Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 372 Slap the Emperor in the Face

On the second day of the first lunar month, all the ministers went to the East Palace to pay New Year's greetings to the Crown Prince.

After the ceremony, Li Hong kept some of his brothers, cousins ​​and cousins ​​and invited them to a banquet in the East Palace.

The eldest prince Li Zhong, the second prince Li Xiao, the third prince Li Yong, the fourth prince Li Lian, and the sixth prince Li Xian all attended the banquet.

There were also some sons of princes or nephews of the queen.

Li Ji and Helan Minzhi were also among them, and they sat at the same table.

While Li Hong was holding a banquet, he also ordered people to perform singing and dancing, and drank and watched the dance with everyone.

Helan Minzhi was in high spirits, drinking while admiring the graceful figures of the dancers.

He reported to Wuhoupu yesterday, using the pseudonym He Ming, and officially became a Wuhou and served as a squadron leader.

The military organization of the Jinwu Guard of the Tang Dynasty was the same as that of the field army, with a brigade of 100 people, two battalions in each brigade, five companies in each battalion, three squads in each company, and three people in each squad.

Pingkangfang is a large fang, and Wuhoupu has a total of fifty people, which is a team.

Although Helan Minzhi wanted to be an ordinary Marquis Wu, Empress Wu still felt sorry for her nephew and made him the captain of a squadron.

Helan Minzhi is the captain of the third squadron, and he has three teams under him, with a total of nine people.

There are seven days of holiday in total, with three teams on duty respectively. Helan Minzhi, the squadron leader, is not supposed to be on duty.

But he was still immersed in the joy of being praised by Empress Wu, and decided to do something big. After reporting to Wuhoupu yesterday, he took the team on duty to patrol the streets.

That's why he met Li Ji's carriage on the street last night.

"Brother Li, what are you thinking about? Why are you so worried?" Helan Minzhi was about to have a drink with Li Ji, but saw him sitting there in a daze.

Li Ji glanced at him and said, "Brother Helan, I have a problem."

Helan Minzhi smiled and said, "What problem do you have? Tell me and I will help you."

Li Ji was silent for a while and said, "When I was in the palace, I had an old acquaintance..." He told her about Xiaoxiang and about his trip to Mojiaxuan to attend the Yibao Club yesterday.

Helan Minzhi was secretly surprised when he heard this. He put down his wine glass and whispered, "Did you really exchange it for a box of treasures?"

Li Ji said: "It is genuine."

Helan Minzhi's eyes flickered as he asked, "Are you trading in Pingkangfang?"

"Yes, it's the Mo Jiaxuan I took you to."

Helan Minzhi smiled and said, "That's great! It's within my jurisdiction. You've given me a great gift!"

Li Ji said in a deep voice, "I thought about it all night last night. The White Horse Trading Company secretly bribed people in the name of Yibao. Even if we want to arrest them, we can't find any crime."

Helan Minzhi thought for a moment and said, "You said they might have bribed someone, so who did they bribe last night?"

"He should be the master of that slave."

Helan Minzhi said: "We can first check the identity of this person, and then check their relationship with the White Horse Trading Company. Maybe we can find other evidence of the crime."

Li Ji's eyes lit up and he said, "That makes sense."

After the banquet, the two men split up to investigate the identity of the slave's master.

Helan Minzhi mobilized the power of the Wu Mansion and soon made some progress. That afternoon, he arrived at the Prince of Wu's Mansion.

Li Ji welcomed him into the hall and asked, "Have you found out?"

Helan Minzhi said: "It took a lot of effort, but I finally found it out."

Li Ji asked, "Who is it?"

Helan Minzhi said: "Jingzhao Wei family!"

……

"You said that Hao Nu was the steward of Wei Daijia's mansion?"

"Yes."

In the study of Changsun Mansion, Changsun Wuji stood behind the desk and practiced calligraphy.

There were two people standing in front of him, one was Changsun Quan, and the other was a middle-aged scholar who participated in the Yibao Association.

The person who asked the question just now was Changsun Wuji.

Seeing that Changsun Wuji stopped asking questions, Changsun Quan turned to the middle-aged scholar and said, "Chiman, didn't you manage to get the property?"

The middle-aged scholar was named Zhao Chiman. Although he was older than Changsun Quan, in terms of seniority, he was Changsun Quan's nephew.

Zhao Zhiman said: "No, he was replaced by a young man who was less than 20 years old."

Chang Sunquan frowned and said, "Young Master? Do you know who it is?"

Zhao Zhiman shook his head and said, "I don't know, but that young man is accompanied by a girl in her teens."

Chang Sunquan asked, "After they left, did the people from the White Horse Trading Company give them any trouble?"

Zhao Zhiman smiled slightly and said, "Of course it's difficult, but that young man doesn't seem to be afraid of him. And I have a feeling."

Chang Sunquan asked, "How does it feel?"

Zhao Zhiman smiled and said, "That young man is also heading for the White Horse Trading Company. It's no coincidence."

When Changsun Wuji heard this, the pen in his hand paused.

Chang Sunquan asked hurriedly, "Did you track them down?"

Zhao Zhiman said, "Thanks to the fish talisman you lent me, I was able to track them all the way and found that the young man and the girl had gone to the Changshan Princess's residence."

Zhang Sunquan was surprised and asked, "Could it be a member of the Fanyang Lu family?"

Zhao Zhiman shook his head and said, "Probably not."

"how do you know?"

Zhao Zhiman said, "Because I later saw the girl riding in a carriage into the palace."

Chang Sunquan's face changed and he said, "Enter the palace? Who on earth is she?"

Zhang Sun Wuji suddenly asked, "Did the girl enter the palace alone, or was she accompanied by someone?"

"She's the only one."

Zhang Sun Wuji nodded and said, "That girl should be Princess Gao An. That young man should be Li Ji, the young Prince of Wu."

When the two heard this, their expressions changed.

"Brother, how do you know?" asked Changsun Quan.

Zhang Sun Wuji said calmly, "The only girls in their early teens who can enter the palace late at night are the two princesses in the harem."

"The only person under twenty who could take the princess to a place like Molanxuan is Wu Wang Li Ji. He has a close relationship with Princess Gao An, so that woman must be Princess Gao An."

After hearing this analysis, both of them nodded.

Zhang Sunquan said, "That's strange. Why would the little princess and the little King of Wu suddenly go to a place like Molanxuan?"

Changsun Wuji glanced at Changsun Quan and said, "Silang, I heard you say before that the King of Wu will soon be the Sima of Yongzhou Prefecture."

Chang Sunquan said: "Yes, everyone in the court is saying this."

Changsun Wuji said, "That's easy. Someone learned that he was going to be the Sima of Yongzhou, and secretly revealed this to him, guiding him to investigate the matter."

Having said that, he glanced at Changsun Quan.

"It's just like two months ago, when someone sent a letter of complaint to Yongzhou Prefecture, saying that the White Horse Trading Company was secretly bribing people and guiding you to investigate."

Zhang Sunquan's heart trembled: "Brother, what should we do next?"

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "You don't need to investigate this matter any further. Leave the rest to me."

Changsun Quan was about to say something else when Changsun Wuji interrupted him.

"There are many implications behind this matter. From now on, you just need to focus on the Yongzhou Judicial Army."

This time, Changsun Quan invited Zhao Chiman from Liangzhou in order to let him serve as a judicial officer to assist him.

Although Zhao Chiman was a commoner, he was very famous in Liangzhou. He was good at calligraphy, riding and shooting, and was both civil and military. He was known as one of the two heroes of Liangzhou and was as famous as Jiang Ke.

When Zhangsun Wuji was in power, he asked Zhao Chiman to serve in the government many times, but he politely declined.

Until recently, Zhao Chiman saw that Jiang Ke, who was as famous as him, was showing his talents and making a name for himself in Liaodong, and he finally couldn't hold back. Coincidentally, Zhang Sunquan invited him to the capital, so he came to Chang'an and served as an aide to Zhang Sunquan.

Zhao Chiman had no achievements and his father had died of illness long ago, so he was unable to enter the officialdom through family connections.

The only chance is to show off your skills and win the emperor's favor during hunting in the Forbidden Garden.

At that time, only if Changsun Quan recommended him to be the judicial officer of Yongzhou would he have a chance of success.

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "Chiman, come here."

Zhao Zhiman took a few steps forward and saw Zhangsun Wuji writing on a piece of paper: "Shishi seeks splendor, follows people's desires, and disrupts the great principles. A gentleman should be ashamed of this."

Changsun Wuji asked, "Do you know what this means?"

Zhao Zhiman said in a deep voice, "To indulge in sensual pleasures and pursue luxury is not what a gentleman does."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "This is what the late emperor said. The current sage, like the late emperor, detests the extravagant customs of the Six Dynasties. If you want a smooth career in the future, you must remember this."

Zhao Zhiman's heart trembled, and he bowed and said, "I will remember this."

Changsun Wuji waved his hand and said, "Alright, all of you can leave."

The two looked at each other, bowed, and left together.

After the two left, Changsun Wuji started practicing calligraphy again. His calligraphy was the same as that of Emperor Taizong of Tang, and he learned the brushwork of Wang Xizhi.

It’s a pity that he lacked talent in calligraphy, and his level was far inferior to that of Chu Suiliang and the Empress Wu in the palace.

Although his calligraphy is poor, his eyesight is excellent.

Zhao Chiman was known for his talent in both calligraphy and archery, but Changsun Wuji looked down upon his calligraphy, thinking it was too flashy and too obsessed with the beauty of words, losing the spirit of the upright and peaceful scholar-official.

Just then, a servant came to report that Yu Zhining had arrived.

The person Changsun Wuji was waiting for was Yu Zhining, and he immediately ordered someone to invite him in.

After a while, Yu Zhining came to the outside of the study. Before he arrived, the voice came in.

"Brother Zhangsun, today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. I'm at home with my grandson. If you have something urgent to talk to me about, can't you change the time?" He strode in.

Changsun Wuji said with a stern face, "You asked me to help you with something, but you find it troublesome?"

Yu Zhining was stunned and asked, "What am I asking you to do again?"

Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice: "Of course it's about the new law."

Yu Zhining pointed at him and said with a smile, "You're a bit too impatient. The candidates have already been recommended to His Majesty. After the court meeting on the fourth day of the first lunar month, when His Majesty's decree is issued, we can get busy. Why rush now?"

Changsun Wuji said: "By that time, it might be too late."

Yu Zhining was pouring himself some tea when he heard this and looked up and asked, "What's late?"

Changsun Wuji said in a deep voice: "Do you still remember that day when I asked you about Du Zhenglun and Lu Chengqing?"

Yu Zhining said: "Remember, you didn't tell me even when I asked you."

Changsun Wuji rolled his eyes and said, "I wasn't sure then, so how could I tell you? Now I can tell you."

Yu Zhining's expression became more serious, and he asked, "What happened to them?"

Changsun Wuji said slowly, "Two months ago, someone sent an anonymous letter to Yongzhou Prefecture, reporting that the White Horse Trading Company had bribed officials from the Ministry of Industry in order to obtain the privilege of operating a mine in Mobei."

During the Sui Dynasty, mines were operated through a corvee system.

During the Tang Dynasty, the system changed. All prefectures and cities in the country were allowed to privately mine copper and iron, and the government collected taxes, and the mining industry gradually prospered.

Later, Li Zhi abolished corvee labor, and the number of private commercial and industrial communities increased. In addition, Mobei was incorporated into the governance of the Tang Dynasty and began to produce coal.

In the process of searching for coal, merchants discovered large amounts of copper and iron ores, so they applied to the court for permission to mine them, and the Ministry of Works was responsible for this matter.

Yu Zhining frowned and said, "White Horse Trading Company? This name sounds familiar."

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "This is the largest trading company in Mobei. The owner is Du Zhenglun's nephew, Du Long."

Yu Zhining's expression changed slightly, and he said, "If I remember correctly, Du Zhenglun is in charge of the Mobei Business Road."

Changsun Wuji nodded and said, "I sent people to investigate. When the trade route first started developing, it was very difficult. Few people were willing to go to Mobei. My nephew Du Zhenglun was one of the first leaders."

Yu Zhining nodded.

Changsun Wuji said, "Du Long initially developed the White Horse Trading Company to help Du Zhenglun, but as the company grew, he became increasingly greedy. I heard that when he was in Mobei, he was ruthless and those who crossed him did not end well."

Yu Zhining was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you have evidence of Du Long's bribery?"

Changsun Wuji glanced at him and said, "His methods are very clever. I'm afraid that under the existing laws, it will be impossible to convict him."

Yu Zhining asked in surprise: "What method?"

Changsun Wuji then told the story of the Yibao Society.

Yu Zhining's expression changed and he asked, "Is this really true?"

Chang Sun Wuji asked, "Do you know who they are trying to bribe this time?"

Yu Zhining shook his head.

Zhang Sun Wuji said, "Jingzhao Wei, Wei Daijia!"

Yu Zhining was stunned for a moment and said, "He's Li Daozong's son-in-law? He's also been summoned back to Beijing?"

Changsun Wuji nodded.

Because of Fang Yiai's case, Li Daozon was implicated, and Wei Daijia could not escape either. He was demoted to the position of Zhechou Duwei in Lulong County, Hebei.

Yu Zhining thought for a moment, frowned, and asked, "Why would they bribe Wei Daijia?"

Changsun Wuji said calmly, "Have you forgotten that Wei Daijia and Wei Siqian are both from the Jingzhao Wei family, the Xiaoxiaoyao Gong family, and they have a very close relationship."

When Yu Zhining heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

Changsun Wuji asked, "Do you understand?"

Yu Zhining took a deep breath and said, "If we want to punish the White Horse Trading Company's crimes, we must improve the new laws. They knew this and hurriedly bribed Wei Daijia, hoping to use Wei Daijia to influence Wei Siqian and get him to remove the new laws that were unfavorable to them!"

Changsun Wuji picked up the teacup, blew on the hot air, and said, "That's right."

Yu Zhining pondered the matter carefully for a long while, then frowned and said, "You just said that the bribes they paid fell into the hands of the young King of Wu?"

Changsun Wuji said, "That's right."

Yu Zhining whispered, "Brother Changsun, don't you think there's something wrong with this? It seems..."

Changsun Wuji smiled slightly and said, "Brother Yu, do you feel that there seems to be a force behind this, guiding us and the young King of Wu to investigate this matter?"

Yu Zhining said in a deep voice: "Do you feel the same way?"

Changsun Wuji laughed and said, "I've played this kind of trick many times before, so how could I not know it? The person behind this first secretly wrote a letter of denunciation to the Yongzhou government, asking Changsun Quan to investigate the matter. Then, he used some unknown method to lure the young King of Wu into the scheme as well."

Yu Zhining asked, "Who is this person?"

Changsun Wuji shook his head and said, "Don't worry. He has his own reasons for doing this. If my predictions are correct, he will take action at the court meeting in two days!"

Yu Zhining's eyes flickered as he squinted and said, "This man's methods are quite clever. Since his target is the White Horse Trading Company, it means he has a grudge against the Huanshui Du family."

Changsun Wuji smiled and said nothing.

Yu Zhining continued: "Then what should we do now?"

Changsun Wuji said slowly, "It's very simple. You go to the palace and tell His Majesty the situation. His Majesty will definitely confirm this matter with the young Prince of Wu and find out the whole story. Then, wait for two days, and the show will begin."

Yu Zhining nodded immediately and said, "Alright, I'll go to the palace right away."

Changsun Wuji said calmly, "Why are you in such a hurry? Don't you need to go home to be with your grandchildren?"

"Okay, I apologize for my words just now, but that's ok now." Yu Zhining smiled and walked away.

He knew very well that Changsun Wuji was so anxious to find him because he was considering the emperor.

The emperor was just about to promote Du and Lu to the position of prime minister. If he punished them for this incident after just promoting them, it would be tantamount to slapping the emperor in the face.

If the situation was told to the emperor before the two were promoted, the emperor would have known what was going on and could have postponed their promotion and waited for the outcome of the matter.

If the two men really had faults, the emperor would have no worries about punishing them.

(End of this chapter)