Chang 'an, Imperial Astronomer!
"Beep beep beep beep beep!"
"There's a telegram!"
The other two eunuchs in the room also looked over. The telegram machine was not widely available and there were only a few people in the entire Tang Empire who owned one. Therefore, the person who sent the telegram to the palace was either Li Zexuan or Li Tai!
Li Zexuan was currently in the military camp. If there was anything, he could have just sent someone to the palace to pass the message or enter the palace personally. There was no need for him to send a telegram!
Therefore, the person who sent the telegram could only be Li Tai!
Quick! Come and help translate the message! "
"Alright!"
The two of them replied and quickly went forward to translate the message with the eunuchs.
Moments later, the expressions of the three people in the room changed. The eunuchs who first recorded the message stood up and said, "Taiyuan is in danger. You guys wait here. I have to present this telegram to His Majesty immediately!"
"Yes!"
The two of them cupped their fists and accepted the order.
The eunuchs kept the translated message and rushed out of the room.
In the Sweet Dew Hall, Li Er and Zhao Song were talking about the martial arts competition in the Black Armored Army the next day.
"… The rules set by this kid are quite interesting. After the morning court tomorrow, I'll make a trip to the Black Armored Army's camp to join in the fun and see the results of the Black Armored Army's training under this kid's new training manual!"
Li Er looked at the small booklet in his hand and smiled meaningfully. He then said to Zhao Song, who was beside him.
"Do you want me to inform General Duan beforehand?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Song was not surprised by Li Er's decision at all. He asked tentatively.
"There's no need for that!"
Li Er shook his head and said, "It's just the two of us. We can just change into casual clothes and go! It will also save us a lot of trouble! "
Although the world could not be said to be at peace, the Great Tang had been at peace for a very long time. At the end of the fourth month, after Shuofang City was breached by the Tang army and Liang Shi was beheaded, Li Er had eliminated all the rebel forces in the Tang Empire. As the capital of the empire, Chang 'an was much safer than other places in the Tang Empire. Therefore, Li Er was not worried that he would encounter any assassins when he left the palace in disguise.
Unlike the other "pampered" emperors who grew up in the palace, Li Er had done this kind of thing many times before.
"Yes, Your Majesty ~!"
Hearing this, Zhao Song hesitated. He wanted to say a few words of advice, but after being by Li Er's side for so many years, he knew Li Er's temper very well. Therefore, he swallowed the words that were already at the tip of his tongue and changed his tone.
However, he was secretly pondering in his heart. No matter what happened tomorrow, he had to arrange for some experts to secretly follow them. Otherwise, if something happened to Li Er, he would die a thousand deaths!
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Prince Wei's Palace has sent an urgent report ~! "
Just as Zhao Song finished speaking, a chamberlain hurriedly ran in from outside. After entering the hall, the chamberlain bowed to Li Er with a piece of paper in his hands.
Before this, Li Er had instructed the Imperial Army soldiers outside the Taiji Palace to report to the Imperial Astronomer if there were any urgent matters. They could directly enter Ganlu Palace without any notice.
"What? Green Sparrow urgent report? Quickly present it! "
Li Er, who was sitting at the head of the table, was shocked when he heard this and hurriedly said.
Zhao Song's expression also became serious. He quickly walked in front of the chamberlain, took the paper from the chamberlain's hands, and then quickly handed it to Li Er.
Li Er did not waste any time. After receiving the report, he immediately opened it and read it carefully. On it was written:
"Your son, Green Sparrow, reports to Imperial Father. Today, your son suddenly received news that there is a group of Turkic spies hiding in Taiji City. The leader is a Han man named Zhao Deyan, formerly the Village Head of the Han Family Manor, Han Tianhu. This morning, we accidentally intercepted a letter that this person sent to the grasslands …"
This telegram was not long, but it was not short either. It was more than three hundred words long. The main reason was that this matter was too important and too complicated. It could not be explained in a few words. If it was not explained clearly, it could easily affect Li Er's judgment and decision-making. When the time came, it was very likely that one careless move would cause the entire game to be lost! Therefore, Li Tai used as concise words as he could to tell Li Er everything that had happened that afternoon, including how Tie Dan had disguised himself as him to escort a batch of fake goods to Longshan and how he had been ambushed in the south of the city. Li Tai also told him about how Tie Dan had disguised himself as him and escorted a batch of fake goods to Longshan.
However, Li Tai did not mention Dugu Xin's conjectures about the Wang Clan in this telegram. The main reason was that they had no proof at the moment. It would be rather inappropriate to rashly mention them!
The telegram of more than three hundred words took a very long time to translate, but it seemed that he could finish reading it in a few moments. After reading the telegram, Li Er's brow was tightly furrowed, his face dark. When he received the news that Dugu Xin had been assassinated in Taiji City this morning, he had suspected that it might be the work of a Turkic spy. But he had never imagined that the assassin hiding in Taiji City would be so bold as to have Xieli lead his troops into the Great Tang and then work together to take down Taiji and capture Li Tai alive!
The other party's ambition was simply too great!
And just where did this Zhao Deyan come from? As a Han, not only was he working for the Turks, he was also in contact with the Great Khan of the Turks? And why was this person so familiar with the mission that Li Tai's party had taken north to Taiji, and why was he so familiar with the functions of the telegram relay station? These were top secrets of Yanhuang College!
Let alone a Turkic spy, even many officials in the Imperial Court did not know about the mission of the College and the specific functions of the telegram relay station. How did this Zhao Deyan know?
At this moment, many thoughts flashed through Li Er's mind, but most of them were shock and fear. Just think, if Han Lizheng had not been able to intercept Zhao Deyan's messenger pigeon, Li Tai, Dugu Xin, and the others in Taiji City would not have known who their opponents were until the Turkic wolf cavalry arrived at the city gates. How could they have prepared in advance?
"Quickly send a message to Qingque and order Bingzhou Governor Wang Liaoyuan to send a warning document to Feng Province, Sheng Province, Yunzhou, and Youzhou at the speed of eight hundred li. Remind the Governors of these four provinces to strengthen the defense of the border passes and not allow a single Turk to enter the Great Tang. Violators will be punished by military law!"
Forcefully suppressing the questions in his mind, Li Er put down the message in his hand and looked up at the chamberlain as he sternly ordered.
As the chamberlain quickly recorded Li Er's words, he bowed and said, "This servant obeys the decree!"
"In addition, order Bingzhou's Zhenchong Prefecture to protect Qingque and the teachers and students of Yanhuang College at all costs. In addition, for the safety of Taiji City, order Bingzhou Governor Wang Liaoyuan to find out Zhao Deyan's identity within three days and arrest him!"
Li Er thought for a moment and added.
"This servant obeys the decree!"
The chamberlain's pen flew through the air as he quickly recorded Li Er's words on the book in his hand. He bowed and replied.
"Go!"
Li Er thought for a moment and had no other orders, so he waved his hand for the chamberlain to leave.
The chamberlain bowed and then left Sweet Dew Palace.
Zhao Song stood to the left of Li Er. From start to finish, he did not ask what was written on the telegram. Even though he was extremely curious, he understood that if Li Er wanted him to know, there was no need for him to ask. Li Er would tell him directly. On the contrary, if Li Er did not want him to know, even if he asked, Li Er would not tell him. On the contrary, he might even punish him!
At this moment, Li Er picked up the telegram and passed it to Zhao Song. "Zhao Song, go and check if there is a Han high-ranking official named Zhao Deyan under Xieli's tent. This is a telegram from Qingque. Take a look!"
Zhao Song received the telegram with both hands and bowed. "This old servant obeys the decree!"
Before he could flip through the telegram, Li Er spoke again. "Has Li Junxian and the rest arrived at Taiyuan City?"
Zhao Song clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, half an hour ago, this old servant received a message from Commander Li. He said that he had arrived at Taiyuan City in the morning and discovered that there was a hidden faction in Taiyuan City secretly monitoring Your Highness and the rest. He is currently hiding in the dark to make it easier to find out the background of this faction. Thus, he did not appear to meet Your Highness. Instead, he has been hiding in the dark to protect Your Highness!"
Hearing this, Li Er felt much more at ease. He nodded and said, "Mm! Li Junxian's work is truly reassuring! It is easy to dodge a spear in the open but difficult to defend against a hidden arrow. Let him hide in the dark! "
At this point, Li Er suddenly frowned. He suddenly remembered that Li Junxian's method of communication was actually through a messenger pigeon? After experiencing the convenience of the telegraph, the messenger pigeon was already a 'backward' method of communication in Li Er's eyes. After all, how could a messenger pigeon be faster than a telegram (electromagnetic wave)?
It was a pity that none of the one hundred horsemen knew how to use a telegraph. Otherwise, he could have given the hundred horsemen a few telegraph machines so that Li Junxian could report the situation in Taiyuan City to him at any time!
"Your Majesty is right!"
Zhao Song replied.
After a moment of silence, Li Er suddenly said, "Don't let the Empress know about this for now. Otherwise, she'll be so worried that she'll have nightmares all night!"
Speaking of nightmares, Li Er couldn't help but recall the dream that Empress Zhangsun had described to him. Reality seemed to be reflecting that dream. There was a group of Han people in Taiyuan City who had sided with the Turks, and they were planning to harm Li Tai and the rest. Then, would Li Tai and the rest be captured by that group of people?
They won't! We will never let those rascals succeed!
Li Er said firmly in his mind.
"This old servant understands!"
Zhao Song responded. Li Er waved his hand at him and said, "Go ahead! Help Us find out Zhao Deyan's identity as quickly as possible! "
"Yes ~!"
Zhao Song bowed and accepted the order. Hugging the report from Li Tai, he walked out of the hall.
… …
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