In the spring of the third year of Zhenguan.
The world had just settled down, and the bloody storm brought about by the change of dynasties had just been suppressed.
The prosperous era of the Great Tang was beginning to take shape!
However, there were many hidden undercurrents under this prosperous era.
Who knew?
Chang 'an City, Cultivation Square.
This was the one closest to the northwest among the 108 markets in Chang 'an.
Although it was close to Taiji Palace, it was still close to the city wall.
Chongren Square, Pingkang Square, Taiping Square... These prosperous places in Chang 'an City were quite far away.
Usually, it was extremely deserted.
Zhang Yan, the former General of Zuo Hou Wei, served in the Ministry of Central Affairs, led the Ministry of Revenue, and was handed down to the public. He has always liked peace and quiet.
For some reason, he liked the name of the cultivation workshop.
Therefore, when the new emperor Li Er successfully initiated the Black Tortoise Sect's coup and rewarded them according to their achievements, he was shocked.
As the number one contributor, the Defender Duke Zhang Yan took the initiative to speak.
He asked for the cultivation workshop to build a mansion as a reward.
It was also for this reason that this huge cultivation workshop!
There was only a huge Duke's Mansion that had been passed down for generations.
In Chang 'an, this was the only great favor!
However, on this day, 3,600 Street Cleansing Drums fell.
He should have entered the sleeping cultivation workshop as usual with the arrival of night.
The silence was suddenly broken.
"Kacha, kacha…"
Outside the solemn and heavy vermilion door of the Duke's estate.
Accompanied by the ear-piercing sound of metal rubbing against each other.
Thousands of fully armed soldiers with weapons in their hands emerged in an orderly manner.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Duke Zhenguo's estate was surrounded!
It wasn't just the door.
It occupied an area of a hundred acres and was surrounded by the grand Duke's estate.
They could see neatly arranged, fully armed soldiers everywhere!
At least 50,000 soldiers!
Patter, patter…
The crisp and heavy sound of horse hooves rang out.
A mighty general wearing a bright light armor and a red cloak.
He rode a black horse and slowly arrived in front of the army.
His dark old face was as dark as water.
Under the illumination of the huge lantern, the plaque of the Duke's Public House that had been built by the imperial decree shone brightly.
His eyes were filled with a complicated expression!
"Reporting to General Hou, the Duke's estate has been surrounded by us. Next…"
A messenger came forward and reported to the black-faced general.
However, there was a slight panic in his eyes.
The voice of the report also became softer and softer. In the end, it was completely inaudible.
After all, at this moment, the person who was living in the mansion that they had surrounded.
He was a legendary figure known as the Great Tang's 'Heavenly General'!
If it weren't for the fact that it was the will of the heavens, who in the Tang army would dare to surround his mansion?
He took a deep breath!
He suppressed the complicated emotions in his heart.
He exhaled loudly!
"Men! Open the door!"
With this shout, soldiers immediately rushed to break open the heavy doors of the Duke's Mansion.
However, before they could step forward, the main door of the Duke's Public House had already creaked open.
In the middle of the door was a huge armchair.
A handsome young man dressed in white sat on a chair with his eyes closed!
The man looked to be in his early twenties, and under the backdrop of the thirty-feet-tall red door of the Duke's estate, he looked rather small and thin.
However, this seemingly weak young man just sat there without saying a word.
However, it gave off a terrifying deterrence that no one could match!
When he saw this man, the black-faced general, who had a gloomy expression and a complicated gaze, looked at him.
Immediately, his expression changed.
Without hesitation, he dismounted from his horse and cupped his fists and bowed to the white-robed youth.
"I, Hou Junji, pay my respects to the State Guarding Duke!”
Who would have thought that he could command the wind and clouds in the imperial court and be invincible on the battlefield?
He was known as the number one civil and military official of the Great Tang.
He was known as the Heavenly General who could conquer the world when he was on the horse and settle the world when he was off the horse!
Zhang Yan, Duke of Zhenguo.
It was actually a young man in his early twenties!
"State Guarding Duke?"
It was as if a dream had been disturbed. The young man who was sitting on the armchair and resting his mind frowned slightly.
He slowly opened his eyes.
In an instant, the sound of a dragon and a tiger roaring rang out.
"What Defender Duke? I'm just a guilty minister who should be captured obediently!”
Zhang Yan's voice was very old, and he did not sound like a high-spirited youth in his early twenties.
He casually pointed his chin forward.
On the ground not far in front of him.
A crimson robe, a twelve-beam crown, and an ivory board.
They were neatly folded and placed there.
Hou Junji's body trembled as he tried to persuade him.
"State Guarding Duke, His Majesty was only muddle-headed for a moment, that's why he gave this order. Please follow me into the palace…"
"Forget it! Old Hou! I know Li Er's character better than you! If he didn't have 120% determination and confidence, would he let you lead troops to encircle and annihilate me, the former General of the Great Tang?”
Zhang Yan coldly laughed as he interrupted Hou Junji, his voice tinged with ridicule.
"You're not the one who's really talking…come out!”
Zhang Yan shouted like a thunderbolt.
Hou Junji's body trembled, and he lowered his head like a defeated rooster.
At the same time!
Two expressionless old eunuchs in black robes silently appeared behind Hou Junji.
One of them was holding a yellow imperial edict with a dragon pattern, while the other was holding a black bronze tiger talisman.
" His Majesty has decreed that Defender Duke Zhang Yan be stripped of all titles and titles, stripped of all official positions, demoted to a commoner, sent to the death row, confiscated of all his assets, and seized of his Dayan Trading Company and Tong Bao Bank…"
"All his henchmen will be detained! If anyone resisted, they would be killed without mercy!”
The old eunuch holding the imperial edict raised his voice and said a long string of imperial edicts in one breath.
Everyone present was shocked.
No one would have thought that the Emperor would issue such an incredible edict.
On the other hand, Zhang Yan seemed to have known what the old eunuch would say, and he didn't look surprised at all.
He expressionlessly listened to the old eunuch announce the imperial edict.
He only said one sentence indifferently.
"Haha! This really doesn't leave me any way out…What's the crime? I don't know what crime our Second Emperor Li has sentenced me, a criminal who has plundered my family and exterminated my clan, to? Was it because of his high achievements? Or is he plotting a rebellion?"
"It's not true!"
The old eunuch who was holding the edict replied word by word.
"Fake? Hahahaha!"
Hearing this, Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Ridiculous! I was the one who told Li Er about Yue Wumu's story. I didn't expect that in the end, Li Er would actually use it on me! How ironic!"
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