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

Chapter 214: Li Shimin: Keep an Eye on Hou Junji, Zhang Liang, and Li Tai (Part )
On the eighth day of February, the spring rain was pouring.

In the Liangyi Hall, the emperor sat on the imperial couch, looking at the memorial in front of him, his brows slightly furrowed.

The crown prince recommended Helan Chushi, the commander of the Eastern Palace's Thousand Oxen Guard, as the Lieutenant General of the Left Golden Guard.

Helan Chushi.

This name made Li Shimin feel a little puzzled.

Helan Chushi was Hou Junji's son-in-law.

In theory, this is the key that the Eastern Palace can use to win over Hou Junji, but now, the prince wants to transfer this person from the Eastern Palace.

Li Shimin knocked lightly on the table. He couldn't help but think of the time when Li Chengqian recommended Hou Zhiyi to be the Chief Justice of Dali Temple.

Although that recommendation promoted Hou Zhiyi from the sixth rank to the fifth rank, it transferred him from the Ministry of War to the Dali Temple.

The Ministry of War is one of the Six Ministries, and the Dali Temple is one of the Nine Temples.

Naturally, the Ministry of War is half a level higher than the Dali Temple.

For example, the Langzhong of the Ministry of War, who is also a fifth-rank official, is half a level higher than the Dali Temple Director.

Similarly, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is half a level higher than the Vice Minister of the Dali Temple.

Promoting Hou Zhiyi from the sixth-rank Deputy Director of the Ministry of War to the fifth-rank Director of the Dali Temple was an acceptable step.

After all, it is not easy to go from a Yuwenlang to a Langzhong in the Ministry of War.

Although Hou Zhiyi is the son of Hou Junji, it is especially true that Hou Zhiyi is the son of Hou Junji.

In order to avoid suspicion, it was difficult for Hou Zhiyi to be directly transferred from the Deputy Director of the Ministry of War to the Director of the Ministry of War.

At that time, he will either be transferred to be the local chief official or the chief of one of the nine temples.

Therefore, Li Shimin believed that Li Chengqian's recommendation of Hou Zhiyi as the chief of Dali Temple was a way to win over Hou Junji.

Judging from the current situation, Li Shimin himself is happy to see it.

But now, Li Chengqian wants to transfer Helan Chushi out of the Eastern Palace.

Although the Eastern Palace could still communicate through Hou Zhiyi and Hou Junji of the Dali Temple, nothing could be said directly to Helan Chushi and Hou Junji.

So, the prince has begun to distance himself from Hou Junji. Why?
……

Sitting on the imperial couch, Li Shimin looked at the sunlight shining on the floor of the golden palace, his expression becoming solemn.

To appease Hou Junji was the task that Li Shimin gave to Li Chengqian through Wei Zheng.

In order to march eastward to Goguryeo, he needed Hou Junji to stabilize the country.

Whether it is transporting food, fodder and troops in the rear or fighting desperately on the front line, he needs Hou Junji to perform his duties conscientiously.

He believed that Li Chengqian could see this, and judging from the contact between Li Chengqian and Hou Junji, he was indeed working towards this goal.

But now, he made the same cutting action as he had done with Hou Junji.

Although Li Chengqian recommended Helan Chushi to become the General of the Left Golden Guard, which was a promotion, it was also a distance between them.

The prince did not trust Hou Junji.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly.

After opening his eyes, Li Shimin turned his head and looked to the side, and asked, "Has the Crown Prince had any incident with Helan Chushi recently?"

Zhang Ananda stepped forward, thought for a moment, and said with a bow, "No, the Crown Prince and Helan Chushi have had no contact except for discussions in the Eastern Palace. Even when the Crown Prince entertained the Duke of Chen last time, Helan Chushi was not invited to accompany him."

"Is he protecting him?" The emperor keenly grasped a vague detail.

"Hou Zhiyi, Helan Chushi." After thinking for a moment, Li Shimin turned to look at the other side and said seriously, "Send people to strengthen the surveillance of Hou Junji."

"Yes!" Li Wu stood up and bowed with a serious expression.

Li Shimin turned his head and looked forward with a cold look in his eyes.

If possible, he hopes to continue using Hou Junji.

But now, the prince keenly smelled something wrong.

Li Shimin didn't believe that Li Chengqian, who was now disabled, had specially sent people to investigate, and with Hou Junji's ability, Li Chengqian couldn't find out either, so it could only be something public that made him discover the clue.

But, what is it?

The sound of light footsteps interrupted Li Shimin's thoughts, and he suddenly looked up.

The eunuch who had just entered the hall immediately knelt on the ground and said in panic, "Your Majesty, the Dali Temple has just sent us the verdict on Liu Lancheng."

Li Shimin looked at Zhang Ananda on the side.

Zhang Ananda immediately walked down the steps, took the memorial from the eunuch, then quickly returned to the emperor's side and placed the memorial in front of the emperor.

Li Shimin opened it, took a quick look, and said softly, "For treason, sentence Liu Lancheng to be beheaded."

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Yes, that's reasonable..."

Halfway through his words, the figure of Li Chengqian inexplicably popped up in Li Shimin's mind, followed by the figure of Hou Junji.

Next came You Wenzhi, and finally Liu Lancheng.

His brows immediately furrowed, and then he lowered his head and read the memorial in his hand again.

But this time, he read it much more carefully.

The emperor comes from the north of the sea.

In fact, Liu Lancheng had heard this prophecy that led to his rebellion last year. However, after the eighth day of the first lunar month this year, this prophecy suddenly became more frequent in Liu Lancheng's ears, and not long after, Xu Xuan from Changsha appeared.

Everything else happened naturally. Liu Lancheng didn't have much idea about it at first, but his son Liu Zhao believed in it very much. Then, he persuaded his father with the son's advice, and Liu Lancheng was moved.

Before Liu Lancheng could do anything, You Wenzhi, the county lieutenant of Hu County, was imprisoned for his crimes and awaiting execution. After that, he reported Liu Lancheng.

This all happened at the end of January.

In fact, at that time, You Wenzhi had only been transferred to Huxian for a short time.

He was imprisoned in a very short time and then reported Liu Lancheng.

This time it seems to make sense, but the pace is too tight, so tight that it even feels a bit rushed.

Layout, someone is planning this.

Li Shimin was shocked. It turned out to be like this.

Liu Lancheng was indeed guilty, but his crime was a deliberate plot by others. You Wenzhi.

Li Shimin thought of him in an instant.

When he first arrived in Huxian County, he beat someone to death and was then sentenced to prison. The Dali Temple also made the verdict very quickly.

Li Shimin thought of Sun Fujia, and then he shook his head.

Sun Fujia was the first number one scholar in the Tang Dynasty. There was no need for him to dirty his hands with this matter.

At this time, a figure had vaguely appeared in the emperor's mind.

With a light sigh, he turned to the other side. Who would benefit from Liu Lancheng's execution?
Li Shimin, the governor of Daizhou, shook his head. He had no candidate to replace him at the moment. In fact, neither the Council of State nor the Ministry of Personnel had recommended any candidate.

Does Liu Lancheng have any grudges against anyone?
Liu Lancheng is not a person with a good temper, but he himself is a surrendered general and usually acts very cautiously. There are basically no people who have real major conflicts with him.

If there really were such a thing, Li Shimin would have submitted countless memorials impeaching Liu Lancheng.

So who is it?
Li Shimin continued to think.

Liu Lancheng, Beihai has the air of an emperor.

Liu, the prophecy of the golden knife.

Liu Li, Liu Dewei.

Two names suddenly jumped out of Li Shimin's mind.

Yes, Liu Li and Liu Dewei.

They are all descendants of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang.

After the news of Liu Lancheng's rebellion was confirmed, Li Shimin immediately ordered people to keep an eye on these two people who were both descendants of Liu Bang.

Even if he believed them, it would be troublesome if people with the same surname had any dealings with each other at this time.

In other words, at this time, Li Shimin had already become suspicious of Liu Li.

While becoming suspicious of Liu Li, Li Shimin couldn't help but develop a liking for another person.

Hou Junji.

Hou Junji.

You Wenzhi was the county magistrate of Huxian County, which was under the jurisdiction of Yongzhou.

Hou Junji is the Chief Secretary of Yongzhou. It would be very easy for him to do something wrong here.

His target was never Liu Lancheng, but Liu Li.

Knock the mountain and shake the tiger.

Kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

Liu Lancheng, General of the Right Guard, Governor of Daizhou, Duke of Pingyuan, such an important official in the court, was just a chicken used to scare monkeys.

Of course, the fundamental problem is Liu Lancheng himself.

From the moment Liu Lancheng started to meet Xu Xuan from Changsha and asked Xu Xuan to interpret the prophecy for him, he had already decided on the path to his death.

Li Shimin had to admit that Hou Junji almost achieved his goal, but only almost.

Because although Liu Lancheng also has the surname Liu, to be honest, Li Shimin did not have much suspicion towards Liu Li and Liu Dewei.

Because they don't hold power.

Liu Li was the Imperial Court Assistant Minister and Liu Dewei was the Minister of Punishment. Although they were both important officials in the central government, in fact, all the power they held came from the emperor himself. The threat they posed to the emperor was far less than that of an important official from the frontier.

In particular, Liu Li was a civil official.

As for Liu Dewei, Li Shimin was even less worried because Liu Dewei's wife was Princess Pingshou, and Liu Dewei's daughter married Li Shimin's fifteenth brother, Prince Guo Li Feng.

Therefore, although Li Shimin had some suspicions about these two people, since Liu Lancheng was captured and brought back to Beijing, neither of them had taken any extra actions, and Li Shimin had already put his mind at ease.

In his heart, his trust in Liu Li was still higher than that in Hou Junji.

Thinking of this, Li Shimin had completely figured out the reason for the matter. What Hou Junji wanted was to undermine Li Shimin's trust in Liu Li, and then make him the Minister of the Interior.

Shizhong.

It turns out that everything was for the sake of the Minister.

Li Shimin raised his head and his expression turned cold.

He didn't mind following Li Chengqian's method and only giving Hou Junji the title of Vice Prime Minister after conquering Goguryeo.

Anyway, you are in Dongdao and it is impossible for you to really interfere in the central government. But now you are almost scheming, even snatching, to compete for the position of prime minister, so you can't stay.

Li Shimin lowered his head and looked at the memorial on the table in which Li Chengqian requested to transfer Helan Chushi to the position of General of the Left Jinwu Guard.

He handed it directly to the left and whispered, "Burn it!"

Zhang Ananda took the memorial without hesitation, then walked to the side and burned it directly.

Li Shimin raised his head and looked outside the hall.

He saw all this from layers of details, so how did the prince see all this?

Li Shimin was sure that Li Chengqian did not send anyone to investigate Hou Junji, and he could not find out anything.

So it was during the court meeting that he keenly noticed something.

Li Shimin nodded gently and said to himself, "Very good, the prince has gradually developed a keen insight into people's hearts, which is very important."

"Pass the order!" Li Shimin looked up.

Chu Suiliang stepped out from behind the curtains and bowed solemnly, "According to the ruling of the Dali Temple, Liu Lancheng will be beheaded in public three days after the crime of treason."

"Yes!" Chu Suiliang bowed seriously.

Seeing Chu Suiliang leave quickly, Li Shimin said, "Keep an eye on Hou Junji, Zhang Liang, and Li Tai's every move."

"Yes!" Li Wu stood up and bowed.

……

In the 17th year of Zhenguan, Liu Lancheng, the Right Guard General, Governor of Daizhou, and Duke of Pingyuan, was accused of treason and was beheaded.

General Qiu Xinggong of the Right Jinwu Guards explored Lan Cheng's heart and liver and ate them.

(End of this chapter)