Emperor Taizong's Growth Plan

Chapter 451 Activating the cruel officials and investigating to the end

After returning to the capital, Xiao Cheng hastily received the ministers in the capital, and after briefly explaining to them to clean up the order in the capital, he hurried to the palace.

At this time, Nan Jiyun, who had already received the news of Xiao Cheng's return to Beijing, hurried to greet him in front of the palace gate.

Seeing Xiao Cheng's face, Nan Jiyun knelt down on the ground and saluted:
"Sir, see Your Majesty!"

Immediately, Nan Jiyun showed an extremely ashamed look, and confessed to Xiao Cheng:
"Your Majesty trusts me so much, and I was appointed as the Central Guard Army to be in charge of the Forbidden Army in Beijing. Now the guards are not strong enough, causing the situation in Beijing to be turbulent. I am incompetent, and please punish me!"

Xiao Cheng looked at Nan Jiyun in front of him, frowned, and said:
"I also received your secret document from earlier..."

What Xiao Cheng said was that Nan Jiyun had made up his mind to participate in the battle for the status of the harem under Lu Bing's persuasion.After having this idea, Nan Jiyun handed over the memorial, requesting Xiao Cheng to be relieved of his position as the Central Guard.

The Central Guard Army is in charge of the Forbidden Army, guarding the palace and the capital, and has important responsibilities.Such a position needs only one, who has no position and is only loyal to the emperor!

Nan Jiyun's loyalty to Xiao Cheng is naturally beyond doubt.

However, Nan Jiyun's background in the Ailao clan, as well as his disposition and temper, obviously made it impossible for him to remain neutral in the upcoming harem battle.So no matter how you look at it, the position of the Central Guard is no longer suitable for Nan Jiyun.

Xiao Cheng glanced at Nan Jiyun again at this moment, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"You have nothing to hide from me, and I am quite relieved... How about this, this time you will be held accountable for the unfavorable crimes of defending the capital, and then you will be exempted from the position of guarding the army, and you can choose a front line to lead the army, or You can choose a suitable position to take up a position in the Dudu Mansion of the Five Armies!"

Let Nan Jiyun choose the official position that suits his heart, this is an unprecedented grace.This is Xiao Cheng, the loyalty to Nan Jiyun that is already full, and the reward for his candid attitude.

When Nan Jiyun heard the words, he cupped his fists in surprise and shouted:

"My lord, thank you for your grace!"

After dealing with Nan Jiyun's matter, Xiao Cheng said again:

"The two empresses and the prince, where are they now?"

"Return to Your Majesty, the two empresses and the two princes are all well, and they are all placed in Yongxin Palace."

In Yongxin Palace, there is a secret road leading to the outside of the palace left by Xiao Cheng's cheap father.Xiao Cheng didn't kill them all, just for the sake of safety and secrecy, and then someone modified the exit of the secret passage, just in case.

Xiao Cheng knew that Bian Liuyun and Nan Rongshu moved from Kunning Hall to Yongxin Palace because they were worried about the unstable situation in Beijing!
After getting the answer, Xiao Cheng sighed lightly, then nodded, without any hesitation, he immediately reined in his horse and galloped towards the palace.

"咚咚咚" The sound of iron hooves stomping on the ground and war horses galloping past was unheard of in the palace.After all, there is a rule in this palace that horses are not allowed.

It's just that the palace people in the palace, after seeing the figure of Xiao Cheng on the horse, hurriedly bent down and knelt down on both sides of the road to greet each other respectfully, not daring to say a word together.

In the current palace, no one has the guts to stop His Majesty, warn and advise those who follow the rules in the palace.

The war horse galloped, but in just a moment, Xiao Cheng had already arrived in front of Yongxin Palace.

The imperial guards, Dongchang fanzi, the guards at the sticky pole, and many palace people who had not been withdrawn in front of the gate did not expect Xiao Cheng to rush to Yongxin Palace so quickly.

Seeing Xiao Cheng coming at this time, he hurriedly knelt down on the ground, shouting long live.

Xiao Cheng got off his horse and quickly walked into Yongxin Palace, bumping into Concubine Zhang, Bian Liuyun, Nan Rongshu and others who rushed out in a hurry.

Seeing Xiao Cheng's return, Concubine Zhang's heart that had been sinking finally fell to the ground, she breathed a sigh of relief, and said:

"His Majesty is finally back!"

Xiao Cheng bowed slightly and said:

"Let the concubine worry about it!"

Concubine Zhang heard the words, with a smile on her face, she said softly:
"I don't worry about anything here, I just help take care of the two little princes for a few days."

Hearing this, Xiao Cheng slightly raised his head and looked behind Concubine Zhang. His figure was a little thin, Bian Liuyun looked a little tired, and Nan Rongshu was dressed up.

Looking at Xiao Cheng, whom she hadn't seen for many days, Nan Rongshu quickly adjusted her mood, her big round eyes suddenly misted, revealing a look of grievance.

Just when she was about to throw herself into Xiao Cheng's arms to act coquettishly and complain, Bian Liuyun, who used to maintain a polite manner in the past, suddenly stepped forward and threw herself into Xiao Cheng's arms before she could.

Bian Liuyun didn't have so many facial expressions and emotions as Nan Rongshu. She just buried her face softly in Xiao Cheng's arms, and didn't speak. Only her body trembled slightly, with a feeling of weakness that made people feel uncomfortable. Pity in my heart.

Nan Rongshu froze in place, the emotions that had just been brewed were interrupted, and the corners of her eyes couldn't help twitching a few times.

Well, you are brimming, and you still have two faces.Before His Majesty returned to Beijing, you did not act so delicate...

Xiao Cheng patted Bian Liuyun's back with his right hand to comfort him.Then he raised his head and looked at Nan Rongshu who was still standing there with a strange expression, blinked his eyes twice with a smile, and then raised his left hand in a hug.

Seeing this, Nan Rongshu's original complicated thoughts dissipated immediately, and she showed a bright smile to Xiao Cheng, and then stepped forward quickly, slipped into Xiao Cheng's arms, and said softly:
"Your Majesty, this concubine really misses you so much..."

Xiao Cheng really didn't want to spoil the atmosphere at this time, but hearing Nan Rongshu's pretentious voice, he couldn't help shivering, and gritted his teeth:

"How many times have I said, don't talk with your throat closed!"

"It's really a bit disgusting." Bian Liuyun lay in Xiao Cheng's arms and refused to look up, but still continued in a muffled voice.

Nan Rongshu raised her head abruptly, looked at Xiao Cheng with a wrinkled face, and then at Bian Liuyun at the side, and said with some reluctance:
"But it sounds so cute... Tsk, okay!"

Concubine Zhang stood in place and looked at the three of Xiao Cheng, with a smile on the corner of her mouth, and a look of nostalgia between her brows.

After sighing softly, she waved her hand, signaling all the waiters in the palace to retreat, and specifically told the maid beside her to take away the two princes in the palace...
-
The news of His Majesty's return spread throughout the entire Zhongqing City within a short period of time.

All the ministers in the court were astonished at the speed of His Majesty's return, and they did not dare to neglect. They quickly put on their court clothes and rushed to the gate of the palace to wait for the summons.

After all, after such a big event, His Majesty will definitely summon the courtiers to hold a court meeting as soon as possible after his return.

In front of the palace gate, a group of courtiers from the capital quickly gathered.

But at this time, the one who ranked first in the ranks of hundreds of officials in the court was not Wen Tiren, the former minister of the Ministry of punishment.Instead, they resigned from office a long time ago and did not care about the government. The two former ministers, Yizi Hou Ma Minwen and Yongde Hou Qucheng, were honored and wealthy at home.

These two have been ignoring the government for a long time, and there are rumors that they are involved in the turmoil in central Beijing. At this time, they suddenly appeared in the queue of hundreds of officials, which naturally attracted all officials to watch secretly and discuss privately.

It's just that Ma Minwen and Qu Cheng obviously didn't take these prying eyes to heart.Just stand at the strongest side of the queue and whisper something.

"The accompanying guards revealed that because of the urgent situation in central Beijing this time, after His Majesty disembarked from the boat in Jiangyang County, he left the carriage of the accompanying officials and led only a few thousand elite riders, and hurried back all the way."

Having said that, Ma Minwen lowered his voice again, and whispered:
"This time, His Majesty is obviously really angry because of the matter of the empress and the prince in the palace!"

Today's Majesty, since he ascended the throne, has never lost his composure like this when the Xia and Li countries came together, the frontier army rebelled, and the country was in danger.

How can the wrath of the Son of Heaven be calmed down if he doesn't kill the head and pour it with blood?

When Qu Cheng heard this, his heart sank slightly, and he couldn't help but whisper:

"Then this time, it shouldn't involve you and my family..."

Qu Cheng's confidence is really lacking.Among the widely circulated rumors in Beijing, it is said that the four families of Yang, Ma, Qu, and Tao secretly participated in the assassination for the sake of the Yang family's daughter's status in the harem.

Among the concubines in the palace, only Yang Jia Zhaoyi was not pregnant, so she took advantage of the good opportunity to accompany His Majesty on a parade, and wanted to assassinate the two empresses and the two princes in the palace.

The secret rumors of the royal family are originally favored by the common people.This has been spread with nose and eyes, and even many officials in the DPRK and China firmly believe in it.

At this time, Qu Cheng was naturally afraid of being blamed for this incident.

Hearing Qu Cheng's words, Ma Minwen hesitated for a long time.

In this imperial palace, there are elite imperial guards in each battalion, countless master priests, and the defense is extremely strict.The rumored assassination in Beijing cannot be achieved by simply buying a few palace servants!
But before, why did Bian Liuyun, who was in charge of the palace, make a decisive decision to bring Nan Rongshu and the two princes to live in Kunning Hall, eating and drinking all the same, so be extremely careful?Or even moved to Yongxin Palace in the end, always ready to escape from the secret path?

Bian Liuyun, who was born in a hundred elites, is timid and can't help being intimidated?
Not at all!Isn't it because of the rumors that the two classes of civil and military forces in the imperial court are hidden in the court, and the influential Yang, Ma, Qu, and Tao families are also involved.

Bian Liuyun didn't know whether it was true or not, but she didn't dare to be careless in her heart, so she could only be wary of everything around her, being extremely cautious.

All the empresses in the palace have doubts in their hearts, and they also have doubts if they can't keep His Majesty!

Thinking of this, Ma Minwen couldn't help sighing, and said worriedly:

"Your Majesty has always been wise and misses the past, so it is impossible for you and my family to be punished without investigating clearly."

In fact, if we were really afraid of the four forces, when the Qu family was involved in the grain and grass corruption case, His Majesty could have directly eradicated it without any investigation.

But Xiao Cheng still didn't do it in the end, he just asked Qu Cheng to retire from the court and gave him a title of title. Every year and festival, he never forgot, and several families continued to reward him.

So even though Ma Minwen was a little apprehensive, he didn't panic.

Hearing this, Qu Cheng couldn't help but nodded.

And at this moment, the jade bell symbolizing the gathering of courtiers was ringing above the palace gate.

All the officials gathered in front of the palace gate immediately stopped their private discussion, cleaned their robes, and adjusted their queue.

With the sound of "squeak, squeak" the palace door opened, a eunuch in the palace walked out quickly, and said in a shrill voice:
"Xuanbai Official Court Meeting!"

The magnificent sound of ritual and music echoed.There are many palaces and gates, which are opened one by one.

Hundreds of officials lined up neatly and solemnly. Under the guidance of the ceremonial officials, they walked slowly into the Xuanzheng Hall. They all bowed down and bowed down, shouting:
"Your Majesty, please see Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live!"

The long-lost voice of shouting long live resounded in the palace.

But at this time, Xiao Cheng, who hastily summoned all the officials, didn't even change into the crown robes. He was still wearing the Dragon Robe, which can only be said to be the emperor's usual uniform, and sat on the dragon chair with a cold face.

Without the twelve crowns hanging over his face to cover his face, Xiao Chengyin's fierce look of anger was just revealed in front of all the officials.

"Marquis of Changzhou!" A chilling voice came from Xiao Cheng's mouth.

Among the ranks of hundreds of officials, Yao Guangxiao, who was wearing a unicorn-patterned red official robe, walked out quickly, bent down and knelt down on the ground, and said loudly:
"Sir Yao Guangxiao, pay homage to Your Majesty!"

Xiao Cheng looked at Yao Guangxiao and said coldly:
"Know the guilt?"

Yao Guangxiao leaned down on the ground, and confessed in a deep voice:
"The minister was negligent, merciless, and failed to follow His Majesty's will, causing chaos in the capital. The guilt is unforgivable. Please punish him severely!"

The demon monk Yao Guangxiao, who has always used vicious means to calculate people's hearts, this time, because he was not able to use ruthless tactics, he failed to wipe out the Confucianism, Legalism, and Famous Schools after his return. People provoked and confronted the court.

But speaking of it, the reason why Yao Guangxiao behaved this time was not because he was soft-hearted!
It was because the power and influence of Confucianism, Legalism, and Famous Schools were not small. Even Yao Guangxiao did not dare to intimidate too much, so as not to affect the prestige of Yunguo and Xiao Cheng's virtue and benevolence. This led to the development of the situation. of.

After Xiao Cheng understood the development of the situation in Beijing these days, he naturally knew Yao Guangxiao's thoughts.

It's just that Yao Guangxiao did not obey the imperial decree, which is also true, and he must be punished!
Xiao Cheng said coldly:
"Demotion to the first rank, except for the title of Special Advancement Silver Qing Guanglu Doctor, a fine of half a year's salary, as a wake-up call!"

False titles and fines are nothing.Only the Marquis of Changzhou has become the Earl of Changzhou, which is regrettable.

Yao Guangxiao immediately bowed down and said in a deep voice:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace! I would like to take the blame and make meritorious deeds. Please, Your Majesty, please continue to investigate this matter thoroughly!"

At this time, Yao Guangxiao, the idea of ​​bearing the murderous name for Xiao Cheng, killing people and killing them in order to deter the forces of all schools of thought, still did not stop.

Xiao Cheng heard the words, but said coldly:
"You are not familiar with this matter, let others look into it!"

After finishing speaking, Xiao Cheng's voice became sharper, and he shouted again:

"Zhengzhi Capital of the sixth-rank Dali Temple, Zhang Tang, the head of the Criminal Department of the Zhengliupin, and Zhao Yu, the supervisory censor of the sixth-rank Gyeonggi Prefecture, where are they?"

Among the crowd, the three walked out quickly, bowed and saluted, saying:

"I'm waiting here!"

[Blue training card, strict laws and cruel officials
Card effect: After using it, you will have Zhidu, Zhao Yu, Zhangtang

Card description: Destroy the nest without the phoenix, and exhaust the dragon without swimming.The sage has something to return to, and it is not a dragon and a phoenix.

Zhidu, a native of Yang County, Hedong County, in the Western Han Dynasty, advocated severe punishment and strict laws...]

Unlike Song Ci who was good at examining evidence, and Di Renjie who was good at judging cases, these three people had average attributes, but they were all cruel officials recorded in the history of the Western Han Dynasty. Their usage was severe and harsh, and they even had a reputation for cruelty and violence.

Even if they are the core disciples cultivated by Baijia since childhood, once they fall into their hands, they will be able to find out how many times those people have urinated in the bed when they were children!

A trace of violence flashed across Xiao Cheng's eyes, and his voice was extremely cold and authentic:

"Let the three of you thoroughly investigate this matter! I don't care about any cruel means, as long as you investigate to the end, you are not allowed to let anyone go!"

The three of them trembled when they heard the words, and immediately saluted in unison:
"Come on, follow your orders!"

In the court, there are also officials who sympathize with Baijia, or are simply officials from Baijia, and they intend to persuade them at this time.

But before he could open his mouth, Xiao Cheng on the dragon chair glanced at everyone present with eyes full of violence, and said murderously:
"It's the last respect I have for the hundred families if I don't kill them all! Ladies and gentlemen, what's your opinion?"

The officials who were about to step forward immediately stopped their movements and lowered their heads, not daring to meet His Majesty's eyes.

Naturally, it's an opinion, but you are so open-minded, does anyone dare to raise it...

(End of this chapter)