PFC Chapter 692 A terrible guess
Chapter 692 A terrible guess
Suffering from the disease, Li Chengqian was rarely lucid throughout the summer of the eighteenth year of Qianwu.
The wind gnawed at his body wantonly, and every breath was accompanied by piercing pain.
He sometimes muttered weakly in a coma and waved his hands unconsciously.
Sometimes he would wake up briefly, but his eyes were empty and confused, and he had lost all perception of his surroundings.
The atmosphere in the court was extremely depressing.
The ministers gathered in groups of three or five, whispering to each other, their eyes full of fear and anxiety.
Everyone was talking in low voices, and the words "Your Majesty is dying" spread quietly in the court. Every word hit everyone's heart heavily, making them feel unprecedented panic.
The daily intrigues and veiled struggles were all thrown out of the window at this moment. Everyone had only one thought in their mind: If His Majesty really leaves, what will happen to the Tang Dynasty?
Before we knew it, the autumn of the 18th year of Qianwu had come, and the coolness had arrived much earlier than in previous years.
In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrates the mist, people can clearly feel the bone-chilling chill in the air.
This autumn, the leaves on the trees are turning yellow at an alarming rate.
The willow trees on the street, in just a few days, the green leaves began to turn yellow and curl, swaying and falling in the autumn wind.
His Majesty is in critical condition, but His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also left the palace.
Ever since Wang Wen gained power in the court, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seemed to have disappeared from everyone's sight and rarely appeared in front of everyone.
Once upon a time, as the crown prince, he often participated in state affairs, expressed his opinions in the court with high spirits, and discussed ways to govern the country with ministers.
But now, his sudden disappearance has undoubtedly made the already turbulent court situation even more confusing.
The ministers privately speculated whether the prince's departure was related to Wang Wen's rise?
Is he actively avoiding suspicion, or is there something else going on?
For a time, all kinds of rumors were rampant.
In the court, Wang Wen stood upright under the dragon platform. His face was stern as he listened quietly to the civil and military officials reporting on recent events.
When talking about Wang Wen's administration, all the officials in the court felt uncomfortable.
Everyone originally thought that since he came from a humble background and was able to rise to power, he must have relied on officials, and thus treated them with tolerance, creating a relatively relaxed official environment.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he came to power, he gave everyone a "warning" that was unexpected, and the first thing he did was to investigate corruption.
"It is better to correct a wrong than to go too far, and it is better to exercise discretion in a matter of urgency than to have one family cry than to have all the people cry, and it is better for all the officials to cry than for the people to suffer."
With such a firm belief, Wang Wen acted decisively and mercilessly in investigating corruption.
He personally selected a group of honest and capable officials and formed a special supervisory team to go deep into various government offices and conduct detailed investigations into the officials' accounts and behaviors.
Those officials who usually take bribes, abuse their power and embezzle money are in constant fear.
They tried to smooth things over through various connections, but found that Wang Wen was ruthless and unmoved.
Faced with this sudden and strict investigation, all officials were unable to express their grievances.
This high-pressure situation made them feel as if they were back to the time when His Majesty had just ascended the throne, and the feeling of walking on thin ice once again came to their minds.
Not only that, Wang Wen also set up a stick department next to the Tai Chi Hall.
Any official who dares to oppress the people, fool the masses, and infringe upon the people's vital interests will be dragged to the place where he will be beaten with a military stick like a chicken.
The "pa pa" sound of the stick hitting flesh echoed around the Taiji Hall, becoming an unforgettable nightmare in the minds of all officials.
For a time, everyone in the court was in danger, and officials became cautious in their actions, fearing that they would accidentally violate the rules set by Wang Wen.
As the saying goes, "punishment shall not be imposed on scholars and officials." In their eyes, Wang Wen was just the son of a low-class person in Goguryeo, born in a humble family. He had no idea what kind of luck he had, but he rose to the highest position in the country overnight. He really thought of himself as a big shot who could control the court.
However, they only dared to think about these dissatisfactions and resentments in their hearts and never dared to express them openly, for fear of bringing disaster upon themselves.
Since Wang Wen dared to carry out such drastic reforms, he must have his confidence and means.
In the Grand Council, Wang Wen visits His Majesty almost every day these days.
Every time he stepped into the bedroom filled with a strong smell of medicine, his steps were extremely heavy and his mood was extremely complicated.
Looking at the unconscious Majesty, his eyes were filled with worry and confusion.
Your Majesty promoted him from an unknown person to the chief minister of the Grand Council, showing his gratitude and appreciation for his talents.
With the trust and support of Your Majesty, he has the opportunity to realize his ambitions and implement a series of reform measures.
But now His Majesty is on the verge of death. If he can't hold on any longer, he really doesn't know what to do.
In this vast dynasty, the various forces in the court are complex and intertwined.
Without Your Majesty in charge, how can he balance all parties and stabilize the court?
Thinking of this, Wang Wen's heart was filled with confusion and anxiety.
He has touched the interests of too many people. Once he loses the protection of His Majesty, those who have been offended by him will inevitably rise up and attack him.
A few days ago, Zhang An came to visit him.
Although Zhang An was only a minor official, with his talents, he was definitely more than qualified to be an official.
The reason he failed to pass the examination and become an official was not because of his lack of ability, but because he was from Liaodong and his parents were slaves.
In the official selection system of the Tang Dynasty, people with this kind of background would naturally not be appointed, so Zhang An was helplessly rejected.
But he did not sink into despair. With his tenacious perseverance and unremitting efforts, he came to Chang'an step by step from remote Liaodong.
Even as a minor official, he was determined to do his best. During his tenure, he worked diligently, handled government affairs in an orderly manner, solved many people's livelihood problems, and was deeply loved by the people and recognized by his colleagues.
Wang Wen did not use any backdoor for Zhang An. Instead, he strictly followed Zhang An's ranking in the imperial examination and, taking into account his accumulated political achievements in the local area over the years, returned the seventh-rank official position that should have belonged to him to Zhang An. This allowed Zhang An's years of hard work to finally be rewarded.
In a secluded house in Chang'an, Li Jingyou was drinking alone.
The room was dimly lit, with only a solitary lamp on the table emitting a faint light, illuminating his young face.
He frowned. The shopkeeper saw that he was young and handsome. Although he wondered why he drank to relieve his sorrow every day, he did not ask much and just served him wine silently.
This young man did this every day. As soon as he arrived at the tavern, he would order a pound of wine, drink it all in one gulp, and then stagger upstairs to sleep.
This went on for more than a month. He seemed to want to use alcohol to numb the pain and confusion deep in his heart, but the sorrow followed him like a shadow and he could not get rid of it.
No one knows why he is so depressed, or does he have some unknown secret?
At the beginning of winter in the eighteenth year of Qianwu, the people of Chang'an all noticed something was wrong.
All the Jinyiwei were seen rushing to the palace in a hurry, their faces tense and serious, as if something extremely urgent had happened.
The once bustling palace tourist attractions were all closed down, and bans were posted, forbidding the people from entering. Officers and soldiers, armed with spears, guarded all entrances tightly, and the people could only watch from afar.
Outside the palace, the Jinyiwei took turns on duty for three days and three nights. They were wearing Feiyu uniforms and stood motionless in the cold wind.
Not only that, but all officials were also forbidden to attend court, including Wang Wen. A terrible guess welled up in everyone's mind.
This kind of scene is too familiar to some old ministers who have experienced many vicissitudes of life.
Back then, when Emperor Taizong passed away, his death was also kept secret. The palace was under martial law and no officials were allowed to enter.
Could it be... that His Majesty has really passed away now?
Once this idea arose in everyone's minds, it spread as quickly as wildfire, making everyone feel terrified.
The Tang Dynasty is far from ready to lose His Majesty.
Moreover, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is now missing. Without a backbone, where will this huge dynasty go?