bayedsolid Chapter 64 Undercurrent
Chapter 64 Undercurrent
“Brother An, the current situation in the Tang Dynasty is not clear. How can we work together?” Li Mao put down his wine cup, leaned forward slightly, and asked tentatively.
An Lushan laughed loudly, his face full of fat, his narrow eyes narrowed into slits: "I have a plan in mind, I wonder if Your Highness would like to hear it?"
Li Mao raised an eyebrow and asked with great interest, "I would like to hear the details."
An Lushan leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Murong Junxianzi recently sent a letter, implying that General Yuchi in the south is quite dissatisfied. If we can join forces, using their troops to summon his generals, and form a pincer movement on both flanks, wouldn't that be twice as effective with half the effort?"
Li Mao pondered for a moment; the suggestion was indeed appealing to him.
His mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons.
“Brother An is absolutely right. However, this matter is of great importance, and we must proceed with caution and not make a single move lightly,” Li Mao replied calmly.
An Lushan nodded in agreement, still wearing a sincere smile: "Of course, of course. Your Highness, rest assured, I will think it over carefully before acting."
“Brother An, I have heard that your military might in overseas countries is very strong. If the Western barbarians and Southern barbarians dare to invade the border, I am sure you will be able to suppress them with thunderous force,” Li Mao added, intending to test An Lushan.
An Lushan laughed heartily: "Your Highness is too kind. Although the situation overseas is complicated, I still have the strength to do my best for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty and will not fail in my mission."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, both understanding each other without saying a word.
Although An Lushan had a rugged appearance, he was a meticulous person.
Soon after, An Lushan ordered his men to serve him a secret delicacy, and the two continued their in-depth conversation while eating.
"Your Highness, may I ask if His Majesty is no longer able to govern the country?" An Lushan asked tentatively.
Li Mao hesitated slightly before saying, "Father is indeed seriously ill, the central government is in a vulnerable position, and various factions are plotting against us. But we will probably need time to find out the truth."
An Lushan, however, disagreed. He shook his head and said confidently, "Your Highness need not worry. The overall situation of the world is already under our control. As long as we seize the initiative, we will surely live up to expectations."
Li Mao nodded slightly, a smile gradually appearing on his face: "Thank you for your kind words. I hope everything goes well."
The two reached a consensus the following day, secretly formed an alliance, and agreed to share information and discuss important matters through letters in the future.
After returning to Chang'an, Li Mao maintained a low profile and quietly planned everything.
As Li Longji's illness worsened day by day, he was ultimately forced to let the Crown Prince oversee the country.
Crown Prince Li Heng was initially excited for a few days, finally able to sit on the throne of the emperor.
However, after assuming the regency, he also felt multiple pressures.
He knew perfectly well that the Tang Dynasty was now besieged on all sides, beset by internal and external troubles.
"Your Highness, we must make plans as soon as possible." The advisors in the Crown Prince's residence were ordered to study countermeasures and devise solutions day and night.
"You all should focus on your plans and not rush things," Li Heng said calmly, a hint of unease showing between his brows.
However, he calmly assigned tasks to everyone and secretly strengthened the defenses of the mansion in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
And the other side.
Li Mao observed the situation calmly, secretly recruiting soldiers with his personally selected confidants, and quietly expanding his power.
Gao Chen, worried that Li Longji's illness might be discovered by others, kept a close eye on the movements within the palace.
He said to Liu Huafei, "We must always be vigilant and not miss any disturbances."
Consort Liu nodded, her expression grave: "His Majesty's health is deteriorating day by day, and this is precisely the time when many hidden dangers are brewing."
Gao Chen secretly strengthened the security of the Imperial Study and closely monitored everyone entering and leaving to prevent any unforeseen events.
Li Longji's condition improved slightly under the careful treatment of the imperial physicians.
He was able to lean against the couch to listen to the report, but his face remained pale.
"After the palace gates were sealed, were there any unusual movements outside?" Li Longji's voice was low, but it carried an undeniable authority.
"Your Majesty, there is no unusual activity in Chang'an City, but the regional military governors are already restless, and border conflicts occur from time to time, but in the end, they are all small barbarian countries testing the waters," Gao Chen replied truthfully.
Li Longji was slightly moved, realizing that the situation was not good. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Continue to wait and guard."
Gao Chen, with a solemn expression, bowed slightly and said, "As you command."
The courtyard is quiet in the deep of night, with only a few stars in the sky and a bright moon.
Crown Prince Li Heng stood alone in the courtyard, his heart surging with emotion.
He knew that Li Longji's illness had become a critical issue that everyone was paying attention to, and that if he was not careful, he could lose everything.
Just then, his confidant strode over and whispered, "Your Highness, many ministers have begun to form factions and their ambitions for power are growing. How should you deal with this?"
Li Heng sneered, his face calm: "Give those old ministers a warning, lest they make mistakes at crucial moments. At the same time, find some reliable candidates and win them over as soon as possible."
at the same time.
Li Mao sat quietly in his study, the candlelight flickering, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
He carefully considered how to further advance the plan, ensuring that every step he took was steady and not daring to be careless in the slightest.
"Your Highness, everything is proceeding as you predicted. His Majesty has not yet fully recovered," Afu reported the latest news from the side.
Li Mao nodded slightly, his gaze calm and profound: "Yes, continue to keep a low profile, and do not let your guard down. Send out spies to closely monitor the Crown Prince's residence."
"Yes, Your Highness." Afu acknowledged the order and withdrew.
That night, Li Mao quietly left the palace and went to a secluded manor.
This place is located in a remote area outside Chang'an City. It is sparsely populated and only has private soldiers hidden here by the Prince's Mansion. They look no different from ordinary people on weekdays.
Inside the manor, several of Li Mao's trusted confidants were already waiting.
"Gentlemen, the time is ripe. How should we proceed?" Li Mao walked to the front of the table and surveyed the crowd with piercing eyes.
One of his trusted confidants, with a solemn expression, said, "Your Highness, we have received news today that Li Sheng, the military governor of the southeast, is willing to cooperate with us to plan a grand scheme."
Li Sheng is a veteran general in the court. If we can get his help, we will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Another confidant added, "Your Highness, you must also be wary of those who seek to cause trouble in the court. You must be extremely careful and leave no room for error."
"No need to worry. The most important thing right now is to send messages to all regions and carry out this plan to the end." Li Mao's tone was firm, clearly indicating that he was confident.
"Your Highness, rumors are spreading throughout Chang'an lately, saying that His Majesty's health is failing and seems to be getting worse," his trusted aide warned, his anxiety barely concealed.
Upon hearing this, Li Mao's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he slowly said, "There's no need to sit idly by and wait for death. From now on, we should contact warlords such as An Lushan and Li Sheng. If the situation changes, we will surely be able to stir up a storm."
"Understood, your subordinates will make the arrangements immediately," the trusted men replied in unison.
While Li Mao was secretly plotting his scheme, Li Heng was also closely monitoring the situation in Chang'an from inside the Crown Prince's residence.
"Your Highness, our spies have sent new information." An aide rushed in, holding a scroll of secret letter, and handed it to Li Heng.