Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4892: Heavy Snow in Liangzhou
Li Daoli was startled by Li Shenfu's sharp gaze and hurriedly explained, "It's not that I want to find out anything, but this matter is really serious. I have been unable to sleep and eat for these days. I don't know why uncle king arranged it, so I am worried. Uncle king just thought I was talking nonsense."

"The arrow has been put on the string and must be shot. Why should my dear nephew add to his troubles?"

Li Shenfu then retracted his gaze, drank a sip of rice wine, and slowly said: "It's not that I don't trust you. The more confidential the matter is, the fewer people know it. You should understand the principle of 'If you don't keep things secret, you will lose your life'. Even if you can't influence the army, it's better to know less."

Li Daoli nodded, feeling resentful in his heart.

Even his son died, but he was not regarded as a true confidant by Li Shenfu. It was obvious that even if great things could be accomplished, he might not be able to reap enough benefits as expected.

However, he also knew that Li Shenfu was cunning and treacherous. Since he himself didn't know which army he had secretly contacted, it was even less likely for outsiders to know. The more confidential it was, the higher the chance of success.

"It's my fault. From now on, I will obey your orders and enforce them."

Li Daoli originally wanted to ask when the attack would take place, but seeing that Li Shenfu was so secretive, he gave up the idea.

By now he has already boarded Li Shenfu's boat and cannot get off. Instead of worrying about this and that, he might as well obey Li Shenfu's orders honestly and risk everything to make achievements. Not only can his title be further improved, but he can also gain power in the court by "following the dragon's merits".

He was really tired of the days of being an idle prince. He seemed to be noble and wealthy, but in fact he was always humble and had to keep his tail between his legs in public for fear of being spotted by the censors and getting into trouble. After all, no one cared about a royal family member who was kept in captivity.

How can a real man live without power for a day?
Li Shenfu glanced at him and felt that although Li Daoli lacked talent and had an unstable character, he was loyal to him and had never disobeyed him, so he should be given some comfort: "You don't have to worry. All parties are almost ready. The day of the launch will be after the New Year. Get ready. You may not have to take up arms to fight, but you must help me stabilize the royal family and the court."

Li Xiaoyi did not give a definite answer and was obviously wavering, or even pretending to obey but actually disobeying. Therefore, to appease the royal family after the rebellion, Li Daozon cannot be relied upon alone. After all, Li Daozon is difficult to control. Although Li Daoli has great ambitions but little talent, he has a high seniority and powerful subordinates, so he can be considered a good helper.

Li Daoli was excited: "Is Uncle Wang ready?"

It is now more than two months away from the Chinese New Year, and only three months after the New Year. The big event that has been prepared for a long time is finally on the agenda. It is inevitable that I feel both nervous and excited.

Li Shenfu is as steady as a rock: "The arrow is on the string, ready to be fired!"

"Okay!" Li Daoli clapped his fist and gnashed his teeth, "What virtue does Li Chengqian have to dare to steal the throne? For the sake of the Li Tang dynasty, we must work hard to restore order and create a foundation for the Tang dynasty that will last forever!"

Li Demao, who was sitting next to him, pursed his lips tightly, trying hard to control his excited emotions.

Although my father has repeatedly claimed that the rebellion was not intended to seize the throne, when the mission is accomplished, his prestige will surely soar. Wouldn't it be a natural thing for him to seize the throne with his unparalleled achievements?
By then, I will be the crown prince!
Besides, my father is over 70 years old and doesn't have many years left to live, so I...

Li Demao just felt dry mouth and tongue, so he poured himself a glass of wine and drank it in one gulp. The warm wine went down his throat and made his whole body hot.

Feeling tipsy and drunk.

Li Daoli also took a sip of wine and asked, "If the great event can be accomplished, who does Uncle Wang think can succeed the throne?"

Li Demao perked up and his ears pricked up.

Li Shenfu frowned and shouted, "What nonsense are you talking about? We started the rebellion because Your Majesty is cowardly, perverse and violent, and is not qualified to be the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Although the emperor can be deposed, the crown prince is still there, so naturally the crown prince of the East Palace will inherit the throne! The orthodoxy of the Tang Dynasty cannot be confused. How can you and I make the decision?"

Li Demao's passion cooled instantly. He didn't understand why they still cared about a baby prince who was less than ten years old since they were going to depose Li Chengqian?

Li Daoli immediately understood what Li Shenfu meant, nodded repeatedly, and said: "Uncle Wang's words make sense. The Tang Dynasty is orthodox and has an orderly inheritance. This is the way of heaven and cannot be blasphemed."

orthodox?

As long as orthodoxy is either dead or abolished, how can there be orthodoxy?
Since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, there has been no orthodoxy in the Tang Dynasty!
The throne of the Tang Dynasty belongs to those who are capable. Whoever can ascend to the throne is the legitimate ruler!

From this, it can be seen that Li Shenfu has made up his mind to cut off Li Chengqian's lineage. Even the other descendants of Emperor Taizong might not have a good end. The succession to the throne of the Tang Dynasty will probably have to be chosen from another lineage within the royal family.

With this as bait, why worry that members of the royal family will not flock to it?
Li Shenfu smiled slightly, with wisdom in his hands.

Li Demao's dream was shattered, and he couldn't help asking: "Although your majesty is not talented and a bit mediocre, he is not a fool. Why did you know that there was a conspiracy among the royal family but you always turned a deaf ear to it and ignored it?"

Li Daoli glanced at the disappointment on Li Shenfu's face and explained, "It's not that Your Majesty turned a deaf ear to it, but Your Majesty doesn't want to bear the stigma of 'slaughtering the royal family'. Until now, the so-called 'rebellion' is just a private talk among everyone, but there is no real evidence. Otherwise, if the 'Hundred Cavalry Division' detects a little bit of evidence, how could we still sit here safely and enjoy the snow and drink?"

He paused, and when he looked at Li Shenfu, he was full of admiration and respect: "Uncle King has kept the matter of contacting the military a secret. Even if Your Majesty is furious, it is useless to do anything!"

The Tang Dynasty had never "punished people for their words". Could it be that the old members of the royal family would be arrested and charged with "treason" just because they complained that "Your Majesty does not look like a monarch"?
Although the definition of "treason" is very strict, there are some differences for royal family members after all.

Therefore, as long as Li Chengqian did not want to bear the stigma of "being heartless and ungrateful" and "massacre of royal family members", he could only find conclusive evidence to convict him.

If you can't find evidence, you can only let it go and do nothing about it.

Who asked you to advertise yourself as tolerant and benevolent?

Li Demao finally understood. Normally, he would not dare to ask his father about these things at home. Now that Li Daoli had explained his doubts, he said with emotion: "Your Majesty is pedantic and can be deceived!"

*****
There is heavy snow in Guanzhong, but the mountains and passes on all sides block the cold air from the far north, so there is no biting and fierce cold wind, and it is not cold even if it snows.

Liangzhou.

In Guzang City, heavy snow was falling and the north wind was blowing fiercely.

Cheng Yaojin, wearing a fur coat, sat in front of the stove. He drained the wine in his glass in one gulp, wiped the wine stains on his beard, exhaled a breath of white air, and cursed: "Damn it, what kind of shitty weather is this? I can freeze to death just by going out to pee. This is really not a place for people to stay!"

The cold air from the far north blows southward, across the vast desert, over the Great Wall, ravages Wuwei, and then goes all the way south to the foot of the Qilian Mountains. Therefore, the climate in the Hexi Corridor is sunny and the rivers are abundant in summer, but it is extremely cold in winter.

Niu Jinda, who was sitting opposite him, was curled up in a chair covered with animal skins and even wore a felt hat on his head. The usually murderous general was now like a country landlord, drinking wine calmly and calmly, and from time to time he would use a knife to cut a piece of meat from a roasted leg of lamb and put it into his mouth, chewing with a sound of smacking.

Hearing Cheng Yaojin's complaint, he said disapprovingly: "Why don't you just pee in the room? We have been together for a lifetime and know each other well. I won't deliberately laugh at you because of some physical deficiencies."

"What?!"

Cheng Yaojin's eyes widened in disbelief, and he angrily said, "Old Cow, when did you learn to be so shameless? Do I have physical deficiencies? Damn it, the reason why I am more capable than you is not only because I am braver than you on the battlefield and have more ideas than you in leading troops to fight, but also because I am gifted!"

As a man, no matter whether you can do it or not, you must never let anyone tell you no.

Niu Jinda took a sip of wine and rolled his eyes: "Okay, okay, you are not lacking, right?"

Immediately he sighed and muttered, "You don't even know if it's possible? It's ridiculous to deceive yourself..."

"Wow, Old Cow, you're going too far! Come on, let's compete now. Whoever is shorter will get chopped off with a knife!"

Cheng Yaojin jumped three feet high and reached out to untie his belt.

"Hey, hey, hey, you are a duke and a commander of an army, can you be more polite? We are eating, why did you take out that bug?"

"Bug?! Damn, have you ever seen such an energetic, majestic and domineering bug?!"

"Okay, okay, you are energetic and domineering, okay? Short and powerful!"

"Mom!"

Cheng Yaojin was so angry that he jumped over and kicked the chair over. Niu Jinda was unable to dodge and fell to the ground.

……

The two old friends joked around for a while, then sat down around the stove again. Cheng Yaojin drank a sip of wine, took a bite of the mutton handed to him by Niu Jinda, and sighed, "It's especially cold in Hexi this winter. It's snowing for two days and it hasn't stopped yet. The Yellow River is frozen and the roads are blocked. We can't use our troops at all!"

An Yuanshou made a mistake and was sent to Liangzhou by His Majesty to monitor him, but Cheng Yaojin had no intention of staying in Guzang City as a "military supervisor". He had heard that An Yuanshou had been flirting and contacting with the remnants of the Turkic people in the desert. He was waiting to catch An Yuanshou in the act, and then lead his troops to attack and uproot him, and then return to the capital to report.

He believed that Li Chengqian had placed him in Liangzhou for this purpose...

Niu Jinda shook his head and said, "Don't worry about An Yuanshou for now. We are in Guzang City. We must not let An's family kill us."

The An family has been operating in Liangzhou for generations and has deep roots. Although they would not rush into the military camp and kill the commander-in-chief, it would not be difficult for them to do something secretly to make the Zuo Wuwei overwhelmed.