Unlike the indifference of Fomonlința and Wang Chong, the Xueyang Palace incident had a completely different effect on the other border regions of the Tang Dynasty.
In the Anxi Protectorate headquarters, Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing had gathered together, the hall brimming with unease and anxiety.
"Changqing, it's fortunate that I listened to you and didn't mix with the Fourth Prince. Otherwise, you and I would have been consigned to eternal damnation."
Gao Xianzhi said, his brow deeply furrowed and his head lowered as he paced back and forth in the room.
"Milord, there's no need to worry. We didn't collude with the Fourth Prince, so what need is there for us to fear the Holy Emperor's wrath?"
Feng Changqing consoled.
"Even if that's the case, this matter is no small matter. The Fourth Prince once tried to rope us in and even promised us a great deal. This is also a fact. If the Holy Emperor misunderstands that we colluded with the Fourth Prince, our futures will be ruined."
Gao Xianzhi sternly said. Quite a few border Great Generals who had interfered in the War of the Princes had been stripped of their ranks and imprisoned. With the lessons learned from the mistakes of the past, Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but worry that the Holy Emperor would misunderstand him and implicate him.
"Haaah!"
Feng Changqing gave a deep sigh. No one could imagine the effect this incident would have on the border Protector-Generals and Great Generals. Unlike a fearless veteran like Fomonlința, the general did not have as much seniority in the army. He had only been able to climb from the bottom to the position of Anxi Protector-General by relying on the favor of the Holy Emperor, as well as his careful and cautious attitude of treading on thin ice, constantly making contributions and never making a single mistake.
This was also why he had constantly issued challenges in Anxi, including the attack on the Shi Kingdom. Only by constantly making contributions could the general stabilize his position and obtain the favor of the Holy Emperor. Otherwise, if a situation like this occurred, other Great Generals and Protector-Generals might have nothing to fear, but the general could not. This was also his and the general's innate flaw.
"Your Excellency, we'll cross the bridge when we get to it. We're not ashamed of the Heavens, and we're not ashamed of the Earth. We only have military merits against the Tang dynasty, and we're not at fault. If the Holy Emperor blames me, I, Changqing, am willing to bring my head to the capital to clear your name! "
Feng Changqing said sincerely.
Hearing Feng Changqing's words, Gao Xianzhi suddenly sobered up.
"Chang Qing, you and I have been through thick and thin together for more than ten years. How can I let you sacrifice yourself for me? Alas, forget it. Chang Qing, prepare a brush, ink, and paper for me. I will personally write a letter to the Holy Emperor, stating my grievances. The Holy Emperor is wise and powerful. He will definitely understand that we have no intention of rebelling. "
Gao Xianzhi let out a long sigh and finally made up his mind.
Flapflap! A few moments later, a messenger bird soared into the sky and flew toward the capital.
…
At the same time, in Longxi and Beiting, messenger birds also soared into the sky and flew toward the capital.
No one could ignore the will of the Holy Emperor. Whether it was Gao Xianzhi, Geshu Han, or An Sishun, all of them were apprehensive and uneasy. All the Great Generals and Protector-Generals had written to the court as quickly as possible the moment they received their golden tokens, explaining their intentions in the hopes of dispelling the Holy Emperor's doubts.
Time slowly passed, and the Xueyang Palace Incident continued to ferment. The memorials from the Protector-Generals and Great Generals caused this matter to garner even more attention.
This was the first time since the founding of the Tang dynasty that so many Hu Great Generals had intervened in the War of the Princes. As a result, it attracted unprecedented attention. Everyone inside and outside the court was discussing this matter, and many people were speculating as to which Hu Great Generals had intervened in the Fourth Prince's matter. Would it be one, two, or all of them?
The entire capital was in an uproar. Even Wang Zhongsi, Zhang Shougui, and the other esteemed figures of the Han were paying close attention to this matter. In the royal palace, the First Prince, Second Prince, and the other princes were also paying close attention to this matter.
"Big Brother, Fourth Brother is truly bold! He actually dared to collude with the Hu!"
In the First Prince's palace, the Second Prince Li Yao stood, his face seething with rage.
"If not for that muddlehead Yang Chao drinking too much and spitting out the truth, we would have never known that he was using such a method."
"Second Brother, why be so impatient?"
In the great hall, Eldest Prince Li Ying sat upright. He held a teacup in one hand and the lid in the other. He gently wiped the layer of tea foam on the surface, blew on it, and then took a sip. His throat slid as he swallowed. The entire process was slow and unhurried. It was completely different from Second Prince Li Yao's impatience.
"Fourth Brother was anxious, so he thought of using the Hu's methods. Back then, Grandfather Taizong conquered the lands and was called the Khan of Heaven by all the countries. All the barbarians submitted to him. Moreover, later on, the barbarians submitted, willing to follow Grandpa Taizong and help him conquer the world. This was the origin of the current Hu people. Fourth Brother probably thought of Grandfather Taizong to think of this move. "
"Hmph, you sure can keep your composure. You're still speaking up for him at this time. If he succeeds, don't you think about the consequences? "
Second Prince Li Yao said indignantly.
"Heh, now that the matter has been exposed, the outcome has been decided. What is there for Second Brother to worry about? Moreover, as long as I maintain a neutral position and don't give him any chances, so what if he obtains the support of all the Hu? In the end, Imperial Father's word is still law. Rather than worrying about this, it's better to worry about Third Brother. He's been in the Imperial Clan Court for some time now. Find some time to see him and tell him to behave himself. In addition, tell the guards to give him a letter and have him write his own confession. As long as he can move Imperial Father and make Imperial Father feel that he has changed, you and I can plead for leniency. It's about time, and he's already been punished. Imperial Father will probably let him out. "
The First Prince put down his teacup and indifferently said. His expression was calm and unperturbed, as if there was nothing in this world that could move him, and everything was under his control.
"Compared to that muddle-headed Fourth Brother, who was thrown into prison by Imperial Father because of a single Yang Chao, I'm more concerned about Fifth Brother Li Heng. You and I both know what Fifth Brother was like in the past, but you also saw how shrewd he was in the Hall of Princes. Step by step, he spoke with confidence and assurance, and Third Brother fell into his trap without even realizing it. He clearly had the guidance of an expert, and I would never believe that he didn't have someone behind him. Compared to Fourth Brother, I'm more interested in who the person behind him is. "
The Eldest Prince's eyelids twitched slightly, and an astonishing cold gleam shot out, causing one's entire body to tremble. However, it was only for a moment, and the cold gleam disappeared after a flash. The Eldest Prince immediately returned to normal. He was as tranquil and peaceful as before, causing others to be unable to see any flaws.
… …
Time flew by, and as the Xueyang Palace Incident gained more and more attention, more and more information was revealed. When the Holy Emperor was enraged, the matter reached its peak. But it didn't take long for the memorials from the Hu Protector-Generals and Great Generals who had been implicated to arrive at the capital and be revealed.
Without exception, all the Hu Protector-Generals panicked in their memorials, claiming that they were innocent and pleading to the Holy Emperor that they had no collusion with the Fourth Prince. Only one of them admitted that the Fourth Prince had tried to rope him in, but he had sternly refused. Geshu Han and An Sishun were the same.
The Xueyang Palace Incident had fallen into a deadlock. Although Yang Chao, Zhang Xian, and Zhao You had all claimed that the Fourth Prince had obtained the support of the Hu Great Generals on the border, this was only their side of the story. There was not a single letter between the Fourth Prince and the border Great Generals.
As for the Fourth Prince himself, he had declared that there was no such thing.
Thus, the entire interrogation was in a stalemate. Even though everything pointed to the Hu Protector-Generals and Great Generals on the border, there was no conclusive evidence that Geshu Han, An Sishun, Fomonlința, Gao Xianzhi, or anyone else had been involved.
Although Big Dipper Great General Geshu Han and the others were Hu, they had made great contributions to the Imperial Court, and they had always been clean and honest. Moreover, they had been promoted by the Tang dynasty's War God and Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, Wang Zhongsi. In private, compared to the joint interrogation of Yang Chao, Zhang Xian, and Zhao You by the Court of Judicial Review, the Bureau of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice, more people agreed with Geshu Han's argument in his memorials. The Fourth Prince truly had realized his value and had tried to rope him in, but he had been rejected.
In truth, all the princes of the Imperial Palace had tried to rope in the important officials of the court, but many of them had been rejected. Being rejected and succeeding were two completely different concepts. Being rejected was the same as if nothing had happened.
Only agreeing could be considered as colluding with the important officials of the court.
Relying solely on the testimonies of Yang Chao, Zhang Xian, and Zhao You was simply not enough to convict the Hu Protector-Generals. After all, each of these Protector-Generals had an illustrious status. They couldn't be imprisoned just because of the groundless accusations of a few people.
Otherwise, what face would the important officials of the court have left to speak of? It would be far too childish.
But just when the heat of this matter was beginning to die down with the testimonies of the Protector-Generals, during the morning court session of the next day, an event that no one could have imagined took place.
"Your Majesty, subject Deng Chang has a memorial!"
At the end of the day's court session, the white-haired Imperial Censor Deng Chang sternly stepped forward, his ceremonial tablet in hand.
"Old Imperial Censor, what matter do you have? Speak."
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