Chang'an City.
The once bustling West Market and East Market are now deserted, and even Pingkangfang, which was once known for its lively atmosphere, has become desolate.
Only the city gates remained open, welcoming passing merchants and travelers.
The city gates, which were usually packed with people, were now deserted. Many merchants preferred to stay in tents outside the city rather than enter Chang'an.
The reason was simply that they had heard there was an epidemic in Chang'an.
When Li Jue and his disciples returned to Chang'an, this was the desolate scene they saw.
Although he understood the people's panic, the desolation of Chang'an still shocked him greatly.
"Senior brother, nowadays, people would probably believe it if you said Chang'an was a ghost town!"
Sun Simiao smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
"It's better than people wandering around the streets!"
Li Jue sighed upon hearing this.
"well!"
"I just feel uneasy!"
Li Jue's first stop was the Ministry of Personnel, where he publicly read out Li Shimin's edict, thus completely taking over the military and political power in Chang'an.
“I know many of you are not convinced by me, or even hate me, but this is a critical moment. I have been ordered to come, not to seize power, but to save the people of Chang'an and all of you!”
"Therefore, I hope you can work together, not shirk your responsibilities, not pass the buck, and certainly not be two-faced."
"Because every decision you make will affect the safety of the entire city of Chang'an!"
"Gentlemen, let us put aside our prejudices for now and join hands to save Chang'an!"
As soon as Li Jue finished speaking, it resonated with many people.
"Fully cooperate with the eldest grandson!"
"Your Highness, the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife!"
After a slight hesitation, Fang Xuanling also stood up to support Li Jue.
"The Secretariat obeys the order!"
"The Secretariat obeys the order!"
Li Jue himself held the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, but his influence in the Imperial Secretariat was very small, and he could even be said to have little presence.
Even though the Secretariat and the Chancellery had expressed their opinions, the officials of the Ministry of Personnel were still observing.
The reason is quite simple: there is a big shot in the Ministry of Personnel, namely Gao Shilian!
Seeing that Gao Shilian was hesitant to express his opinion, Li Jue immediately stepped forward and inquired.
"Prime Minister Gao, what do you think?"
Gao Shilian did not refuse to obey the imperial edict, but he was worried that Changsun Wuji would be dissatisfied, which is why he had not yet expressed his opinion.
Seeing that Li Jue had asked the question, he immediately braced himself and replied.
"This old minister obeys the imperial decree!"
Li Jue nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.
"Please grant Prime Minister Gao a seat!"
"From now on, the five members of the temporary government affairs office will be: Prime Minister Gao, Prime Minister Fang, Xiao Yu (who will also serve as a special minister), Duke Li Jing (who will serve as a minister of state), and Duke Yuchi Jingde (who will serve as a minister of state)."
"Whether it is a proposal I put forward or one made by you gentlemen, it must be reviewed by five people, and it can only be implemented if three or more people agree!"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Li Jue in surprise.
That kid's got something! He actually came up with such a brilliant idea.
In fact, when Li Jue read out Li Shimin's edict, Yuchi Jingde and Li Jing were both worried for him.
The two men were all too aware of the situation in the court. The Tang Dynasty's court appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents were already surging.
If it weren't for His Majesty's presence, the three provinces and six ministries would have already started fighting each other!
However, Li Jue's move not only resolved the conflict between the three provinces, but also successfully united everyone.
What's even more impressive is that this principle of majority rule ensures that everyone is convinced.
Xiao Yu glanced at Li Jue with considerable surprise, certain that the idea was Li Jue's spur-of-the-moment decision.
Because Li Shimin simply didn't have this habit, nor was he aware of it!
But this grandson is too shrewd. The temporary government affairs team only has five people in total, and three of them are his mentors!
Wouldn't that mean that whatever he says will get at least three people's agreement?
Gao Shilian also noticed Li Jue's problem, but he couldn't be bothered to pursue it. As long as Li Jue was doing what was best for the Tang Dynasty and for Chang'an, he was willing to cooperate with Li Jue, even to the point of being Li Jue's dog.
Only Changsun Wuji was extremely displeased, his chest heaving with anger.
That bastard is too cunning! He uses his three masters as his shield to bully Gao Shilian and Fang Xuanling!
Changsun Wuji was unaware that Fang Xuanling had already become Li Jue's man.
Of course, Li Jue himself was unaware of this matter; only Li Shimin knew the truth.
"Since everyone has no objections, I will temporarily establish the Ganlu Hall as the administrative office, whereby it will make decisions on all administrative matters for the coming period!"
"promise!"
While Li Jue was busy assigning tasks, Li Zhi, who was staying in the Eastern Palace, was having a headache.
His headache this time had nothing to do with Li Jue; he had simply caught a cold and was lying in bed groaning in pain.
"Your Highness, I heard that Li Jue has returned!"
"So what if he comes back? What's it to me?"
"I'm too busy taking care of myself to deal with that bastard!"
"Your Highness, Li Jue also brought His Majesty's edict, ordering him to take over all military and political power in Chang'an..."
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi was so shocked that he jumped out of bed on the spot.
"What did you say? Father passed the throne to that grandson?"
"No, no, no, but it looks like it'll be soon!"
"If we hand over the military and political power of Chang'an to him today, who knows, tomorrow we might appoint him as the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Realm, giving him complete control over all the armies in the land!"
"Ahhh!"
"Father, how foolish of you! How could you entrust the affairs of the nation to a child!"
Li Zhi was on the verge of tears, and could only repeatedly bang his head against the wall to relieve his inner pain.
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