Chapter 2059: Taizong Chronicles 1: The Changing of Heaven

The field headquarters of several thousand men could not silence the insects; all around the camp, the air was filled with the chirping of bugs and cicadas. But as the "decree" was issued from the imperial camp, the entire encampment fell into a state of hushed silence and restricted movement. Lamps were extinguished one after another, especially around the imperial camp, which was almost pitch black save for a few scattered points of light. At the center, the imperial tent had, without anyone noticing, tripled its guard—stern, solemn, and impenetrable.

The imperial tent should have been the brightest place in the camp at this moment. On the couch lay the remains of the Great Traveling Emperor, and around the edge of the couch, blocks of ice had already been laid out—ice presented by the Yanzhou prefectural government was beginning to serve its special purpose.

The same people were still there, all kneeling, but after the initial shock, the weeping had gradually subsided, replaced by a deathly silence.

There was nothing in the world more serious than the death of an emperor, and the Great Traveling Emperor had died in a truly inconvenient place—passing away mid-tour. Even the two imperial grandsons, "young and inexperienced" as they were, felt enormous pressure. After all, if this were mishandled, the consequences could be catastrophic—heaven-splitting and earth-cracking!

Suddenly, the tent curtain was thrown open. Li Jian, clad in full military attire with a long saber at his side, strode in. A veteran general past sixty, judging by his bearing, anyone would believe he could cleave an ox in two.

Without acknowledging the crowd, he first kowtowed three times before the imperial couch, then spoke softly to Li Shaoyou: "Everything is arranged. Around the imperial tent are guards ready to die for His Majesty at any moment!"

Li Jian's voice was somewhat hoarse. Li Shaoyou, for his part, made no sound at all—he merely nodded, brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Li Jian leaned slightly forward and said, "Lord Shou, His Majesty entrusted his affairs to you. What are we to do? You must give us an answer!"

At this, Li Shaoyou raised his eyes to meet Li Jian's. The old general's face was utterly grave, and his gaze even carried a hint of suspicion and pressure.

Li Shaoyou still wore that worried expression and did not respond immediately. After pondering a moment longer, he cautiously addressed the two imperial grandsons, Liu Wenhuan and Liu Wenji: "What thoughts do Your Highnesses have?"

Liu Wenhuan was somewhat surprised, but he quickly wiped away his tears and clasped his hands: "Grandfather's final command was that everything be left to Lord Shou's discretion!"

As for Liu Wenji, he merely nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with sorrow, his gaze unwilling to leave the Great Traveling Emperor's body even for a moment.

Seeing this, Li Shaoyou finally took a deep breath and said in a low voice: "Forgive this old servant for speaking boldly—several matters!

"First, seal the news. Within the imperial camp, entry and exit are strictly forbidden, as is any communication with the outside. Anyone who dares to leak information or pry into matters shall be killed!

"Second, secretly prepare the coffin and set a route. We depart tomorrow to escort His Majesty back to the capital! Send men to gather stored ice from local authorities along the way—the imperial body must be protected at all costs!

"Third, send a fast rider to the Western Capital to report to the Eastern Palace. Until a reply is received, the field headquarters must not act rashly!

"In this haste, this old man can only think of these three points. Does anyone have anything to add?"

Liu Wenhuan put on a contemplative look, as if pondering whether anything had been overlooked. But Liu Wenji suddenly spoke up, saying in a low voice: "Lord Shou, I want to personally drive the carriage for Grandfather!"

Li Shaoyou was slightly taken aback by this request. Liu Wenhuan, though a beat slower to react, quickly followed up, saying firmly: "Wenji is young and lacks the strength. The matter of driving the carriage and handling the horses should fall to me, the elder brother!"

Meeting Liu Wenhuan's stern, even somewhat piercing gaze, Liu Wenji did not flinch. He merely replied calmly: "Young and weak I may be, but that does not prevent a grandson from fulfilling his filial duty!"

Liu Wenhuan's brows knitted together as he said in a low voice: "Other matters can be negotiated, but on the matter of filial piety, there is no room for concession!"

Seeing the two brothers begin to argue, Li Shaoyou's expression momentarily became quite interesting, but he quickly recovered and spoke up to mediate: "The filial devotion of Your Highnesses is deeply moving—the Emperor's spirit in heaven will surely be comforted! In this old servant's view, why not have Your Highnesses drive the carriage together, taking turns at the reins? How does that sound?"

From the brothers' argument, Li Shaoyou could naturally discern certain undercurrents, but as a veteran minister who had been shrewd his entire life, he truly did not wish to become too deeply entangled in such matters. Just as the old emperor's dragon-like, tiger-like princes had initially supported the Crown Prince only out of a sense of responsibility toward the court—for the stability of the state and the orderly succession of the realm.

Therefore, Li Shaoyou chose to paper over the cracks, and his proposal was accepted quite smoothly by Liu Wenji: "Lord Shou's suggestion is excellent—I humbly comply!"

Liu Wenhuan was somewhat displeased, but since matters had reached this point, he could only accept it. No matter how unhappy he was, he could not start a fight before the deceased's body—that would truly be "filial" to death.

"Who should be dispatched to the capital to deliver the news?" Li Jian asked at this point.

Li Shaoyou looked at him, seeking his opinion: "Does Lord Ding'an have someone in mind?"

Li Jian pondered for a moment, then proposed a name: "How about Li Jihe?"

"The younger brother of Imperial Son-in-law Li Jilong?"

"Exactly!"

Li Shaoyou considered it, then nodded: "Acceptable! I will personally brief him shortly!"

"Good!"

Li Shaoyou then looked toward the Diarist and instructed: "Draft a document detailing the situation here, to be sent to the Western Capital in due course!"

"Yes!"

"Lord Shou, this humble one has a word—I know not whether I should speak it." At this moment, Hu De stepped forward and cautiously requested.

For eunuchs like Hu De serving before the emperor, when the old emperor was alive, they lived in constant anxiety, terrified day and night that the old emperor might kill someone on a whim. The "curse" of serving a ruler being like serving a tiger could nearly drive a man mad.

Yet when the old emperor truly passed away, it felt like the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed. For people like Hu De, everyone from him on down had essentially reached the ceiling of their positions and treatment in the palace—and if things went badly, they might even lose their lives. Hu De especially, as the head of the palace eunuchs, was the hardest hit no matter how one looked at it.

Hu De was well aware of how sensitive his position was. He was also a clever man with little ambition, so at this moment all he thought of was obeying the final command and cooperating wholeheartedly with Li Shaoyou in handling the Great Traveling Emperor's funeral arrangements. All he sought was to be able to retire peacefully in the days to come.

On the other hand, even if Hu De truly harbored any treacherous thoughts, he would have little room to act on them. Setting aside macro-level concerns like the system and the political landscape, even here in the imperial tent, one glance at the wary eyes and vigilant expressions of Li Shaoyou and Li Jian after he opened his mouth was enough to show him exactly where he stood.

Hu De believed that if he made any unusual move, these two Lords Li would absolutely dare to execute him first and report afterward.

A servant who has lost his master's protection is just like a stray dog. Facing Li Shaoyou's scrutinizing gaze, Hu De could only keep his head low and eyes downcast, doing his best to appear as harmless as possible.

After all, he was the head eunuch who had served the old emperor personally. Though wary, Li Shaoyou still gestured for Hu De to speak: "Head Eunuch Hu, if you have any reminders, speak freely!" Hu De said humbly: "The Commissioners of the Imperial City Office and the Wude Office hold critical duties and wield great influence. His Majesty's passing will be difficult to conceal from them—should we not inform them both?"

Hearing this suggestion, Li Shaoyou could not help but give Hu De a measuring look. How could he possibly overlook the Commissioners of the Imperial City Office and the Wude Office? He knew full well the power of those two offices—after all, Li Shaoyou himself was the founding Commissioner of the Wude Office, and the most basic organizational structure of the Wude Office had been established by his own hand.

Withdrawing his scrutinizing gaze, Li Shaoyou turned to Li Jian and instructed: "Send a few reliable guards to summon the two Commissioners!"

Having said this, Li Shaoyou looked back at Hu De and said in a warning tone: "Head Eunuch Hu, I'll put the ugly words out front—you had better keep a close eye on the palace attendants around the imperial tent! Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, you'll be the first one held accountable!"

"This humble one understands!" Hu De bowed with clasped hands, keeping his posture extremely low.

At this moment, Hu De's heart was filled with melancholy. He, Head Eunuch Hu—the dignified Director of Palace Eunuchs, chief of all the eunuch corps—had never been so cautious and servile except before the Great Traveling Emperor. Such a fall in standing was not something one could get over in a short while.

"The atmosphere in the imperial camp is still a bit too tense—this will only arouse suspicion!" Pausing, Li Shaoyou said to Li Jian: "Remove the redundant sentry posts before the imperial tent. Within the camp, maintain a facade of relaxation while keeping the interior tight!"

Li Jian remained as stern-faced as ever, nodding and replying tersely: "I'll see to it!"

Li Shaoyou did not mind Li Jian's coldness. He merely clasped his hands toward him and said gravely: "Lord Ding'an, though His Majesty has entrusted this to us, these bold, rule-breaking, taboo-violating matters still require the two of us to bear them together!"

Li Jian's voice remained hoarse, but his tone was as resolute as ever: "What His Majesty entrusted—even if it costs me my life and the extermination of my clan, it shall be done!"

Hearing this declaration, Li Shaoyou said no more. He simply turned back to look at the old emperor lying dead on the couch, a layer of yellow silk covering his face, and still felt a sense of unreality.

Li Shaoyou's eyes showed grief as he lamented inwardly: "Your Majesty, the weight of your affairs—this old servant bears it with such difficulty..."

With the plans settled, Hu De and the two imperial grandsons were left to watch over the old emperor, while the two Lis each went off to make their arrangements. This night was destined to be sleepless.

Beside the imperial tent, several tents had been erected like stars encircling the moon—these were for the attending palace staff and the guards on duty.

Inside one of these tents, sparse candlelight made visibility especially dim. It was not that Li Shaoyou begrudged adding a few more candles—it was simply that, for him, this kind of atmosphere suited his current state of mind. But for Li Jihe, who had been summoned here on orders, it felt rather eerie.

Scrutinizing Li Jihe, Li Shaoyou's gaze was full of pressure. Seeing the man somewhat nervous and uneasy, Li Shaoyou rose, took out a sealed command letter, held it across his chest, and said solemnly: "Li Jihe, hear the command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Instinctively, Li Jihe knelt in salute.

"You are to take this report and ride with all speed to the Western Capital. The letter must never leave your person—change horses, but never change riders. Remember: deliver it directly to the Crown Prince, and ignore everyone else. Anyone who dares to delay or obstruct you—kill!" Li Shaoyou said coldly.

After hearing Li Shaoyou state the command, Li Jihe looked dazed, clearly bewildered by this strange order. But he quickly realized the problem: where did this order come from? Judging by the tone, it did not sound like it came from His Majesty. And if it were Duke Shou—how would he dare issue such an irregular command? So, after staring blankly for a while, Li Jihe did not dare accept the order.

Seeing this, Li Shaoyou continued, "I know you have doubts in your heart. If I don't make it clear to you, I'm afraid you won't dare accept this command!"

Pausing briefly, Li Shaoyou's voice grew even more subdued as he said, "Half an hour ago, the Emperor had already passed away! You should now understand the importance of this task!"

Li Jihe's honest, simple face turned pale with shock. He stood there dumbfounded, at a loss, stammering incoherently: "Passed away, the Emperor, has, perished—how can this be!"

However, noticing Li Shaoyou's solemn expression, Li Jihe realized it must be true—no one in this world would dare make such a joke.

When he recovered from the tremendous shock, Li Jihe could no longer stand. His eyes suddenly reddened, he collapsed to the ground and cried out in grief: "Your Majesty!"

For a junior like Li Jihe who was somewhat connected to the imperial family by blood, the late Emperor had certainly inspired fear, but reverence was equally present—it had merely been suppressed by awe. Yet once a man perished, those long-suppressed emotions came gushing forth all at once.

Seeing this, Li Shaoyou did not intend to give him more time to react, and said sternly: "Right now, there is no time for you and me to grieve. Choosing you as the messenger is a mark of trust. The task must be completed without fail. Should the slightest error occur, you know the consequences!"

"Your subordinate accepts the command!" Hearing Li Shaoyou's words, Li Jihe snapped back to his senses, quickly composed himself, met his gaze, took the letter tube with both hands, and said solemnly.

"The accompanying guards have already been selected, the horses are prepared, waiting at the imperial camp's gate. You must set off immediately—this matter cannot be delayed for even a moment!" Li Shaoyou admonished: "Remember, your journey is solely to deliver the message. Do not speak out of turn or utter reckless words about anything else!"

"Understood!" Li Jihe rose and acknowledged. Just as he was about to leave, he stopped again, looking at Li Shaoyou with hesitation on his face, but saluted with clasped fists in a very resolute manner: "Lord Shou, forgive your subordinate's audacity, but may I go to the imperial tent to kowtow and bid farewell to His Majesty?"

Giving Li Jihe a deep look, Li Shaoyou uttered two words faintly: "You may!"

Without much delay, soon, accompanied by over a dozen guards, Li Jihe set out in the dead of night. After leaving the field headquarters' perimeter, he headed straight for the main road, then rode all the way toward Luoyang.

If one spoke of the Great Han Empire's transportation development, there was no doubt that the capital region, Henan, and Hebei were the most advanced—the main roads were built to connect in all directions, and the straight highways had long linked the major cities of every prefecture.

It was precisely thanks to the most convenient land transportation of this era that the journey of over a thousand li from Mount Tai to Luoyang was completed in two days and two nights. Along the way, Li Jihe and the dozen-plus guards took turns leading the way, compressing even their time for drinking water and eating to the absolute minimum. A matter of utmost urgency allowed no room for the slightest slack.

Of course, a small incident did occur along the way. When passing two official relay stations, the casual and sluggish demeanor of the staff infuriated Li Jihe—he cut down one station master and killed two station soldiers.

Having set out in the dead of night, he arrived at Luoyang still in the deep of night. Horse hooves clattered crisply against the flat stone pavement, passing through the residential quarters east of Luoyang city until reaching the city gate. Gazing at the towering city walls in the darkness, the utterly exhausted Li Jihe felt tears welling up in his eyes.

Even outside the city walls, one could faintly hear the clamor within the city. The citizens of the Western Capital, still immersed in the flourishing age of the sleepless city, clearly had not yet realized that the heavens of the Great Han Empire were about to change.

As gatekeepers of Luoyang, whether in terms of responsibility or breadth of experience, they were far superior to local officials elsewhere. Though full of doubts, after confirming the identities of Li Jihe and his party, they decisively let them through.

After entering the city, there was no hesitation whatsoever. Wielding the whip and spurring the horse, he alarmed the wardens and Patrol Inspectors all along the way, charging straight for the imperial city, even riding through the palace gates in violation of protocol.

Under the banner of the old Emperor's authority, he practically forced his way into the Eastern Palace, coming within a hair's breadth of personally pulling Crown Prince Liu Yang from his bed.