Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 149 Empress Wu's Plan

In the Lizheng Hall, Madam Yang was giving Wu Meiniang prenatal education.

Seeing his mother here, Wu Shun had no choice but to sit aside and wait quietly.

When Madam Yang finished her prenatal education and left the house to do her evening lessons, she hurriedly asked Wu Meiniang.

"Sister, have you heard about the Great Tang Dynasty?"

Wu Meiniang took off her shoes, lay on the couch, supported her chin with one hand, and said lazily: "I heard that you rushed into the palace. You didn't come to ask this, did you?"

Wu Shun said, "I'm worried about another war. I heard that the Arab Empire is very powerful, even Tubo is subservient to them. What if we lose?"

Wu Meiniang said: "You, just chat with those women on weekdays, don't worry about national affairs, it's just causing trouble."

Wu Shun smiled and said, "I won't ask anything else, sister, just give me a clear answer, will we fight with the Arab Empire?"

Wu Meiniang was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty has selected several officials to negotiate with the envoys from the Kingdom of Daqin. If they can reach an agreement, then everything will be fine."

He changed the subject and said coldly, "If they don't know what's good for them, the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty have never feared any enemy."

Wu Shun muttered, "Why bother fighting again? There's no benefit in winning, but if we lose, we won't have a peaceful life."

Wu Meiniang glanced at her and said, "That's just a woman's opinion! The peaceful life our country enjoys today is the result of the bravery and dedication of the soldiers on the front lines."

Wu Shun thought to himself, "You are not a woman yet." Seeing Wu Meiniang's gloomy face, he didn't dare to say anything more.

As the hour of You approached, she said goodbye and left, thinking of her children at home.

Wu Meiniang asked Lady Jiang, "Is His Majesty still in the Forbidden Garden?"

Jiang Shang Gong said: "Yes, the people I sent just reported back that the horses are still racing."

In summer, the days are long and the nights are short.

The evening drum had already sounded eight hundred times, the gates were closed, and the Jinwu Guards were out on the streets, but the sky was still bright.

Li Zhi has recently been practicing riding and shooting frequently in the Forbidden Garden. Not only has his riding skills improved greatly, but his archery skills have also improved considerably, and he can now hit a target fifty steps away.

With his continuous efforts, in less than a year, his body has been significantly strengthened and a few muscles can be vaguely seen in his abdomen.

Usually around the hour of You, he would leave the Forbidden Garden and return to the harem.

In recent days, as the daylight hours have lengthened, he always has to stay in the Forbidden Garden until around 10 p.m.

Several concubines kept sending palace servants to the Forbidden Garden to inquire about the situation.

They were not sure which palace Li Zhi would go to for dinner, and they did not dare to eat too early.

After Li Zhi passed through the Xuanwu Gate, he thought of something that Wang Jishan had mentioned to him a few days ago, and headed towards the Lizheng Hall.

Outside the palace gate, Wu Meiniang, along with the palace maids and eunuchs, were welcoming the emperor.

Li Zhi took Wu Meiniang's hand and said, "Meiniang, you are already more than five months pregnant. You don't need to come out to greet me anymore."

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "This isn't my first pregnancy. I'm just taking a few steps. Your Majesty, please don't spoil me."

The two men came into the hall and saw food on the table. Because it was reheated every once in a while, the food was still steaming.

After the two sat down, Wu Meiniang ordered someone to call Li Hong over, and asked the tutor to put Li Xian on a raised recliner.

The family starts to eat.

After dinner, Li Zhi asked Li Hong a few questions about his studies while picking his teeth. He found that Li Hong had made great progress in his studies and had even started reading the Analects of Confucius.

Compared with Li Yong and the other two, Li Hong hardly has to worry about anything and is indeed a well-behaved and sensible child.

After a while, Li Hong and Li Xian finished their meal and left the hall.

Li Zhi then said, "Mei Niang, Wang Jishan has already told me about those Tibetan spies. Thank you for your hard work."

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "This is all Zhang Duohai's own decision. I've been taking care of the fetus lately, so how can I care about these things?"

Li Zhi glanced sideways at Zhang Duohai and nodded, "Well done."

Zhang Duohai was overjoyed and said with his hands folded on his waist, "Your Majesty, please don't say that. This is my duty!" His voice trembled slightly.

This was the first time the emperor had praised him since last November, and he could finally put down the worry in his heart.

Wu Mei Niang suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, are you planning to send someone to negotiate with those Arabs?"

Li Zhi nodded and said, "That's right. It's always good to talk and understand the demands of both sides. I hope we can reach an agreement."

It must be said that the butterfly effect really does exist.

Because he prevented Tubo from annexing Tuyuhun, Tubo surrendered to the Arab Empire.

Li Zhi figured that the Tibetans were afraid that after he dealt with Helu, they would attack them, so they kept a low profile and lured the Arab Empire into war with the Tang Dynasty.

There was also the Western Turkic Khaganate, and the Five Duluk tribes that migrated westward also defected to the Arab Empire.

Originally, the Arab Empire did not focus on the East during this period.

As a result, the surrender of these two guys attracted the Arab envoys.

According to official history, the first conflict between the Tang Dynasty and the Arab Empire took place in Talas about a hundred years later.

The result happened ahead of schedule.

The Arab Empire came well prepared this time.

Their current territory has reached the former border of Persia, and the border of the Tang Dynasty has also expanded to Suiye City.

Right between the two countries, there are thirteen Western Regions countries, nine of which are vassal states of the Tang Dynasty.

With the help of the Tibetans and the Turks, the Arab Empire gained a certain understanding of the situation in the East and wanted to take a part of the thirteen countries to serve as a buffer zone between the two countries.

The Arab Empire had a big appetite and wanted to take over the sovereignty of seven countries at once.

Li Zhi naturally would not agree, so he did not meet the Arabs at all, and only planned to send a few officials to talk to them.

If we can reach an agreement, then we will talk. If we can’t, it doesn’t matter.

The two countries are too far apart, and with their current military combat capabilities, neither can threaten the other.

The main reason why Li Zhi was still willing to talk to them was to develop trade routes to prevent the Silk Road, which had just been restored, from being closed again.

Business is a two-way street.

He believed that the Arabs also needed the goods of the Tang Dynasty, and there was no question of one being begged by the other. He had to be tough when necessary and there was no need to be polite to them.

When Wu Meiniang saw Li Zhi's attitude, she knew that he was not worried about this matter and stopped talking about it.

At night, Li Zhi went to Chengxiang Hall. After Zhang Duohai helped Wu Meiniang to sleep, he quietly left the palace and came to the Changqiutai stronghold.

He summoned his adopted son Zhang Quan and several eunuchs into the house, commended them, and even gave each of them a silver ingot out of his own pocket.

Zhang Quan was slightly startled and said, "Foster father, this is your private money, right? We can't accept it."

Zhang Duohai waved his hand and said, "You have worked hard and made great contributions in capturing the Tibetan spies this time. Not only is Her Majesty the Queen satisfied, but even the Saint has praised you."

"You all know my temper. I'm not a stingy person like Wang Fusheng. As long as you do your job well in the future, let alone money, I can even give you a house as a reward. That's not impossible!"

Everyone knelt on the ground.

"We will do our best to serve the young supervisor!"

Zhang Da Hai smiled and said, "Not for me, but for Her Majesty the Queen and the Saint!"

After everyone left, Zhang Duohai was about to return to the palace when Zhang Quan suddenly grabbed him.

"Godfather, there's something I'm investigating. Although I haven't fully confirmed it, I still feel I should tell you about it."

Zhang Duohai asked, "What's the matter?"

Zhang Quan said, "Recently, a spy heard a piece of news from an old palace official, saying that the young eunuch beside the Saint is not a simple person."

Zhang Duohai's heart skipped a beat and he asked, "Xiaoji?"

"Yes."

Zhang Dahai asked anxiously: "Why is your identity not simple?"

Zhang Quan said, "That old palace maid once served Concubine Yan De. She heard from her that in the fourth year of the Yonghui reign, Concubine Yan De secretly sent someone to send a young eunuch into the palace. This matter was extremely secretive, and the several palace maids involved later left the palace for various reasons. She also heard a palace maid mention this matter before she left."

"Yonghui's fourth year, Consort Yan De." Zhang Duohai muttered and repeated, then asked, "Is that young eunuch Xiaoji?"

Zhang Quan said, "Yes, but I haven't found out his true identity yet. It's not appropriate for him to stay with the Saint, so I'm reporting this to you in advance."

Zhang Duohai said in a deep voice: "Although Wang Fusheng is mean, he is not a careless person. I don't believe he doesn't know the identity of this person."

Zhang Quan whispered, "Could this be Wang Fusheng's conspiracy against Her Majesty the Queen?"

Zhang Duohai took a deep breath and said, "From now on, you must stop doing anything else and get to the bottom of this matter!"

Zhang Quan bowed and said, "I will do my best!"

Two days later, one afternoon, Wu Meiniang was praying at Foguang Temple when she suddenly heard the sound of "dong dong dong".

When I turned my head, I saw Zhang Duohai running in from outside, sweating profusely.

Wu Meiniang ignored him, clasped her hands together and continued to pray to the Buddha.

A quarter of an hour later, she walked out of Foguang Temple, got on the sedan chair, and returned to Lizheng Hall.

"Why are you so flustered? What happened?" She glanced at Zhang Duohai.

Zhang Dahai's face flushed, and he looked very excited. He whispered, "Your Highness, I will tell you in detail after we return."

After returning to the bedroom, Wu Meiniang asked again, but Zhang Duohai looked at the two maids who were fanning Wu Meiniang and said nothing.

Wu Meiniang frowned and waved her hand, saying, "All of you leave."

When they were the only two people left in the room, Zhang Duohai came to Wu Meiniang and whispered, "Your Highness, do you know who Xiaoji is?"

Wu Meiniang's eyebrows twitched, and she turned her head to stare at him.

"who is it?"

Zhang Duohai lowered his voice and said, "He is the son of Wu Wang Li Ke."

Wu Meiniang's eyes flashed with a strange light, and she asked, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure!"

Wu Meiniang clenched her hands involuntarily and whispered, "I felt that Jiulang had something special about him. So this is it."

Zhang Dahai smiled and said, "You said that His Majesty kept him by his side, but did you intend to overturn the case for King Wu?"

Wu Meiniang pondered for a moment, frowned, and said, "Logically speaking, if you want to overturn the verdict, you can do it now. What are you hesitating about, Your Majesty?"

Zhang Duohai said, "I wonder if the Saint is waiting for a better opportunity?"

Wu Meiniang waved her hand and said, "No, considering the current situation, it is the best time."

Zhang Duohai was stunned and asked, "Why didn't the saint punish him?"

Wu Meiniang took a deep breath and said, "Zhangsun Wuji is cunning and treacherous. He is likely to retreat in order to advance. When he braved the rain to enter the palace, he confessed this matter to Your Majesty."

Zhang Dahai's face changed and he said, "Then your Majesty is planning to let him go?"

Wu Meiniang was silent for a long time, and said to herself: "After all, he is your majesty's uncle. He has not committed any crime at the moment. Your majesty will not overturn Li Ke's case for no reason."

Zhang Dahai smiled bitterly and said, "Then this information is useless, right?"

Wu Meiniang glanced at him sideways and smiled, "No, Duohai, you did a great job. I already have a way to deal with Zhangsun Wuji."

Zhang Dahai asked hurriedly: "What method?"

Wu Meiniang said casually: "It's very simple. Tell Zhangsun Wuji about Xiaoji's identity."

Zhang Duohai was stunned at first, then he showed a look of joy and clapped his hands.

"Great! If he knew, he would definitely take action, and action would lead to mistakes. Then, the Saint would have a reason to overturn the verdict!"

Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "This is called stirring up trouble."

Zhang Duohai hurriedly said, "I will do it right away. I will do it properly and won't let him get suspicious."

Wu Meiniang raised her hand and said, "No, now is not the time. Let him know in December."

"Why?"

Wu Meiniang touched her belly and said, "First, I am pregnant now. If I fight him, something unexpected might happen. Second, in December, the King of Yue and the King of Ji will also return to Chang'an. Then, they can also become our helpers."

Zhang Dahai praised: "You are very thoughtful."

Wu Meiniang looked sideways at him and said, "The more critical the moment, the more we cannot afford to make mistakes. Don't leak the news in the next few months."

Zhang Duohai was startled and said, "I understand."

(End of this chapter)