Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

With a somewhat tired look on his face, Changsun Wuji stood up and responded seriously.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready."

This was his first time to preside over a grand court meeting and a grand display, and it was also the first time for his deputy Du Gou, so they were both very busy these days.

Moreover, Changsun Wuji also attended various banquets, which further squeezed his rest time.

Li Shimin nodded with a smile on his face, then waved and said.

"Then let's get started!"

After today's grand court meeting and grand display, most officials will return to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year, so Li Shimin did not say too much nonsense today.

He had already explained to all the officials what needed to be said at the banquet held in Taiji Hall yesterday.

"As ordered!"

Changsun Wuji responded, then turned around and nodded to his deputy, Shangshu Zuocheng Du Gou.

Under the chairmanship of Du Gou, the grand court meeting proceeded in an orderly manner.

The process of this year's grand court meeting is the same as in previous years, with the original five steps and no innovation at all.

The first item of the grand court meeting was that Crown Prince Li Chengqian, Minister of the Interior Zhangsun Wuji and Minister of Works Fang Xuanling, on behalf of all officials and people, congratulated Li Shimin.

The second item of the grand court meeting was that the newly appointed Minister of the Central Secretariat, Cen Wenben, read out the congratulatory messages submitted by the provincial governors.

The third item of the grand court meeting was that the attendant Liu Ji read out the auspicious signs of each state.

The fourth item of the grand court meeting was to read out the list of tribute items submitted by envoys from various states and vassal states.

After completing the first three steps, Du He felt that it was more interesting to read out the auspicious signs of each state.

For example, Du Chuke, the governor of Xiangzhou, submitted a memorial.

"On September 15th of the 18th year of Zhenguan, a phoenix cloud appeared in the sky of Xiangzhou, implying the appearance of a concubine or a person who would be the mother of the country."

Yang Sili, the governor of Yuezhou, submitted a memorial.

"On August 22, the 18th year of Zhenguan, auspicious signs appeared in Yuezhou: rain fell every ten days, and the wind did not blow, which indicated peace."

Li Yuanchang, the governor of Youzhou, also submitted a memorial.

"On June 10th of the 18th year of Zhenguan, the sun and the moon appeared in Youzhou, which was a sign of great fortune for the Tang Dynasty."

The governor who submitted a memorial to report the auspicious signs this year was different from the governor who reported the auspicious signs in the previous two years, and the content of the auspicious signs was also different.

Although the auspicious signs reported were varied and each one more exaggerated than the other, they still avoided the auspicious signs that only occurred when an emperor was born.

Du He was wondering if these provincial governors had agreed on this in advance, otherwise how could they be so in sync?

Moreover, the auspicious sign mentioned in Du Chuke's report was also very interesting. The phoenix and auspicious clouds appeared in the sky. This was most likely Li Tai's wishful thinking.

If he succeeded in his rebellion and became emperor, it would be traceable that he made Yin Yushan, a woman from a family of torture and execution, his empress.

After all, the auspicious sign of the phoenix had appeared before, so which minister would dare to stop it?

Du He looked at the smiling Li Tai, then shook his head and thought to himself.

"Li Tai doesn't have the emperor's life, but he's thinking about the emperor's affairs."

At this moment, the Minister of Revenue Tang Jian also finished reading out the tribute items from various states, and Du Gou continued aloud.

"Please ask the Minister of Rites Zhang Shigui to read out the tribute items from each vassal state!"

The sleepy civil and military officials slowly opened their eyes and looked at Zhang Shigui holding a gift list with great interest.

Zhang Shigui was a military general. When he spoke loudly, he was full of energy and his powerful voice echoed in the Taiji Hall for a long time.

"Xueyantuo, pay tribute of 5000 horses, 15000 sheep, 4000 cattle, leather..."

"Eastern Turks, tribute of 1500 horses, 3000 sheep, 1500 cattle, leather..."

"Western Turks, tribute of 1500 horses, 3000 sheep, 1500 cattle, leather..."

"..."

"Kucha, tribute of 100 dancing girls..."

"Wakoku, pay tribute to us with 50 dancers, dan of dried fish, rolls of bantam cloth,..."

Because Xueyantuo betrayed the Tang Dynasty last year, more than 70% of its main force was destroyed, and they also attacked Crown Prince Li Chengqian with a large force, causing him to fall off his horse and break his leg.

In addition, the original Xueyantuo royal family was massacred, so the tribute offered by Xueyantuo this year almost plundered the ruined Xueyantuo again.

The other vassal states, under pressure from the powerful Tang Dynasty, doubled the amount of tribute they paid.

As for the tribute items offered by Japan, to be honest, they can only be described as shabby, and this was because Japan saw Silla and Baekje being destroyed by the Tang Dynasty.

Last year, Japan only paid tribute to the Tang Dynasty with 10 dancers and some dried fish and animal skins, treating the Tang Dynasty like a beggar.

After Zhang Shigui finished reading, Li Shimin looked at the court officials with a smile on his face and said.

"My dear ministers, we still don't have enough vassal states in the Tang Dynasty. You must not slack off!"

The civil and military officials looked at each other for a while, then stood up and responded.

"I wish to follow Your Majesty to expand our territory and conquer all the countries in the four seas and eight directions."

"Wherever the sun and the moon shine, it's the land of the Tang Dynasty!"

Listening to the deafening shouts of his ministers, Li Shimin's face was full of excited smiles.

After a full cup of tea, the ministers slowly stopped at Li Shimin's wave.

After everyone sat down on their cushions again, Du Gou, who was in charge of presiding over the grand court meeting, turned to Yuan Tiangang and said.

"Now we are going to proceed to the last item of the grand court meeting. Please invite Grand Historian Yuan Tiangang to report on the celestial phenomena!"

Yuan Tiangang, who rarely appears in the public eye, walked from the back of the hall to the center, and his face looked a little solemn.

Seeing the expression on Yuan Tiangang's face, Li Shimin and a group of ministers paused for a moment.

Whenever Yuan Tiangang, who looked like an immortal, showed this expression, it meant that something big was about to happen.

Last year, Yuan Tiangang saw Taibai Star appear in Liaodong Road. Sure enough, Li Chengqian fell off his horse and broke his leg. No one could deny the accuracy of his prediction.

Yuan Tiangang first saluted towards Li Shimin and Li Chengqian, then frowned and said.

"Your Majesty, I have recently observed the celestial phenomena and saw the Seven Killing Stars appear in Luozhou and the Purple Star appears in Xiangzhou!"

"The appearance of the Seven Killing Stars and the Purple Star is also a warning from the gods. Your Majesty, please pay attention and be on guard!"

what!

A Ziwei star was born in Xiangzhou?

Upon hearing Yuan Tiangang's treasonous words, the faces of all the civil and military officials changed drastically, and they all turned their attention to Prince of Wei Li Tai.

As for the new Luozhou governor Zhang Liang, his astronomical sign of the Seven Killing Stars is nothing compared to the Purple Stars.

Therefore, no one in the court paid attention to him.

Du He didn't expect that Yuan Tiangang could actually see this astronomical phenomenon, and he was filled with astonishment.

"Yuan Tiangang has something!"

Li Tai was a rebellious man who wanted to emulate his father and launch a coup to ascend the throne, so the prediction of the birth of Ziweixing was very accurate.

The Qi Sha star is a general star, and when it meets the emperor it becomes power.

If Zhang Liang, who was banished to Luozhou to serve as the governor, had followed Li Tai in rebellion, then Yuan Tiangang's prediction of the Seven Killing Stars appearing in Luozhou would have been equally accurate.

Feeling everyone's attention, Li Tai's back was covered in cold sweat, and even his expression changed uncontrollably.

"What on earth does this old man Yuan Tiangang know?"

"Why did he mention Xiangzhou and Luozhou?"

Just when Li Tai was about to lose his courage, the faces of Zhang Liang, Yin Yuhe, Du Chuke, Wei Ting and others also changed drastically.