Tibet

In the Linde Hall, Yang Guozhong reported to the emperor Li Longji the assassination of Hedong Jiedu envoy Cheng Qianli. Cheng Qianli was an important minister of the imperial court and an envoy with military and political power. His assassination was definitely a big event.

It had already caused a sensation in the entire court. Yang Guozhong couldn't hide it even if he wanted to, so he had to report it to the emperor.

"According to the express report sent by the Puzhou government, Cheng Qianli was assassinated in the Hedong County Post House on the evening of October 30th. The assassin was very experienced and killed him with one knife. Cheng Qianli was writing a report with his head down at the time, without any precautions."

Li Longji narrowed his eyes and asked, "Have you gone to the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple?"

"Reporting to your majesty, they are all gone. The Yushitai has also mobilized its capable personnel to rush to Puzhou. Puzhou is currently investigating!"

Li Longji said calmly: "Cheng Qianli is an important minister of the court! For such a big case, the court doesn't have any clues?"

Yang Guozhong said quickly: "Wei Chen will judge based on the one who has benefited the most. Wei Chen suspects that it was someone sent by An Lushan!"

"Why An Lushan?"

"Your Majesty, An Lushan has a history of assassination and has assassinated important court officials many times. He likes to use assassinations to solve problems. Secondly, An Lushan has been clamoring to serve as Hedong Jiedushi. Now that Cheng Qianli has died, Hedong Jiedushi is vacant. I’m afraid he is the biggest beneficiary!”

Li Longji was slightly dissatisfied and said: "Letting An Lushan concurrently serve as the governor of Hedong is something I have promised a long time ago. This will help the three towns link up and jointly defend the grassland nomadic cavalry. It is also good for Cheng Qianli to serve as the governor of Hedong. As for my temporary arrangement, I want him to serve as the general of Qianniu Guard."

Yang Guozhong was startled and said quickly: "Your Majesty, everyone on the road knows about Anlu Mountain's wolfish ambitions. I have told your Majesty a long time ago that he will rebel."

Li Longji impatiently interrupted Yang Guozhong, "I know that he killed your son and blinded your other son. I understand that you hate him deeply, but if you want him to rebel, you have to take it." Show us the evidence!”

"Your Majesty ordered him to report his duties in the capital, but he refused to come in every possible way. It's obvious that he has ulterior motives. Why doesn't he dare to come to the capital?"

"He has already said in his letter that he is afraid of being assassinated because he has offended too many people. If he is allowed to bring five thousand personal guards to Beijing, he is willing to come to Beijing to report on his work. But you don't agree. Now that Cheng Qianli has been assassinated, he I don’t even dare to come.”

Li Longji felt like a mirror in his heart. Cheng Qianli was not assassinated by An Lushan. Someone knew that Cheng Qianli's visit to Beijing would be detrimental to him, so he attacked him halfway and took away all the letters.

Yang Guozhong didn't know about this, which was understandable, but he always blamed An Lushan, which really made Li Longji a little disgusted.

Mrs. Guo Guo recommended to him yesterday that An Lushan should also serve as the governor of Hedong. He also knew that Mrs. Guo Guo must have received the benefits of An Lushan, but in any case, he would satisfy Mrs. Guo's request.

"I have decided to let An Lushan serve as the governor of Hedong Province. I am very relieved to have him guard the border for me."

Yang Guozhong was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, An Lushan will definitely rebel."

"Okay! You always say that Anlushan is rebelling, and my ears are calloused. I have sent Bian Lingcheng to investigate Anlushan. Only if he is loyal to me, will I appoint him as the governor of Hedong. .”

Yang Guozhong's lips moved and he was speechless.

Li Longji took a few steps with his hands behind his back and said, "I will give you a hundred days to find out who was responsible for the assassination of Cheng Qianli. I will punish the murderer severely!"

At dusk, King Li Chu of Guangping followed the eunuch Li Fuguo to his father's bedside. During this time, Prince Li Heng fell ill. On the one hand, he was of course frightened. His father actually knew about his secret dealings with Cheng Qianli, and ordered everyone to The Grand Jiedushi's visit to Beijing was just an excuse. He obviously wanted to capture Cheng Qianli, and then torture him to extract a confession, forcing him to confess that he had colluded with him in the rebellion. Regardless of whether he was beaten into submission or not, his father would definitely take this opportunity to depose him.

Li Heng knew very well that King Qing Li Cong and Yuan Siyi were colluding together, and Yuan Siyi and Mrs. Guo Guo were a grasshopper on the same rope. Once Mrs. Guo Guo continued to whisper in his father's ears for King Qing, his father would definitely He will be shaken and want to abolish himself. Now that the Cheng Qianli incident has happened again, this time his position as prince will most likely not be preserved.

Prince Li Heng spent this period of time in extreme panic, and his only hope rested on his eldest son Li Chu.

Li Chu stepped forward to visit his father. Li Fuguo quickly waved to several eunuchs and maids to go out, closed the door, and only the father and son were left in the large room.

"How is it?" Li Heng asked in a low voice.

Li Chu nodded, "It's been done, and the letter has been received. The boy burned it all."

Prince Li Heng breathed a sigh of relief. After killing Cheng Qianli, he could fall asleep at night.

He asked again: "Are the people sent reliable?"

Li Chu whispered: "Father, don't worry, he is a dead soldier. I promised to take good care of his wife and children. He has committed suicide by taking poison."

Li Heng thought for a moment and then confirmed: "Have you found all my letters?"

Li Chu nodded, "That's what my father said. There were five letters in total. The child saw them and burned them all. To prevent any emergency, the child also sent a confidant to the Jiedushi Mansion in Taiyuan to go to Cheng Qianli's house. Searching for other letters in the study should yield nothing.”

"This person who went to Taiyuan must also be dealt with!" Li Heng made a gesture of wiping his throat.

"My child must take care of it!"

Li Chu hesitated for a moment, then worried: "A letter from Cheng Qianli is in the hands of the emperor's grandfather. Will this letter become evidence of his father's crime?"

Li Heng shook his head, "You have to find a reason to kill a servant, let alone a dignified prince. Cheng Qianli is dead. Who knows if the letter is a forgery? Did Cheng Qianli want to frame me? The reason is not sufficient, and your imperial grandfather also Can’t you explain it to the world?”

"Thanks to Li Zhan for reminding me this time."

Li Heng also sighed: "Our ancestor Emperor Taizong once said that the strong wind knows the strong grass, and the rough wind knows the honest minister. Li Dai has always been mediocre and inactive. I also doubted his loyalty, but at the critical moment, his loyalty was shown. , he is so different from his son, I will remember him."

Li Chu also knew that his father had always been resentful of the three million gold coins Li Ye dedicated to the emperor and was dissatisfied with him, but his father believed that Li Dai was a kind and benevolent person.

Li Chu couldn't explain it, so he comforted his father and said goodbye.

Li Heng slowly closed his eyes, with a trace of pride on his lips. He tried to save money and kill Cheng Qianli. Does his father still think that Prince Qing can replace him?

In mid-November, Li Ye's team arrived in Zhangye County, Ganzhou.

Pei Fang was overjoyed and asked his second son Pei Jian to set up a military camp outside the city, where the troops and camels could rest and the goods were unloaded.

Li Ye followed his uncle Pei Jia to the Pei Mansion. The family was naturally very happy and held a banquet to welcome Li Ye's arrival.

After dinner, Li Ye came to his grandfather's study, and his uncle Pei Jia also came in.

Li Ye asked: "This time I brought one million kilograms of cotton and two million gold coins. I want to store them at my grandpa's place. Is it convenient?"

Pei Fang nodded and smiled: "I know cotton. It is the raw material for spinning white folded cloth. It is also available in Zhangye. The Sogdians brought it from the west, spun it in Zhangye, and then trafficked it to Chang'an to sell it at a high price. The cotton was stored in the government warehouse. , I will lend you several large warehouses, and as for the two million gold coins, it is safer to leave them in my house."

"Will Gao Xianzhi be suspicious?" Li Ye asked.

Pei Fang sneered and said: "I heard that Gao Xianzhi failed to report his duty in Chang'an and was planning to serve as General Youyulin in Chang'an. Last time the emperor did not let him lead the army to regain Shazhou, so I knew he would not live long."

"Who will be the governor of Hexi Province?"

Pei Jia said slowly: "It's still the same as before, with Ge Shuhan taking on the concurrent role. In fact, everyone should be in charge of their own affairs. This is the best!"

"Besides Gao Xianzhi being removed as the governor of Hexi Province, is there any other important news in Chang'an?"

Pei Fang and his son looked at each other, and Pei Fang said in surprise: "Don't you know about Cheng Qianli's assassination?"