Chapter 193 No Failure

Deep in the mountains, the forest was quiet, snow was falling all night, and a tense pursuit was going on in the forest. The bandits were losing one after another, fighting and retreating. Dong Hai was furious and summoned the few remaining confidants to tear open a gap in the encirclement.

However, they didn't know that this gap was left intentionally by Li Huazhang. Dong Hai and his companions thought they had escaped, but before they could be happy, they found that this road led to a cliff, and there was only the rolling river waiting for them ahead.

The bandits had no time to curse their mothers, as arrows were already flying from behind. Dong Hai was hit by three arrows. He had been a hero all his life, but in the end he died in such an aggrieved way at the hands of government soldiers. He was filled with grief and anger, and he let out a long cry to the sky, then jumped off the cliff, preferring to jump into the river and die, rather than be captured by the government.

The soldier counted the heads and ran to the rear to report: "Governor, except for Dong Hai, the rest of the bandits have been killed."

Li Huazhang nodded quietly: "Okay, send a team to the bottom of the cliff and look for Dong Hai along the river, and the rest of you stay here to deal with the aftermath."

"yes."

The soldiers took the order and quickly got busy. Even in such bad weather, the scene was still busy but not chaotic, and in order. Xie Jichuan watched silently, and when he spoke, he still spoke in a gloomy tone: "It seems that you haven't been traveling every day for the past six months. At least you have trained. What, are you really planning to stay here as a governor?"

"Why not?" Li Huazhang said calmly, "This is the real thing. It is better than listening to those eulogies and groans in Chang'an."

Xie Jichuan narrowed his eyes: "Are you mocking me?"

"I didn't mean that originally." Li Huazhang glanced at him calmly, "Why, have you started writing poems and inscriptions praising others' merits?"

Xie Jichuan sneered and didn't bother to answer. Li Huazhang knew that even if Xie Jichuan starved to death, he would never do such a thing, but they seemed to be used to talking like this, and even if they were well-intentioned, they would always make sarcastic remarks.

Having not seen Xie Jichuan for a long time, Li Huazhang thought that the two would become strangers. However, when he saw Xie Jichuan, he naturally said words of disdain. Xie Jichuan was still as cynical and treacherous as he was when he was young.

Li Huazhang looked at the little lights in the forest and felt the night wind blowing through his tent, like the rolling torrent of the past years. He paused and spoke softly, "What happened in Chang'an?"

Xie Jichuan suddenly appeared outside Shangzhou late at night, not taking the official road, not bringing any followers, wearing night clothes, and deliberately hiding in deserted places. His behavior clearly showed that this was not a journey that could be known to others.

Xie Jichuan also looked at the dark night sky, tightened his collar, and said angrily: "Your damn place is really cold. Unlike Chang'an, even if there is three inches of snow, chickens, ducks, fish and geese can be placed outside the window and they will not go bad for a month, but a brazier indoors will keep you warm."

Li Huazhang was about to tell Xie Jichuan that he should not blame the region for his own coquettishness, but suddenly he was startled and realized something: "What do you want to say?"

Xie Jichuan raised his lips slightly, his voice drifting in the wind, seeming colder than snow: "In mid-November, the emperor suddenly stopped attending court, and Empress Wei mobilized 50,000 soldiers from various prefectures to station in Chang'an City, led by the sons and nephews of the Wei family. She also ordered the secretary Wei Yuan to inspect the six streets in the city, and ordered Ren Yao to lead 500 soldiers to Junzhou quickly. I don't need to tell you who they are guarding against. After that, she promoted her confidant to the third rank of Tongzhongshumen and promoted him to the rank of Shang. Guan Wan'er's lover was appointed as the Prime Minister, and Princess Anle's lovers also received important positions. In the second half of the month, she tightened her control over Chang'an. The city gates were locked, and no one was allowed to leave the city. The imperial guards were stationed at all the important roads, and the palace was under strict security. To enter and leave the palace gates, one needed the token of the Empress Wei. All the doctors who entered the palace were locked inside, and no one came out. At the end of the month, she sent someone to bring Prince Wen into the palace, and Prince Wen still did not come out until I left the city. "

Prince Wen is the fourth son of the emperor, Li Chongmao, who is only sixteen years old this year. The emperor has four sons in total, and almost all of them have died. Among them, the eldest son Li Chongrun was beaten to death, the second son, Prince Qiao Li Chongfu was abandoned, and the third son, Li Chongjun, was killed for conspiracy. The fourth son, Prince Wen, is the youngest and the last prince to be canonized.

Queen Wei kept Prince Wen under control in the palace, which made people doubt her motives.

Li Huazhang's eyes gradually turned cold. He had fair skin, and his black cloak fluttered in the wind, as if it was trying to pull him into the snow. Only his eyes shone brightly, like two clusters of fire in the dark night: "Has anyone seen a saint?"

Xie Jichuan rested his chin on his collar, looking thin and pale, like glass. His voice was so cold that it could be called indifferent. He said, "On November 16, after the morning court session, the outsiders have not seen the emperor in person. Prince Xiang and Princess Taiping have repeatedly proposed to enter the palace to visit the emperor, but were rejected by Empress Wei."

Li Huazhang's eyes fell, and he had already guessed the possibility: "You mean, the saint has passed away, and the queen is plotting something evil and keeping it a secret?"

Xie Jichuan sneered and said, "More than that, I suspect that the emperor did not die of natural causes, but was poisoned by Empress Wei and Anle."

Li Huazhang prepared for the worst, but still didn't expect this development. He frowned, incredulous: "Have Empress Wei and Anle gone mad? One of them is the empress, and the other is a princess. All their power comes from the emperor. What good will it do them to kill the emperor?"

Xie Jichuan shrugged: "Who said no? This way, they can emulate Empress Wu Zetian and become emperor."

Li Huazhang raised his eyebrows, and his expression became more and more difficult to describe. Indeed, controlling military power, sealing off the capital, promoting confidants, and guarding against the governors of other states, what Empress Wei is doing now is exactly the same as what Empress Wu Zetian did before she deposed the emperor and established herself. However, you can't find a sword by carving a boat. Empress Wu Zetian was able to become emperor not because she did these things, but because she was Wu Zetian.

It would be ridiculous if Empress Wei thought that she could become an empress by repeating Empress Wu Zetian's path.

Li Huazhang asked: "So, what is your purpose?"

Xie Jichuan turned his head. After the two had met for such a long time, he finally cast his gaze on Li Huazhang. He looked straight at Li Huazhang, and Li Huazhang also looked back calmly. Xie Jichuan stared closely at this "good friend" designated by his father, and said word by word: "No matter how cold the weather in Chang'an is, the body can't be kept for long. According to my prediction, Queen Wei will announce the emperor's death in the next few days, and make Li Chongmao the crown prince. After he finishes mourning, he will ascend the throne to become the emperor. But Queen Wei has a dream of becoming an emperor, and it is impossible for her to let Li Chongmao take power. Li Chongmao Mao Chi was going to die at the hands of Empress Wei. You are the son of Prince Zhang Huai, you have popularity and reputation. When the emperor is alive, you cannot compete with your uncle, but fortunately he finally died. Empress Wei and Anle abused their power and caused chaos in the government, and Chang'an is already full of complaints. As long as you raise your arms and call for action, the surrounding provincial governors and military governors will surely gather to respond. If you lead your troops to Chang'an and kill Empress Wei and Anle, the court officials will compete to make you emperor. This is your best chance to take back the throne!"

Li Huazhang was silent for a long time after hearing this. Only the wind and snow passed between the two of them. Li Huazhang was silent for a while, then he walked to the edge of the cliff with his hands behind his back, looked at the rolling river below and said, "Do you know who these bandits are?"

Xie Jichuan felt that it was too cold at the cliff and didn't want to go near it. He stood there and said unhappily, "Did you freeze your brain after coming to Shangzhou? You said they were bandits."

"No, they can be said to be bandits kept by wealthy country gentlemen. I don't know the specific details, but it's not difficult to guess that this time, they came to kill me on the secret order of Prince Qiao."

Xie Jichuan raised an eyebrow slightly, still unable to understand what this had to do with his going to Chang'an: "Then you should speed up your actions. The fact that Prince Qiao sent someone to kill you shows that he has received news that the emperor is in danger. You must rush to Chang'an before him and kill Queen Wei. As long as you are the first to be crowned emperor, he will be a traitor and a villain."

Li Huazhang sighed softly. He put his hands behind his back and looked at the vast mountains and forests, the vast sky, and said, "I understand what you said. But if I leave and Prince Qiao rebels, what will happen to Shangzhou, Junzhou and the people along the way? Prince Qiao was able to recruit the Feng family, which shows that Prince Qiao is stubborn and ruthless. The ministers and generals gathered around him are all speculators like Old Lady Feng who will do anything for power. I don't know how these people will bully the people in the name of imperial power. I can't let such a disaster happen."

Xie Jichuan could not help but said anxiously: "Everything has its priorities. When you become emperor, you will have plenty of time to deal with Prince Qiao and compensate Shangjun and the other two states. You should put the world first. Shangjun and the other two states are neither rich nor worth harming. Are they more important than the throne?"

"Putting the world first, then what is the world?" Li Huazhang turned around. Behind him was the sky full of snow, and his black cloak fluttered in the wind. He looked calm, with a clear face and bright eyes, like a god in the ninth heaven looking down. He had a kind of compassionate coldness, as if he was ready to take off with the wind at any time. "Emperor Zetian told me that the world belongs to the people, not the Li family. What the people need is not politicians who fight for power, but honest officials who really do practical things, sympathize with the people, and can bring a good life to the people. I used to be uncomfortable with Empress Zetian's abuse of power, but after I overthrew her with my own hands, I sadly discovered that my relatives brought deeper turmoil and suffering to the Tang Dynasty. I can't control others, but at least I have to guarantee that the Li family will never let down the people where I am."

Xie Jichuan was silent for a long time, then said: "But if you were the emperor, you might be able to benefit more people."

Li Huazhang's eyes were burning, and he judged him mercilessly, even to himself: "He can't even protect the people of the state he governs. Who would believe that he can benefit more people? If I abandon Shangzhou City, knowing that there will be a war here, but I ignore it, and rush to Chang'an overnight to seize the throne, I will not be able to face my father, Empress Wu Zetian, and Emperor Gaozong in my grave."

Li Huazhang even moved out the Crown Prince Zhang Huai, and Xie Jichuan knew that he could not follow him to Chang'an to seize the throne. Xie Jichuan felt mixed emotions, and at that moment he suddenly understood how his father felt when he was in the East Palace, persuading the Crown Prince Zhang Huai to kill the Queen Mother first to eliminate the trouble forever, but the Crown Prince Zhang Huai calmly told him not to mention it again.

Blood ties are so magical that the father and son, who have never met each other, have surprisingly similar personalities and even choose the same paths.

They were not blindly loyal or filial. On the contrary, they were intelligent, hardworking, and well-read. After careful consideration, they soberly gave up the road to heaven and resolutely walked on the dead end road that they knew was full of thorns.

I don’t know whether to call such people idealists or fools.

The two men were halfway across the cliff, neither of them was willing to give in, the wind blew the snow past. Xie Jichuan spoke first, his face was so pale that he almost melted into the darkness, but his words were sharp and pointed: "But if you stay here, can you stop Prince Qiao from rebelling?"

The contradictions in the royal family could not be stopped simply by not wanting to do it. What stood before Prince Qiao was rebellion or death, and he could not back down. Shangzhou had no soldiers and was not rich, so it was impossible to recruit troops urgently. With only Li Huazhang alone, and perhaps Ming Huashang in Shangzhou City, and a few scattered soldiers and brave men, how could they resist Prince Qiao's fierce army?

This time it was Li Huazhang's turn to remain silent. He was silent for a moment, and said in a firm and calm voice: "Everything depends on human effort."

The result left him no choice; no matter what, he had to stop Prince Qiao from raising an army.