At a quarter to the second watch, Ge Fushun killed Wei Bo, Wei Zhuo, and Gao Chong. At the same time, Chu Kuangge and Maqiao of the Ten Thousand Cavalry Camp attacked Wei Xuan and Wei Jie, taking control of the flying cavalry and the ten thousand cavalry.
At the third watch, the ten thousand cavalry and the flying cavalry simultaneously set out for the palace. The flying cavalry attacked Xuande Gate, the ten thousand cavalry attacked Jiayou Gate, and Li Longji moved from the Forbidden Garden to Xuanwu Gate.
At the fourth watch, Empress Wei, An Le, Wu Yanxiu, and Shanghai Wan'er were beheaded, and Li Longji moved to Taiji Palace. Soon after, the purge of the Wei clan's faction began throughout the city.
The Crown Prince's Grand Protector, the third rank of the Hall of Governmental Affairs, and the Chief Steward of the Chang'an Army, Wei Wen, jumped over the wall when his front and rear gates were attacked at the same time. He fled in panic to the north gate of the east market, where he was shot to death by his pursuers.
Chu Ke of the Hall of Governmental Affairs took advantage of the night to escape from his home. He disguised himself as a peddler and led a donkey to hide in a small alley. At daybreak, he snuck out of the alley with the intention of escaping from Chang'an through Tonghua Gate. In the end, because he hid too much gold and silver in his pouch, he was discovered by the Imperial Guards of the Southern Yamen and beheaded on the spot.
Zong Jinqing, Zhao Lvwen, and the other Wei clan members were all beheaded in their homes. Prime Minister Wei Juyuan, who was already eighty years old, was also assassinated by the flying cavalry on the middle steps of his mansion because he was affiliated with the Wei clan.
The Chief Secretary Li Yong had married Empress Wei's widowed sister, and the Imperial Censor Dou Congyi had married Empress Wei's wet nurse. They usually boasted about this to others, but when they heard of the shocking change in the palace and Empress Wei's execution, they decisively killed their wives and rushed to the Prince of Xiang's estate with their heads, hoping to survive.
By daybreak, the purge in the city was nearing its end. Assistant Minister of War Cui Riyong, in order to express his loyalty to the Prince of Xiang, sent troops out of the city to kill the Wei clan of Fanchuan.
The Wei clan of Fanchuan and Empress Wei originally had nothing to do with each other, but after Empress Wei took power, because her maternal family was sparse, in order to strengthen her maternal relatives, she sought kinship with the Du clan of Fanchuan. The Du clan of Fanchuan and the Empress were more than happy to have the same clan as each other. But who could have expected that it would plant the seeds of disaster for the clan?
Wherever Cui Riyong's army went, not even the babies in swaddling clothes were spared, and all of them were slaughtered. Fan Chuan's Du Family and Wei Family's mansions were adjacent to each other, so he was mistaken for a member of the Wei Family by the confused soldiers who wandered around Wei Family's mansion. They also mistakenly killed a lot of people, which made Du Jingting want to cry but have no tears.
In the end, Li Longji was still young, and he wasn't as mature as Zhang Jianzhi and the others. He hadn't killed many people in the Dragon God's coup last time, and the heads hanging on Vermilion Bird Avenue were only the five Zhang brothers. This time, however, he had killed so many people that blood flowed like a river.
However, this was also normal. When Zhang Jianzhi and the others rebelled, because Wu Zetian was bedridden, the officials had long been disloyal. Many people in the court and the army had responded, and the Li and Wu families had all participated. The relationship between the court officials was complicated, and it was really not good to start a massacre.
But this time, it was different. The Wei Family had already occupied the entire court, and the loyal officials were all gone. This time, Li Longji didn't have any support in the court or the palace for his rebellion. Even his father was kept in the dark.
Those who participated in the coup this time were a bunch of hawkish officers and hot-blooded men. They held the mentality that the winner was king, and the loser was in the wrong. Since they had succeeded, they could only carry out a massacre to purge the old party and meet the political needs of building a new dynasty.
It was just that once the plan was implemented, the subordinates would always flatter their superiors even more, and in the end, the scale of the purge far exceeded the intentions of the initiators. The cruelty of this great purge was far worse than what Li Longji wanted.
Most of the officials lived in the northern and eastern parts of the city, and their mansions were adjacent to each other. When they saw the bloody massacre, they couldn't help but be terrified. As a result, when it was time for morning court, although the officials who were lucky enough to survive gathered at the palace, they only knelt in fear. Not a single one of them dared to enter the palace.
If the officials couldn't attend court today, it would be a big mess. If the news spread, how could the world believe that this coup was a righteous move that conformed to the will of heaven and the will of the people? Li Longji panicked and hurriedly sent people to urge them again and again, promising that they would be safe. However, the officials were still afraid and didn't dare to move.
For a moment, Li Longji was also dumbfounded. Did he have to send troops to arrest them and bring them into the palace? That wouldn't be appropriate. There were countless people of Chang 'an watching outside. If the officials had to arrest them to go to court, they would still lose face.
The capital was not like other places. In small places, a county magistrate could make the people tremble with fear. But the capital was an important place, and there were many civil and military officials. The people of Chang 'an were used to it, so they were not afraid. They all gathered there to watch the show.
Only then did Li Longji realize that the massacre had gone too far. For a moment, he couldn't think of a way to comfort the officials. It was Liu Youqiu who came up with a plan. "Why don't you go to the Prince of Xiang's residence and ask your father to come forward? The Prince of Xiang is a person of virtue and prestige. If he comes forward, the officials will definitely be reassured."
Li Longji suddenly understood. At the beginning, he didn't want his father to come forward because he knew that his father was indifferent and didn't care for power. He was worried that his father wouldn't accept his nephew's' abdication 'of the throne, so he wanted the officials to go to court and force Li Zhongmao to abdicate. Once this was established, he would lead the civil and military officials to welcome his father's ascension. Now that the situation was out of control, he could only ask his father to clean up the mess.
The cavalry was like a dragon, escorting Li Longji straight to the Prince of Xiang's residence. There were more than a thousand retainer knights. At this time, Chang 'an was in turmoil. No one could guarantee that the remnants of the Wei Clique could be completely purged in such a short time, so Li Longji naturally had to be especially careful about his safety.
The front of the Prince of Xiang's residence was currently empty. There wasn't a single servant, and the cinnabar gate was tightly shut, not even a crack visible.
Two people were kneeling on the stone steps in front of the gate. One was Secretary Li Yong, the other was Imperial Censor Dou Congyi. The two of them had their heads bowed to the ground, not even daring to raise them. However, if one were to get a closer look, one would assuredly be shocked, because there was actually a head placed in front of each of them.
The head in front of Li Yong had a head of black hair. Although the head looked rather frightening when placed on the ground, if one looked carefully, one would realize that this head had been quite beautiful when she was alive. She was Empress Wei's younger sister.
The head in front of Dou Congyi was that of a white-haired old woman, her face covered in wrinkles. This was Empress Wei's wet nurse, now more than sixty years old.
Dou Congyi was only a little over fifty. After his wife passed away, given his status, he could have married a beautiful woman. However, in order to curry favor with the Wei clan, he had actually taken Empress Wei's wet nurse as his wife, taking pride in it. Now that he was kowtowing to the ground, he didn't know if he regretted it or not.
Empress Wei's party had already been slaughtered to pieces, but these two were lucky enough not to die. This was all because this was the Prince of Xiang's estate. Those who had been ordered to exterminate the remnants of the Wei clan's party did not dare to use weapons to kill in front of the Prince of Xiang's estate.
When Li Longji was still several dozen zhang from the gate of the Prince of Xiang's estate, he dismounted and walked forward, accompanied by ten-some imperial guards. Upon hearing these footsteps, Li Yong and Dou Congyi did not dare to raise their heads, their bodies even lower.
Li Longji ignored them and strode up to the gate of the estate. He picked up the brass beast collar and began to knock on it. After a while, the gatekeeper asked, "Who is knocking?"
Li Longji loudly replied, "Quickly report to my father. Tell him that San Lang requests an audience!"
After a pause, the somewhat timid voice replied, "San Langjun, forgive me. Ah Lang already knows of San Langjun's actions. Ah Lang has declared that he will never see San Lang. "
Li Longji stared blankly for a moment, then loudly said, "Longji's actions are all for the sake of Li Tang's country! Go and report to my father. Tell him that San Lang has an important military matter and earnestly requests Father to see him. "
This time, the gatekeeper's voice could be heard through the crack in the door. It seemed like he was trying to talk through the crack. The man humbly said, "San Langjun, Ah Lang personally ordered that no matter what happens, he will not see you. San Langjun must not make things difficult for this lowly one. Ah Lang is currently in a state of rage. This lowly one … this lowly one does not dare to reply!"
Li Longji clenched his teeth and suddenly turned around. He took three steps, then turned around and knelt down at the bottom of the stone steps. When the guards who had come with him saw this, they also hurriedly knelt down with him.
Li Longji loudly said, "Father! San Lang has done great things and caused Father to be unjust. This is San Lang's fault. No matter how Father punishes him, San Lang is willing to accept the punishment. However, the traitor Wei has been eliminated and the entire world is watching. I hope that Father can think of the country of our ancestors and come forward to maintain the situation! San Lang pays his respects here. If Father does not see San Lang, San Lang will not rise! "
There was still no movement from inside the door. Li Longji also acted up and knelt there without moving.
After the time it takes for three incense sticks to burn, there was still no movement from the Prince of Xiang's estate. However, there was a commotion at the end of the long alley. The imperial guards parted to the sides, opening a path for an ox carriage to slowly drive over.
One of the guards kneeling behind Li Longji turned his head to look. When he saw the characters on the carriage, his expression immediately lit up. He hastily crawled two steps forward and whispered, "Your Highness, look! Princess Taiping is here!"
When Li Longji heard this, he could not help but be overjoyed. He turned his head and sure enough, he saw two old oxen leisurely walking over, pulling a luxurious light carriage.
The carriage stopped in front of the Prince of Xiang's estate. The coachman jumped down and put down the steps. The carriage door opened and Princess Taiping, dressed in splendid attire, gracefully and gracefully like a tender and beautiful peony, slowly walked down from the carriage.
Li Longji turned around and bowed his head, saying, "San Lang pays his respects to Aunt!"
Princess Taiping gave him a slight nod. Without stopping, she ascended the stone steps and shouted towards the door, "I am Taiping and wish to see my royal brother! Open the door! "
Hurried footsteps could be heard from inside, presumably someone rushing inside to report. After a while, the hurried footsteps returned and the gate of the Prince of Xiang's estate opened with a bang. Li Dan, dressed in the robes of the Swallow Residence, hurriedly came out to greet her. "Lingyue, why have you come?"
Princess Taiping saw that he had arrived but ignored him. Instead, she turned around and raised her hand to help Li Longji up, amiably saying, "San Lang, please rise!"
Li Longji gazed at his father, not daring to rise. Princess Taiping glanced at her brother and coldly snorted. "Get up! Let's see if he dares to scold you! "
Li Longji hesitantly got up. Princess Taiping sternly said, "The survival of the clan is all thanks to you! If the spirits of my, Li Tang's, ancestors in the underworld will also be proud of you! "
Li Dan slightly frowned and grumbled, "Lingyue, how can you shield him like this! This little brute is extremely daring. Your brother is annoyed at his recklessness, yet you still praise him. "
Princess Taiping glared at him and said discontentedly, "Elder brother, if our Li family had a few more 'reckless people' like him, we wouldn't have fallen to such a state today. Longji, this child, is more promising than you and me."
Li Dan smiled bitterly. He could act like a father in front of his son, but in front of his younger sister who had cared for and sheltered him for many years, he did not have the slightest bit of confidence. Princess Taiping grabbed Li Longji's arm and said, "Come, let's go inside and talk!"
Princess Taiping did not allow any explanation. She grabbed Li Longji's arm and walked away. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she looked back at Li Dan and teased, "What? Elder brother, as the master of this residence, is unwilling to come in?"
Li Dan smiled bitterly and could only obediently follow in …
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