Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 181 The Uprising of the Li Tang Imperial Family (Part 2) and Their Journey to Luoyang
However, just as they were about to take the crucial third step—raising an army—something went wrong.

Someone tipped them off.

Moreover, the person who informed on them was Li Ai, the nephew of King Li Yuanjia of Han.

As Li Yuanjia's nephew, Li Ai was also a key figure in the royal family's planned coup. The matter of raising an army was not kept from him. He had also told Li Zhen that as long as all sides responded together, they would definitely succeed.

But when the crucial moment came, Li Ai became afraid.

He shuddered at the thought of the consequences of a failed uprising.

If they failed, how would Empress Wu treat them? Would she skin them alive or tear out their tendons? The more Li Ai thought about it, the more frightened he became. In order to save his own life, Li Ai did something treacherous and reported the entire plan for the imperial clan to rise up to Empress Wu.

As a result of Li Ai's betrayal, the Li Tang imperial family was in trouble.

The agreed-upon time for their uprising had not yet arrived, and preparations were incomplete. Now that Li Ai had spoken, they had no choice but to act.

The uprising was hastily launched.

Before the parties had even finished communicating, Li Chong, the son of King Li Zhen of Yue and the governor of Bozhou, took the lead and raised an army of 5,000 in Bozhou, marching towards the Yellow River.

Before they even reached the Yellow River, they encountered official resistance in Wushui County, which is under the jurisdiction of Bortala Prefecture.

The magistrate of Wushui County was originally Li Chong's subordinate, but because he was not well prepared beforehand, he felt that Li Chong's rebellion was against the country and that he could not go along with him. So he closed the city gates and refused to defend the city.

Li Chong's troops didn't even rush out of Bozhou immediately; they had no choice but to grit their teeth and fight.

According to the news, a southerly wind was blowing in Bozhou at the time. Li Chong wanted to set fire to the south gate with the wind, but it seems that things didn't go as planned. Just as Li Chong's fire was lit, the wind suddenly turned north. As a result, the fire didn't reach the city gate, but instead set his own people on fire.

The entire team was in chaos, and most importantly, morale had collapsed.

Dong Xuanji, the general who led Li Chong's troops and was in charge of the siege, believed that this sudden change in the wind was Heaven's punishment for Li Chong, saying, "The Prince of Langya is fighting against the court; this is rebellion!"

When Li Chong heard that he was undermining the morale of the army, he was furious and immediately killed him.

The killing of Dong Xuanji was not the main problem; however, the five thousand men he had recruited almost all fled in an instant.

Li Chong was practically left with no one but a few servants and slaves.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Li Chong had no choice but to return to Bozhou.

When the gatekeeper of Bozhou City saw this down-on-his-luck prince returning dejectedly with his defeated troops, he thought it was a stroke of good fortune and thought he could use the prince's head to curry favor with the court.

So, with a single stroke outside the city gate, Li Chong's life was ended.

At this point, only seven days had passed since Li Chong raised his army.

As Liu Jianjun said, the problem lies precisely in the fact that there are "too many people and too many different minds." The commotion caused by this group is not even as big as that caused by Xu Jingye.

Upon hearing the news of Li Chong's failed uprising, Liu Jianjun immediately began making arrangements to go to Luoyang, and the Prince of Pei's residence was instantly bustling with activity, like an anthill in a boiling pot.

Packing luggage, arranging transportation, selecting accompanying personnel...

Liu Jianjun stood with his hands on his hips, giving orders in the yard. One moment he complained that the boxes weren't tied securely enough, the next he was clamoring to bring more jars of good wine, and finally he was telling Bai Yuanli to keep an eye on the breeding farm in Chang'an.

Li Xian chuckled to himself.

Liu Jianjun converted the hundreds of acres of land in the expanded cotton ecological park into a breeding farm. The area along the riverbank was fenced off as a chicken coop, while a large number of ducks were raised in the area near the water. The ducks laid eggs everywhere, and the eggs often floated downstream along the river.

Residents living downstream can find large piles of duck eggs in the water every few days.

But Liu Jianjun didn't care. He just told the people not to eat the "male eggs" casually, because they could hatch ducklings if they kept them at home.

Another person who felt lost and confused in the Prince of Pei's residence was Wang Bo.

After Wang Bo went to see Di Renjie, Liu Jianjun gave him a long leave. Except for the first half of the year when he communicated with Di Renjie about the trade routes and methods of cotton in the Jiangnan region, he was almost always idle at home.

Wang Bo seemed to be always busy; Li Xian saw him asking Liu Jianjun for assignments on several occasions.

Li Xian thought he must have lost his mind. Not only did he idolize Liu Jianjun, but he also kept chasing after him to go on missions.

Liu Jianjun also said to him, his face beaming: "Old Wang, when Xianzi and I go to Luoyang, we won't be back for a while. When that happens, you will be in charge of all the cotton trading matters in Chang'an. Remember, disaster relief should continue, and it should only be on a larger scale, not reduced."

"Also, you should urge Lao Xue on. It's been a year and he's only reached the rank of Colonel. That's too slow! Make him aim for Lieutenant General!"

Wang Bo asked anxiously, "What about me?"

Li Xian realized that Wang Bo was in trouble.

He just wanted to keep busy.

In less than a year, Xue Da jumped three ranks from fire chief to regimental captain. Although he had the help of his "cousin" Liu Jianjun and Wu Youji, it was enough to show how hard he worked.

After all, he also had to help the cotton mill's craftsmen with physical training.

Wang Bo envied Xue Da for being so busy.

"Isn't the cotton business enough to keep you busy?" Liu Jianjun tilted his head and looked at him.

Wang Bo nodded with certainty and eagerness.

"Alright, I'll also entrust the matter with the other Xue family. You'll run back and forth between Chang'an and their side. When things are busy here, you'll take care of things here. When things aren't busy here, you'll go to their side to set up the new cotton mill. If necessary, you can send people from Chang'an over to provide technical guidance."

Wang Bo nodded in satisfaction this time.

Li Xian thought his brain was probably broken.

……

The entire Prince Pei's residence was bustling with preparations in a slightly chaotic yet strangely busy manner.

Meanwhile, rumors of panic and fear from the outside world also began to circulate at the same time.

Li Chong's uprising failed, but before he launched it, he sent messengers to inform the princes that he had raised an army and hoped that they would also raise an army to support him and jointly take Luoyang.

However, because the princes were scattered across different regions, the time it took for them to receive the news varied greatly, and none of them were prepared. Upon receiving the news, they all panicked and no one dared to make a move.

Only Li Chong's father, Prince Li Zhen of Yue, had no choice but to bite the bullet and help.

A deep bond between father and son.

Li Zhen was the governor of Yuzhou. After receiving news of Li Chong's defeat, he raised an army in Yuzhou. However, just as they captured the small city of Shangcai, news of Li Chong's defeat and death arrived.

Li Zhen felt a chill run down her spine.

Moreover, Empress Wu also dispatched an army of 100,000 to suppress the rebellion, while Li Zhen only had 5,000 soldiers. With such a huge disparity between the two armies, it was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

So his first reaction was to tie himself up and go to the Luoyang Palace to beg for forgiveness from Empress Wu.

But just then, one of his county magistrates arrived with two thousand soldiers to help.

Upon seeing that this group of men had regained their spirits and no longer wanted to surrender, Li Zhen realized that they were ready to fight again.

Liu Jianjun said this: "To be honest, he's not very smart. When there were 5,000 people, he thought there weren't enough. Now that there are 2,000 more, he thinks there are enough people. I'm wondering, what's the difference between 5,000 and 7,000 people?"

Li Xian tried to explain: "Perhaps King Yue saw that some people responded and thought that more people would respond..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Jianjun interrupted him: "Have you ever considered that the county magistrate might be one of your mother's people?"

Li Xian was stunned, then felt a chill run down his spine.

Although Liu Jianjun's guess was a bit too exaggerated, Li Xian felt that it was very likely to be true.

Only the King of Yue, who refused to surrender, could be rightfully executed.

Sure enough, with the addition of these two thousand men, Li Zhen's morale soared. He suppressed the news of Li Chong's defeat, claiming that Li Chong had conquered several prefectures and had an army of two hundred thousand who were on their way to join him. At the same time, he closed the gates of Yuzhou City and guarded it, hoping that more people would come to join him.

However, Empress Wu announced Li Chong's defeat to the world that very day.

Chaos broke out in Yuzhou City.

Left with no other choice, Li Zhen appointed more than 500 officers at once to boost morale, and the remaining soldiers were also given talismans to protect them from swords and spears.

He also found a group of Taoist priests and monks to chant scriptures and perform rituals, praying for divine protection, saying that as long as they chanted, the enemy would not be able to break in.

When the news reached this place, Li Xian knew that Li Zhen had run out of options.

As expected. Whether it was the talisman to ward off soldiers or the Taoist priest's incantation, it immediately lost its effectiveness when faced with real swords and spears. The remaining soldiers saw that those who were destined to die still died, and those who were destined to be wounded still were wounded. Therefore, no one believed Li Zhen's words anymore.

The people of Yuzhou City, along with his seven thousand soldiers, abandoned the city and fled.

Seeing that there was no way to turn the tide, Li Zhen's attendants said to him, "How can Your Majesty sit idly by and await humiliation!"

Li Zhen sighed deeply and committed suicide along with his wife, children, and son-in-law. From the start of the uprising to its defeat, it lasted only seventeen days.

What started as a lively and dramatic rebellion by the imperial clan eventually dwindled to just Li Zhen and his son raising an army, and the combined time between the two of them was less than a month.

The speed was so fast that Li Xian was astonished.

"You see? Your mother's control over the Tang Dynasty is already very strong. At this point, whoever raises an army will suffer the same fate." Liu Jianjun, like a wise man who sees through everything, cracked his whip and walked at the head of the Prince of Pei's entourage.

No further news came about the uprising by the imperial clan, as Li Xian was already preparing to set off for Luoyang.

He leaned against the car window and said goodbye to the embroiderer Guangshun and the others.

"Grandpa, please come back soon after you go to Luoyang. I will take good care of Mother and my younger siblings at home." Guangshun stood by the carriage, bowing respectfully as he saw them off. His words were noticeably less verbose than before.

Liu Jianjun rode over on his Cyclone Charger, bent down, and ruffled Guangshun's hair: "You've grown up!"

Guangshun was dissatisfied with Liu Jianjun's attitude of treating him like a child. He muttered something, which Li Xian didn't hear, but Liu Jianjun did. He bent down, grabbed Guangshun by the neck, and threatened, "I treat your father as an equal!"

Li Xian watched this scene with a smile, and suddenly realized that Liu Jianjun's horsemanship had improved considerably.

He would never have dared to make any unnecessary movements on horseback before.

It seems that he had traveled a long way to invite Li Xian, and had also honed his horsemanship to an excellent level.

Li Xian turned his gaze to Xiu Niang. Xiu Niang was a smart woman. Ever since the two princes came looking for her, she had been very worried about her current situation, but she rarely showed it in order not to worry Li Xian.

Sensing Li Xian's gaze, the embroiderer moved closer to the carriage window, looking at him with tender affection.

"Take good care of yourself in Chang'an and get well soon." Li Xian had a lot to say, but all he could say was a simple word of advice.

The couple had been together for many years, and even without saying it aloud, the embroiderer could understand.

The embroiderer nodded, then after a moment, a look of struggle crossed her face. She said, "Husband, if... if... we could go to Rongzhou for refuge. Years ago, when you were robbed, Father was demoted to Rongzhou as the prefect. It's a remote place..."

Before the embroiderer could finish speaking, Li Xian gently pressed his hand to her mouth.

She said, "Don't worry, Liu Jianjun and I will be safe and nothing will happen to us. The old woman is already old, and I would not feel at ease if she were to involve him as well."

The embroiderer nodded, but ultimately said nothing.

Liu Jianjun, on the other hand, overheard their conversation and came closer: "Is Xianzi's father-in-law in Lingnan?"

Li Xian glared at him irritably.

At this crucial moment when they were saying goodbye to the embroiderer, why did Liu Jianjun seem to lack any sense of propriety, just like Guangshun?
But he still nodded: "Back then, because of my involvement, the old woman was indeed demoted to Rongzhou in Lingnan Circuit."

"Lingnan... what a wonderful place," Liu Jianjun remarked inexplicably.

Li Xian was puzzled.

What's so good about that place? It's hot all year round, plagued by miasma, and teeming with mosquitoes, snakes, and ants.

But Liu Jianjun shook his head, raised his whip and urged, "Let's go! Your mother wants us to be in Luoyang before December, that's a bit tight!"

After bidding farewell to the embroiderers, the caravan slowly drove out of Chang'an.

Li Xian glanced at the majestic Chang'an city wall behind him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He didn't know what he would encounter on his way to Luoyang. If it weren't for Liu Jianjun by his side, he would have preferred to feign illness and hide in Chang'an.

"Alright, son, stop looking so bitter and resentful."

Liu Jianjun seemed to have eyes in the back of his head, and without turning his head, he cracked his whip, "We're going to Luoyang to enjoy life, not to die. Besides, if the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. Your mother doesn't have time to deal with us little shrimps right now. She's busy dealing with those disobedient princes."

Li Xian smiled bitterly. Although Liu Jianjun's words were meant to comfort him, they also highlighted the reality.

After the defeat and death of King Li Zhen and his son, Empress Wu's purge had only just begun.

Sure enough, along the way, all sorts of horrifying news came one after another.

First and foremost was Li Ai, the Duke of Poyang, who wavered between two sides and ultimately betrayed his confidant.

He thought that informing on Li Ai would bring him a way out or even wealth and honor, but he underestimated Empress Wu's vigilance towards the Li Tang imperial family. Empress Wu arrested and imprisoned Li Ai on charges of "sowing discord among the imperial family," and he was eventually executed.

He, the informer, did not fare any better than the person he denounced.

Immediately afterwards, a large-scale purge swept through the Li Tang imperial family.

Almost all members of the royal family who participated in or were suspected of participating in this conspiracy, including Prince Han Li Yuanjia, Prince Lu Li Lingkui, Duke Huang Li Zhuan, Duke Dongguan Li Rong, Princess Changle and her husband Zhao Gui, were captured. Some were forced to commit suicide, while others were publicly executed. Their property was confiscated, and their family members were either exiled to Lingnan or enslaved in the palace.

Taking this opportunity, Empress Wu ruthlessly eliminated a group of senior members of the Li Tang imperial family who posed the greatest threat to her and held the highest prestige. Her methods were cruel and chilling.

……

After traveling for two days, the caravan stopped at a rest stop along the way for a short rest.

Inside the inn's guest room, Liu Jianjun held the latest intelligence report and sighed, "Your mother is using swift and decisive methods to tell everyone who the true master of the Tang Dynasty is now. We can't be as arrogant as last time when we go back to Luoyang. Remember these eight words: be low-key in your personal life, but high-profile in your work."

"Be low-key in your personal life, but high-profile in your work?" Li Xian looked puzzled.

If you're talking about keeping a low profile, Li Xian could barely understand it, but his high-profile actions...

Didn't we agree not to be so arrogant?

“Yes!” Liu Jianjun leaned closer. “Keeping a low profile means you should stop getting involved in anything related to power struggles. You should also be very respectful to your mother, so that she thinks you are just a capable but unambitious son and good subject.”

"What about doing things in a high-profile manner?"

“You don’t need to worry about doing things in a high-profile way. You’re in charge of keeping a low profile, and I’ll be in charge of keeping a high profile.” Liu Jianjun turned his head.

Li Xian was taken aback, then said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "You're not planning to go to brothels all over Luoyang, are you?"

"No way, you can do anything, just don't go to brothels."

"Huh?" Li Xian was confused again.

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Go to sleep early, we have to get up early tomorrow to travel!"

The rooms at the inn were small and dimly lit. There was only one communal bed in the guest room, and Liu Jianjun was sleeping with his back to Li Xian not far away, which reminded Li Xian of the inn where the two of them had stayed when they returned to Chang'an from Bazhou.

Back then, their future was uncertain, and the two of them squeezed into a humble room. But while they were on the verge of death, they now have a vast fortune.

Li Xian rarely paid attention to what was happening at the cotton ecological park, but this year, the grain that the cotton ecological park had obtained was enough to provide three meals of porridge a day for the disaster victims in Chang'an City. Although Liu Jianjun did not say it, Li Xian knew that the cotton ecological park was very profitable.

No, it's very profitable.

After deducting the food donated for disaster relief, the money earned from the cotton ecological park was even enough to support Liu Jianjun's initial investment in building a new cotton mill in the north.

Keep in mind that this is just the money earned this year.

Of course, this was also related to the large-scale cotton planting that began in Chang'an. The drought in Guanzhong continued, and the yield of grain crops such as millet was reduced sharply. Many drought-stricken areas could not even produce ears. Cotton planting requires much less water, and even in dry land, it can barely yield some harvest. This made the enthusiasm for cotton planting in Chang'an and even the entire Yongzhou unprecedentedly high.

Liu Jianjun also accepted all the cotton planted by the people.

With the incredible water-to-spinning machine at its disposal, the cotton eco-park can absorb any amount of cotton brought in and transform it into high-quality cotton fabric.

All of this was brought about by Liu Jianjun.

The boy in front of me seemed to have fallen asleep, emitting soft snores.

Li Xian thought for a moment, then turned over and lay down on his side to sleep.

This time, Li Xian fell asleep quickly, feeling at peace. No matter what lay ahead, he knew he was not alone.

Luoyang is not afraid either.

……

(End of this chapter)