Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 430: Those who refuse to repent and die without pardon

Chen Qingsi himself is a member of the radical faction, but he is also a bit conservative in his radicalism.

He naturally hopes to plant the flag of China in every corner of the world, but he must proceed step by step carefully and not only look ahead but also ignore the consequences. He must not abuse the people's power for this purpose, causing the world to be riddled with holes and the people to suffer.

Central Asia is too far away, the Arab Empire is also not weak, and the Western Regions have not yet stabilized and returned.

At this time, there is no benefit in sending troops on a long expedition thousands of miles away with another powerful country to help Persia restore its country.

After Goguryeo is destroyed, the Northeast is stabilized, the Western Regions are reconciled, and the Central Plains economy has recovered to a certain extent, if there is really an opportunity, Chen Qingsi would like to meet the White Arab Empire at its peak.

After all, no matter what the reason, in the historical confrontation between the two superpowers of the East and the West, the East lost.

This revenge has not happened yet, but Chen Qingsi remembers it.

But...definitely not now.

Chen Qingsi also did not think that the civil strife in the Arab Empire this time was an opportunity to be taken advantage of.

Making the last attempt to persuade...

"General Arohan, the assassination of the Caliph of the Arab Empire is an opportunity. The four great Caliphs of the Arab Empire have caused civil strife due to the issue of succession when they came to Ali ibn Abi Talib."

"The situation between the Sunni and Shiite factions is on the verge of a war, and there are already signs of internal division... If this continues, it is certain that civil war in the Arab Empire is inevitable."

"But now that Caliph Ali has been assassinated, the situation is actually favorable to the Arabs. Originally, the power of the Sunni sect was stronger than that of the Shi'ites. Ali was able to inherit the position of Caliph because of his bloodline. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of the Arab law. Now that he has been assassinated, the Sunni sect will inevitably rise, and the Shi'ites will be unable to resist or stop it..."

"The rise of the Sunni faction has helped the Arab Empire avoid long-term internal consumption, allowing the Arab Empire's power to gather in one place. They will not be weakened by Ali's assassination, but will become stronger instead."

"The incident in the Arab Empire is definitely not conducive to the restoration of Persia. Instead, it exacerbates the crisis in the Wuhu waters... Instead of thinking about how to restore the country, it is better to strengthen defense."

"Once the Xun faction gains power, it will surely speed up its expansion and declare to all believers that it is the orthodox of the Arab Empire."

Faced with Chen Qingsi's words, A Luohan turned pale.

He couldn't have imagined that Chen Qingsi had such a thorough understanding of the situation in the Arab Empire and his analysis was so precise.

Alohan's younger brother, the Persian King Peroz, concealed some information about the Tang Dynasty.

Shortly after the assassination of Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muawiyah, the Umayyad governor of Syria, responded immediately. He made Damascus the capital and became the ruler of the Caliphate.

Muawiyah was a very powerful character...

Peroz was extremely afraid of him, knowing very well that if he took control of the Arab Empire, Persia would have no hope of regaining its independence, and it might even lose its current foothold.

Instead of doing this, it would be better to take this opportunity to persuade the Tang Dynasty to attack before Muawiyah has completely taken control of the Arab Empire.

A Luohan was not clear about this, but he guessed a little from the messenger's description.

I never expected that there was someone in the Tang Dynasty who could analyze the situation of the Arabs, who were thousands of miles away, so clearly. This strategic foresight was truly terrifying.

There is such a wonderful person like Minister Chen in the world!

No wonder he has the reputation of being a hidden talent at such a young age.

A Luohan sighed slightly.

He believed in Chen Qingsi's judgment, but the king of Persia was called Peroz, his younger brother, not A Luohan...

Your own opinions and attitudes may not be effective.

"What Minister Chen meant, A Luohan must report to the king without missing a single word."

Chen Qingsi also heard the hidden meaning, and A Luo regretted that he had no hope for this matter.

Chen Qingsi didn't say anything more. Having said this, there was no point in saying more.

If Persia could listen to him and retain a certain amount of its own strength, it would be helpful to the Tang Dynasty in its future war against the Arabs. However, after Persia has a certain degree of independent strength and gains a certain advantage and gathers the scattered tribes, it may not necessarily be obedient.

Only the interests between countries can be eternal.

In other words, if Persia really didn't know what was good for them, even though they would lose a troop, they would understand that a stray dog ​​can only have food if it follows its master. With Pei Xingjian in the Western Regions, they would not suffer any loss.

A Luo was filled with worries, and he looked sad even until the end of the banquet.

Chen Qingsi, however, remained the same. After all, the impact on the Tang Dynasty was not significant, and he did not want to be distracted.

When A Luohan left Luoyang for Fulin Kingdom, Chen Qingsi went to see him off specially.

Li Yiyan was one of A Luohan's few good friends.

After seeing A Luohan off, Chen Qingsi and Li Yiyan returned together.

The two chatted happily.

Especially when talking about the reform of the imperial examination system, Li Yiyan praised Chen Qingsi's reforms.

But in fact, Li Yiyan himself was a beneficiary of the old-school imperial examination system. As a Jinshi in the fifth year of Wude, he was able to enter the official career thanks to his old father Li Xuande who had a relationship with Pei Ji.

That's exactly the case. Li Yiyan also felt that the imperial examination was insignificant and was nothing more than a way of recommendation by the powerful in a different way.

A successful Jinshi is nothing more than an object of favor among the nobles.

However, with Chen Qingsi's reform of the imperial examination system, the imperial examination system gradually became the trend.

Those who passed the imperial examination were no longer the playthings of the powerful, but became disciples of the emperor, who had the opportunity to gain experience.

Li Yiyan was very envious.

During the conversation, Chen Qingsi discovered that Li Yiyan had actually done extremely in-depth research on the imperial examinations and could speak very clearly about them, which surprised him.

"Yuanwailang has put a lot of effort into the imperial examination!"

Li Yiyan did not shy away from the question, but simply said, "I feel that the imperial examination will be of great benefit to the country in the future and will influence the general trend. I have spent some time studying it when I had nothing to do. In front of Minister Chen, it seems that I am just showing off my skills."

Chen Qingsi said: "Wise men think alike. I think so too. Scholars like me should have a relatively fair path to advancement."

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a ladder for promotion for warriors. As long as one had military merit, not only a commoner, but even a barbarian could command thousands of soldiers.

However, for various reasons, the path to promotion for scholars was monopolized and controlled by the gentry and officials.

It is also because of this that many literati joined the army and Yang Jiong wrote poems like "I would rather be a centurion than a scholar".

Li Yiyan said: "This is also my humble wish!"

Chen Qingsi glanced at Li Yiyan and said, "After the Fengshan ceremony, it's time to prepare for the new imperial examination. Are you interested in becoming one of the examiners?"

Li Yiyan was overjoyed and said, "I will live up to the Shangshu's high expectations!"

Chen Qingsi nodded. Li Yiyan is now a Yuanwailang.

It is impossible to let him preside over the imperial examination...

Li Zhi now attached great importance to the imperial examination, and the chief examiner had to have a rank at least above that of a minister.

It was no longer like before, where Chen Qingsi, a sixth-rank official, presided over the Spring Examination.

Li Yiyan had the merit of receiving A Luohan, and his official reputation and ability were unquestionable. It was not difficult to get him a position as an examiner.

As the weather gradually turns cooler, the day to set off for Mount Tai is approaching.

Chen Qingsi had been waiting for Li Chongde to make any move, and couldn't help feeling a little anxious. Could this guy be so cowardly that he didn't dare to take any action?

Thinking that if Li Chongde still didn't show up after waiting for another half a month, he would have to take action.

Chen Qingsi didn't want to expose himself too early.

Chen Qingsi would not and dared not underestimate Empress Wu, a woman who stood at the pinnacle of power in this era through political schemes.

Although she was still immature and far from being the capricious Wu Zhao, Chen Qingsi believed that after a series of setbacks, Empress Wu could not have been unaware that someone was plotting against her. Given her personality, she must have suspected him.

It’s just that suspicion and confirmation are different concepts.

He, Chen Qingsi, is no longer an ordinary little character. He is a hidden figure with great military merits.

Even Empress Wu did not dare to offend easily.

As long as she has no actual evidence, the most he can do is to trip her up behind her back. Unless he gives her a chance to kill her with one strike, he will not dare to offend her to death.

With Empress Wu's wisdom, she would not rashly provoke an important official of such status, no matter how much she disliked him.

Chen Qingsi was not afraid of becoming an enemy of Empress Wu, but it was much easier for him to act in the dark than in the open.

Chen Qingsi patiently gave Li Chongde a few more days.

At the court meeting that day, Chen Qingsi was still sleepwalking.

Chen Qingsi was best at being an official. He seldom spoke at court meetings.

Because he was the Minister of War, who was in charge of military affairs, and military affairs were rarely discussed in such a crowded temple.

Most of the things discussed at the court meetings are policies related to people's livelihood. It is a golden rule for officials not to meddle in matters that are not their responsibility.

Even if he heard something funny or stupid, he wouldn't say anything.

He is also very professional in holding back laughter.

Of course, Li Zhi consulted privately, which was an exception.

Most of the time, Chen Qingsi was just like many great generals in the temple, standing there as a pillar.

Until Li Chongde stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I impeach the governor of Yizhou, Liang Zhaozhi, for corruption and bribery, and his laziness, which led to the evildoers taking human lives and failing to show your grace."

Li Chongde held his head high and chest puffed out, looking righteous and awe-inspiring, and spoke every word clearly and loudly.

Chen Qingsi's spirits lifted slightly, and he hummed in his heart, "I finally waited for you, luckily I didn't give up..."

Chen Qingsi had no idea why Li Chongde impeached Liang Zhaozhi, but since he had taken action, he must have been targeting Li Yifu.

The censors in the Tang Dynasty were a very special group. With the connivance of Li Shimin, they had the power to influence public opinion.

Li Zhi didn't buy it. He was far from having the broad-mindedness of his father Li Shimin. Anyone who dared to bully him like Wei Zheng bullied his father would be punished for the rest of his life.

Of course, Li Zhi still followed his father's attitude towards ministers, which was conducive to his own control.

As a Censor-in-Chief, Li Chongde submitted his impeachment memorial and received Li Zhi's permission to investigate.

The censor's procedure began to take place, and the Censor-in-Chief set out for Yizhou to investigate.

Whether there is any problem with Liang Zhaozhi, the governor of Yizhou, is certainly problematic.

There will be some degree of corruption and bribery. In a desolate and remote place like Yizhou, the power of the clan is enough to confront the local government.

Most officials in such places would find it difficult to run basic government offices if their money was not collected, and they would not be subject to inspection.

As for the prevailing laziness, it has led to evildoers taking human lives.

This is both unjust and true...

Xizhou is a remote place, and there are many exiled villains in the state capital, as well as indigenous people living in the mountains.

They are brave and aggressive, greedy for profit and willing to commit suicide.

For a little bit of profit, someone may die.

Then he hid in the mountains and didn't come out for three to five years. It is difficult to confirm whether he died in the mountains or settled down and had children with the natives of the mountains.

In the end, most of the murders are unsolved cases.

To be honest, we cannot really blame the governor, but there is no doubt that he was lazy in his administration.

Every complaint is answered.

Liang Zhaozhi was punished without any suspense, and Li Yifu was involved as expected.

Ministry of Punishment.

Minister of Justice Liu Xiangdao looked at the confession in his hand and noticed the words involving Li Yifu in the confession.

Li Yifu was very generous in Yizhou and would send a lot of gifts to the provincial government during every festival.

Although Li Yifu still had official power, local officials and gentry all gave face to Li Yifu, the former prime minister and powerful official. Li Yifu himself also understood that he needed to take care of things when living under someone else's roof.

This time, all the items used in the transaction became stolen money.

Liu Xiangdao looked at Li Yifu and recalled the recent news circulating in the officialdom.

Li Yifu's former subordinates planned to use the Fengshan Ceremony to give Li Yifu a chance to obtain amnesty.

Liu Xiangdao came from a family of officials and was well aware of the twists and turns of being an official.

Thinking about the incident in which Li Chongde sued Liang Zhaozhi, the governor of Yizhou, in the palace, he had a clear idea in his mind.

After all, who in Beijing didn't know that Li Chongde included Li Yifu into the family tree and then deleted him from it?

The cause and effect became clear at once.

"Li Yifu needs to be investigated thoroughly. In the past, he betrayed the emperor's grace and abused your majesty's trust. He did all kinds of evil and deserves death... Your majesty was kind and spared his life and gave him a chance. But I didn't expect that even after being demoted to Yizhou, he still didn't repent."

Liu Xiangdao said this with great righteousness.

If Li Yifu falls into his hands, he will definitely be in trouble.

When Li Yi's mansion collapsed, Liu Xiangdao was the chief judge appointed by Li Zhi.

Because Li Yifu had committed so many evil deeds and incurred the wrath of heaven and man, the common people even wrote a letter of proclamation that Liu Xiangdao, the marching marshal of Hejian Road, had led his troops to defeat the great thief Li Yifu, and spread the news throughout Chang'an.

This incident is also Liu Xiangdao's most classic political achievement in his life.

Now that Li Yifu wants to come back, Liu Xiangdao is naturally unwilling.

The fire also burned Li Yifu's body.

Zhenguan Hall.

Li Zhi looked at the final report handed over by the Ministry of Justice, slammed it heavily on the table, and couldn't help cursing: "What an unrepentant idiot."

The smarter a person is, the more likely he or she is to get stuck in a rut.

Li Yifu did not think that he was in such a situation because of superstition, but believed that it was because Chen Qingsi absorbed his fortune. Especially after hearing about Chen Qingsi's achievements over the years, he became more determined.

In order to regain the fortune that was sucked away by Chen Qingsi, even though he was in Yizhou, he still did not forget to send people to look for the fairy Qingxuzi and the sorcerer Du Yuanji.

Li Zhi had been keeping Li Yifu in order to deal with the Guandong gentry, but now he was greatly disappointed.

"There is no amnesty for those who refuse to repent until death."

Li Zhi left these words in his memorial.

Li Zhi was so angry that he didn't notice that not far from him, Empress Wu was biting her teeth with such force that blood oozed out...

(End of this chapter)