Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

The next day, Defang came to the Privy Council to review the records of Hou Mochen's garrison in various places in the name of supervision. Come here in vain?"

Defang turned around and saw Zhao Pu, and hurriedly saluted, "Xiao Wang sees the prime minister"

"My lord, please don't be too polite." Zhao Pu smiled, "What's the matter? Do you want to see the records?"

"Yes, Prime Minister." Defang said while holding a book recording military reports, "Xiao Wang is checking some records."

"Oh?" Zhao Pu looked at the battle report, officer roster, and garrison service records that Defang produced, and asked, "Who is the prince looking for?"

Defang was taken aback, "The prime minister is really powerful, how did you know that Xiao Wang is investigating people?"

"These" Zhao Pu pointed to the record books "are all the records of Yingzhou, Shanzhou, and Zhengzhou, and the rosters are also all the governors and regiment training envoys, and the battle reports are only from the third year of Yongxi (986). From this point of view, The prince must be investigating something, but the matter is artificial, so the truth is that the prince is investigating someone."

Hearing this, Defang admired him very much, and cupped his hands and said, "Xiao Wang admires the prime minister's intelligence very much."

Zhao Pu smiled and said, "Thank you, my lord, in fact, as long as my lord has more experience, he will definitely surpass the truth."

"I would like to ask the Prime Minister to give you more advice," Defang said.

Zhao Pu nodded, "Who is the prince looking for? See if the truth can help you."

"Xiao Wang is taking advantage of Cha Hou Mo Chen"

"Hou Mochen used it." Zhao Pu thought for a while, "Well, I know the truth about this person, and I have heard something about him recently."

Defang told Zhao Pu what he saw at the market yesterday, and Zhao Pu stroked his beard and said, "As the rumors say, I have heard many evil things about this person, and now I have just regained my phase, and I want to rectify it Officials"

"That's great! Prime Minister, Xiao Wang is planning to go to the Ministry of Officials to check again," Defang said

"My lord, as a lord, I go to two places a day to check the records, so I'm afraid I'll startle the snake."

"Then what should we do?" Defang asked.

"After the court tomorrow morning, I just want to go to the Ministry of Officials to inspect, so the prince will come with me when the time comes."

Defang nodded, "Yes, Prime Minister"

After the morning court the next day, Defang came to Zhao Pu, "Prime Minister, do you want to go now?"

Zhao Pu nodded.Together with Defang, he came to the Ministry of Officials to check the official files. On the other hand, he sent someone secretly to Hou Mochen to take advantage of the situation of his place of office. After a few days, he returned to Beijing in person.

Zhao Pu came to Nanqing Palace.

"My lord, there is news," Zhao Pu said

"Oh? How?" Defang asked

"As expected, he has elected dozens of people as officials over the years, concentrated in the places where he once served. Chen used the murder and robbery under his rule. His evil deeds are obvious, and the witnesses and material evidence are complete."

"Great! Then I have to report to His Majesty" Defang said

"Yes, we must report, and let His Majesty decide to get rid of this person"

"Well, such a villain, we must not stay"

In the early court, Zhao Pu reported Hou Mo Chen's use of the matter. Taizong was very surprised and sent a special person to try again. A few days later, Chen Yong made a full confession. Zhao Pu asked Chen to be killed. Taizong was not happy, but wanted to forgive him, so he said, Is the king of a country, can't he forgive a person?"

Zhao Pujin said, "If Your Majesty doesn't punish the treacherous ministers, the laws of the world will be disrupted. The laws can be messed up. What's the pity for a dead son?"

Taizong had no choice but to dismiss Chen Yongli and send him to Shangzhou, but Taizong regretted it less than a day later, and issued an edict to recruit Chen Yongli back.