Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 476 Is this my fault?

Jinyong City.

On a hot summer day, the floating island is shrouded in mist, which dissipates the summer heat.

Li Shuang stood on the covered walkway connecting to the Golden Yong Palace, holding a document in her hand.

"Your Majesty, did you summon me?"

Hou Jing jogged up behind Li Shuang.

Li Shuang didn't turn around, but simply waved the document in his hand and asked:
"Are you and Gao Huan setting a trap for Yuwentai?"

Hou Jing's expression changed upon hearing this. He took a few deep breaths to steady his breathing and said:
"Your Majesty and Gao Huan simply believe that Yuwen Tai is the most suitable person to handle the Bohai case."

“Yuwen Tai is stationed in Fanyang, which is located in Youyan and is far away from Bohai. There is not much connection between them, which is good.”

Just as Li Shuang finished speaking, Hou Jing was about to say "Your Majesty is wise," but Li Shuang did not give him the chance.

"Wan Jing, when did you become like Gao Huan, sending Yuwen Tai to offend the powerful clans of Hebei?"

Hou Jing's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he leaned down to say:
"Your Majesty, I dare not refuse. It was Gao Huan who came to my door seeking my help, and out of consideration for our past relationship, I could not refuse!"

Li Shuang turned around, looked at Hou Jing, and said:

"I didn't say you did anything wrong, why are you making such a fuss?"

Hou Jing felt a little relieved upon hearing this, and raised his head to look at Li Shuang.

Li Shuang, smiling slightly in the sunlight, prompted Hou Jing to sit up and whisper:
"Although the case of the lost land in Bohai is small, it involves the old grudges between the Gao family of Bohai and the Cui family of Boling, and also involves the disputes between the Hebei garrison and the aristocratic tenants. Everyone is watching, and if it is not handled properly, it is very easy to cause chaos."

The so-called Bohai land loss case involves the conflict between the old order and the new order in Hebei.

Due to the war in Hebei, much of the land became unclaimed.

After this southward expedition, Li Shuang's fiefdom in the Central Plains increased to 300,000 households, of which 200,000 households were in Hebei.

When Li Shuang implemented the equal-field system in his territory in Hebei, he also reorganized the local militia.

A resident of the Qin Prince's mansion, who had been granted land, received 100 mu of land three years ago, including 20 mu of uncultivated land. His family had worked diligently for the past three years, turning the uncultivated land into cultivated land.

After the mulberry trees were planted and the rice seedlings were transplanted, it was time to harvest. Someone came with a land deed originally issued by the Northern Wei Dynasty, claiming that the twenty mu of land belonged to him and demanding that the local magistrate return it.

The resident refused, and a fight broke out. The resident who held the land deed was beaten to death by the resident who had served as a soldier in the local government.

Ironically, these two were originally wandering knights and retainers under Gao Qian and Cui Shengnian, but their relationship gradually evolved into a face-saving dispute between the Gao family of Bohai and the Cui family of Boling, which escalated from Bohai to Luoyang.

Basically, no matter how this case is judged, there will be problems.

The most core and crucial issue involves the struggle over the orthodox tradition.

Is the Northern Dynasty of today still the same as the Great Wei Dynasty?
If so, why was the emperor's edict issued after the Qin King's instruction?

If not, then what is the current imperial court?
The power system that Li Shuang established, centered around the Qin Prince's Mansion and the Tian Ce Mansion, was vast, but quite distorted.

Once public opinion is stirred up in the imperial court in Luoyang because of this case, in the end, there can only be two possible outcomes.

Li Shuang was a powerful minister who controlled the court, much like Wang Mang and Cao Cao.

The Northern Wei dynasty's mandate of heaven had run its course, and it was time for the abdication.

Either outcome is unfavorable for Li Shuang.

Hou Jing listened and said:

"Does Your Majesty mean to send Yuwen Tai?"

“Yuwentai is decisive and doesn’t hesitate. He can understand this matter as soon as possible.”

"Then shall we, Chen and He Liuhun, dig this pit even bigger?"

Li Shuang nodded, his eyes flashing coldly, and said:

"Since someone wants to make Luoyang chaotic, then let's make it even more chaotic."

What does Your Majesty mean?

"Recently, someone has accused Cui Ling, the Minister of Ceremonies, of embezzlement. It is time to have someone investigate him."

"Does Your Majesty mean to send Gao Huan?"

Li Shuang smiled and said:
"That would be too deliberate."

"Then who to look for?"

……

Weizhou. Gao Ang glared angrily at his advisor Chen Yuankang and said:

"This is the capable minister you recommended to me?"

Chen Yuankang was also filled with apprehension, but he could only bite the bullet and say:
"He is indeed a capable minister!"

After listening, Gao Ang suppressed the urge to punch someone and said:
“Last month, His Majesty bestowed upon me a pair of jade discs from the Western Regions. They were glanced at by the capable minister you mentioned, and soon after, they disappeared.”

"Why does the General believe that he stole it?"

Chen Yuankang wanted to argue further, but then he heard Gao Ang say:

“How can I believe it? He just stole these two jade discs, turned around and sold them to buy wine, as if he was afraid others wouldn’t know that he stole them.”

"..."

After hearing this, Chen Yuankang was completely speechless.

Gao Ang waved his hand, deciding not to pursue the matter any further, and said:
“The Zu family of Fanyang did produce a hero like Zu Ti, so I’ll let it go for Zu Ti’s sake. Tell him to get lost, and get as far away as possible.”

Chen Yuankang bowed silently, but not long after, he returned with a document in hand.

"General!"

"What is it now?"

"It seems that getting rid of him won't be possible in the short term."

"Why?"

Chen Yuankang presented the document in his hand and said:

"General, this was sent from Luoyang."

Gao Ang took it, glanced at it, stood up, and asked with some doubt:

"Why has Your Majesty taken a liking to him?"

……

"Xiaozheng, why did you steal the pair of jade discs from the General for no reason!"

Chen Yuankang looked at his friend, Zu Ting.

The other person sat on the table with his legs crossed, enjoying the roast chicken and fine wine he had bought with the money he had earned from reselling the jade disc.

"Changyou, you know me. I can't help but stuff anything good into my pocket. The General insisted on showing off the jade disc given to him by the King of Qin in front of me. Can you blame me for that?"

As he spoke, Zu Ting beckoned Chen Yuankang to sit down.

"From a Buddhist perspective, this is called a thief in the heart; from a medical perspective, it's called a psychological addiction. Tell me, how can you blame me, a patient?"

Chen Yuankang laughed in anger and said:

"If that's the case, why are you selling it so openly, making sure everyone knows you stole it?"

Zu Ting wiped his greasy mouth and sighed:

"I possess unparalleled talent. If I don't let outsiders know, wouldn't it be better to wear fine clothes in the dark?"

Chen Yuankang, upon hearing this, didn't know what to say, and could only reply:

"So, General, I'll spare you this time."

"I didn't expect that such a roughneck would not be punished? It seems that the King of Qin is indeed quite capable."

Hearing this, Chen Yuankang shook his head helplessly and said:
"The King of Qin is not only quite capable, but also has keen insight. He has taken a liking to your unparalleled talent and has assigned you to investigate this embezzlement case."

Zu Ting stood up, went to Chen Yuankang's side, took the document from his hand, and glanced at it.

"interesting!"

As he spoke, Zu Ting seemed engrossed in the contents of the document and slowly walked out.

Chen Yuankang sighed softly and said:

"Such great talent, why does he have this addiction? What a pity!"

Chen Yuankang was about to get up when he subconsciously touched his waist, but suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Where's my jade pendant? Where's my jade pendant?!"

……

(End of this chapter)