Chapter 271: The Alliance Between Li and the King

Li Qing’an and Yang Guozhong had left, but Li Linfu remained. Li Longji secretly ordered him to stay, and the meeting was moved to the nearby imperial study, a warm and bright room with only the two of them inside.
“Prime Minister, I’ve asked you to stay so that we can discuss the rewards for the Anxi Army and Li Qing’an. They’ve been in the capital for several days now, and we can’t delay any longer.”
Li Linfu’s mind stirred. Last time they discussed rewards for Gao Xianzhi, Yang Guozhong had been present, but this time he wasn’t allowed to stay. Clearly, Li Longji didn’t want Yang Guozhong involved in this matter—perhaps for other reasons as well.
“Does Your Majesty have any plans?”
Li Longji smiled slightly. “I only have some ideas. The specific plans will need to be drafted by the Secretariat.”
“I am willing to share the burden with Your Majesty!”
After a moment of contemplation, Li Longji said, “Li Qing’an has managed to defeat the Arabs this time and strengthen control over the Hezhong region. I believe his contributions are significant. Moreover, he proposed changing the governance system in Lingxi from a dependent system to direct military administration, and moving the Anxi Protectorate to Suiye. I agree with all these ideas. But the problem is, if that happens, Li Qing’an’s power will become too great. Additionally, the distance is far, making it difficult for the court to exert control, which is dangerous. Therefore, I’m considering separating military and administrative functions in Anxi, or having a direct governor in charge. What do you think, Prime Minister?”
Li Linfu’s heart skipped a beat. Li Longji indeed intended to restrict Li Qing’an’s power. Separating military and administrative functions would likely deal a heavy blow to Li Qing’an. Since Li Qing’an was currently in high favor, Li Longji probably wouldn’t dare adopt that approach. Instead, having a direct governor in charge seemed a gentler solution. And since Li Longji was discussing this with him, it was likely his intention as well. The key question was—who should be appointed to take charge?
After thinking for a while, Li Linfu said, “It has always been the custom to combine military and administrative functions under a governor. Moreover, Lingxi has just been pacified. Sending someone specifically to handle administrative affairs right away seems inappropriate. Using the military to manage affairs might make it easier for the barbarians to accept. I lean toward the latter option—having a direct governor in charge of Anxi.”
Li Longji smiled. “That’s exactly what I think. Moreover, I intend to send a prince to Anxi. Of course, it’s not that I want to weaken Li Qing’an’s power. It’s just that having a prince in charge would give me more peace of mind. What do you think, Prime Minister?”

Li Linfu understood Li Longji’s intention—essentially, sending a supervisor rather than necessarily seizing power. He immediately said, “Your Majesty, since it’s not about reducing his authority, I suggest not appointing him as the Grand Protector of Anxi at all. This can avoid future conflicts. Alternatively, we could appoint him as an envoy to pacify the regions under the jurisdiction of Longyou Circuit, allowing him to reside in Anxi or Beiting. This would make things more ambiguous and prevent Li Qing’an from becoming suspicious. What do you think, Your Majesty?”

The scope of Longyou Circuit in the Tang Dynasty was extremely wide, stretching from west of Longyou, including Longyou, Shuofang, Hexi, Anxi, all the way to the farthest western regions of the Tang Empire. By proposing this plan, Li Linfu clearly aimed to further weaken Li Longji’s desire to reduce his power. Initially, he opposed Li Longji’s plan to send another prince to Anxi, believing it unnecessary, but he also knew of Li Longji’s stubbornness—once a decision was made, it wouldn’t be easily changed. All he could do was guide and weaken it.

After some thought, Li Longji agreed that this was a good idea. There were already eunuchs overseeing the military in Anxi, so adding another layer of supervision over Li Qing’an would ensure both military and political affairs were monitored. He doubted Li Qing’an would dare to act recklessly. With that in mind, he smiled and said, “Since Your Majesty and I have reached an agreement on supervision, I would now like to discuss how to strengthen Anxi’s strength.”

Only then did Li Linfu realize that Li Longji wanted to strengthen Anxi but was still worried about Li Qing’an, which was why he decided to send a prince to oversee it. Truly, misfortune can turn into fortune. He quickly said, “Please instruct me, Your Majesty!”

Li Longji took out Li Qing’an’s thick report and said, “What impressed me most in Li Qing’an’s report was his suggestion to relocate displaced farmers to Anxi to cultivate the land, thereby effectively controlling Anxi and partially resolving the conflicts caused by land consolidation. I’ve thought about this repeatedly over the past few days, and it’s indeed a good strategy. I decide to implement it. Within three years, I will gradually relocate 400,000 displaced farmers to Anxi. This year, 100,000 farmers from Guanzhong, Henan, and Hedong will be sent first, as these regions have the most severe land conflicts, to prevent them from rebelling. At the same time, the Anxi Protectorate will be given the authority to resettle immigrants. This means I must send a prince to oversee Anxi. Additionally, I plan to build a direct road from Chang’an to Anxi to shorten the travel time and strengthen the imperial control over Anxi.”

“What a bold plan!” Li Linfu thought to himself in admiration. Who said Li Longji was incompetent? He was more decisive than anyone. Relocating 400,000 people and building a direct road to fully control Anxi—even Emperor Taizong hadn’t had such ambition.

“Your Majesty, then how should we reward the troops in Anxi and Li Qing’an?”

Li Longji nodded and continued, “It’s easy to reward the Anxi troops. I’ve granted them the right to mint coins and allowed the circulation of gold, silver, and copper. I can assign them an additional quota—around 600,000 guan. Fallen soldiers can be compensated with land on the spot. As for rewarding Li Qing’an, I’m a bit undecided.”
“Your Majesty, please share your thoughts, and I’ll help you consider it.”
“Hmm!” Li Longji sighed. “I plan to grant him the same rank as An Lushan—appoint him as General of the Cavalry and Deputy Minister of the Military, with a fief of 500 households. All these are straightforward. The key is the rank. Li Qing’an is already a Duke of Tingguo; the next step up is Prince of a Commandery. If I really make him a Prince of a Commandery, his experience might still be considered insufficient. Although An Lushan is a Prince of Dongping, his experience is well-established, and everyone respects him. If I make Li Qing’an a Prince of a Commandery, I’m worried others won’t accept it!”
Li Linfu thought for a moment before smiling and saying, “Your Majesty, I have a compromise solution.”
“Oh! Prime Minister, please speak.”
“Your Majesty might consider granting titles collectively rather than just to Li Qing’an. I’ve always thought that granting the title of Prince of a Commandery only to An Lushan seems unfair and does a disservice to Geshu Han. Since you brought this up today, I suggest granting Geshu Han and Gao Xianzhi the title as well. After all, they’ve also made great contributions to the state. Your Majesty could make Geshu Han a Prince of Xiping, Gao Xianzhi a Prince of Annan, and Li Qing’an a Prince of Anxi. This way, we can avoid the concern of favoring Li Qing’an alone.”
Li Longji walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. Granting An Lushan the title of Prince of Dongping had set a precedent for non-royal princes, already causing some dissatisfaction among the imperial family. Now, granting three more such titles was no small matter!
“Prime Minister, this is a serious matter. Let me think it over further.”
“I’m just offering suggestions. The final decision still rests with Your Majesty. Additionally, I have another request and hope for your approval.”
“Speak, what is it?”
Li Linfu hesitated for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty, my health is deteriorating rapidly, which is seriously affecting the issuance of orders by the Secretariat. I recommend Wang Gong as Deputy Minister of the Secretariat to oversee its daily affairs. I hope for your approval.”
“Wang Gong?” Li Longji understood Li Linfu’s intention—to promote Wang Gong to prime minister. He already had his own plans for this. He smiled and said, “Censor Wang is indeed someone I trust. But I have other plans for him. I’ll inform you of my decision in a few days. Please rest assured, Prime Minister, I’ll take care of it.”
Seeing that Li Longji wouldn’t give a clear answer, Li Linfu didn’t dare ask further. He stood up and said, “Then, this old minister will take his leave.”
“Very well! I’m tired too. Let’s all go to bed early.”
……
“By the Emperor’s order, let’s return to the palace!”
……

Although the conversation between Li Linfu and Li Longji took place secretly, it still spread rapidly through various channels and caught the attention of those in high-ranking circles. Several pieces of information emerged from this talk: first, a prince would be sent to the Western Regions to take command, though it was unclear who this prince would be; second, there would be an increase in the appointment of princes of non-imperial families. Although this was just Li Linfu’s suggestion, Li Longji did not explicitly oppose it, which caused unease among some involved parties.

The most significant piece of information was revealed through Wang Gong’s appointment—it indicated that Li Longji was likely to reorganize the cabinet, meaning another reshuffle of power structures was about to begin.

That evening, a small banquet was held at Li Linfu’s residence. Wang Gong brought his wife, Luo Xishi, the chief censor, along with his wife and daughters; Li Fudao, Li Linfu’s cousin and the governor of Yangzhou, brought his daughter, as well as his eldest son Li Xiu, second son Li E, third son Li Yu, and his eldest son-in-law Zhang Boji, who was now the head of the Honglu Temple. Dozens of people gathered together. Li Qingan had not yet gotten married, so he did not bring Du Gu Mingyue instead bringing Jiang Wuyi—after all, she was Li Linfu’s niece and considered part of his inner circle, one of his most core members.

By holding this family banquet at this time, Li Linfu was clearly trying to welcome Li Qingan and celebrate their victory that day. But only Li Linfu, Wang Gong, and Li Qingan knew that there was an even deeper meaning to this evening’s event.

The banquet was held in a small hall within Li Linfu’s private residence. The hall was warm and bustling. Li Linfu sat in the center of the seating area, reclined on soft cushions, with two concubines serving him on either side. On either side of him were the seats for Li Qingan and Wang Gong, but they were not there; only their wives sat in their places.

People are in high spirits on happy occasions, and Li Linfu was especially energetic that day, free from his usual illnessly appearance. He nodded at Wuyi and smiled, saying, “Wuyi, you look even more beautiful than before, and your complexion is even better. Who said the Western Regions aren’t a good place?”

Wuyi was dressed exceptionally beautifully that day. She usually wore white long dresses, but today she wore a bright red, wide-sleeved dress for the first time, with a light green shawl over her shoulders. She wore a half-sleeved embroidered waistcoat, revealing her snow-white chest. A necklace of sparkling gems hung around her neck. Her hair was styled in a high bun, her black hair like clouds, with a green feather hairpin inserted diagonally. Her face remained unadorned with makeup, exuding natural beauty. Her outfit made her look extremely gorgeous, standing out sharply in the hall. All the women present paled in comparison, and Li Linfu’s three sons were completely captivated.

Wuyi was in an especially cheerful mood these days. She was finally free—the shackles that had weighed on her for nearly a decade had finally been broken. A document canceling her engagement gave her life a new beginning. Today, she wore a veil symbolizing marriage, signifying that she was now Li Qing’an’s wife.

Recalling how she had lived under her uncle’s roof, feeling helpless and pitiful when she fled his house, and now seeing herself return in glory, she was deeply moved by the fickleness of the world.

Hearing Li Linfu’s praise, her cheeks turned red as she quickly said with a smile, “Uncle, you might not know yet, but I’ve already broken off my engagement with the Cui family.”

“Oh! When did that happen?” Li Linfu asked in surprise.

“The day before yesterday. It was Mingyue who negotiated repeatedly with the Cui family, and only then did they agree.”

“Wuyi, congratulations.”

Li Linfu raised his teacup and said, “Let’s drink to this with tea instead of wine.”

“Uncle, it should be me who toasts you!” Wuyi picked up her wine cup and took a small sip. A blush spread across her cheeks.

Li Linfu laughed heartily. “I remember you never drink alcohol. Well! Since everyone is happy today, I’ll have a drink too.”

With that, he reached for the wine jar to pour wine, but his sons and daughters quickly tried to stop him, saying, “Father, your health doesn’t allow it.” His daughters even glared at Wuyi disapprovingly—didn’t she know how serious her father’s illness was?

Feeling somewhat guilty, Wuyi put down her cup and searched around for Li Qing’an. At that moment, Lady Wang Gong sat down beside her, whispered something in her ear, and then pointed smilingly toward a small room.

…

Inside the room, Wang Gong knelt before Li Qing’an and clasped his hands, saying, “General, I will forever remember your kindness in saving my life. Please accept my bow!”

“Censor Wang, you shouldn’t do this!”

Li Qing’an quickly helped him up, saying, “What merits do I have, Li Qing’an, to deserve your bow?”

“If it weren’t for you saving Xing Si last night, and if it weren’t for you exposing Yang Guozhong’s schemes in the Datong Hall today, I, Wang Gong, would be in the prison of the Dali Temple right now. How could I stand here and speak with you?”

What Wang Gong said was true. In history, Wang Gong was framed in the ‘Xing Si case’ orchestrated by Yang Guozhong and was eventually executed by Emperor Li Longji. His brothers were also beaten to death. It was after this incident that Yang Guozhong began to dominate the court, while Li Linfu’s power declined completely.

But because of the emergence of Li Qing’an, a man who changed history, the Xing Si case took an unexpected turn, and Wang Gong was able to survive. However, Wang Gong’s survival was very different from Yang Shenjin’s; Yang Shenjin lacked Wang Gong’s abilities and tactics, and in the brutal power struggles, Wang Gong had the upper hand.

Wang Gong’s family was also a prominent clan from Guanlong. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, they suffered a severe setback. To weaken the power of the Wang family, Emperor Gaozong, with Wu Zetian’s help, deposed Queen Wang, causing the family to never recover. Yet, as a noble family with many talented members, during the Tianbao era, Wang Gong rose to prominence thanks to Li Linfu and has now seemingly become Li Linfu’s successor, becoming Yang Guozhong’s greatest political rival in the court.

Wang Gong was also well aware of the true purpose of Li Linfu’s banquet today. Everyone else was just a supporting role; the real protagonists were him and Li Qing’an. Li Linfu wanted them to form an alliance to jointly confront Yang Guozhong, which was exactly what Wang Gong hoped for. And today, Li Qing’an openly fought against Yang Guozhong for his sake—a clear signal that the Li-Wang alliance was now inevitable. With such obvious complementarity—one a regional lord and the other a high-ranking court official—they would make a perfect political duo for mutual benefit.

Li Qing’an and Wang Gong exchanged a glance. They didn’t need to say anything further; they understood each other perfectly and burst into laughter together.

“Gentlemen, I suppose I don’t need to say anything more!”

Li Linfu appeared at the door with a smile. He stepped forward and waved his hand, saying, “Sit down first! I have a few things to say.”

The three sat down. After a moment of thought, Li Linfu first spoke to Wang Gong, “Stop investigating the assassination attempt on Prince Di. I can see that the emperor has already understood. Let’s drop this matter. Ren Haichuan shall be executed secretly tonight.”

Wang Gong quickly bowed and said, “I understand. I’ll handle this tonight.”

Li Linfu nodded and then said to the two of them, “The biggest problem in the court right now is the vacancy in the Eastern Palace. It’s been almost two years, and the crown prince still hasn’t been determined. This is a serious issue. The emperor’s health is also deteriorating, and he can no longer ignore the problem of the crown prince. From the information I’ve received from the palace, it’s very likely that the emperor’s eldest grandson will take over the Eastern Palace. This news will surely cause a huge stir in the court. You two just need to be aware of it and must not spread it outside.”

Li Qing’an and Wang Gong both agreed. Li Qing’an had already learned this from Gao Lishi. To find the same news from Li Linfu as well showed that the possibility of Li Chu taking over the Eastern Palace was indeed very high.

Li Linfu glanced at Li Qingan and smiled, “Gao Lishi must have said the same thing, right?”
Li Qingan nodded silently and sighed slightly, “Even Grandpa Gao is thinking of stepping down.”
Li Linfu also sighed, “We’re all getting old; it’s time for us to retire. It will be up to you to carry on the Tang Dynasty in the future.”
He then smiled at Wang Gong and said, “Today, I suggested to the Emperor that you take on the position of Deputy Minister of the Secretariat to oversee its affairs, but the Emperor said he has other plans for you. I congratulate you in advance.”
Wang Gong was overjoyed. He understood what Li Linfu meant—that he would soon become a prime minister, something he had dreamed of for years. He bowed deeply to Li Linfu and said, “Thank you, Prime Minister Li, for your support over the years!”
Li Linfu accepted Wang Gong’s gratitude with a smile. He needed Wang Gong to show him sincerity. Then he turned to Li Qingan and said, “General Li, your news is mixed. Would you like to hear the good news first or the bad?”
Li Qingan bowed slightly and smiled, “Prime Minister Li, please speak of the bad news first! I prefer to worry about the world’s troubles before enjoying its pleasures. Please go ahead.”
Li Linfu clapped his hands and laughed. “Well said! I like that phrase and your attitude. Then I’ll be direct—the Emperor plans to send a prince to govern Anxi.”
As he spoke, he stared into Li Qingan’s eyes, trying to detect any sign of disappointment, but saw only a calm, steady gaze. He couldn’t detect any frustration or disappointment in Li Qingan’s eyes, as if the prince’s assignment to Anxi had nothing to do with him. Li Linfu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this Li Qingan was becoming even more cunning.
“Why, aren’t you worried?”
Li Qingan smiled faintly. “What does it matter if I am worried or not? Prime Minister, if the prince is sent there, will he supervise the military or handle governance?”
Li Linfu shook his head. “Neither. He’ll just keep an eye on you.”
“In that case, what is there for me to worry about?”
Li Linfu chuckled. “Alright! Let me tell you the good news. The Emperor decided to send a prince to Anxi because he accepted your suggestion to expand its influence. Within three years, 400,000 households will be relocated to Anxi, and you’ll be in charge of handling their settlement.”
This time, Li Linfu finally saw a hint of joy in Li Qingan’s eyes. He couldn’t help but smile slightly and thought to himself, ‘I thought you really didn’t care? It seems this is exactly what you wanted. Li Qingan, do you think I don’t understand your thoughts?’
At that moment, Li Qingan pondered for a moment before asking, “Has the Emperor mentioned anything about the military forces in Anxi?”

“No! He didn’t even say which prince would be sent to Anxi, nor did he clarify your reward. But one thing I can tell you for sure is that the emperor won’t dissolve your army now, at least not this year.”
At that, Li Linfu sat up straight and smiled, saying, “If you want to know why, I suggest you visit Ge Shu Han in the next few days.”