The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 21 Demotion and Promotion

Watching Wang Zhongsi's leaving figure, Li Heng was thoughtful and thought to himself, "This matter is not simple. If Wang Zhongsi is only looking for living people, he will definitely not be able to find the Fenglin County Lieutenant for a while. Well, if he can't find it, then Li Longji's decree to appoint me will surely arrive soon."

Li Heng already had an idea in his mind, but he chose not to tell Wang Zhongsi.

Because his purpose was not to be a counselor, he could only say half and keep the other half in order to force Wang Zhongsi to write a letter, so that he could get the real power.

But Wang Zhongsi's life was not so good.

As Li Heng expected, Wang Zhongsi searched for three days but still couldn't find the Fenglin County Lieutenant.

Unable to find the county lieutenant, Wang Zhongsi simply gave up looking for him. He changed his mind and started investigating the Hu people who were rude to Yang Yuhuan that night.

Huangfu Weiming's residence.

Huangfu Weiming, Wu Sicang, Song Sitian, and Wang Sihu of Lanzhou were enjoying the singing and dancing of beautiful women and drinking fine wine.

Wu Sicang said to Huangfu Weiming: "General, you are very wise. Prince Shou and Wang Zhongsi thought they had found a clue, but in fact, it is a clue with no end. They will never be able to figure it out in their lifetime."

Wang Sihu added: "Wang Zhongsi seems to have given up on looking for the Fenglin County Magistrate. The matter has been settled."

"Two incompetent people want to fight us." Huangfu Weiming smiled proudly, "By the way, Wang Sihu, without your approval, Wang Zhongsi detained those Hu people without authorization, which seems to be inconsistent with the etiquette of our Tang Dynasty."

Wang Sihu said, "Then I will send the approval document to Prince Shou tomorrow."

"Good, very good." Huangfu Weiming laughed.

This day, noon.

Wang Sihu found Li Ying, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, Prince Shou, I heard that a Hu man offended you a few days ago and was arrested by General Wang."

Li Heng nodded and said, "That's true."

"In that case, the Hu people are indeed guilty," Wang Sihu agreed first, then changed the subject and said, "But our Great Tang is a country of etiquette. If we want to arrest Hu people who are not registered in the Great Tang, we need the approval of the Sihu. I came to visit Your Highness today and specially sent you the approval."

Wang Sihu's words sounded like he was trying to please Li Heng, but in fact he was mocking Li Heng for having no real power and not acting according to the law.

But to do things according to the law, we have to rely on people like them.

Li Heng looked at Wang Sihu and wanted to punch him in the heart, but he still smiled and said, "Thank you for your help, Wang Sihu."

"I dare not say that I am doing a great job for His Highness." Wang Sihu smiled complacently, "This is what General Huangfu meant. General Huangfu and I all hope to do a great job for His Highness."

"Then I'll come to thank you another day."

Just as Li Ying was about to say something else, a group of people suddenly walked in.

Li Heng looked up and saw that the leader was a eunuch, followed by Wang Zhongsi, Xin Yunjing, several officials, and a guard of honor.

The eunuch walked up to Li Ying and said, "Your Highness Prince Shou, there is an order."

Li Heng was slightly surprised, and immediately listened to the order with Wang Sihu.

The eunuch read out: "The Emperor's edict says: I rule the country with culture and suppress rebellions with military force. Shou Wang Li Ying, who burns firewood until dawn and reads books to master the classics, is a natural choice for me to be appointed to a civil position. Unexpectedly, when I visited the border, Tubo disturbed our Longyou. You are a pastoral official in ancient and modern times, and you are in the palace. However, the officials in Longyou have greatly disappointed my expectations. You do not plan for border defense, but focus on internal friction. Therefore, I specially appoint Shou Wang Li Ying as the envoy of promotion and demotion, and give him the power to act at his discretion on behalf of the emperor."

After the eunuch finished reading, he quickly helped Li Ying up and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor and Consort Wu Huifei have more instructions. Please just stand and listen."

Li Ying bowed and listened.

The eunuch said, "The Holy Lord has given you this oral instruction: I know everything that happened to you on this journey. I have given you this position without any intention of making you work hard. If you feel unwell, you can go home at any time. Concubine Wu Hui has given you this oral instruction: If you encounter any problems, you will not write to your mother. You must take care of yourself because of the hard journey."

"Thank you, Shen Zhongjian." Li Heng said politely, "Shen Zhongjian, please take a rest. I will prepare a banquet for Shen Zhongjian." "Your Highness Shou Wang's kindness is appreciated. I need to go back and report immediately. I can't stay any longer, otherwise Wu Huifei will be anxious."

"In that case, I will send Shen Zhongjian away."

Li Heng escorted the eunuch to the outside of the inn. Yang Yuhuan, who followed him out, sensibly handed Li Heng a bag of silver. Li Heng took it and stuffed it into the eunuch's pocket, saying, "You have worked hard on the journey, eunuch."

The eunuch did not refuse, but smiled knowingly and said, "Your Highness, Prince Shou, please stay. I pray that everything goes well for you."

The eunuch left.

Li Heng stood where he was and raised his head slightly.

His real power finally arrived.

Although this right is only a temporary demotion, it is the best outcome at present.

Xin Yunjing followed him out and said, "Your Highness, I have already sent a message back to the capital regarding our assassination."

Wang Zhongsi continued, "I have also reported the case of Chen Wulang to His Majesty."

Xin Yunjing was originally a spy placed by Li Longji beside him, and Wang Zhongsi is currently also loyal to Li Longji. Li Heng had long expected this move by the two.

What Li Ying had been waiting for was for these two people to take action.

For some things, once you have achieved a certain level, even if you don’t want to move forward, others will push you forward.

Now, Xin Yunjing and Wang Zhongsi were pushing him forward.

Of course, one thing that cannot be ignored is that he also has a good mother.

In history, if Wu Huifei could live a few more years, Li Longji might not have snatched Yang Yuhuan away, and might even have let Li Heng inherit the throne.

But this is just a possibility, and Li Heng doesn't want to place his bets on others.

Now, he can only use Concubine Wu Huifei to develop himself as much as possible.

Seeing that Li Heng was silent, Wang Zhongsi said, "Your Highness, it's not that I want to trouble you, but this case is complicated and I can't handle it alone."

Li Heng heard this and smiled, saying, "Since I have been appointed to this position, I will do my job. If I can do something for the people of the world with the rest of my life, it will not be in vain."

"Your Highness is kind and benevolent." Wang Zhongsi praised sincerely.

Li Heng smiled slightly, turned around and looked at Wang Sihu, and said, "I appreciate the approval document sent by Wang Sihu, but it seems that I don't need it now. But that Hu man, judging from his appearance that day, he must have done a lot of bad things in his daily life."

Wang Zhongsi had not found the Fenglin County Lieutenant in the past two days, but he had investigated a lot about the Hu people. He immediately said, "Your Highness, that Hu person is a small leader of the Shouzhuolang, who specializes in killing people."

"Oh?" Li Ying was slightly startled and said with a smile, "Then he is dead. Let's go inside and talk about the case."

After saying that, he ignored Wang Sihu and turned into the inn.

In the inn.

Wang Zhongsi said, "I am ashamed that I, the county lieutenant of Fenglin County, have not yet caught him. I have blocked all the important roads in Lanzhou. Logically, he should not be able to escape."

"He may be dead." Li Heng thought, "They can even kill the county magistrate, let alone a small county lieutenant. I was curious about a question before."

"What's the problem?" Wang Zhongsi asked quickly.

(End of this chapter)