Tibet

News that Shi Siming rebelled again reached Chang'an, making Emperor Li Heng extremely dissatisfied. In fact, he planned to reach a compromise with Shi Siming, let Shi Siming become a minister, and tacitly allow him to separatize Youzhou, which is the vassal model.

Unfortunately, the ministers did not agree to compromise, and in the end, Li Heng was extremely frustrated. Shi Siming rebelled again.

Prince Li Yu saw that his father was in a bad mood, so he advised him: "Father, there is no need to be angry. Shi Siming never surrendered sincerely. Even if he doesn't rebel now, he will still rebel in a year or two. He just killed Wu Cheng'en." Just looking for an excuse."

Li Heng sighed and said: "I am not only angry because of Shi Siming's rebellion, but I clearly agreed to Shi Siming's surrender, but the court officials did not agree and forced me to adopt their plan. Don't you think this is the prime minister suppressing the imperial power?"

Li Yu said for a long time: "The courtiers are also for the Tang Dynasty!"

Li Heng shook his head, "You don't understand now, but you will understand in the future what it means to be alone."

Li Yu didn't know what to say. He couldn't bring up the matter of inheriting the throne now, as it would make his father sensitive. He quickly changed the subject and said: "Father, the nine military governors have gathered in Xiangzhou. Please give me an order. My son goes to war!"

Li Yu's eyes showed anticipation. He wanted to become the commander-in-chief and lead an army of 200,000 to wipe out the remnants of An Qingxu in one fell swoop.

Li Heng was about to agree readily when he suddenly saw Li Fuguo winking at him from behind the curtain. Li Heng nodded, "Your Majesty, go down first. I'll think about it."

Seeing his father's expression, Li Yu clearly wanted to agree, so why did he change his mind in the blink of an eye? It made him feel really strange.

Li Yu had no choice but to bow and say: "My son, please retire!"

He slowly stepped back, turned around and was about to leave, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Li Fuguo hiding behind the curtain from the corner of his eye.

Li Yu immediately understood that it must be Li Fuguo who had winked at his father. He was furious, glared at Li Fuguo fiercely, turned around and left quickly.

Li Fuguo sneered in his heart. He really didn't know how high the sky was. He dared to make a fool of himself. He thought he would definitely become the emperor?

After Li Yu had gone far away, Li Fuguo emerged from the darkness, bowed and said to Li Heng: "Does your Majesty really want to appoint the prince as the commander-in-chief?"

Li Heng sighed: "I think only the prince is suitable to control the nine great military governors!"

Li Fuguo said calmly: "Has your Majesty forgotten the agreement we made in Qingzhou?"

Li Heng was silent for a moment. He really remembered what happened when he was in Qingzhou. He lamented the tradition of the Li Dynasty. Except for Gaozong, who ascended the throne normally, other emperors came to power through mutiny, including Gaozu who also led an army to rebel. Taizong , Zhongzong, Ruizhong, his father, and then himself, all came to power through mutiny. He vowed not to continue reincarnation like this.

Li Fuguo made an agreement with him that the prince would never be allowed to take control of the military. All mutinies were caused by the prince taking control of the military.

Li Heng sighed for a long time, "Thank you, General, for reminding me. I almost forgot."

Li Fuguo then said slowly: "Your Majesty just lamented that the prime minister's power suppressed the military power. The fundamental reason is that your Majesty has no one available. In fact, the people who truly support your Majesty, are loyal to your Majesty, and have the same heart are our internal servants. Only we can do that." Going through fire and water for His Majesty, fighting for the Emperor and the courtiers, just like the Emperor used Gao Lishi, Yang Sixu, Niu Xiantong, Yuan Siyi, and Bian Lingcheng. It is because of these servants who work hard for the Emperor that the Emperor can be powerful. It has been in hand for more than forty years.

I have told your majesty before that this is the emperor's mentality. It is actually the consistent practice of the emperors in the mid-Eastern Han Dynasty to use a group of internal servants to check and balance ministers and nobles. Only in this way can the imperial power be firmly in the hands of the emperor.

If Your Majesty has forgotten, I would like to remind Your Majesty again that the Emperor has no filial sons, and only the chamberlains are the Emperor's biological sons. "

Li Heng sighed and said, "I will bear in mind the general's words."

"Then Your Majesty should know how to appoint the prince and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces."

Li Heng nodded silently, he did know.

That night, Li Heng issued a decree and appointed the prince as the commander-in-chief of the three armies. He was stationed in Luoyang and controlled an army of 200,000 to attack Xiangzhou.

At the same time, Li Heng appointed Yu Chaoen as the military envoy Rong Xuanwei to oversee the nine military envoys in Xiangzhou.

The prince Li Yu is the retreating commander, while the eunuch Yu Chaoen is the real commander.

In the East Palace, Prince Li Yu was chatting with Crown Princess Shen. A few days ago, a concubine selection ceremony was held. More than a hundred young women from aristocratic families participated. There were more than a dozen places, mainly to choose wives for the men of the royal family's age. .

The prince's original concubine was Cui, the daughter of Guo State's wife Yang Yupei. She died of depression not long ago due to the destruction of her family.

Liang Di and Shen Zhenzhu were officially promoted to the crown prince. In this way, her position as Liang Di was vacated. Therefore, the Crown Princess also planned to use this opportunity to elect a Liang Di for her husband, that is, a partial concubine. The crown prince's partial concubine is called Liangdi, the prince's partial concubine is called Ruren.

"Your Highness, these three are all good. Dugu Qiming is the legitimate daughter of Dugu Jun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry. She is a daughter of the Dugu family. She is simple and lively. Pei Fangfang was born in the Wenxi Pei family. She is dignified and gentle and is good at poetry and calligraphy. Lu Xiangsi was born in the Fanyang Lu family. , also very gentle and elegant, and good at painting.”

Li Yu had something on his mind and was not very interested in this choice of concubine. He smiled and said: "It seems that my beloved concubine is more interested in this Dugu Qiming."

Shen Zhenzhu pursed her lips and smiled: "I do prefer this Dugu Qiming for a reason."

"Tell me, what's the reason?"

"First of all, the current Cui Liangdi was born in the Cui family of Qinghe. It is impossible for you to marry two daughters from Hebei aristocratic families, so Lu Xiangsi does not need to consider it. Only Pei Fangfang and Dugu Qiming are left. However, I consider that my husband is the prince, so there must be a balance. , you would rather marry the daughters of three Shandong aristocratic families without considering the Guanlong nobles. This is very unwise. It will make the Guanlong nobles dissatisfied with His Highness the Crown Prince, and will also affect the Crown Prince's supporters. Since the concubine is from Jiangnan and the Cui family is from Hebei, then the third one must be Guanlong."

The princess's theory of balance was convincing, and Li Yu nodded, "Princess will bring this Dugu Qiming to me someday. If I like it, then I will choose her!"

At this time, a eunuch hurriedly walked in and whispered a few words in Li Yu's ear.

"What?"

Li Yu's expression changed drastically, and his eyes suddenly widened, "Have you decided yet?"

The eunuch nodded, "The decree has been issued!"

"asshole!"

Li Yu lost control of his emotions and slammed the tea cup in his hand to the ground.

"Bang!" The tea cup suddenly fell to pieces.

Shen Zhenzhu stood up in astonishment and was at a loss for a moment.

Prince Li Yu was so angry that he gritted his teeth and cursed, "The eunuchs are harming the country! The eunuchs are harming the country!"

Shen Pearl's expression changed, and she quickly waved to several palace maids: "You all get out!"

Several palace ladies hurriedly went out.

Shen Zhenzhu stepped forward and knelt down, "I don't know about the important affairs of the country, but the prince was so angry and lost his temper. It really shouldn't be."

Li Yu also realized that he had lost his composure. He walked to the window with his hands behind his hands and stared at the window. His chest heaved violently. Thinking of Li Fuguo's ugly face, he felt an incomparable hatred in his heart.

It must have been this eunuch's idea to let him sit in Luoyang as the commander-in-chief of the three armies, and gave Yu Chaoen the real power as the army commander.

Why does the father favor the three eunuchs? Why? Haven't the three eunuchs done enough harm to the Tang Dynasty?

Shen Pearl did not disturb her husband's contemplation, put away the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, and quietly retreated.

Li Yu's stop lasted just one night.

After Li Fuguo narrowed his eyes and listened to the report of the young eunuch, he put the tea cup heavily on the table and said coldly: "How dare you call our family a eunuch? He is so courageous. It seems that he doesn't want to be the prince anymore. .”

The old eunuch Cao Jing'en said sharply from the side, "Aweng, the prince has always had hatred for us. If he ascends the throne and becomes emperor, he will definitely kill us. We must never let him take the throne."

Li Fuguo nodded slowly, "Of course our family knows, but we can't rush into this matter, we have to think about it in the long term!"

Li Fuguo paced back and forth with his hands behind his hands. He first had to find a prince who could replace Li Yu.