The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

"But Mr. Pei, these merits are not enough for you to have those positions in the court." Li Shimin said: "Your talent and merits are not enough to give you such a high position. It is because of the favor of the emperor that you are ranked first. During the Wude period, the government and the criminal law were full of mistakes and loopholes, and the local officials were in disorder. You are responsible for this.

I have never punished you because of our old friendship. In addition, since the Pei family has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, I let you go to Guangzhou and let you live."

"Only by living can there be a future. This is the room I leave for your Pei family."

Pei Ji heard this and felt mixed emotions.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your crime!" Pei Ji kowtowed again.

"Go ahead. Guangzhou is a long way away. I have also told you along the way that you will arrive there safely." Li Shimin said, "In addition, I will also arrange for some of the servants of the Pei family to set off and accompany you to Guangzhou. You are old. Even if something like this happened, I can't bear to let you spend your old age in Guangzhou. I still hope that one day you can return to Chang'an." Pei Ji was moved when he heard this. "Your Majesty is so kind to me, I am so grateful that I cannot express it in words. I wish Your Majesty good health and the great Tang Dynasty will last forever."

"It's called exile, but in fact, let you retire in Guangzhou for the time being. I have also considered letting you return to your hometown Puzhou, but the court wants to take back the salt and iron business rights. Puzhou produces salt, and many families' salt businesses are there. Even if you return to Puzhou, I'm afraid you won't be at peace. Just hide away."

"Dang Renhong is in Guangzhou. I trust him, so I let him be the governor of Guangzhou and sit in Guangzhou. When you get there, you don't have to worry about anything."

"Yes." Pei Ji bowed his hands and responded.

There is nothing to worry about, and there are servants accompanying him. When he goes to Guangzhou, Dang Renhong is your majesty's confidant, which also means that if your majesty wants to know the situation there at any time, Dang Renhong can report it to Chang'an City at any time.

Or write to your majesty privately.

Li Shimin's trip to see Pei Ji also made Pei Ji think it through.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to write a document." Pei Ji bowed and said, "I am willing to offer the salt and iron industry of the Pei family in Puzhou to your Majesty and the court."

Even if he didn't write it, the Hundred Cavalry Division would follow the Pei family's industry to Puzhou to search and confiscate it.

But if Pei Ji wrote it in person, the nature would be different.

Pei Ji's document could save Li Shimin a lot of trouble.

It was also Pei Ji's final statement.

The court must take back these rights and it is unstoppable.

The Changsun family took the initiative to return them, and Pei Ji set an example.

Those who originally joined forces with Pei Ji to plot against the court in this regard had to think carefully.

"You want to write a document?" Li Shimin narrowed his eyes and looked at Pei Ji.

"Yes, I wrote the document to atone for the Pei family's crime. Your Majesty, remembering the past, thinks of me. I, the guilty minister, also want to think of Your Majesty for once."

The Baiqi Division searched the Pei family, and the contract documents of these related industries had long been found in the underground secret room, and now they have all been sent to the palace.

These industrial documents are also temporarily under the management of the Ministry of Revenue. When they are all collected in the future, they will be discussed separately.

Li Shimin looked at Pei Ji with a little complexity in his eyes.

Then he waved his hand.

"Approved."

Soon, the guards outside brought paper and pen, and Pei Ji wrote the document on the stone table in the pavilion.

"Mr. Pei, the journey to Guangzhou is long and the mountains are high. Take care along the way. I will give those people in the Pei family a place to stay." Li Shimin said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After talking about the matter, Pei Ji should continue on his journey with the messenger.

The escort of Pei Ji saw that even His Majesty came to see him off in person, so he dared not neglect Pei Ji on the road.

Li Shimin stood in the pavilion, watching Pei Ji go away.

After this trip, Pei Ji's days on the road would probably be much easier.

As an emperor, it is normal to give a sweet date after a slap in the face when treating his subjects.

As for how heavy the slap is and how sweet the sweet date is.

The emperor has the final say.

Li Shimin had a smile on his face.

Originally, he just wanted to ask about the Puzhou Salt Lake, but in this way, he got an unexpected gain.

Pei Ji was also sensible.

Li Shimin looked at the documents collected by the guards around him.

"Let's go back to the palace."

"Yes." The guard responded.

The people waiting outside brought a horse to Li Shimin, and Li Shimin took the reins and climbed on the horse.

No one in the palace knew that he was leaving the palace this time. He only brought a few trusted guards with him. He left as soon as he was told.

He also knew that Pei Ji would leave Chang'an City at this time today, so he waited at Baqiao in advance.

Li Shimin rode his horse all the way back to the palace.In the palace.

Before they had time to change clothes, the eunuch came to report that Lawyer Pei had been executed.

Li Shimin was silent for a long time and nodded slightly.

"I know, keep his body well, return it to the Pei family, and bury it."

"Yes." The eunuch responded.

Although Pei Ji was no longer in Chang'an, the other members of the Pei family were still in Chang'an City.

Since Li Shimin promised Pei Ji to settle the Pei family, he would keep his promise.

The Pei family's mansion could no longer be returned to them, but it was still possible to leave them a place to live in the confiscated mansion.

Under Li Shimin's instruction, the people of the Baiqi Division did this.

Pei Ji's wife and children suffered, but the relatives of the Pei family still had their property, but their official positions were demoted.

The main property confiscated this time was the property under the names of Lawyer Pei Ji and his son.

Even so, the entire Pei family was devastated.

The side branch's daily life also depends on the main family's help and subsidies.

Now the side branch is fine, and the main family has collapsed.

The remaining Pei family members still want to live smoothly in Chang'an City, and there is only one way left.

Hurry up and get close to the main branch of the Hedong Pei family.

Pei Ji is also from the Hedong Pei family.

Counting three generations up, they are all one family.

In Jingyang Palace, Li Fu also received the news that Lawyer Pei had died.

"This time, there is no accident. Lawyer Pei died and Pei Ji was exiled."

There was no happy expression on Li Fu's face.

It's nothing more than... revenge.

This revenge was not taken too early.

From the ninth year of Wude to the second year of Zhenguan.

It took three years to take this revenge.

"Zhao San, prepare some excellent tributes and send them to the ancestral hall. I'm going to burn incense there." Li Fu said calmly.

"Yes." Zhao San responded.

Zhao San was also puzzled. Why did his husband start offering incense to his ancestors during this non-holiday season?

After Zhao San was ready, Li Fu came to the ancestral hall in the mansion.

After Zhao San waited outside and closed the door of the ancestral hall, Li Fu looked serious and respectfully burned incense to the tablet on top.