Chapter 4632 Leaving the palace and waiting for childbirth
Cutting off someone's money is like killing one's parents, let alone one's family?
Perhaps the strength of the Hedong family is not enough to make the central government fear it, but it can affect the whole body. If this move causes the world's powerful families to die and their teeth are cold, and the orphans respond in groups, it may not be impossible to cause wars everywhere and the country to be destabilized.
Li Ji wanted to ask again, "If this is the case, how will Your Majesty respond? Will you force one person to bear the wrath of the world's nobles?" But it was naturally difficult to ask such a question.
He sighed in his heart, lamenting Li Chengqian's lack of courage, and said warmly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry, times have changed, and the times have changed. Today, the central army has strong soldiers and horses, and wherever your Majesty orders, hundreds of thousands of troops from the Sixteenth Guards will arrive at dawn and dusk. , where the military front points, the world is watching with disdain, who dares to risk the disapproval of the world?"
The newly reorganized left and right Jinwu guards, together with the left and right leading guards, have made the entire city of Chang'an impregnable and become the strongest fortress in the world. As long as the emperor sits in the center, there is no force in the world that can overthrow the imperial power.
In this way, it has become invincible.
If Fang Jun can be allowed to cut off the financial foundation of the aristocratic family in a drastic manner and force them to be loyal to the imperial power, then the Tang Dynasty will once again see Qin Shihuang sweep the world and dominate the world at the peak of its imperial power, a grand occasion that even the Han Dynasty has never had.
However, His Majesty cannot see such a situation and is only worried about gains and losses, which is disappointing.
No wonder Emperor Taizong insisted on easy storage. Although the disadvantages of easy storage are countless, perhaps Emperor Taizong believed that the emperor himself was the foundation of the empire's strength.
Fang Jun obviously ran counter to Emperor Taizong's ideas. In Fang Jun's eyes, "system" was the most important. As long as the "system" was perfect, it didn't matter who sat on the throne. The court would run according to the "system". Minimize the omissions and errors that may be caused by the emperor's strengths and weaknesses.
For example, at the moment, although Li Chengqian lacks courage and is worried about the current situation, he cannot change the general trend no matter what.
Especially the "Military Aircraft Department" system that Fang Jun initially initiated and implemented. On the surface, it seemed that the emperor had taken all the military power in the world into his hands, and the imperial power had been strengthened like never before. However, in fact, without a powerful monarch, he could not fully control " "Military Aircraft Department", so the "Military Aircraft Department" in turn became an institution that limited imperial power.
Because the operating system of the "Military Aircraft Department" is not decided by the emperor, but requires all "Ministers of the Military Aircraft Department" to obey the majority. In many cases, the emperor will also become a "minority"...
Should we place our hope in the emperor's talents and strategies to lead the empire to strength, or should we rely on a perfect system and not care whether the emperor is good or bad?
Li Ji fell into deep thought.
*****
Outside the Xuanwu Gate, Gao Kan, Cheng Wuting, Sun Renshi, Wang Fangyi and other generals were standing on both sides of the palace gate, wearing helmets and armor. Behind them were groups of elite cavalry in bright armor, waiting in formation.
After a moment, the palace door slowly opened, and a motorcade came out.
In a convoy of seven or eight luxury four-wheeled carriages, Gao Kan and others stood on horseback, clasping their fists and saluting, and said in unison: "The general welcomes Her Royal Highness the Princess!"
In the carriage, Princess Changle lifted the curtain, her clear eyes glanced at everyone one by one, her red lips opened slightly, and she said softly: "Generals, please excuse me! We have already made arrangements for our trip to Zhongnan Mountain, so we don't want to delay your generals."
Military affairs, please stay."
Undercurrents surged within the clan, and even people in the Taiji Palace were panicked. Princess Changle finally persuaded Li Chengqian to allow her to go to the Zhongnan Mountain Villa to await childbirth. However, although Gao Kan and others were all Fang Jun's old subordinates, she did not want to make a big deal about it.
Let these people abandon the defense of Xuanwu Gate and escort her to Zhongnan Mountain.
Gao Kan respectfully said: "Your Highness clearly knows that Chang'an is not stable now, and the generals do not dare to take the slightest risk. However, in order to avoid some criticism, Wang Fangyi will lead the general's personal troops to escort His Highness to Zhongnan Mountain, and will always guard him.
On the other hand, I hope that Your Highness will understand the general's intention to wait for his fists."
The current situation is precarious. No one knows if someone will attack Princess Changle without opening her eyes. If something goes wrong, how will she explain to Fang Jun?
Princess Changle couldn't resist, so she had to agree.
The motorcade started slowly and headed towards the official road in the north. From there, it went east along the official road through the Daming Palace, which had been suspended for the winter, and then headed south along the city wall of Chang'an City to Zhongnan Mountain.
When the convoy arrived outside the Chunming Gate, they saw a strange army waiting here. Jin Shengman, who was in exquisite armor and red cloak, rode up to the carriage. He looked at Princess Changle who lifted the curtain and revealed her pretty face, squinting her eyebrows.
He picked it up and said with a smile: "As ordered by my father, I will escort His Highness to Zhongnan Mountain."
The "father" she refers to is, of course, Fang Xuanling.
Princess Changle's pretty face was slightly red, and she was a little shy. After all, she and Fang Jun couldn't see each other in person, but she got Fang Xuanling's concern, which really made her feel guilty...
"It's warm in spring but cold at the same time, why bother you?"
"When Your Highness goes to Mount Zhongnan to await childbirth, it is always more convenient for him to have a woman by his side. Otherwise, the defenses inside and outside are difficult to arrange, and oversights will inevitably occur."
"Thank you very much."
"As a family, why do we need to see each other outside?"
"Why don't you get in the car and go with us?"
"No need. When I was in Silla, I often rode horses in the wild. Besides, the mistress and His Highness Gaoyang have prepared various practical supplies for you, and they have packed a lot of bikes."
"Oh well……"
Princess Changle endured the shyness and lowered the car curtain, feeling warm in her heart.
In the past, when we were in Changsun's family, although everyone in the family respected her very much, they only regarded her as a tool to maintain the family's honor. They respected her more than she cared for her. Changsun Wuji was aloof and cold, and it seemed that if she didn't do this, he would appear to be unworthy.
He is just like a "sycophant" who relied on nepotism to ascend to the position of prime minister. How could he ever express concern like Fang Xuanling, a famous person in the world, without hesitation?
Women always need to be loved and cared for...
The convoy meandered southward, merged into the official road near Yuanqiu, and drove into Zhongnan Mountain.
The south wind is blowing slowly, and there are still snow piled up in the dark places in the ravines of Zhongnan Mountain, but most of the snow and ice have melted. Countless streams of water flow and converge between the valleys and gullies. The streams are gurgling and the grass tips are digging into the sun.
When you emerge from the ground, the mountains gradually turn green, birds chirp, and small animals appear and disappear.
The convoy drove over a stone bridge over a mountain river and finally arrived at the small Taoist temple hidden in the woods.
…
Arrangements were quickly made. Wang Fangyi led Gao Kan's personal troops to take charge of the outer defense, while Jin Shengman led some female soldiers to take over the defense inside the Taoist temple. They cooperated internally and externally with each other to ensure nothing went wrong.
Food, clothes, water, etc. are all the responsibility of the Fang family, and people are sent from Chang'an City every day to ensure the Taoist temple's food and medicine to the maximum extent. In addition to the imperial doctors sent by Queen Su who are proficient in obstetrics, there are also several
A doctor from the Fang family accompanied him.
Everyone has only one purpose, to ensure that Princess Changle gives birth smoothly...
The air in the mountains was still a bit cold. The maid raised the stove, filled a silver pot with water and placed it on the stove. She chopped apples, pears, and red dates into the pot, put dried chrysanthemums in them, boiled them, and filled a crystal cup.
Princess Changle sat on the couch with a shawl wrapped around her body. She took a few sips of fruit tea and let out a sigh of relief.
The atmosphere in the palace is too tense and depressing. The public opinion and wind direction of the outside world can affect everyone in the palace. There are too many connections inside and outside the palace. Any disturbance outside the palace seems to affect the chamberlains, maids, and even lieutenants in the palace.
Female officers make people feel insecure.
The princes and successor kings in the royal family were very powerful in jumping up and down. They regarded Fang Jun, who was assisting Li Chengqian, as their number one enemy. It was difficult to guarantee that they would not be bold enough to do something, so even Li Chengqian and the queen had to answer.
Allow her to leave the palace to wait for childbirth.
The conditions of this small Taoist temple were inferior to those of the palace, but there were trustworthy people both inside and outside, which made her feel at ease.
She has been married to Changsun Chong for many years but has no children. Now she has committed herself to Fang Jun and "willed herself to fall", and has long given up her intention to marry again. Therefore, the fetus in her belly may be the only flesh and blood of her life, and she cannot pay too much attention to it.
.
As long as I get through this last month safely and give myself and Fang Jun a healthy child, this life is enough.
…
Outside the Taoist temple, Wang Fangyi personally led his troops to set up outposts and hidden sentries, and built a camp around the Taoist temple. He ordered the scouts to go out for several miles to ensure that all disturbances within a ten-mile radius were under control at all times.
Bundles of firearms were unloaded into the barracks. Muskets, thunderbolts, lead bullets, etc. were piled up in several barracks. A team of several hundred people had enough firearms to equip ten times the troops, as well as more than a hundred heavy cavalry, and hundreds of heavy cavalry.
Yu Chongjia surrounded the Taoist temple in Zhongnan Mountain, making it impregnable.
*****
In the Xiangyi County Prince's Mansion, the main hall that was burned down by Fang Jun has been rebuilt, with more grandiose regulations and more luxurious materials. However, the weather has just warmed up and has not yet been painted, so it looks a bit crude.
In the flower hall on the side, Li Shenfu took a sip of tea and heard the news that Li Daoli had come to visit. He frowned and didn't want to see anyone, but still asked someone to bring him over.
Li Daoli entered the flower hall and said enthusiastically: "Uncle, good news! Princess Changle just left the palace and went to Zhongnan Mountain. There was an army accompanying her, and the Fang family sent someone to escort her. She must be going to Zhongnan Mountain to wait for the birth."
Li Shenfu frowned as he watched Li Daoli take his seat, and asked puzzledly: "Princess Changle is out of the palace to give birth, why are you so excited?"
Li Daoli poured tea by himself, took a sip, and said with a smile: "Now Fang Jun is making a big fuss in Hedong, and the government and the public are scolding each other. I don't know when His Majesty will feel the huge pressure and may abandon him. At that time, we will know
We can kidnap Princess Changle and her children to force Fang Jun to be troubled. If nothing else, it’s easy to blackmail Fang Jun for a sum of money, right?"
As he spoke, he gritted his teeth and said, "Mother! This bastard is so greedy that he extorted hundreds of thousands of coins and gave them to King Wei to gain such a huge favor that my palace is almost in trouble."
Kidnapping for ransom is indeed unpleasant and disrespectful, but as long as the big thing everyone planned for succeeds, Fang Jun will be the prey on the chopping block, and he will be left to his own devices.