When Li Shimin saw Murong Lin fleeing in a hurry, the depression in his heart subsided a little.
I have to say, it's quite nice to find someone to vent your anger on.
Especially since this man is still a barbarian, he doesn't have to worry about being criticized verbally or writtenly by his remonstrators.
"Do you think Murong Fuyun will send his son to plead guilty?"
Li Shimin looked at the ministers and asked.
Changsun Wuji responded:
"Return to your majesty, I thought I would."
"Looking at Murong Lin's attitude, he is quite sincere. Small foreign countries are no better than our Tang Dynasty. If the country's leader leaves the country, there may be real turmoil in the country."
"In the past, if we look at some unofficial histories of small countries in the Western Regions, there were many countries where the kings went out to hunt and play for a while, but when they came back, the country was no longer their own!"
"Even the Central Plains Dynasty had a similar situation."
"Therefore, during the Warring States Period, the monarchs of various countries could only send protons to other countries at most, and it was absolutely impossible for them to leave the country. Otherwise, they might be like King Huai of Chu and be trapped and die in Qin State. Murong Fuyun should also have this concerns.”
On the one hand, if you go abroad by yourself, it will be unsafe at home.
On the other hand, when you go to other countries, you are not safe.
"Okay! Murong Fuyun's refusal to come can be considered excusable."
Li Shimin nodded and said,
"I don't force anyone to make things difficult for him. As long as he sends the prince here and doesn't disturb our border with the Tang Dynasty, then I will let him go and won't cause trouble for him."
"But if he shirks it again, then I will never tolerate it again and again!"
When all the ministers heard this, they all bowed their hands. Praise:
"Your Majesty is holy."
Li Jing and Li Ji looked at each other, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
They hoped that Murong Fuyun would not be too wise and it would be better to die a violent death!
Only by seeking death can we have a chance to fight!
Only in war can generals like them have the opportunity to make achievements! Otherwise, sitting at home every day, I would almost lose my temper!
"correct."
Li Shimin said,
"This time I showed mercy to the death row prisoners and released a total of 398 death row prisoners to go home and reunite with their families within a one-day period."
"One day later, all the prisoners on death row returned to the prison. This is a good thing! It shows that my benevolent government and education have worked. Even the prisoners on death row have integrity."
"I always believe that a person cannot stand without faith! As long as a person has integrity, then he has some kind of conscience, and there is medicine to cure him!"
"What do you dear ladies think?"
His eyes fell on Wei Zheng.
"Wei Aiqing, I want to hear your opinion."
Li Er called the roll call.
Wei Zheng stood up, cupped his hands and said:
"I believe that your Majesty's move is indeed in line with the saint's principles of loyalty and forgiveness, and is a good deed."
Li Shimin laughed immediately when he heard this.
Even the big troll Wei Zheng approved of his behavior, who else can say anything wrong with him?
"Okay, okay! Very good!"
Li Er raised his hand and said,
"The word forgiveness is indeed the essence of benevolent government!"
"Be strict externally! Be benevolent internally!"
"Let's do this! I think these death row inmates have done a good job and should be rewarded - let their sentences be postponed for one year and they will be executed next fall! How about that?"
He looked at the ministers.
"Your Majesty is holy."
All ministers are Weiwei.
Xu Fenglei is not here, so naturally no one will object.
This year, His Majesty put a lot of effort into finding reasons for Hou Junji not to die, and all of a sudden even all the prisoners on death row were able to live an extra year!
I just don’t know, what excuse can he use next year?
Don't tell me... I'm quite looking forward to it.
"In addition, during my inspection of the Heavenly Prison this time, I also discovered many shortcomings!"
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction and said again,
"For example, when prisoners are sick, they can only fend for themselves and no one cares about them!"
"Another example is their three meals a day, which are extremely poor! They can't really be called food for humans!"
"So I decided to add the post of prison doctor, which will be held by the imperial doctors from the imperial hospital on a rotating basis to examine and treat the prisoners on death row."
"There are also meals that need to be strengthened. Prisoners are also human beings, not animals. Before execution, they still have the rights as human beings! Their meals are not great, but they are at least decent. They must have vegetables, if any. Those who are supported by their families should be allowed to eat better.”
"I bet your dear friends won't object to this, right?"
Naturally no one objected to this question.
After all, accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. What if one day he commits a crime and goes in?
If the prison environment could be better, there would actually be hidden benefits for them.
"Okay, then it's settled!"
When Li Shimin saw how smooth it was, he smiled brightly and said,
"Fang Aiqing, it's up to you to implement this matter!"
"According to the order." Fang Xuanling responded, looking neither sad nor happy.
Indeed, this is benevolent government.
But if there was no Hou Junji in that prison, would the emperor be so keen on this matter?
Definitely not.
Therefore, this benevolent policy may sound high-sounding, but behind the scenes... it is quite uncomfortable.
They might be okay, but the Grand Master... would definitely feel sick.
…
It's noon on that day.
Li Shimin finished his lunch and did not take a nap or deal with government affairs. Instead, he left the palace, took his servants around and went to Xu Guogong's mansion to express his condolences in person.
"Complaining about illness? Humph..."
Li Shimin stepped into the Xu Mansion, looked around a few times, and said,
"I told you I was sick last time, and now I'm sick again. What a coincidence."
"Do you believe it?"
Changsun Wuji: "..."
Fang Xuanling: "..."
How do they answer this? No matter what, you have to offend someone!
"I don't believe it anyway!"
Li Shimin flicked his sleeves and said unhappily,
"Let's see how I can expose his plan this time!"
"Walk!"
Li Shimin walked directly to the courtyard of Xu Fenglei's bedroom amid the voices of "See you, Your Majesty".
"Sir, your Majesty is here!"
Zi Maid shouted to Xu Fenglei who was sitting on the recliner, quickly knelt on the ground, and said respectfully,
"See Your Majesty!"
Li Shimin hummed and his eyes fell on Xu Fenglei.
At this moment, Xu Fenglei had his eyes closed and was fast asleep!
Look at this kid's face again. It's rosy and shiny. Is there any sign of illness?
"Master, Master!"
Changsun Wuji stepped forward, shook Xu Fenglei's arm, and reminded him repeatedly,
"Your Majesty has come to see you!"
"Wake up, wake up!"
However, Xu Fenglei seemed to have passed out. He couldn't wake up no matter how much he shouted, sleeping like a dead pig.
Changsun Wuji and Ziwei took turns shouting, but Xu Fenglei still didn't move.
"Oh, stop shouting."
Li Shimin sneered and said,
"How can you wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep?"
"I know you can hear me - Xu Fenglei, I have come to visit you personally. What do you mean by this gesture?"
"Are you being arrogant?"
"Stop pretending! If you keep pretending, I'll ask someone to burn you with hot oil! Let's see if you wake up!"
However, Xu Fenglei remained motionless.
This time, Li Er was completely unhappy.
You can't go down the stairs, right?
"Okay, come on, get a pot of hot oil!"
He ordered,
"If there is no hot oil, then hot water will be poured on his face! See if he wakes up!"
With an order, the accompanying guards went to get hot water.
At this moment, Xu Fenglei finally let out a long yawn and woke up.
"Who... disturbed my clear dream."
He stretched out lazily and said,
"I'm having a sweet dream..."
Changsun Wuji was a little helpless and said repeatedly:
"Master, don't be confused anymore!"
"Your Majesty is here to visit you! He even brought you a gift of condolences! Why don't you get up and see your Majesty!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the gifts on the table and then to Li Shimin behind him.
This Grand Master...the airs are too big!
"Oh! Your Majesty is here!"
Xu Fenglei raised his head, saw Li Shimin, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said,
"See Your Majesty!"
"I am ill and unable to get up to greet you. I hope your majesty will forgive me."
Li Shimin: "￥%...&@#!!!"
When he heard this, the corners of his eyes began to twitch!
This kid didn't take him seriously at all!
To put it more seriously, this is contempt!
However, Li Er's city was still deep. He took a deep breath and showed a kind smile.
"Xu Aiqing is sick, so there is no need to be polite."
He sat next to Xu Fenglei and said with a smile,
"I don't know, what kind of disease do you have? How come you were so fine and so suddenly fell ill?"
"You are the pillar of the country! How can the Tang Dynasty still function without you?"
Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling looked at each other, their faces straightened, not daring to show any expression.
"Your Majesty is unaware that there is something wrong with the minister."
Xu Fenglei pointed to his temple and sighed softly,
"It's commonly known as a brain disease. I have a sudden illness...I don't know why, but I suddenly fell ill."
"I was talking nonsense at home and did a lot of ridiculous things. Fortunately, no outsiders saw it, otherwise it would be a big shame!"
"well--"
Changsun Wuji: "..."
Fang Xuanling: "..."
In this sentence, why do you feel that you are carrying a gun and a stick?
They were a little overwhelmed.
Li Shimin resisted rolling his eyes.
You'd better be talking about yourself!
"Haha...that's really no small matter!"
Li Erpi smiled but said with concern,
"This needs good treatment! I will send you an imperial physician to take a look?"
Xu Fenglei shook his head.
"What's the use of those quack doctors? Weichen has already shown Master Sun that this disease is difficult to cure."
He said sincerely,
"The only thing we can do is to take a good rest. We must not move around casually. Otherwise, if the condition worsens, it may be life-threatening!"
"So I don't have any other pleas. I just want to ask Your Majesty to agree to let me rest for a few months at least..."
"You know, Wei Chen is very afraid of death..."
Li Shimin: "..."
Recuperate?
I don’t see how busy you are on weekdays!
He believed that Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling and others were sick from overwork and needed to take a good rest.
You, Xu Fenglei, are just messing around and fishing every day. Where have you been affected? !
It's just fart!
But at this moment, he did not criticize Xu Fenglei. Instead, he pretended to be surprised and said:
"Ah! Is it so serious?"
"You need to take a good rest! In the final analysis, Xu Aiqing is too tired and spent too much effort to assist me."
"Chang'an is too noisy and not suitable for self-cultivation. The mountains are better! Let's do this! I will give you the Yuhua Palace. How about you take off your errands and go to the Yuhua Palace to have a good rest?"
I'll give you the emperor's palace to live in!
Is it interesting enough? !
When Xu Fenglei heard this, he was naturally extremely frightened.
"No, no! How can a humble minister live in His Majesty's palace?"
He waved his hands repeatedly and said,
"However, His Majesty's words also reminded Wei Chen."
"Recuperating in Chang'an is indeed not as good as recuperating in the mountains and wild forests... When His Majesty made the minister a Duke, he gave him a city to live in, right around Moyu Mountain."
"I thought that if I could take off my errands and go back to Moyu Mountain to take a good rest, I might be able to get twice the result with half the effort and prevent the disease in my head from recurring again!"
"Also, Weichen's Qinghe disciple is still in Moyu Mountain. Weichen also wants to go home to see him and keep him company. He is quite pitiful. Ever since I left the mountain with His Majesty, he has been all alone."
"This time, I will stay with him for a few more years and teach him some skills by the way."
Li Shimin's face darkened.
Clearly, he was unhappy!
"Master, aren't you retiring and returning to your hometown?"
Changsun Wuji hurriedly came out to smooth things over and quickly apologized with a smile,
"You are still so young, and you still have decades to go before you can go home and retire!"
"In Moyu Mountain, it's okay for you to go back and visit occasionally when you feel homesick, but you definitely can't stay there permanently! His Majesty still needs you, and the Tang Dynasty still needs you!"
Xu Fenglei waved his hand.
"Who am I? I am nothing."
He shook his head and smiled,
"You are the pillars of the country and the most important ministers of the Tang Dynasty."
"The current court, with or without me, is pretty much the same. Sometimes it even drags us down."
"Simply... let's move our butts, give up our position, and let those more capable people come up - we don't want to be said to be occupying the latrine and not shitting."
Changsun Wuji's smile froze.
Although these words are self-deprecating, there is a sting in them.
He knew that Xu Fenglei was protesting.
Li Shimin next to him naturally knew it.
But Li Shimin felt unhappy at the moment, and naturally he didn't want to spoil him!
"Listen, do you really want to go back to Moyu Mountain?"
Li Er stared at Xu Fenglei and said expressionlessly,
"You want to go back, okay, I can let you go back."
"But I have to tell you that the situation in the imperial court is changing every day! If you leave this time, if you want to come back next time, it may not be like this!"
A minister, whether he is in court or not, are completely different things!
Even if you are the most powerful official of Lingyan Pavilion, the current crown prince and grand master! Same thing.
Li Shimin's words contained a hint of threat.
Once you leave the court and the platform, you will completely lose your influence! Nothing!
I just want to come back when the time comes, and my status at that time will not be as good as it is now!
So, are you sure?
However, Xu Fenglei is not scared!
Are you bluffing me?
Am I afraid of you?
"Your Majesty, I naturally understand this."
Xu Fenglei cupped his hands and said seriously,
"But Wei Chen still wants to go back to Moyu Mountain."
"What happens in the future? Let's talk about it later. The so-called fame, fortune, and fortune are like floating soil to me and are not worth mentioning."
"Anyway now...I want to go back and recuperate."
"Please give me your Majesty's permission."
After saying that, he bowed his head.
(End of chapter)
