The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 319 Punishment (Thanks to the leader of Fanfanfantuaner)
Du He remained silent, as if he was not going to agree or reply. He would rather look at the scenery in the distance and pretend that he didn't hear what was said.

Li Shen also said: "My brother is very powerful!"

Li Zhi raised his head and said, "Of course."

Du He's response to them was still silence.

"We won! We won!" Zhang Jianzhi ran over quickly, shouting, "Your Highness Prince Jin, Your Highness Prince Ji, we won!"

At such a critical moment, Li Zhi was interrupted by Zhang Jianzhi. He was in a bad mood, with a murderous look on his fat face.

I don't know if there is really such a thing as conflict of horoscopes.

Li Shen felt that every time Zhang Jianzhi appeared, he did so in the way that his brother hated the most.

She often appears in front of King Jin at the most inappropriate time and in the most inappropriate posture.

Especially now, Master Du He has not made any promise, and the royal brother is planning to persuade him. At this moment, Zhang Jianzhi comes and shouts loudly.

Li Zhi clenched his fists and breathed heavily through his nostrils.

Zhang Jianzhi came closer, holding up a piece of paper and said, "The Tang army won a great victory in the battle of Baidaochuan. Zhenzhu Khan died, and one of his sons died, while the other fled north. Duke Ying led 6,000 men to defeat the Mobei cavalry, beheaded more than 3,000 men, captured 50,000 people, and 30,000 horses!"

Du He had gotten back on the carriage and continued his journey to Jingyang.

Soon, the sound of children fighting was heard behind him. It was Zhang Jianzhi who was beaten by Prince of Jin again.

There was a smile in Du He's eyes. He would never agree to anything King Jin said, no matter how good it was.

The good news has spread to every street and market in Chang'an City. When Ying Gong defeated the front army of Mobei, he only used 3,000 people. This time, he only used 6,000 people to defeat the Mobei army.

Duke Ying defeated the 50,000-strong army of Mobei with only 6,000 men. This extremely exciting news spread throughout Chang'an.

This was an almost unbelievable victory, with only six thousand men defeating an army of fifty thousand. This kind of victory was previously unthinkable.

The Tang army was brave, and the Tang people were accustomed to winning big victories with fewer troops. Whether it was the Battle of Songzhou or the Battle of Gaochang, the Tang army always won with fewer troops.

A team of light cavalry can defeat ten thousand people, and an army of tens of thousands can defeat tens of thousands of people.

People were immersed in this great victory, some raised their glasses to celebrate, and some sang loudly.

From the Weishui Alliance to the 16th year of Zhenguan, the Tang army has swept across the Tianshan Mountains and Mobei. Since then, no foreign enemy has dared to bully the Tang army to the west and north.

In the imperial city, Li Chengqian received the good news and summoned his teacher and uncle.

The news received by the court was more detailed. Li Chengqian still held the military report in his hand after reading it. This battle first had the Battle of Baidaochuan, where the Tang army defeated Dadushe's vanguard and captured their horses and supplies. In fact, after that battle, Duke Ying did not lead his troops to pursue further.

Afterwards, news came that after the Battle of Baekdochuan, more than 90% of the fleeing Turks froze to death in the cold winter.

After that battle, Mobei lost many strong and fighting men, and then under the attack of Li Ji and Li Daliang, Mobei retreated repeatedly.

After that, Duke Ying led 6,000 cavalry and defeated the army of the Mobei people.

However, the military report also mentioned another thing, that the emperor did not listen to the advice after all, and left Shuofang and went to Yinshan.

Fortunately, Duke Ying won the battle quickly, otherwise I'm afraid my father would really put on armor and go to the battlefield.

With the Heavenly Khan supervising the battle, how dare the generals relax?

So, when people get older, they probably get more and more crazy.

Li Chengqian faced his teacher and uncle and said, "Fortunately, my father is on his way back now. He should be able to reach Chang'an before June."

It has been a year since your Majesty left, and the Crown Prince has been in charge of court affairs for this whole year.

The emperor was away, the court was running smoothly, the situation in Guanzhong was better, and everything was fine except that there was some trouble because of Xuanzang.

The teacher and uncle were looking at the map together and discussing the next governance strategy.

Li Chengqian hoped that the northern territory of the Tang Dynasty could be extended all the way to Lake Baikal. He heard that his teacher and uncle were discussing building a protectorate in the north.

"I also want to build the Yanqi Protectorate and the Qiuci Protectorate in the Western Regions. The Ili Protectorate will be governed by the Anxi Protectorate."

Seeing that the prince was talking about the Western Regions again, Fang Xuanling hesitated and said, "More protectorates mean more expenses."

"Yes, but governance must be meticulous. It is not enough for the Anxi Protectorate to take on everything."

As they were talking, a child came running over with short legs.

This little kid was none other than Xiao Yutu. There was no one else who could walk around the palace so freely.

Dongyang chased after him helplessly, only to see that his brother had already picked up the child.

Li Chengqian held his son and said, "Come, call me Master, call me Uncle!"

Little Yu Tu first looked at his father, and then looked at the two people beside him.

Fang Xuanling and Changsun Wuji both looked at the child with kind smiles on their faces.

After looking for a while, little Yutu pouted and hugged his father's neck, refusing to recognize him.

Li Chengqian said: "This child is just shy of strangers."

The eunuchs who followed him were almost in tears. This little ancestor was afraid of strangers! He almost tortured the eunuchs in the palace to death.

Li Chengqian handed the child to Dongyang and continued to discuss matters.

Dongyang held little Yutu in his arms and said, "Let's go back to sleep, okay?"

Little Yu Tu nodded with a smile. The child's nodding movement was a little clumsy and stiff. He always raised his chin first and then nodded heavily.

Li Chengqian said: "This child will be spoiled sooner or later."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "It is too early to teach the children now."

Fang Xuanling said: "Yes, if you grow up a little more, you will need a teacher."

"Prince Fang is old, please take care of yourself."

"It's not easy for the assistant minister to handle the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel and the Secretariat at the same time."

Chang Sun Wuji said: "It's okay, I still have the energy to handle it."

Both of them had smiles on their faces. Li Chengqian began to review the memorial in front of him. When he looked up again, his teacher and uncle had already left.

Now that the Emperor father is coming back, as long as he doesn't change his mind or there are no other problems, the people in the court should feel at ease.

In the minds of most people, only when the emperor lives in the palace can their hearts be at peace.

Unless...right.

The eunuch came hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, Li Siwen wants to see you."

"Li Siwen?"

The eunuch explained, "He is the second son of Lord Ying. He previously followed Lord Ying to the northern desert. It is he who is here to deliver the military report."

Li Chengqian put down the pen in his hand and said, "Let him come over."

"Here."

This was the first time I met Li Siwen. He looked only about twenty years old, much younger than Li Zhen, who had already started a family. There was a nervousness and urgency in his eyes that most young people should have.

Most of the noble sons in Guanzhong that Li Chengqian had met were like this. They all had such expressions when facing me, the crown prince.

"Siwen?"

"The end will be here."

Li Chengqian sat on the chair, put his hands in his pockets, looked at him and said, "Sit down and talk."

Li Siwen said, "I dare not." Then he handed over a letter with both hands and said, "This is what my father asked me to hand over to Your Highness."

The eunuch beside him took the letter and handed it to the prince.

Li Chengqian removed the wax seal on the letter and asked before reading it, "Do you have any other instructions?"

"Your Highness, there is no more. I just asked this general to deliver the letter."

Li Chengqian nodded, "Would you like to take up a military post in the court during this expedition to Mobei?"

Li Siwen hesitated at first, and then said awkwardly, "I don't want to serve in the army."

"Well... it's good to just relax for the rest of my life."

"No." Li Siwen continued, "I like reading. It would be best if I could be a clerk and read books all the time."

"I understand. You can go down now."

"Here."

Li Siwen glanced at His Highness secretly and saw his sharp eyes. His aggressive aura was even more frightening than that of the prince at the banquet that year.

No wonder so many people don't dare to mention the prince easily outside.

Li Siwen bowed hurriedly and left quickly.

He ran all the way to the outside of the Suzaku Gate. Li Chongyi, who had just finished his shift, saw him and asked curiously, "What's wrong? You ran so fast all the way."

Li Siwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I met the prince."

Li Chongyi asked, “Really?”

Li Siwen calmed his frightened heart and walked all the way home, saying, "I was scared to death. The famous prince really doesn't look like a human being. It's so scary."

Li Chongyi smiled in surprise again.

Maybe Li Siwen is too young, or maybe he is just timid.

All in all, he is indeed not as good as Li Zhen.

In the Xingqing Hall of the Imperial Palace, Li Chengqian was looking at the letter sent by Duke Ying. The letter described what happened after Duke Ying returned from the battle in Mobei.

When Ying Gong wrote this letter, he was on his way back.

When returning to the court from Shuofang, Zhang Xuanbi mentioned things about Liaodong several times. In his letter, Duke Ying mentioned that his father seemed to have the idea of ​​an eastern expedition as well, and now Mobei has been pacified.

Qinghai is now under the control of the Tang Dynasty, the Tianshan Mountains have been flattened, and the battle in Mobei consumed a lot of Turkic cavalry. The Turks are now in a slump and can no longer cause any trouble.

The past two years have been the best time for an expedition to the east, and Duke Ying was even worried that his father was planning to lead the expedition to Liaodong himself.

Seeing that the prince had just finished reading the letter and looked solemn, the eunuch beside him whispered, "Your Highness, the Minister of Justice Liu Dewei is here."

Li Chengqian put down the letter and said, "Yes."

Liu Dewei walked into the hall, bowed and said, "Your Highness, everything has been sorted."

There were two memorials in front of him, containing the charges against Li Yuanying, Prince of Teng, and Li Yuanxiang, Prince of Jiang. The cases against these two had been investigated from last winter to this spring.

It took the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate five months to find all the evidence they had, which was written down in memorials, including threatening local officials with imprisonment, killing villagers, and looting the local area.

They are relatives of the Li Tang family, and they are all princes. Not all uncles are obedient. These two uncles are the negative examples. They plunder all the good things they can get.

And after taking them for themselves, they cruelly destroyed them.

In the end, all that was left was a mess, and all the beautiful things that were destroyed would never come back.

The Pavilion of Prince Teng is still standing. As long as the remains buried in the Pavilion of Prince Teng are not brought to justice, the local people will never be at peace.

The authority of this empire will gradually be lost if this situation repeats itself.

Liu Dewei said: "Last year, we beheaded more than 30 people, and this year we will behead 85 more people, many of whom are local celebrities, including children of powerful families and noble families."

Li Chengqian nodded and said, "After the Censorate has verified that there is nothing wrong, then we can kill him."

Liu Dewei continued, "Your Highness, I still have concerns."

"What concerns?"

"Prince Jiang and Prince Teng, there are still many people in the royal family who are looking forward to your Majesty's return. I am worried that your Majesty will be moved with compassion after your return and let them go."

Li Chengqian recalled a painting that Prince Teng Li Yuanying had sent to him before his accident. It was a very beautiful painting of a butterfly.

He was able to paint such beautiful pictures, but he did such cruel things in reality.

People saw the beauty in the painting, but did not notice that Prince Teng’s construction of Tengwang Pavilion caused local people to resent.

I'm afraid that my father knew about these things earlier than the court, which is why he traveled to various places. Is this trip intended to calm people's hearts and to pacify the local people?
Liu Dewei added: "King Teng Yiying admitted his crime and hoped that his hands would not be chopped off when he was sentenced. He also wanted to paint."

Li Chengqian suddenly smiled.

Seeing the prince smile, Liu Dewei looked puzzled.

Li Chengqian whispered, "So this is what he meant by sending the painting."

"Why did your Highness say this?"

Li Chengqian put the memorial aside and said, "Nothing."

Liu Dewei said in a clear voice: "Your Highness, we must make a decision when necessary. Even if Your Majesty wants to investigate, I will advise you. If Your Majesty is dissatisfied with the East Palace because of this, I will stand on your side even if I lose my head. How can we establish a country without strict laws? How can we keep the people safe without clear laws? I ask for your permission to deal with Prince Jiang and Prince Teng."

"..."

"Your Majesty originally ordered that the matter be handed over to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for disposal. Please do not hesitate any longer!"

His voice came again.

Li Chengqian took a sip of tea, looked forward, and said in a loud voice: "Jiang Wang Li Yuanxiang has been a scourge to the local people, and was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Lingnan. He will not be pardoned even if he is pardoned."

"Here!"

"Prince Teng, Li Yuanying, was escorted to the Western Regions to build city walls. He was not allowed to enter the pass without permission. He was demoted to a commoner and was not pardoned even if he was pardoned."

After a pause, Li Chengqian continued, "All the other accomplices will be beheaded. From now on, anyone who colluded with a prince of the royal family will be punished one level higher, and anyone who committed a crime with a prince of the royal family will be punished three levels higher."

Liu Dewei said loudly: "I obey your orders!"

In the 16th year of Zhenguan, just after the Grain Rain season, on the day of the Beginning of Summer, the crown prince issued an order, and more than eighty heads were cut off.

When Li Yuanchang was about to arrive in Chang'an, he heard the news and was so frightened that he ran away for his life.

This was a dark day for the Li Tang royal family. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace issued an order that anyone who had any connection with the royal family would be punished one level more severely. If a royal prince committed a crime, his punishment would be three levels more severely.

The prince has not yet ascended the throne and has not yet become emperor.

People have already understood that this crown prince will definitely be an extremely strict emperor in the future.

When the exiled King Jiang Li Yuanxiang walked ten miles out of Chang'an, he suddenly started coughing violently. The coughing became more and more severe until he coughed up blood.

The escorting officer stood behind him and whispered, "You deserve to die."

Li Yuanxiang stretched out his hand for help and was still coughing, but no hand was extended to him.

He looked up and felt that the soldier's face was familiar.

The soldier held the now weak Li Yuanxiang and said, "You killed my parents. I will not let you go to Lingnan. There is a group of people over there who want to peel your flesh. They have been waiting for a long time."

(End of this chapter)