Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4883 Imperial Dignity
The prosperity of the world is for profit; the hustle and bustle of the world is for profit.

Interpersonal relationships are complicated and power relations are bizarre, but in fact, the chaotic situation can be easily sorted out by simply following the pursuit of interests. Everyone has their own interests, and interests determine positions and even everything.

Lang and his uncle drank tea and chatted in the snowy night. They had a very clear analysis and judgment of the current situation, and tacitly assigned their respective tasks. One was in the royal family, to ensure that the royal family could quickly return to stability after the sudden change, and the other was in the army, to ensure that no matter how turbulent the situation was, Chang'an and even Guanzhong would remain unmoved.

The power of interests is enormous. Driven by this force, there will inevitably be a huge change in the situation. If those hidden things are not allowed to erupt, it will lead to greater disasters. In comparison, short-term turmoil is bearable.

After all, this was a war launched by the emperor in order to maintain his imperial autocracy. When Li Chengqian decided to fight for it, it would be earth-shattering and unstoppable. No one was qualified to persuade him to stop the war, and he could only fight passively.

This is a powerful force that has been endowed with supreme power since the day the imperial power was born. If you want to break it, you can only defeat it.

*****
Among the current Li Tang royal family, there is only one person who can be called the "big boss", and that is Hejian Prince Li Xiaogong. It seems that he has gradually handed over power and lived in seclusion in his mansion. As the Minister of Personnel, he rarely goes to the government office to handle affairs, and most of the official business is handled by the Left Vice Minister of Personnel. He is unwilling to get involved in the Grand Council unless it is an important matter, and he rarely goes to the "committee" of the Ministry of War. However, both his prestige and qualifications give him an unparalleled status in the royal family.

However, in this turmoil within the royal family, Li Xiaogong's position and attitude are quite ambiguous...

In the Lingyan Pavilion, incense was burning. Li Chengqian stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, looking up at the portraits of the meritorious officials of the Zhenguan period. He pointed at the portrait of Zhangsun Wuji, who was ranked first, and said calmly, "Duke Zhao has made great contributions to the country, but he has lost his integrity in his later years. I intend to remove him from the Lingyan Pavilion. What do you think, uncle?"

During his lifetime, Emperor Taizong praised Zhangsun Wuji's special achievements in public many times, saying that he should be the first among the meritorious officials of the Zhenguan period, and that his highest official position was "Situ" among the Three Dukes, which made him the first and undisputed. However, Zhangsun Wuji was unclear about the time of Emperor Taizong's sudden death, and he later launched a rebellion against the Guanlong clans, and eventually committed suicide after his defeat, so he has received both praise and criticism.

He is no longer qualified to be listed among the heroes in the Lingyan Pavilion.

Li Xiaogong bowed and stood behind Li Chengqian. Hearing this, he glanced at the portraits one by one and whispered, "Your Majesty is the Supreme Ruler and the ruler of the world. You can make the final decision on this matter. I have no objection."

Below Changsun Wuji is the "Sikong", which is second only to "Si Tu" among the three officials. So far, there are four people who have been granted the title of "Sikong" in the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanling, Li Xiaogong, Du Ruhui, and Wei Zheng. The latter two were "given the title of Sikong" after their death. Because the deceased was a great official, Du Ruhui and Wei Zheng were ranked first. In fact, the posthumous title is higher than the official position during life, so Fang Xuanling and Li Xiaogong are the real "Sikong".

When it came to disqualifying Changsun Wuji, the ones who were at the top of the list were Fang Xuanling and Li Xiaogong. However, because of Li Xiaogong's status as a prince of a royal family, he was on par with Fang Xuanling, who was the ruler of the world.

Now Fang Xuanling has retired and it is impossible for him to make any achievements in the government, but Li Xiaogong still holds several positions and it is very likely that he will go further and rank first.

So Li Chengqian's meaning is very clear: Uncle Wang, do you want to be ranked first among the meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion? If you want, you have to keep working hard.

As for how to work hard... Li Xiaogong knew it very well.

Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed, "Even though I am the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, I cannot make decisions on my own. There are many things that I am powerless to do."

Li Xiaogong was silent for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor, the ruler of the world, and you should abide by the laws of heaven. Anyone who dares to disobey is a traitor."

Li Chengqian turned around and looked at Li Xiaogong with a sharp gaze: "Uncle Prince is indeed the backbone of the Tang Dynasty and the cornerstone of the country. Only you have always been loyal and have always lived up to my father's trust and my expectations!"

As long as they could gain Li Xiaogong's support, all their plans would have a basis for success, and even if the worst-case scenario occurred, the entire world would not fall into turmoil.

After all, the Li Tang royal family is the foundation of the world. If the royal family is not in chaos, the world will be stable, and a few jumping clowns will not be able to make too much waves.

Li Xiaogong shook his head and sighed, "What I have done is not for meritorious service or wealth, but to loyally safeguard the foundation established by Emperor Taizong with great effort. Those who have ulterior motives blaspheme the imperial power and are disloyal and unjust should be eliminated. Their ambitions and their troubles should be eradicated. But in the end, this world belongs to your majesty and the royal family. No one knows whether the world will be in chaos and whether the country will be in turmoil. I am worried and uneasy."

Although imperial power is supreme, the Tang Dynasty is the foundation of everyone's interests.

If we abandon billions of ordinary people in order to maintain the dignity of imperial power, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?
But from his point of view, he has to stand with the imperial power.

"Why do you say that, Uncle? Even if the whole world falls into turmoil and millions of people suffer, it is the sin of those disloyal traitors who are doing evil and disrupting the government. I am the Son of Heaven, and I have received the mandate from heaven. How can I allow others to humiliate and trample on me at will? Anyone who doubts me, is disloyal to me, and puts the people above me is my enemy. I swear to fight them to the death!"

Li Chengqian clenched his fists behind his back, his eyes were bright, his face was flushed, and his words were sonorous and powerful.

He had been enduring for too long. The incense in the Lingyan Pavilion seemed to have a power to stir up his emotions, stirring up all the pride, arrogance, and ambition that had been suppressed deep in his heart. He was unwilling to be a puppet, and wanted to be as arbitrary and decisive as his father, the emperor.

I am the Son of Heaven, given the mandate from Heaven, and I wish you a long and prosperous life!
The entire Tang Dynasty must prostrate itself at his feet, grovel and bow down to his supreme imperial power. The so-called Grand Council, Council of State Affairs, and Committee must all be smashed to pieces and thrown into the surging Wei River, grinding their bones and scattering their ashes!
Li Xiaogong and Li Chengqian looked at each other with burning eyes. Their hearts trembled slightly. They bowed again and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, rest assured. No matter when, this old minister will stand by your side."

What kind of look is that?

There are vague memories in my heart, as if there is a sense of déjà vu.

Before Emperor Taizong launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he had come to the palace to discuss the situation with him and tried to win his support. Although he did not directly intervene in the incident, he made great efforts to help Emperor Taizong stabilize the royal family behind the scenes. He also clearly remembered that Emperor Taizong had such a "success or die" and almost hysterical look at that time.

But the problem is that Emperor Taizong at that time had no choice but to do it. If he did not want to surrender, he could only launch a mutiny, kill his brothers and sisters, and face death. This is also the reason why people in the world were quite tolerant of Emperor Taizong afterwards. Although the mutiny was a fact, there is a world of difference between active and passive.

What Li Chengqian is doing now is completely out of selfishness, putting the royal family on the spot. Although the real purpose is to maintain the dignity of the imperial power, it may actually sow the seeds of chaos in the world...

"Looking at the court, those who claim to be loyal to the emperor and love the people are nothing but parasites running for their own interests. They only have their families and themselves in their eyes. They say that the interests of the empire are above all else, but in fact, everything they do is for their own selfish interests, thus abandoning me as the emperor. There is no two suns in the sky, and no two masters for the people. If I, the emperor, become a puppet, it is bound to be out of order and disorder, and the hierarchy will be reversed. Such situations throughout history are the end of dynasties, and no one has ever put things right. You and I, uncle and nephew, should work together to overcome the difficulties and continue the fortune of the Li Tang royal family for a hundred years."

"It is my honor. I will go through fire and water to fulfill your command, even at the cost of my life!"

……

After Li Xiaogong took his leave, Li Chengqian still stood in front of the portrait for a long time, looking somewhat absent-minded.

From the side door, the attendant Li Siliang came out quietly, bowed behind Li Chengqian, and whispered, "Your Majesty."

Li Chengqian then turned around, took a look, and asked, "What's your response, brother?"

Li Siliang said: "Brother went astray and was blinded by hatred. Fortunately, Emperor Taizong forgave him and did not punish him. He also entrusted him with an important task. Now, your majesty has trusted me and entrusted me with the important task of protecting the Eastern Palace. I swear to be loyal to your majesty and never betray you. I will only obey your majesty's orders!"

His brother Li Anyan was appointed as the General of the Central Army and was in charge of guarding the Eastern Palace. The imperial guards under his command could not only protect the crown prince, but also break out of the Eastern Palace and enter the Taiji Palace when necessary, just like when the Jin prince rebelled before, Jin Beommin led the "Three Thousand Hwarang" hiding in the Eastern Palace and suddenly broke out to change the situation...

This was the last insurance that Li Chengqian set up for himself. As long as Li Anyan obeyed the emperor's orders, the Wude Hall would be impregnable.

Li Chengqian nodded and said gently, "Very good. Tell your brother that I am not a stingy and heartless person. When the imperial power is stable and the world is under control, I will not hesitate to reward you. You two are loyal to me and the Tang Dynasty. You are truly a role model for all the subjects in the world."

"My two brothers have been deeply blessed by the Emperor and have long vowed to serve him with our lives. Now that Your Majesty has been persecuted by treacherous officials and the imperial power has fallen into someone else's hands, we are deeply saddened! However, although we have made up our minds to serve him with our lives, the treacherous officials either command a large number of troops and dominate Chang'an, or hide in the dark like a snake. Your Majesty should control more troops to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Your Majesty is the king of ten thousand chariots, and you must not take any risks and must not give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of you."

"Don't worry, I know what's going on. If the traitor dares to rebel, I will strike him down with a thunderbolt force."

Li Chengqian is full of confidence.

His plan was indeed crazy, but he was the emperor after all. He knew very well that a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. How could he risk his life?

As long as he is alive, he will still be the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

If I die, then everything will be over.

He would not sacrifice his life for the sake of the emperor's dignity...