Chapter Fourteen: Four Forces Advance at Once (Please Support with First Subscriptions and Monthly Votes)

Watching his four brothers stand firm, Li Longji was suddenly filled with confidence. "With the help of my brothers, how could any great undertaking fail?" He led the way, followed by Li Chengqi, Li Chengyi, Li Longfan, and Li Longye, as they walked together toward the Wude Hall.

Seeing Gao Lishi trot over, Li Longji said, "The appointed time is approaching. Go to the palace gate yourself to welcome them and escort all the ministers we have summoned into the hall."

Gao Lishi set his jaw and went to carry out the order.

Inside the grand hall, Li Longji and his four brothers chatted and laughed, seemingly unaffected by the tense atmosphere.

"Jiang Jiao, Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat, has arrived!"
"Li Lingwen, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia, has arrived!"
"Wang Shouyi, Imperial Equerry of the Palace Stables, has arrived!"
"Li Shoude, Commandant of the Imperial Guards, has arrived..."

One after another, Li Longji’s trusted confidants arrived at the Wude Hall. Though their expressions betrayed a hint of nervousness and unease, they were mostly filled with anticipation. To participate in a coup and secure the throne for a new emperor—there was no greater merit in the world. Even a small share of such glory would be enough to guarantee a lifetime of wealth and comfort.

Power, money, women, and a life of luxury—these are the pursuits of a man's lifetime, and with the glory of this coup, they would all be within reach.

Seeing Li Longji and his brothers conversing cheerfully, completely unfazed by the atmosphere, acted as a reassurance to everyone present, alleviating much of their anxiety.

Gao Lishi once again led people into the Wude Hall. This time, there were two men: Guo Yuanzhen and Pei Min.

Pei Min had followed Guo Yuanzhen into the Imperial City. The inner palace was vastly different from the outer palace; only the inner sanctum could be called the true Imperial Palace. Every blade of grass, every tree, every stone, and every tile felt grand, in a way that the outer palace could not compare.

The only drawback was that, aside from the patrolling soldiers, there were few signs of life; eunuchs and maids were rarely seen, making the place feel somewhat desolate. It was Pei Min’s first time in the palace, so he did not realize that Guo Yuanzhen had led him through the front halls—an area that only bustled with activity during court audiences or major festivals—to avoid drawing attention.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, and to the Princes of Ning, Shen, Qi, and Xue!" Guo Yuanzhen saluted the five brothers of the Li family on the dais.

Pei Min followed suit and bowed.

Li Longji had once seen Pei Min on a flower boat during a banquet at Qujiang. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, the natural grace of Pei Min’s sword dance and Jiao Chen’s peerless zither skills had left a deep impression on him. Li Longji was a lover of music and dance, with an obsession that exceeded that of ordinary men; his greatest dream was to form his own troupe and invite the most talented individuals in the world to study music and dance together. At that moment, Pei Min and Jiao Chen had become the top "warriors" in his imaginary troupe. However, because Pei Min was a guest at the Qujiang banquet, Li Longji hadn't wanted to ruin the mood by forcing him onto his boat, nor did he wish to associate with the followers of Princess Taiping. He had hoped to meet him again, but he hadn't forced the issue. Little did he expect that Princess Taiping would move so quickly and generously to recruit Pei Min. Confronted by the Princess’s aggressive momentum, Li Longji had naturally pushed aside a minor figure like Pei Min. Yet, exactly one month later, Pei Min had appeared before him again, playing the most crucial role in his plan. The unpredictability and speed of worldly changes truly amazed him.

At this moment, dressed in formal attire, Pei Min’s heroic and spirited appearance gave him a distinct air of refinement, a demeanor that commanded respect.

Li Longji stepped down from the dais to help Guo Yuanzhen up, then said to Pei Min, "Since we parted at Qujiang, Master Pei’s brilliance has only grown. Whether today’s undertaking succeeds depends entirely on whether the sword in your hand can secure the Northern Army."

Pei Min was slightly taken aback, not remembering having met Li Longji before, but without time to dwell on it, he replied, "I am ready to serve Your Majesty."

"Gentlemen..." Li Longji walked back onto the platform. "My aunt, relying on the influence of the Retired Emperor, has usurped power and acted arbitrarily. Of the seven chancellors, five are her protégés. Most civil and military officials have attached themselves to her. Her power is overwhelming, and she oppresses me at every turn; this is plain for all to see. I cherish our blood ties and have chosen not to argue, nor do I wish to cause the Retired Emperor distress, as that would be unfilial. But my aunt is not satisfied; she aspires to emulate Empress Wu, to rule as a woman, and even intends to launch a coup to murder us. I have received secret intelligence that Princess Taiping plans to mobilize troops tomorrow to force the palace, kill me, and imprison my brother... Alas, we are of the same blood, why must we suffer such mutual destruction?" As he spoke, his expression turned tragic, and he ordered the secret report to be presented to the group.

Pei Min took the report. It explicitly stated that Princess Taiping intended to launch a rebellion, ordering Chang Yuankai and Li Ci to lead the Imperial Guards to storm the Wude Hall, while sending Dou Huaizhen, Xiao Zhizhong, and Cen Xi to raise troops in the Southern Offices to coordinate from afar, forcibly seizing power and the throne.

Reading the report, Jiang Jiao, Li Lingwen, Wang Shouyi, and others were filled with righteous indignation. Thinking of the grievances Li Longji had suffered and the arrogance of Princess Taiping, some were even moved to tears. Cui Riyong choked up as he said, "Your Majesty’s filial piety is profound; I am in awe. But the filial piety of an Emperor is different from that of the common people. For the people, it is about honoring one's elders. For an Emperor, it is about the peace of the realm and the harmony of the world. If treacherous factions succeed, the altars of the state will be reduced to ruins; would Your Majesty’s filial piety then not be empty words? I implore Your Majesty, do not hesitate; do not sacrifice the greater filial piety of an Emperor for the sake of a momentary minor one."

Cui Riyong’s words were powerful and resonated deeply with the crowd.

Pei Min listened in admiration; this was the art of deceiving others by first deceiving oneself. He was certain the report was complete fabrication. While it was true that Princess Taiping had ambitions, she was an expert in coups, having experienced both the Shenlong and Tanglong incidents. In the Shenlong coup, she had remained behind the scenes, watching as the Five Princes forced Empress Wu from the throne, only to see them liquidated one by one, leaving her the sole beneficiary. In the Tanglong coup, Li Longji had been the one on the front lines, fighting for his life to place his father on the throne. Princess Taiping had only needed to speak a few words to claim the greatest credit.

Given the current situation, which favored Princess Taiping in every respect, would she truly be foolish enough to launch a reckless coup?

Pei Min kept a look of righteous indignation on his face, observing Li Longji’s confidants, though he couldn't tell who among them was truly naive and who was just playing along.

Compared to the chancellors and great generals under Princess Taiping, Li Longji’s inner circle seemed rather meager: the Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat was in charge of the Emperor’s meals, medicine, robes, and rituals; the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Regalia oversaw carriages and stables... they were mostly managers of food, clothing, or stables. Only the Commandant Li Shoude possessed any real military authority. The Dragon Martial General Wang Maozhong was nowhere to be seen. If not for the fact that he already knew the outcome of the Xiantian Coup, Pei Min would have started to wonder if Guo Yuanzhen had tricked him onto a sinking ship.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Pei Min’s heart sank: this Xiantian Coup was happening more than three months earlier than in history. The process would surely be different, and the outcome was not guaranteed. Even if history showed that Li Longji had bet correctly, that was the past; this time might be different. If something went wrong, would he not lose his life?

With this in mind, Pei Min steadied his resolve. He dared not be careless and prepared to treat the coup with the utmost seriousness.

Undeniably, Li Longji’s slander was effective; it had at least succeeded in stirring up the atmosphere.

Li Longji seemed to have made up his mind as well. He declared in a loud voice, "Though my aunt is my closest kin, her crimes are unforgivable. As the master of the realm, I must put the world first. I cannot sit and wait for death, allowing the order of our Great Tang to be destroyed. In this moment of life and death, you are all I can trust. Today, we shall strike first. By acting with intent against those who are unprepared, we shall achieve total victory!"

"Total victory!" The men suppressed their shouts, growling low with high morale.

"Big Brother, you and Duke Wei are responsible for meeting the Retired Emperor. No matter what happens, you must stabilize him; do not let him interfere."

"Understood!" Guo Yuanzhen replied without hesitation.

Li Chengqi nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Third Brother. Even if I have to threaten him with my life, I will not let the Retired Emperor ruin things." Pei Min’s killing blow was crucial, but Li Chengqi holding the Retired Emperor Li Dan steady was equally vital. Li Dan had not relinquished power; he was the true ruler. If he intervened, the situation would become unpredictable and uncontrollable. Especially amid the chaotic fighting, if anything happened to Li Dan, the charge of patricide would be a burden Li Longji could never escape.

"Second Brother, you and Commandant Li, go to the Inner Guest Office to arrest the Right Cavalier Attendant Jia Yingfu and the Secretariat Drafter Li You. If any other high-ranking members of Princess Taiping’s faction are present, deal with them as well. Use the Retired Emperor’s sacred edict to apprehend and execute them!" Jia Yingfu and Li You were officials of the Secretariat, responsible for drafting decrees and reading memorials. Eliminating them first would prevent them from using the name of the Secretariat to issue false decrees in Li Dan's name during the chaos.

"Fourth and Fifth Brothers! Your task is the most important. Take Wang Maozhong and Pei Min to the Imperial Guards, issue the order, and execute Chang Yuankai and Li Ci..."

Li Longfan, Li Longye, and Pei Min accepted the order together.

Li Longji said in a deep voice, "After you leave, I will summon Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, and Dou Huaizhen to the main hall to eliminate the ringleaders... We shall split into four groups and strike simultaneously. At the third quarter of the Si hour (around 10:45 AM), we act at the same time, leaving the Taiping faction no chance to prepare!"

Li Chengqi, Li Chengyi, Guo Yuanzhen, and Li Shoude departed together.

Li Longji stepped down from the dais. "Counting the time, Dragon Martial General Wang Maozhong should be arriving soon. He is leading three hundred soldiers; such a large force is too conspicuous, so he did not meet with us beforehand! I have gathered the resources of us five brothers and prepared five precious swords for you. You may choose whichever you like!" As soon as he finished speaking, he led Pei Min to the side.

Five swords rested quietly on the table. Each was of a different length, but the scabbards were all exceptionally ornate, inlaid with colorful gems and stones. They were quite eye-catching, though their inner quality remained to be seen.

Pei Min did not draw the blades. Instead, he picked up each sword, scabbard and all, and examined them one by one.