Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Imperial City.
At this moment, the vast palace was filled with hundreds of tables, where Tang Dynasty civil and military officials in their court robes and envoys from various countries in their finest attire gathered together to enjoy the imperial banquet.
Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, dressed in a bright yellow five-clawed dragon robe and wearing a crown with tassels, announced at the announcement of Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial: "His Majesty has arrived!"
Then, with firm and powerful steps, he strode straight toward the banquet table in the very center of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Inside the main hall, the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries, who had already taken their seats, all rose and knelt to welcome the Emperor upon hearing the announcement of his arrival, shouting in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
A deafening roar of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Amidst these shouts, Chen Huai'an arrived at the table in the very center of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Then he waved his hand and said, "My beloved ministers, no need for formalities, rise and take your seats!"
Soon, the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries in the hall rose and took their seats.
Emperor Zhaowu held a banquet for civil and military officials and envoys from various countries on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and he was very particular about the seating arrangement.
Those qualified to drink at the same table with Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an were two princes of the Tang Dynasty (Prince Zhao Liu Xinwu and Prince Jin Chen Longcheng) and five dukes (Chang Yuchun, Chen Qingzhi, Pang Xianchu, Wang Jian and Qi Jiguang).
Near the main table where the Emperor was seated were the eighteen marquises of the Tang Dynasty (only twelve were actually present), followed by the thirty-six earls (twenty-four were actually present).
Next, on the left were the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty; on the right were envoys from various countries in Southeast Asia and envoys from the thirty-six countries of the Western Regions (the envoys from the Western Regions stationed in the capital had not returned to their own countries due to the chaos in the Western Regions. Chen Huai'an's banquet for them was also to lay the groundwork and prepare for the implementation of the new policy of "separation of military and political power" in the Western Regions at the beginning of the year).
The seating arrangement can be summarized in four words: "order of rank and status"!
Before the banquet began, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an first gave a summary speech on the first year of Zhaowu's reign, affirming the work of the six ministries in the court; affirming the merits of the Tang generals in expanding the dynasty's territory; and highly affirming the efforts made by envoys from various countries in maintaining the relationship between the Tang Dynasty and its vassal states.
"My beloved ministers, this cup of wine is a toast to all of you present here!"
Finally, the concluding remarks ended with Chen Huai'an raising a toast in celebration.
The civil and military officials and envoys from various countries in the Hall of Supreme Harmony followed Emperor Zhaowu's lead and drank their wine in one gulp.
Next, Chen Huai'an, as the supreme ruler of the Tang Dynasty, expressed his vision and wishes for the Tang Dynasty in the first year of the new era (the second year of Zhaowu), encouraged the officials of the Six Ministries and the military officers of the Tang Dynasty to continue to be loyal to the country, and also extended his best wishes to the various vassal states.
This year, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's New Year's message once again ended with a toast to celebration.
The third toast was made by everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony raising their glasses together to celebrate the Spring Festival.
According to custom, after three cups of wine, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an should go to each table to encourage these pillars of the dynasty.
However, just as Chen Huai'an was about to go to the various tables to drink and exchange toasts under the guidance of Cai He, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Xiao Po, the commander of the Golden Guard of the Tang Dynasty and the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, hurriedly came over and whispered a few words in Chen Huai'an's ear.
Although Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an's face showed no change in expression;
However, Liu Xinwu, one of the closest dukes and the emperor's father-in-law, still keenly caught the fleeting look of surprise in the emperor's eyes.
The meticulous Duke of Han, Chen Qingzhi, glanced at the empty seat of Prince Jin, Chen Longxiang, at the main table, and then at Xiao Po, the fully armed commander of the Imperial Guards who had even brought a sword. Suddenly, an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
As expected, after listening to Xiao Po's report, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an immediately went to the main table and said to Prince Zhao Liu Xinwu, "Prince Zhao, I have some urgent business to attend to immediately."
"I'll trouble Your Majesty to take good care of hosting the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries in the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!"
King Zhao Liu Xinwu hurriedly rose to accept the order, his eyes showing both doubt and concern.
However, he ultimately resisted the urge to ask for clarification and simply nodded solemnly.
After giving instructions to his father-in-law, Chen Huai'an nodded to the dukes at the main table to express his apology, and then left the Taihe Hall without looking back, escorted by Xiao Po.
King Zhao, Liu Xinwu, immediately called out, "Gentlemen, don't just stand there! Eat and drink well!"
"Since His Majesty has entrusted me with taking good care of everyone, then I will begin by visiting the Duke of Wei."
"Come, Duke of Wei, cheers!"
"Your Highness, cheers!"
......
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the sounds of civil and military officials and envoys from various countries clinking glasses created a lively atmosphere.
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, who had just come out, instantly changed his expression and asked Xiao Po, the commander of the Imperial Guards, with a cold look: "Xiao Po, what time did this happen? How is Marquis Wuping Luo Yucheng now? Have the naval warships pursuing Prince Jin set sail?"
Faced with the Emperor's rapid-fire questions, Xiao Po replied without hesitation, "Your Majesty, the incident occurred just half an hour ago in Yangliu Lane in the city."
"Luo Yucheng, the deputy commander of the Longcheng Inner Guard and Marquis of Wuping, has been seriously injured and has fallen into a coma. The imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital are doing their best to save him."
"The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Lord Lanling Ni Dingguo, reports that His Highness Prince Jin's treasure ship has departed from the Stone City dock and is sailing down the river."
"On the naval side, without orders from the Ministry of War and a written decree from the naval admiral, they refused to dispatch warships to pursue His Highness Prince Jin."
"Ni Dingguo has found this humble general. I implore Your Majesty to make a swift decision!"
Xiao Po took a deep breath and truthfully reported all the information he knew to Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an.
Chen Huai'an felt his head buzzing, as if it were about to explode.
Just before that, when he saw that the banquet was about to start and the seat he had specially reserved for his younger brother Chen Longxiang was still empty, he had a bad feeling.
Unexpectedly, his troublesome younger brother actually got into trouble.
Moreover, it's such a momentous event that it directly exposes the truth.
Whether it's wreaking havoc in the streets of the Jinling Imperial City, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Dragon City guards, or forcibly storming the city gates on horseback, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of Imperial Guards on duty, these are all things that will cost you your head.
If the civil officials in the court were to use this as a pretext to attack him for treason, even Emperor Chen Huai'an would find no reason to exonerate his younger brother Chen Longxiang!
Is it really possible that the tragedy of betraying one's own family and turning against one's own relatives will unfold in one's own life?
This is something Chen Huai'an absolutely does not want to see.
"emperor--"
Seeing that the Emperor had suddenly fallen into deep thought, Xiao Po, knowing the urgency of the situation, hurriedly reminded him, "Your Majesty, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards, Ni Dingguo, is still awaiting Your Majesty's decree."
"Should we immediately order the naval fleet at the Stone City docks to set sail and intercept His Highness Prince Jin before he sails down the river to sea?"
Um?
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an raised an eyebrow, immediately regaining his composure, and calmly said, "Xiao Po, immediately issue my decree, ordering the naval fleet outside Jinling City to set sail and, at all costs, bring Prince Jin back to me."
"Tell Ni Dingguo to immediately lift the citywide lockdown in Jinling, ensuring that the normal entry and exit of residents and officials inside and outside the city are not affected."
"Furthermore, he should be tasked with secretly increasing vigilance and patrols to ensure that any disturbances to the security of Jinling City do not occur again."
"By the way, where is Luo Yucheng now? I want to see him in person!"
"Your Majesty, she's in the Imperial Hospital!"
"Let's proceed to the Imperial Hospital!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Soon, without even bothering to change out of his civilian clothes, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an, escorted by hundreds of Jinwu Guards, headed straight for the Imperial Hospital.
When he saw Luo Yucheng lying on the bed, his face deformed by the hammer, Chen Huai'an's anger was extinguished by more than half.
Immediately, Chen Huai'an called over the imperial physician beside him and asked, "Imperial Physician, how is Lord Luo's injury?"
The imperial physician replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Luo's head has been injured by a blunt instrument. The injury is extremely serious, and he may very well die in an instant!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Huai'an did not speak, but stared intently at the imperial physician of the Imperial Hospital with his sharp, hawk-like eyes, which immediately startled the latter, who hurriedly knelt down and begged the emperor for mercy.
In the end, Chen Huai'an did not punish the imperial physician.
Meanwhile, news came from the other side that a Dragon City guard whose injuries were not so serious had regained consciousness after being treated by the imperial physician.
Immediately, Chen Huai'an conducted an on-the-spot work at the Imperial Hospital and learned the whole story from the surviving guard of Longcheng.
Bang!
After learning the truth, Chen Huai'an, with a gloomy face, slammed his hand on the table of the Imperial Hospital, shattering it to pieces, so frightening that everyone present didn't dare to breathe.
It's true what they say, man proposes, God disposes!
Having come to her senses after this ordeal, Su Wan'er will certainly not let it go. Her foolish younger brother, Chen Longxiang, will also be misled by Su Wan'er and do something even more outrageous.
This matter is going to get out of hand!
What worries Chen Huai'an even more is that with his younger brother Chen Longxiang's martial prowess, once he returns to the Goguryeo Peninsula, no one will be able to control him!
In addition, more than half of the 500,000 Tang troops left behind on the Goguryeo Peninsula were private soldiers who were absolutely loyal to him and were born to be emperors.
These soldiers would never obey the orders of their younger brother, Chen Longxiang.
But what about the other half of the Tang soldiers?
It's hard to say whether they will raise the banner of rebellion under the call of Prince Chen Longxiang of Jin.
If his only brother in the world were to rebel, what choice would he, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, make?
At this moment, even Chen Huai'an, who was always decisive and ruthless, couldn't help but hesitate and feel confused!
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