The Great Tang General

"I am late in coming to your rescue, please punish me, Your Majesty..."

Zhang Hui and other Tian Ce Wei soldiers half-knelt on the ground and apologized to Li Xuan.

"You are just a rat, why should you apologize? General, please stand up!"

Li Xuan raised his hand and asked Zhang Hui and other soldiers to stand up.

At this moment, everyone present was dumbfounded.

The emperor, the supreme ruler.

Don’t think that the common people will call the emperor "old emperor" all the time when they are full of resentment.

But when the "old emperor" was really in front of him, his heart was in turmoil and he couldn't control himself.

Because the emperor was too far away from the people in Huainan, Jiangnan and other places.

I see the sun, but not Chang'an.

So much so that many people thought that the legendary Chang'an city was black.

The kings and nobles there raised their sickles, and they were not harvesting wheat and rice, but the common people.

Zhang Erhe and Niu Shi, two Huaiyin people who had contact with Li Xuan, were even more shocked.

They never thought that the approachable and gentle man was the emperor of the time.

They remembered that they had said "old emperor" many times, but Li Xuan responded with a smile.

Is this a crime of disrespect that is punishable by death?

The old emperor is an inherent image in the hearts of the people. The real emperor is young and enterprising. In the process of eliminating the lowly and promoting the good, there may be some truly good people involved, but he will definitely be able to distinguish right from wrong.

He never indulged officials and never succumbed to the powerful and wealthy.

We have always adhered to our beliefs and devoted ourselves to the people's livelihood.

To this end, he gave up the comfortable Chang'an and went to the south of the Yangtze River for inspection.

What you see and hear in Chang'an is beautiful.

But that's all!

There is a group of people who have fear in their hearts.

It was the so-called "Huaiyin Coalition" under the banner of besieging robbers.

The robber they thought was actually the emperor.

Didn’t they say that the emperor was heading to Zhongli County?
Didn’t they say that the emperor would not come to Huaiyin?
The emperor actually sneaked to Qingyunli in Xuanze Township, Huaiyin County and spent the night there.

How could such a thing happen in ancient and modern times?
Xie Bian, who had been so arrogant just now, now opened his eyes wide with fear in his eyes.

Besides fear, there is also some grievance...

The emperor dressed up as a businessman. Isn't this a sting operation?

How unlucky he is.

In the past, no matter what mistakes he made, even if it was taking human lives or robbing decent women, his father, Xie Chang, the village head, would easily help him settle them.

Can Xie Chang still protect him now?
Is it okay to have the support behind Mr. Xie?
The most desperate person was Song Pengcheng. He understood what the emperor's appearance here meant.

Not only will his career end, he may also die.

Xuanze Township.

After getting rid of the lowly and turning them into good people, such a situation actually occurred. The Supreme was so angry that I don’t know how many heads will be chopped off.

Even so, Song Pengcheng had to crawl to Li Xuan.

"Song Pengcheng, the Magistrate of Huaiyin County, did not know that the Supreme Lord was in Huaiyin. He deserves death."

After arriving in front of Li Xuan, Song Pengcheng kowtowed three times, ignoring the dust on the ground.

"I came to Qingyangli, Xuanze Township. The whole world is rid of lowly people, but Xuanze Township is so mediocre. You really deserve to die."

Li Xuan stared at Song Pengcheng with anger on his face.

"I didn't know the local tyrants in Xuanze Township were so arrogant! I will definitely bring them to justice and redistribute the land to the common people."

Song Pengcheng still held on to a glimmer of hope, hoping to survive from the brink of death.

As we all know, Li Xuan has zero tolerance for officials who collude with powerful people.

Once discovered, there will be no mercy.

Countless officials were killed for this reason.

Xuanze Township could no longer hide the truth; the villagers had no land to farm and were like slaves.

Song Pengcheng had no choice but to sacrifice his car to save his king.

"As a county magistrate, he didn't know there were powerful people in his village. How many villages are there in Huaiyin? Is there a more incompetent county magistrate than this?"

Li Xuan said in a cold voice.

Now Li Xuan has a hundred reasons to execute Song Pengcheng.

But Li Xuan wanted to ask Song Pengcheng some questions.

"I deserve to die, I deserve to die..."

Song Pengcheng could only kowtow to Li Xuan continuously, looking as if he knew nothing about the matter.

If he is really "incompetent", perhaps this would be the best ending for him.

"Come here, behead Xie Chang and Xie Bian on the spot, confiscate all the Xie family's assets, exile all the family members to Yunnan, and send all the slaves to Shanxi to build roads."

Li Xuan issued the first order.

He didn't need to know who Xie Chang was. He only needed to look at Xie Bian and Xuan Zexiang to know what kind of person Xie Chang was.

If this happens, he must be killed!

"As ordered!"

As Song Pengcheng and other Huaiyin officials trembled, Xie Bian and Xie Chang were pushed in front of Li Xuan.

"County magistrate, save me..."

Xie Bian was deeply shocked. After experiencing ups and downs in a short period of time, he was unable to speak anymore.

His legs were so weak that he couldn't even walk, and he was dragged by two guards.

The rolling iron cavalry and the supreme imperial power made him feel the insignificance of himself as a local tyrant in Xuanze Township.

Li Xuan changed his appearance so that he dared not look at her...

However, Xie Chang was still unwilling to give up and asked Song Pengcheng to plead for him.

But Song Pengcheng has already crossed the river and is in trouble, so how can he dare to say anything more?
In the tense atmosphere, Xie Bian and Xie Chang were pinned to the ground, and two internal guards acted as executioners and were about to carry out the execution.

"Supreme Lord, it was Song Pengcheng who indulged us and asked for bribes from us, so we went astray..."

Facing the blade, Xie Chang knew that he was finished, and he wanted to take someone with him before he died.

From the arrival of the Tiance Guards to their impending death, it took only a quarter of an hour, leaving no room for maneuver.

The Xie family had been rampant in Huaiyin for more than a hundred years, but it only took a moment for them to fall into decline.

So fast that it’s too late to regret.

I knew this, why should I be at the beginning?
"Don't slander me. Your Majesty, I have nothing to do with the Xie family. They are the ones who framed me."

Song Pengcheng jumped up and refuted Xie Chang.

"cut!"

Li Xuan ignored Song Pengcheng's words and uttered this word.

Misfortunes sent by heaven can be forgiven, but misfortunes brought upon oneself cannot be forgiven.

Given the situation in Xuanze Township, if the Xie father and son lived a little longer, it would be a betrayal to the people.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft!"

The inner guard raised his sword and slashed, and the heads of Xie Bian and Xie Chang fell to the ground.

Their blood splattered on the land where they ruled.

Their wealth and heritage will turn to dust just like their flesh and blood.

The people of the surrounding Xuanze Township could hardly believe the death of the Xie father and son, the source of evil in Xuanze Township.

Things like the emperor suddenly appearing and making decisions for the common people only happen in novels.

Now it is actually happening.

There was no cheering, only tears.

Their demands were very low. They just hoped that after the death of Xie father and son, they would have enough food and clothing.

When other powerful people in Huaiyin City saw the end of Xie father and son, they couldn't help but feel sad.

They never thought that death was so close to them.

I vaguely see my future self in the father and son of the Xie family.

But it's too late to get away now.

They were surrounded by the Tian Ce Guards and had no way to escape.

"Song County Magistrate, who else came to encircle and suppress me besides the county soldiers, constables, and Huaiyin Jinyiwei?"

Li Xuan questioned the stunned Song Pengcheng again.

"I didn't know it was the Supreme who came. I was bewitched by the Xie family and his son. I was afraid that I was short of manpower, so I asked the local big clans for help."

Song Pengcheng gritted his teeth and answered Li Xuan, evasively.

"Except for Xuanze Township, there shouldn't be any problems in other townships, right?"

Li Xuan stared at Song Pengcheng and asked.

"No...no problem."

Song Pengcheng answered intermittently.

"Well, County Magistrate Song, please come with me to the county government office. I will send people to other villages in Huaiyin to inquire door to door."

Li Xuan nodded slightly. He wanted to see how long Song Pengcheng could argue.

As expected, when Song Pengcheng heard that Li Xuan was going to get to the bottom of the matter, his legs trembled even more violently. He just stood up and collapsed to the ground again.

How could this big family in Huaiyin withstand investigation?

Fighting from the east to the west of the city, there will definitely not be a single innocent person. "It seems that the Huaiyin magistrate has difficulty walking. Help him up and bring him back to Huaiyin City..."

Li Xuan ordered two guards to carry Song Pengcheng onto the horse.

"General Zhang, order everyone to lay down their weapons and return to Huaiyin City together."

Li Xuan then gave instructions to General Zhang Hui of the Tiance Guard.

Zhang Hui could understand what the Supreme meant by “everyone”.

That is the "Huaiyin Coalition" formed by Song Pengcheng.

Except for the coerced tenant farmers, the rest were officers, soldiers, and powerful people.

They all had to lay down their weapons and be escorted back to Huaiyin City by the imperial cavalry.

That is where they will be tried, and more ordinary people will see it.

From the moment Li Xuan stepped into the Huaiyin ferry, he knew that Huaiyin County was in chaos.

"I am blind and have offended Your Majesty. Please forgive me."

When the Tiance Guards escorted the Huaiyin dignitaries away from Xuanze Township, Li Xuan came before Zhang Erhe, Niu Shi and other common people.

The common people hurried to pay their respects.

Zhang Erhe was okay. He was respectful to Li Xuan most of the time and treated Li Xuan as a noble person.

But Niu Shi knelt on the ground with tears and snot, and apologized to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan killed the Xie father and son, which made people happy. Niu Shi also felt a sense of joy that his great revenge had been achieved.

However, Niu Shi knew that he was under the influence of alcohol and cursed the "old emperor" the most harshly.

Some even scolded Li Xuan for being inferior to Li Longji.

Now he knew he was wrong. It was not that the emperor indulged the powerful and tolerated the officials, but that the officials of Huaiyin County did not respect the court and the emperor's orders.

For this purpose, the emperor went on a secret visit and personally visited Xuanze Township.

Still spending the night in a poor, leaky thatched hut.

This is a body worth a million gold!

"Ignorance is not a crime. What's more, what Mr. Niu said makes sense. It is the emperor's responsibility that the people cannot have enough food and clothing."

Li Xuan helped Niu Shi up and said solemnly.

"Since the beginning of the Qianyuan and Yuanzai years, the campaign to eliminate the lowly and promote the good has already begun. It is the emperor's responsibility to eradicate the powerful and distribute the land to the people to ensure that the people have enough food and clothing. I am worried that some people will pretend to obey but secretly disobey, so I came to see you, but I saw that you are suffering. Don't worry, after eradicating the powerful and punishing the corrupt officials, your life will get better and better."

Li Xuan patted Niu Shi's shoulder again and made a promise to him.

This year's imperial examination has ended.

He will arrange for this year's top scholar in the imperial examination to be the new magistrate of Huaiyin.

Under the new imperial examination system, the top scholar had certain political ambitions and wanted to make some political achievements in order to obtain a top-ranking position and leave his name in history.

These are the most difficult group of people to corrupt.

"I am deeply grateful..."

Being so close to Li Xuan, Niu Shi burst into tears.

Seeing is believing. Niu Shi was moved by Li Xuan's magnanimity, but he also felt more guilty.

"Mr. Zhang, your hometown will also see the sun shining brightly."

Li Xuan held Zhang Erhe, the rough ferryman, again.

The township where Zhang Erhe lives is not much better than Xuanze Township.

It is close to the Huaiyin Ferry, a ferry crossing on the Grand Canal, and has the potential for accelerated development.

"With the words of the Supreme Being, I, a commoner, can die without regrets."

Zhang Erhe replied to Li Xuan.

No words can describe Zhang Erhe's mood at the moment.

He turned a disaster into a blessing and met the most noble person in the world.

It is the most heartwarming thing to witness the Supreme punishing evildoers.

Li Xuan also told the people of Xuanze Township the reasons why he came to Huaiyin.

It was the people of Xuanze Township who were the first to escape from Huaiyin and told Li Xuan some things about Huaiyin.

Li Xuan asked the people to wait for distribution in Xuanze Township.

They can also go to Huaiyin City tomorrow and see the ending they want.

After finishing his instructions, Li Xuan left Xuanze Township on horseback.

It was not until that night that Li Xuan arrived at Huaiyin City.

He deliberately chose to enter the city through the north gate.

At the north gate of Huaiyin City, there are two huge granaries.

After the news of Li Xuan's southern tour reached Huaiyin, Song Pengcheng ordered people to rush the construction day and night and fill up the food supply.
It means that there is too much food in Huaiyin to be eaten, so it can only be piled up outside the city.

To show off their "political achievements".

"Magistrate Song, what is this?"

Li Xuan dismounted in front of the city. Under the torch, Song Pengcheng was dragged in front of Li Xuan, and Li Xuan questioned him.

Song Pengcheng was in a daze along the way and didn't even remember how he got back.

Compared to the mighty march toward Xuanze Township, when they returned, they were tortured both physically and mentally.

"This... this is... a granary..."

Song Pengcheng answered hesitantly.

Given the situation in Xuanze Township, the previous rhetoric is no longer applicable.

“Why does the granary appear at the city gate?”

Li Xuan asked again.

Song Pengcheng was speechless and didn't know how to answer.

"People in Huaiyin were starving and freezing to death. But the county magistrate piled food in front of his door. Is he still a caring official?"

Li Xuan spoke harsh words to Song Pengcheng.

"I am incompetent, I deserve to die..."

Song Pengcheng came and went, and only said these two sentences.

"I got off the boat at Huaiyin Ferry before, and a small official from the grain transport department saw my boat approaching the shore and demanded a huge amount of money without explanation. I have issued an order to encourage industry and commerce and prosper the local area. Is this how Huaiyin County encourages it?"

Li Xuan brought up this matter again and scolded Song Pengcheng.

Song Pengcheng has more than one flaw. The entire Huaiyin County is full of flaws because of his management.

It is impossible for a businessman to escape unscathed once he passes by.

Song Pengcheng seemed to be suffocated by this incident. His eyes rolled back and he fainted on the ground.

Li Xuan believed that Song Pengcheng was deliberately escaping, so he had Song Pengcheng dragged under the granary and spent the cold night outdoors with a group of Huaiyin County officials.

Although they were separated from their mansion in the city by a wall, they could not go back.

Li Xuan and others temporarily returned to Huaiyin County Government to rest.

Li Xuan hasn't rested for two days and one night, so there's no need to force himself to stay awake.

Silent all night.

Song Pengcheng was also woken up by the cold in the middle of the night. He huddled together with the county lieutenant, county magistrate and others to keep warm.

The guards took turns monitoring them.

The next day, at dawn.

Li Xuan came to Song Pengcheng, whose face was blue from the cold, and angrily shouted, "Song Pengcheng, I sent people back from various villages. There are tens of thousands of people in Huaiyin County, but less than one-third of them are good families with arable land. Most of the land in the villages belongs to the powerful. Don't you know this?"

"I know my crime, but I only ask for death!"

Song Pengcheng's face was pale, his lips were cracked, and he knelt down to confess his guilt.

At this point, how could he not know that Li Xuan was deliberately making trouble for him? She had no intention of letting him go.

His guilt is clear and cannot be washed away.

"Write down all the evidence of your crimes. If you dare to conceal them, your entire clan will be exterminated."

Li Xuan asked someone to put paper and pen under Song Pengcheng.

When saying this, Li Xuan was filled with anger.

Because except for An Lushan, he never really exterminated the three clans.

It can be seen that he was angry about this matter.

Song Pengcheng did not struggle. He picked up a pen and paper and reported the crimes of the powerful people under him, including those who helped them to settle evidence, condoned them and accepted bribes from them.

Also write down the matter of bribing the prefect of Huaiyin.

The struggle is in vain.

Not to mention the prefect of Huaiyin, even the governor of Huainan was just a "little man" in front of Li Xuan.

No one could save him.

He simply told the truth to prevent the three tribes from being slaughtered.

"Come here, pass on my order to dismiss all officials in Huaiyin County and take them to Shanyang to Huaiyin City. Han Hong will be the new governor of Huaiyin County and will be in charge of the overall situation of Huaiyin County."

Li Xuan issued another decree.

No one involved in this matter will be able to escape.

Even if it has not been contaminated, it is a sin if you know about it and do not report it.

Except for the prefect of Huaiyin, other officials of Huaiyin, including the county magistrates and county lieutenants of Huaiyin counties, would be transferred from Linhuai, Zhongli and other counties.

Promote those with outstanding political achievements to Huaiyin to stabilize the overall situation.

Li Xuan wants to change Huaiyin from top to bottom...

(End of this chapter)