In the early morning, the sun had just emerged from the sky. The soldiers guarding the northwest gate of Luoyang City, the Guanghua Gate, slowly opened it with shouts of "Open the city gate." The sunlight shone into the originally dark city gate, which had been guarded early.

People outside also entered Luoyang City in an orderly manner.

Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji and his party still quietly returned to the city under the guise of a caravan. The difference from when they left was that twenty miles away from them were three thousand elite cavalry led by Li Ji.

Luoyang Imperial Palace

"Xuanling, tell me what happened in the court after I left." Li Shimin took a sip of the tea presented by Gan Yun and turned to ask Fang Xuanling.

"Your Majesty, a locust plague broke out in the twenty-seven prefectures in Guanzhong. The crops in many prefectures and counties were destroyed. The prince led the civil and military officials in the DPRK to do their best to rescue the disaster, and the disaster has been basically eliminated... However, many people in the DPRK

Officials are quite critical of this."

Fang Xuanling raised her head and glanced at Li Shimin halfway through her words.

But just when Fang Xuanling was about to continue speaking, Luoyang Governor Zhang Liang took over the words: "Liang Guogong, you are avoiding the important and taking the easy."

Zhang Liang turned around and said respectfully to Li Shimin: "Your Majesty, the locust plague in Guanzhong is true, but Luoyang has received many memorials recently. The impeachment prince took advantage of the disaster relief opportunity to control the Sixteenth Guards, blockade Guanzhong, and wantonly buy people's hearts.

A few officials have already taken refuge with the prince. Is there something ulterior in this?"

"Mr. Yun, the prince has already sent an urgent message to Luoyang before the disaster relief. Your Majesty is far in the north. He did this to control the scope of the disaster. Don't you understand?"

"Even if what you say, Mr. Liang Guogong, is reasonable, aren't it wrong to have so many censors impeaching him? They said that the prince was killing opposition officials in Guanzhong and confiscating the property of the squires. The people did not know the emperor but only knew the prince. You must know that the prince is also a minister of your majesty.

, does this go beyond the scope of his supervision of the country?"

Zhang Liang's words gave Li Shimin, who had always been suspicious, a slight hesitation. After all, he became the emperor because of his own father's betrayal. There was no guarantee that the people around Li Chengqian would not incite him to do something stupid.

Xuanwu Gate, the generals of the Prince of Qin's palace suddenly became the ministers of the court. Aren't those who followed Li Chengqian jealous? Didn't they follow Li Chengqian for the sake of wealth?

Changsun Wuji's heart skipped a beat when he saw the emperor lost in thought. After decades of friendship with Li Shimin, he knew that the emperor didn't trust anyone in this regard.

I'm afraid his nephew won't get through so easily this time. As an uncle, both publicly and privately, he should say a few words to Li Chengqian. Besides, in his opinion, even if Li Shimin personally takes charge of Chang'an to provide disaster relief, the effect may not be better than that of Li Chengqian.

Well done.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is young after all, and it is inevitable that he will be a bit domineering in his actions, but he will never have any disobedience. Besides, Du Ruhui, Cen Wenwen and other civil and military ministers have been following Your Majesty for many years, so how could he betray His Majesty? I think this is certain.

If there is any misunderstanding, your majesty, please think again." Changsun Wuji glared at Zhang Liang, then raised his hands and said.

"Your Majesty, I think what the auxiliary machine said is reasonable. Natural disasters have suddenly struck. It is understandable that Your Highness, as the supervisor of the country, will take some necessary measures."

Li Shimin nodded: "I don't believe that Cheng Qian would be like this, but Guanzhong has just experienced a major disaster, and the situation in Chang'an City is not very stable.

Since Chai Shao transferred the Jinhe Army, the Zuowei General has been vacant, so Li Ji was ordered to return to Beijing immediately to serve as the Zuowei General and also be in charge of the Right Guard Army, and Zhang Liang was transferred to be in charge of the Right Guard Army.

I have to meet officials from Lower East Capital in the next few days, so I will announce that the Crown Prince and the King of Yue are coming to Luoyang to meet them. Later, I will send you all the memorials. I am also tired, so I will disperse them all and leave the auxiliary equipment."

"Auxiliary machine, I know you are not happy to hear Zhang Liang and others say this, but I still have to listen to what the ministers have to say." Li Shimin saw that Changsun Wuji was suppressing his unhappiness when speaking just now, and he knew that this young boy was getting angry.

.

"Your Majesty, don't you believe Cheng Qian? Since he became the crown prince, this matter has not been done for the consideration of your Majesty and the court. When are those officials not involved in people? They are just sitting around beating children on rainy days and listening to the wind.

It’s rain.”…

Chang'an Hongwen Hall

"Your Highness, Your Majesty has returned and ordered Li Ji and Zhang Liang to take over the defense of Chang'an City. At the same time, he announced that you will meet the King of Yue in Luoyang," Cen Wenwen said seriously.

Li Shimin was able to come back safely, and Li Chengqian was extremely happy, but when he heard that Li Ji and Zhang Liang had taken over the defense, Li Chengqian felt something was wrong.

What kind of general should I replace? Oh, Li Chengqian understands, this will often happen in the palace dramas of later generations. Thinking of this, Li Chengqian shook his head helplessly. It seems that between family ties and imperial power, someone like Li Shimin will definitely

Choose the latter.

It seems that he believed the recent rumors. Li Shimin himself started out as a rebel, so naturally he was very taboo about this aspect. Some people were trying to get hold of the emperor's blood, but that's not a sure thing.

"Okay, since it is my father's order, just follow it. Cen Zhongshu and Du Shangshu are not feeling well, and I have to go to Luoyang to see you. Please pay more attention to the political affairs of the court."

"No, Your Highness".

After Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, he called General Qin Huaiyu, the right guard leader, and took him and a hundred East Palace guards out of Mingde Gate to meet Li Tai and then rushed to Luoyang.

On the way, Li Chengqian remembered what Zhang Xuansu once said to him. The old master said that in this dynasty, the most powerful weapon is not the sword or gun, but the bald pen in the hand of the official. This is the real weapon that kills people invisible, and Li Chengqian

Now I finally feel it for real.

He knew that many people had been killed and arrested during this disaster relief operation, and there was no way to count the number of people offended. After all, cutting off people's financial resources was like killing their parents.

Niu Jinda's Anti-corruption Department alone has arrested more than 20 officials for embezzling disaster relief food funds. Many of these people came from well-established families and had intricate connections in the court.

To say that the recent rumors did not involve these wealthy families, even if he killed Li Chengqian, he would not believe it. But in order to stabilize the situation in Guanzhong and protect Li Shimin's whereabouts, he had to be ruthless and act decisively in the court.

Since Li Shimin left, Li Chengqian couldn't sleep well every night. He always felt that the eyes of Da'an Palace were staring at him. If the disaster relief had not been iron-blooded to suppress those with ulterior motives, Li Yuan would have taken action.

After all, Li Yuan was also the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Not to mention Lao Li's ability, there were many people who supported him in the court. If you know that a waste like Zhu Qizhen could be restored successfully, let alone Lao Li.

Alas, Li Chengqian sighed, his good intentions were still no match for the bald pens in the hands of those swordsmen and pen-setters.
Chapter completed!