First Minister of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 616 Li Youliang must die

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Looking at the three people in front of them, it is clear that Li Chengqian is the oldest. As the prince of the East Palace, he behaves in a submissive manner and has no independent opinions. Looking at the Gao brothers, Yan Xing is calm and polite, and he is humble in words and deeds in front of the emperor, while Yan Zhang is heroic. Be bold and fearless in the face of the emperor.

Li Shimin was more determined in his idea of ​​the Gao brothers as attendants. He recalled that his eldest son, Jiaqing, was as stubborn and stubborn as his father, his eldest son, Anshi. His words and deeds seemed like rotten Confucianism, and he was indeed not suitable for attendants.

Seeing Li Chengqian lowering his head and eyebrows, Li Shimin's face straightened, "What are you afraid of?"

Li Chengqian paused after hearing this, then bravely raised his head, looked at Li Shimin, and then replied honestly: "I acted frivolously and kicked him into the middle hall...".

Li Shimin frowned and sighed: "So you are afraid of my punishment?"

Li Chengqian nodded silently.

"Yanzhang, what do you think?" Li Shimin asked Gao Yanzhang, who was scratching his head in distress.

Gao Junya's expression was stern. He was very aware of Gao Yanzhang's temperament. As expected, Gao Yanzhang looked indifferent and said, "I kicked him into the middle hall. I made a mistake. I can't just get a beating. What's the matter?" But be afraid, if you are a man, you will be punished if you make a mistake, it is no big deal.”

Li Shimin suddenly stopped laughing and looked at Gao Yanxing again, "Where's Yanxing?"

Gao Yanxing glanced at his younger brother helplessly, bowed and replied: "If you make a mistake, you will be punished. If you know you made a mistake, you will correct it. You will not dare to do it again next time."

"Okay." Li Shimin was very satisfied. He looked at Gao Junya and said with a smile, "Mr. Junya is a good tutor."

Gao Junya just twisted his beard and smiled, very satisfied with Gao Yanxing's performance. When he saw Gao Yanzhang, his face suddenly darkened.

"Cheng Qianqian, did you hear that?" Li Shimin's face darkened, he looked at Li Chengqian, and said slowly: "Since I took you out of the palace today and allowed you to play with your cousins, I won't blame you for kicking. If you don't do evil, Aye also kicked him in the palace when he was free, but you just kicked him into the middle hall. Wouldn't it be rude to bump into the elders?"

"As your cousins ​​said, if you are disrespectful and make a mistake, you will be punished. There is no need to be so afraid. Do you understand?"

"That's right, I'm really afraid. Then Aye won't kill you. I'll just give you a beating at most." Gao Yanzhang grabbed the preserved fruit on the desk and said without any pressure.

"Shut up," Gao Junya glared at him and reprimanded, "Looking at your attitude, you don't know your mistakes at all. You have to go back and copy the "Book of Filial Piety" ten times."

When Li Chengqian heard this, he beamed and said with a smile: "You also want to copy the "Book of Filial Piety"."

Then when he saw Li Shimin at the top, he immediately stopped smiling and stood solemnly.

Li Shimin shook his head and sighed: "You have also seen it, Jun Yagong. This boy is too cowardly. This is also affected by the environment. Changes must be made. What do you think about Yanxing and the others?"

Gao Junya couldn't help twirling his beard for a moment, then looked at Li Chengqian, "May I ask the prince, are you willing to let Yan Xingyanzhang accompany you to school?"

"Yes." Li Chengqian's eyes lit up and his face was full of joy. "My two cousins ​​get along well with me. I am willing to study with them."

Then he plucked up the courage to look at Li Shimin, "Aye, what do you think?"

"Are you two brothers willing?" Li Shimin looked at Gao Yanxing, who looked confused.

Gao Yanxing immediately responded solemnly, "Follow your uncle's instructions."

"Going to study in the palace?" Gao Yanzhang spit out the date core and his eyes widened, "That's good, then I can get rid of Old Master Chen and save him from always lecturing me...".

Gao Junya looked sullen.

Li Shimin laughed when he heard this, "Okay, let's start tomorrow."

Gao Yanxing pulled the overjoyed Gao Yanzhang and bowed to agree, while Li Chengqian also clapped his hands and applauded.

Gao Junya also bowed in response. Li Shimin stood up, walked to Gao Junya, and sighed: "Master Junya, there is nothing wrong with being cautious, but there is one thing. I think that guy Youzhi is more outstanding." ".

Gao Junya's eyes narrowed, and he bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, please clear up any doubts."

"That's self-confidence." Li Shimin looked at Gao Junya and said seriously: "Youzhi's self-confidence has always infected me. He once said four words, which may shock the world and not be accepted by others if they are spread. Despite the criticism, I have learned a lot, that is, man can conquer nature."

After that, Li Shimin said no more, just put his hands behind his hands and said with a smile: "There are many things in the palace, so I will go back first."

He turned around and looked at Li Chengqian who was happily whispering to Yan Xing, "Chengqian, if you rarely come out, I will allow you to take a day off and return to the palace with your mother in the evening."

Li Chengqian was so happy that he almost jumped up on the spot and thanked him non-stop.

Li Shimin smiled slightly, said goodbye to Gao Junya, and drove away first. The eldest grandson Wugou continued to accompany Li Liuniang in the backyard.

Three children of average age continued to play in the courtyard. Gao Junya stood aside and twirled his beard in thought.

After receiving the order, Sun Fuga, the young minister of Dali Temple, and Li Changwen, the young minister of Zongzheng Temple, did not dare to delay. After a while, they immediately rushed to Liangzhou.

At this time, Yu Wenshiji, the governor of Liangzhou, was also not relaxed. While rushing to report Li Youliang's situation, he was also facing the responsible political environment of Liangzhou to clean up.

For three whole days, one-third of the officials in the Liangzhou Governor's Office, Liangzhou Governor's Office, and Guzang County Government Office were involved in the smuggling case.

What made Yu Wenshi even more shocked was that all these officials were controlled by a horse bandit from Zhao'an, namely Ma Si. Ma Si was originally a horse bandit on the border and had many connections with Tuyuhun. After Li Youliang ordered him to Zhao'an, He once reported this matter as a political achievement and was commended by the then emperor Li Yuan.

But he didn't expect that after Ma Si was ordered to peace, he would follow Li Youliang and do evil, and step by step he would trick Li Youliang into smuggling arms, salt and iron in order to make huge profits.

Although Ma Si died, there were correspondences, and many account books and salt and iron export records were found in the physical evidence handed over by some officials.

The smuggling case had been reported by Wei Feng Wei earlier. Li Shimin was furious and ordered Yu Wenshiji to take over as the governor of Liangzhou and thoroughly investigate the case.

At that time, Yu Wenshiji had already concluded that Li Youliang would be under house arrest in the capital like Li Yuan, the king of Lujiang, and would only be an idle prince for the rest of his life.

But after seeing Li Youliang's crazy words and Yu Wenshiji's successive investigations into the seriousness of the smuggling cases, Yu Wenshiji had some guesses in his heart that Li Youliang's outcome should be even more tragic than Li Yuan's.

Li Yuan at least survived. Although he had no power in the rest of his life, he was rich and carefree, while Li Youliang would probably not die well.

Two days later, when he heard that people from Dali Temple and Zongzheng Temple were about to arrive, Yuwen Shiji felt completely at ease and immediately went to the back office of the Dudu Mansion.Li Youliang, who had been manic for many days, is now much calmer and is fast asleep in the house.

Seeing Yu Wenshiji arrive again, Li Youliang opened his hazy eyes, "How? But there is a letter from the imperial court to release the king?"

Then he stood up, stared at Yuwen Shiji with disheveled clothes, and said with a sinister smile: "Yu Wenshiji, I am a member of the royal family, what can you do to me?"

Yuwen Shiji just chuckled and said, "The smuggling case is almost over. Li Youliang, you are so bold. Are you going to sell three thousand soldiers to Tuyuhun like this?"

Li Youliang was startled when he heard this, "How did you know it was three thousand... No, you defrauded me?"

Seeing that Li Youliang was so comatose, Yuwen Shiji said no more, "The witnesses and physical evidence are now complete. People from Dali Temple and Zongzheng Temple should also arrive tomorrow. Li Youliang, you are dead."

Then he left with his hands behind his back.

Li Youliang was left alone in the house, terrified.

The next day, Sun Fujia and Li Changwen, who were tired of their travels, finally arrived in Guzang. They did not dare to delay and immediately found Yuwenshi and asked about the case.

"Captain Yuwen, when I came here, the sage had already given instructions to teach us to work together to handle the case. What do you think should be done next?"

After understanding the entire case and Li Youliang's situation, Li Changwen, the young minister of Zongzheng Temple, asked hesitantly.

Li Changwen came from the Li family in Longxi and had been an official for generations. In the last years of the Sui Dynasty, his grandfather Li Shenguan worshiped the meritorious officials of Taiyuan County and had a close relationship with Li Yuan. His father Li Tong was the chief minister of Taiyuan County.

When Li Yuan launched an army in Jinyang, Li Changwen, along with his grandfather and father, responded actively. According to his seniority, Li Changwen was Li Shimin's clan brother. Zongzheng Temple Shaoqing who has achieved the fourth rank.

As a member of the clan, it was naturally impossible for Li Changwen to take the initiative to convict Li Youliang. In a sense, the reason why the clan members were arrogant and domineering was mainly because they had the support of Zongzheng Temple behind them.

If Li Changwen takes the initiative to deal with Li Youliang, a severe punishment will definitely offend the royal family. A light punishment will not satisfy Li Shimin. Therefore, among the three, Li Changwen should be in the most difficult position.

When Yu Wenshiji heard this, he cursed secretly in his heart, but he did not dare to show it. He could only say: "The status of the Changle County Prince is not trivial. I wonder what Zongzheng Temple's opinion is?"

Li Changwen's face darkened. Although Yu Wenshiji had a high position and high reputation, as an official of Zongzheng Temple and a member of the royal family of Miaohong, Li Changwen did not have to flatter him. After thinking for a while, he said seriously: "The prince has violated the law. , you are guilty of the same crime as the common people, you two have set out the regulations, and our Zongzheng Temple will deal with it impartially."

In the current so-called joint trial of the three departments, namely Liangzhou Dudufu, Dali Temple and Zongzheng Temple, although Liangzhou Dudufu has no right to deal with Li Youliang, Yuwen Shiji's attitude is very critical. If he takes out all the witnesses and material evidence , demanding that Li Youliang be dealt with severely, and the other two departments had nothing to say.

According to Li Shimin's wishes, the Liangzhou Governor's Office will investigate the case, and then the Dali Temple will actually exercise the power of judgment. Then, with the consent of Zongzheng Temple, it can be handled on the spot.

Although this is somewhat illegal and not a true joint trial of the three departments, namely the Ministry of Punishment, Yushitai and Dali Temple, it is a special matter and the emperor's order is more important than anything else.

Li Shimin originally secretly ordered Yu Wenshiji to act according to the situation and act expediently, which meant that Li Youliang could be dealt with on the spot when necessary.

After arriving at Zhao Guogong's residence, Gao Junya reminded him that considering the special status of Li Youliang, Yu Wenshiji may have some scruples, so he specially ordered Dali Temple and Zongzheng Temple to rush to Liangzhou thousands of miles away. This has taken into account the etiquette and law to the greatest extent. .

"You two, the sage's will has been made clear: King Changle does not abide by the law. Since he does not abide by the law, then just handle the case in accordance with the law." When the two were in a stalemate, Sun Fuga, the young minister of Dali Temple, said seriously.

Yu Wenshiji suddenly became enlightened and looked at Li Changwen who was unwilling to take action and said with a smile: "Li Shaoqing doesn't know something. I just mentioned that the Prince of Changle County was rude to the saint during the confinement period. As for the specific words, Li Shaoqing can personally I went to ask, but I really don’t dare to repeat it.”

"I dare not repeat it..." Li Changwen was stunned when he heard this.

I heard Yu Wenshiji pick up the tea cup, take a sip gently, and then sigh intentionally or unintentionally: "The prince of Changle County lived in Hedong for eight years."

Li Changwen's expression suddenly changed and he held up his hands and said: "Zongzheng Temple fully supports any resolution made by Governor Yuwen and Sun Shaoqing. The case will be handled in accordance with the law and will not be tolerated."

Sun Fuga glanced at Yuwen Shiji and said, "Dali Temple seconded the proposal."

Hedong, no one knows, in the last years of Daye, when the Supreme Emperor was left behind in Taiyuan, the King of Central Guizhou, the former crown prince, built the palace, and the Li family lived in Hedong for several years.

Yu Wenshi also mentioned that Li Youliang once lived in Hedong, which is self-evident. Now that the saint is in power, any matter involving the former prince will be kept silent by both the government and the public.

Even though Li Changwen stood on the side of Zongzheng Temple and wanted to support the royal clan, he did not dare to step forward when encountering this kind of thing. He was already prepared to take Li Youliang back to the capital and put him under house arrest.

Yu Wenshi Ji Nianxu smiled, looked around and saw no one around, and said bluntly: "Li Youliang must die!"

The two were surprised when they heard this.

"Captain Yuwen, this...is not my intention to protect you. It's just that since the founding of the country, I haven't actually executed a county king. Do you want to think about it more carefully?" Li Changwen said hurriedly with a look of surprise on his face.

Looking back, this is indeed the case. Li Xiaochang, the king of Yi'an, rebelled and died at the hands of Dou Gui's counter-rebellion army. The incident of Li Yuan, the king of Lujiang, was handled with Gao Chong, minimizing the impact and just recalling him to the capital. While under house arrest, Li Yina, the king of Yan County, attempted to defect and was killed by his subordinates.

There are basically no county princes who are actually executed by the court. This is also the way Li Shimin has always dealt with things, trying to minimize the negative impact.

Yu Wenshiji took a deep look at Li Changwen and said, "Li Shaoqing, do you know how big Li Youliang's problem is this time? He smuggled thousands of sets of armor and tens of thousands of kilograms of salt and iron. More importantly, Li Youliang spoke rudely and disrespected the saint. , intending to defect from the Turks!"

Li Changwen was startled, "Didn't you say that those thugs coerced Li Youliang into defecting, but were killed by Li Youliang instead?"

"What do you think Li Youliang will do if he gets out of trouble now?" Yu Wenshiji's eyes narrowed and he asked with a heavy face: "Do you dare to bet?"

Li Changwen originally planned to open his mouth again, but when he heard the last four words, he was immediately speechless.

He definitely didn't dare to gamble. He just stood on Zongzheng Temple's position and was unwilling to execute a county king during his term of office, but he definitely didn't want to be involved.

If a royal king is executed in his hands, those respected royal family members must be secretly dissatisfied with him. After all, they are a community of interests. But if Li Changwen protects Li Youliang, it will definitely cause the saint to be dissatisfied. In case Li Youliang later A mentally disturbed person does something "earth-shaking", such as rebelling?Like defecting?Then Li Changwen will be buried with him.

"Li Shaoqing." At this time, Sun Fuga also looked at Li Changwen and said seriously: "The reason why the saint defined the prince of Changle County as not obeying the law must be understood by you. Now that the matter has come to this, the case can only be handled in accordance with the law." .

As soon as he finished speaking, the captain who was guarding the Houya hurriedly came over, with the slightest smell of blood on his body, "Captain, there were bandits who just sneaked into the Houya, intending to kidnap the Prince of Changle County. There are eight people in total, five died and three were captured."

Yu Wenshi sat up suddenly and glanced at Li Changwen fiercely, "Li Chengye, it seems that you can't save Li Youliang."

Li Changwen, named Chengye, was also shocked when he heard this, but nodded with a heavy face.

(End of this chapter)