People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 634 Doctor of the Ministry of Punishment, Honglu Shaoqing

The sound of "cracking" firecrackers sounded in Chang'an City, and cheers and frolics came from afar.

On Dongcheng Wharf, numerous Jinwu guards have completely sealed off the entire wharf, and all idlers are not allowed to approach.

A middle-aged dignified official wearing a dark scarlet official robe stood in the center, with a short beard raised lightly, and deep-set eyebrows. There seemed to be worry in his eyes, but also a rare joy.

There are two green-robed officials on each side, standing behind them holding green-painted red-rimmed trays.

At this moment, more than a dozen tall horses came towards the pier at the same time. The leader was a middle-aged official in a light crimson official robe with a horizontal knife hanging from his waist. .

When this group of people reached the front, the Jinwu Guard immediately stepped forward, with the long spear in his hand in the center, and at the same time ordered: "People who come here stop."

"Zheng Rengong, the doctor of the Ministry of punishment, please see the King of Nanchang, please let me go." While speaking, a token was thrown down directly.

The guards of Jin Wu did not take the token, but took a step back, and at the same time shouted coldly: "Stop, dismount, or you will be shot to death!"

Zheng Rengong frowned suddenly, a trace of doubt flashed in his eyes, and then he waved his hand back, and all the criminal officers got off their horses immediately.

His subordinate Zhang Gu picked up the token on the ground again, and handed it to Zheng Rengong.

Zheng Rengong hesitated for a while, but still handed over the token in his hand, and said very politely: "By order of the Ministry of Punishment, please see the King of Nanchang, please inform me."

A member of the Jinwu team came up, glanced at the token, frowned, then took the token, and said in a deep voice: "Wait."

"Lang Jun, what's going on here?" A confidant, Zhang Gu, stepped forward. Today's situation is somewhat incomprehensible.

"It's not the Jinwu Guard, there are other people here." Zheng Rengong took a light breath, his face serious.

He originally thought that it was the Jinwu Guard who came to protect him after receiving the news that Luoyang, the king of Nanchang, had been assassinated, but now it seems that this is not the case, and someone else came.

At this moment, the leader of the Jinwu team who had passed on before had already stepped forward, and while handing back the token, he cupped his hands and replied, "Please, Mr. Zheng!"

"Thank you!" Zheng Rengong cupped his hand slightly, took the token, and then walked towards the front of the pier. However, he had just taken two steps when he heard a long spear moving sideways behind him, and someone shouted coldly: "Stop, there are orders, only Mr. Xu Zheng will go alone."

Zheng Rengong frowned slightly, who is this, with such a big posture.

Is it Cheng Chubi or Qin Shandao, or is it the prince or King Ying?
Zheng Rengong didn't look back, but just waved his hands slightly. Although the rest of the punishment department's palm guards and arresters were still a little hesitant, they still retreated respectfully.

Dozens of Jinwu Guards lined up on both sides, the long spears stood upright, the blades were cold, and in the winter, people felt even more murderous.

Zheng Rengong walked to the front and suddenly saw a middle-aged official wearing a dark scarlet official robe standing in front of him. He raised his brows and immediately recognized that person.

Zheng Rengong stepped forward, and immediately bowed his hands solemnly and said: "The official, Zheng Rengong, the doctor of the Ministry of Punishment, pays homage to Liu Shaoqing."

Liu Zhirou, the Shaoqing of Honghe Temple, is in charge of the reception of guests from the fourth rank.

"Why did Mr. Zheng come here today?" Liu Zhirou bowed his hands slightly in return, and asked Zheng Rengong with a puzzled face.

The corners of Zheng Rengong's mouth twitched slightly, he came here today, of course he came to inquire about Nanchang Wang Li Xuan about the case of Gao Ping and Leng Lin in charge of the Ministry of Punishment, the murder of Xue Zhongzhang who joined the army of Hangzhou Facao, and the escape of the murderer Wen Xu.

After all, when the incident happened, the King of Nanchang was also on the Weishui River. Although there was a front and a back, there was always a trace of suspicion.

But this can't be said now. After all, the so-called suspicion is just a far-fetched conclusion of everyone in the Criminal Ministry.

When the incident happened, the King of Nanchang was still on the Yangzhou fleet, more than 20 miles away from the place where the incident happened, under the gaze of countless Jinwu Guards, Qianniu Guards, and Yangzhou soldiers, no matter how far-fetched it is, it is nonsense.

If Liu Zhirou wasn't there, Zheng Rengong would at least be able to meet the King of Nanchang with this suspicion, but now, he couldn't even say that, so he could only fold his hands and say, "I heard that the King of Nanchang was assassinated by Wu Sheng Dao in Luoyang. Someone from the Ministry of Punishment has also encountered..."

Liu Zhirou waved his hand suddenly, stopped Zheng Rengong's words, and said in a cold voice: "The assassination case of King Luoyang of Nanchang, His Majesty ordered the Zuo Jinwu Guard to investigate, and the Criminal Department can directly ask Zuo Jinwu Guard if there is anything to do."

After finishing speaking, Liu Zhirou pointed to the side, Zheng Rengong turned his head to look, and suddenly saw Zuo Jinwu Guard Zhonglang Jiang Ma Zongsi standing in the crowd, and another Taishi Cheng from the sixth rank was standing on the side.

Behind everyone, stood a servant with a stooped figure.

That person was not a servant in the palace, but Meng Sheng, the deputy head of Prince Peng's residence.

Seeing Zheng Rengong looking over, everyone had different expressions and reactions.

Tai Shicheng bowed his hands politely, Ma Zongsi looked cold, and Meng Sheng, the deputy director of Prince Peng's Mansion, looked at him suspiciously.

Zheng Rengong turned his mind slightly, then looked at Liu Zhirou, cupped his hands and said, "May I ask, Shaoqing is here today to welcome the envoys of Silla and Wa?"

Looking at Zheng Rengong who was full of tentativeness, Liu Zhirou's eyes flashed with impatience, but he still cupped his hands, then looked in the direction of Tai Chi Palace, and said in a deep voice: "By order, welcome the governor of Yangzhou Metropolitan Shi Douweng to lead the crowd back How about...does Lang Zhong ask again?"

"Don't dare, I'll leave now!" Zheng Rengong's face flashed a trace of fear, and then he turned around and left quickly.

After returning to the city gate with his subordinates, Zheng Rengong slapped his forehead fiercely, and said annoyedly, "Why did I forget, there is another Dou Xuande."

Dou Xuande, the governor of Yangzhou Metropolitan Government, rank three.

Dou Xuande has been in Yangzhou for many years. This time, Dongdao won three battles and three victories. Although most of the credits were given by Anton's generals, Dou Xuande also had a lot of credit for being in charge of raising troops in Yangzhou. The emperor took this opportunity to recall him to the capital.

Some people said that when Dou Xuande returned to Beijing this time, he might be transferred to be an official of the Six Departments and Nine Temples immediately, and it is not impossible for him to become the prime minister.

In particular, there were rumors in Beijing that the Queen of Heaven had appointed Dou's daughter as the concubine for the Prime Minister, and Dou Xuande returned to Beijing to preside over this matter.

Zheng Rengong rejoiced for a while, if he really offended Dou Xuande, even Lord Shangshu might not be able to protect him.

Raising his head and looking at the Chunmingmen gate in front of him, Zheng Rengong thought about it, and waved his hand: "Go to the gate."

Zheng Rengong led his men up to the gate of the city in a blink of an eye. Looking from a distance, on the pier, the Jinwu Guard stood solemnly, and the one standing in front of him was Liu Zhirou, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple.

Looking from a distance, on the Weihe River in the northwest, several large ships are rapidly approaching Chang'an City, and on the bow of the most ships.

Shi Douxuande, chief governor of Yangzhou, Li Xuan, king of Nanchang, and Sima Lu Yuanfang, governor of Yangzhou, arrived in Chang'an one after another.

……

The planks were laid on the pier, Li Xuan followed behind Dou Xuande, and slowly got off the boat.

Seeing Dou Xuande talking and laughing happily with a middle-aged official wearing a dark scarlet official robe, seeing Li Xuan get off the boat, Dou Xuande immediately waved: "Nephew, come, all of you are Honglu Temple Shaoqing Liu Zhirou."

Li Xuan stepped forward immediately, cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Xuan has met Liu Shaoqing."

"Seeing that the King of Nanchang is so stable, I feel relieved." Liu Zhirou returned the salute with a smile.

Li Xuan raised her head with a look of astonishment, and Dou Xuande who was at the side suddenly said: "See, the rumors in the court earlier that Brother Zirou was transferred to the governor of Jingzhou is true?"

Liu Zhirou smiled and didn't speak, but Li Xuan already understood what happened, and immediately cupped his hands again and said, "Xuan congratulates Mr. Liu."

"Everything has not yet been concluded, the prince dare not say that." Liu Zhirou waved his hand, although his face refused, but his expression was full of determination, after a slight pause, Liu Zhirou said sincerely: "Although this matter has not been finalized, but the foreign affairs , it is inevitable, I still have some familiar subordinates in Honglu Temple, please take care of me, my lord!"

Liu Zhirou made it clear in one sentence that the reason why he served as governor of Jingzhou was because the emperor wanted to vacate this position for Li Xuan.

But Liu Zhirou was not dissatisfied, because the emperor prepared for him the governor of Jingzhou.

From the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple under the fourth rank to the governor of Zhongzhou on the fourth rank, this is definitely a leap, no wonder Liu Zhirou is not dissatisfied at all, and even full of joy.

"You are polite, Shaoqing. If there is a decision, I would like to trouble Shaoqing to help introduce the responsibilities of the Honglu Temple's various departments and the capabilities of the officials, so that it will be convenient for Xuan to perform their duties." Li Xuan bowed his hands sincerely.

"That's it, it's settled." Liu Zhirou nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the several large ships behind, and then said solemnly: "The affairs of Silla and Wa's national envoys will be handled by the lower officials. As for Your Majesty, Your Majesty speaks."

Li Xuan was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply and said: "My minister Li Xuan listens to the order."

"Since the king of Nanchang has arrived in Beijing, then go back to the mansion to rest, spend time with your mother and concubine and his wife, and don't go out for a stroll. On the first day, you must attend the court meeting without delay!" Liu Zhirou finished the emperor's oral order with her head held high. Then he looked at Li Xuan and said, "My lord, do you understand?"

"Your Majesty, Li Xuan, I would like to honor your decree." Li Xuan was stunned for a while, thought for a while, and said, "Thank you for your protection, Your Majesty."

Hearing what Li Xuan said, Liu Zhirou's eyes showed a trace of surprise, but Dou Xuande looked like that.

"My lord, please!" Liu Zhirou took a step back, then pointed to Ma Zongsi and Tai Shicheng who were not far away, and said, "The assassination of the lord will be investigated by Zuo Jinwu Wei Zhonglang, and the Taishi Bureau will cooperate. Don’t worry about it, just let the two of them check it out.”

"Li Xuan obeys the order." Li Xuan took a deep breath, then turned around and nodded slightly to Ma Zongsi, then turned to Liu Zhirou and Dou Xuande cupped his hands and said: "So, Xuan will take my leave first."

"My lord, please!" Liu Zhirou and Dou Xuande returned the salute at the same time.

Li Xuan turned around and strode towards the outside of the pier. Meng Sheng, Yu Ze, and Li Zhu, with more than a dozen guards from the Nanchang Palace, quickly followed behind Li Xuan, striding towards the city gate. go.

On the city wall, Zheng Rengong couldn't help but gasp when he saw this scene.

Sure enough, Liu Zhirou bears an imperial decree.

It's just that when he came, he excluded the King of Nanchang from all affairs. What exactly does this mean.

Your Majesty, what do you mean?
(End of this chapter)