Tibet

The five ministers of the political affairs hall were all present. Of course, Li Fuguo was present as his substitute. Empress Zhang announced the emperor's edict. What she took out was the succession edict of her son Ding Wang Li Tong. Although there were seven succession edicts, this one At the critical moment, the only thing that came out was the positioning of Li Tong.

This was a true succession edict, and with the support of Empress Zhang, the prime ministers knelt down and Pei Zunqing said loudly: "I sincerely obey the emperor's edict. I am willing to support King Ding's succession, support the queen's promotion to the queen mother, and continue to exercise the power of the emperor until The emperor comes of age."

Li Dai also said loudly: "My left minister Li Dai supports King Ding's succession to the throne, supports the queen's promotion to the queen mother, and exercises the power of the emperor on behalf of the emperor."

Immediately afterwards, Cui Huan, Zhang Li and Li Fuguo expressed their positions one by one.

Queen Zhang, who was sitting above her, nodded, "The political affairs hall unanimously approved it, and it is officially confirmed that King Ding Li Tong will inherit the throne, and I will be promoted to the Queen Mother in accordance with the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty. King Ding is young, and the Ai family will exercise the duties of the Queen Mother." country."

Pei Zunqing came out to announce the decision of the political affairs hall and the queen. At this time, Queen Zhang held her six-year-old son, King Ding Li Dong, and sat on the dragon's collapse. All the officials bowed down and shouted "long live", and the system of the Tang Dynasty was temporarily settled.

Empress Zhang slowly said to the officials: "Before the emperor died, he took the Ai family's hand and expressed his last wish. He wanted to be buried in Guanzhong. The Ai family decided that Li Dai, the left prime minister, also served as the minister of the Ministry of Rites, and was fully responsible for the emperor's funeral. In addition, The emperor's enthronement ceremony should be held sooner rather than later, and the enthronement ceremony should be held the day after tomorrow to restore normal order in the Tang Dynasty."

"Follow the Queen Mother's decree!"

At this moment, Empress Zhang, no, it should be Empress Dowager Zhang, she actually felt a sense of arrogance in the world. Her ambition for many years finally came true.

She didn't even want to implement the agreement reached with the eunuch party anymore. How could she be willing to let Li Fuguo come to share her power again.

But Queen Mother Zhang also knew that Li Fuguo's cold eyes were staring at her in a corner?

Military power is in the hands of the eunuchs. If she doesn't obey, she will die miserably.

Two days later, a coronation ceremony was held in Luoyang. King Ding Li Tong, who was only six years old, ascended the throne. The Queen Mother held the emperor's seal and exercised the power of supervising the country.

But everyone knows that the real power lies in the hands of the eunuchs, who will definitely show their fangs after the new emperor ascends the throne.

The day after she ascended the throne, Queen Mother Zhang announced a series of major personnel changes.

The Zhengshitang was abolished and the two-phase system was re-implemented. Li Fuguo was granted the title of Right Prime Minister of Zhongshu Ling, he was appointed as the Right Prime Minister of Zhongshu Ling, he was honored as Shangfu, and Zhang Li was granted the title of Left Prime Minister of Zhongshu Ling.

Pei Zunqing, the former Right Prime Minister, was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Li Dai, the Left Prime Minister, was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Cui Huan was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Punishments.

Secondly, the Mansion of the Generalissimo of the Army was renamed the Privy Council. Yu Chaoen was appointed as Privy Secretary and Military Envoy, Li Sijing was appointed as Deputy Envoy, and Wang Xiqian and Sun Zhigu were appointed as Sima He Judge.

A series of decrees caused an uproar in the government and the public. Although they knew that the Eunuchs would not go dormant and would definitely show their ferocity, no one expected that it would come so cruelly. All military and political power was controlled by the Eunuchs, especially the Privy Council, which controlled the military power. All senior officials in it were It's a eunuch.

The ministers were agitated. Yan Zhenqing, the Minister of War, was dressed in mourning clothes and knelt down to cry outside Yingtian Gate. He was crying not for the emperor, but for the Tang Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty founded by Emperor Taizong I was finally stolen by the eunuchs. It's over.

Yan Zhenqing's crying offended Li Fuguo's rebellion. He immediately forced the Queen Mother to issue an order to remove Yan Zhenqing from all official positions for the crime of deceiving the emperor, dismissed him from his post as a civilian, and exiled him to Lingnan.

Inside the Yan Mansion, more than a dozen Meihua soldiers escorted a prison car and were waiting at the door. More than two dozen Yan Zhenqing's disciples and former officials came to see Yan Zhenqing off.

At this time, Yan Zhenqing, wearing a plain scarf and white clothes, was escorted out of the house by several Plum Blossom Guard soldiers in shackles. More than twenty disciples and former officials knelt down and cried. Yan Zhenqing waved his hand impatiently: "Why are you crying? Before I could be happy, I wished the eunuchs would kill me and make me famous in history!”

The general behind him pushed him and said viciously: "Be careful what you say, or you may knock out all your teeth!"

Yan Zhenqing raised his head and laughed, "The eunuchs have nothing to say. Do you, the eunuchs' lackeys, still want face?"

The Plum Blossom Guard general was furious and raised his fist to strike, but he heard someone shouting sharply: "Stop!"

I saw a middle-aged official riding a horse with a hundred warriors. This official was Yang Shaohua, the special envoy of King Qi.

He waved his hand, and hundreds of warriors surrounded the Plum Blossom Guards. The leading general was shocked and shouted: "Who are you and what do you want to do?"

Yang Shaohua took out a gold medal and said coldly: "By the order of His Highness the King of Qi, Yan Zhenqing is invited to Chang'an as a guest. Anyone who dares to stop him will be shot to death!"

Hearing that it was King Qi's men, the more than twenty officers and soldiers of the Plum Blossom Guards did not dare to move.

Yang Shaohua waved, and a carriage came forward. Yang Shaohua cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Yan, please get in the car!"

Yan Zhenqing stared at Yang Shaohua for a long time, then he sighed and said: "This is the third time His Highness King Qi has invited me. It would be too pretentious for me to refuse again. Okay! I am willing to go to Chang'an as a guest."

He got on the carriage, and hundreds of warriors escorted the carriage and drove away. Yan Zhenqing's disciples and former officials cheered.

The Plum Blossom Guard general looked livid and watched the carriage go away. He waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"

He took the Plum Blossom Guard soldiers and rushed to report in despair.

The fact that Yan Zhenqing was snatched away by King Qi's men caused a sensation in Luoyang. While everyone was happy and excited, they were also waiting for Li Fuguo's attitude.

If Li Fuguo dared to confront the King of Qi, Yan Zhenqing would still be unable to leave and would be intercepted and exiled.

In the Wanshou Hall of the Imperial Palace, Li Fuguo paced back and forth with a very gloomy face. He had already received the news that Li Ye's special envoy had snatched Yan Zhenqing away. The first time he punished an official, he was slapped in the face by Li Ye.

Of course Li Fuguo wanted to send troops to snatch Yan Zhenqing back, but he didn't dare. It was unclear whether Li Ye supported the imperial court. If Li Ye was angered and he sent troops to kill him, it would be a nightmare.

At this time, the eunuch Dong Xiu came over in a hurry, and Li Fuguo asked quickly: "How is it? Have you found out?"

What Li Fuguo wants to know most now is whether Li Ye is targeting him or Yan Zhenqing?

Was it intentional to embarrass myself, or was it just a coincidence.

Dong Xiu whispered: "I have inquired clearly. The King of Qi did invite Yan Zhenqing to Longyou twice, but Yan Zhenqing refused both times. This is the third time. It should be a coincidence."

Li Fuguo immediately breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't target himself intentionally.

He frowned and said, "But with so many people watching, how can I step down?"

Dong Xiu rolled his eyes and suggested to Li Fuguo: "You can ask the Queen Mother to come forward and clear this matter from your Majesty. Then the Queen Mother can change Yan Zhenqing to be the envoy of the late emperor's mausoleum, and let him go to Guanzhong to be in charge of the late emperor's mausoleum. In this way, Come, the embarrassment will be resolved.”

Although Dong Xiu's suggestion was a bit deceptive, Li Fuguo had no choice but to nod, "Okay! That's it."

In the afternoon of the same day, Empress Dowager Zhang issued another decree, changing the title of Yan Zhenqing to the envoy of the late emperor's mausoleum, and going to Guanzhong to be responsible for the completion of the late emperor's mausoleum.

This news immediately became a joke between the government and the public, and Li Fuguo resigned. However, the Yan Zhenqing incident also made many officials see the hope of the Tang Dynasty, and the hope of the Tang Dynasty lay in Chang'an.