Chapter 3408 Su Wei’s Division
"The situation in the Western Regions is even worse in Chang'an! Although the Anxi Army has repeatedly won, it cannot conceal the fact that it is retreating step by step. Now that the Anxi Army has retreated to Gongyue City, it has no way to retreat. If it loses the dangerous passes of Tianshan Mountain, it will be difficult to recapture the general. I will pay ten times, A hundred times the loss! Now that Fang Jun is in charge of the Western Region, commanding the Anxi Army and the Youtun Guards, they are fighting hard against the Great Cannibals, and there is always danger of overthrow. How could I recall him to Chang'an for his own benefit and give up most of the Western Region? ?”
Li Chengqian sighed and shook his head with a wry smile.
It’s not just the princess who feels safe only when Fang Jun is around, why doesn’t Li Chengqian? Faced with the current urgent situation, he often couldn't help but want to recall Fang Jun from the Western Regions to help him stabilize the situation.
However, he is not only the crown prince, but also the prince who oversees the country. And he failed to give up most of the Western Region to the cannibals for the sake of his position as king?
Crown Princess Su stood behind him, her hands gently squeezing his shoulders, silent.
Once the East Palace loses power, it will not only be the deposing of the crown prince, but also the end of everyone in the East Palace - throughout the ages, has there ever been a deposed prince who died a good death? Therefore, the pressure in her heart was definitely no less than that of Li Chengqian.
However, a woman can only live in seclusion in the palace, letting the men fight for their lives outside, waiting anxiously for the final result.
Go to heaven, or go to earth...
Li Chengqian also felt his wife's nervousness and anxiety, patted the delicate hand on his shoulder, and said warmly: "Don't worry, my dear, the situation is urgent, but various means have been deployed before, and there are also the virtuous civil and military officials such as Song Guogong and Wei Guogong who are doing their best. Assistance, no matter how bad the situation is, you can still control it Chances of victory. Furthermore, although the situation in Liaodong is still unclear, how can hundreds of thousands of troops besiege Pingrang City without breaking it? It is expected that within a few days, news of the great victory in Liaodong will be spread, and everyone in the government and the public will be shocked. You have to settle down, no matter how big your ambition is, you have to hide it.”
Crown Princess Su said softly: "Your Highness, please don't use such words to offend me. Although I am just a prostitute with little knowledge, I also know that since those people dare to launch an attack in Chang'an City, it must be because of the emergence of Liaodong." The situation is unpredictable and they have no time to take care of Chang'an, so they dare to act unscrupulously."
Regardless of the Guanlong clan or the royal family, as long as someone dares to launch a mutiny to depose the East Palace, it must be confirmed that the war in Liaodong will not end for a while, or even something unexpected happened, preventing the army from returning to Beijing in the short term. Otherwise, before they could succeed in their uprising, hundreds of thousands of the Eastern Expedition troops over there would have returned, wouldn't they be seeking their own death?
Li Chengqian was silent for a moment. Not only the ministers in the court but also the princess understood this truth. It can be seen that something earth-shattering must have happened in Liaodong.
I'm afraid it's not just as simple as my father falling off his horse and getting injured...
*****
Xiudefang in Fanglinmen, just next to Fanglinmen Street, is the station of Zuo Yiwei, separated from the palace by only one wall.
The Sixteen Guards System originated from the Northern Zhou Dynasty. It was initiated by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Yu Wenyong, who set up the Siwei and the Military Attachés to command the soldiers and stay in the palace. There is also the Wuhou Mansion, which leads the soldiers to patrol the capital, and each has a doctor.
In the early Sui Dynasty, following the system of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, twelve offices were set up to command the imperial guards. Among the twelve prefectures in the early Sui Dynasty, there were only six prefectures, the left and right guards, the left and right Wuwei, and the left and right Wuhou. In the third year of Emperor Yang's reign in the Sui Dynasty, the Twelve Prefectures were added to the Twelve Guards and Four Prefectures, collectively known as the Sixteen Guards Prefecture or the Sixteen Prefectures.
The left and right Prefectures of Beishen and the Left and Right Jianmen Prefectures do not control the palace soldiers. The Left and Right Prefectures of Beishen are responsible for guarding the emperor, and the Left and Right Jianmen Prefectures are in charge of palace access control.
Zuo Yiwei is one of the sixteen guards. Together with the other eleven guards, they are collectively known as the "foreign army". They are in charge of the government soldiers and the guards of the capital. Their army is called "Xiaoqi".
This is the real "Master of Suwei"...
Under the heavy snow, in the barracks, Zuo Yiwei General Dou Lu Huairang and Qiu Xinggong were sitting on their knees facing each other, the aroma of hot tea filling the air.
Doulu Huairang held the pot and poured tea, gently pushed the tea cup in front of Qiu Xinggong, and said respectfully: "Commander, please drink tea."
Qiu Xinggong's old-fashioned face showed a smile, he picked up the tea cup, took a sip, nodded and said: "Huairang is now leading Zuo Yiwei and staying in the capital of the capital. I am deeply pleased with him for his outstanding achievements."
"Without the training of the general, how could the general be where he is today? No matter when, the general would be grateful and willing to stick with him!"
Doulu Huairang's tone was respectful.
In fact, speaking of it, the Doulu family is just as generous as the Qiu family, or even more so. The ancestors of the Doulu family can be traced back to the Murong family of Xianbei. Murong Chang, the king of the Northern Territory of Later Yan, surrendered to the Northern Wei Dynasty and was appointed the governor of Changle County. He was given the sex "Doulu", which means "submission" in Xianbei language.
Doulu Huairang's father, Doulu Kuannai, was the nephew of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. He had a distinguished status, but unfortunately he was not reused and was only the magistrate of Liangquan County. The great ancestor Li Yuan raised troops in Taiyuan, and Doulu Kuan followed Xiao Yu and returned to the Tang Dynasty, and was awarded the title of Guanglu Doctor. When the Tang Dynasty pacified Guanzhong, Doulu Kuan had the merit of following the dragon. In the early years of Zhenguan, he moved to the post of Minister of Rites, General Zuo Yiwei, and was granted the title of Duke Rui.
However, the Doulu family seems to have great achievements, but in fact it has never been able to enter the center and grasp real power. Even the position of General Doulu Kuanzuo Yiwei, who seemed to have military power, was difficult to control the entire army at that time, and he had to be controlled by Qiu. Practice respectful decentralization and moderation.
After all, Qiu Xinggong, who had been fighting under His Majesty Li Er since the day he surrendered to Li Tang, was His Majesty Li Er's true confidant. When Doulukuan was old, His Majesty Li Er directly appointed Qiu Xinggong as General Zuo Yiwei.
It's just that Qiu Xinggong was cruel by nature and acted arbitrarily. He was impeached many times and had numerous official positions. He was always dismissed as soon as he took office. It's just that His Majesty Li Er remembered his merits and often reinstated him not long after he was dismissed from office.
When Qiu Xinggong was serving as the general of Zuo Yiwei, Doulu Huairang was serving as a partial general in the army. It was Qiu Xinggong who simplified and cultivated him, and then he was able to secure his position as the general of Zuo Yiwei. With the military power of Wei, he stayed in the capital and became the emperor's confidant.
Therefore, Doulu Huairang always respected Qiu Xinggong and always called him "marshal" to show his respect.
Qiu Xinggong drank tea and said calmly: "Recently, there has been unrest in Beijing, and there have been many turmoils. Has Prince Consort Doulu ever heard of it?"
Doulu Huairang whispered: "Commander, are you referring to the rumors that His Majesty was injured in Liaodong?"
He came from a famous family. Although his family never held real power, it had a high prestige. His father was the nephew of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty. He himself was Princess Wanchun, the daughter of Emperor Shang Gaozu, and was awarded the title of Commander-in-Chief Prince-in-law.
Qiu Xinggong nodded and said: "Exactly."
Doulu Huairang pondered for a moment. He trusted Qiu Xinggong, so he did not shy away from it and said: "I'm afraid it may not be without reason."
Suddenly, this rumor became rampant in Chang'an City. How could it be said that it was completely unfounded? Moreover, although the imperial court has been trying its best to arrest those who spread rumors, it has never officially refuted the rumors, and has even publicly denied them. Who can know whether it is true or false?
But even if it is true, not many people believe whether His Majesty Li Er "accidentally fell into an ambush and was shot in the eye by the enemy" as rumored.
Qiu Xinggong put down the tea cup, looked at Doulu Huairang with his eyes, and asked slowly: "The situation is urgent and big changes are coming. Where will Doulu's consort go?"
Doulu Huairang was silent as he held the tea cup in his hand.
How could he not know Qiu Xinggong's position?
Although Qiu Xinggong has followed His Majesty for many years and made many great contributions, his cruelty and violence did not please His Majesty. His behavior was even more wanton and reckless. He was impeached many times, and his official position has never been commensurate with his merits. If it hadn't been for the appreciation and cultivation of Duke Gao Shilian of the State of Shen, how could Qiu Xinggong be as successful as he was today? I'm afraid that His Majesty Li Er sent him away from a distance long ago and left him to fend for himself.
However, Qiu Xinggong was eventually seduced by Changsun Wuji, turned his back on Gao Shilian, and turned to the embrace of the Guanlong clan, hoping to go one step further and take revenge on Fang Jun.
But no one thought that Changsun Wuji would win over Qiu Xinggong, take advantage of him, and then abandon him...
Because Fang Jun was there in the East Palace, and the prince was also kind and generous, it was impossible to accept the cruel and violent Qiu Xinggong. The Guanlong clan abandoned him like a worn-out shoe, so naturally they would not accept him again. There are only a few factions in the court. The Shandong aristocratic families and the Jiangnan nobles are all on the side of the East Palace. Qiu Xinggong wants to make a comeback. Where are there more choices?
There is no doubt that Qiu Xinggong came here today to be a lobbyist for His Highness King Jing.
However, although His Highness King Jing has a noble status, if he wants to get his hands on the great treasure, he can only launch a mutiny and repeat the "Xuanwu Gate Incident" of the year, and seize the imperial power in reverse.
How great is the risk involved?
If you are not careful, it will end in death!
Even though Doulu Huairang respected Qiu Xinggong very much and was willing to be attached to Jiwei, he did not dare to make a decision easily on such a major matter that affected his family and life... (End of Chapter)