Another year was coming to an end. As the end of the year approached, people from the palace came in and out more frequently. The eunuchs who prepared for the New Year, the craftsmen who decorated the tents, and the musicians of the Musical House who rehearsed large-scale palace dances and various celebrations … Because of this, the palace was much more relaxed than usual.
But on the first day of the Little New Year, something unpleasant happened in the palace. A little eunuch suddenly ran to report to Shanghai Wan'er that someone had taken items from the palace out to sell. After hearing the news, Shanghai Wan'er immediately dispatched a team from the inner guards, led by her trusted eunuchs, to strictly interrogate each palace gate.
As a result, they found some silk, incense burners, masks, books and other objects from the palace maids and eunuchs who didn't have time to escape. In fact, these things weren't too valuable, and they didn't dare to steal and sell the truly valuable things. But taking some things from the palace and using the opportunity to leave the palace to sell them was a violation of the rules.
Shanghai Wan'er was furious, but she didn't report this matter to the Emperor. Firstly, there was no need to report petty theft to the Emperor. Secondly, the Emperor had been bedridden in recent months. Not only did he not attend court for many days, but he was also unable to attend several major New Year's celebrations. Naturally, it was impossible to disturb him with such a small matter.
Therefore, Shanghai Wan'er reported this matter to the Great General of the Yulin Guard, Wu Youyi, urging him to strengthen the management. This was because the Yulin Guard was responsible for guarding the palace. The Black Tortoise Gate was nominally under the Yulin Guard, but in reality, it was directly under the Emperor's command. The other palace gates were under the direct control of the Yulin Guard.
Normally, the Yulin Guard had to search the eunuchs and palace maids entering and leaving the palace. But after so many years, this aspect hadn't been too strict. Perhaps some Yulin Guard soldiers had received benefits from them and deliberately indulged them. Therefore, they couldn't absolve themselves from the blame for the eunuchs and palace maids being taken out of the palace.
Wu Youyi was very upset and could only order his men to strengthen the inspection. He didn't care too much about such a small matter.
Immediately after, on the next day, when the Palace Minister Ji Xu was inspecting the various chambers of the palace, he unexpectedly discovered that several Yulin Guard officers and men had secretly drunk wine. After drinking, they went on duty and guarded the palace. Ji Xu was greatly dissatisfied. Although these people repeatedly begged for mercy, Ji Xu still rudely told this matter to Wu Youyi with an iron face.
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Taichang Temple was rehearsing the Nuo Opera in the palace. They selected one hundred and twenty eunuchs to play the roles of Huazi, and also selected several hundred burly officers and soldiers from the Jin Wu Guards to play the roles of various immortals and demons. After the rehearsal of the exorcism of the Nuo Opera, a fire inexplicably broke out at the rehearsal site.
The fire was not big and was quickly put out. However, after an investigation, it was found that the fire had not been completely extinguished when they dispersed. The Yellow Gate and the Golden Guards who had participated in the fire had all been punished, but the fire had only reignited after they had left for nearly two hours. Naturally, the Featherwood Guard, who were in charge of patrolling, could not escape responsibility.
As a result, Zhou Yong, Zhang Tinggui, and several other imperial censors who had heard of this matter submitted a severely worded memorial, listing the various misdeeds of the Featherwood Guard's mismanagement and requesting the imperial court to investigate and rectify.
Now that Wu Zetian had not attended court for a long time due to illness, she would not personally handle matters other than extremely important matters. This memorial fell into the hands of Zhang Jianzhi, who had just become a Prime Minister.
In fact, in terms of seniority, Zhang Jianzhi, who had just become a Prime Minister, did not have the qualifications to handle matters before Yang Zaisi, Su Wei, and the other old Prime Ministers. However, those Prime Ministers were people who were afraid of shouldering responsibilities. This memorial involved the King of Jian An and the Great General of the Featherwood Guard, Wu Youyi. They did not want to offend these people, so after pushing the blame around, this memorial naturally fell into Zhang Jianzhi's hands.
Zhang Jianzhi was really a new official who made three changes. He attached great importance to this memorial and immediately summoned Wu Youyi to reprimand him in a stern voice. The next day, he removed several Featherwood Guard generals who were directly or indirectly responsible and transferred several young and promising officials into the Featherwood Guard to take up posts.
The people Zhang Jianzhi arranged included Minister of the Right Jing Hui of Zhongtai, Vice Minister of Punishment Huan Yanfan, Attendant of the Right Free Cavalry Li Zhan, Minister of Dismissal Wang Tongjiao, Minister of Secretaries Xue Sixing, and Minister of Remonstrance Yang Yuanyan. These people were all civil officials. Fortunately, it was extremely normal for civil and military officials to exchange roles in the Tang Dynasty. Yang Fan had first Empress Wu's civil and then joined the military, so it was not strange for Zhang Jianzhi to make such arrangements.
These people were arranged by Zhang Jianzhi into the Featherwood Guard, each assuming the position of general. Originally, the sudden removal and appointment of so many mid-level generals of the Featherwood Guard was bound to arouse the vigilance of the Wu family, who held military power. As long as Wu Sansi stepped forward to interfere, Zhang Jianzhi's large-scale personnel transfer would absolutely be difficult to succeed. However, Wu Sansi unexpectedly maintained his silence.
Because Wu Youyi was not strict with his subordinates, causing his subordinates to repeatedly make mistakes, he was already somewhat lacking in confidence. Moreover, he was unable to obtain the support of his many relatives in the family who held military power. Therefore, he let Zhang Jianzhi's adjustments go unhindered.
The military remonstrance planned by the Wu and Li families had smoothly carried out the first step.
After these people each assumed the position of Featherwood Guard General, they immediately introduced a few trusted family generals into the army. It was impossible for them to carry out a large-scale change of blood in the Featherwood Guard, but introducing a few personal guards to act as personal soldiers was a very normal matter. When Yang Fan had established the Thousand Cavalry, he had also arranged for Ren Wei and other trusted bodyguards, who had never been in the army, into the army.
As these mid-level generals were intensely preparing for the military remonstrance, changes were also quietly occurring in the Palace under Wan 'er's arrangements. These changes were under the two Zhang's eyes, but the two of them were completely unaware. In terms of the foundation of the Palace, how could they compare to Shangguan Wan' er, who had been operating for 20 years?
On Yang Fan's side, he was also quietly making preparations. Yang Fan found Maqiao and had a secret discussion with him. The next day, Maqiao "fell ill". For many days in a row, he asked for leave and stayed at home. Originally, the Black Tortoise Gate was guarded by five Lang Generals in rotation, but Maqiao fell ill. Someone had to replace him for the day he was on duty.
Maqiao found Lu Maofeng for this. Lu Maofeng gladly agreed. During the days that Maqiao was sick and stayed at home, he would replace Maqiao on duty. Of course, these days of leave would need to be returned. Then, when necessary, as long as Maqiao "recovered", he could replace Lu Maofeng on duty. This would prevent Lu Maofeng from appearing at the Black Tortoise Gate for a very long time.
Yang Fan made these preparations after full consideration. He had five Lang Generals under him. Among them, Huang Xuchang, Chu Kuangge, Maqiao, and Dugu Huizhi were all under his control. Only Lu Maofeng had originally been recommended by the two Zhang's. Yang Fan had no choice but to be careful around him.
In reality, in the years that Lu Maofeng had been in the Thousand Cavalry, he had a very good relationship with the brothers of the Thousand Cavalry. He was also loyal to Yang Fan. But this matter was too important. It was a desperate gamble with his head tied to his belt. If he failed, the best result would be to flee for his life. Yang Fan did not dare to take the risk.
If Lu Maofeng was still loyal to the two Zhang's, even if it was only to repay the two Zhang's kindness and imitate Guan Yunchang's "Righteous Release of Huarong Dao", it would be a heavy burden that Yang Fan could not bear. He did not dare to take this risk. Moreover, he would use some means to make Lu Maofeng avoid it, so that it would not make things difficult for Lu Maofeng.
Of course, if Lu Maofeng happened to be on duty on the day of the military remonstrance, Yang Fan could also arrange a few trusted aides to first control him when the remonstrance was launched. But in that case, the friendship between the two of them over the years would disappear. It would be difficult to mend the rift afterwards. It would be better to use some tactful means to make him avoid it.
…
These days, the two Zhang had been guarding by Wu Zetian's side. After asking the imperial doctors and learning that Wu Zetian's condition was not good, they moved Wu Zetian to the Yingxian Palace overnight. They transferred their trusted aides and took control of the entire Yingxian Palace. If the Prime Ministers wanted to see the Emperor, they had to get their permission. Even the Minister of Internal Affairs, Shanghai Wan 'er, did not have the opportunity to see Wu Zetian without their permission.
These days, the Crown Prince pretended to be a filial son every day. He ran to the north gate and waited, waiting for his seriously ill mother to summon him to enter the palace to serve. Unfortunately, he could only wait outside the north gate. He could not even see the cornice of his mother's bedroom.
The two Zhang's actions were only an instinctive reaction because they felt confused about their future. As for what they should do next, they had no clue. These days, the two Zhang gathered a group of trusted aides and discussed the problem of their way out after Wu Zetian passed away.
There was only a curtain separating them. Behind the curtain was the seriously ill and unconscious Wu Zetian. Outside the curtain were the two lovers she relied on as emotional pillars in her later years. These two lovers were calmly discussing how to preserve their wealth and glory after her death.
The two Zhang's true diehard subordinates were all a group of high-handed but low-minded hedonistic young masters. Faced with this kind of military and national affairs, what could they do? Even Zhang Yizhi was only slightly steadier than Zhang Changzong. Faced with this kind of national affairs, he also had the feeling of a dog biting a hedgehog and not knowing where to start. So after many days of discussion, all they came up with were some whimsical ideas.
At this time, the news that Zhang Jianzhi had made adjustments to the middle-level generals of the Yulin Guard reached their ears. Although they felt that they were in the dark under the lamp, Zhang Jianzhi's actions aroused their vigilance. The two Zhang became even more uneasy. They immediately summoned a group of beautiful young "think tanks" of Fengchen Prison to discuss countermeasures.
As the chief think tank under the two Zhang, the tall and handsome Fan Leyuan said aggressively, "Zhang Jianzhi's move must be aimed at us. Fengchen Ling, they have already raised the butcher's knife high. We must respond immediately."
Zhang Changzong said blankly, "These days, we have been discussing how to respond, but we haven't come up with a clue. Why don't you say, how should we respond?"
Fan Leyuan said, "Minister Fengchen, you are the Yunhui General, the Left Ox Commander of the Thousand Guards. You have tens of thousands of troops and horses under your command, and Fengchen Ling is the Junior Minister of Defense, in charge of the three departments of the armory, weapons, and palace guarding. The saint gave you these two positions, isn't it to guard against the unexpected?
In for a penny, in for a pound, in for a pound. You will order the transfer of the Thousand Guards into the palace. Fengchen Ling will open the armory and distribute the armors, bows, and other sharp weapons, and clean up the original guards in the palace. The Thousand Guards will be on duty in the palace and firmly control the entire palace. With the heavy palace walls as a barrier, no one will be able to break in. "
Zhang Yizhi's expression changed, "What are you doing? Do you want to rebel?"
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