1 This section deals with one of the darkest palace coups in the history of the Tang Dynasty, the "Manna Change", and those who are not familiar with this history are advised to refer to the "Background Information" section first.

Hanliang Hall finally arrived, and more than a dozen prison guards guarded in front of the main hall. Seeing Yang Hao coming, a captain stepped forward and said, "Guo Qin has been taken down by the last general, please send the general." Yang Hao said "um", straightened his robe and walked into the hall with the captain. A cool breeze came to the face, and the name of the Hanliang Hall was well deserved.

A eunuch sat cross-legged at the door, holding his hands in front of the dantian, closing his eyes and recuperating.

"You're Guo Qin?" Yang Hao asked.

The eunuch nodded, without saying a word, nor opening his eyes.

Wang Chun, the eunuch of the decree, circled around Guo Qin and gave Yang Hao an affirmative look. In addition to proclamation, he is actually responsible for discerning his true body.

"Come with me." Yang Hao shouted.

"Wait, General." The captain of the prison gate stopped, "Niangniang has something to ask the general." ”

"Mother, mother, which mother?" Yang Hao was suspicious, but he didn't ask. Now he feels that he is the grandmother Liu who has never seen the world, and he doesn't know anything anyway, so he simply doesn't ask anything, so as not to dislike people.

"It's Concubine Yang, Your Majesty's favorite mother." Wang Chun reminded in a low voice. This made Yang Hao have another layer of good impression of him.

There is a white jade bath specially built by Emperor Tang Ming for the favored Yang Guifei in the Hanliang Palace. The bath is dozens of zhang long and wide, made of white jade, and decorated with gold leaf and jade, and the whole bath looks rich and luxurious. The water used in the bath is transported from the Lishan Hot Springs, and when the concubines enter the bath, the palace ladies sprinkle fresh and fragrant petals in the bath, and the sunlight penetrates through the bright tiles on the roof of the hall, illuminating the whole bath with vivid color, brightness, romance and comfort.

"The spring cold gives a bath in Huaqing Pool, and the hot spring water is slippery and washes the cream", Yang Hao remembered these two poems in Bai Juyi's "Song of Long Hatred", but unfortunately the beauty has passed away, leaving the descendants to sigh.

At this time, there was not a drop of water in the white jade pool, and there was a woman in palace clothes standing on the shore, her back was to Yang Hao, her figure was slender and soft, and Yang Hao's heart couldn't help but pound: such a wonderful beauty is really rare in the world.

"Minister Yang Hao, see Concubine Yang."

"General Yang is flat."

"Xie Niangniang."

When Yang Hao got up, he secretly glanced at Concubine Yang, but it happened that she was also looking at herself, two glances at each other, Concubine Yang smiled, but Yang Hao hurriedly lowered her head, but she was thinking in her heart that she looked like she had just painted makeup, what does it mean? A woman is a person who pleases herself, isn't she grooming for me?

Yang Hao couldn't help but feel smug when he thought of this. Concubine Yang has indeed just dressed up, of course she is not for Yang Hao, her original makeup was all ruined by King Anwang Li Rong, thinking of King Anwang Li Rong, Concubine Yang's heart was colic again, she tried her best to hide the pain in her heart, and squeezed out a smile.

"Where is General Yang's ancestral hometown?"

"Hui Niangniang, the ancestral home of the minister is Jingzhao Fufeng County."

"Really?" Concubine Yang was very surprised, "The mourning family is also a person who helps the wind!" We're fellow villagers. ”

"The minister has heard about it a long time ago, and the old things about the mother are praised in my hometown." Yang Hao flattered, in fact, he hadn't even figured out the direction of Fufeng in Chang'an.

"Oh, really?" Concubine Yang smiled, and then sighed slightly, "The mourning family has been wandering with my father since childhood, and I have never returned to my hometown, so it's rare that they still remember me." ”

Yang Hao was shocked into a cold sweat: Concubine Yang quietly exposed her lies, but she stopped in moderation and saved her face.

"What is Your Majesty's will for Guo Qin?" Concubine Yang asked suddenly, her tone a little eager.

"Your Majesty ordered the ministers to arrest Guo Qin and bring him to justice, and there is no other will."

"In this way, Your Majesty still wants to let him go." Concubine Yang looked a little disappointed, she sighed slightly, "General Lao takes him there." ”

"Yes." Yang Hao replied, he couldn't help but glance at Concubine Yang again, and suddenly said, "Niangniang seems to be in a bit depressed. "Ah," Concubine Yang was startled and hurriedly touched her face, "Oh, it may be that Guo Qin was a little frightened just now." Thank you, General, for your concern. ”

Yang Hao nodded, and said: "It's cold, and the lady here in Hanliang Hall still rarely comes." With that, he turned and went out. Concubine Yang silently looked at Yang Hao's departing back, her eyes full of tears.

When Yang Hao walked out of the inner hall, he saw Wang Chun squatting on the ground talking to Guo Qin, and his voice was extremely low. Yang Hao coughed lightly, and when Wang Chun saw Yang Hao coming out, he hurriedly got up to greet him and said, "The slave has something to say to the general." ”

"My father-in-law has something to say."

"The slave only has a few words that I want to say to Guo Qin alone."

"Didn't my father-in-law finish just now?" Yang Hao sneered, "Then please continue." ”

Yang Hao strode out of Hanliang Palace, and somehow, her eyes were full of Concubine Yang's shadow, and her smile was lifelike as if she was in front of her.

The dragoon guard and the golden sword guard also retreated outside the hall, and the door of the temple closed gently, leaving only a narrow slit. It is convenient for the guards to stare at Guo Qin and Wang Chun, it is a matter of life and death, and no one dares to make a mistake.

As soon as Yang Hao raised his head, a rippling lake suddenly appeared in front of him, there are three small islands in the lake, there are pavilions built on the island, around the lake, weeping willows are like smoke, the pavilions are picturesque, and they are beautiful.

Yang Hao only felt that he was suddenly suspended in mid-air, unable to reach the world or the ground, "Where is this?" Could it be the legendary Yaochi Wonderland? ”

He closed his eyes, enough is enough, such a good day should only be in heaven, and it is enough for mortals to look at it, so as not to be trapped in it and unable to extricate themselves.

"General, the minion is done." Wang Chun called softly, "Please ask the general to go to the Zichen Hall to give the order." ”

"Zichen Palace? Why did you change the Zichen Hall again? "Yang Hao has never heard the name Zichen Palace.

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Zichen Hall is one of the three major halls of the former dynasty of Daming Palace, because it is close to the inner court, it is also called "inner court". Courtiers meet the emperor here, called "entering the cabinet". It is a very high honor for officials.

After Emperor Wenzong returned to Daming Palace from Hanguang Palace, he did not go to Xuanzheng Hall to convene courtiers as originally planned to announce the promotion of Wang Shoucheng as the envoy of the left and right Shence Army and the leader of the Twelve Guards, because Li Xun, the servant of the Ministry of Rites and Tongping Zhangshi, suddenly reported to him that more than 30 generals below the general of the Right Shence Army conspired to elect Yu Hongzhi, the middle guard, to replace Wang Shoucheng as the lieutenant of the guard.

"How can this be reasonable, I am busy coming around, is it for him Yu Hongzhi?" Wenzong's emotions are a little out of control, and Yu Hongzhi is also Wang Shoucheng's confidant.

"Your Majesty is angry, and the minister thinks that he might as well promise them first to appease people's hearts."

"Hmph, if I don't agree to them, will they dare to rebel?"

"The minister thinks that the current case of Wang Shoucheng is unsolved, and it is not appropriate to have another branch. Yu Hongzhi's prestige in the army is far less than Wang Shoucheng, as far as the minister knows, there are not many people in the right army who serve him, even if he sits in the position of lieutenant of the army, he will not be able to become a climate for a while, and it will not be too late to take him after Wang Shoucheng. Your Majesty, please think again. ”

Wen Zong sighed, "It's not that I don't know this truth, I'm just a little angry. Okay, let's play according to Aiqing. ”

Li Xun saw that Wenzong was a little unhappy in his heart, and a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, he moved to Wenzong, and made a look of wanting to say something.

"Aiqing has something to say." Wenzong peeled off a Dongting kumquat, broke half of it and handed it to Li Xun, Li Xun was flattered and hurriedly knelt down and took it with both hands. He held it in his palm but was not in a hurry to eat.

"Eat, eat, talk while eating." Wenzong peeled off another one.

"I don't know if I should say it."

"Say, ah, eat, eat."

Li Xun broke off a petal, put it in his mouth and chewed it gently, "I don't know if I want to inform King Ying about the future." ”

Wenzong was stunned when he heard this, "Did Aiqing hear anything?" ”

"That's not true, it's just that the minister thinks that King Ying already has two towns, if he ...... it again" Li Xun's words were not finished, and was interrupted by Wenzong waving his hand.

"It's not that I haven't thought about your thoughts, but first, I can't hide such a big thing from him, and secondly, I still have a place to rely on him."

Li Xun knew that the two polo methods of capturing Wang Shoucheng, Yuming and Qi Mo, and the "urging judge" Meng Bochang were all cronies of Yingwang Li Yan, without the two teams of polo players coming forward at the critical moment, I don't know what the outcome of the matter would be.

"The minister has recruited a group of loyal and brave people, and in a critical moment, it is enough to rely on."

Wenzong silently did not answer, and Li Xun's words made him in a dilemma. This time, Wang Shoucheng was able to successfully take down Wang Shoucheng and force him to hand over the military power, first, Zheng Zhu and Li Xun judged accurately and used the plan properly, and second, Li Yan, the king of Ying, was brave and strategic, did not mess in the face of danger, and handled it properly. In order to divert Wang Shoucheng's attention and ensure the success of the strategy of toppling the king on the polo field, Li Yan even went thousands of miles to go back to Quze to take the risk of playing and disappeared.

Li Yan's ability, strength and loyalty left a deep impression on Emperor Wenzong, and he was indeed a little unbearable to easily abandon such a capable general. But there are two sides to everything, and it is precisely because Li Yan behaved so well that Emperor Wenzong had to take precautions in his heart.

He thought of starting something else, but he really didn't know the bottom of it. He also knew that Li Xun had recruited a lot of heroic warriors outside, and had co-opted some ministers in the court who were dissatisfied with the eunuchs, including some generals of the forbidden army, but could these people be relied on at critical times?

Wen Zong knew very well in his heart: eunuchs are like vicious dogs following you, if you want to get rid of them, you can only kill them with a stick, and if you miss a blow, they will immediately pounce on you and bite your throat.

"Your Majesty......" Li Xun urged, he saw the hesitation in Wenzong's heart, he knew the emperor in front of him too well, he was ambitious, but he was hesitant.

Wen Zong sighed heavily and asked, "Is it really inappropriate for Zheng Zhu to discuss?" ”

"Your Majesty!" Li Xun suddenly aggravated his tone, he saw that the emperor's heart had been shaken, and what he had to do now was to strengthen his confidence and not give him any way out, "What Lord Zheng said seems to be reasonable, but in fact it is a big mistake. Under the pretense of Wang Shoucheng's funeral, the eunuchs were lured to ambush soldiers outside Beijing and eradicated them in one fell swoop. It seems reasonable, but it's not. The eunuch's ears and eyes are all over the inside and outside, and this plan takes too long, and it is inevitable that the secret will be leaked, and then the snake will not die but will suffer from it. May Your Majesty think twice. ”

"But......" Wenzong was a little embarrassed, "I have already agreed to Zheng Zhu, do I want to go back on my word?" ”

"Your Majesty, don't worry, the plan offered by Lord Zheng can be implemented together, as a plan for doubtful soldiers."

"The plan of the suspicious soldier ......" Wenzong's eyes lit up.

Half a month ago, Zheng Zhu offered himself the "three strategies for removing eunuchs", the first step was to promote Qiu Shiliang and use it to contain Wang Shoucheng, and the second step was to plan a palace change to take Wang Shoucheng, force him to hand over his military power and give him death. The third step was to pretend to be Wang Shoucheng's funeral, lead the group of eunuchs to outside Beijing, and set up ambushes to kill them together.

Seeing that Wang Shoucheng was tied up and the great achievement was about to be completed, Li Xun suddenly secretly told that the eunuch secret agent activities in Beijing have been frequent recently, and the third strategy offered by Zheng Zhu can no longer be implemented, and he cited the lesson of Song Shenxi's failure to get rid of the eunuchs in the fourth year of Yamato, and suggested that he should start as soon as possible to get rid of the eunuchs by thunderbolt.

Emperor Wenzong thought about it again and again, and hit the case with his hand: "Just act according to Qing's words, you don't need to tell Zheng Zhu about this matter!" Also...... You don't have to tell King Ying. ”

"Your Majesty is wise and martial, except for eunuchs, it will be successful, and Datang Zhongxing is expected." Li Xun bowed to the ground.

Wenzong's mood brightened, his eyes penetrated the deep hall and saw a bright sunny day.

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Notes: 1 The second half of this chapter deals with the famous "Manna Change" in history, and the historical background can be found in the "Background Information" section at the beginning of the text.

2 Song Shenxi: The word Qingchen, a native of Rucheng County, Hunan (Tang Yichang County). Born in 760 AD. In the third year of Baoli (826), he served as a member of the Ministry of Rites, and in the fifth year of Yamato (830), he served as the Pingzhangshi (Prime Minister) under the Tongzhong Shumen, and conspired with Tang Wenzong to kill the eunuchs in power, and was deposed for leaking secrets. He died in Kaishu in the eighth year of Yamato (834).