The Leisurely Life of the Prince of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 405: Strict Law

Songtsen Gampo is still the de facto king of Tubo. After the civil strife in Tubo, he fell seriously ill, but now he has finally recovered.

Recurring illness is actually not a good thing. In Dongyang's words, Songtsen Gampo's problem was not coughing, but certain problems with his internal organs, which made him extremely susceptible to catching cold or getting sick.

Ultimately, it is a disease that reduces the body's immunity, and this lesion has not shown any signs of improvement so far.

This was roughly Dongyang's diagnosis of Songtsen Gampo, and it was also the consensus of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

In this era, it was extremely difficult to confirm the cause of the disease. Dongyang only knew that Songtsen Gampo was very weak, but he didn't know how to use medicine.

Songtsen Gampo can only be treated once he gets sick.

"Your Majesty, this is the letter between King Wu and Li Yifu." A guard stepped forward quickly.

Li Chengqian opened the letter, read its contents, handed it to Songtsen Gampo and said, "Look, the Tang Dynasty also has many problems to solve."

Songtsen Gampo read the contents of the letter and felt the Khan's sincerity. He asked, "Then what will Your Majesty do?"

Li Chengqian took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, looked ahead and said slowly: "We need to investigate and correct it."

The trip was over and the emperor returned to the palace.

Songtsen Gampo said: "I really want to see how this Heavenly Khan will govern the world. There are nobles in Tubo and aristocratic families in the Central Plains."

Lu Dongzan whispered: "Many people will die."

In addition to the officials standing inside the Taiji Hall, there are hundreds of people standing outside the Taiji Hall during the current morning court session. Since the second year of the Qianqing reign, Your Majesty has required officials from the Shaoyin of Jingzhao Prefecture and above to attend the morning court session.

Chengtian Gate is also wider than before and can accommodate more than fifty people passing side by side.

At the morning court today, the emperor issued an order, ordering the Censorate to send 500 censors to Shandong and Jiangnan, and to bring with them 10,000 soldiers and horses. He ordered Wu Wang Li Ke to be the commander-in-chief of the Jiangnan army, and ordered Palace Attendant Censor Du Zhenglun, Grand Censor Shangguan Yi of the Censorate, Censor Li Yifu, and Censor Zhang Xingcheng to lead the team to investigate land annexation and the hidden tax households in the localities.

Li Chengqian stood up from the throne and said, "It was just a tax omission case in Fanyang. The tax of tens of thousands of shi led to the killing of the entire family of Fanyang Lu Yuan. The instigator killed the person and ended the matter. After Cui Renshi died, Li Yifu has been investigating in Jiangnan."

"Last year, when I ascended the throne, I ordered all places to return to their hometowns, but now there are still people who conceal their identities. There are only three families on 300 acres of land, and the annual tax is only ten dou of rice... How ridiculous! Are they treating me like a child and fooling me?"

His Majesty's words echoed throughout the hall.

This time, Changsun Wuji stopped trying to persuade him, but stood silently in the court.

"My Lords, do you think that Jiangnan is too far away for the court to control and we can just turn a blind eye? It only takes a few days to get to Yangzhou from Luoyang. The court can investigate the murder of Lu Yuan's family for five years. This time, I can investigate the hidden households and the land for ten or twenty years..."

When the morning court session ended, everyone was silent.

Your Majesty is going to initiate an investigation and an anti-annexation movement. This investigation will last a long time, with strict laws and a large scale... I'm afraid it will be unprecedented.

The emperor is such a person. Whenever he speaks, he always keeps his word and does what he says.

Justice is no longer important. Taxation concerns the foundation of the country, so just take it all in one go.

Because this emperor kept a group of wolves in the Censorate.

Li Yifu, Shangguan Yi, Zhang Xingcheng, Du Zhenglun and others all looked down upon the ministers.

Once this group of wolves is released, they will never let go of their prey.

Li Chengqian sat in the new palace. He still dared not forget the instructions given by Duke Zheng and the promise he made to Duke Zheng during the Eastern Expedition.

On March 10th of the second year of the Qianqing reign, Shangguan Yi and Zhang Xingcheng, with 500 censors and an army of 10,000, headed to Luoyang and went down to Yangzhou along the canal.

Du Zhenglun met Wu Wang Li Ke in Luoyang, and together with many imperial censors, he boarded a large ship on the canal. The fleet sailed to Yangzhou in a mighty manner.

Shangguan Yi stood at the bow of the boat with high spirits and said, "Before, Yang Guang went to Yangzhou, and now the Imperial Censor of the Tang Dynasty has gone to Yangzhou. Isn't this a good story?"

Du Zhenglun sat tiredly on the deck as the fleet sailed down the canal. He thought he would stay in Jingyang for the rest of his life to help His Majesty build the paper mill, and now that it has finally been reopened, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He said, "Originally, I was doing well in Jingyang, but it seems that the court needs people, so Your Majesty finally asked me to go. I have no choice but to go. My days of leisure are over."

Li Ke said: "Li Yifu must be very excited now."

Shangguan Yi asked in confusion: "Why? Is it because your Majesty ascended the throne?"

Twenty-seven-year-old Li Ke also had a beard. He shook his head and said, "No, the hatred between Li Yifu and the children of the noble families was brought up since he was a child. For him, this is a battle, and he can spend several years collecting evidence for this battle."

"He wants to deal with the aristocratic families and the ancient clans in Jiangzuo. It will be a life-and-death battle. Even if the land annexed is from the royal family, it will still be his target of attack."

As he was talking, Li Ke noticed three familiar figures flashing across the cabin. He walked into the cabin with a stern face and sneered, "Sure enough."

Li Zhi and Li Shen grinned and said in unison: "Brother King Wu!"

Di Renjie looked around, trying to avoid the embarrassment of the moment.

Li Ke raised his head and asked, "When did you come to the ship?"

Li Zhi cleared his throat and said, "Brother Wu Wang, my brother Shen and I have studied in the Eastern Palace since we were young. We have the unique skills of the Eastern Palace and can help you when necessary."

Li Ke turned around and told the boatman, "Throw these three guys overboard."

The three boys were speechless.

The boatman said, "Your Highness, the boats are already in the middle of the river. I'm afraid..."

Li Ke looked serious, "Then throw them into the river and let them swim back by themselves."

"Brother Wang!" Li Shen said hurriedly, "We will never cause any trouble. We will do whatever Brother Wang tells us to do."

"if not?"

Hearing the stern words from his brother, Li Shen thought for a while and said, "Otherwise, we can go to the Western Regions to plant trees."

Li Ke emphasized again: "Remember your words."

After Brother Wu Wang left, the three boys soothed their breathing and calmed their fright.

Di Renjie said dejectedly: "If we go back to Luoyang, Mr. Quan Wanji will ask me to sweep the streets."

Li Zhi patted Li Shen on the back. This younger brother was always able to turn danger into safety at critical moments.

"Huh?" Di Renjie suddenly thought of what he had said before, and asked, "Your Highness the Prince of Jin."

"Ah."

"What is the East Palace's unique skill?"

Li Zhi looked at Di Renjie's fat face and said, "You won't understand even if I tell you. It is the most profound knowledge in the world."

Li Shen said: "In fact, the unique learning of the East Palace is the most terrifying knowledge in the world."

Di Renjie asked, "Can I learn it?"

Li Zhi kicked him, but Fatty Di dodged it and said, "If I let you learn it, can it still be called a unique skill?"

Seeing the boatman looking for something on the boat, Li Zhi asked, "What are you looking for?"

The boatman replied, "King Jin, there seems to be mice on the boat."

"Rat?"

"I have to find the rat and prevent it from spoiling the food."

Di Renjie also joined the team to find the rat. He realized something was wrong and saw that a bowl of noodles had been eaten up. He was surprised and asked, "Can this rat be so greedy?" There were faint snoring sounds around him, and Di Renjie was puzzled again, "Why is this rat snoring so loudly?"

The boatman also scratched his head.

The boat we used for the trip was actually not small, it was a large ship that could accommodate thousands of people.

Li Zhi followed the snoring sound, pushed open a door, and saw a man sleeping. There were spots of oil on the man's mouth, obviously from the noodles he had eaten.

"Bitch!"

Hearing a loud shout, Zhang Jianzhi opened his eyes dazedly and said, "Your Highness Prince Jin."

Li Zhi smiled and put his arm around his neck, pretending to hit him, and asked, "Why are you on the boat?"

"I saw you guys get on the boat, so I followed you. The boat was moving so fast, I didn't even say goodbye to my father."

After saying that, Zhang Jianzhi raised his head and asked with some interest: "Are we going to Yangzhou for fun?"

Li Shen turned his head and said, "Let's go kill someone."

"Ah... Then I'll go back first, boatman! Hook a small boat and I'll row back to Luoyang by myself."

Li Zhi looked at this useless guy and beat him up.

As a result, Zhang Jianzhi gave up the idea of ​​returning to Luoyang.

When the ship arrived in Yangzhou, hundreds of imperial censors came down from the ship in front of many officials of Yangzhou. Without saying a word, these imperial censors began the search with the emperor's order.

This investigation is destined to be a long one. The current Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is not afraid to compete with others in patience. What the current emperor lacks the least is time. Even if it takes ten or twenty years, he will investigate it thoroughly.

Shangguan Yi came to Yangzhou City. Yangzhou was also called Guangling in ancient times, and later Wuzhou. After Yang Guang went to the south of the Yangtze River three times, it was renamed Jiangdu, which is the gateway to Jiangzuo.

After Li Tang came to power, this place was called Yangzhou again.

Walking on the bustling streets of Yangzhou City, teams of imperial censors entered official residences under the frightened gazes of the people.

Shangguan Yi took a piece of paper and looked at the words on it and found a house. There was a sign hanging in front of the house: The Place for Redress of Grievances.

There are three or five soldiers guarding here.

After Shangguan Yi explained the situation to the guarding officers and soldiers, they saluted and let the man into the house.

When he entered the courtyard, he saw Li Yifu who was dancing with a large Mo Dao.

Seeing him sweating profusely while swinging the Damodao, Shangguan Yi said, "Stop. No one in the army trains like you."

Li Yifu slammed his sword on the ground, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Why did you come just now? Do you know how many assassinations my family has experienced?"

Shangguan Yi, wearing his official uniform, took a sip of tea from his tea bowl and said, "His Majesty saw the letter between you and the King of Wu and ordered a thorough investigation. We rushed to Luoyang overnight and took a boat south to Yangzhou."

"How many people are here?"

Shangguan Yi stretched out his palm and spread his fingers.

Li Yifu asked: "Five people?"

"Five hundred imperial censors." Shangguan Yi held up another finger and said, "Ten thousand soldiers and horses."

Li Yifu laughed loudly and said, "Hahaha! You came at the right time. You came at the right time."

Shangguan Yi was puzzled and asked, "Who wants to assassinate you?"

"Did you see the sign on the door?"

"I saw it."

"Because of this brand, I always keep my knife in my hand even in my sleep."

Shangguan Yi picked up the cake beside him and said, "This cake is good."

Li Yifu poured a bowl of tea and handed it to him, then poured himself a bowl and said, "Yangzhou is very rich. You can even buy cotton cloth and soap from Guanzhong here. Every year, countless goods go south to the south of the Yangtze River. There are also many workshops in the Jianghuai area. Yangzhou can be said to be the richest in the Jianghuai area."

"Since the opening of the Grand Canal, this place has become an important port for the transportation of grain, fodder, salt and iron. To be honest, there are also foreign concubines being traded here."

After saying this, Li Yifu asked again: "Why? Seeing how rich this place is, you don't want to start anymore?"

Shangguan Yi shook his head and said, "No, I just think that it is precisely because of the affluence here that many evil things are hidden beneath the prosperity."

As the two were talking, they saw a boy walk in. He was wearing patched clothes and looked to be about ten years old.

Shangguan Yi hesitated and asked, "Your child?"

Li Yifu said, "I am not married yet."

"You have a child before you get married?"

Li Yifu said sternly: "This is someone else's child."

The child stepped forward and bowed politely, saying, "My name is Bin Wang, Luo Bin Wang."

Shangguan Yi hesitated and asked, "Your adopted son?"

Li Yifu shook his head and said, "His father was the county magistrate of Qingzhou. But after his father passed away, his mother brought him to Yangzhou. When they came to Yangzhou from Yanzhou, I happened to see him. He was smart and the descendant of an official in the court. I couldn't bear to see them running around, so I accepted him as my student."

"Student Luo Binwang."

He introduced himself again.

Then the child took out the food from a wooden box and said, "My mother always said that it was thanks to Li Yushi that we have a place to stay. I will study hard with you."

Shangguan Yi heard something strange in the words, but he didn't care about it. After all, it was someone else's family affair and it was not appropriate to ask too much.

He took out an imperial decree from his bosom and said, "This is what His Majesty asked me to give to you."

Li Yifu quickly took the decree with both hands. After reading the secret decree, his eyes seemed to be full of fighting spirit.

Shangguan Yi took up Li Yifu's bowl and chopsticks without any expression and started eating. He ignored the aggrieved look of the child beside him and continued to eat. He said, "His Majesty also said that the court will continue to send people down, not just these five hundred censors, but probably people from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple."

Luo Binwang said aggrievedly: "This is the food that mother gave to you, sir!"

Shangguan Yi chewed his food and said with a smile: "Your husband and I are friends for life and death."

Luo Binwang still ran away angrily, and then brought a set of bowls and chopsticks to the teacher.

Shangguan Yi looked up and found that the child was Li Yifu's neighbor. He said, "You are also old enough to get married. My children are all working in the Dali Temple."

Li Yifu said while eating, "I have never thought about getting married."

I'm afraid that after this person sees Your Majesty's letter, he will stop thinking about it and the only things on his mind are investigating the case and killing people.

After the child left, Shangguan Yi whispered, "The court has always had a policy of treating officials well. The child's father is the magistrate of Qingzhou County. It shouldn't have come to this."

"That was seven or eight years ago. At that time, Your Majesty was still the Crown Prince and could not rule so far."

Shangguan Yi said, "I will report this matter to the court and ask them to tighten supervision over the local area and at least treat the county magistrate well."

(End of this chapter)