Ten days later, Li Shimin received news that Yuan Tiangang had passed away. He summoned the person who had been secretly monitoring Yuan and asked with a solemn voice, "Did you look carefully? Is Yuan Tiangang truly dead?"
"Your Majesty, your humble servant saw it clearly. Yuan Tiangang is dead, and his body has been buried on Dragon Tiger Mountain," the person, hidden within the shadows, replied respectfully.
Li Shimin pondered for a long while before saying, "Then let it be. Since he died forecasting Heaven's Secret for our Great Tang, we should still honor his wishes. Do not investigate further in the future."
"Did you find any information on the person surnad Wu that I asked you to investigate?"
The person from the shadows extended a hand, unexpectedly fair, and respectfully handed over a white paper filled with densely written nas, all sharing the surna Wu.
However, when Li Shimin reviewed the detailed information about all these people, he discovered that none of them had the ans to rebel. It was impossible for them to replace the dynasty of Great Tang within thirty years after his death.
"Could Yuan Tiangang's prophecy have been mistaken?" Li Shimin murmured to himself. After speaking, he took out the Tui Bei Tu left by Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang and pondered over it closely.
Within a few days, a grand banquet was held in the Imperial Palace of the Great Tang, where nurous military generals who had made significant contributions to this powerful dynasty gathered together. They were the sharpest swords of the dynasty, the fundantal reason why Li Shimin could beco the Celestial Khan.
Regarding these military generals, Li Shimin felt both apprehension and affection, but fortunately, his strength and prestige were enough to suppress these proud and unruly warriors.
During the banquet, where the lights were bright and cups were interchanged freely, being a group of straightforward n, their greatest pleasure was competing in drinking. However, since it was an imperial feast, they could not be too unrestrained, so soone suggested playing a drinking ga.
Since it was a drinking ga, there of course needed to be a penalty. Thus, one of the generals spoke out, "Whoever loses the drinking ga must not only drink a penalty but also reveal their childhood nickna. Do you dare?"
In that era, because the child mortality rate was high, to ensure that children could grow up safely, elders often gave their children humble nas. It was rumored that such nas would not attract the attention of the King of Underworld, thus avoiding the Soul-Reaping ssenger. As such, childhood nicknas were usually Dog Leftover, Dog Egg, and similar, which could be quite embarrassing for n who had since beco successful and powerful generals.
Therefore, these words imdiately sparked enthusiastic responses, as all were proud individuals. On the battlefield they had to determine who was superior, and in a drinking setting, they were unwilling to show weakness and admit defeat.
Among the military generals was a person nad Li Junxian, the title of Marquis of Wulian County and the position of General of the Left Martial Guard, stationed at Xuanwu Gate.
This man was handso and graceful, with eyes like sharp swords that showed his spirited energy. He was the rising star in the military, a bright and promising general of the Great Tang. When it was his turn to reveal his childhood nickna, he rely smiled as if a breeze was brushing his face, unlike the loud voices typical of generals. His voice was very llow, making people feel good upon hearing it, "Actually, to not hide from everyone, my childhood nickna was 'Wu Niang.'
Imdiately, one of the generals burst out laughing, "Wu Niang sounds like a woman's na, I do not know what your parents were thinking to give you such a childhood nickna."
"This na was given by my parents; as their child, it would be wrong to hold any disdain," Li Junxian responded with a smile, not at all upset by the comnt, which made everyone around him instantly feel his magnanimity, and they toasted to him one after another.
Li Junxian appeared very at ease among them. He seed to naturally adapt to this environnt, flourishing as naturally as a fish swims in water.
anwhile, sitting at the head table, Li Shimin's expression subtly changed. He quietly observed Li Junxian, took out the cherished Tui Bei Tu, and saw a painting of a distinguished woman wearing a Golden Crown, holding a Golden Hamr, and striking a Golden Drum. Next to it was a short poem: "A woman surnad Wu, holding a golden talisman, sits in the central plains. Dressed in a multicolored garnt bathed in rosy light, she wields a Golden Hamr to beat the Golden Drum."
Every ti he saw this picture, he always felt as if it was depicting the future fate of the Great Tang. Could the person surnad Wu ntioned by Yuan Tiangang correspond to this picture? But a woman ruling as Emperor was sothing he fundantally did not believe in. Throughout history, there had never been such a case; a woman ascending the throne would face trendous opposition and challenges. Even thinking about it, he felt the possibility was minimal.
It was only today, upon hearing what Li Junxian had said, that this robust man unexpectedly had a childhood nickna like that of a woman's, which suddenly made his heart skip a beat.
He gently called over Li Junxian with a smile and said, "Li Qing, that's quite an interesting na. What is your current official position?"
Seeing that Li Shimin was inquiring, Li Junxian was overjoyed. Having one's na rembered by the Emperor undoubtedly ant that one was on the verge of soaring to great heights. He promptly knelt down and said, "Your humble servant has been granted the title of Marquis of Wulian County for my military rits, and thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I currently serve as the General of the Left Martial Guard, with a mandate to guard Xuanwu Gate."
Li Shimin was stunned upon hearing this. Xuanwu Gate, such a familiar na, it was right here that he had engaged in deadly conflict with his own brothers. The blood had soaked the blue bricks of Xuanwu Gate that day. Even now, he could faintly sense the sll of blood. It was the most unforgettable day of his life, as well as the most perilous day.
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