Chapter 1359 Forced palace
The Jiuzhou Pool in Luoyang Palace and the Hai Pool in Chang'an Taiji Palace are both adjacent to the North Palace Gate, Xuanwu Gate, and are very close to each other.
When Qin Jun, Cheng Chumo and other military meritorious nobles rushed to the north gate with their family members, they were still in front of the Shenji camp, the privy envoy Xiao Siye, the servant Xiao Shen and many others had already been brought into the palace by the eunuchs.
In the name of the emperor, the eunuchs hurriedly summoned them to the palace to face the saint.
Xiao Siye met Gao Hu, envoy of the Xuanhui Academy, in the Dengchun Pavilion north of Ninghua Hall in Xizhou, but he did not see the emperor.
"Where is His Majesty?"
"Duke Xiao, please sit down."
Zipao Gao Hu invited Xiao Siye to join the cabinet. The atmosphere was a bit abnormal. Gao Hu also knew that the time was running short, so he didn't go around the bush. He explained the emergency situation straight to the point. Of course, the words came out of his mouth and made a lot of changes. The emperor suffered a stroke when he was in Xizhou today, and he was in critical condition...
"Take me to the saint."
"The sage has just been given acupuncture and medicine by the old Fengyu, and now he is asleep. For the time being, there is nothing to worry about. Please follow the sage's will, issue orders and issue fish charms. The most urgent task right now is to maintain the safety of Luoyang Palace and stabilize the eastern capital Luoyang. "
Xiao Siye stared at Gao Hu.
"Where is the edict of the saint?"
"After the sage suffered a stroke, he hastily issued an edict, and it was too late to summon the academicians of the Imperial Academy to undertake the edict." Gao Hu said.
The emperor's oral order is of course also a type of imperial edict, but it is the least authoritative one. The internal system was drafted by the academicians of the Imperial Academy, and the external system was drafted by the Scheeren of Zhongshu. These are imperial court systems.
The external system proposed by Zhongshu Sheren has to be reviewed and signed by Zhongshu Shilang, Zhongshu Ling, Zhongshu Shizhong, Shizhong, etc., and must be approved by the emperor, and finally has to be stamped by the Minister of Political Affairs. The seal under the door of the book must be in compliance with the procedure, otherwise it will be invalid.
Although the internal system was drawn up by the academicians of the Imperial Academy, it also had to be approved by the emperor. Now it is usually approved by the envoy of the Xuanhui Academy, Gao Hu.
But now there is nothing, the emperor has not seen it, only Gao Hukou proclaimed the decree, of course Xiao Siye could not listen.
After all, it involves such an important matter of soldiers and military orders.
"This is not in line with the system, especially at this time, please ask Duke Gao to take me to meet the saint."
"Don't Mr. Xiao believe in XX?"
"Mr. Gao, this is a system. The Privy Council cannot issue an order based on an oral order. Even if I make an order, the Privy Council has two houses, and the two houses must have the same signature on duty."
"Someone has already asked someone to invite Xue Gong to come." Gao Hu refused to let Xiao Siye see the emperor at this time, "Although the saint has to use acupuncture and medicine to stabilize the situation, it is still not optimistic, and we can't disturb it right now. Special time, special time Act, Xiao Gong."
The Privy Council held the arms, and neither the Political Affairs Hall nor the Imperial Academy had the right to interfere. The Privy Council did not need to pass through the Imperial Academy and the Political Affairs Hall to dispatch troops and issue talismans. The military power is in the hands of the guards in the northern and southern yamen, and the military command of the garrison and guards in Luoyang, the eastern capital, is in the hands of the guards in the two yamen, but the actual command is in the hands of the lieutenants and Zhonglang generals. in hand.
Therefore, the military power of the Tang Dynasty is now divided into three, and the Privy Council makes military decisions and controls the military status of the fish. The twenty-four guards in the north and the south have the power to command the army, and all the troops are under the control of the two yamen.
But the lieutenant, general Zhonglang, and captain Zhechong are in charge of the troops.
Xiao Siye's expression became serious.
"Gao Gong, since the emperor succeeded to the throne, the military system has been reformed in this dynasty, and the Privy Council has been established. The military power is divided into three parts. The Privy Council is in charge of the military registration and fish charms, and the two yamen are in charge of the army. The soldiers of the world are based on the privy secretaries, who have the right to send troops, but not the weight of holding them. The soldiers of the capital are always in the two yamen, have the weight of holding soldiers, have no right to send troops, maintain each other, and cannot be autocratic."
Although Privy Councilors have the right to dispatch troops, they still have to be authorized by the emperor first. It is true that the military power is divided into three parts, but the emperor is the one who holds the highest military power.
Without the authorization of the emperor, the Privy Council cannot issue military orders at all. Not to mention that at the beginning of the establishment of the Privy Council, there was a two-house system. When dispatching troops and issuing amulets, the upper and lower courts had to agree with each other.
This set of things was originally designed by the emperor to prevent mutiny and rebellion, especially after the Xuanwumen Rebellion initiated by the Su Clan last time, it became more stringent.
Xiao Siye was not allowed to issue an edict, and indeed he could not issue an order.
Gao Hu was also a little anxious at this time, and simply promised to benefit the Xiao family directly. After this crisis, he would add a prime minister position to the Xiao family in the Political Affairs Hall, and even the Imperial Academy could arrange a bachelor's position. If Xiao Siye If willing, the Privy Council can also add another Xiao's child.
"The position of Transshipment Secretary and Minister can also be transferred to Xiao."
Hearing this, Xiao Siye narrowed his eyes.
When he was young, he accompanied Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty as a court guard. He experienced the siege of Yanmen and the change of Jiangdu. After Yang Guang was murdered, he was once a prisoner. Turkic, it can be said that this son of the famous Xiao family in Lanling had suffered a lot and experienced many things when he was young.
In Daibei, with the support of the Turkic people, he supported Yang Zhengdao’s small court in exile in the Sui Dynasty, but he also developed a more resolute character.
He already smelled a change in the palace.
"I want to see a saint."
"The saint is asleep, do not disturb."
"Unless I meet a sage, it is impossible to give orders." Xiao Siye finally made up his mind.
Gao Hu was a little surprised.
"Does Xiao Gong have any other ideas, you can talk to our family."
Xiao Siye shook his head.
Gao Hu gritted his teeth, "For today's matter, the two nobles of the Xiao family in the palace have unshirkable responsibilities. Mr. Xiao must not miss the opportunity to hand over our family, otherwise if others take it, then those who are waiting for the Xiao family may not be able to escape." That's a good thing."
Now Xiao Siye is more and more sure that there is a problem.
"Where is the saint?"
Gao Hu gritted his teeth, turned his head and left.
Xiao Siye followed, but several servants at the entrance of Kedengchun Pavilion blocked the way. They were armed with knives and bows, and their expressions were unkind.
"Step aside!"
"Duke Xiao, don't move rashly in the palace." Gao Hu confessed and left.
After a while, the waiter Xiao Chen came.
"Liulang." Xiao Chen's face was pale, and he persuaded Xiao Siye to cooperate quickly when he arrived, "I just saw the saint in Ninghua Palace."
"How about a saint?"
Xiao Shen said anxiously, "Looking at it from a distance, the saint is asleep on the couch." Then he looked around and lowered his voice, "The saint is still alive."
"Have you seen the imperial concubine?"
"Looked at it from a distance, and didn't even have a chance to say a word. They kept crying."
Xiao Chen tried to persuade Xiao Siye at this time.
The throne may be transferred. At this time, there is a huge opportunity hidden. For the Xiao family, if they handle it properly, they can reach the sky in one step.
Although Gao Hu has already made it clear to Xiao Chen that with Empress Wei and the four sons of the emperor, there is no chance for the concubine Xiao to be the queen, and the princes born by her have no chance to be the heir, but as long as the Xiao family can stand today A good location and a good job, then the Xiao family can get the most benefits afterwards. Gao Hu promised that there should be at least two positions in the Political Affairs Hall and the Privy Council, and even the important yamen such as the Imperial Academy, the Transit Envoy, and the Yushitai. Placement location.
"Uncle." Xiao Siye sighed.
From the beginning to the end, it was only Gao Hu who was talking to them, always wanting Xiao Siye to cooperate with issuing amulets and ordering troops to be dispatched. Although Xiao Chen saw the emperor and Concubine Xiao, one fell asleep and the other did not speak, so in the end What happened, they still don't know.
But Xiao Siye already knew some of Gao Hu's plan, and let him, the privy envoy, violate the system and issue amulets to give orders to the lieutenants of the guard army. As for whether this plan is the emperor's intention, it is hard to say now.
However, Xiao Siye believed with great confidence that this was not the emperor's intention at all, or that the emperor had no time to issue an order after his illness.
Gao Hu and his lieutenants have the power to control the troops, but now they lack the troop talisman.
Mobilize the imperial army, control the palace Gyeonggi, and then?
"I heard that they have brought Empress Wei back from Shangyang Palace, and also brought the fourteenth prince born to the palace people to Xizhou." Xiao Chen whispered.
Xiao Siye was shocked.
"Do they want to appoint the fourteenth prince as the crown prince? But he is neither a descendant nor an elder."
"Let Empress Wei take over the fourteenth prince, then he will become a heir." Xiao Chen said.
"The fourteenth prince is only eight years old!"
"The sage was only eight years old when he was established as the crown prince. Age is not the key." Xiao Chen reminded his cousin. He never suspected that Gao Hu and the eunuchs were doing something, because he thought it was impossible, they didn't have the guts, it must be the emperor's intention.
Xiao Chen felt that the Xiao family should cooperate. It was a pity that they failed to make their daughter a queen and their grandson a prince, but this kind of thing cannot be forced.
Cooperating with the emperor to appoint the fourteenth prince as the heir, the Xiao family also made a plan to support him.
Besides, the reward has already been paid out, which is indeed generous enough.
Xiao Siye thought quickly in his mind, stared at Xiao Chen and asked, "Brother, you came with other ministers of the Political Affairs Hall just now, where are they now?"
"I haven't seen any other gentlemen. I was summoned into the palace by the **** of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, saying that the sage called me right."
"I was also called in this way, and I didn't see the other ruling members of the Privy Council. There is a problem, a big problem."
"What's the problem?" Xiao Shen asked anxiously.
"It is possible that the sage had a sudden stroke, and he still hasn't woken up yet, and there is no oral order. Everything is the eunuch's false edict. Otherwise, how could the sage let Empress Wei take over the fourteenth prince and make him the heir?"
"Uncle, think about it. The sage has long been disgusted with Webster. He is imprisoned in Shangyang Palace. He may abolish the empress at any time. Even if he wants to establish the fourteenth prince, how can he let Empress Wei take over?"
Xiao Chen's lips trembled a little, "Don't scare me, maybe it's because of the special situation. Although the saint hates Webster, she is still the empress after all, and the fourteenth prince is neither a direct wife nor an elder. Qualified as a reserve."
"Maybe, but I think it's more likely that those eunuchs are falsely preaching imperial edicts and seeking benefits."
"They dare not?"
Xiao Siye is not sure, but thinks that at this special time, it is best for the Xiao family to stay still. The situation is unknown, so they can't act rashly, and there is no need to help others.
"Even if the sage really intends to appoint the fourteenth son of the emperor as the crown prince, then our Xiao family should participate together with other princes, instead of listening to the eunuchs in private like this."
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are not far apart.
Gao Hu was talking to Xue Rengui who was in charge of the Privy Council at this time, and it was still the way of falsely preaching imperial edicts and then seducing them for profit.
It's a pity that Xue Rengui was not moved at all, he just asked to meet the saint.
Gao Hu declined, and then persuaded.
He then asked Gao Hu to send people to summon the ministers of the Political Affairs Hall, the governors of the Privy Council, and the academicians of the Imperial Academy to enter the palace to discuss countermeasures.
Anyway, it is impossible for Xue Rengui to issue orders in violation of regulations.
No matter how much Xue Rengui tried to persuade him, it was nothing but oil and salt.
Gao Hu suppressed his anger, but in the end he could only return in vain.
Empress Wei has been received from Shangyang Palace to Jiuzhou Pool Xizhou, and several young princes have also been received. Gao Hu finally selected the eight-year-old fourteenth prince and planned to use him as the heir.
But now the Privy Council can't pass this test.
Without the order of the Privy Council to transfer troops, even if the lieutenants were in the camps of the Imperial Army, it would be difficult to mobilize troops.
Gao Hu had no choice but to test one by one to see who would cooperate.
Yibaba's confidants sent out to the palace to lure the chief executives of the eastern and western prefectures into the palace, as well as the chiefs of the Imperial Academy, Yushitai, and Transshipment Department, and even sent people to arrest the guards of the two yamen in Beijing. The generals and soldiers of the army were also called into the palace.
There will always be someone willing to cooperate.
Time passed by little by little, and the situation was still stuck.
The emperor was still in a coma, and the treatment by the imperial doctors did not make any progress. Fortunately, the emperor's condition did not get worse.
But Gao Hu knew that he couldn't delay for too long, as he didn't have that much time.
He has already considered whether to call the prime ministers of the two governments and the generals of the two yamen together outside the hall of saints, and then directly push the empress Wei and the fourteenth prince in front of everyone, and directly pass the imperial decree to embrace him as the prince. Let's talk about cooking.
But there is still a big risk, that is, once these important ministers raise objections, Gao Hu fears that he will not be able to suppress them at all.
After all, although the eunuchs are becoming more and more powerful, their prestige is far from being able to compete with the two governors.
Once things go wrong, this rare initiative may be completely lost at that time, so Gao Hu's plan has always been to control the military power first.
As long as the military power is in hand, even if the chief executives oppose it, they can still fight hard, but if they can’t control the military power, what will they do then?
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The Xiao family refused to cooperate, but the Wei family was moved, but the problem is that the Wei family is too weak now, and has almost no important position in the center. Relying on them alone is useless.
At this time, Gao Hu was even thinking about whether he had made a mistake in his original plan, maybe he should have chosen Xiao's cooperation from the beginning?
I have a terrible headache.
Suddenly, a middle-aged **** rushed over in a panic.
"Aye, it's not good."
"What's the fuss?" Gao Hu gritted his teeth and scolded.
The middle-aged **** in the scarlet robe rushed to Gao Hu, "The Qin family, Duke Qin Jun of the State of Qi led Cheng Chumo, Niu Jianwu, Yuchi Baolin, Qin Huaidao and a group of other relatives, and led hundreds of soldiers to the north gate."
Gao Hu was flustered.
He pretended to be calm on the surface, "How did they know about the situation in the palace? Who leaked the news?"
The scarlet-robed **** panicked, "Aye, this is not the time to pursue this matter. They have already reached the north gate. What should we do?"
Gao Hu forced himself to calm down.
It seems that Qin Lang is still underestimated. Qin Qiong and Qin Lang's father and son have two generations of generals, and Qin Lang has been in business for nearly forty years. If an ordinary person has been in office for forty years and has no background, he may at most be a state governor in forty years, but who is Qin Lang?
At the age of sixteen, he co-conspired to calm the chaos and established a policy to support the establishment. After that, he established the Zhenfu Division, recruited Donggong General Xue Wanche, Xie Shufang, etc. to Zhongnan Mountain, and went to Youzhou to conspire against Pingwang Junkuo and Li Yuan, and then went to Jingzhou to be executed. Killing the rebel general Yanjun Wang Li Yi made countless meritorious deeds along the way, and he was honored by the emperor's eldest princess.
Such a person, who has been in business for forty years, and his father Qin Qiong is the leader of the military upstart faction in Shandong, the Qin family's big network is too powerful, even though the emperor has been trying to eliminate the influence of the Qin family in the past few years, but now It seems that they are still too underestimated.
"Don't be afraid, the important place in the capital, the north gate of the imperial palace, they dare to lead troops and horses to enter the palace privately. This is plotting against the law and rebellion. Quickly recruit Xue Rengui, Xiao Siye and other privy officials!" Gao Hu's face showed excitement .
He felt that he had found a way to break the situation.
The Qin family broke into the palace with armed forces at this time, wouldn't that just give him a handle?
What reason did Xiao Siye and others have for refusing to mobilize troops to quell the chaos?
Xiao Siye, Xue Rengui and a total of six privy envoys and deputy envoys were invited over, and Gao Hu met them in the corridor of Ninghua Hall.
(end of this chapter)