Chapter 530 The Queen Mother’s Pearl

'Planning is for people, and success is for heaven', this sentence is the true portrayal of the current situation in Chengdu. Li Qing'an wanted to take advantage of the irreconcilable contradiction between King Rong Li Wan and Li Heng to make the Southern Tang Dynasty fall into a civil war between the two kings fighting for the throne. For this reason, he did not hesitate to put pressure on Yang Guozhong and ordered Yang Guozhong to persuade Li Wan to launch a mutiny and force Li Longji to give way.

But man's calculations are not as good as God's calculations. The development of the situation did not follow the trajectory arranged by Li Qing'an. Li Qing'an was able to plan a chess game, but he could not plan the hearts of the people. At the last moment, Li Wan did not adopt the strategy arranged by Li Qing'an. He did not launch a mutiny, but instead attempted to send Li Longji back to the west by poisoning the palace. Li Wan obviously underestimated the sinisterness of people's hearts. He did not expect that a million coins of jewelry and gold would eventually bring him a catastrophe.

At the third update, Li Longji, who started his coup, took the lead in taking action. He secretly ordered Gao Xianzhi to gather military power and suppress the conspiracy of Li Wan and Yang Guozhong.

Gao Xianzhi immediately ordered his confidant general Xi Yuanqing to lead an army of 10,000 to control Chengdu. The Rong Palace and Yang Guozhong Palace were surrounded, and Yang Guozhong and Li Wan were both captured. At the fifth o'clock in the morning, Li Longji issued an order to kill the whole family.

89 people in Li Wan were killed, 154 people in the Yang family were killed. Yang Guozhong followed Li Longji for nearly fifteen years, but was ordered to be executed by Li Longji himself. Yang Guozhong's wife Pei Rouhe's two sons who remained in Chengdu were beheaded. Not only Yang Guozhong's wife and daughter, but all the officials in the Yang family were suspected of jointly plotting rebellion. More than 30 people, including Yang Tie, Yang Chu, Yang Zhao, Yang Qing and other uncles, were ordered to be executed by Li Longji. The once glorious Yang family did not escape the tragic ending.

Three days later, Li Heng led an army of 80,000 to Chengdu. Li Longji officially appointed Li Heng as the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Things are so funny. Li Heng, who had just ascended the throne in Chang'an less than half a year, shook his body and became the crown prince of the Eastern Palace of the Southern Tang Dynasty, which made the world look at him.

The news of the accident in Chengdu was spread to Chang'an two days later by Fei Ge's message. This news caused an uproar in Chang'an. Countless people were confused and puzzled. They had never heard of the emperor becoming the prince again. Moreover, no one understood why Li Longji appointed a person who was unethical as the throne.

But the Chang'an court was quite low-key about this matter, and not many people cared about it. At this time, the civil and military officials of Chang'an were all focused on the establishment of the Chang'an New Dynasty.

Recommended by Li Qing'an, 340 officials with fifth rank or above voted to officially elect seven people including Pei Min, Zhang Yun, Cui Huan, Wei Tao, Zhang Hao, Lu Huan, Wang Jin, etc. to form a new political affairs hall for Pingzhangshi, the subordinate of the Secretariat.

Then the Zhengshi Hall announced the abolition of all decrees issued by the pseudo-Emperor Li Heng, and respect the Zong Empress Shen as the Empress Dowager. At the unanimous proposal of the Zhengshi Hall and Empress Dowager Shen, all officials supported Li Yu, who was only two years old, and Li Xun, the King of Sui, was the new emperor, and changed the year name to Qingping, which was the first year of Qingping this year.

Since there was no longer a state-controlled state like Li Heng, the Zhengshi Hall became the highest authority in the Northern Tang Dynasty. All the military and national affairs of the Northern Tang Dynasty were decided by the seven ministers of the Zhengshi Hall. The Empress Dowager Shen issued an order to grant Li Qing'an the title of Grand Tutor, General Tiance, and Grand Marshal of the World, and rewarded the Wanqing Imperial Village in Weinan County to Li Qing'an.

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In the Linde Hall of the Daming Palace, Empress Dowager Chen personally met Li Qing'an who came to thank the enthronement. At this time, Chen Zhenzhu felt very sad. Even here last year, she also met Li Qing'an and respected him as Shang's father. However, Shang's father could not save her son, and her son was killed by his biological grandfather with the most despicable means.

Chen Zhenzhu did not blame Li Qing'an. She knew that if Li Qing'an was in Chang'an, Li Heng would never dare to attack. He just used Li Qing'an to attack during the battle with Tubo in the Western Regions. Chen Zhenzhu only hated herself. If she could be more careful and not leave her son, she would definitely stop her son from drinking the bowl of heartbreaking honey water.

The relatives are dead, and regret is useless. Chen Zhenzhu only hopes that one day he can kill the demon who has harmed her husband and son with his own hands. This has become her only belief in living in the world.

Chen Zhenzhu sat in the inner hall, thinking about her thoughts in a daze. At this time, a guard at the door whispered loudly, "General Tiance sees the Queen Mother!"

After shouting twice, Chen Zhenzhu did not respond. She was still immersed in her memories of the past. When her confidant maid saw that the empress was lost, she gently touched her, "Empress!"

Chen Zhenzhu suddenly came to her senses and asked, "Have Your Highness Zhao arrived?"

"It has been a long time, waiting for the Queen Mother to summon him."

"Ah! Call him to meet him quickly."

"The Empress Dowager has an order to summon General Tiance to the palace!"

The two palace maids quickly pulled a gauze curtain and separated Shen Zhenzhu. After a moment, Li Qing'an quickly walked into the inner hall. He saw Shen Zhenzhu sitting behind the gauze curtain at a glance. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart. This poor woman watched her husband and son die tragically one after another, and I wonder how sad she would be.

Li Qing'an took two steps forward, knelt down on one knee and said, "I, the governor of Anxi, Li Qing'an, met the Queen Mother, wish the Queen Mother a thousand years old!"

"Your Highness King Zhao doesn't have to be too polite, please get up!"

"Thank you Queen Mother!"

Li Qing'an stood up, bowed and said, "I came to the palace to thank the Queen Mother for your gift!"

Chen Zhenzhu smiled slightly and said, "For your highness's contribution to the Tang Dynasty, no matter what kind of reward you are, the Ai family means that you hope that your highness can become a governor, but you dare not ask for it easily, so you want to ask your highness for your intention first."

"Thank you for your kindness. The Political Affairs Hall also has this intention, but it was rejected by the Wei minister. I have to concentrate on unifying the Tang Dynasty and have no time to inquire about specific government affairs, so it is better for me not to hold civil service."

"Since that's the case, the Ai family will not force you, but the Ai family hopes that you can accept the gift from the imperial village, otherwise the Ai family will feel very uneasy."

Speaking of the imperial village, this is also the main purpose of Li Qing'an entering the palace. He was to resign from the gift of the Wanqing Royal Village. He bowed and said, "Empress, that imperial minister cannot accept it!"

"Why? Doesn't the Ai family have no power to grant you?"

"No!"

Li Qing'an shook his head and said, "The Empress's desirable minister is grateful, but the Political Affairs Hall has made a decision to inherit the unfinished cause of Emperor Jingzong and give all the unallocated land to the people of Guanzhong, so that the farmer can have the land and completely alleviate the danger of land annexation. This thousand-acre imperial village had already drawn up a plan for the distribution of land, but was forcibly taken back by Li Heng. Therefore, if the Empress gave this imperial village to the minister and the minister accepted it again, it would make it difficult for Emperor Jingzong to rest in peace."

Chen Zhenzhu was silent, and after a while she sighed, "Ai's family is ignorant. Thank you for your understanding of justice. The Ai's family listened to your highness for your arrangements."

When Li Qingan heard her calling His Highness on the left and His Highness on the right, he felt a little uncomfortable in his heart, and then smiled and said, "In front of the Empress Dowager, how dare I call His Highness your Highness? The Empress Dowager might as well call him his military position."

Chen Zhenzhu smiled and nodded and said, "It is better to obey your orders than respectful family. Also call you the general!"

"Thank you, the Empress Dowager, for understanding me. If nothing else is done, I will surrender."

Chen Zhenzhu didn't say anything. After a while, she whispered: "The Ai family wants to say something privately to the general, don't you know if it's okay?"

Li Qing'an nodded. At this time, several palace maids stepped forward and closed the gate of the inner hall. The hall suddenly became dark. Chen Zhenzhu said to several maids again: "You retreat too."

Several maids retreated, and there were only Li Qing'an and Shen Zhenzhu in the inner hall. This made Li Qing'an feel a little strange. He felt something and couldn't help but look up. Chen Zhenzhu slowly opened the thin gauze curtain. He could now clearly see Chen Zhenzhu's face, a beautiful face, a young and haggard young woman, who was only twenty-seven or eight years old, became the queen mother. I really don't know what she should do in the long years to come.

"General, the Ai family also knows that private talks with you will affect your reputation. The Ai family apologizes to you first."

"I don't care!"

Chen Zhenzhu sighed softly and said, "My husband died and my son died. I have no nostalgia for this world. I originally wanted to become a monk and a nun, but your wife Mingyue advised me that if you have not held a great revenge, how can you withdraw from the world? I think that's right. If you can't see your enemy being killed with your own eyes, my heart will be inseparable from the world. This time, the reason why I promised to be the queen mother again is actually to a large extent to prepare for you."

Just as Li Qing'an was about to speak, Chen Zhenzhu waved her hand and stopped him, "Don't interrupt me, let me finish the words."

Chen Zhenzhu pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Li Qing'an, why not let's make a deal!"

"The Queen Mother, I don't understand very much."

"Don't pretend to be stupid in front of me. You are only two years old, Xun'er is the emperor. Do you think I don't understand your thoughts? The late emperor told me that you are very ambitious, so I asked Shi'er to be your father. It is to ask you to protect you, and I hope you don't hurt my son. Although Shi'er died tragically in the end, I don't hate you. I know you are not in Chang'an, far away in Tochar. I thought you would ascend the throne after you come back, but I didn't expect you to be the emperor. Li Qing'an, you can't see through me!"

Li Qing'an's face showed a faint smile and said, "Then I want to ask the Empress, did the late emperor say that who can believe it?"

"The late emperor told me not to believe you, but to believe Guo Ziyi, but this time, Guo Ziyi disappointed me. He was too slippery and dared not offend Li Heng at all, or he did not dare to offend you. I know very well that according to your identity and strength, it is more than enough to destroy Li Heng, so Li Qing'an, I want to make a deal with you."

"trade?"

Li Qingan glanced at her. He didn't understand what capital she had to deal with him unless her body. At this time, Li Qingan vaguely felt that Chen Zhenzhu let him be alone in the dark room with her, not as simple as saying a few private words. If that were the case, there was no need for her confidant maid to leave, nor did she need to open the curtain. Li Qingan felt that she seemed to be deliberately creating an atmosphere that seduced herself.

"What does the Empress Dowager want to use to make a deal with me?" Li Qingan's voice also seemed a little nervous.

Chen Zhenzhu's face turned slightly red. She didn't dare to look up at Li Qing'an's eyes and whispered: "I only have two things to exchange with you. One is my identity as a queen mother, and the other I don't want to tell you, you understand, but I hope you can accept the former."

Li Qingan smiled and said, "How can you make a deal with me as your queen mother?"

Chen Zhenzhu slowly raised her head, her beautiful eyes stared at Li Qing'an's eyes, and said word by word: "If you can agree to my request, as long as you make a request, I can issue an order to let Xun'er abdicate, and I will come forward and announce to the people of the world that you can legally ascend the throne."

Li Qingan also stared at Chen Zhenzhu's eyes. After a while, he slowly said: "The Queen Mother's request is to let me hand Li Heng over to you, right!"

"Yes! Only you can do this in this world. I will kill him with my own hands in front of the spirit of the late emperor and my son."

Li Qingan was silent for a moment, and he sighed and said, "Empress Dowager, I can promise you to kill him, but you have to hand him over to you, you know it's difficult."

"I know it's hard, so I'm making a deal with you."

Speaking of this, Chen Zhenzhu gently bit her lips and whispered to Li Qing'an: "Li Qing'an, as long as you agree to my request, no matter what conditions you propose, I can agree."

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Li Heng's escape south triggered a wave of escape from his confidant ministers. When Li Qing'an led his army into the city, the chaos in Chang'an gradually subsided. At this time, Chang'an City had been completely controlled by Qianniuwei. Li Qing'an appointed Su Zhen as Jingzhao Yin through the Political Affairs Hall, and appointed the new Wannian County and Chang'an County Magistrates. He also ordered Qianniuwei to delegate power and return the daily affairs of the county government to Chang'an County and Wannian County. Qianniuwei turned his energy to maintaining the security order of each ward. Those neighborhood disputes and daily trivial matters of committing crimes were handed over to the county government.

Li Qing'an came out of Daming Palace. It was already dusk. He closed his eyes and leaned on the cushion. His body swayed gently with the carriage. He could not erase Chen Zhenzhu's sad and beautiful face in his mind. He couldn't help but think of Chen Zhenzhu in history. After the Anshi Rebellion broke out, An Lushan's army captured Chang'an. Chen Zhenzhu had no time to escape, was captured by the rebels, and was captured in the palace of Anlushan in Luoyang. The insults and bullies she suffered can be imagined. The whereabouts of this poor woman were unknown in the end and became an unsolved mystery in history.

In fact, based on Li Qing'an's understanding of Li Yu, Chen Zhenzhu can only have two endings in the end. One is to become a monk and become a monk, and the second is to be killed by Li Yu.

History has turned around here. Chen Zhenzhu will no longer be bullied by An Lushan's army, but she has suffered another kind of misfortune in life, which made Li Qingan unable to help but feel a little pity.

The carriage was walking very slowly, and Li Qing'an's thinking shifted from Chen Zhenzhu to the current situation. At present, Li Longji controls the vast territory south of the Yangtze River. Li Mao from Jingxiang and Li Lin from Jianghuai both hold more than 100,000 heavy troops. With Li Heng's Guanzhong army, Geshuhan's Lianghu army and Gao Xianzhi's Jiannan army, and 30,000 troops in Lingnan, Li Longji can mobilize a total of 500,000 troops. Although his Anxi army is sharp, it is impossible to give up Anxi and withdraw back to the Central Plains. Most of his army still has to stay in Anxi.

With the 30,000 troops north of Taiyuan, Hedong and 40,000 troops in Tongguan, he only had 200,000 troops at most. What he had to face was not only Li Longji's 500,000 troops, but Guo Ziyi's 100,000 troops not enemies or friendly troops, An Lushan's 300,000 Fanyang's army, and Henan and Hedong did not have time to take away by Li Heng.
Chapter completed!