On the first day of Li Yuzhen's imprisonment, he issued four edicts.

The first edict exempts all state capitals in the world from paying taxes and grain next year.

This is the fulfillment of the promise of the imperial court.

This edict continued, and the people of the world celebrated.

The army also celebrated, because although the army did not enjoy the benefits of tax exemption, from the general to the lowest-ranking soldiers, they all received a reward allowance, which was paid from the first month of next year to December, and they also enjoyed the benefits of one year.

The second edict was an edict of thanks and reward issued to Lingnan Xidao, commending them for their active efforts to rescue the princess of Qin's loyal monarchy and loyalty to the country, so that Lingnan Xidao counted and reported the list of rescuers, and the imperial court awarded rewards and goods as gratitude and gratitude; And on the basis of exempting one percent of the tax, and En plus half of the Lingnan West Road tax exemption, commending the people of Lingnan West Road for loyalty, simplicity and honesty, in order to cultivate loyal and righteous people.

The people of Lingnan West Road were jubilant, although people didn't think about asking for any reward when they went to Beibu Gulf to rescue the princess of Qin, but whoever saved people wanted to get a word of thanks.

The third edict was to the lieutenant generals of Tiance, Linchuan County King and Gao Shi, who were killed on the island of Beibu Gulf, commend their merits, mourn their death, and enshrine them in the Martyrs' Shrine to enjoy national sacrifices.

These two edicts, let the people of the world feel that the new prince is a heavy affection, those sacrificed Jing'an Siwei's family, also got the greatest comfort in the pain, can enter the imperial martyr's shrine, this is the highest glory, just like the Wenchen after his death to enter the loyal shrine is proud, after the death of the military ministers are proud to enter the martyr's shrine, the merits will always be remembered by the empire, the tablet is enshrined by the national incense, and the family will also be recorded in the household department of the meritorious martyrs' family book, enjoy the preferential treatment of the martyrs' families, whether the family is engaged in farming or business or children go to school, can enjoy preferential treatment from the imperial court.

The fourth edict was a proclamatory edict and a wanted edict.

The imperial court declared that there were still cult elements in the Tang Dynasty and committed heinous crimes: one colluded with foreign countries to set up an ambush for the princess of Qin in the Beibu Gulf, causing the princess of Qin to be seriously injured and unconscious, and many people were killed by the king of Linchuan County and Jing'an Siwei; the second colluded with foreign warriors and domestic treacherous evil, and plotted to assassinate the emperor and the crown prince at the crown prince's canonization ceremony; The three colluded with domestic treachery and set fire to the capital and many state capitals, burning down thousands of houses and killing and injuring tens of thousands of people. The imperial court ordered all prefectures and counties to strictly investigate cult organizations and gangs, arrest cultists and their colluding traitors at home and abroad, and ordered the military and people of the Tang Dynasty to actively report suspicious people.

At this edict, the people of the whole country were angry.

When it comes to cults, the Tang people have no good feelings.

In that year, Emperor Gaozong issued the "Edict on the Prohibition of Cults", which clearly listed the Great Food Sect as a cult, and strictly prohibited the spread and belief in the territory of the Tang Dynasty, because of the vigorous propaganda of the Religious Department of the Imperial Court, the people of the Tang Dynasty knew that the Great Food Sect was a cult of "if you don't believe in me, I will let you die", in the name of loving the whole world, using the sword to promote their truth, Taoism and Buddhism also talk about love and benevolence, but there is no forcing people to believe in religion, let alone forcing you to believe in religion with a sword, and the Great Food Empire has also launched wars many times, and invaded other countries with troops to promote their "truth" religion, This is absolutely unacceptable to the Tang people, who advocate martial arts in their bones and are proud of their civilization and strength, and their bad feelings towards the Great Food Sect can be imagined - of course, this is also thanks to the unremitting propaganda of the Imperial Religious Department to demonize the Great Food Sect.

The edict was soon issued everywhere.

The big cannibals who did business and lived in the Tang Dynasty found themselves in a cold winter, no matter whether they traveled or lived, there were countless pairs of eyes staring, once they were found to have worshiped or preached the Great Food Religion, they would immediately be reported by the Tang people, and soon the whole family would be taken away by the government; Those Tang people who joined the Tang Dynasty but did not convert to Buddhism and practice Confucianism also felt the scrutiny of their surroundings, and once they recited religious scriptures or made a pilgrimage to the west, they would immediately be listed as cult suspects and arrested by the government. No matter what the identity background of these suspects is, which big man they have a relationship with, no official dares to show favoritism, this is a big crime involving the assassination of the emperor and the crown prince, Jing Ansi, who is staring at the back, will not talk to you about favors, and the officials don't want to put themselves in it, and it is useless to give more money.

……

The old man said, "This plan is very poisonous. ”

It seems to be a step back, but in fact, it is a murderous opportunity.

King Zheng and King Su also saw the sinister intentions hidden under this edict.

However, once the time is ripe, when the imperial court no longer cares about Xingping Society's plan to expose the open-air revelation plan to the people of the world, their Xingping Society will immediately become a "domestic traitor in collusion with a cult" and be exterminated by the imperial court by force.

King Zheng said: "It's time for the Shangqing Palace to come out." ”

This is the backhand of the plan to kill Chu, if the action to prevent Li Yuzhen's awakening is not successful, it can also force the Shangqing Palace and the Sanqing Palace to officially break with the assassination, so that the Daomen faction and their Xingping will become a community of life and death.

The strength of the Shangqing Palace, as well as the influence of the Heavenly Master Dao of Longhu Mountain and the Shangqing faction of Maoshan among the folk believers, was something that they had to borrow from the Xingping Society. Although there was cooperation before, the attitude of the Shangqing Palace was not positive. If it weren't for the fact that the Taiqing and Yuqing Palaces had increased their secret weakening efforts, and the Shangqing Palace was forced to break up, how could they be willing to send rune arrows to join the plan to kill Chu?

"Although we failed to kill Chu, we also have gains." King Feng said with a pale face, he stopped Dao Zhenzi on the Luo River and was seriously injured by her, and he has not recovered yet.

All the kings nodded, although they failed to kill Li Yuzhen, and even made the situation of the Xingping Society even worse, but no one was depressed, and their hearts were as solid as a rock and unshakable.

The old man nodded with satisfaction, a momentary failure is not terrible, what is terrible is the shaking of faith.

***

On the last Chinese New Year's Eve of the Changzhi era, it was sent away in the joy of the whole country and the cold wind.

The next day, it was the first day of the new year, the Zhengdan Dynasty meeting, the emperor and the prince appeared together on the Hanyuan Palace, and accepted the congratulations of the officials of the Beijing Dynasty and the officials of the various provinces and prefectures. ——According to the convention, the year after the new emperor ascended the throne, the name of the Yuan Dynasty will be changed, which is a respect for the previous emperor and a convenient year for the history books.

The arrival of the first year of the Dao Dynasty meant the end of the Changzhi era and the beginning of the Xindi era. Because Li Yuzhen was in charge of the country and was actually in charge, later historians often started from the Zhidao era when discussing the merits of Emperor Shengwu.

……

Xiao Yan wrote the word "Zhidao" on the paper, pondered it carefully, and felt that the meaning was very deep.

To the road, the avenue also, the way to perfection.

This is what is said in the Book of Rites, and it is also the avenue pursued by Confucianism.

Everyone has the Word in their hearts.

The supreme way of the Mohists is the fairness of the world, the supreme way of the Legalists is the rule of law, the supreme way of Taoism is immortality, and the supreme way of Buddhism is the pure land world, without desire and without purity......

The country also has the supreme way, prosperity, civilization, peace, and unremitting progress......

"Zhidao" summarizes people's best ideas, the most long-term pursuit, and the ultimate goal.

It's a name that makes people go awe.

The original meaning of "to" is "to".

To reach the avenue, we must struggle, not an ordinary struggle, but to exert all our strength, hard work, desperate struggle, not only sweat, but also blood.

Xiao Yan thought of the horn in the army, as soon as the horn sounded, the whole army marched forward, and the blood was boiling.

Zhidao, this is the name of the era of battle!

……

The old man wrote the word "Zhidao", with sharpness in his vigor.

The word is very red, it is cinnabar.

King Zheng knelt opposite the old man, looking at these two words, red and red, as if blood.

He also seemed to see blood in his eyes, the blood of countless people, the sea of blood, boundless.

"It's a bloody era name."

He said with a heavy expression.

This era name, red. It is a naked expression of the ambition and determination of the Apocalypse Sect.

Li Yuzhen is the chief executor they pushed up.

For that "supreme way", countless people will die, blood like a river, and a mountain of bones.

"I use my blood to protect the peace of the Tang Dynasty." King Zheng said.

He was not a young man a long time ago, and it was difficult to have a time when his blood was boiling, and the blood flowed smoothly and calmly in his veins, but his expression was solemn, revealing a solemnity, as if what he said was his faith, firmness, and sacredness.

This is their way.

Even if it is to give his life, he will not hesitate to do it.

***

To the Tao.

Shen Qingyi is also writing these two words.

The handwriting is different from her usual thin and steep, using Mrs. Wei's body, delicate and peaceful, elegant and graceful, but between the strokes, you can still see her unique style.

Shen Qingyi looked at these two words for a long time.

People live in the world, and there must always be a pursuit.

Perhaps because of her cold temperament, Shen Qingyi doesn't have too many desires, except for wanting to protect her mother's peace for a lifetime, she has the heart to seek, only the way to heal. However, the doctor is only her interest, and there is no goal that must be achieved.

What she pursues is peace of mind.

It is enough to be happy.

It's just that later, she wanted one more thing.

Only this one broke her peace, and made her deeply understand the inner torture of those who seek the avenue, the pain of asking but not being able to get it, the tossing and turning of thinking day and night, exhausting her energy, absorbing what she wants, but trying her best to get it, but not necessarily getting, that kind of emptiness that is difficult to grasp, making people's confidence and hope bear the torment, just like a rough whetstone, grinding the flesh little by little, the fine pain, until the heart is torn apart.

She closed her eyes.

The water in his eyes is like a sinking pool, deep and cold.

She folded the paper and went into the charcoal-burning stove, watching it dissipate into a wisp of green smoke.

Her heart is this charcoal.

It can only be stopped when it burns to ashes.

***

In the first year of Dao, on the sixth day of the first month, it was still a cold wind, and the spring of Chang'an had not yet arrived.

On this day, Xiao Yan went to the Immeasurable Temple.

She had left the East Palace at the beginning of December and moved to her mother's mansion, but Li Yuzhen told her not to go out, and the impact of King Wu's death had not completely dissipated, and it was rumored that Xiao Yan had been forced to leave Chang'an and return to Hexi, and it was not appropriate to appear publicly in Chang'an in a short time; "Second, it is also for your safety," Li Yuzhen said at the time, "Who knows if King Zheng and his party will jump over the wall in a hurry, kidnap you outside, or kill you directly." In the past, they still had to take care of the rule that the innate could not shoot below the congenital, but now, the three sects of the Dao Buddha Sword have entered the WTO, and there is no need to abide by this rule. If they don't care about their faces, and the two innates attack at the same time, even the pavilion master won't have time to save you. ”

Xiao Yan looked stunned, "Am I so important?" ”

Is it worth King Zheng and his party to kill her at this time?

Li Yuzhen said: "You are a disciple of Mozun, and you are destined to oppose them. In the past, they mainly dealt with me, but now that I am the prince, I rarely have the opportunity to ambush them out of Chang'an, even if I go out, I will be followed by the innate next to me, plus my realm has reached the great perfection of the cave, unless the other party has more than four innate combined attacks, it is difficult to kill me instantly. In such a form, it is natural to turn the spearhead, concentrate your strength, and get rid of you first. ”

Xiao Yan was still a little stunned, and always felt that relying only on "Mozun's disciple" was not the key reason why King Zheng and his party vowed to kill her. But Li Yuzhen didn't say it, he deliberately concealed it, at least, not now. She could only wonder in her heart, could it be that her own existence was closely related to the Apocalypse Project?

Li Yuzhen didn't take it seriously for long, so he teased her and said: "You can stay in your aunt's house with peace of mind, so you don't have to go out to provoke Peach Blossom." ”

Xiao Yan glared at her, "You provoked Peach Blossom." ”

Li Yuzhen smiled, "That's why I provoked you." ”

“……”

Xiao Yan is still skeptical that King Zheng and his party dare to attack him in Chang'an City, but considering King Wu's matter, he doesn't want to add trouble to Li Yuzhen and bring her criticism within the royal family, whether she is a man or a woman, it is a fact that Li Yuzhen is close; In addition, she has no need to go out - except that she wants to go to Wuliangguan and visit Shen Qingyi.

But this is not an urgent matter, now there is civil strife in Daomen, although the King of Qi woke up the next day after Li Yuzhen's imprisonment, Shen Qingyi can retire successfully, but Dao Xiaozi should not let Shen Qingyi return to Sanqing Palace at this time. However, Xiao Yan still sent someone to send a letter to Shen Qingyi, asking her to stay in Beijing until the New Year, and then return to Daomen after the spring flowers bloom next year; He also said that he was in Chang'an, but it was inconvenient to go out recently, and he would visit her again after the New Year.

In the blink of an eye, it was Chinese New Year's Eve Chinese New Year's Eve night, and Xiao Yan Yirong went to Xiao's Mansion in Beijing to meet his father. This year, the emperor issued a special decree to summon the five sides to protect the capital and the governor of Hexi to congratulate him next year, Xiao Huan arrived in Beijing on the 28th, first went to visit the families, the 29th emperor summoned, and the Chinese New Year's Eve was empty. Xiao Yan went to the study to see his father.

Xiao Yu asked her about the situation before and after, pondered for a while, and said, "It's okay for you to stay in Chang'an for the time being." There's something going on at home...... To clean up. ”

The father said vaguely, Xiao Yan thought that it might be related to his eldest brother Xiao Zhang, so he answered yes and didn't ask more.

When it comes to Xiao's internal cleanup, it's better for her not to interfere. After all, because of her biological mother, her identity is still a little sensitive, so she doesn't have to meddle in internal cleanup affairs, and she is attacked by someone with a heart, which complicates things.

Xiao Yu reminded her: "Although the Xiao family is currently in the same camp as the royal family, the saint and the crown prince will protect you, and you are safe in Chang'an, but you have to be careful of the prince." ”

Xiao Yan raised his eyes.

Xiao Yu said in a deep voice: "The prince is scheming, and compared with the saint, he is even more unafraid of means...... When you get along with her, be careful of being calculated. After a pause, he said, "You can ask your mother more in case of trouble, she will not make you suffer." ”

Xiao Yan didn't think that Li Yuzhen would calculate anything about her, except for feelings, but this was something that could not be said to her father, so she responded respectfully: "Yes." ”

The father and daughter spoke again, and when the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was approaching, Xiao Yan had to appear in the lobby, and Xiao Yan said goodbye to his father and left. At this time, she was in Chang'an, and only Xiao Song, the uncle who presided over the Xiao Mansion in Beijing, knew, and the rest of the people thought that she was practicing in the Sword Pavilion, and it was inconvenient for her to appear in front of people.

She left quietly, knowing that Shen Qingyi was in the Xiao Mansion tonight, and she didn't go to see her. Father is annoyed that she and the fourth brother are reconciled, once they reconcile, they will no longer be Xiao's daughter-in-law, my father is afraid that she has regarded her as an outsider in his heart, and now she is just hanging on her name, Xiao Yan is in Chang'an and even Xiao's children are hidden, but at this time he went to see Shen Qingyi, an "outsider", and his father knows it, so he is not annoyed? I want to be angry with Shen Qingyi even more.

Xiao Yan made up his mind to wait for his father to leave, and then go to see Shen Qingyi.

On the first day of the first lunar month, when the New Year's Day was celebrated, Xiao Yan entered the East Palace to pay New Year's greetings to the master and the two uncles. On the evening of the third day of the Lunar New Year, Li Yuzhen led her to pay New Year's greetings to the Emperor Taishang, and on the evening of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, she paid New Year's greetings to the Emperor and Empress. After coming out of the Qingning Palace, Xiao Yan recalled that the queen's aunt looked at her a little strangely. After hesitating, he asked Li Yuzhen: "Does my aunt know...... "Your feelings for me?"

Li Yuzhen glanced at her, "Mother came to my dormitory and saw your handwriting, as well as the stack of 'I want to have discipline'!" ”

Xiao Yan laughed out loud and said happily: "You deserve it." ”

"So my mother asked me, 'What have I done to you?' that you should write these five words. - In the hearts of my father and mother, you are very pure, and it must be my fault for writing these five words. ”

Xiao Yan praised sincerely: "My aunt is really bright-eyed. ”

Saying that, her face suddenly became strange, and she wondered how Li Yuzhen explained to the queen, did she confess the matter of Changle Palace?

[The following is the free word count]