According to the regulations of the imperial court, this kind of spy complaint should have gone through normal procedures. It was a violation of the rules to submit it privately to the emperor from the court. Regardless of the content of the spy complaint, Liu Rengui violated the law first and foremost.
Of course, this is only on the surface. If the content of the spy complaint is really important, Liu Rengui will not only not be convicted, but will be rewarded.
Although Li Zhi had already seen the content of the spy complaint, he still pretended to see it for the first time and looked at it carefully for a long time.
And his face changed from expressionless to frowning.
After reading the letter of complaint to the spy, Li Zhi waved his hand to Liu Rengui and said, "Liu Qing's family, please step aside. I will pardon your innocence."
After receiving the saint's forgiveness, Liu Rengui returned to his seat and sat down.
On the throne, Li Zhi took the opportunity to accuse the spies, shook his head, and said to the officials in the court: "This is the first time I have received a complaint from a distinguished person. Logically speaking, there is a dispute between the ministers and the distinguished officials. The matter is resolved privately, because it is not embarrassing enough for me to bring matters between the two families into trouble."
"However, I can guess that if there is such a thing and it reaches the point where I need to make the decision, it must be serious to a certain extent."
"After reading this letter to the spy, I just felt sad. Zhou Hanzhen remembered that although he inherited the title, he could be said to be fiercely loyal in the army. He never made a big mistake and was very brave when fighting. . Such a fierce general should have received sufficient honors. At the imperial court's annual banquet, I should reward him with a glass of fine wine to reward his achievements."
"However, such a strong general was lost in the conflict with Tubo. I feel very sad!"
After hearing the saint's words, many military generals couldn't help but sigh.
To say that today's saints really have nothing to criticize in their treatment of generals, rewards are exceptional and punishments are often lightened.
Emperors of all dynasties would purge military generals after ascending the throne. Today's emperors did not. Even veterans like Li Ji were not suspected, but instead led the war to destroy the country.
Now, hearing the sage commenting on Zhou Han like this, they couldn't help but think of the special treatment they had received. It is indeed worthwhile to work hard for today’s saints!
Seeing the general, he couldn't help but sigh, and Li Zhicai continued: "But what makes me even more heartbroken is that after such a fierce general who had made great contributions to the country, his wife and children could not be taken care of after he died on the battlefield. Especially the posthumous son who was still nursing, The family property has been usurped."
Having said this, Li Zhi looked at Pei Qing, the minister of Dali Temple, and sneered: "Pei Qing, I saw that the spy said that Zhou Han's wife once went to Dali Temple to submit a complaint, but the guards of Dali Temple expelled her. She went out, and because of the crime of making noise in front of Dali Temple, her servant was caught and beaten. Is this true?"
Pei Qing saw that the saint mentioned him, so he stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, I am proud that I will redress when I am wronged and fight when I encounter evil. If such an order is given by a minister, I will ask for dismissal." Exiled. However, Wei Chen is really unaware of this fact. Someone in Dali Temple should have accepted a bribe, specifically targeting Zhou Han's wife. Wei Chen petitioned your majesty to allow Wei Chen to investigate the matter thoroughly. Dali Temple is supposed to be Zhengda There is no place for the existence of cysticercosis in the land of light.”
Pei Qing's words were very convincing. He has long disliked many things inside Dali Temple. Although he is the chief official of Dali Temple, many times, what he says does not count. Now, through the Zhou Han incident, he could also get the sage's permission and use the sage's order to completely clean up the Dali Temple.
Li Zhi naturally knew Pei Qing's character, and the reason why he said this was to ask Pei Qing to clean up Dali Temple.
Seeing that Pei Qing had indeed made the request, Li Zhi said without hesitation: "I still trust Aiqing's character. In this case, the Qing family will clean up Dali Temple. If Dali Temple is in charge of the trial of prison cases, it will It’s very inappropriate to be affected by external forces.”
Pei Qing bowed and said, "I accept my order."
After saying that, he returned to his seat and began to close his eyes and meditate.
He probably knew who he wanted to clean up, but the opportunity came so suddenly, and he had not yet decided who to promote.
In Dali Temple, the people chosen to serve should be people of pure nature or extremely upright. He really doesn't have many such people under his hands. The best way is to transfer them from other places.
Le Siqing, the chief minister of Dali Temple, was someone he had wanted to replace for a long time. However, he does not have this qualification. Even if he files an impeachment petition, he will only end up being lax or jealous of talents. Now that the saint's order is there, he can be abolished.
However...since there is no specific candidate yet, let him stay in this position for a while longer!
After thinking about it clearly, Pei Qing opened his eyes.
The emperor naturally saw Pei Qing's actions.
Seeing that he was already calculating in his mind, he continued: "I know that some things behind the scenes should not be brought to the surface. But, even if some things have secret rules, they should not be applied to meritorious deeds. Home. Although Zhou Han inherited the title of earl of Wukang County, he is worthy of this title."
"Since he has devoted his loyalty and blood, I cannot let his family end up with nothing. Zhaowu School Lieutenant Fang Xiaocai, who was not promoted to the sixth rank official position, dared to collude with the Wukang County Magistrate to invade the Zhou family's fields, and even use his hands and eyes to Tongtian can affect the Dali Temple in Chang'an. For such a person, I really want to cut his body into thousands of pieces. Please tell me, how should I convict him?"
Li Xian couldn't help being surprised when he heard this.
The old woman came to the lobby of the Minister's Office yesterday to submit a complaint to the spy. How could the emperor now be sure that what the spy said was true? In particular, convicting people is not something that can be decided just by hearing the opinions of one family.
unless....
The emperor knew very well about this matter!
Wukang County is so far away from Chang'an, so these verifications cannot be done overnight.
unless....
The emperor's own intelligence officers have already investigated this matter.
Then the problem comes, the time is wrong.
In this case, there may be only one result.
That is - this matter may have been directed and acted by the emperor himself. To say the least, it was also planned by him.
As for the intention, perhaps it is to sound the alarm to everyone in the court.
While Li Xian was still sighing at the depth of the emperor's scheming, Dai Zhide stood up and went out to announce: "Your Majesty, you have invaded family property, united with local officials, and oppressed good people. Although the crime is extremely evil, it is not a serious crime." The bodies are in tens of thousands of pieces. The ministers feel that they should be ordered to be handed over to Yousi and dealt with according to the law."
Dai Zhide has always insisted on the fairness of the law. He was most afraid that the emperor's likes and dislikes would affect the law. After all, the one who is truly above everything now is the Emperor.
Seeing what Dai Zhide said, Li Zhi couldn't help but frown and said: "I just want to punish this person severely, why do the Qing family still obstruct it?"
This kind of thing has happened more than once, so although Li Zhi frowned, he was not too unhappy. The existence of Dai Zhide is very necessary, because with his existence, he can stop the emperor when he becomes dizzy.
Because he saw the existence of Wei Zheng in the Taizong Dynasty, it can be said that Dai Zhide was deliberately promoted by Li Zhi. In this way, he would not only be able to remind himself, but also the next emperor in the future.
Dai Zhide sighed: "I hate Fang Xiaocai equally, but I still hope that your majesty will not be too angry and affect the justice of the law."
Before the emperor could speak, Liu Rengui stood up and said dissatisfied: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary methods should be used. Yesterday, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's words were very meaningful. Military generals bleed on the battlefield without shedding tears. This is Because they know that they are working hard on the battlefield, but they don’t have to worry about the rear. And now, Zhou Han has not only bled on the battlefield, but also let him shed tears under Jiuquan? If something like this happens this time, if he is not punished severely , in the future, who else is willing to fight for the Tang Dynasty on the battlefield without regrets?"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince said it well!"
After Liu Rengui finished speaking, Cheng Wuting jumped up, knelt down on one knee and said: "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is right. The generals and others know very well that their status is earned through military exploits. Now that we have become It is appropriate for a general to be on the battlefield, not to mention being injured, even being wrapped in horse leather."
"However, what the general and others are most afraid of is that after they die in battle, there will be no end. Now, Zhou Han died on the battlefield, leaving his wife and mother alone, and still being bullied. We, our colleagues in the army, know this, We all feel the same way. Please, Your Majesty, kill this evil thief to calm the morale of the army. The ministers and others are also grateful."
After Cheng Wuting finished speaking, the generals in the army all left the table and knelt down on one knee.
Seeing this scene, Dai Zhide sighed and had no choice but to return to his seat and sit down.
He just reminded the emperor that if he really encountered such a situation, he also knew that if Fang Xiaocai was not punished, it would not be enough to calm people's hearts.
As everyone in the army petitioned, many people from the civil servants side also stood up and expressed their support.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that today's affairs will obviously depend on the will of the military.
Li Zhi, who was sitting on the throne, was not surprised when he saw the scene in front of him.
To be honest, it was exactly what he expected for things to turn out the way they did now.
Sometimes, in order to do something, the emperor also needs to pave the way.
Remembering that Liu Rengui specifically mentioned the prince, Li Zhi couldn't help but look at the prince at the front of the generals' team, and asked with a smile: "Prince, what do you think?"
Li Xian stood up with a wry smile....
Originally, today, he thought that it would be enough for him to stand on the general's side and express his position.
Who knew that Liu Rengui's words would reveal him.
As a prince, although he is on the side of the military today, it is the right thing to do. However, because he was afraid of being said to be trying to win over the military and gain military power, he planned to keep pretending to be dead.
Now, it seems that I have to speak out.
After bowing his hands in salute, Li Xian said: "I naturally support you generals."
Seeing the unnatural look on the prince's face, Li Zhi almost smiled and passed away.
Ever since he learned that the prince did not huddle in the room, but came out, and even planned to go to Shangshu Province in the afternoon, he had already arranged all this.
The prince thought he met the old woman by chance, but little did he know that the official who guided the old woman was deliberately arranged by him to involve the prince in this matter.
As for the prince's participation in this matter, in fact, he hoped that the prince could win over the military generals. In the past, he would have been wary of the prince's contact with the generals, but this time was different from the past. He knows very well how his body is, so it is not a bad thing for the prince to win over the military.
but....
Judging from the prince's performance, it was obvious that he knew what was right and that what he was doing was not good.
This shows that this child is still somewhat filial and does not have too many ambitions.
Discovering this really made him feel relieved and helpless. Fortunately, the prince respects his father very much. Unfortunately, the prince's ambition seems not to be enough.
With a slight cough, Li Zhi looked at the field and said: "Since all the Qing family think so, then it is as the Qing family said. Pei Qing~"
Pei Qing took a step forward and accepted the order.
"Order Dali Temple to investigate the invasion of Zhou Han's family property, and all relevant persons will be severely punished."
"Wei Chen accepts the order."
Seeing Pei Qing retreating, Li Zhi spoke again: "I ordered Zhongshu Sheng to draw up an edict and confer the title of Zhou Huai, son of Zhou Han, as Zhiguo Xiaowei. I granted him permission to inherit his father's title without reducing the title. He also conferred the title of Zhou Han's mother, She is the Fourth Grade Imperial Lady."
As soon as the emperor said this, the civil and military officials in the court could not help but be extremely surprised.
Unlike the rewards of gold and silver, the title given to Zhou Han's mother's royal wife is nothing. The most important thing is that Zhou Han's son can directly inherit his father's earl without any further reduction. Nowadays, the title is extremely precious, and it can be said to be an extremely special gift if it does not decrease.
Cheng Wuting and others knew very well that this was the saint's intention in Anjun, so they took the lead without hesitation and said: "The saint is wise!"
The military generals started shouting, and the civil servants could only follow suit.
When the officials' shouting ended, Li Zhi coughed lightly and issued an order that surprised everyone.
"I ordered the Yushitai Yushi to go out to inspect the capital. The matter of Wukang County magistrate is not just one thing. I have not been in good health these years, so I can say that I have relaxed my supervision on the administration of officials. Who knows, for a while, Without supervision, things like this happen. It’s time to rectify the administration.”
After hearing the saint's words, the civil servants suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
Rectify officialdom?
These four words, when spoken by the saint, carry an extraordinary weight!
And Li Xian finally knew why the documents he handed over to the Yushitai in place of Wang Bo simply disappeared into the sea.
It turns out that the emperor still saw this document, but he temporarily detained it in order to solve today's matter together!
