Two generations of emperors, father and son, who made history, had their first head-to-head confrontation outside Chang'an City in front of hundreds of civil and military officials.

Two generations of emperors, the old and the new, replaced each other, but left many historical problems.

Without Li Longji's knowledge, Li Heng claimed to be emperor. In a peaceful era, Li Heng would have been condemned by the people of the world and regarded as a treasonous act.

But the subtlety is that before Anlu Mountain captured Guanzhong, Li Longji, the real emperor, ran away with his prince and princess, leaving the people of Guanzhong and Chang'an to suffer from the flames of war. In order to survive, the Taiping Emperor did not care about anything.

Not available.

As for Li Heng, although he made no achievements in the battle against the rebellion, at least he did not escape. He commanded the Shuofang Army in Lingzhou and fought sporadic battles with the rebels. In the end, the Shuofang Army participated in the north-south pincer strategy with the Anxi Army and the decisive battle at Tongguan.

, even if Shuofang's army didn't do it very gloriously, at least he did it.

When the two generations of emperors are compared, the mood of the scholars and common people in the world becomes a little complicated.

The real emperor ran away, but Li Heng's hasty proclaiming of emperor in Lingzhou did not seem so treacherous. In the eyes of many people, Li Heng was ordered to do something in danger. He was trying to turn the tide. Proclaiming emperor only meant that there would be a complete court in Guanzhong and Shuofang.

Used to command the Tang army to fight the rebels.

Under such premise and situation, plus the fact that Li Heng had been the crown prince for more than 20 years, Li Heng's treasonous act of proclaiming himself emperor was easily forgiven by his subjects, and even the most senior person in the court was forgiven.

The courtiers who valued etiquette could not accuse him of doing anything wrong.

The old emperor fled to Shu to seek refuge. The world is leaderless and cannot just sit back and wait for death. What's wrong with us supporting the prince to ascend the throne as the new king?

Except that there is no edict of succession, everything is fine.

The subjects of the Tang Dynasty were actually very tolerant of the emperor. Li Shimin killed his brother and his brother as a sermon. Although the subjects were scolded, they finally accepted it. When Li Longji ascended the throne, he led his troops into the palace and marched towards the palace with blood all over the ground.

With these two emperors in front of them, Li Heng's ascension to the throne was like a gentle breeze and drizzle.

The Hu people in the Li Tang royal family made the succession of the throne more like raising gu. They believed in the law of the jungle and the strong. Whoever can eat the weak one will be the well-deserved strong one.

To sum it up, the transfer of the throne between Li Longji and Li Heng was a rare and harmonious scene. It was so harmonious that even the courtiers were a little uncomfortable with it. They stared eagerly at the confrontation between the two emperors, secretly hoping that they would be there on the spot.

Cut each other with knives...

Even though Li Longji was the monarch who created a prosperous age, he could only choose to compromise in the face of the situation.

Before returning to Chang'an, Li Longji had sent people to find out clearly that it was the Anxi Army who took over the defense of Chang'an City, and the Shuofang Army who took over the palace.

The deal is done, Li Heng is the de facto emperor of the Tang Dynasty. If Li Longji continues to be ignorant, he believes that Li Heng has the ability to turn his supreme emperor into a dead emperor, and he will suddenly die suddenly in the palace in a few days.

"That's all, Li Heng, you can do your own thing. It's not easy to be the emperor, especially you." Li Longji sighed, his eyes quickly searched the crowd behind Li Heng, and saw Gu Qing in purple robe standing in the crowd.

, a complex color flashed in Li Longji's eyes.

Li Heng smiled, bowed and said, "I will escort the Supreme Emperor back to the palace."

Li Longji said in a deep voice: "Should I still live in Xingqing Palace?"

"Yes, I have ordered people to clean up the Xingqing Palace. Your Majesty is old and it's time to take care of yourself."

Li Longji asked again: "Where do you live?"

"At the invitation of the courtiers, I live in Taiji Palace, not far from the Supreme Emperor. I can go to Xingqing Palace at any time to pay greetings and benefit to the Supreme Emperor."

Seeing the confident and steady son in front of him, who was no longer the submissive and docile person he once was. Now he was the emperor and no longer the prince. Li Longji felt mixed emotions in his heart.

Everything is really different.

"Li Heng, after I live in Xingqing Palace, can I still leave the palace?" Li Longji asked in a deep voice.

Li Heng smiled and said: "Of course I can leave the palace. Your Majesty, don't worry too much. I will serve your Majesty well and let you enjoy your old age in peace."

A strange smile suddenly appeared on Li Longji's face: "You, haha, are still a little young. It's my luck, but it's the country's misfortune."

Waving his hand lazily, Li Longji showed no interest in greeting the ministers. These people were no longer his ministers, but Li Heng's ministers.

"Go back to Xingqing Palace, I'm tired."

After speaking, Li Longji turned around and walked into the carriage.

Li Heng and the officials stepped aside to let the chariot enter the city.

In the bustling crowd, Gu Qing walked slowly with the ministers, feeling a little bored. He just wanted to end it all quickly, and then return to his home to catch up on his sleep.

After walking a few steps, Gu Qing was suddenly stopped by someone. When he looked back, he saw Gao Lishi standing by the road and watching him with a smile.

When old friends met, things were different now. Gu Qing stepped forward and bowed with mixed emotions.

"General Gao, farewell to Shu. It's been a long time."

Gao Lishi's expression became more complicated. He looked at Gu Qing for a long time and sighed quietly: "It is not a thing in the pond, it will turn into a dragon when the storm happens. Mr. Gu, are you okay?"

Gu Qing was also looking at him. Gao Lishi was much older. When Gu Qing led the army to rescue Yang Yuhuan, Gao Lishi was still strong and strong. But now when we meet again, he has gray hair, his body is much stooped, and his eyes are cloudy, like

There was a thick layer of fog that would never dissipate.

"General Gao, you have aged much. You have worked hard these past two years." Gu Qing sighed.

Gao Lishi's eyes turned red, he hurriedly held it back, and said with a forced smile: "It is the duty of an old slave to serve His Majesty, so it is not hard work. But Mr. Gu, on the other hand, has become more and more prosperous in the past two years.

The boy who came out was completely different."

Gu Qing heard something in Gao Lishi's words and couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "General Gao said it directly. The Supreme Emperor has shown me the kindness of knowing, educating and nurturing me. I have always been grateful for it and I dare not forget it."

Gao Lishi wiped his tears and said with a smile in his tears: "For Mr. Gu to say these words, it shows that he has not forgotten the old relationship between the king and his subjects, and that he has not wasted your majesty's trust in him. In accordance with your majesty's order, I invite Mr. Gu

Go to the Flower Calyx Tower of Xingqing Palace, and your Majesty will host a banquet for you."

Gu Qing smiled and said: "I'll go right away, General Gao, please."

Gao Lishi didn't even dare to say anything. After some humility, the two got on Gu Qing's carriage and walked leisurely towards Xingqing Palace.

…………

Xingqing Palace, Calyx Tower.

The long-lost palaces and pavilions, the long-lost feast, but there are no songs and dances in the palace, and there is no laughter.

Back then, in this calyx building, An Lushan danced the Hu Xuan Dance, Li Longji sang with his long hair, and Yang Yuhuan sat high in the hall and laughed heartily. At that moment, the prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty reached an unprecedented peak.

From that moment on, the prosperous age took a sharp turn and fell into the abyss.

Historians regard the Anshi Rebellion as the turning point of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, but in the eyes of literati, the turning point should be the Hu Xuan Dance on Anlu Mountain in the Huacalyx Tower. After one dance, the prosperous age collapsed.

Life is like summer flowers, death is like autumn leaves, and ending with a dance may be more in line with the romantic feelings of literati.

Several years have passed and things have changed.

Gu Qing did not enter Xingqing Palace alone, he brought troops and horses.

In addition to his personal guards, he also brought two thousand Anxi soldiers.

Li Longji is different from Li Heng. Li Heng has lived in the shadow of his father for most of his life, so that after becoming the emperor, his temperament is still a bit cowardly and soft. But Li Longji is different. He is a decisive and decisive emperor. Faced with

Li Longji was very ruthless when it came to his enemies, so Gu Qing did not dare to be careless. He was worried that as soon as Li Longji returned to Chang'an, he would be determined to get rid of him, a powerful official, and create a bloody plot where swordsmen and swordsmen were ambushed in the corridor.

Two thousand officers and soldiers of the Anxi Army stopped outside Huacalyx Tower and lined up neatly and stood quietly.

Gu Qing removed his sword and took off his shoes and entered the palace. He faced Li Longji and saluted: "Your Majesty, Gu Qing, pays homage to His Majesty the Supreme Emperor."

Li Longji was sitting in the palace, staring at him with cold eyes, and said in a cold voice: "Gu Qing, are you leading troops into the palace to show off your military power to me?"

Gu Qing said in fear: "I don't dare. Chang'an has just been settled, and there are still remnants of enemies in the streets and palaces that have not been eliminated. Not long ago, my camp outside the city was also attacked by soldiers and horses of unknown origin. For the sake of caution, I have to take him with me."

Soldiers and horses guard the left and right. In the whole world, the soldiers and horses are all the emperor's masters. I will never dare to show off my military power."

Li Longji snorted coldly, but couldn't say anything else. The reason was very good. Both of them knew the lies were lies, but they could only listen to them as the truth. This was the current situation.

The hall was empty except for Li Longji and Gu Qing. It was obvious that Li Longji specially summoned Gu Qing.

Gu Qing was extremely careful and stood in the hall with a respectful expression, his eyes and ears always paying attention to the movements around him.

Gu Qing was particularly wary of Li Longji. He knew that although the emperor might be foolish and confused in his old age, he was also very cruel and ruthless in his actions. He might really be capable of such bloody things as ambushing swordsmen and axes in the corridors.

Li Longji ordered the eunuchs to serve wine and food. The monarch and his ministers were about ten paces apart, drinking and feasting on their own.

As soon as the food and wine were served, Li Longji raised his glass to Gu Qing and said with a hint of a smile: "I am no longer the emperor, so you and I don't need to talk about the etiquette of monarchs and ministers. I will propose a toast to you first."

Gu Qing stood up in fear, bent down and said respectfully: "I don't dare to accept it, I am the Supreme Emperor."

After saying this, Gu Qing raised his head and drank, and even flashed the bottom of the cup towards Li Longji.

The moment he turned around and returned to his seat, Gu Qing quickly opened his mouth and spit all the wine in his mouth onto his sleeves.

When he entered the palace, he made up his mind that he would not be able to eat a single bite of the food and wine at today's palace banquet. If it was poisoned, he would die unjustly.

Li Longji also drank half a glass of wine, put down the wine cup and sighed: "Two years ago, I was still in this calyx building. I was still the emperor of peace, singing, dancing and drinking with my wife for fun all day long. At that time, the treasury of the Tang Dynasty was full.

, the government and the public were celebrating the Qingming Festival, and everyone was praising the prosperous times. Unexpectedly, in just two years, the prosperous times collapsed. When I return to this building today, everything back then seems like a big dream..."

Gu Qing pursed her lips and said nothing, but she sneered in her heart.

"Ching Ming Festival" and "prosperous weather", you may be really dreaming.

Starting from the 29th year of Kaiyuan, the so-called prosperous age of the Tang Dynasty has been in chaos. The prosperous age only existed among the emperors, ministers and officials. Landlords and powerful landlords seized the people's land and occupied countless fields. Many landless people have become serfs.

Or they may have left their homeland with their families and become refugees.

Corruption was rampant in the court and people were too busy. The courtiers could only flatter and praise the king, but no one in the huge court dared to tell the truth.
Chapter completed!