994 Making Enemies with Everyone Possible (1/2)
Chapter 994 – Making Enemies with Everyone Possible
Tianbao 15th year, 6th month, 10th day, Chang An.
Early in the morning, Tang Xuanzong Li Lingji declared his final imperial decree as emperor:
”Rebels An Lushan and Si Siming have failed me, starting a rebellion and causing chaos. I intended to kill the rebels, but helplessly, I have no ability to gather the people.”
”To extend the dynasty and for the blessing of the people, the empire needs a more stable and powerful emperor. Prince Li Xiang is young and talented, so he can carry on the tradition. Today, I volunteer to hand over the throne to him!”
Along with the imperial decree being released, there was also a passage scolding the rebels. From this day onward, this decree along with the letter seeking to destroy the rebels would spread to all the counties. It would order everyone to send their troops to Chang An to fight together with the king.
Not only the people of Chang An, but even all the civilians saw the determination of the Imperial Court to clear out the rebels. With such passion and everyone sharing the same ideals, they would obviously be able to clear out the rebels.
That day, under the protection of the civil servants and generals, Li Xiang officially ascended to the throne. The year title was changed to Zhide, and Tang Xuanzong was named the retired emperor and locked up in Xingqing Palace.
After ascending, Li Xiang immediately wrote a decree to appoint Ouyang Shuo as the Xia King and the commander of all the troops to fight the rebels. Guo Ziyi would be named the deputy commander, minister of war, and the Jiedushi of Shuofang.
To clear up the subordinate relationship and to prevent the Jiedushi from competing against one another, the imperial decree also said that the soldiers in the north, including the Anxi, Beiting, Hexi, Longshi, and the Shuofang troops, a total of 150 thousand soldiers, would all be under the jurisdiction of Guo Ziyi.
Just that alone inspired the people.
...
Luoyang.
Just as Di Chen and the others were ready to lead their troops to Tong Pass, they all received the news that Chang An had changed and a new emperor had ascended.
”As expected from the old fox, he actually thought of using such a move.” Di Chen exclaimed.
Xiong Ba said, ”It seems like the old fox is destined to have a final battle with us in Chang An. That's good, one battle deciding everything, let's not waste any time.”
”Although that is the case, we cannot rush to send troops anymore. Chang An is a mega city with 150 thousand troops defending it, so it will not be so easily taken down. At the very least, we have to prepare siege weapons.”
”Then let's wait a few days!” Xiong Ba was helpless.
Chun Shenjun cut in, ”Since the situation has changed, we should not foolishly fight alone. We need to drag in all of An Lushan's forces to siege Chang An.”
”Well said.”
”Toward Chang An, we are totally blind, so we need An Lushan to guide us. I heard that he has spies in the city, so we must not waste them.”
Everyone discussed the matter and realized that the An Lushan camp still had the advantage, so they instantly felt a lot more confident.
...
Di Chen and the others were busy preparing for the battle. Naturally, Ouyang Shuo was doing the same.
Yang Guozhong's death seemed really silent and quiet, but in truth, it caused an uproar among the upper echelons of officials in Chang An. The ministers who were close to him felt a chill run down their spines.
Naturally, everyone felt that although Yang Guozhong was killed by the player forces, the matter had to be orchestrated by the newly ascended emperor behind the scenes.
It was an open secret.
The officials and nobles who were close to Yang Guozhong were naturally worried about being implicated. How would they know that the one truly in power was not the person on the throne but Ouyang Shuo?
Ouyang Shuo was not a maniac. Killing was only an action and not a goal. After killing Yang Guozhong, Ouyang Shuo used his name as commander to start a recruitment of troops in Chang An.