Chapter 176 Mutiny
The retired emperor's condition worsened very suddenly, not only catching the palace off guard, but also disrupting the retired emperor's own plans.
After Li Huazhang got the tiger talisman of Xuanxiaowei, he quickly arranged the emperor's funeral. He knew that the news of the emperor's death could not be kept secret, and it was estimated that it would not be long before Han Jie heard it. Han Jie was far away in Yizhou, and suddenly received the news of the emperor's death. He would definitely suspect that the emperor had met with an accident. Li Huazhang had to go to Yizhou quickly to tell Han Jie the emperor's last will, so as to prevent Han Jie from raising troops to rebel and cause a disaster.
But when the emperor died, only Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang were by his side. The special envoys of Taiji Palace quickly rushed to Shangyang Palace and tried to find out what the emperor said before his death. Li Huazhang concealed the part about Xuanxiaowei and told the rest truthfully. However, the eunuch was skeptical. Later, Princess Taiping and Prince Xiang came. Li Huazhang was too tired to deal with them and was too anxious to deal with Han Jie.
By the time Li Huazhang returned to Chang'an with the coffin of the retired emperor and handed over the funeral rites of the Great Saint Empress Wu Zetian to the Ministry of Rites, it was already December. Li Huazhang could no longer wait, and on the day he returned to Chang'an, he took refuge in the Prince Yong's Mansion in the name of mourning, declined all visitors, but in fact, he and Ming Huashang traveled light and quietly out of Chang'an and rushed to Yizhou.
During this period, Li Huazhang had to deal with the royal family and was unable to do anything else, so Ming Huashang took over the Black Iron Tiger Talisman on his behalf. While she took over the bases of the Xuanxiao Guards in Chang'an and Luoyang, she gradually replaced key positions with her own people, and at the same time she also paid attention to the news in Yizhou.
However, as she expected, she sent several letters to Yizhou, asking all the strongholds in Yizhou to report the situation truthfully, but all of them fell into the sea and no news came.
Ming Huashang gave up quickly. It seemed that the entire Yizhou was now under the control of Han Jie. Unless they went there in person, they would not be able to contact the Yizhou stronghold.
After Li Huazhang settled the funeral of the retired emperor, Ming Huashang also counted the staff and luggage, waiting for Li Huazhang to return home before they set off. They didn't know how long they would be gone, and Ming Huashang was afraid that something might happen in Chang'an. Before leaving, she sent a message to Ming Yuji, Xie Jichuan, Jiangling, and Ren Yao, tactfully telling them that it was close to the end of the year, the empress had passed away, and the vassal states would come to the capital on New Year's Day, and there would be many foreign envoys entering the capital. At this juncture, public security could easily go wrong, so they were asked to act carefully and pay more attention to the movements of the two capitals.
After everything was settled, Ming Huashang put on his hood and disguised himself as a caravan with Li Huazhang. They left Chang'an quietly as it was getting dark.
After leaving the territory of Yongzhou, the two men took off their disguises and rode at full speed towards Yizhou.
Yizhou is surrounded by mountains, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, its hinterland is a plain, rich in food, brocade, salt and iron, and has a large population. It has always been a battleground for military strategists. The emperor was very wise to use this place as a base for his comeback. However, for Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang, two outsiders who were "recruited", Yizhou was undoubtedly tough a nut to crack.
Snow fell from the sky and turned into water when it landed on the ground. The people around were used to this kind of cold weather. The streets were crowded with people, and the calls of vendors were heard one after another. The rain did not affect the enthusiasm for doing business at all.
The waiter said he wanted to hold an umbrella for the customer. The man in the dark blue round-necked robe said "thank you" but did not give him the umbrella. Instead, he changed his hand to hold the umbrella and leaned over to help the lady in the lake blue cape up the stairs, whispering to her, "Be careful, the floor is slippery."
The waiter rubbed his hands, thinking that his words were a bit redundant. Fortunately, the lady did not let his words fall on the ground. She smiled and said, "Thank you for recommending the cloth shop to us. The Shu embroidery is really exquisite. If it hadn't rained, I would have been reluctant to leave."
The lady looked young, and when she smiled, her eyebrows curved and her voice was like a silver bell. The gloomy sky in Shu seemed to have cleared up. The waiter also smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it. Are you newlyweds? Li Jinzhuang's pomegranate pattern is the most famous, and it means many children and good fortune. It is just right for you two guests."
Ming Huashang was a little embarrassed. Although she and Li Huazhang had been married for some time, she still couldn't stay calm when she heard others wishing them many children and happiness. Li Huazhang didn't react much. He nodded to the waiter, as if he was discussing academic matters with others. He said calmly, "Thank you for your kind words. My wife's hair was wet by the rain. Please heat some hot water and send it to the guest room."
The waiter hurriedly agreed and escorted them upstairs. After closing the door, Ming Huashang took off her wet cape and said speechlessly, "What are you talking about? We are not really here to see Shu embroidery. Why did you buy these?"
They disguised themselves as a group of merchants coming to Yizhou to purchase Shu brocade. Ming Huashang made secret inquiries on the streets under the pretext of purchasing, but had no intention of really buying anything. However, after hearing the introduction from Jinsu Zhuang's people, Li Huazhang suddenly had an idea and insisted on buying a piece of brocade, which was the famous pomegranate pattern of Li Jinzhuang.
Because he was still in mourning for the emperor, Li Huazhang picked a low-key violet blue brocade, but even so, the rich pomegranate seeds on it were enough to show the meaning. can't go back empty-handed."
Ming Huashang glared at him unhappily: "We haven't even seen Han Jie yet, and you're still thinking about going back?"
The Chang'an headquarters has maps of each branch, and they know which places in Yizhou are the Xuanxiaowei strongholds, including the Jinshi where they visited today, where there is a Xuanxiaowei contact point nearby.
But knowing the location does not mean that everything is fine. All contact points are open for business. They only know the location but do not know the internal staff and operation methods. They cannot fundamentally shake Han Jie's position.
Li Huazhang was very calm about this. He carefully warmed Ming Huashang's hands and said, "Han Jie is not stupid. We have been pretending to be guests to scout the place these days. We have almost figured out the terrain. I believe Han Jie knows we are coming. It's no fun to play hide-and-seek anymore. Next, why not tear off the window paper and invite Han Jie out for a chat."
Li Huazhang was always so keen on breaking the window paper. Ming Huashang silently raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you trust Han Jie so much?"
"Of course I don't believe it." Li Huazhang said, "So you take the tiger talisman and your men out of the city first. If I haven't come out by the evening of tomorrow, it means that Han Jie has changed his mind. You take your men back to Yongzhou and dispatch troops to encircle and suppress Yizhou."
Ming Huashang's face darkened: "What about you?"
"I have to go see him." Li Huazhang looked apologetic but said to Ming Huashang firmly, "Based on my understanding of Han Jie, he is not a person who cannot distinguish right from wrong, but I have to prepare for the worst. If he does not believe in the edict of the retired emperor and even rebels against the Tang Dynasty, I will never let you and the Xuanxiaoweihu Talisman fall into his hands. But if he just doesn't know that the retired emperor has changed his mind in the end and is determined to avenge the retired emperor, we can't wrongly accuse a loyal minister."
Ming Huashang asked: "Do you think he is a loyal minister?"
"In this world, some people are loyal to the emperor, and some are loyal to the country. It's nothing more than seeking common ground while reserving differences and having a clear conscience." Li Huazhang looked into Ming Huashang's eyes and said seriously, "I have a different opinion from him, but I want to give him a chance."
Ming Huashang sighed in his heart. He always thought so highly of others. He wanted to give Han Jie a chance, but how could he know if Han Jie wanted to be a loyal minister? Now that Empress Wu Zetian had passed away, no one could stop Han Jie. Han Jie could lead the remaining Xuanxiao Guards to occupy the mountains in Yizhou and become the king. With the ready-made power in hand, who would be willing to retreat bravely and bow their heads to the leadership of their former subordinates?
If they don't make it clear now, both sides can pretend to be deaf and dumb. If Li Huazhang asks Han Jie clearly, it will force Han Jie to express his position. Han Jie will be angry and embarrassed. Will he harm Li Huazhang or even capture Li Huazhang to threaten the court?
Li Huazhang understood these principles, but he always practiced virtue and kindness, and his principles did not allow him to sentence people to death without any reason. Ming Huazhang knew that if she used their feelings to force Li Huazhang to go with her, Li Huazhang would be reluctant to refuse, but then he would no longer be Li Huazhang.
Ming Huashang held Li Huazhang's hand and said, "Okay, since you believe in him, I believe in him too. I'll go with you."
"No." Li Huazhang was shocked and rejected it. "You can't risk your life. What if he is an unscrupulous and ambitious person? Wouldn't it be dangerous for you to stay in the city?"
"Then you are not in danger?" Ming Huashang looked at him stubbornly and said, "I will face it with you. If Han Jie really has second thoughts, I will be there to protect you during the evacuation. We are in this together, whether we live or die, we are together."
Li Huazhang's lips moved slightly. He could be righteous and aloof to himself, but he couldn't control his selfishness when facing Ming Huashang. He looked at Ming Huashang's clear and firm eyes, and finally gave in. He suddenly hugged her tightly, buried his head in her neck, and whispered, "Okay."
They sleep in the same bed in life and in the same grave in death. Whether in life or in death, they are together.
Ming Huachang initially wanted to accompany Li Huazhang to meet Han Jie. After the two discussed, they each took a step back. Ming Huachang took the tiger talisman and his men and withdrew to the vicinity of the city gate, while Li Huazhang went to meet Han Jie alone. If he succeeded in persuading Han Jie to surrender, nothing would happen, which would naturally be the best situation. If Han Jie refused to lay down his butcher knife, then the master and apprentice would have no choice but to fight. Ming Huachang sent someone to meet Li Huazhang, and at the same time guarded the retreat route to avoid being caught in a trap.
Li Huazhang left a letter for Han Jie at the contact point, agreeing to meet at the Penglai Teahouse at 14:00 pm. Neither of them would bring any guards or weapons, and it was a gentleman's agreement that they would go to the meeting alone.
Soon the appointed time came. Ming Huashang looked at Li Huazhang, who was tall and graceful, and walked alone as agreed. She couldn't help but said, "Why don't you take a few people with you and ambush around the teahouse? In case of any accidents, at least someone will take care of us."
"No need." Li Huazhang said, "I was the one who initiated the invitation. We agreed that no one would bring weapons or servants. Naturally, I have to set an example myself."
Ming Huashang was still worried: "But..."
"Shangshang, believe me." Li Huazhang approached, leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips, whispered in her ear, "I'll leave the people and the tiger talisman to you. I'll take a fake one to see him. If I haven't come back by the hour of the twilight, don't hesitate, take the people out of the city immediately."
Ming Huashang's eyes were a little wet. She put her arms around his neck, kissed him hard on the lips, and said, "Promise me to come back safely."
Li Huazhang touched her hair, hugged her deeply, and forced himself to let go: "Okay."
The first group of people had already disguised themselves as civilians and were spreading out at the city gate. Ming Huashang led the rest of the people away, and Li Huazhang went out according to the plan. Hiding one's whereabouts was a basic lesson for Xuan Xiaowei. After he walked out of Ming Huashang's hiding place, he wandered around and waited until he was sure that no one was following him before he walked towards the Penglai Tea House.
Li Huazhang was never late, but today he arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time. As soon as he stepped into the teahouse, he realized that there was an ambush around him.
It seems that Han Jie did not abide by the gentleman's agreement.
Li Huazhang seemed to have noticed nothing, and walked to the private room leisurely, sat down, and brewed tea. He ground the tea leaves and added water smoothly, neither hurried nor slow, and did not seem nervous at all.
It was as if the person who was now alone deep in the enemy camp, being targeted by many hidden arrows, was not him.
Han Jie had never expected that Li Huazhang would actually come to the meeting alone. It was hard to say whether he had any hidden weapons, but there was no ambush around the teahouse. Han Jie didn't know whether to say he was brave or stupid. Han Jie hid in the dark, watched silently for a while, and said to his men, "You guys continue to watch, I'll go down to meet him."
The subordinates were somewhat surprised after hearing this: "Commander, how can you risk your life?"
"It doesn't matter." Han Jie said calmly, "He's here. If I don't show up, it will seem that I'm afraid of them. Pay close attention to the roads around the teahouse, especially to a very sweet-looking woman who seems to have no offensive power. If she shows up, immediately fire a signal flare and close the city gate."
"yes."
The water boiled once, and when Li Huazhang added water for the second time, the door was pushed open. Li Huazhang raised his eyes and glanced at the tea, then calmly put down the tea spoon: "You are here. The water has just boiled for the first time. If you don't come again, the tea will be old."
Han Jie sat down opposite him, watching him slowly brew tea, and said, "Prince Yong is very generous. He is still in the mood to drink tea at this time."
"You taught me this, keep your composure and keep your word." Li Huazhang opened two teacups, placed a handkerchief under the handle of the teapot, and poured tea into the cups. "Please."
Han Jie looked at the emerald green tea in the porcelain cup without moving, and said slowly: "I remember that I never taught people to keep their promises. Only those pedantic books of saints would say so."
"No, you taught me." Li Huazhang picked up a cup of tea. His fingers were white and slender, with distinct joints and neatly trimmed nails. When he pressed them on the cup, they seemed more precious than porcelain. He blew away the tea mist, took a sip, and said, "Back then, you told me not to use the officialdom's tricks against my teammates. They are the spears that can help me kill people, and the shields that can save my life at critical moments. I can not trust my family, but I can trust my teammates. Although the skills you taught me are different, the principles behind them are also true to your words."
Han Jie was silent for a while after listening, then slowly picked up another cup of tea and played with it between his fingertips. He sniffed the tea mist and praised sincerely, "Good tea. Your sister has always been impatient to serve tea, but you are the opposite, which is rare."
He suddenly mentioned Ming Huashang, and Li Huazhang's fingers holding the teacup suddenly clenched, and his knuckles almost turned white. He calmed down and smiled at his own pace, saying, "She is not impatient, but just lazy. If it is cooked for her, she will still be happy to try it. After all, who wants to cause trouble when there is a comfortable life?"
Han Jie raised his eyebrows and smiled, then nodded, "That makes sense. But if your comfortable life is a problem for others, then do you think you should look for it or not?"
The two exchanged double meanings, until the real purpose was exposed. Li Huazhang slowly stroked the teacup and said, "We have the same sky above our heads and the same ground under our feet, but there are differences. It's just that the wise enjoy mountains and the benevolent enjoy water. Why should it be a matter of either you or me, and a fight to the death?"
Han Jie looked at him and smiled faintly, then said lightly, "Maybe it's because your last name is Li, and I'm just a commoner. If it weren't for Her Majesty Zetian, I would have frozen to death on the street seventeen years ago. This life was given to me by the Wu family, and as long as I live, I should repay the Wu family for their kindness."
"The Wu family?" Li Huazhang asked, "Who are you loyal to, Her Majesty Zetian or the Wu family? If the one you want to repay is the Wu family, then Her Majesty Zetian personally ordered the restoration of the empress's title and buried her with Emperor Gaozong in Qianling Mausoleum, so you are half a member of the Li family. Among the remaining Wu family, the King of Wei is dead, so the one you want to repay is the King of Liang?"
Han Jie sneered. Although he didn't say anything, it was obvious that he looked down on the two nephews of the retired emperor who were not up to the task. He said, "I don't have any moral values. I only know that I must repay kindness and kill enemies. As for the righteousness of the country and family, I have never understood it. I don't believe what others say, I only believe what I see."
"Then you should listen to the last words of Her Majesty Zetian."
Li Huazhang put down his teacup, sat upright, and said solemnly, "Before his majesty died, he ordered me to pass on a message to you to stop all actions. In the future, any deployment will be subject to the orders of the tiger seal."
"Tiger Talisman?" Han Jie narrowed his eyes, and his expression suddenly changed when he looked at Li Huazhang. "You got the Tiger Talisman?"
"It was passed on to me by Her Majesty Zetian." Li Huazhang knew that countless bows must be fully drawn at this moment, and if he made the slightest move, he would be shot into a sieve. He ignored the tense atmosphere, still staring at Han Jie, and said calmly: "Since you obey Her Majesty Zetian, you naturally understand why Her Majesty did this. Han Jie, I promise you that my previous words still count. As long as you put down your butcher knife, no one will be implicated, and everyone can start a new life. I believe that living a good life is everyone's expectation. Family and country should not be in opposition; gratitude and morality should not be in opposition."
The conversation between the two became more and more straightforward, leaving less and less room for maneuver. Han Jie sneered, and his hand in his sleeve clenched the hilt of the knife, ready to strike at any time: "So, I am the bad guy. However, you were the only one present at the time, and you Li family members are the most united. Who knows if you falsely conveyed the imperial edict in order to stabilize the Li family's rule, or even if you killed His Majesty."
Li Huazhang was actually relieved to hear Han Jie's reply. What he was most worried about was that Han Jie himself had rebellious intentions. If that was the case, no matter what he said, it would be useless. But Han Jie was suspicious of the emperor's will, which meant that at least for now, Han Jie had no intention of becoming independent. Li Huazhang was calm because he had a clear conscience.
Li Huazhang said, "You know better than me what kind of person Her Majesty Zetian is. If she hadn't figured it out herself, would I have been able to get the tiger talisman without a fight and hide it from her? She was an emperor, and I hated her for killing my relatives, but I acknowledged her achievements as an emperor. If not, I wouldn't have gone to Shangyang Palace to serve her. Now that she has passed away, she is willing to be buried as the Empress of the Tang Dynasty, and we, the younger generation, are willing to keep her title and worship her with the rites of an emperor. Now that she is dead, the grudges between her and the Li family have all vanished. When a few years pass, when future generations talk about her, I'm afraid they won't care whether she was an emperor of the Zhou Dynasty or the Tang Dynasty. Because she and the Li Tang have long been like the palm of your hand, you are in me, I am in you, and you are inseparable."
Li Huazhang seemed to be making a point, but he was actually implicitly pointing out several issues. First, the Li family members in power were all the direct descendants of Empress Wu Zetian. To oppose the emperor was to oppose the empress. By the same token, the emperor could not abolish the empress's title, because that would mean that his own throne was not legitimate.
As long as future emperors continue to worship the Great Saint Empress Wu Zetian, what difference does it make whether they worship the Zhou emperor or the Tang emperor? Moreover, the empress had already decided to return power to the Tang Dynasty during her lifetime. Li Dan was personally brought back by the empress as the crown prince, and Li Huazhang was personally appointed as the Prince of Yong by the empress. It was not clear that she wanted to restore the country through a coup after being overthrown. Her real political philosophy has always been to pass the throne to the Li family.
Of course, the most important thing is that these words were said by Li Huazhang. If Li Huazhang had not gone to take care of the empress, or if the empress died after a month of care, Han Jie would not listen to anything Li Huazhang said. But Li Huazhang stayed in Shangyang Palace for six months. If he really wanted to assassinate the empress, he should have done it long ago, and there was no need to wait for six months; being able to take care of an old and frail patient for six months was enough, even if he was pretending.
Han Jie knew that what Li Huazhang said was most likely the empress's last wish. It was hard for others to say, but he still believed in Li Huazhang's character. However, Han Jie had been a spy for too long and was suspicious by nature. He said, "How can you prove that you are telling the truth? Give me the tiger talisman. If the tiger talisman is real, I will believe you."
Li Huazhang's eyes were clear and he refused outright: "No, the tiger talisman is a token of Xuan Xiaowei and will never be handed over to another person. What if you have second thoughts about Xuan Xiaowei and secretly replaced the tiger talisman?"
If Ming Huachang were here, she would be scared to death by Li Huazhang, because he didn't have the tiger talisman on him, so how could he dare to be so tough?
But Han Jie believed it. If Li Huazhang compromised, Han Jie would have doubted how he got the tiger talisman. But Li Huazhang's expression was righteous and he refused without hesitation. If he had not been so confident, he would not have dared to be so forceful. Han Jie would have believed that the tiger talisman was passed down to him by Empress Wu Zetian.
Seeing Han Jie's attitude softened, Li Huazhang knew that his risky move was the right one. He drank a sip of tea calmly, feeling very at ease.
Because of his good reputation, no one doubted him even though he lied several times at critical moments.
Whether it is Ming Huashang or Han Jie.
Li Huazhang sighed innocently.
As long as the attitudes were agreed upon, the rest would follow naturally. Li Huazhang grasped the main thread, and Han Jie took care of the other details. Soon, with the tacit consent of the two parties, a mutiny was averted.
Li Huazhang remembered the time he had agreed with Ming Huachang. When he saw the sky getting darker and approaching the evening hour, he excused himself in advance. When he walked out, he saw the ambushers outside, but he remained calm and walked through the sword forest with a calm demeanor, picking up his umbrella standing by the door. When he bent down, the ambushers thought he was going to attack them, so they stepped back. Li Huazhang seemed not to notice, holding his umbrella, and walked into the rain without looking back.
Everyone looked at the tall and winding green figure in the rain, and were all impressed by Li Huazhang's demeanor.
This turned out to be the Tang Dynasty's Prince Yong. He was indeed elegant and extraordinary.
Li Huazhang was calm and composed. To outsiders, he seemed to be strolling leisurely, but in fact, he was thinking about where to find a horse. If he walked there like this, he would be late and his clothes would get wet.
Although he didn't care about the outside, he couldn't appear in front of Ming Huashang in a disheveled state. He remembered that during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Ming Huashang drank a lot and told the truth in a confused state, saying that she liked the second brother the most because he was handsome.
The next day when she woke up, she made a lot of complaints, such as admiring Li Huazhang's talent and character, but Li Huazhang didn't believe them at all.
His sister is lazy and indolent, has no patience for thinking, and has a very superficial appreciation of the ideal partner.
Li Huazhang thought of Ming Huashang, and his sharp and clear eyes softened unconsciously. In the cold rain, the sound of horse hooves came from far away. Li Huazhang raised his head with an umbrella and saw a green figure approaching from far away. When she saw Li Huazhang, she immediately dismounted and rushed to Li Huazhang in two steps: "Why are you here? Are you okay?"
Li Huazhang saw that her clothes were covered with raindrops. He held her hand with concern and moved the umbrella to her: "I'm fine. Why don't you even wear a raincoat?"
Ming Huachang became more and more anxious as the hour of You approached. She couldn't stand it any longer. She left half of her group to provide support and took the other half back to find Li Huazhang. She had no time to wear a raincoat. When she saw that Li Huazhang was indeed fine, she finally relaxed: "I was scared to death. Fortunately, you are fine."
Li Huazhang smiled and hugged her. In fact, it was not yet the hour of the Rooster. Even if he did not show up at the hour of the Rooster, she should not come back. The truly righteous approach should be to take people away and preserve strength. However, with her in his arms, who would care about righteousness?
Love itself is irrational.
When Ming Huashang saw Li Huazhang appear here safely, he knew that he had succeeded. Ming Huashang did not ask where Han Jie was. He took Li Huazhang's hand and walked out, complaining: "Yizhou is so cold. I originally thought that the south is warmer than the interior, and the winter should be easier to bear. Now I know that the coldness of rain is much more unbearable than snow. Let's go back to Chang'an quickly."
Li Huazhang responded gently, "Okay." As the two were talking, a man in black, dressed as a Xuanxiaowei, suddenly ran towards them.
Li Huazhang and Ming Huashang both realized that something was wrong, and they stopped talking. The relaxed and happy atmosphere just now disappeared. The man in black stopped in front of Li Huazhang and presented a secret letter with both hands. Li Huazhang opened the envelope and his face turned ugly as soon as he read the first sentence.
Ming Huashang glanced at it and saw the words written at the top -
"On December 7, the Crown Prince plotted rebellion and forced his way to the abdication gate..."
The seventh day of the twelfth lunar month was seven days ago.
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