Prince Peng's Mansion, in the study.
Under the light, Li Xuan looked at the dossier about Wang Benli sent by Li Zhu and couldn't help but frown slightly.
Wang Benli is a member of the Langya Wang Clan and a descendant of the Langya Wang Clan. No matter what, his upbringing and demeanor will never be bad.
Even though he was vicious behind his back, he always had some upbringing from a noble family in person, but Wang Benli behaved in an extremely irritable manner today. In the household department, in front of everyone, he whipped the doctor of the household department Cangbe. slap.
Even though Zuo Silang was ranked higher than all the other ministers, Wang Benli was still in the same fifth rank as Liu Qi.
His slap not only hit Liu Qi's face hard, but also hit the faces of all the officials in the entire household department.
"It's strange. Although he is usually arrogant, he has become so domineering in the past few months. Why?" Li Xuan lowered her head and pondered, looking at the file in front of her in confusion.
At this moment, the door in front opened and Liu Jinyu walked in carrying a bowl of hot porridge.
"Lang Jun, what are you looking at?" Liu Jinyu carefully placed the rice porridge on the table, and then looked at the contents of the file curiously.
Li Xuan turned slightly, then sat down with Liu Jinyu in his arms, and then asked in a low voice: "What do you know about Wang Benli, Madam?"
"It's not much." Liu Jinyu flipped through the file and said at the same time: "But I know that this prince is quite capable, especially when it comes to calculations, food, salary, salary, labor consumption, etc. , he can quickly find out the flaws in the files submitted from somewhere and then correct them.”
Nothing in court is ever simple.
Local governments pay taxes and grain every year, and local states always use disasters, accidents, and various reasons to reduce the total amount of taxes paid by local governments.
However, many reductions and exemptions are within the scope allowed by the court.
There is also the issue of land annexation, which is often hidden in it.
Prefectures and counties, the Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Yushitai will conduct verification and inspections at all levels.
The central government also sends senior officials to inspect local areas every year to avoid things that may affect the government.
Wang Benli is one of the most effective supervisors in the entire Shangshu Province.
"It is rumored that he is quite trusted by His Majesty. Is that because of this?" Li Xuan frowned. Liu Jinyu's words seemed completely different from Lai Sui's words.
Wang Benli in Liu Jinyu's words was a shrewd and powerful supervisory official, so officials from various ministries and departments below were very jealous of him and often impeached him.
"Of course." Although Liu Jinyu said this, looking at the case file, he couldn't help but frowned and said to himself: "Why is this so different from what I heard?"
"Of course there have been changes." Li Xuan pointed to a certain paragraph in the dossier and said, "Look, since March this year, Wang Benli has become more arrogant and domineering, and he doesn't take people seriously. Even today, Hu Bu has done things like publicly slapping others.”
"He is anxious, but why?" Liu Jinyu looked up at Li Xuan, frowning and said: "The imperial court's food and salary transportation is not his alone, why would he follow the continuation of the Western Front war and the food and salary transportation? So nervous because of consumption?”
"Something happened!" Li Xuan shook her head slightly and said calmly: "There must be something happening that you and I don't know about. It was hidden under the water and couldn't be seen before, but with the loss of food and salary, these things are rapidly disappearing. It surfaced, so he was anxious."
"What?" Liu Jinyu asked subconsciously.
"Yesterday, when I met the prince before my husband, I heard the prince mention that not long ago, someone in the three states in the west stole state grain and used old grain instead of new grain. The prince did not notice it, but was discovered by the queen. In the end, the prince was severely reprimanded by the saint. After a meal." Li Xuan stopped talking.
Liu Jinyu understood immediately and said in disbelief: "Mr. Lang, are you saying that Wang Benli is the person who stole state grain, used old grain instead of new grain, and secretly resold it?"
"His position is appropriate. The Ministry of Household Affairs, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, and all departments are all under his supervision. As long as the right candidate can be found..." Li Xuan's voice suddenly stopped, and his brows died. Wrinkled to death.
"Suitable people's hearts, what Lang Jun means is that Wang Benli will place someone in the household department... By the way, this is inevitable." Liu Jinyu had already understood, nodded suddenly and said: "As long as Mr. Zuo Si relaxes his hands a little, the household department will Those greedy officials in the ministry will immediately pounce on him."
"In the entire household department, there is only one most suitable person." Li Xuan raised her head and looked at Liu Jinyu with a solemn expression.
"Mr. Hube Cangbe?" Liu Jinyu stared in disbelief, and then said: "But today... he is not..."
"This is why Wang Benli wanted to slap Liu Qi in front of everyone today, because Liu Qi did something behind his back. The two people originally stood together for a common interest, but when one party had selfish motives, they immediately There are cracks." Li Xuan sighed softly. Although he was guessing, he believed that 89% of the time he was close to the truth.
"But this slap." Liu Jinyu couldn't help but shook his head and said, "Although Wang Benli was domineering in the past, today, in broad daylight, he directly beat the doctor of the Ministry of Finance. I am afraid it will cause criticism from the government and the public."
"It's not just criticism from the government and the opposition, there may also be impeachment by the imperial censor." Li Xuan's eyes suddenly tightened.
"Di Huaiying?" Liu Jinyu guessed the meaning of Li Xuan's words almost instantly.
"Yes, Di Renjie first became the censor. Although he was investigating the Zhaoling fire case, if the matter of Wang Benli spreads, but no one makes any move at the censor's desk, then he will definitely carry out impeachment." Li Xuan The figure of Li Zhi appeared subconsciously in his mind.
One is the most convenient Wang Benli, and the other is the new confidant Di Renjie. When the two collide, there will be a good show.
"My husband means that this is a game, this is against..." Liu Jinyu stood up suddenly and looked at Li Xuan in disbelief.
She really couldn't believe that someone could be so bold.
Li Xuan sighed softly and said: "This may not be aimed at His Majesty. As long as he restrains himself a little, it can immediately become a trump card against Shangshu Zuo Cheng."
Wang Benli was Zuo Si Langzhong and the most capable assistant to Zuo Cheng, the minister.
In fact, the goal of those people has not changed. Their real goal is still Minister Zuo Cheng and the prince.
The emperor did not let Li Xian participate in the previous Tubo incident, but later asked Li Xuan to go to the East Palace in person to tell Li Xian what happened, which was enough to show the emperor's attitude.
When Li Xuan arrived at the East Palace, Li Xian was also summoning his staff who had returned to discuss something.
All these things are connected together to form a completed event.
There was something wrong with Wang Benli, which was discovered by Empress Wu, but these problems could easily affect the emperor, so Empress Wu decided to take a step back and target Shangshu Zuo Cheng.
Although we have to take a step back, this matter will still affect the emperor if we are not careful, so another thing is needed to anchor the goal.
This is the previous case of Quan Shancai cutting down cypress trees in Zhaoling.
The two cases are superimposed. No matter what, Cui Zhiwen, the minister Zuocheng, will eventually be transferred from the minister's province.
"So what should we do about this matter?" Liu Jinyu looked at Li Xuan, her eyes full of worry.
Li Xuan sighed softly and said: "In the current situation, Wang Benli is in crisis without knowing it. The key is that he is arrogant and domineering and cannot listen to other people's opinions at all, so misfortune is inevitable and no one can save him. The key is What he was doing in secret.”
"What you did secretly?" Liu Jinyu was slightly stunned, confused for a moment.
Li Xuan sighed softly, his eyes fell on the file, and Empress An said: "Wang Benli has had a very bad reputation for half a year. His Majesty is not aware of it, but he still condones it. This can only mean that he is doing something very important. It is a very important matter conveyed by His Majesty.”
"What's going on?" Liu Jinyu asked immediately.
Li Xuan shook his head slightly and said: "I don't know, but no matter what it is, Wang Benli will not be replaced easily by others, but as long as he can find someone who can replace him, Wang Benli will be crushed into dust immediately. "
"Di Renjie!" Liu Jinyu suddenly spoke and looked straight at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan was stunned and said subconsciously: "Di Renjie is good at solving cases, and now he is serving as the imperial censor for the first time..."
Liu Jinyu waved her hand and said, "Young Master doesn't know. Di Renjie served as Bingzhou Hucao for a period of time before he was appointed as the Bingzhou Law Cao. Lang Jun only needs to write a memorial to Your Majesty before Di Renjie's impeachment, praising Di Renjie's performance." With political achievements, the rest will be much better.”
"Madam is indeed smart." Li Xuan smiled and nodded, but then he whispered: "Di Renjie has an upright character. In his early years, he served as transfer officer and law officer, and now he is appointed as the prime minister of Dali Temple and the censor. It is better to recommend him to the prime minister. How about serving in the royal palace?"
"Prince Xiang?" Liu Jinyu was slightly startled and asked subconsciously: "Why Prince Xiang?"
"Because this matter will never happen, so if it can't be the Prime Minister, then why can't it be the King of England?" Li Xuan's eyes flashed.
"Then why can't it be the prince?"
"Because now is definitely not the best time to approach the prince. Your Majesty can see it clearly." Li Xuan sighed softly.
Li Xian, he has no idea what kind of fate he is in now.
Although Li Xian is the prince, if his ability is insufficient, Li Zhi will not hesitate to replace him.
As for ability, of course it does not mean his ability to govern the country, but his ability to fight against Empress Wu.
You know, Li Zhi also has two other sons, Li Xian, who is used to playing tricks, and Li Dan, who is usually upright.
If the two of them show different extraordinary abilities, then Li Xian's position as the prince will immediately be shaky.
However, I'm afraid Li Zhi didn't expect that Li Xian would be so unbearable.
…
After walking out of the study, Li Xuan and Liu Jinyu returned to Dongkua Yard together.
As the two walked, they discussed in low voices the contents of the official document to be presented to His Majesty.
At this time, a burst of footsteps sounded in the courtyard, and then Li Zhu appeared on the side, cupped his hands towards Li Xuan and said: "Prince, Princess, the spies reported that outside Wang Langzhong's house, there are three spies who are watching at all times. There seems to be shadows of secret guards everywhere."
Li Zhu and the others were also trained using secret guard techniques, so they would naturally be the most familiar with these things.
If he said it was a secret guard, then it must be a secret guard.
"We are from the palace, we have no other choice." Li Xuan couldn't help but sigh.
In the matter of Wang Benli, Li Xuan's participation today has given others an excuse to impeach him, so he must take action first.
(End of chapter)
