A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Emperor Yuan Cong

Chapter 410 Fighting the Emperor

"Why does Erlang have a bad look? Is he uncomfortable?"

At dinner, the still attentive Runniang noticed that Wu Huaiyu's complexion was not very good-looking, and there was no laughing and laughing with his wives, concubines and children in the past.

"No, it's fine."

Fan Xuanfu also found out that something was wrong with her husband at this time, "Alang entered the palace today to face the saint, did he get punished by His Majesty?"

"No."

"I was just thinking about an unfinished business, just distracted for a while." Huaiyu smiled.

After dinner, Wu Huaiyu went out to Duke Qi's mansion in the same workshop.

Qin Qiong obviously also learned about Lu Zushang's killing.

The father and the father sat in the study, each holding teacups, speechless.

Today's incident had a great impact on Huaiyu.

Really saw the era of imperial power, the majesty of the emperor, really the emperor was so angry that he decided life and death with one word.The dignified county prince and governor are still Fan Yang Lu's sons, his wife and brother are also the emperor's confidants at the center of the school inspection, and the family brother-in-law is also the prime minister of the dynasty, but he was still directly chopped off by the emperor.

It has not been reviewed by the three divisions.

It was not submitted to Dali Temple for review, and it was directly pushed out of the temple and hacked without going through any judicial procedures. There was really no room for redemption.

Thinking about it now, Yuchi Laohei really danced on the verge of death at the New Year's Eve banquet.

"Chang'an should be known by now, right?"

"definitely."

Qin Qiong took a sip of tea, "It is estimated that many people are writing memorials at the moment,"

It must be a memorial to admonish the emperor or even criticize the emperor.

"Perhaps the five surnames in Guandong and the six surnames in Guanzhong are all trembling," Huaiyu chuckled.

Li Shimin's move today can be said to be a precedent, and he was shocked.

And he killed not only the governor, but the most important one was Fan Yang Lu.The last prophecy case involved so many people, Jing Zhaowei, Du Guandong and Cui Zheng, but in the end the emperor only killed Chai Lun and Du Jingai. Zheng Shanguo, Zheng Yuanxuan, etc. also just won the title and demoted the governor of Xiazhou.

This time it was a hornet's nest.

It is still acceptable to seize the title and demote, but he was pushed out of the palace gate and beheaded without a trial. Isn't this the same as Yang Guang?
What about the face of the five surnames and seven families?

"It is said that Lu Zushang wanted to die on his own. The emperor gave him several chances, and it happened that Yu Chigong made such a big fuss on New Year's Eve. When these two things came together, the emperor was angry and Lu Zushang's body was separated. No wonder others .” Wu Huaiyu sighed.

Qin Qiong's spirit is not very good, "Qu Tutong, the governor of Luozhou, is in his 70s, and his health is very bad. This time he came to Beijing Chaoji, he suddenly became seriously ill, and he probably won't be able to return to Luoyang. I want to go to Luoyang to replace him."

"The adoptive father is now the prime minister, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and the director of Donggong Bingma. How long have you been paying homage to the prime minister? Why do you have the intention to quit?"

Qin Qiong did have the intention to retire. In fact, he, the prime minister, seldom spoke in the political affairs hall. He was a little impatient with the affairs of the Ministry of War, and the paperwork was more handed over to the ministers of the two Ministry of War.

"Shangshu of the Ministry of War is a civil servant, and he should be a civil servant. I am not afraid to go to the front, but it is really a headache for me to deal with those documents all day long. Moreover, the ministers in the political affairs hall discuss matters and quarrel with each other. I am impatient, I am still not suitable to be in the center."

Qin Qiong's appointment as prime minister was not because of how good he was, but because of the emperor's needs.

The emperor intentionally suppressed the old ministers with martial virtues, and out of the need for civil and military balance, he wanted to arrange for the hidden generals to enter the political affairs hall. This is also a reward for all the generals. , You can enter the political affairs hall to pay homage to the prime minister.

With the unification of the world, it is the general trend for Yanwu to revise the text, but this change will indeed make the generals dissatisfied, so it is necessary to reserve a place for the generals in the political affairs hall.

There are not many generals under Li Shimin who can directly pay homage to the prime minister. Originally, Yuchi Gonggong made great contributions during the change of palace, but this guy cannot be supported by mud, and Hou Junji's qualifications are too low.

Qu Tutong, who has been managing Luoyang for Li Shimin, has good qualifications, but he is too old, in his 70s.

And Li Ji, Li Jing, Chai Shao, and Li Xiaogong, who are capable and experienced in fighting, are not Li Shimin's confidantes, and the eldest grandson Shunde Liu Hongji is even the direct descendant of the Supreme Emperor.

In the end, letting Qin Qiong be the minister of the Ministry of War became one of the few choices. His worship can also be accepted by the emperor's direct line and other factions.

If it were for someone like Yu Chigong or Hou Junji, or Zhou Shaofan, how many would be able to take it?

The emperor appreciates and trusts Zhou Shaofan very much, but his qualifications and prestige are insufficient, so he can only be a supervisor in the palace and a school center, and he needs to accumulate seniority. .

But Qin Qiong always wanted to retreat.

"The adoptive father has always been loyal and prudent. His Majesty has always appreciated the adoptive father, unlike those arrogant and domineering people like Qiu Xingze, Yu Chigong, and Lu Zushang. The adoptive father does not need to worry much."

"I know that Your Majesty appreciates me, but my ability is really not enough to be a prime minister. I am not suitable for this position. Besides, I am still not in good health. All kinds of entertainment have made my health a lot worse now." Qin Qiong was very withdrawn.

"Father, you know that His Majesty's worship of you as Prime Minister is also the result of careful consideration, but you are about to resign soon after paying homage to Prime Minister, which will make His Majesty very embarrassed."

Qin Qiong was stunned, he didn't expect this aspect.

"Erlang, to be honest, I'm in the center now, and I've caused dissatisfaction among many people. I've been impeached for being incompetent. I don't want to make it too ugly in the end."

"In fact, as long as the adoptive father is in the center and can firmly support His Majesty's proposition and maintain His Majesty's authority, then it is good enough."

Wouldn't that be a nodding prime minister?

Qin Qiong looked at the young adoptive son. Although he was young, he was much more enlightened than himself in some aspects. He couldn't help thinking of his son. If he was still there, he would be so tall and heroic.

"The adoptive father can be at ease in the center as a prime minister. After two years, when the conditions are ripe, the adoptive father will lead the army to wipe out the Turks. It will not be too late to retire when he is successful."

······
Morning the next day.

In the leaky room with the palace gate, the atmosphere was very solemn early in the morning.

Wei Zheng didn't care that his nose was still bad, so he came to court after his vacation. In the waiting room, he told other prime ministers that the emperor made a big mistake in killing Lu Zushang, citing scriptures.

Wang Gui also agreed with him.

Fang Xuanling and Zhou Shaofan remained silent with blank expressions. Both of them were relatives of Lu Zushang. The left servant pointed out that Fang Xuanling's wife was Lu Zushang's cousin, and Zhou Shaofan's biological sister was married to Lu Zushang.

A cousin of Lu Zushang, and an uncle of Lu Zushang.

Lu Zushang was beheaded like this, and they were also shocked.

To put it lightly, my relatives were killed, but to put it more seriously, the emperor did not give them face at all. Did the emperor have any opinion on them?

When Wu Huaiyu came in, they all surrounded him.

"Mr. Yi, I heard that you were in the hall yesterday. May I ask what happened? Why did Your Majesty behead Lu Zushang like this?" Wei Zheng asked directly, even with the intention of questioning, obviously accusing him of not doing enough at the time. The duty of a qualified minister, even doubts whether he is doing trouble inside.

After all, everyone knows that Wu Huaiyu was in charge of the six sects before. Is there any hidden secret in this matter that everyone doesn't know?
Xiao Yu, the censor doctor, also surrounded him, "How can such a big matter be handled so hastily?"

Of course Wu Huaiyu also knew that Li Shimin's handling of this matter was flawed, not that Lu Zu should not be killed, but that even if he wanted to be convicted, he should follow the procedures. , he is not guilty of death.

But Li Shimin is not a saint.

He has only been in power for more than a year. The 30-year-old emperor has performed well enough, and occasionally he will be willful or make mistakes, which is also very authentic.

"This matter is all Lu Zushang's own fault." Wu Huaiyu said very bluntly, but he did not hide it, and simply stated the facts.

After everyone heard it, they couldn't help but fell silent.

Lu Zushang is indeed too much. You first received the order and agreed to go to Jiaozhou, and then you said you were sick and declined. The emperor sent Wu Huaiyu to come to your door to make sure you were not sick. You still said you were sick, and even waited for the emperor to summon you in person. Against purpose.

He even said that the miasma in Lingnan was so severe that he had to drink, but he couldn't drink, so he couldn't come back after going there.
Who survived by drinking every day?

Wu Huaiyu explained it to him, it's nothing like that, you didn't go into the jungle, you stayed in Jiaozhou City, how could it be so dangerous.

But he didn't listen, and even when he was pushed out of the palace and beheaded, he didn't bow his head to the emperor. Even if he bowed his head and admitted his mistake at that time, the emperor would probably spare his life.

If you feel that no one dares to kill you, you are not seeking your own death.

Even Zhou Shaofan had nothing to say.

The gate of the palace opens, enter the palace and go to court.

As soon as the court meeting started, Wei Zheng really came out to ask for a performance.

Although Lu Zu still wanted to die, the emperor couldn't just kill people like this.

But Wei Zheng was very smart, he didn't accuse the emperor directly, but told the emperor the story.

"Your Majesty, during the Northern Qi Dynasty, Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang ordered Shi Weikai, governor of Qingzhou, to go to Guangzhou to take up his post. Wei Kai refused to accept the order, so Emperor Wenxuan reprimanded him. However, Wei Kai said, I have done nothing wrong when I returned from the Liang Dynasty. However, His Majesty instead asked me to be an official in a small state like Gwangju, so I was naturally unwilling to take up the post.

After hearing his words, Emperor Wenxuan no longer blamed Wei Kai, and agreed not to let him go to Guangzhou to take up his post.

Although Lu Zushang had received the order to go to Jiaozhou to be the governor, but afterwards he was afraid of the remoteness and hardships of Jiaozhi, and regretted not wanting to go. Although this was wrong, it was only a small mistake, not a serious crime of beheading.

However, His Majesty directly pushed him out of the hall and beheaded him just because he refused to go to Jiaozhou to be the governor, and also decreed that he would be deprived of all his titles, removed from his status as a commoner, and even deprived of the favor of his wife and children. This is wrong. "

In front of so many courtiers, the emperor was told by the prime minister Wei Zheng, Li Shimin was not angry.

Maybe he regretted it after yesterday's incident.

Or maybe the emperor has heard the wind and knows that this incident has caused dissatisfaction among many people, especially the Kanto gentry, so today the emperor is not stubborn.

He stood up.

To soften rigidity.

Retreat to advance.

"Wei Xiang's words are very reasonable. Although Lu Zushang did not keep his promise and repeatedly resisted the order, it was indeed too rude for me to kill him because of this. In this way, I am not as good as Emperor Wenxuan of the Northern Qi Dynasty Gao Yang in this regard."

"Zhongshu ordered Wen Yanbo to draw up an edict to restore Lu Zushang's former title, posthumously posthumously make him the governor of Youzhou and Duke of Guangguo, order his eldest son to still be the Duke of Yiyang County, and confer the imperial order on Lu Zushang's widow, Mrs. Guangguo."

The emperor also decreed to pay for Lu Zushang's burial from internal funds, and other sons to study in the library.

The emperor admitted his mistake and restored his official status, and the matter was over like this.

Of course, the worst loser must be Lu Zushang, who cannot be resurrected after death.

"Your Majesty, I want to impeach Wu Huaiyu. As a minister of the imperial court, he also served as the official secretary of the Yushitai and served as the censor, but he was in the palace yesterday, but he did not fulfill his duties as a minister. If this wrong thing happened, he should be punished." crime of dereliction of duty."

The one who stood up to impeach Wu Huaiyu was Wei Ting, the servant of Huangmen, who was also the uncle of Concubine Wei's sisters. This guy was Jiancheng's confidant back then, but he and Du Yan were also good friends. There are even rumors that Du Yan was almost killed when he was defeated by Wang Shichong in Luoyang. Finally, he ran to become a hermit for the second time.

Of course it was still false, and he also took the initiative to contact Wei Ting on the mountain, wanting to enter the Jianjian East Palace. After Fang Xuanling knew this, he ignored Du Ruhui and Du Yan's grievances, and asked Li Shimin to bring Du Yan to the Qin Palace first. , that guy is too good at intrigue, if he goes to the East Palace, then Prince Qin's Mansion will be in trouble.

Later, Du Yan went to Qin Wangfu, but it is said that he kept in touch with Wei Ting secretly, and stepped on two boats through Wei Ting.

The Wei family was also on two boats at the time. Wei Ting was in Jianjian's East Palace as his confidant, but the Wei family sent the two widows, Wei Gui and Wei Nizi, the long house, into the Prince of Qin's mansion as concubines for Li Shimin. Whoever wins the world, the Wei family will never lose their wealth.

Now Wei Ting is doing well as an official, not to mention the newly promoted servant of the Huangmen, his daughter was also chosen by Li Shimin to be the fifth son of Yan Wang Li You as his concubine.

They were all the emperor's in-laws, Huaiyu even had a son who was engaged to Concubine Wei, and Wei Ting was also related to him, but this guy still fired at Huaiyu.

It seems that Webster has a better relationship with powerful families such as King Cui Lu and Zheng.

The emperor glanced at Wei Ting.

Then return to the throne and sit down.

"Yesterday in the palace, Lord Yi advised me not to kill him with a loyal advice, but to hand it over to Yousi. Unfortunately, I was so angry that I didn't listen to it. Now I regret not listening to Lord Yi's advice."

"Duke Yi made a faithful remonstrance and gave him a pair of silver vases, a hundred bolts of silk, and two sable furs."

Wei Ting stood in the hall, a little dazed.

He impeached Wu Huaiyu for dereliction of duty, but the emperor said that Wu Huaiyu was loyal and dared to remonstrate, and he directly rewarded him.

"Wei Shilang, don't go back to work yet. I'll impeach you next time. Let's figure it out first. You're not the imperial censor, so why do you want to play on rumors and act on rumors?"

Wei Ting retreated angrily.

"Your Majesty, the servants of Chenzhong Shushe, Ma Zhou, please play."

"Precise play."

Ma Zhou didn't come out to help his brother-in-law Wu Huaiyu against Wei Ting, he just thought that the court should learn a lesson from this Lu Zushang incident.

"A person cannot be resurrected after death, and it is useless to repent. I request that if the death penalty is imposed, even if the execution is ordered at that time, it should be repeated three times, that is, the emperor's consent can be executed three times, and the three repetitions are preferably two or one day before the execution. Repeat once for each, and repeat for the third time on the day of execution."

Wei Zheng also stood up to support it, believing that it is not benevolent to govern the country with severe punishment, and that the country should be governed with leniency and benevolence should be implemented.

"I support Ma Zhongshu Sheren's suggestion that the national criminal law should be lenient, simple, and prudent in punishment and death, abolishing some cruel corporal punishments, rituals should be based on punishment, and punishment should be supplemented by rituals. .”

Li Shimin's attitude is exceptionally good today.

He also said loudly, "In ancient times, those who were released from prison must be heard by officials with three locust trees and nine thorns. Today, the three officials and nine ministers are their posts.

From now on, all capital crimes should be discussed by the Zhongshu, the fifth rank and above, and the Shangshu. "

"Furthermore, after the death sentence is passed, before the execution, it must be repeated three times before it can be carried out."

"Those who commit public crimes or private crimes above the third rank will not be chased after them."

Originally, many officials were going to fight the emperor today, but the emperor's attitude left them speechless.

Many of them even prepared their drafts and planned to impeach Wu Huaiyu today, but who knew that Wu Huaiyu was actually rewarded.

A dog bites a hedgehog and can't stop talking.

(End of this chapter)