Chapter 737: Offset
In fact, since being conquered by the East Palace, Di Huaiying has always had a hidden trouble and doubt.
After all, his ancestor, the Tianshui Di family, was not a high-ranking family; it was not until the chaos in the late Sui Dynasty that they were able to move to Taiyuan and flourish as a branch of the Taiyuan Di family. Although his grandfather Di Xiaoxu briefly served as Zuocheng, the Shangshu of the Zhenguan Dynasty, he eventually became the official, Linyingnan, the last of the five nobles.
His father, Dickson, was only the fifth son in the family, so he did not enjoy much family protection. The only thing worthy of praise is that after passing the Ming Dynasty, he was awarded the title of Naoshiro in the East Palace. He then served as the commander of Zhengzhou's military service and the military officer of Prince Zheng's palace. They were basically sinecures in name only.
Later, he successively served as the governor of Liangzhou (ruling today's Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province) and joining the army, the magistrate of Shan County in Yuezhou (Shengxian County, Zhejiang Province), the magistrate of Zheng County (Huaxian County, Shaanxi Province) of Huazhou, and the governor of Kuizhou (ruling the northeast of Fengjie, Chongqing today). Long history and other positions. Until his death in office, he served as an official or assistant.
Therefore, although he can ensure that his family is well-fed and well-fed, he has no chance of a rich and prosperous future. However, Di Huaiying, who has been traveling with his father in officialdom, has also been able to see half of the world's local customs and people; the mountains and rivers geography; and through this exposure, he has learned about various places. Various official documents, regulations and systems.
This experience had a great impact on him. Therefore, he developed a love for reading when he was young, and he accepted all kinds of reading. It also includes a large number of medical books and legal precedents from past dynasties, which greatly expands the horizons. But in the end, he followed Nai's father and became an official with Ming Jing Ke.
Among the six subjects of the imperial examination in the early Tang Dynasty, Jinshi and Xiucai subjects were the most expensive, followed by Mingjing, Mingsuan, Mingshu and Minglu. Therefore, he started his official career in Bianzhou (now Henan). Kaifeng) judge, a low-level official of no importance, is not even qualified to decide the case on his own.
Despite this, the young Di Huaiying still wanted to work hard, but in the end he offended the local junior staff; he tampered with the official documents and falsely accused him of violating the law; he suffered some hardships when he was imprisoned, and he also suffered a lot. Young and inexperienced, he saw clearly the sinister nature of human nature and quickly matured.
Fortunately, his imprisonment did not last long, and he met the noble man of his destiny, Yan Liben, the deposed envoy of Henan Province who came to deal with the prison. This Yan Liben is not an ordinary person. His ancestors were descendants of Xianbei who were Hanized in the north. They later settled in Yunyang and became a prominent family with heirlooms of poetry and calligraphy.
Therefore, his maternal ancestor was Yu Wenyong, Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, his mother was a princess of Qingdu, and his father was Yan Bi, a young eunuch in the Sui Dynasty palace. By the time of Wude, Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, Yan Liben was already in charge of the treasury of King Qin (Li Shimin). When Taizong came to the throne, he served as the chief doctor, the minister of punishment, and the young prisoner.
He once painted the Six Horses of the Zhaoling Mausoleum for Taizong, as well as the famous painting "Stepping Chariot" where he met with the Tibetan envoys; he built the Cuiwei Palace in Zhongnan Mountain, and specially designed and built the Big Wild Goose Pagoda for Master Xuanzang who had returned from studying Buddhist scriptures. A great man of his generation, he was also a famous minister who assisted the two dynasties.
Therefore, during the Yonghui period of Emperor Gaozong, Yan Liben was promoted to the right prime minister and granted the title of Male of Boling County. At that time, Jiang Ke was promoted to the left prime minister for his military exploits. Therefore, people at the time said that "the left prime minister showed his power in the desert, and the right prime minister was famous for his paintings." It was not until November last year that he died of illness in the position of Zhongshu Ling;
Also left behind are paintings such as "Pictures of the Eighteen Scholars of the Qin Mansion", "Pictures of Wei Zheng's Remonstrance", "Scrolls of Calligraphy and Painting of the Northern Qi School", "Pictures of Fighting for Treasures in Foreign Countries", "Pictures of Tribute", "Pictures of the Western Regions", "Pictures of Ming Ling Portraits", "Pictures of Foreign Countries". ”, “Yonghui Courtiers Picture”, “Emperor Picture Scroll of Past Dynasties”, “Xiao Yi Zhaolan Pavilion Picture Scroll” and so on.
In particular, "The Picture of Xiao Yi Earning the Orchid Pavilion" is the most well-known in the world. It is based on the story of Tang He Yanzhi's "Orchid Pavilion". It depicts Xiao Yi, the imperial censor of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, taking over "the world" from the hands of Biancai, a disciple of Wang Xizhi's seventh generation successor. The first line of the book reads "The story of how to obtain "The Preface to the Lanting Collection" by deception.
For Di Huaiying, this world-famous prime minister was his benefactor and potential backer in disguise. It was precisely because of his background in prison selection that he was upright and upright by nature. , in the early stage of his official career, he did not fail and was subject to selfishness.
But because of this, he served in the military position of Fa Cao, the governor of Bingzhou (now Taiyuan, Shanxi) for more than ten years. He was well-known in the local area because of his generosity and conscientiousness as an official. However, other colleagues and superior officials could not help but criticize him, especially after the death of his former benefactor, Zhongshu Ling Yan Liben.
Although, before his death, Prime Minister Danqing once again recommended him as a talented person. But there was no response in the court; instead, the situation around him became a little subtle and dangerous. Therefore, when the envoys from the East Palace arrived, he could not refuse.
But his expectations were not high at first. He thought this was the legacy and protection method of the late Yan Zhongshu; but he did not expect that it was actually the prince who was the supervisor of the dynasty. After personally meeting him and taking the exam, he did not hesitate. entrusted with important responsibilities. It's a pity that he doesn't come from a prominent family.
Especially compared to the clans and clans such as Li Jingye and Li Xiaoyi surrounding the prince, they are even more mediocre. Therefore, as a mere soldier, he was able to be recruited by the prince of the dynasty and serve as the noble and important right minister of Zhanshifu in the East Palace, which is unavoidable and attracts attention.
Therefore, Di Huaiying was once again isolated and implicitly targeted. Therefore, if he gives in or even resigns, it will not help; instead of gaining respect and sympathy, it will damage the reputation of his late benefactor, the famous prime minister, who is good at recognizing people.
Now his only way out is to use his most familiar and good case-solving methods to do his best to prove one or two things in front of the prince. In fact, this is the third time he has interrogated Qiu Shenji. The first two times are enough to prove that this Captain Zhechong is obviously determined and has a very strict tone.
Therefore, it was not that no one in the East Palace had hinted to him that he could actually use corresponding criminal interrogation methods in private without worrying about the background of the other party's grandson. Because Gong Qiu He of Tan State was an old official of the Sui Dynasty who first attached to Liang Wang Xiao Xian from Jiaozhi (now Hanoi) and later returned to the Tang Dynasty.
Qiu He had fifteen sons, among whom Qiu Xinggong was the most famous. During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Qiu Xinggong and his brother Qiu Shi gathered troops to revolt in Qizhou (today's Fengxiang, Shaanxi Province) and Yongzhou. They gathered 10,000 soldiers and settled in Yicheng (today's Yixian County, Shaanxi Province) to protect themselves. After the great ancestor Li Yuan entered the pass, he led his troops to surrender.
He also followed the King of Qin Li Shimin to conquer all directions, captured Chang'an, eliminated Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande and other separatist forces, and became the hussar general of the left wing of the Qin King's palace. In the Xuanwu Gate Incident in the ninth year of Takeru (626), he participated in the execution of Li Jiancheng's old tribe and was promoted to general of the left guard.
In the fourteenth year of Zhenguan (640), he accompanied the Dukes and Lords of Lu State to eliminate Gaochang State, and moved to the right of General Wuhou and Tianshui County Duke. After Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty ascended the throne, he moved to the right as General Wuhou and became the governor of Hebei and Shaanxi. When he died at the age of eighty, he was given a posthumous title as the governor of Jingzhou, with the posthumous title of Xiang, and he was given Ming vessels to be buried with him in Zhaoling.
However, Qiu Xinggong had a cruel nature, which made his colleagues extremely afraid, and he was often impeached and removed from office due to his cruel methods. However, he was favored by Taizong and was able to come back again and again. Therefore, he was soon followed up in a certain sense after his death; although the dead man had nothing to think about, his descendants could not help but be implicated.
Therefore, all the numbers Qiu Xinggong produced were of no use; he had a bad relationship with his brother, Master Gongqiu of Xicheng County, because of the conflict over the burial place of his biological mother. In the end, there was only one Qiu Shenji. Fortunately, thanks to the influence of his uncle Qiu Xingqi, the eunuch of the Shaofu Palace, he was awarded the post of Captain Zhechong.
Therefore, even if a mere Qiu Shenji accidentally died in jail, not many people would be interested in it. After all, the Zhaoying Mansion to which Qiu Shenji belonged was also one of the dozens of military mansions in the hinterland of the capital. There were hundreds of military mansions established during the founding of the Tang Dynasty, and most of them were located in Guanzhong.
One of the duties of the Prince Supervisor also includes inspecting the military mansions in the pass. In the early years, he used the private collection of the East Palace to provide relief to the families of those soldiers who were affected by the disaster, and wrote letters to forgive the soldiers who were postponed due to accidents. Therefore, in the military mansions in Guan Nei and Gyeonggi, Prince Li Hong is also quite famous and praised.
It also has the expediency of supervising the country to punish these military captains, generals and captains. However, Di Huaiying did not think so; if he could achieve nothing by simply relying on torture, then what else would he need from the court's laws and regulations? Then why does he need his many years of experience in handling criminal matters?
Therefore, after secretly observing the first round of interrogation, he went against all the objections and removed the shackles that were purely used to humiliate people; he also improved the treatment in the cell in a disguised manner, allowing the other party to maintain a basic dignity; When he came forward for interrogation for the second time, he did not ask about the case.
Instead, he chatted with Qiu Shenji, who was freed from restraints, about the many glorious deeds of Naizu and Nai's father, as well as some of the daily trivial matters in the military camp; it was like an old friend whom he had not seen for many years, and who had been with him all the time. For reasons unrelated to the case, we talked about sending him back at night.
Therefore, when the third interrogation came, Qiu Shenji, who was escorted up, was already very familiar with and comfortable with him, and he stretched his body that was freed from restraints and said: "Guan Di, Di Youcheng, what do you want to know this time? As long as we don't force someone to plead guilty to the crime of being a laborer, everything else is easy to deal with."
"Of course." Di Huaiying said calmly. After this period of understanding, he naturally did not do anything. He even sent people to the Qiu family's former residence in Chang'an City and even the nearby Chengfang Market to search and explore. Ichiban: "I heard that in the early years, the captain used to make friends in the market."
"Yes, this is nothing to hide." Qiu Shenji, who was described as tall and tall with a tall and sharp eyes, was stunned when he heard this but said casually: "Back then, there was a fierce competition with the eldest father's room for sacrifices at home. , Since I don’t want to be seen, I might as well hide away.”
"This is how we got to know each other, Captain. Are these people in the army old?" Di Huaiying asked, "I just happened to find out that when Captain was in the market, he had a reputation for being righteous and happy. He even registered his name in Jingzhao Mansion several times, leaving behind the reputation of 'Qiu Hu'er'."
"Because, my brothers are all big-hearted or snobbish; and the children from Xun's old family also despise my family's rundown and never take me with me, a loser." Qiu Shenji sneered after hearing this. He became angry and said: "On the contrary, those humble people in the market have more true temperaments."
"But I also know that the captain is a filial person in private." Di Huaiying said unhurriedly: "Xian Ci was born in a wine shop, but he respected his father and loved him; It’s a pity that after the captain found out a little bit about the matter, there was a lot of estrangement between him and the brothers.”
"It seems that Mr. Di is also a thoughtful person, and he has almost wiped out all the foundations of a certain person." Qiu Shenji's face slowly darkened; "In this case, there is no point in saying more; it is just to use the past with a certain person. Are you looking for fun? Why don't you just give me the punishment and you can do the work?"
"No, no, it's only been a few days, how can I possibly find out the background of Captain Qiu?" Di Huaiying said softly without being able to express words: "I just relied on some connections and connections in the house; Qiu Although the captain is not afraid of involving his family, they deeply regret it!"
"Guan Di, what do you want to say?" Qiu Shenji immediately twitched the corners of his eyes a few times, and pretended to be meaningless: "If you want to use your family or your connections in the market to force someone to confess, then That's a bad idea. He just left the camp without permission, why should he keep biting him?"
"I'm just a little unworthy of the captain and believe in other people's promises." However, Di Huaiying said softly: "Maybe the other generation promised you that you can escape after the incident; such as the festival of eternal life. , or amnesty after the world changes to the Yuan Dynasty, can I still pursue imperial edicts?"
"In this way, Ling Ci can be carried into the ancestral temple to worship the ancestors and lords of the past dynasties; and the price the captain needs to pay may be just to listen to the greeting and respond when needed in the future? Even if it is leaked because of this incident Being convicted is just a temporary loss of fame, only to be regained in the future?”
"..." Upon hearing this, Qiu Shenji pursed his lips tightly and said nothing. He just looked at Di Huaiying coldly, as if looking at a completely unfamiliar opponent and enemy. It was just the unnoticed protruding veins on his forehead that somewhat exposed his unsettled state of mind at the moment.
"But now I have another question, and I want to ask the captain." Di Huaiying continued unconsciously under his fierce eyes: "Why is the captain so sure that the other party will definitely abide by his promise? Didn’t you just abandon the captain like a piece of shit after he had outlived his usefulness?”
"I understand, there will be a token, a piece of evidence, in the hands of the captain, so that you can take it out later and cross-examine the instigator behind the scenes. At the worst, it can also make him use the weapon as a weapon, making it inconvenient to easily Let go. Now that the question has arisen, where is this thing?"
"The captain has been in the military for a long time and has lived in the camp for a long time. Therefore, it is impossible to carry this kind of thing with you, let alone be exposed in a crowded barracks? Let me guess." Di Huaiying raised his hand again Three fingers: "Because of the brothers, the captain is not always in the mansion."
"What if you are worried about someone being unjust in the market? It must be an old servant who has been close to the family for many years and secretly holds it for you? Moreover, this old servant should have a deep connection with Ling Ci and has no worries about the family. and drag; I treat you as kindly as a nephew..."
"That's enough!" At this moment, Qiu Shenji gritted his teeth, and suddenly his whole body seemed to have cooled down, and he said expressionlessly: "I just want to die, and there is no need to involve others anymore."
"But I don't think so." However, Di Huaiying looked at him with a faint look of pity and said: "The captain may have the ambition to revitalize the family and have a wife and a cute son; it's a pity that he was not entrusted with it. It's just a human being. Don't you understand, Captain, that no matter what you do, you can't escape your responsibility?"
"Now, the only chance for you to get out of trouble is to atone for your sins and pray for forgiveness and mercy from the Emperor of the East Palace. At least, compared to the unnecessary secret instigators behind you, you are the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty. Isn't the righteousness enough to protect and protect you?"
At this moment, Qiu Shenji's deathly silent and gray face could not help but be moved, and slowly became ferocious and twisted. He was obviously caught in a fierce inner conflict and struggle... With a roar, he left this place. Di Huaiying, who was in the hall, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
At least, these true and false deductions and investigations allowed him to take advantage of the situation and observe the situation, and indirectly deceived most of them; in this way, he lived up to the mission entrusted to him by the prince. In the side room that served as the temporary interrogation hall, a man and a cat were listening quietly and looking at each other with deep feelings.
"It seems that His Highness has lost this time. He can impress the other party without using torture." Jiang Tian, who was standing on the table beside him, smiled and said: "Mr. Di is worthy of being Mr. Di. He has the magnanimity and thoughtfulness of later generations. Yes. It’s just that he promised those relationships, I wonder what His Highness thinks?"
"Li Sheng no longer needs to make fun of Gu. Didn't you say that the cruel officials who will be put to great use in the future are just sharp knives in the hands of the queen." Prince Li Hong sighed softly: "Since Gu has decided to rebel against that future, then How can I be afraid of a sharp knife and not dare to hold it in my hand?"
"On the other hand, this Di Huaiying has no clue that he will become the one in the future. He will risk his mother's constant suspicion and have no choice but to use it. He can also take care of himself under the trap of many cruel officials and traitors, and he will be better after his death. The pillar of the two dynasties that my mother deeply regretted, the famous minister who helped the world!"
"At least, Your Highness just needs to remember one thing." Jiang Tian said softly: "In the future, when the government and the public are full of people, he is the only one who dares to face-to-face and remonstrates that he should return to the Li family. So much so that the history books specifically record: Zhi Lu The mausoleum was restored, Tang Zuo was revived, and the challenge was left to Di Gong, who was able to cover it up with one person."
Of course, in the early Tang Dynasty, anyone with the word "benevolence" in their name was by no means an ordinary person. For example, Zhang Renyuan, the imperial censor, Liu Rengui, the minister Zuopushe, Xue Rengui, the protector of Anton, and Di Renjie, the old prime minister of the country, etc. They are always the ones who destroy the country or are the pillars of the court.
It is a pity that most of them are already in high positions, or have simply retired from office; only this "relic in the ocean" Di Huaiying was missed by Li Hong at the right time.
