man wearing a brand-new blue silk dress rushed in from outside. When he saw Li Xuan, he held his hands in a hoarse voice: "Li Ming has met the prince!"
"Uncle, you don't have to be polite." Li Xuan raised his hand slightly, then looked at Li Ming and said, "I heard that my uncle has a position in the state government. I wonder if you can tell Xuan what his position is?"
Li Ming cupped his hands in embarrassment and said, "Replying to the prince, Ming is serving as a household secretary in the state government office. He doesn't go there on weekdays. He's just fulfilling his duties."
"It doesn't matter, as long as you recognize the person." Li Xuan looked at Li Ming, then bowed slightly towards the three elders, stretched out his hands, and everyone walked outside together.
As they walked, Li Xuan said: "As you all elders know, we in the Tang Dynasty have been keeping a close eye on Tubo for many years, and we always want to eradicate this enemy that can threaten our ancestral land at any time, but..."
Li Xuan paused for a moment, looked at the four people who also stopped, and then squinted his eyes and said, "While I was staring at Tubo, Tubo was also staring at us."
Li Ming stepped forward bravely and said, "What do you mean, Your Majesty, is there a hidden secret of the Tibetan people in Taozhou?"
"Yes." Li Xuan directly gave an affirmative answer, and then he continued: "I am planning to attack Tubo. Tubo is trying to plan to attack our country. Taozhou is naturally among the enemy's targets."
"Your Majesty, have you discovered the hidden secrets of the Tubo people?" Li Ming followed closely, but before he finished speaking, he saw everyone around him turning around and looking at him in great surprise. Some were horrified, and some Is surprised.
Li Xuan slowly turned around, looked Li Ming up and down, and said softly: "Does uncle know where there is a secret room for the Tibetan people in the city?"
Li Ming's face suddenly became extremely ugly. He did not expect that his blunder would bring him such a big trouble.
But at this time, Li Ming felt something in his heart. He raised his hands and said, "Xicheng Ma Zhi has been smuggling horses from Tubo into Tang Dynasty all year round. There are many Tubo servants in his family, and there may be one or two Tibetan people among them."
"Very good." Li Xuan nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "I remember that there seem to be five hundred clan soldiers in the clan?"
"Yes!" Li Shenping, the Duke of Beitao County, one of the three elders, stepped forward and said: "These five hundred clan soldiers were established to protect the ancestral tombs and the Dragon Palace. They were also responsible for clan punishments and killings. In addition, the imperial court There are nobles who come to worship and sweep, and there are also clan soldiers to protect the safety."
Those who came from the court to perform sacrifices at Lintao's ancestral land were usually princes, and it was not uncommon for them to be princes.
Whether it's guards or ostentation, the Li family cannot lack anything.
"Very good!" Li Xuan became more and more satisfied and said: "Now, please arrange for the savvy and low-key people in the clan to keep an eye on this Ma Zhi, and at the same time find out where all his subordinates are hiding in Taozhou, especially They are those hidden places that are not known to anyone... My people come from other places and are too conspicuous in Taozhou."
"Here!" Li Shenping, the Duke of Beitao County, immediately accepted the offer.
Li Ming could not help but take a step forward at this time and said: "Your Majesty, if you find someone, can you arrest and kill someone?"
"The clan soldiers have the responsibility to protect the safety of His Royal Highness, so we will allocate some and add them to the Qianniu Guard for the time being. If they can perform meritorious services in the future, they can go to Chang'an." After Li Xuan finished speaking, he nodded and walked outside. go.
The four people inside were already stunned, with incomparable enthusiasm in their eyes.
Go to Chang'an, go to Chang'an.
Since the late emperor, the government has become more and more strict with the clan, and even Zong Zhengqing is held by an outsider.
The titles of the clans in their hometown have been lowered over the generations. If it weren't for old guys like them who were still hanging on, then I'm afraid there wouldn't even be a single county prince in the entire ancestral land.
Although the young people in the clan are well fed and clothed, few have a promising future. But now, with just one word, the King of Nanchang has transferred some of them to Qianniu Guard. Although it is temporary, if they can It is not difficult to achieve meritorious service, let alone be included in the Qianniu Guard, or stay in Chang'an forever.
Chang'an is the center of the world.
"Liu Lang is still responsible for this matter." Beitao County Duke Li Shenping waved his hand to stop what the other three were about to say, and then looked straight at Li Ming and said: "Liu Lang, I will leave this matter to you. You are responsible for We are familiar with the things in the city, so we should cooperate with the King of Nanchang as we should. It’s time to take out a few heads to pay homage to our ancestors.”
"Yes!" The other two elders nodded at the same time. Li Ming looked solemn, and finally had to nod solemnly, cupped his hands and said, "Liu Lang takes the order!"
"Go ahead, make arrangements as soon as possible, and feel at ease as soon as possible."
"Here!"
…
On March 24, outside Taozhou City, hundreds of golden-armored cavalry, holding long flags, escorted Li Xuan and Li Xian, who were also wearing golden armor and riding tall horses, to the east gate of Taozhou.
The city gates and walls had already been completely occupied by capable right guard soldiers. The original soldiers were either driven away or temporarily included in the right guard.
The camps on both sides of the city gate have all been occupied by right-guard cavalry.
At this moment, everyone was standing in front of the camp on horseback, respectfully welcoming the arrival of Li Xuan and Li Xian.
In front of the city gate, Zhang Yungong, the governor of Taozhou, took a step forward, bowed to King Li Xian of England who had stopped his horse, and said: "I, the governor of Taozhou, the Duke of Lu County, Zhang Yungong, led the officials at all levels in the state and county to welcome His Royal Highness the thousand years old!"
"Welcome to His Majesty the King of England to live a thousand years!" Many officials from Yaozhou, Lintao, and Lintan, as well as subordinates and heads of aristocratic families, all bowed and saluted.
Li Xian slightly urged his horse forward. His thin black beard hung on his lips, making him look a bit mature and thick.
Li Xuan, on the other hand, urged her horse to follow Li Xian, her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist, and her eyes warily looking around as if to protect him.
Li Xian got off his horse in front of Zhang Yungong and everyone, then stretched out his hand: "Everyone, please get up!"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhang Yungong stood up straight first, then looked at Li Xuan who was already standing on the right, cupped his hands and said, "I have met the King of Nanchang!"
"I've met the King of Nanchang!"
"Everyone, please get up!" Li Xuan looked at Zhang Yungong and the others calmly.
Zhang Yungong then turned to Li Xian and said, "Your Highness, please move to the state government office to meet with the officials."
Li Xian nodded and said, "Okay!"
Zhang Yungong stretched out his hand, and Li Xian took the lead. Li Xuan followed closely and handed the horse rope back to Li Xian.
Li Xian got on his horse, and then went directly into the city. The Qianniu Guards escorted him forward, looking at the surroundings with extremely vigilant eyes, as if someone was watching at any time.
Zhang Yungong fell behind and couldn't help but frown. Although everything was in compliance with regulations now, he always felt that the King of England was really on guard.
Taozhou City is close to the Tao River in the west, and the city is long and narrow from north to south. Entering from the east city gate, it didn't take long to arrive at the state government office.
Standing in the lobby of the state government office, Li Xuan had just read out the emperor's edict, conferring Li Xian the title of Marshal of the Taohe Road March; Li Jinxing, the right-leading army general of the Taohe Road March, was appointed deputy marshal of the Taohe Road March and the chief of the march; Li Xuan himself inspected and appointed the right-guard general. Li Xian followed and stood up regarding the matter of the deputy marshal of the Taohe Road march and the deputy general manager of the march.
"Two things. First, according to the order of the Ministry of Husbandry, all treasuries in Taozhou will be inspected from now on for transportation statistics; secondly, according to the order of the Ministry of War, all prefectures and counties in Taohe Prefecture will be defended, and soldiers will be mobilized. The King of Nanchang is responsible for the Sima and Bingcao joining the army. Now, you two are transferred to the King of Nanchang. Immediately report to the King of Nanchang all the prefecture and county defenses, checkpoint layout, and troop mobilization situation in detail, such as reporting truthfully. , but if there is any mistake, he will be thrown into prison immediately.”
"Here!" Taozhou Sima and Bingcao Canjun immediately accepted the promise, but behind everyone, there was a person whose expression had changed.
(End of chapter)
