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

Chapter 50: The Greedy Xie Jiqing, the Greedy Hou Junji, and the Generous Li Tai

In the early morning, light illuminates the entire East Palace.

The guards are on duty and the palace gates are open.

In the Chongde Hall, Li Chengqian sat on the couch and began the new day's meetings.

Yu Zhining stood to the left of the ministers and said, "This year, a citizen of Daizhou committed the ten heinous crimes of filial piety. The censor impeached the governor of Daizhou, Jia Chong, for failing to educate the people properly. The Secretariat sent a letter to the Crown Prince, asking for his opinion."

Li Chengqian thought about it briefly and asked doubtfully, "How will the law handle this?"

"Demotion!" Yu Zhining looked solemn.

"If anyone in any state commits the ten evils, the provincial governor will be held responsible." Li Chengqian finally retrieved this law from his mind, and if he remembered correctly, this law would be abolished in the 15th year of Zhenguan, which is next year, and the reason for all this seemed to be this case.

Li Chengqian's expression suddenly grew solemn. He raised his head slightly and asked, "What do you think should be done?"

Yu Zhining bowed earnestly and said, "I feel this matter is a bit excessive. Unfilial behavior is no different from conspiracy and rebellion... Daizhou is a high-ranking state with 40,000 households and 200,000 people. Even the most diligent governor of Daizhou would find it difficult to investigate all of them. Moreover, Jia Chong has always had a good reputation as an official. It would be a pity if he was demoted to a remote place because of this."

Li Chengqian nodded. Many of these things were caused by the contradictions that arose during the founding of the Tang Dynasty and its development towards its heyday.

When the Tang Dynasty was founded, the world had just experienced the turmoil at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and the population had dropped from about 50 million at the peak of the Sui Dynasty to less than 9 million.

The most recent time the Ministry of Revenue clearly reported the world's population was last year. The number of households had recovered to 304 million, the population had reached 1235 million, and more than 120 million people had returned from outside the Great Wall.

In addition, a large number of people were scattered among Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla due to the war at the end of the Sui Dynasty. If this part of the population could be...

Of course, Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla were also counties in the Central Plains during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Especially Goguryeo County, Goguryeo County of Xuantu County.

If the populations of these three kingdoms could be incorporated into the Tang Dynasty...

……

Li Chengqian suddenly came back to his senses, his thoughts drifting away.

During the founding period of the Tang Dynasty, due to insufficient population in counties and prefectures throughout the country, the court issued an order that everything should focus on recuperation.

At the same time, there are also strict requirements for some things.

For example, in each state, if the people committed the ten evils, the governor and county magistrate would be demoted.

There were also other similar cases where people in states, counties, and townships committed thefts, and the provincial governors, county magistrates, and village heads were punished with flogging, caning, or even imprisonment.

Everything is for the benefit of the world's population.

Although the Tang Dynasty was in the Zhenguan era, it was still far behind the 615 million households and 3714 million people during the Shenlong period of Empress Wu Zetian, and the 961 million households and 5288 million people during the Kaiyuan period.

It is far from a prosperous time right now.

"What the Chief Secretary said makes sense." Li Chengqian nodded and said, "Today, things are fine. The population of a state is only 200,000 or 300,000. If the Sui Dynasty were to return, a large state would have a population of tens or even millions. The people's hearts are complicated. How can a governor understand them?"

"Your Highness is absolutely right." Zhang Xuansu and others all bowed.

"With the Tang Dynasty's population growing annually, this law, among other things, might have reached the point where it needed to be revised...at least." Li Chengqian looked up at Yu Zhining and Zhang Xuansu and said, "Master Yu, Master Zhang, please contact the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate to see if such incidents have increased in recent years."

"Yes!" Yu Zhining and Zhang Xuansu's eyes suddenly lit up.

"If it is really time to change, then we should communicate with the Dali Temple, mainly the Dali Temple, and communicate with various ministries and even local governors, and submit it to the Secretariat and Your Majesty, and make the change." Li Chengqian used his words very carefully.

"We obey your command." All the ministers in the hall bowed their hands, their expressions unable to hide their excitement.

If the law of punishing county officials for crimes could be changed, then all county officials in the world would be grateful to the Eastern Palace.

"Okay, go ahead." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently.

"Here!"

……

In the Chongjiao Hall, Li Chengqian was sitting in the inner hall.

Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao stood in the hall and bowed, saying, "Your Highness!"

Li Chengqian put down the memorial in his hand and asked calmly, "Have you tracked down the people from yesterday?"

Dai Zhide took a half step forward and said with a bow, "We've tracked it down. Last night, a quarter of an hour after Doctor Xie returned home, Wei Wang's military officer Fang Yiai arrived. They had a private conversation at the house for half a quarter of an hour before leaving."

"They really can't wait." Li Chengqian sneered.

Dai Zhide turned slightly sideways to glance at Qin Huaidao, and both of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

To be honest, they were genuinely shocked when they saw Fang Yiai last night. Fang Yiai, the second son of the Duke of Liang, the Minister of the Left, the fiancé of Princess Gaoyang, and the military officer of the King of Wei...

Fortunately, when they thought about King Wei joining the army, the two men came to their senses. Although Fang Yiai was Fang Xuanling's son, he was the second son after all. Above Fang Yiai was Fang Yizheng, who was the real successor to Prime Minister Fang.

Therefore, the person behind Fang Yiai was only King Wei.

But the King of Wei is nothing, because the Crown Prince is behind them.

"Continue investigating." Li Chengqian raised his head, looked at Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao, and said indifferently, "Investigate that Doctor Xie thoroughly. A mere seventh-rank Doctor Xie dared to interfere in the affairs between me and the King of Wei. Does he really not care about his own nine clans? There must be something unknown here."

"Yes!" Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao bowed at the same time.

"And Fang Yiai!" Li Chengqian took a deep breath and said, "Don't touch Prime Minister Fang, don't touch the King of Wei. Secretly investigate who Fang Yiai interacts with privately and what methods he uses. Write it down."

"Yes!" Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao bowed solemnly, but they felt relieved in their hearts.

The Crown Prince and the King of Wei were fighting each other, while Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao were fighting Fang Yiai, soldiers against soldiers. Everything was under control and they were not afraid of anyone.

"In this matter, everything must be based on hard evidence." Li Chengqian tapped the table gently and said, "We'll get evidence from Doctor Xie, and then investigate Fang Yiai. That way, even if the Dali Temple asks us, we'll have a clear conscience."

"Yes!" Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao nodded heavily. Xie Jiqing and Fang Yiai plotted to murder the prince. They found evidence and continued to investigate. Who would dare to say no?

"Let's wait until we find something from Fang Yiai, and then tell the Chief Secretary." Li Chengqian sighed and said, "Perhaps by then, we can cut off the King of Wei's arm first."

"Yes!" Dai Zhide and Qin Huaidao bowed immediately.

"Go!"

"Yes!"

……

"Your Highness, does everything really have to end with Fang Yiai?" Li Anyan walked in from outside the hall and bowed solemnly.

Li Chengqian looked at him calmly, then nodded and said, "Prime Minister Fang doesn't know yet that we have noticed him. Finding Fang Yiai is enough. If we continue to investigate, Prime Minister Fang will retaliate."

"Yes!" Li Anyan's face was full of unwillingness. They knew that it was Fang Xuanling who was manipulating behind the scenes, but they could not point directly at Fang Xuanling.

"Don't be anxious." Li Chengqian spoke again at this time: "If we find out about Fang Yiai, the public method is naturally to report it directly to the emperor. But if a son bribes the imperial physician to frame another son, do you think I will let the chief secretary report it?"

"Hmm?" Li Anyan didn't quite understand what Li Chengqian meant.

Li Chengqian shook his head and smiled: "I have found evidence against Fang Yiai. After that, I should contact his brother Fang Yizhi."

Li Anyan's pupils suddenly widened.

It is said that the relationship between the two brothers has never been very good.

"What the Eastern Palace needs to do next is to focus on the 'Kaogong Zhi'. It's our foundation." Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Next month, Duke Chen will return from his expedition to Gaochang. Perhaps I can give him and the commander-in-chief a surprise."

Duke of Chen, Minister of Personnel, Commander-in-Chief of the Jiaohe Road Army, Vice-Minister of State Affairs, and Prime Minister Hou Junji returned from the expedition against Gaochang.

Li Anyan's expression became serious.

"Okay, go out." Li Chengqian waved his hand gently.

"Yes!" Li Anyan then retreated with peace of mind.

Li Chengqian calmly picked up a piece of white paper from the table, and then used a thin bamboo brush to clearly write the three words "Xie Jiqing" on it.

Under Xie Jiqing's name, he deliberately wrote two words: greedy for money.

Xie Jiqing's name was outlined to the left, and Li Chengqian wrote Fang Yiai's name.

Fang Yiai's name was outlined to the left, and Li Chengqian wrote down Li Tai's name.

Li Chengqian smiled coldly, his eyes falling on Xie Jiqing's greed for money.

Then, under the word "greedy for money", Li Chengqian wrote another name.

Hou Junji.

Then, with a bamboo pen, a very thin line was drawn, connecting Hou Junji and Fang Yiai.

And behind Fang Yiai is Li Tai.

Li Tai, Hou Junji.

rebellion.

(End of this chapter)