After going through countless hardships and obstacles, Li Muyang finally firmly ascended to the throne of the emperor, which symbolized the supreme power.
However, this seemingly glorious coronation was actually the beginning of his heavy responsibility. Although he has become the ruler of the Tang Dynasty, the road ahead is full of thorns and the burden on his shoulders is as heavy as Mount Tai. The rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the entire Tang Dynasty now hinge on him alone.
The hustle and bustle of the enthronement ceremony had not yet completely subsided when Li Muyang fell into deep anxiety.
When the new emperor was just established, his foundation was still unstable. Undercurrents were surging in the imperial court, and all forces were secretly watching, attempting to seek their own interests during this crucial period of power transition. He understood that if the rule could not be consolidated quickly, the Tang Dynasty could fall into turmoil at any time.
The first person that Li Muyang thought of was his mentor, Teacher Su. Teacher Su is erudite and has a profound insight and unique perspective on the situation in the imperial court. During Li Muyang's growth process, Teacher Su has always given him meticulous guidance and selfless support, and is the person he trusts and respects the most.
So, the day after Li Muyang ascended the throne, he secretly summoned Teacher Su.
In the imperial study, Li Muyang stepped back on both sides and, with a solemn expression, confided his concerns to Teacher Su: "Teacher Su, although I have ascended the throne now, the situation in the court is complex, and various forces are stirring. Especially my two elder brothers, they seem to have promised to reform themselves on the surface, but I am always worried that they will cause trouble behind the scenes. What should I do?" Teacher Su gently stroked his beard, thought for a moment, and then said, "Your Majesty, when a new emperor ascends the throne, it is common for his foundation to be unstable." The top priority now is to quickly form your own core team, win over the ministers in the court who support you, and at the same time weaken the power of those with ulterior motives. As for your two elder brothers, you must be on guard. You need to send your confidants to secretly monitor their every move.
Li Muyang nodded slightly, his eyes revealing determination: "What the teacher said is absolutely right. I will surely act according to your advice." It's just that the formation of a team and the recruitment of ministers still require more guidance from the teacher.
Teacher Su then said, "Your Majesty, you can start with those ministers who support you in the assessment. They are more likely to identify with your governance philosophy and become your capable assistants." In addition, some young officials with genuine talent and learning can also be selected to enrich the imperial court and serve you.
The two had an in-depth discussion on specific strategies and candidates. Before they knew it, several hours had passed. From the conversation with Teacher Su, Li Muyang gained a lot of inspiration and confidence, and gradually came up with countermeasures in his mind.
However, Li Muyang's two elder brothers, Li Xuan and Li Rui, indeed, as he had feared, had not truly given up the idea of vying for the throne.
On the surface, they were respectful and respectful to Li Muyang, but behind the scenes, they were making meticulous plans.
Li Xuan was not willing to accept it. He was always in a rage in his mansion: "Why should that kid be the emperor?" I can't swallow this! We must find a way to regain the throne!
Li Rui was relatively calm. He said in a low voice, "Big brother, don't act impulsively." Now that Li Muyang has just ascended the throne, he must be on guard against us. We need to plan for the long term. First, we should secretly accumulate strength and wait for the right moment.
So, they began to secretly contact those ministers who were dissatisfied with Li Muyang and some martial arts forces, attempting to form a powerful force to overthrow Li Muyang's rule.
They also spread rumors among the people that Li Muyang was too young and ignorant to be competent for the position of emperor and that the Tang Dynasty was about to fall into crisis, in an attempt to shake the people's trust in the new emperor.
After learning this news, Li Muyang was extremely angry in his heart, but he suppressed his rage and remained calm.
On the one hand, he strengthened the security of the imperial palace and the capital city, dispatched more patrol soldiers, and strictly checked the people entering and leaving. On the other hand, he began to implement the plan discussed with Teacher Su, actively courting the ministers in the imperial court and forming his own core team.
In the process of winning over the ministers, Li Muyang encountered quite a lot of resistance. Some ministers, fearing to offend Li Xuan and Li Rui, were reluctant to express their support for him easily. Some ministers are adopting a wait-and-see attitude and want to see how the situation develops before making a decision.
Li Muyang did not lose heart. He personally visited these ministers, expounded his governance philosophy and plans for the future of the Tang Dynasty to them, and demonstrated his determination and ability. After much effort, a group of ministers were finally moved by his sincerity and talent and were willing to stand by his side.
Meanwhile, Li Muyang also vigorously selected young officials with genuine talent and learning. He ordered the imperial examination system to be held to recruit talents from all over the world. During the selection process, he was not bound by conventions. As long as one was capable and ambitious, regardless of their social status, they all had the opportunity to enter the imperial court and serve as officials. This measure was supported by many students from poor families and injected fresh blood into the imperial court.
As time went by, Li Muyang's power gradually grew, and there were more and more voices supporting him in the court. However, he did not let his guard down because of this. He knew that Li Xuan and Li Rui would never give up easily. The real crisis might be yet to come.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Li Muyang received a secret report that Li Xuan and Li Rui had colluded with a gang of martial arts forces and were preparing to launch a coup in the near future to overthrow his rule. Upon learning the news, Li Muyang immediately summoned his trusted ministers and generals to discuss countermeasures.
In the court, Li Muyang said solemnly, "My ministers, now Li Xuan and Li Rui are plotting a rebellion, attempting to overthrow the Tang Dynasty." We must not stand idly by. We must take action to nip their conspiracy in the bud.
A minister rose and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to suppress the rebellion and bring Li Xuan and Li Rui to justice."
Li Muyang nodded slightly. "This matter cannot be taken lightly. We must ensure that all the rebels are caught in one net while minimizing casualties and losses as much as possible." Does anyone have any good ideas?
After a fierce discussion, everyone finally worked out a detailed plan to suppress the rebellion. Li Muyang personally commanded and arranged capable generals to lead elite troops to launch a sudden attack on Li Xuan and Li Rui's forces on the eve of their coup.
In this thrilling battle, Li Muyang's army, with their outstanding tactics and indomitable fighting spirit, quickly defeated the rebel forces of Li Xuan and Li Rui. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Li Xuan and Li Rui attempted to escape, but were eventually captured by Li Muyang's soldiers.
Li Muyang looked at his two elder brothers who were escorted before him, and his heart was filled with a mixture of emotions. He let out a long sigh and said, "Two elder brothers, I didn't mean to go to war with you. I only hoped that we could join hands and strive for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty." But why are you so stubborn and insist on taking this irreversible path?
Li Xuan and Li Rui kept their heads down and said nothing. Their hearts were filled with remorse, but everything was beyond redemption.
Li Muyang finally decided, out of brotherly love, to spare their lives but imprison them for life to eliminate future troubles.
After this turmoil, Li Muyang successfully consolidated his rule, and the Tang Dynasty temporarily returned to peace. However, he knew that the road ahead was still full of challenges. He had to remain vigilant at all times and keep striving in order to lead the Tang Dynasty towards an even more glorious tomorrow.