Tibet

Li Ye came to Sanqing Hall. Their men had taken over the main hall. More than 80 members of the eunuch party were discussing countermeasures in Sanqing Hall. Unexpectedly, they were taken over by Ma Sui's Longwu Army.

The soldiers of the Guanlong Army escorted a large group of eunuchs from the Sanqing Palace. Some eunuchs were paralyzed with fear and could not walk. They were carried out by the soldiers, and two corpses were also carried out.

"Who is the body?" Li Ye asked.

General Tian Weiguo stepped forward to report: "Your Highness, it is Cheng Yuanzhen and Dong Xiu. Both of them have committed suicide by taking poison!"

"Can the identity be confirmed?"

"We have found multiple people to confirm that it is the two of them. They have no substitutes!"

Li Ye suddenly saw another binding general. He pointed his sword and asked, "Who is this?"

Ma Sui reported: "He is Zhang Mao, the commander of the bodyguards, and a confidant of Cheng Yuanzhen."

Zhang Mao was escorted over and looked at Ma Sui angrily, "The chief manager treats you badly, how dare you collude with the Chang'an rebels to rebel?"

Li Ye pierced his throat with a sword. Just because he said that a traitor in Chang'an deserves death!

Li Ye put away his sword and said coldly: "Take me to see the Queen Mother!"

Li Ye came to Queen Mother Zhang's palace and heard that King Qi was coming. Queen Mother Zhang ordered someone to put down the bamboo curtain, and she sat behind it.

Li Ye knelt down, bowed and paid homage, "Li Ye, a humble minister, pays homage to the Queen Mother!"

Empress Dowager Zhang said slowly: "His Royal Highness King Qi is here anyway. The Ai family doesn't know whether to be happy or scared. Can Your Highness tell me the answer?"

"Your Majesty, don't be afraid. The ministers are here to kill the eunuchs and help the country!"

"Then do you admit that the emperor is legitimate?"

"Of course Wei Chen admits it!"

Empress Dowager Zhang immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said with a forced smile: "Thankfully His Highness King Qi has arrived. If those three kings had come to kill us, both the Emperor and I would have died without a burial place. The late Emperor has always said that you are a person who knows the rules, and it is true." !”

Li Ye smiled slightly and said: "Please rest, Queen Mother, the ministers will soon calm down the turmoil and restore order!"

Empress Dowager Zhang nodded, "If anything happens, you can discuss it with Zhang Xiangguo, and the Ai family will listen to your news."

"Please rest the Queen Mother, my army will also protect the safety of the Queen Mother and the Emperor!"

Li Ye bowed again, stood up and left. Queen Mother Zhang saw him walking away through the bamboo curtain, and she broke into a cold sweat with the dagger in her hand.

However, Li Ye's last words brought her back to reality. The safety of herself and the emperor was the responsibility of Li Ye's army. What did this mean? She knew clearly in her mind that a hero is a hero, and Li Ye's fox tail was still exposed. .

Li Ye immediately appointed Tian Weiguo and Ma Sui as the left and right generals of the Longwu Army, each leading 5,000 troops to guard the palace. In addition, all palace guards were disbanded. The safety of the Queen Mother and the Emperor was left to Li Ye's deputy commander Zhang Yun, who led 2,000 troops. defend.

Except for the Meihua Guard who all fled, the Qianniu Guard, Longwu Army and Jinwu Guard all surrendered.

Luoyang City has been fully controlled by Li Ye's 100,000-strong army. At this time, news came that the army intercepted more than 13,000 Meihua Guard soldiers in the Yique Pass area.

Most of the Plum Blossom Guards soldiers were from Guanzhong. Of course they would find a way to escape back to Guanzhong. They dared not take the Xiaohan Road to the west. Mengjinguan in the north had heard about the Long Army, so they could only take the Wuguan Road to return to Guanzhong. Most of them went to Guanzhong. They went south to Yique, and the other part fled west to Sishui Pass.

At this time, the sky was getting brighter, and the city of Luoyang began to become lively. People could be heard beating gongs and drums everywhere, celebrating the fall of the eunuchs and welcoming the arrival of King Qi's army.

Zhang Li woke up early, and he waited anxiously until dawn. At this time, the housekeeper came to report, "Your Majesty, His Highness the King of Qi sent someone to invite you!"

Zhang Li nodded. He knew that King Qi would definitely look for him, and he had already put on his official uniform.

Zhang Li walked out of the gate, and a general came forward and saluted: "The humble post is His Royal Highness King Qi's personal general Li Dian. By His Highness's order, I have come to invite Zhang Xiangguo to come for discussion."

"Where is His Highness King Qi?"

"In the Privy Council!"

Zhang Li immediately got on the carriage and followed the King of Qi's soldiers to the Privy Council. The Privy Council was the former Grand Marshal's Mansion and the highest military official office in the Tang Dynasty.

Zhang Li walked into the gate and found Qi King Li Ye waiting for him in the courtyard. He was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "I'm sorry to see you, Your Highness!"

Li Ye smiled and said: "I hope Zhang Xiangguo was not harassed by the rebels?"

"Were there any rioters last night?"

Li Ye nodded, "Some of the Plum Blossom Guards soldiers are hiding in people's homes. I am asking from door to door and have arrested more than a thousand people."

"That's okay, I didn't receive any harassment."

After a pause, Zhang Li asked again: "Where is the eunuch?"

"Li Fuguo and Yu Chaoen escaped, Cheng Yuanzhen and Dong Xiu committed suicide by taking poison, and the others were caught."

"Three Cunning Rabbits, these two have already prepared a retreat for themselves."

Li Ye said calmly: "The legal net is wide and open. I believe they can't escape and will be caught sooner or later!"

The two walked into the lobby and sat down, and the soldiers served them tea.

Li Ye added: "I met with the Queen Mother in the palace last night. The Queen Mother and the Emperor are safe and sound. Please rest assured, Prime Minister!"

Zhang Li nodded and said: "I know the reason why Your Highness came to me. I'm not from a major, I'm just a petty official with rough knowledge. I became the prime minister because of my daughter's glory. In fact, I'm a very philistine person and very realistic. , I only care about the fate of the family. If your Highness has any requirements, you might as well tell me directly and I will talk to the Queen Mother."

Li Ye nodded and said: "When your son joined the army in the Secretariat of Prince Qi's Mansion, I understood the good intentions of Xiang Guo. I also appreciate Xiang Guo's frankness. I believe we can cooperate happily!"

"If His Highness is ready to ascend the throne, I will be responsible for persuading the Queen Mother to issue the decree!"

Li Ye smiled and said: "Let me talk about my next arrangements first. First, move the capital back to Chang'an, and at the same time, send the late emperor's coffin back to Guanzhong for burial. Zhang Xiangguo should have no objections!"

Zhang Li shook his head quickly, "I will never do anything like blocking a car with my arms!"

Li Ye secretly praised that he had a good eye for people. Zhang Li was indeed a man on the road. The phrase "mantis' arm blocks the car" showed that he had a good eye for people.

"Then I will keep the Queen Mother and the Emperor in power, and I will serve as the General Supervisor of the State. In addition to the Emperor's Seal and the Queen Mother's Seal, the imperial edict will also have my Supervisor's Seal."

Zhang Li was anxious and quickly bowed and said: "Your Highness, there is no need to maintain the status quo. The Emperor is young and cannot bear the important task of reviving the Tang Dynasty. The Queen Mother is also incapable. Your Highness should just ascend the throne!"

Li Ye looked at him for a moment and said, "Are you worried that I will kill the emperor and the queen mother in the future?"

Zhang Li nodded, "Frankly speaking, yes, rather than killing them in the future, it would be better for His Highness to ascend the throne now. At least they still have a way to survive."

Li Ye laughed and said, "Zhang Xiangguo is a smart man. I like to deal with smart people. Now that we are just two of you, I might as well tell you the truth. It is not appropriate for me to take the throne now, and my subordinates in Chang'an do not approve of it either." , I am here to eradicate the eunuchs and help the country, not to seize the throne, so the transition of the country is necessary. "

Zhang Li nodded silently, "I understand!"

"So we need to reach a verbal agreement to supervise the transition of the country for three to four years, and then the emperor abdicates. The Queen Mother suggested that I accept the country. As long as I successfully ascend the throne, I will ensure the safety of their mother and son, and the prosperity and wealth of the Zhang family for a hundred years. If Zhang Xiangguo accepts , let’s high-five!”

Zhang Li gave Li Ye a high-five without hesitation, "We are committed!"