"yes."

Diao Bing glanced at the team again, still a little confused, and couldn't help but ask: "There is someone, Mr. Lang must have forgotten to bring him, right?"

"Um."

"Mr. Li Bi, he is still staying in Fan Yang, but the officials nearby cannot ask him for advice. Why doesn't Mr. Lang take him with him?"

Xue Bai said: "It's okay. After some time, I can ask him for advice again."

He rode the horse leisurely, and after a while, he left the team and went to Yizhou for a private visit incognito.

~~

The first lunar month of the first year of Shangyuan has passed, but in previous years it was still the twelfth lunar month.

People everywhere seem not to be very interested in the imperial court changing the year. Now they are just starting to prepare for the New Year and they are still preparing Lantern Festival lanterns according to the old calendar.

The government did not allow them to do this, saying that they were ignoring the power of the saint and destroying many lanterns.

Especially in Chang'an City, government offices at all levels have received official documents and strictly control this matter.

Today's Wannian County Magistrate obtained this position by bribing Dou Wenyang. How dare he not dedicate himself to such a major event? He showed his iron fist and sent a large number of officials to ensure that Chang'an City cannot be visited during the Shangyuan Festival in the old calendar.

to a lantern.

After receiving the order, the officials rushed to the people's homes. They not only trampled on the lanterns, but also took away the people's candlesticks and bacon.

Some people complained to Jingzhao Mansion, and then the matter reached the ears of Wei Jiansu, the servant.

Wei Jiansu then went to see the saint to explain the matter, but was stopped by Dou Wenyang, who advised him not to meddle in other people's business.

"Changing the year is a major event that demonstrates His Majesty's achievements and the revival of the Tang Dynasty. Does Wei Gong dare to obstruct this matter?"

Dou Wenyang stated that the problem is very serious, and it is indeed the case.

The imperial court ignored it, and the servants became even more unscrupulous. After that, they robbed property and even insulted the women of the people, but Dou Wenyang suppressed them all.

The chaos in the streets of Chang'an did not reach the ears of the emperor, but it quickly spread to all states and counties in the world. Some imitated and even more lamented.

No one thought that after deposing King Yong, the saint would rely so heavily on the eunuchs and act unscrupulously.

The public's resistance to changing the New Year's Day has become stronger.

"Since ancient times, only sage kings can correct Shuo. But what achievements does a sage have? All his current achievements are due to King Yong."

Public opinions like this continue to ferment, but Li Cong in the palace city has never heard of it.

He was still immersed in the joy of taking power for the first time.

After hearing that Xue Bai had resigned and moved to Beijing, many officials in the court who were close to Xue Bai also changed their minds and did not dare to offend the emperor again.

Without the constraints of Xue Bai and other officials, the changes are still very obvious. It can be described as a world of difference.

Dou Wenyang could transfer disobedient officials, so no one could stop him from collecting money for the emperor. The food and clothing expenses of Li Cong's family immediately changed.

Due to the war and Xue Bai's promotion of frugality, the palace expenses had been reduced. Li Cong always felt that there was a shortage of this and that. He was a majestic emperor, but he couldn't even afford the money to reward his concubines.

Now that the servants were ordered to save money on purchases, Dou Wenyang worked hard, especially such a major matter related to the saint's food and clothing. After receiving the order, he immediately paid attention to it.

As usual, Duzhi was responsible for purchasing things needed in the palace, but Dou Wenyang changed it to eunuchs.

He sent hundreds of eunuchs to the east and west markets to purchase goods, which were called palace markets.

But he didn't give any documents or certificates. After all, the eunuchs only needed to go to that station and say a few words in a high-pitched voice, and they still needed more certificates?

Whenever these eunuchs see what they need, they only pay a small amount of money or take it away directly, and ask them, "How dare you not give the saint what he needs?!"

In this way, in just a few days, Dou Wenyang spent a small amount of money to purchase a large number of exquisite things for the palace city.

Li Cong was surprised and confused, and asked why the price of Duzhi Envoy Bao was so different from that in the palace market.

Dou Wenyang responded naturally: "Du Zhi falsely reported the purchase price and put all the money into his own treasury. Those foreign ministers don't know how to plan carefully for the saint. How can we, the slaves who serve the saint personally, be loyal?"

Li Cong didn't know the price of goods and was very angry when he heard this. He deeply hated those officials who dared to deceive him, so he relied more and more on Dou Wenyang.

Occasionally, he would think of the moment when Dou Wenyang put the red official robe on the seven-year-old child, but no one has shortcomings. It is those who ask for something and are the most loyal.

As a result, the palace market became more and more arrogant. Because they often took things without paying, the people called them "Bai Wang". Sometimes they were lazy and asked the owner of the goods to deliver them to the palace, but it was not easy for the owner to enter the palace.

, I need to say hello, so I collect an extra "portal money" from the owner of the goods.

Since there is a gate fee for delivery, the eunuch who goes to the market to purchase in person will have to charge an extra "foot price."

Chang'an City was filled with resentment among the people.

Li Cong in the palace was completely unaware. He saw officials from various counties and counties paying tribute one after another, and his internal funds became more and more abundant. He looked like he was prosperous and prosperous. He felt that he had made more achievements than all the emperors of the Tang Dynasty.

He did not forget Xue Bai, thinking that he would be at ease after Xue Bai arrived in Chang'an and imprisoned him.

Dou Wenyang has a large number of informants in Hebei, and will send Xue Bai's itinerary to Chang'an every few days.

Knowing that Xue Bai really did not bring any soldiers and was heading south every day, he felt much more at ease. He could just wait for the people to arrive and then he could sit back and relax.

~~

Gangneung.

In the Governor's Mansion, Li Lin once again convened the staff to discuss matters. It was already full of talented people, and he and Yang Xu were no longer the only ones.

Xue Yu, Li Taiqing, Wei Zichun, Liu Julin, and Cai Jian were all counselors recruited by Li Lin.

Like Li Cong, Li Lin also sent many spies to spy on Xue Bai's whereabouts.

Knowing that Xue Bai was heading south, Li Lin took action.

"Others believe that he has withdrawn the military power, but I don't believe it!"

Since he had already made an agreement with Xue Bai, he naturally knew that Xue Bai would never be easily subdued.

And once Xue Bai takes the throne, he has no confidence that he can compete with Xue Bai again.

"He must have taken the opportunity to personally lead an elite force into Guanzhong. After capturing Tongguan or occupying Chang'an, Fan Yang will raise a large army!"

Wei Zichun immediately stood up and said: "Should King Yong report to the court..."

"What's the use?"

Yang Xu didn't wait for him to finish, and scolded him directly, saying: "The saint falsely believed in the eunuchs, the court was smoky, and the people in the city were miserable. How could he stop Xue Ni? This situation is just like the previous emperor who indulged An Lushan."

"What should I do?"

"Do we have to wait until Xue Bai raises his army and cause trouble to the Tang Dynasty again?"

When Yang Xu said this, his face became solemn, he straightened his clothes and bowed to Li Lin solemnly.

"Please King Yong raise the troops from the south, defeat Xue Ni, eliminate the traitors, and purge the country."

They have analyzed it carefully. After experiencing the Anshi Rebellion, Henan, Hebei and Guanzhong were in decline, and Dou Wenyang's rise to power caused public resentment to boil.

The south was unspoiled and was the richest. Li Lin shouldered the expectations of the Supreme Emperor and was known as the King of the Qing Dynasty. It was not difficult to defeat Li Cong and raise an army.

The worst option is to go down the Yangtze River, occupy the east of the Yangtze River, and separate one side from another.

The wealth and future of the staff had long been tied to Li Lin. At this moment, they turned to look at the swordsmen and axemen behind them. There was no way out and they all prostrated themselves.

"Please King Yong raise his troops and flank King Qing!"

"good!"

Now that everyone was united, Li Lin responded generously and said proudly: "As a descendant of the Li family, how can I bear to see the traitors plotting against the ancestral country and the powerful eunuchs using their power to harm the people and become an army?"

He has had this ambition for more than a day or two. He has been recruiting troops secretly for a long time. What he has to do now is to give money, promise generous rewards, and bribe the generals to join him in raising troops to clear the emperor's side.

On the other hand, he sent people to Jianghuai to contact Li Zhi, Li Min and other clans to win their support.

I believe that out of fear of powerful officials and traitors like Xue Bai, disgust for traitors like Dou Wenyang, and loyalty to the Supreme Emperor, these clans will definitely support him.

~~

Almost all counties in the world are paying attention to Xue Bai's trip. Except for Li Cong who is confident that he can conquer Xue Bai, most people think that Xue Bai's trip south is probably a deception, but in fact he is ready to raise troops to rebel.

Li Zhi, the pacification envoy of Shandong Province, was also very concerned about this matter.

He had had contact with Xue Bai before. Although he didn't like Xue Bai personally, to be fair, Xue Bai was quite dedicated to state affairs, so he initially thought that Xue Bai would not raise an army.

But as the news came back one by one, he found that Xue Bai's journey was very slow. He would stay in each state and county for a few days, and even review unjust cases and deal with officials. It didn't look like he was returning to Beijing, but like he was patrolling the place.

How can such a person delegate power?

Then, he met the envoy sent by Li Lin.

The visitor's name was Wei Zichun. He had an elegant appearance, but his eyes were always flashing with excitement and enthusiasm, and his words unconsciously showed that he was ready to become a high official at any time.

Just when Li Zhi was wondering what this man was doing, Wei Zichun actually took out a secret edict from the Supreme Emperor.

The Supreme Emperor stated in the edict that he lived in seclusion in the palace and was bullied by Dou Wenyang. He wanted to live in Xingqing Palace but was ridiculed and humiliated.

It sounds incredible that the father of the majestic emperor is angry with a slave, but if you think about it carefully, how could a slave dare to act like this if he didn't get the emperor's instructions?

Thinking of this, Li Zhi felt that there might be some subtleties between the Supreme Emperor and the Saint.

Looking further down, sure enough, in the secret edict, the Supreme Emperor praised Yong Wang Li Lin highly, calling him "the most virtuous among the scholars", and ordered Li Lin to get rid of Dou Wenyang.

"hiss."
To be continued...