People in the early Tang Dynasty: I compete with Wu Zhao for the throne

Chapter 1413: Targeting the Cui family and suppressing the prime minister,
In the midsummer of June, there are heavy rains.

Li Zhi stood in front of the Qianyang Palace, looking at the heavy rain falling outside, his expression unusually solemn.

There were slight footsteps behind him, and Li Zhi didn't look back and asked directly: "Is there no news from Shaanzhou yet?"

"Not yet." Empress Wu came up from behind and whispered: "Why Qiu had rushed to Shaanzhou the day before yesterday. The river repairs in the past six months had to be completed in Shaanzhou because the terrain was too harsh. , other places had only a few minor flaws throughout the summer, only in Shaanzhou, heavy rains piled up all at once..."

"If it's done, it's all done; if something happens, even if it happens in just one place, it's no different from a total collapse." Li Zhi turned around and looked at Empress Wu with a sharp look.

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded lightly. She knew that it rained almost half of the time this summer, and every time it rained, the rain was heavy.

Li Xuan's judgment last year was absolutely correct, and the rain was even heavier than he originally expected.

Fortunately, He Yuqiu and Liu Rengui have been actively dredging canals and repairing roads since the New Year. This has led to the current situation. Although floods have occurred in many places, the relevant measures have been dealt with quickly and the people are safe and sound.

In many places, even houses were destroyed by floods, but thanks to the active efforts of local officials, no one died in the floods.

Of course, it is inevitable that some places will conceal the report, but this is enough to show the effectiveness of water control this time.

But only Shaanzhou, especially Lingbao, has meandering rivers and a low-lying terrain.

Especially when the Yellow River and Weihe River converged in the upper reaches, the floods caused the river embankments that had persisted for several months to finally be unable to hold up. In the end, the floods directly broke the embankments and rushed into Lingbao.

Due to the special terrain, once the river embankment is destroyed, other roads will be inaccessible except for boats.

Therefore, there is no news about the current situation in Shaanzhou except that He Yiqiu has rushed there.

Li Zhi took a deep breath and said: "I know that King Peng is trying to make the Du Shui Supervisor move up one level. I was still hesitant before, but now, if I really want to be able to deal with the Lingbao matter at the minimum cost, So what if I let him, the capital water supervisor, be promoted to one level?"

"Your Majesty!" Empress Wu couldn't help but cry out in a low voice. She bowed slightly, looked at the emperor, and persuaded: "Your Majesty, raise the Water Supervisor of the capital to a higher level, and all the officials there will be promoted. In this way, the official salary will be higher. It’s rising a lot, and it’s rising every year.”

The first direct impact of raising the overall level of the Capital Water Conservancy Bureau was the increase in officials' salaries, which was increased every year, putting considerable pressure on the court.

The salary aspect was directly controlled by Empress Wu.

Li Zhi shook his head slightly and said: "Mei Niang, that's not how the accounts are calculated. Let's just say that this year, the government did invest a lot, but without these investments, the losses under the flood would probably exceed the investment dozens of times, and there would also be more The subsequent food and grass relief will be enough for the court within ten years."

Empress Wu was silent, and she had to nod. The success of this year's flood control was inseparable from the efforts of the people in the capital's water supervisors.

"Next, within every ten years, there will be a flood like this, which is not excessive. And with this year's experience, the investment in the future will be less and less."

Li Zhi raised his eyes, looked at the heavy rain outside, and said softly: "Look at how much better the Wei River, Luo River and Canal rivers are after this time. Even if they continue to be treated every year, the benefits will definitely exceed Calculating the salary expenditure of a city water supervisor, the court still makes money, not to mention the popularity of it. "

Empress Wu knew that people's hearts were what the emperor really cared about most.

As for other things like salary and salary, they have to be put back.

"Why do you want to be the Water Supervisor of the capital?" Empress Wu immediately revealed her own method.

"Of course." Li Zhi turned around and glanced at Empress Wu. He immediately knew what she was thinking. He shook his head and said, "Why do you want the Du Shui Supervisor to remain unchanged? The Du Shui Young Supervisor will be transferred. The vacant position will be arranged by the Queen." Bar."

"Here!" Empress Wu breathed a sigh of relief. Du Shui Jian had always had a vague relationship with Li Xuan.

At first Huang Rensu, the Minister of Works, was promoted from the Water Supervisor of the Capital to the rank of Great Craftsman. Later, when the Minister of Works was inspected, Li Xuan recommended him to the Ming Dynasty.

The current capital water supervisor was recommended by Li Xuan himself. Then he encountered floods, and now he has to be upgraded. If you look closely, it is all Li Xuan's calculations.

In this case, how could the Empress be at ease if she didn't put a personal soldier in it.

……

Looking at the rain outside, Li Zhi shook his head and said, "I'm afraid the rain won't stop for a while."

"Yes!" Empress Wu looked solemn. It rained really hard this year.

"What's going on over there in Songshan Mountain?" Li Zhi said, turned around and walked towards the imperial couch.

Empress Wu followed beside her, shaking her head and saying, "It's not very ideal. The rain is coming, making it difficult to work. Even the wood will be wetted, which will affect the use, so we have to stop work."

Li Zhi paused slightly, then sat down on the imperial couch, and then said: "Just stop, as long as nothing happens."

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded slightly.

Li Zhi picked up a memorial and then said as if he remembered something: "I heard that there is so much excitement in Wannian County recently?"

"Yes!" Empress Wu sat down and said with some humor: "In early May, someone dug up the missing cases of young children over the years, and carefully selected all the missing cases from Wannian County. And we have already found the person. We just need people from Wannian County to find the person." "Is something wrong?" Li Zhi smelled something different.

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded and said, "It was okay at first. At least the child was found and the criminal who abducted the child was also caught. But later, when we arrived again, both the criminal and the child were gone."

"There is a problem in Wannian County." After a slight pause, Li Zhi shook his head in amusement and said, "I don't know how many people have been involved in Wannian County for so many years. Now at this time, someone is leaking information. , I’m not surprised, but what happened next?”

"Those parents who have not found their children are naturally unwilling to give up." Empress Wu subconsciously glanced in the direction of Chang'an, and then said: "In a place like Chang'an, who doesn't know three or five powerful people? As time goes by, some people will come to Wannian County." Apply pressure, especially Cui Ming, the captain of Wannian County."

"This matter is a game from beginning to end!" Li Zhi sighed softly. When many seemingly unrelated people join forces with each other, they already need to be vigilant.

After a slight pause, Li Zhi asked: "Who did it? The Cui family member Ren Wannian County Lieutenant should not have so many people dare to do it."

"It's not clear yet." Empress Wu shook her head slightly and said cautiously: "Due to the sudden heavy rain, the secret guard's inspection was somewhat difficult and delayed."

Li Zhi's face calmed down. This was the disadvantage of leaving Chang'an. Many things became untimely.

Especially when it comes to heavy rain and snow, it becomes difficult to intervene.

"It doesn't matter, it's not a big deal to target the Cui family anyway, as long as Chang'an doesn't cause big trouble." Li Zhi nodded, and then said: "What happens next, we can guess who is behind it by looking at the follow-up." Take action."

Empress Wu looked at the emperor in surprise and asked, "What did your Majesty guess?"

"If Cui Ming, the county lieutenant for ten thousand years, is just a cover for others to attack Cui Zhiwen or Cui Zhiti, then I know who did it." Li Zhi's face became slightly solemn.

"Who?" Empress Wu couldn't help but asked in surprise.

She didn't realize at all that behind this incident, there was actually an attack on the prime minister and the minister. Such a method was really shocking.

"Prince Peng." Li Zhi said Li Xuan's name calmly.

Empress Wu was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said, "That's not the case. Prince Peng is in Fanzhou now. Isn't this kind of thing beyond our reach?"

Li Zhi smiled, shook his head and said: "You are wrong, Mei Niang. If you attack Cui Shangshu and Cui Xiang directly, then Twenty-seventh Lang will naturally need to come forward in person, but if it is just Cui Ming, there is no need for him to personally come forward." Come forward, and when the matter involves the two Cui Qings, he will jump out. "

Empress Wu raised her eyebrows and whispered, "Is he digging a trap?"

"Well!" Li Zhi looked solemn, nodded, and said: "Cui Ming's Chang'an County Lieutenant, if he doesn't want to be kicked out, he must thoroughly investigate the case of missing children. Mei Niang, do you think he can investigate it thoroughly?" ?"

Empress Wu shook her head calmly and affirmatively, and said: "The secret guards themselves are investigating this case, but many things cannot be investigated later. The investigators were either bribed, threatened, or killed. ”

"Yeah, that's my secret guard. Someone can actually put his hand into the secret guard." Li Zhi couldn't help but sneered twice, but then he calmed down and said with emotion: "We have used the secret guard these years. Too much."

"Yes!" Empress Wu nodded solemnly.

Aristocratic families always have a way to find gaps. If a gap is torn open, then many gaps can be found by them in the future.

Over the years, secret guards and wealthy families have gone through countless fights in places where others cannot see them.

"Although there is no evidence, you and I can guess who is behind it. The Cui family, huh, don't they know that the queen and I can't move, let alone them." Li Zhi snorted coldly and said: "In the end, Cui Ming, the ten thousand year county lieutenant, will definitely not be able to continue his job. If you want to keep him..."

"The rest of the Cui family will have to step in and drag the two Cui Qings down step by step." Li Zhi raised his head and looked in the direction of Chang'an and said softly: "This is a long-term plan, and it is Prime Minister Cui who is targeted in this way. ...No, it’s the Cui family, he is suppressing the Cui family, it’s Saburo’s side.”

"If it is really him, this is the only motive." Empress Wu nodded in agreement.

Suppressing the aristocratic family was the common thought of the emperor and Empress Wu.

At least that's the case now, so in the future, this heavy burden will fall on Li Xian.

But with Li Xian's temperament, he obviously couldn't do this. Although those in the East Palace had the means and keen eyesight, they had no determination.

Li Xuan is the most determined person among all people today.

Li Zhi took a deep breath and said: "Let this matter happen naturally. However, after the flood, it is inevitable that some people will sell their children and daughters. Send a letter to the governors of various states, asking them to take good care of the affected people, and no abduction or trafficking will occur. If one appears, he will be demoted immediately. class."

"Here!" Empress Wu just nodded. At this moment, a burst of rapid horse hoofbeats suddenly came from the palace gate. Immediately, a Qianniu Guard rushed into the palace despite the heavy rain.

"Your Majesty, please report to the Empress of Heaven, urgent report of Lingbao." Qian Niuwei knelt in the hall and handed over the secret memorial wrapped in cowhide.

Li Zhi calmly took it and opened it. Immediately, a smile appeared on his face. While handing the secret memorial to Empress Wu, he said: "The flood has passed through the Lingbao, but the people have evacuated without any injuries."

(End of this chapter)