Li Chengqian of the Tang Dynasty: Please say long live His Majesty

Chapter 124 Li Yifu said he had something urgent to do? (Part )
With a "slap", Chai Lingwu suddenly turned around, then rushed to Qi Zhixuan and slapped him in the face with his backhand.

Qi Zhixuan was stunned.

In front of him, Chai Lingwu pointed at his nose and said through gritted teeth, "You still know that his father is the prime minister, but don't you know that his father was posthumously named Shangshu You Pushe and Daoguo Gong?"

Qi Zhixuan's mind went blank.

"After his father passed away, Dai Zhide directly inherited the title of Duke of Dao. Although Dai Zhide was only the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple, he was still a Duke of the current dynasty and a trusted minister of the Crown Prince. Even the Emperor would pay him a second glance. When he died, the most anxious person was the Emperor.

If you want to die, go and die by yourself, don’t drag others down with you.”

After Chai Lingwu finished shouting, he sat down panting.

One by one, they are not only short-sighted, but also always shout for war and killing. How can the political struggles between the government and the opposition, with their sophisticated tactics and confrontations between yin and yang, become so brutal?

……

After a moment, Chai Lingwu finally calmed down and said indifferently: "Let me tell you another thing. Dai Zhide's sister married the Dao Prince and became the Dao Prince's Consort."

Prince Dao Li Yuanqing, the sixteenth son of Emperor Gaozu, was the governor of Yuzhou, which was not far from Luoyang.

"Also, Prince Dao's concubine is the daughter of Yan Shaojiang." Chai Lingwu sneered lightly.

The principal wife of Prince Dao was the daughter of Dai Zhou, and the concubine of Prince Dao was the daughter of Yan Liben. This shows the emperor's trust in Prince Dao.

"In that case, can't the King of Wei win over the Dai family through the King of Dao?" Qi Zhixuan couldn't help but ask.

"Do your wife and concubine have a good relationship?" Chai Lingwu asked back.

Qi Zhixuan now understood.

It is because Prince Dao married Yan Liben's daughter that the Dai family dislikes the Yan family so much, so they lean closely towards the prince's side.

But it is precisely because of these complicated relationships that if Dai Zhide really were to be killed, he himself would not be able to figure out who did it.

……

"Besides, this isn't even the most important thing." Chai Lingwu sneered and said, "You know Dai Xiang was once the prime minister, but do you know what official position he held before he became the prime minister?"

Qi Zhixuan couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Dai Zhou died in the seventh year of Zhenguan. Now it is the end of the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, and it will soon be the sixteenth year of Zhenguan.

Who still remembers people from ten years ago?

"He served as a Langzhong (Military Affairs Officer), Junior Justice (of the Supreme Court), Left Prime Minister, Minister of Personnel, and Minister of Revenue, and participated in government affairs until he became Prime Minister." Chai Lingwu gritted his teeth and continued, "When he was Minister of Personnel, he was demoted to Minister of Revenue because he overused legal clerks... Not to mention how many Legalists benefited from his favor, but rising from the Supreme Court to Prime Minister was a very difficult path in itself. Now Dai Zhide is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and he's also a trusted aide to the Crown Prince. The entire Supreme Court is waiting for him to rise from the Supreme Court to Prime Minister step by step."

Qi Zhixuan was filled with surprise and wanted to say something, but for some reason, he just couldn't speak.

Chai Lingwu shook his head slightly and said, "If you kill him, it will be equivalent to offending all the legalists in the world. Then, not only the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, but also the Sima and the Law Offices of each state will find ways to cause trouble for you. So... if you want to die, don't take me with you."

Qi Zhixuan's face immediately turned pale.

He knew that the most terrifying person in the world was not the emperor.

Even the emperor would often be secretly disobeyed by those below him. The most terrifying thing was the disputes over Taoism.

Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

Even if the entire Qi family was put in there, it would still not be enough to fill the gaps in their teeth.

"Then what should we do about this matter? We can't just let them investigate it thoroughly just because Dai Zhide intervened." Qi Zhixuan's expression became cold again.

"Killing is the most base method. The Xiao family's affairs have been dealt with before, so no one can do anything about it. Let them find a way to sell the remaining things. If they lose a little, I will pay a little. That's it." Chai Lingwu shook his head and said, "The Eastern Palace is strong now, so we have to endure it. It's not impossible to make up for it in the future."

"Hmm?" Qi Zhixuan immediately understood the hidden meaning in Chai Lingwu's words.

"Two things." Chai Lingwu's expression became serious, and he said seriously: "Go and help me do two things. Consider it as compensation for my subsidies to the Xiao family."

"You say!" Qi Zhixuan nodded seriously.

"I need a censor to impeach Li Dejian, the one who beheaded Datushe, the eldest son of Xueyantuo Zhenzhu Khan." Chai Lingwu looked at Qi Zhixuan with some concern.

"Li Jing's son? The prince's man?" Qi Zhixuan raised his eyebrows, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll do it, but how?"

"The envoy of Xueyantuo Zhenzhu Khan has entered the Great Wall. Go find him and see if there's anything you can do." After a brief pause, Chai Lingwu said, "This is a very risky matter. Once you've made your plans, leave Chang'an immediately... Go to Jiannan, not Chang'an or Luoyang."

"Okay!" Qi Zhixuan nodded seriously, then asked, "What about the other thing?"

"Master Sun has started to treat the prince's leg. I need to know the specific details, but both the Eastern Palace and Master Sun have kept this matter very secret. I need someone to help me figure out what's going on." Chai Lingwu looked up at Qi Zhixuan.

No need to ask, Qi Zhixuan is that person.

"I can think of a way, but I can't guarantee that it will succeed." Qi Zhixuan became cautious. This matter involved Sun Simiao, just like the previous matter involved the Legalists.

Taoists are not easy to mess with either.

"That's enough. The prince is our common enemy. I believe you will do your best." Chai Lingwu smiled lightly.

"Hmm." Qi Zhixuan raised his head slightly and glanced at Chai Lingwu cautiously.

Chai Lingwu immediately stood up, bowed and said, "Goodbye."

"Walk slowly, don't send."

……

In the Cheng'en Hall of the Eastern Palace, bursts of giggles came from the hall. Li Anyan stood at the door of the hall and stopped hesitantly.

But after thinking about it, he still went in. A moment later, Li Chengqian came out with a frown on his face: "Li Yifu said he has something urgent to do?"

"Yes." Li Anyan followed Li Chengqian, glanced at the setting sun, and said, "It's almost dark. He came here so suddenly. I think something big might happen."

"Hmm!" Li Chengqian's expression grew serious, and he nodded, saying, "That's right. Given Li Yifu's personality, if it weren't for something urgent, I'm afraid he wouldn't have come here in person."

Li Yifu was a well-known cautious man.

Even if there is something, just send a message. If he can come in person, it must be no small matter.

As they were talking, the two men had already arrived at the entrance of Chongjiao Hall.

"Your Highness!" Li Yifu bowed and said hurriedly, "I'll leave after saying a word."

Li Chengqian nodded.

Li Yifu immediately said, "Someone is going to impeach Xiazhou Chief Clerk Li Dejian tomorrow, alleging he has taken possession of precious treasures."

"Tomorrow?" Li Chengqian paused for a moment, then said, "Isn't tomorrow the day when the Emperor summons the Xueyantuo envoy?"

"Yes!" Li Yifu bowed and said, "Your Highness, this is all I know. Your Highness, please prepare yourselves. I will take my leave."

"Yes!" Li Chengqian nodded and said, "On the small anniversary, I have invited the Prince of Jin to attend the princess's hundred-day banquet. Don't forget to come."

"Yes!" Li Yifu bowed with some gratitude, then turned around and left quickly.

After watching Li Yifu's back completely disappear, Li Chengqian turned around and returned to the hall.

Li Anyan personally lit the stove, then walked up to Li Chengqian and said, "Your Highness, Li Dejian is a cautious person. With the precedent of the Duke of Wei, he wouldn't do such a thing, right?"

There are two types of spoils captured by the army: one belongs to the soldiers privately, and the other must be handed over to the army.

There are strict military regulations here.

It doesn't mean that whatever soldiers grab on the battlefield belongs to them.

For example, when Li Jing led his troops into Jie Li's tent, some soldiers robbed all the treasures in Jie Li's tent. In the end, Li Jing was impeached by Xiao Yu himself.

"Generally speaking, the spoils captured by soldiers on the battlefield belong to them personally, but some special seals and tokens must be handed in. Of course, the army also bestows gifts of military merit and money." Li Chengqian looked up at Li Anyan and said, "So, generally speaking, no matter what Li Dejian took from Dadushe, it all belongs to him, unless it is Dadushe's personal seal."

"There's nothing like these in the military battle reports." Li Anyan's expression suddenly became serious.

Things like seals are very sensitive. The most direct example is that during the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Jian found the imperial seal and kept it privately.

In the eyes of those in power, this is an act of usurpation and rebellion.

Therefore, when Li Jing allowed his soldiers to rob the treasures in Jie Li's tent, he was personally impeached by Xiao Yu for not managing his troops strictly.

In fact, deep down, people can't help but wonder whether Li Jing stole Jie Li's treasures himself.

There are some things that only the emperor is worthy of owning.

If others own it, it is an encroachment.

You can hand it over, and the emperor will reward you with official positions, treasures, and military merits. If you keep them privately, you are harboring evil intentions.

So when Gao Zongsheng falsely accused Li Jing of treason, the emperor did not believe Li Jing at first. This was the reason.

The same is true for Hou Junji.

Moreover, as far as Li Chengqian knew, the first group of people to break into Jie Li's tent was Su Dingfang.

If someone puts the blame on Li Dejian now, he's finished.

……

"That's why it's so troublesome." Li Chengqian raised his head, looked outside the hall, and whispered to himself, "Tomorrow, the Xueyantuo envoy will arrive. Only the Xueyantuo can determine if Dadushe has anything he shouldn't have. But the Censor is going to impeach him tomorrow. Someone must have colluded with the Xueyantuo!"

"Your Highness, this is a setup." Li Anyan's face was extremely solemn. He said, "Your Highness, someone is trying to destroy Li Dejian."

"No, they're here for me." Li Chengqian smiled, shook his head, and said, "Qingque, you just returned to Chang'an, and you're already so restless?"

"Your Highness, what should we do? If we plan carefully, it will be difficult to find the flaw." Li Anyan looked at Li Chengqian with some concern.

"You go home normally today and tell Li Dejian about the matter and see if you can find anything. If you can't find anything, come early tomorrow. I will prepare some things overnight. After you get them tomorrow, send them back to Li Dejian's house and tell him that he doesn't recognize any Xueyantuo treasures." Li Chengqian gave a special instruction.

"Yes!" Li Anyan bowed in response.

Li Chengqian looked up at the white words on the table and said softly, "I originally wanted to spend the New Year peacefully, but I didn't expect it to be so troublesome. I'm afraid I'll be busy today."

"Your Highness, are you going to do something?" Li Anyan asked subconsciously.

Li Chengqian turned sideways to look at Li Anyan and asked, "An Yan, do you know who was the first emperor in ancient times to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?"

"It's the First Emperor."

"No, it was Suiren, and after him, Fuxi, Shennong, Yandi, Huangdi, Zhuanxu, Emperor Qi, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Chengwang and others, all received orders and were able to perform Fengshan." Li Chengqian looked forward calmly and said, "Although Fengshan at Mount Tai is the orthodox practice, in the past, more than a dozen emperors, including King Wu of Zhou, King Cheng of Zhou, Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, also performed Fengshan at Mount Song.

Since your Majesty cannot offer sacrifices to the Buddha at Mount Tai this year, perhaps offering sacrifices to the Buddha at Mount Song can be considered as an alternative.

It doesn't have to be true, but at least I have to let Father feel my sincerity."

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly.

He was also very familiar with making the emperor happy.

(End of this chapter)