Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 322 The Emperor Leaves Beijing
The sixth day of the sixth lunar month was the day Li Zhi had set for his trip.

The people who were going to travel had been decided. In addition to the concubines in the harem, Li Xian, Li Dan, Li Lingyue and Li Ren were also brought along.

Sun Simiao and two imperial physicians also accompanied him.

The candidates for court officials were finally determined.

The civil officials were headed by Shangguan Yi, and there were more than 30 others including Zhang Jianzhi, Li Jingxuan, Xue Yuanchao, etc., covering all departments of the three provinces, six ministries, nine ministers, and five supervision agencies.

The military generals were headed by Xue Rengui and Wang Jishan. In addition to the Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards who accompanied the emperor for protection, there were also 10,000 Yulin Guards.

One day before the trip, Li Zhi gave all accompanying officials a day off.

Xue Rengui had been in the army for many years, and even when he was on leave at home, he still got up very early in the morning.

When Xue Na rubbed his eyes and got up, and pushed open the door, he saw Xue Rengui practicing archery at the target in the backyard.

Many people have asked Xue Na what the secret of his father's archery practice was, and Xue Na's answer was always the same: simple target shooting.

But others always don't believe it.

Xue Na watched his father shooting at the target and muttered, "Father is just shooting at the target, why don't they believe it?"

As he looked, he finally noticed something strange.

Before shooting each arrow, Xue Rengui would pull the bowstring fully and not let go for a long time.

It looks like he's aiming, but why would aiming take so long?

Xue Na was a few years older and more experienced. He slapped his head and said, "Oh, I understand. Father deliberately pulled the bowstring for a long time to train his arm strength."

However, after looking at it for a while, I found something wrong.

Xue Rengui sometimes took a long time to defecate, and sometimes he ejaculated after a short while. The time was irregular.

Out of curiosity, Xue Na just stood there watching. After a long while, he finally understood.

Xue Rengui would only shoot arrows when there was a strong wind.

The wind will affect the accuracy of the bow and arrow. Xue Rengui deliberately practiced archery when the wind blew, so as to grasp the impact of the wind on the flight of the arrow.

Just as he was lost in thought, his mother Liu's voice came from the corridor.

"Xue Na, what are you doing? You're almost late!"

Xue Na quickly responded.

On the other side, Xue Rengui heard the sound and turned his head to look over. Only then did he notice that his wife and son were standing beside him. He threw the bow and arrow to the servant and strode over.

Liu squinted at Xue Rengui and complained, "It's a rare day off, why are you getting up so early?"

Xue Rengui said, "I'm used to it. I can't sleep when the time comes."

Breakfast was ready and the family was sitting in the back hall to eat. Xue Rengui had a rare opportunity to spend time with his son, so he took the opportunity to ask him about his studies.

Xue Na studied very hard at Chongwenguan and answered questions fluently.

Xue Rengui was very pleased to see this and said to Xue Na, "Na'er, His Majesty is leaving the capital soon, and I want to go with him. You stay with the Crown Prince and be careful not to let him get close to me."

Xue Na said "Oh".

Liu frowned and said, "Ne'er is only ten years old, why are you saying these things to him?"

Xue Rengui raised an eyebrow and said, "What's the big deal? The Crown Prince is only seven years old, and he's already able to help His Majesty share his worries. Since Ne'er has been granted a title and is by the Crown Prince's side, he should fulfill his duties as a subject."

Liu lowered her head and said nothing.

Although Xue Rengui's official position became higher and higher, the couple had not been able to see each other for many years, and they had become more distant from each other.

But whenever Xue Rengui thought of his wife who followed him despite her family's objections and later encouraged him to join the army, he had the wealth and glory he had today.

When he saw his wife looking aggrieved, his heart was filled with tenderness.

"Okay, I won't say anything more. Don't be angry." He reached out and held his wife's hand.

Liu's anger turned into joy. She helped him pick up a piece of mutton and said with a smile, "Eat more. I'm going to take Ne'er to Chongwenguan."

Xue Rengui nodded and said, "I have something to do later, so you don't have to keep my lunch."

Liu responded, took out two meat patties, let Xue Na grab one and eat it, and took him to school.

Xue Rengui continued to sit and eat, but unfortunately, he could not have a peaceful meal.

In less than a meal's time, three groups of people came to visit, all of them were members of the Xue family.

Xue Rengui asked for names, but he didn't recognize any of them. He didn't see any of them, so he asked the housekeeper, "Are there always so many guests in the mansion?"

The housekeeper smiled and said, "Yes, they all claim to be your relatives."

Xue Rengui snorted, "Where do I get so many relatives from?"

The housekeeper smiled and said, "Ah Lang, you are a first-rank duke and a general of the Imperial Guard. Who among the Xue people in Hedong wouldn't want to curry your favor and become your relative? Even the head of the Xue family often comes to visit Madam."

Xue Rengui asked, "Madam, have you seen them all?"

The housekeeper smiled and said, "Of course not. Madam will only invite in relatives she knows. For those she doesn't know but has heard of, Madam will give them some money and send them away. Those whose names she hasn't even heard of will be sent away directly."

Xue Rengui nodded, thinking that his wife's handling of the matter was appropriate.

Xue Rengui's breakfast was more than what an average person would eat in a day.

After eating, he went straight to the Dali Temple.

After entering the Dali Temple, he was led by a clerk towards Di Renjie's office.

When passing by a wide courtyard, I heard the sound of sticks. When I turned my head, I saw several men practicing martial arts.

After taking a look, Xue Rengui couldn't help but stop.

There were five people involved in the fight, all of whom were good at martial arts, especially the young man in the middle, who wielded the whistle stick with flawless ease. Even though he was fighting one against four, he still had the upper hand.

The four men stood in four directions, with sticks in hand, blocking all corners of the young man.

The young man used the stick to support the ground, stepped on the ground with his feet, turned around, and kicked all four people away.

Xue Rengui praised: "Good."

The young man looked towards the voice, his eyes flashing as he strode over. He bowed and said, "You must be General Xue Li, right? I, Li Jin, greet you, General."

Xue Rengui had heard of his name and said with a smile, "General Li is an extraordinary martial artist. He is admirable."

Li Yuanfang said with a blazing gaze, "General Xue, could you please give me some advice?"

Xue Rengui was surprised to see him being so direct, but then he smiled and said, "Then let's have a discussion, but we won't discuss it unless it's too late."

The four men defeated by Li Yuanfang were the four best thief-catching officers in the Dali Temple. They admired Li Yuanfang's martial arts very much.

Seeing that he was going to challenge the most famous general in the Tang army, they all showed excitement and nervousness and watched the battle from the sidelines.

Xue Rengui and Li Yuanfang came to the open space with whistles in hand.

Li Yuanfang held the stick with both hands, diagonally in front of his chest, while Xue Rengui held the stick with one hand, backwards behind his back.

Li Yuanfang pointed his toes and rushed forward first. Facing an opponent like Xue Rengui, any temptation or holding back would be unnecessary. It would be disrespectful to the opponent and humiliating to himself.

So he gave it his all from the start.

As the shadow of the stick swayed, the sound of "crackling" was heard continuously.

Li Yuanfang had thrown out four or five sticks in a few breaths, but they were all blocked by Xue Rengui's stick.

Li Yuanfang suddenly lowered his stick and swept it towards Xue Rengui's lower path like a whip.

With a bang, Xue Rengui pounded his long staff into the ground, blocking the incoming blow. He then struck the staff with his leg, deflecting Li Yuanfang's attack. The long staff swung around his neck and struck Li Yuanfang in the shoulder. Li Yuanfang hurriedly parried the blow, retreating three steps, but his fighting spirit was rekindled. He shouted "good," and charged forward again.

Li Yuanfang attacked with all his might, his stick moving up and down, left and right, but no matter how he moved, he could not break Xue Rengui's defense.

After fighting for about thirty rounds, Li Yuanfang saw that he still couldn't hurt Xue Rengui at all. Knowing he was no match for him, he put away his stick and retreated. He bowed to Xue Rengui and said, "Thank you for your guidance, General."

Xue Rengui praised him, "General Li is so young, yet he possesses such martial arts prowess. His future achievements will surely surpass mine."

Li Yuanfang smiled and said, "You are here to see Di Siqing, right? I will take you to see him."

Xue Rengui raised his hand and said, "No, actually, it's the same if I look for you. General Li, can you take me to the archives room?"

All cases in the Dali Temple will be backed up and archived in the file room for future reference.

This is the important place of Dali Temple, and ordinary people are not allowed to enter easily.

However, Xue Rengui was the Duke of the current dynasty. Li Yuanfang hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, please follow me." He took Xue Rengui to the royal family.

There are a total of six file storage rooms, all located in the third courtyard of the Dali Temple, in a courtyard on the west side.

Li Yuanfang asked Xue Rengui which period of case files he wanted to see.

Xue Rengui said, "In the third year of Yonghui, there is the dossier on Fang Yiai's rebellion."

Li Yuanfang was slightly startled and said, "General Xue, this case is quite serious and is kept in the innermost warehouse. Even I need the permission of Lord Di Si before I can check it out."

Xue Rengui said, "I don't need to see the original file. I only need to see the file on the exoneration of Wu Wang Li Ke. Do I also need the approval of the Minister of the Temple of Heaven?"

The case of rehabilitating King Wu Li Ke was handled personally by Di Renjie.

At that time, Zhangsun Wuji took out Taizong's will and wanted to deal with Empress Wu.

As a result, the emperor used the incident of King Wu to strip him of his official position and title, and imprisoned him in Zhaoling Mausoleum. This happened in recent years.

Li Yuanfang asked curiously, "This file is in Warehouse A3. Why do you suddenly want to see it?"

Xue Rengui said, "I was also entrusted with this task. By the way, I heard that when the King of Wu was vindicated, many of the other members of the royal family who were wrongly accused by Zhangsun Wuji were also vindicated, is that correct?"

Li Yuanfang said, "Only King Li Yin of Shu was rehabilitated and renamed King of Fuling."

Li Yin was demoted to a commoner because of Li Ke's involvement in the crime, so when Li Ke was rehabilitated, he was also rehabilitated as a matter of course.

Xue Rengui asked, "Where is Li Daozong, the King of Jiangxia?"

Li Yuanfang frowned and said, "Your Majesty did not issue an edict to exonerate him, but he did issue another edict to exonerate all of Li Daozong's relatives."

Xue Rengui asked, "I heard that Li Daozong has two sons. Are they in Chang'an now?"

Li Yuanfang shook his head and said, "That's unclear. Since the two have been acquitted, they could go anywhere."

Xue Rengui frowned and said nothing.

Li Yuanfang asked, "Do you know the King of Jiangxia? Why are you looking for his two sons?"

Xue Rengui said: "No, I was just entrusted by Her Royal Highness Princess Wencheng."

Li Yuanfang thought for a moment and said, "The whereabouts of these two people won't be recorded in the Dali Temple files, but you can check with the Ministry of Revenue. Since they've been acquitted, they must have been re-naturalized. Just look up their new household registration and you'll know where they are."

Xue Rengui nodded and said, "Thank you very much."

After leaving the Dali Temple, Xue Rengui did not go to the Ministry of Revenue.

The investigation of the Li brothers would take time to complete. He was about to leave Beijing, so he could only entrust the matter to his friend.

Xue Rengui didn't have many friends, most of whom were careless soldiers. It would definitely not be appropriate to ask them to do such a delicate job as finding someone.

He thought for a while, and soon came up with the best candidate in his mind. He rode his horse towards Gao Youdao's mansion.

After knocking on the door, the doorman invited him into Gao's house and said to him with a smile, "My husband hasn't returned from the government office yet. General, please wait in the outer hall for a while."

While Xue Rengui was waiting in the outer hall, Du Rong came out to meet him, ordered someone to serve tea, and then returned to the backyard.

Just as Xue Rengui was getting sleepy from waiting, he suddenly saw a little head popping out from behind the door. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was a pretty girl.

Xue Rengui was secretly surprised: "Brother Gao and Madam Du have only been married for a few years, where did such a big child come from?" He waved to the girl.

The little girl wasn't afraid of him either. She giggled, walked in with her hands behind her back, and raised her little face as she asked, "Are you General Xue Li?"

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "Yes, do you recognize me?"

The girl said, "I've heard a lot of people talking about you. Some say you're twenty feet tall and have six arms, so I wanted to come and see if you're taller than others and have more hands!"

Xue Rengui laughed heartily and said, "I am just like an ordinary person, I only have two hands, and it is impossible for me to be two meters tall."

The girl asked curiously, "Then how come you are so powerful? I heard that when the Hu people heard your name, they were so scared that they knelt on the ground and kowtowed."

Xue Rengui smiled and said, "It's nothing. They are not afraid of me, but the Tang Dynasty."

The girl nodded, clapped her hands and laughed, "I knew it was fake. How can a person grow that tall?"

Xue Rengui looked at the little girl, stroking his chin, and thought to himself, "I don't know who this child is, or what her relationship is to Brother Gao. If her family background is clean, I could arrange an early marriage for Na'er."

Just then, a shout was heard from outside.

"Alang is back."

After a while, Gao Youdao came in, and the girl called out to him, "Aye, you're back."

Xue Rengui was surprised and asked, "Brother Gao, is this your daughter?"

Gao Youdao knew that Xue Rengui had misunderstood, and hurriedly said, "She is the daughter of my wife's cousin, and she recognized me as her adoptive father."

He patted Du Yuhe's head and said, "Go play with your mother."

Du Yuhe agreed in a crisp voice, said hello to Xue Rengui, and then left.

Xue Rengui was very fond of the girl and said with a smile, "This child has been well taught etiquette. I wonder if she can be married off?"

Gao Youdao saw what Xue Rengui meant, and fearing he might misunderstand, he quickly said, "Brother Xue, this is a long story. Let's go to the study and talk about it."

The two of them arrived at the study, and Gao Youdao told Xue Rengui that Du Yuhe had been favored by the Queen. Xue Rengui nodded and did not mention the matter again.

When Gao Youdao asked him the purpose of his visit, Xue Rengui told him that he was going to look for the Li brothers.

Gao Youdao asked curiously, "Why did Brother Xue suddenly want to look for them?"

Xue Rengui smiled bitterly and said, "I was also asked by Princess Wencheng. I was busy training the Imperial Guards a while ago and didn't have time to take care of it. But I don't want to follow His Majesty out of the capital again, so I have no choice but to ask Brother Gao to take care of this matter."

When Xue Rengui governed Kunzang, he relied heavily on Princess Wencheng's help and admired her experience. Later, when Princess Wencheng came to entrust him with this matter, it was really difficult for him to refuse.

Gao Youdao smiled and said, "Since Brother Xue has instructed me to do so, I will definitely see to it."

Xue Rengui thanked him, drank with Gao Youdao for a while, and then went home.

The next morning, Xue Rengui got up early again, practiced archery, had his meal, and as soon as the drum sounded, he entered the palace.

When I arrived at the Forbidden Garden, I saw that the huge garden was very busy.

The emperor's tour team has been prepared. In addition to the entourage, there are also daily necessities.

Li Zhi himself did not have much stuff, but Empress Wu and several concubines brought a lot of things, and the officials also brought some servants and items.

There were more than two hundred carriages in total.

We were originally scheduled to depart at noon, but we were delayed for a while. It was not until 2:15 pm that everything was ready.

The Qianniu Guards and Jinwu Guards lined up in front to clear the way, Li Zhi's touring team was in the middle, and Xue Rengui led 10,000 Yulin Guards following behind.

The huge team came out of Zhaoyun Gate, crossed the Chan River, and quickly turned into Tongguan Road, heading towards Tongguan.

(End of this chapter)