The official who came to Bashang to welcome Li Ye was Cui Huan, the Minister of War, who was also the actual organizer of this polo tournament.
Cui Huan first took Li Ye to the Bashang Military Camp. It was of course the best cavalry military camp. It could accommodate 10,000 cavalrymen, but it only accommodated 3,000 cavalrymen. It was certainly very comfortable and all kinds of logistical supplies were fully prepared.
Li Ye looked around the military camp and was still very satisfied. Li Ye immediately asked Yu Changyang to lead the cavalry to garrison.
He then continued to Chang'an with three hundred cavalry. On the way, Li Ye asked with a smile: "How many teams are participating in this polo match?"
Cui Huan smiled slightly and said: "There are eight teams in total, His Highness the Helong Army, General Guo Lao's Shuofang Army, Li Guangbi's Hedong Army, Li Huan's Xingping Army, Wang Sili Zelu's Army, and General Dugu's Shenwu Army.
Shence Army and Jiannan Army."
Li Ye was startled, "Is the Jiannan Army coming too?"
Cui Huan nodded, "It is indeed beyond our expectations, but the emperor still agreed to their coming. Li Zhen, the military envoy of the Jiannan Army, and Cui Yuan, the deputy envoy, came together. There are a thousand troops who just arrived yesterday.
"
Li Zhen is Li Lin's third son, and he must have come with bad intentions this time.
Li Ye smiled slightly and said: "If nothing unexpected happens, the Shenwu Army should win this time!"
Cui Huan was silent for a moment and whispered: "The emperor means that the team that wins the championship this time must be more meaningful."
Li Ye understood what the other party meant. If he negotiated well with the court, he would be the first in polo this time.
Li Ye smiled and said: "Rely on your own ability! Otherwise it would be meaningless."
"Your Highness is right. The official match will be held ten days later. It will be held for four days in total. Each team has its own training ground. Your Highness's team is scheduled to train at Chongrenfang Polo Ground."
It’s really a preferential treatment. Chongrenfang Polo Ground is the second stadium after Taiji Palace Polo Ground. The conditions are very good in all aspects. It was originally the stadium of the Polo Department. Li Ye and his wife first met at this stadium.
Inside the polo field.
"Is the Polo Department still there?" Li Ye suddenly thought of this question.
Cui Huan shook his head, "Last year, the court had a major downturn, and the Polo Department had been laid off. In fact, Tianbao has not held a polo competition in thirteen years, and the Polo Department has no meaning for its existence."
"I see. It seems that the imperial government's finances are still under great pressure."
"Of course it's a lot of pressure."
Cui Huan lowered his voice and said: "The imperial court has let go of control over the Helong Army, largely because of financial constraints and the inability to afford military expenses. It is estimated that military salaries will be a major weakness of the imperial court in this negotiation."
Li Ye was a little surprised. Why did Cui Huan suddenly say something heartbreaking to him?
He thought about it and suddenly remembered that Cui Huan's grandson Cui Yuanfang was appointed as the magistrate of Guangwu County.
Of course, the issue of the imperial court's financial resources was no secret to Li Ye, and his father Li Dai would tell Li Ye, but Cui Huan seized the opportunity and snatched the favor away first.
Li Ye nodded, "Thank you very much, Mr. Cui, for reminding me!"
Not long after, the group arrived at Chunming Gate. Cui Huan showed a special city entry card, and Li Ye entered Chang'an City with 300 cavalry.
Three hundred cavalry may not seem like many, but they are still very impressive when walking on the street. Passersby stopped to watch. Suddenly someone shouted: "It's His Highness King Qi! His Highness King Qi is back!"
The news spread quickly, and the entire Chunmingmen Street was boiling. People rushed out with their families and crowded on both sides of the street with cheers to welcome the return of King Qi Li Ye.
The year before last, Li Ye led his army to repel the counterattack of An Lushan's 200,000 troops against Chang'an City and saved Chang'an City. The people of Chang'an were simple in heart and they firmly remembered this kindness.
Li Ye returned again, causing a sensation in Chang'an. Soon, tens of thousands of people rushed to Chunmingmen Street, beating gongs and drums to welcome King Qi Li Ye back.
"Welcome back, Your Highness! Welcome, Your Highness!"
Looking at the pairs of warm and grateful eyes, Li Ye's eyes were moist. With tears in his eyes, he clasped his fists and saluted to the people around him, thanking the people of Chang'an for their warm welcome to him.
There were more and more people, more than 100,000 people. Cui Huan became anxious and hurriedly negotiated with Xingqing Palace. Soon, Li Ye entered Xingqing Palace for temporary refuge, and 300 cavalry guarded the palace gate.
It was not until more than an hour later that the 5,000 Jinwu guards repeatedly persuaded the 100,000 people to disperse.
This can be regarded as a kind of happy trouble!
"Is Your Highness going to the New Prince's Mansion in Pingkangfang?"
Li Ye shook his head, "I'd better go to my parents' house in Xuanpingfang!"
"But I'm afraid there won't be room for three hundred cavalry."
"It doesn't matter. There are several big inns in the square. I've already sent someone to book them first."
Cui Huan nodded, "Then I won't accompany Your Highness."
"Cui Shilang, go! I am also from Chang'an, and I am familiar with the city."
Cui Huan left in a hurry. He knew that the gathering of hundreds of thousands of people on Chunmingmen Street must have alarmed the emperor, and he had to go and explain to the emperor quickly.
Li Ye said to Liu Yan again: "Sima took the officials and polo players to Chongrenfang to live in the memorial hall. I will come to the memorial hall early tomorrow morning."
Liu Yan nodded and smiled: "Then I'll see you tomorrow!"
He left with more than 20 people, and then Li Ye left Xingqing Palace with Qing Yu and 300 soldiers and headed for Xuanpingfang.
The gathering of 100,000 people on Chunmingmen Street really alarmed the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and Emperor Li Heng.
Soon news came that King Qi Li Ye had entered the city, and hundreds of thousands of people spontaneously welcomed his arrival.
This news caused a lot of discussion among the officials in the imperial court. All the governors were quiet when they arrived. Only Li Ye's arrival caused such a big commotion. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to welcome him. I'm afraid there won't be so many people when the emperor returns.
!
Some people praise him, some worry about him, and some people disdain him. Li Ye's reputation has always been mixed in the court. Either he admires him very much, or he hates him very much. They are basically two extremes, and the number of people is relatively balanced.
Needless to say, among the five prime ministers of the Government Hall, Li Dai, among the other four prime ministers, Xiao Hua admires Li Ye very much, Pei Mian and Wu Qi are more disgusted with Li Ye, and the right prime minister Wei Jiansu has an unclear attitude, and his city is relatively deep.
, can't see his attitude.
Li Fuguo hurriedly walked through the corridor and came to the imperial study. He bowed and said to Emperor Li Heng who was standing in front of the window: "Your Majesty, the reason for the gathering of 100,000 people has been found. It is King Qi Li Ye who came to Beijing."
Li Heng frowned, "Will his entry into Beijing trigger a gathering of 100,000 people?"
"Your Majesty, it is not a gathering, but a hundred thousand people lined the streets to welcome him into the city."
"Okay! Even if it's a welcome, I don't understand why this is the case?" Li Heng said dissatisfied.
"Your Majesty, it should be related to his retaking Chang'an the year before last."
Li Heng was speechless. Any emperor was very jealous of his subordinates having a high reputation, especially the royal family. This would threaten the throne of his descendants.
Li Fuguo advised: "Actually, Your Majesty, you don't need to worry. It is not these petty people who decide the country, but the powerful and civil and military ministers. No matter how low-level people support him, they cannot shake the foundation of the country."
Li Fuguo's words made Li Heng feel a little more comfortable, and he said after a while: "Send someone to monitor his every move."
Li Fuguo smiled sinisterly and said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I have arranged for the most skilled subordinates to monitor him. If he is discovered, your Majesty can explain it to protect his safety."
Li Heng nodded lightly. It was Li Fuguo who did things to make him feel comfortable and considered them carefully. Who said eunuchs couldn't be used? If used well, they would become his right-hand man.
This is actually Li Heng's biggest problem. His stance is not firm and he is easily shaken.
Before, he felt that Li Fuguo was trying to control him, and he became wary of Li Fuguo. Soon he thought that Li Fuguo was just afraid that he would abandon him, so he paid close attention to him, and he gradually lost his vigilance towards Li Fuguo.
And he trusted him more and more, thinking that he was his most loyal follower and the only person he could trust, just like his father trusted Gao Lishi.
He should not have prejudices against Li Fuguo, nor should he have doubts about Li Fuguo. Even when Li Fuguo proposed to become prime minister, Li Heng believed that Li Fuguo wanted to step forward and deal with the prime minister power for him.
It was this constant hint that Li Heng's mind was gradually controlled by Li Fuguo.