Early Tang Dynasty: forge ahead

Chapter 488

Wang Xiaojie left Huangzhong County with a happy face. Although he did not ask Di Renjie to release the prisoners, he got Di Renjie's promise that he would only give a minor punishment and not make a big deal out of the matter. He would also help persuade the Long family to sell the "Kucha Music Score" to him.

Although the ideal effect was not achieved, Di Renjie, who was known for his uprightness, was willing to give in and give Wang Xiaojie face, and also help him get the "Kucha Music Score", so the ending was also perfect.

When Di Renjie walked out of the office, the clerks of the county government had already gathered together after hearing the news. When they saw Wang Xiaojie walking out of the office with a satisfied look on his face, they became very worried.

He didn't feel relieved until he saw Di Renjie coming out.

The county master, Bo Jiao Kaiqun, stepped forward and said, "County magistrate, General Wang did not embarrass you, did he?"

Di Renjie shook his head and said, "He is afraid that I know Minister Chen, so he doesn't dare to embarrass me. Everyone, go away..."

Seeing that nothing happened, the clerks breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated themselves.

Di Renjie was undoubtedly a rare good official. In the hundreds of years of history of Huangzhong County, Di Renjie's ability and contribution ranked first.

But Wang Xiaojie has a bad reputation and is not a reasonable person.

If the two of them really started quarreling, they would naturally want to stand on Di Renjie's side, but Wang Xiaojie and the others could not defeat him!
Wang Xiaojie had many faults, but his achievements were earned through fighting on the battlefield. His loyalty and bravery were recognized by generals of Su Dingfang's rank...

If he really gets angry, who in the county can be his rival?

If we can resolve the issue peacefully now, that would be the best of both worlds.

The clerks dispersed.

Di Renjie called out to the county lieutenant Xing Shiwei: "County lieutenant Xing, please stay for a moment."

Xing Shiwei bowed and waited for orders.

Di Renjie threw something in his hand to Xing Shiwei and said, "These are the silver coins left by General Wang. Divide them into five parts and give one part to each of the injured servants. Deliver them to them personally. As for the captain who beat the man, detain him for a month and then release him."

Xing Shiwei stretched out his hand to take the money bag, which was heavy in his hand. As a county lieutenant, he knew the laws of the court. Injuring people and causing trouble would be a serious crime.

The lighter punishment was ten days of imprisonment, while the heavier punishment was beating and exile.

The captain who beat the man did so in someone else's home, which was already a serious crime.

Di Renjie was only sentenced to one month in prison, which was indeed considered a lenient sentence.

Xing Shiwei thought Di Renjie was being coerced by Wang Xiaojie, and he understood his superior. He bowed and accepted the order. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the other party say, "I heard that you have a good relationship with Long Cheng?"

Long Cheng is the owner of the "Kucha Music Score".

Xing Shiwei said: "My daughter married his nephew, so we are relatives. When we are free, we both like to have a drink and visit each other frequently."

Di Renjie said, "Well, come with me later and persuade Long Dongjia to sell the "Kucha Music Score" to Wang Xiaojie."

Xing Shiwei's face changed drastically, and he said, "County Magistrate Di, this is not good. Brother Long regards the "Kucha Music Score" as a treasure. Aren't you forcing him to buy it?"

Di Renjie said: "This matter is indeed unfair to Long Dongjia. I am only trying to persuade him and will not force him to sell. As long as I am in Huangzhong County for one day, I can guarantee his safety. However... I will leave one day, and no matter what happens then, I will be unable to help."

Xing Shiwei asked, "General Wang, do you like the Kucha Music Score so much? Would you rather break the law than not want it?"

"Him?" Di Renjie shook his head and laughed, "A rough man who can't even recognize all the notes of Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng and Yu, how can he understand music... He took the "Kucha Music Score" to send it to the nobles in the capital, to seek a high position and please the nobles above. If he fails to get it today, it will be equivalent to ruining his good deeds. He will always remember this matter. If a villain keeps it in mind, how can the Long family live in peace in the future? The man is innocent but guilty of possessing a treasure!"

This is the biggest difference of Di Renjie.

Di Renjie's squareness is different from Bao Zheng's squareness...

Bao Zheng was really tough, he even dared to spit on Song Renzong's face, whereas Di Renjie was flexible and compromising.

Bao Zheng only met Emperor Renzong of Song. If he met an emperor with a worse temper, he would not have been killed, or kept by his side. But Di Renjie met Empress Wu, who was the most capricious and devoted to internal struggles for power...

If Bao Zheng had served another emperor, he might not have achieved the historical achievements, but Di Renjie did an outstanding job no matter which emperor he served.

After all, he was able to survive the hands of the extremely suspicious Empress Wu, the four cruel officials Lai Junchen, Zhou Xing, Suo Yuanli, and Wan Guojun, as well as some evildoers from the Wu family, and even live to become a cabinet minister of the current dynasty. Naturally, he was not an inflexible and loyal minister.

Di Renjie had a very strong political sense. He had realized that Wang Xiaojie's purpose in asking for the "Kucha Music Score" was to bribe a nobleman in the capital, who could be at least a minister or even the emperor.

Wang Xiaojie would not give up, after all, his arms were no match for his thighs.

This makes Wang Xiaojie, a reckless man with a weak sense of law, always worry about the future.

Di Renjie did not regard himself as a saint and handle the matter impartially, but instead gave the best solution and secured the greatest benefit for the Long family...

If the Long family does not accept his optimal solution, Di Renjie will not be angry. As he said, he will just try his best. As long as he stays in Huangzhong County, he can hold the banner of Chen Qingsi and make Wang Xiaojie afraid.

If one day he gets promoted or transferred and leaves Huangzhong County, he will no longer be able to do anything about it.

Just like the captain of that adult, instead of beating the captain with a few boards and fining him some medical expenses, it is better to exempt him from these boards and let Wang Xiaojie pay more silver.

After all, compared to beating the captain with a few sticks, the servants who were beaten were more short of money to live.

Of course, Di Renjie's flexibility was limited to small matters, but he was never vague on major issues. He was the chief contributor to the revival of the Tang Dynasty, and the core figures of the Shenlong coup were all promoted by Di Renjie under the nose of Empress Wu.

Di Renjie did not want to repeat the incident of the Xuanwu Gate Incident of the Li Tang Dynasty. He did not want to return power to the Li family through a coup d'état to avoid setting a bad example for future generations. Otherwise, he would have been able to force Wu Zetian to abdicate before his death.

After all, Wu Zetian became more stupid as she got older, while Di Renjie became more evil as he got older.

When Wu Zetian ascended the throne, she could still suppress Di Renjie with her power and schemes. But later, when she was being affectionate with her lover, she let Di Renjie arrange everything clearly.

Just ten days after Di Renjie dealt with Wang Xiaojie's matter, Di Renjie received a promotion document from the Ministry of Personnel.

Di Renjie, the magistrate of Huangzhong County, was promoted to Imperial Censor and went to Beijing to report on his work that day.

Di Renjie looked at the document in his hand, his eyes showing a calmness.

Back then, he did not agree to Chen Qingsi's request to stay in Beijing, mainly because he was not ready. He did not want to be involved in the intrigues of the court too early. He felt that he was still young and should do some practical things for the people and hone himself.

After the experience in Huangzhong County, Di Renjie was fully prepared this time.
-
Tubo, Lhasa, Potala Palace.

Great memorial day.

Mangsong Mangtsen is located on a high platform of the Potala Palace, wearing a white holy hat and praying to the sky.

Below him were the Tibetan Grand Councillor Gar Dongzan, the Deputy Councillor Dayan Mangbuzhi, and the noble members of the Three Shangs and One Council, the Molu clan, the Caibang clan, the Chen clan, and the Wei clan…

Galdongzan's hair and beard were as white as snow, without any trace of gray or black.

At the beginning of the year, he could still be seen as a sixty-year-old man, but in just a few months, this Dalun who had supported Tubo for many years seemed to have aged more than ten years, with wrinkles on his face. Tubo adopted the Bafu system, that is, the most honorable Zamp was responsible for sacrifices, but the political orders came from the Dalunfu.

The state religion of Tubo is Bon, a belief that originated from the ancient kingdom of Zhangzhung. After cultural integration, it formed Yungdrung Bon.

Yungdrung Bon actually absorbed some of the Western ideas of governing the country with religion. Galdongzan used faith to control the people on the plateau.

Bon religion worships natural spirits and often holds ceremonies to exorcise evil spirits.

This exorcism ritual is very cruel, and requires the killing of sheep, dogs, monkeys, horses, cows, dogs, donkeys and even living people...

But those who believe in this are extremely excited, thinking that blood can wash away evil spirits.

The best blood is the old thief's blood!

Wei Songnang, who was standing below the altar, had excitement and resentment flashing in his eyes.

The Tubo Wei family is the most honorable surname in Tubo and one of the ancient Tibetan nobles. The earliest record of this family is in the period of the Twelve Small States, which is older than the Tubo nation. When Songtsen Gampo created the Three Shangs and One Lun system, the first Da Lun was Wei Jisang Danang of the Wei family. After him, Wei Jiangbeilesang...

Almost all the major theories in the Three Shangs and One Theory system came from the Wei family, and the Wei family always regarded it as a family honor.

Until the rise of Gar Dongzan, they snatched the position of Grand Theorist from the Wei family. Especially after the death of Songtsen Gampo, the Gar family even suppressed the Tibetan royal power and became the controller of the system.

Galdongzan launched reforms in Tubo, establishing official posts, demarcating land boundaries, reforming the tax system, establishing household registration, and formulating laws.

All of this hurt the interests of the major Tibetan families, but Galdongzan used his excellent political skills to suppress those who disagreed with him in the major families, promoted the elites of the major families who knew him, and began to infiltrate the families to control the entire Tibetan family.

But after the future pillar of the Gal family, Zansirodobu, was killed in battle, Gal Dongzan arbitrarily changed from the kingly way to the hegemonic way, and from the respected Zhuge Liang, he became Cao Cao.

This caused chaos in the political arena of Tubo. Initially, Gal Dongzan could rely on the power of the Gal family to suppress all disobedience.

However, with the sanctions from the Tang Dynasty and repeated defeats, the power of the Gar family began to decline.

Until Lun Qinling was killed in battle, the armored cavalry, the core combat force of the Gar family, were completely wiped out, and the Gar family could no longer control the situation.

Since the news of Lun Qinling's defeat came out, Gal Dongzan has been recuperating in Dalunfu.

The core forces of the Gar family are all around Dalunfu...

Even though a centipede is dead, its limbs are still stiff. Galdongzan still has prestige. He hides in the Dalun Palace and issues orders, and no one dares to overturn the chess table.

Today is the Bon religion's grand festival day, and it's the best opportunity.

In a country where religion is the core of governance, the most important major festival days cannot be postponed.

If Gal Dongzan doesn't dare to show up on this day, then there will be no need for the Gal family to exist.

Wei Songnang had been running around for this day, waiting for the moment when his true intentions would be revealed.

Looking at Mangsong Mangzan who was muttering to himself and offering sacrifices to the sky above, a hint of ferocity flashed in Wei Songnang's eyes.

Mangsongmangzan is already an adult and has great popularity, so he is difficult to control. It would be best if he died together with the soldiers.

In this way, he would be able to support a young and controllable Zamp to become the second Gal Dongzan, and let the Wei family replace the current Gal family.

Although Wei Songnang hated Galdongzan to the core, his ultimate goal was to become Galdongzan.

Full of irony.

"Offer a sacrifice!"

After chanting sacrificial scriptures for a long time, Mangsong Mangzan's mouth was dry, but he still shouted out these three words in the loudest voice.

The brass trumpet was blown at the same time, and the sound spread throughout the Potala Palace.

Wei Songnang was excited, stood up suddenly, drew his sword and shouted: "Gar Dongzan has held your majesty hostage and brought chaos to Tubo. Today, follow me to kill this evil villain and bring peace to Tubo."

As the brass trumpet sounded, shouts of killing suddenly rang out outside the Potala Palace.

Those who conspired with Wei Songnang also acted together and headed straight for Gardongzan.

However, at this moment, the soldiers guarding Mangsong Mangzan stood in front of Wei Songnang and others.

Mangsong Mangzan was young and stern. He looked at the turmoil below the high platform and said loudly, "Wei Songnang is rebelling. Dalun, punish the thief for this Zamp."

Gal Dongzan's old face was filled with excitement. He looked at the young figure, who seemed to be the same person in his memory...

Just when the bad news reached Lhasa, Galdongzan suddenly received news that King Mangsongmangtsen was here in person.

At this critical moment, Mangsong Mangzan appeared in Dalun Mansion with only a few trusted men.

There was silence between the king and his ministers for a long while.

The relationship between the two is complicated.

Galdongzan was determined to strengthen Tubo and turn it into an empire like the Tang Dynasty.

This is true, it is Songtsen Gampo's long-cherished wish, and there is no doubt that Gardongtsen is loyal to Songtsen Gampo.

But for Songtsen Gampo's grandson Mangsong Mangtsen, the situation was not quite the same.

Gal Dongzan had no intention of rebelling, but he intended to build a country in which the Zamp was responsible for sacrifices and the Gar family was responsible for government orders.

Mangsong Mangzan was unwilling to be sidelined, and the two sides were in opposition.

Now at this critical moment, Mangsong Mangzan actually ventured to come to Dalun Prefecture.

Even Galdongzan couldn't have imagined it.

Finally, Mangsong Mangzan broke the silence: "I express my deepest condolences for the incident involving Qinling."

This was the first sentence Galdongzan said.

The second sentence was: "The four great families left by Songtsen Gampo, namely, the Molu family, the Caibang family, the Chen family, and the Wei family, all want to get rid of Dalun as soon as possible. They have each sent people to express their loyalty to me and are willing to help me get rid of the thief."

The third sentence is the most important: "Dalun is a thief, so are they? I have read Han books and know Han history. There was an emperor named Liu Xie in the Han Dynasty. It was the best outcome for him to fall into the hands of Cao Cao. If he really fell into the hands of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, it would not be better than falling into the hands of Dong Zhuo. Dalun, how about we make a deal? You return the government and I will get rid of the thieves. You continue to be the Dalun and help me stabilize the government. A hundred years later, I will protect the Gal family."

Galdongzan came back to his senses, looked at the chaos in front of him, and suddenly shouted: "I obey the order of the Zamp!"

(End of this chapter)