Chapter 916 Luo Xuan Dies at Night
The prophecy of a woman ruling the world had been circulating in a small circle before, but after Luo Su and Li Shimin asked this question, it suddenly became popular.
But most people treat it as a joke.
Most people in the Central Plains don’t know that there have been women emperors in the Western Regions, but those who know will only think that the culture of the Western Regions is different from that of the Central Plains after all, and that the emperor is on the throne in the Central Plains. Could it be that God would give a woman the mandate of heaven?
Compared with this prophecy, what attracted the attention of the people of the Tang Dynasty more was the war that took place in the Anbei Protectorate. Just eight months after Li Ke went to Karakorum, the already powerful Xueyantuo Khan launched a war.
The purpose of the war was simple, which was to seize the supreme power in Mobei. Xueyantuo could tolerate the existence of the Tang Dynasty in Mobei, but that did not mean they could accept a prince from the Tang Dynasty to completely seize the supreme power here.
In particular, Li Ke convened a meeting of the three khans of Mobei, which was a naked act of seizure.
Luo Su had said before that Tian Khan’s system was a powerful weapon when used against external forces, but the internal disputes were also very serious, just like those within the Central Plains.
The central court had to suppress local forces, and the struggle between the central and local governments was constant, and the same was true for the Tian Khan system.
The Xueyantuo and other state tribes were willing to obey the Tang Dynasty's orders to dispatch troops to quell rebellions, but if the Tang Dynasty's tentacles reached out to them, they would rise up in resistance.
Fortunately, Li Ke was well prepared. The news of Xueyantuo Mingyue Khan's attack on Karakorum leaked out, so Li Ke moved away from Karakorum directly. After retreating, he immediately issued another order, requiring all tribes to follow him to attack Xueyantuo. At the same time, Xueyantuo also issued orders, requiring the Tiele tribes to obey his orders.
By the time the battle report reached Chang'an, the first war between the two sides had already ended. If it were not for the enfeoffment of the powerful princes, Chang'an would have received the news that the entire Mobei region had fallen.
The feudal system, or the advantage of multiple political centers in suppressing rebellion, was fully demonstrated in the sudden outbreak of the Xueyantuo.
Some court officials who had disagreed with the enfeoffment at first shut up in the face of the ironclad facts. Fighting against the wind in politics was an extremely stupid act.
Li Ke's letter required more authorization from the imperial court, exceeding the authorization of the Grand Protectorate, so that he would have more room to form alliances on the grassland.
The Chang'an court would not sit idly by and watch Li Ke and Xueyantuo fight alone. This move by King Yan Ke was very important to both Li Shimin and Luo Su. Now Li Ke has not yet completely established his foothold and still needs help from the Central Plains.
Just as the court was busy preparing to provide Li Ke with a lot of help, an extremely important event happened in the court.
Prince Zhou Luo Xuanye is seriously ill!
This incident came like a bolt from the blue. Everyone who heard it couldn't believe it at first, but then they thought it was very normal.
Duke Yi of Qin Shubao is also seriously ill and has been bedridden, dying. He will probably pass away in one or two years.
Prince Zhou was already quite old, and the Tang Dynasty had already been established for twenty years.
It is said that Prince Zhou followed the imperial teacher from Winter City and traveled tens of thousands of miles around the world when he was a teenager. He fought in almost the entire war to establish the Tang Dynasty.
Especially before Yuchi Gong and others were subdued, he suffered so many injuries. The generals who have always charged into the battle looked strong on the surface, but basically their bodies would suddenly collapse when they were in their forties or fifties.
Duke Yi of Qin Shubao and Prince Zhou were considered to be in good condition despite their serious illnesses.
In history, there were many military generals who suddenly fell ill and died within just one or two days, and even the best doctors could not save them.
The reason why people couldn't believe it was because the position of Prince Zhou was too important. Although he spoke little, he played a very important role in the court.
The reason why Duke of Wei Li Jing was able to achieve such great achievements and yet remain safe and sound without being suspected by the emperor was because he was checked and balanced by the Prince of Zhou.
The reason why the Changsun family and other relatives by marriage were able to behave themselves was because they had the Prince of Zhou to suppress them.
The prince's position is stable, and there is no need to explain the importance of Prince Zhou. The queen has just passed away for a year, and Prince Zhou is seriously ill. Could it be that God does not bless the prince?
Luo Xuanye was like a balancer, saving Li Shimin a lot of trouble. If something happened to Luo Xuanye, he would have to deal with it personally. After all, where could he find another person with a special identity like Luo Xuanye?
…
Prince Zhou's Mansion.
Since Luo Xuanye became seriously ill, not many people came to visit him. Most of them came to give a gift. After all, most people were not qualified to meet Luo Xuanye.
Those who came to visit him were all his close relatives and friends, so there is no need to say much about the few members of the Luo family who are still staying in Chang'an.
Crown Prince Li Chengqian was dragging his limp but walking very fast, his face looked anxious. Luo Juncheng's face was filled with sorrow, as he was caught off guard by his father's sudden accident.
"Prince."
Luo Xuanye called out in an unprecedentedly gentle voice, and Li Chengqian burst into tears. He staggered to the sickbed and sobbed, "Uncle, Teacher, how did you become like this?
I was thinking of letting you see me when I ascend the throne.
I also want to let you be not only the prince's tutor, but also the tutor and guardian. You will definitely get better, right?"
Tai Shi and Tai Bao are two of the three masters. Not to mention being conferred this title during one's lifetime, even until now, it has not been conferred after one's death.
When Li Shimin was the King of Qin, he was conferred the title of two of the Three Dukes, which was already the highest rank he could hold. The General of Heavenly Strategy and the Crown Prince were both below the Three Masters.
Even if Li Chengqian really appointed Luo Xuanye as the Third Master, the court officials would object. However, from Li Chengqian's words, we can see how sad he is and how deep his feelings for Luo Xuanye are.
Luo Xuanye looked at Li Chengqian and suddenly recalled what his ancestor Wen Gong had said, "Aye, aren't you worried about any accidents?"
Now Luo Xuanye knew that accidents really would happen and he would die. He had never thought about what he would do if he died suddenly.
"Is this the result of not leaving a way out for yourself?"
Luo Xuanye murmured softly, and Li Chengqian asked with tears in his eyes: "Uncle, what did you say?"
Luo Xuanye looked at Li Chengqian quietly, thinking of something to say in his heart, "Prince, when I'm not around, you have to be more careful about your words and actions, and make your heart stronger. As long as you don't act recklessly, your position as the crown prince will still be stable.
Your Majesty will definitely come over later, and I will have a few words with Your Majesty. What will happen in the future depends on you."
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
Before he could finish his words, a voice came from outside. The emperor came faster than they had imagined, which showed how anxious he was. In fact, after receiving the news, Li Shimin immediately put down the key military affairs at hand and hurried to the Prince Zhou's Mansion.
After seeing Li Shimin come in, Li Chengqian and Luo Juncheng bowed and left the room, leaving the monarch and his subject to talk. Normally, father and son would always say a few words when they met, but today Li Shimin was not in the mood and asked Li Chengqian to leave directly.
Li Shimin never thought that he would lose his loved ones one after another, starting with his sister, then his father, then his wife, and now his best friend. Every separation made Li Shimin feel heartbroken.
He sat in front of Luo Xuanye's bed in casual clothes, looking at the enemy who had saved him from the midst of thousands of troops, but now his face was as pale as porcelain that would break at any time.
"Qingyang, I..."
Li Shimin just said a few words and was speechless, but Luo Xuanye laughed and said to himself: "Your Majesty, do you know?
In the 1,600-year history of the Luo family, there have been countless famous ministers and generals, but in fact, most of the Luo family members have never met a king for whom they were willing to dedicate themselves and sacrifice.
Many of the Luo family's descendants do things step by step and act in accordance with the family tradition of loyalty and righteousness. For example, my fourth brother has a relationship with Your Majesty and is loyal to Your Majesty and the Tang Dynasty.
But he can't be compared with me, because Your Majesty thinks I am a relative, and he is just a simple minister, so you dismissed him twice because of some mistakes, but I can always sit at the top of the political hall. "
After hearing what Luo Xuanye said, Li Shimin felt a little more relaxed, and said with a little nostalgia: "Yes, Qingyang, I have known you since I was young, and you are my brother-in-law. After so many years, of course you are not comparable to your fourth brother. This is human nature."
Luo Xuanye muttered with emotion, "It's human nature.
Yes, that’s exactly what the word love means.
I used to say that those who are deeply in love do not live long, but I never expected that this would come true for me.
well.
Whenever I think of Xiuning in my dreams, my heart aches. Once my anger is gone, the internal injuries in my body can no longer be suppressed. "
Li Shimin felt the same sadness as Luo Xuanye's words. When Empress Zhangsun passed away, he could not eat and looked haggard. He also rarely set up a high platform in the palace and looked at Zhaoling Mausoleum from time to time.
Even now, every time he thinks of Empress Changsun, he still sheds tears.
Luo Xuanye whispered: "Your Majesty, I am afraid I can't hold on for a few more days. If I don't say some things now, there will be no chance. After my death, the family doesn't need to say anything more. I can't persuade you, but Jun Cheng and Jun Zhuo are ministers left for the next generation, so don't give them too high an official position.
Actually, the only thing I am worried about is the prince.
Your Majesty, you have almost all the advantages.
But you are too emotional.
I guess that before Empress Wende died, she must have said not to reward the Changsun family, but you still promoted the Changsun family greatly because you wanted to transfer your affection for Empress Wende to the Changsun family.
If the Crown Prince does something you don't like and the Prince of Wei always manages to please you, who will advise you now that Empress Wende and I are gone?
That’s the only thing I’m worried about.”
When Empress Changsun died, she was not overly worried because Luo Xuanye was still around. If she had known that Luo Xuanye would die so soon, she would not have been so at peace.
This is the case with Luo Xuanye now. Once he dies, he doesn’t even dare to guess what the future will be like.
Once a person dies, he has no control over his own destiny.
Before the two most important people died, they both told him about the prince. Li Shimin held Luo Xuanye's hand and assured him, "Qingyang, don't worry. I will never favor the King of Wei."
…
"Grandfather, you are here."
Luo Xuanye looked at Luo Su and asked the question he had always wanted to ask: "Grandfather, you always looked at my eyes and eyebrows carefully before. Did you know that I would die?"
Luo Su said calmly: "Life and death are matters of heaven, and are the domain of the Su Wang. How can I know? Even if I knew, I would only say one thing: the secret of heaven cannot be revealed."
As expected of the ancestor, Luo Xuanye thought to himself, but he knew that when the ancestor said this, he was actually telling him.
"Grandfather, do you think the prince is not qualified to rule the world, so you said those words to him?"
Luo Su remained calm and said, "There is no such thing as being good enough to rule the world. Li Shimin's sons are all about the same, none of them are outstanding. The most outstanding one is in Mobei and will never come back.
It’s just that Li Chengqian is a little strange. Without your and Changsun’s protection, he has a hard time.”
Luo Su had no feelings for Li Chengqian, and he had no feelings for anyone in the entire Tang Dynasty. They were all pawns used to accomplish the goal, including Prince of Yan, the Crown Prince, and Prince of Wei.
Luo Xuanye was somewhat speechless after hearing Luo Su's words. After a long while, he whispered, "Grandfather, the Crown Prince and Jun Cheng are of the same blood. If there is a problem...
Please guide me, ancestor."
Luo Su asked with interest: "You should have told the emperor about the prince's matter. Now you come to ask me for help. Don't you believe the emperor's promise?"
Luo Xuanye was silent for a moment, then nodded with difficulty and said, "That's right, I don't believe your majesty's assurance, I know him too well, and the prince has not met his requirements.
There will still be problems between father and son in the future. Li Jing and Wei Zheng are far from being comparable to me."
Luo Su nodded and said, “You can see this, which is a great improvement.
Character determines destiny. Over the years, Li Chengqian's character has not changed fundamentally, so there will not be much change in the future.
But who can predict the true future?
If the emperor suddenly died and the crown prince succeeded to the throne, then everything that followed would not happen, so I never say anything will definitely happen.
The general trend will not change, but the fate of an individual is not something I can predict.
You want me to help the crown prince and Jun Cheng at the same time, that's fine, but I won't interfere with the heir to a dynasty.
I had already made some arrangements around Li Chengqian.
If I see the relationship between the Emperor and the Crown Prince heading towards an unpredictable imbalance again, I will intervene and give both of them a decent treatment.”
Luo Xuanye felt relieved. He was a little tired, "I hope that day won't come.
My dear, I am a little sleepy and cannot see you off."
After saying that, he really fell into a deep sleep. Luo Su looked at Luo Xuanye, whose face was constantly showing signs of death, and said in a voice that only he could hear: "See you in the Hall of Heroes."
————
Prince Xuanye of Zhou was very beautiful, and Emperor Gaozu loved her, so he married her to Pingyang. Since the Jinyang Uprising, she has always been on the right side of Emperor Taizong, and has fought bravely, recruited generals, and destroyed the enemy in battle. She was invincible in battles against thousands of enemies, and Shubao, Yuchi and other generals could not match her. The ancients said that the meeting between the monarch and his subjects was a thousand-year meeting, but it was not forgiven. His portrait was painted in the smoke and buried in Zhaoling. Thousands of years later, the temple was used to entertain guests. The prosperity of the Tang Dynasty was really due to him. - "Book of Tang·Biography of Prince Xuanye of Zhou"
(End of this chapter)
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