Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 196 An offer that Li Er cannot refuse! [Seeking monthly votes]

"I wonder what new newspaper you, Your Highness, would like to publish?"

Cai Kun asked cautiously.

Although he often heard about Li Chengqian's deeds in Jiangling when he was there, he had never seen Li Chengqian and did not know Li Chengqian's temperament.

Therefore, when he came to Chang'an, Sima Cai repeatedly warned him not to look down on the prince just because he was only nine years old, but to look up to him, ask if he didn't understand, and not to be smart.

This made him feel a little nervous when facing Li Chengqian.

But Li Chengqian smiled and said:
"Although this newspaper office only sells the Tang Daily and doesn't yet have the ability to print newspapers, after selling newspapers in Chang'an for some time, you should be clear about the role of newspapers. Therefore, if we transform this newspaper office into a comprehensive newspaper office, that is, a newspaper office that prints and sells newspapers in one place, I believe it shouldn't be difficult!"

"This"

Cai Kun hesitated for a moment after hearing this, then nodded and said, "If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to publish a new edition of the Tang Daily here, I can indeed do it."

Li Chengqian hummed a satisfied 'hmm' and continued, "I do want to publish a new newspaper here, but it's not the 'Datang Daily', it's the 'Entertainment Weekly'."

Cai Kun was confused and asked, "What is Entertainment Weekly?"

Li Chengqian explained with a smile, "The so-called 'Entertainment Weekly', as the name suggests, is an entertainment-focused newspaper. The content inside is a mixture of truth and fiction, and is designed to entertain the public!"

"Also, this newspaper isn't published every day. It's usually published every seven days. The content of each issue can range from major world events to small local events, or even poetry and songs. In short, the goal is to make the people who read this newspaper enjoy it."

Cai Kun was even more confused: "Your Highness, may I ask, what is the point of doing this? Not many people among the people can read, and it won't take long for news of any event in the world, big or small, to spread throughout the land."

"Moreover, collecting information about all the world's events requires a lot of manpower, and we don't have that many people to do that right now."

"Don't worry about the manpower. Just listen to me."

Li Chengqian smiled and raised his hand to signal, then continued, "I've already made it clear earlier that the content of Entertainment Weekly contains both truth and falsehood. In other words, it doesn't necessarily have to record facts; it can be artistically processed based on hearsay."

"For example, let me ask you, do you want to know who is the richest person in the Tang Dynasty? How big is the gap between the top wealthy families in the Tang Dynasty, that is, the Five Surnames and Seven Famous Families, and your Jiangling nobles?"

Cai Kun's eyes lit up: "I do! Does His Royal Highness know?"

Li Chengqian waved his hand: "I don't know either. Look, this is it. Although no one knows how rich the Five Surnames and Seven Nobles are, everyone is interested in how rich the Five Surnames and Seven Nobles are!"

"Using this as a gimmick, can we boldly speculate and artistically process it? For example, how much money and grain did the Li family of Zhaojun have? How much money and grain did the Cui family of Boling have? How much money and grain did the Zheng family of Xingyang have? Who wouldn't be curious about these things?"

"There are also hens that have grown six wings, bulls that produce milk, and sows that climb trees. Aren't you curious?"

"curious!"

"Do you want to see it?"

"Want to see it!"

"Isn't this right?"

Li Chengqian nodded with a smile on his face, and then said, "This is the charm of Entertainment Weekly. In addition to entertaining the people, it also satisfies their curiosity."

"As for the manpower you mentioned, that's easy. Let's post a notice. Anyone who provides bizarre news or gossip will receive a monetary reward. The more explosive and truthful the news, the higher the reward!"

"Alternatively, you can also recruit a group of people. These people will be called reporters. Have them walk the streets, collect news, and then write it for the newspapers. Government policies and war reports can be written in the Tang Daily. Entertainment news and celebrity poems can be written in the Entertainment Weekly. Then, they can be printed and sold!"

"Of course, if you can find new content, you can also publish it in the newspaper, understand?"

"Understood!"

Cai Kun's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he nodded heavily, saying, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will print Entertainment Weekly as soon as possible!"

"it is good!"

Li Chengqian nodded slightly, then smiled and said, "After the newspaper content comes out, don't rush to print it. Send a copy to the Crown Prince's Mansion and let me review it before printing!"

"As ordered!"

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace, Ganlu Hall.

Li Shimin was leaning on a Hu stool, checking the battle reports from the front.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded outside the door: "Your Majesty, Dali Temple Minister Dai Zhou requests an audience!"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin was stunned for a moment, then frowned and said, "Let him in!"

"promise!"

The palace servant outside the door responded, and soon, Dai Zhou walked in slowly.

"His Majesty!"

Dai Zhou bowed and said, "There's news from the Five Surnames and Seven Families!"

"Oh?"

Li Shimin immediately straightened his posture and asked, "What is their response?"

"Except for Imperial Censor Wang Gui, the others who didn't come to see me included Shangshu Zuo Chengqing, Dali Temple Secretary Cui Renshi, as well as the Ministry of Justice Vice Minister Zheng Shanguo, the Right Palace Attendant Li Zhen, and the Ministry of the Imperial Household Li Shushen. They all came to see me, hoping that I would show leniency to the officials of their families!"

"Ah!"

Li Shimin snorted and sneered, "How dare they! They hold high positions, yet they don't work for the court or the people. They actually dare to allow their colleagues to bend the law for personal gain. What use is there in keeping such officials around?"

"Your Majesty, calm down. This matter is not over yet!"

Dai Zhou then added, "Although I have sternly rejected them, judging by their attitude, I'm sure they won't let this matter go. Moreover, as far as I know, they are using their family connections to try to overturn the verdict!"

Li Shimin narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard this: "So, this matter is becoming increasingly difficult?"

"Yes, those criminals are almost all direct descendants of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Houses. They can't help but take them seriously!"

"Humph!"

Li Shimin snorted coldly and said disdainfully, "So what if they are legitimate descendants? If the emperor breaks the law, is he guilty just like the common people? Am I afraid of them?"

After saying this, his expression suddenly became serious, and he said solemnly: "If this matter is dragged on like this, I want to see how capable they are!"

"promise!"

Dai Zhou nodded in agreement, then suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke again, "Your Majesty, there is one more matter for your decision!"

"What's the matter?" Li Shimin asked with a frown.

Dai Zhou immediately pulled a file from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying, "This is the file about Chencang County Magistrate Liu Rengui killing Chariot and Cavalry Commandant Lu Ning. Your Majesty, please review it!"

"This Liu Rengui is truly audacious. Where is he? Didn't I say to take him to Chang'an and interrogate him personally?"

"Your Majesty, he is outside the palace, awaiting your interrogation!"

"In that case, bring him in!"

Li Shimin took the file but did not examine it. He then directed his order outside the door: "Bring Liu Rengui in!"

"Yes!"

There was a response from outside the door.

Soon, Liu Rengui was taken into Ganlu Palace by several imperial guards.

"Your Majesty, the guilty minister Liu Rengui, pays homage to His Majesty!"

Liu Rengui walked in and knelt down before Li Shimin. Li Shimin said coldly, "Liu Rengui, who gave you the courage to kill my chariot commander?"

"Your Majesty, it is the national law!" Liu Rengui replied righteously and sternly.

Li Shimin was slightly stunned and turned to look at Dai Zhou.

Dai Zhou immediately shouted at Liu Rengui, "Liu Rengui, how can you be so presumptuous in front of His Majesty?"

"Minister of the Dali Temple, does the law of our dynasty allow people to break the law knowingly?" Liu Rengui looked at Dai Zhou and said calmly.

Dai Zhou's face darkened. "Of course I won't allow it! But as an official appointed by the imperial court, you don't have the power to kill an official appointed by the imperial court!"

"Did the Dali Temple judge the case based on only one side of the story? Although I killed Lu Ning, he deserved to die."

Liu Rengui said coldly: "If killing a person who deserves death is also a crime, then it is a crime!"

"Whether or not someone deserves death is determined by the court's laws, not just by you. You killed Lu Ning, which was lynching. Do you know what crime you committed?"

"Lu Ning exploited the people of Chen County and bullied them, even when he committed illegal acts. The officials often condoned his actions, fearing his father, a disciple of Pei Sikong. I warned him repeatedly, but he ignored me. I even witnessed him shooting civilians with my own eyes. Should I just sit back and watch?"

"But I heard that he shot and killed the people because they were rebelling, and he went to suppress them. How come it's illegal in your case?"

"Has the Dali Temple Minister conducted a thorough investigation into why those so-called unruly people rebelled?"

"This"

Dai Zhou was suddenly speechless.

But Li Shimin calmly asked, "Why?"

"Your Majesty, those so-called troublemakers were actually disaster victims. Lu Ning sent local officials to collect taxes from the disaster victims' village. A conflict broke out between the two sides. One of the victims, named Zhang San, had just lost his wife to the disaster and had a child who was starving to death. His family had no food left to pay the taxes, so he killed an official in anger!"

"Lu Ning not only shot Zhang San, but also labeled all the disaster victims as troublemakers and traitors, and was ready to shoot them all. If I hadn't arrived in time, all those villagers would have been shot dead by him!"

"But the officials of Chen County concealed all the twists and turns, including all the illegal activities that Lu Ning had committed in Chen County over the years!"

"That's unreasonable!"

When Li Shimin heard Liu Rengui's statement, he flew into a rage: "How dare these officials deceive their superiors and their subordinates!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Dai Zhou coldly and added, "The imperial court makes laws. If it shields and condones officials who break the law, who am I deceiving? Am I deceiving God?!"

"Come here! Convey my decree, appointing Wei Zheng as ambassador plenipotentiary to Chen County to investigate this matter!"

"As ordered!"

He respectfully accepted the order outside the door and quickly went to the Secretariat to convey it.

At this time, Li Shimin set his gaze on Liu Rengui again and said calmly and majestically: "Liu Rengui, although I know you have been wronged, it is a fact that you privately killed an official of the imperial court. Therefore, I still cannot forgive you easily. Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty is wise. I am willing to bear all consequences!"

"Good! Truly resolute and upright indeed!"

Li Shimin smiled with satisfaction, then waved his hand and said, "You can go down first. After this case is concluded, I will decide how to deal with you!"

Liu Rengui bowed respectfully and stood up to leave.

At this time, Dai Zhou continued, "Your Majesty, I think this case is also related to the Five Surnames and Seven Families. We should send an imperial envoy to Qizhou and Haozhi County. I heard that the victims almost broke through Haozhi County. Fortunately, the Crown Prince notified Haozhi County in time to release the grain!"

"Well, you have a point. Lu Ning is just a cavalry captain. He doesn't have the guts to break the law. Since it's related to Pei Sikong, it must be related to the Five Surnames and Seven Families as well!"

Li Shimin nodded after some hesitation, and then made a decisive statement: "I will send an imperial envoy to Qizhou for this matter, and your Dali Temple will assist you!"

"Yes!"

Dai Zhou responded and was about to leave.

At this moment, Fang Xuanling rushed in and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, there's a report from Henan Province: a locust plague! A locust plague that's covering the sky and the sun is coming!!"

"What!?"

Li Shimin was startled and immediately stood up from the stool.

at the same time.

The residence of Lu Chengqing, the Shangshu Zuocheng.

Cui Renshi, the Dali Temple Secretary, was still sitting in the main seat. Except for Wang Gui, the head of the Wang family, all the heads of the other families were present.

But Lu Chengqing was the first to speak: "It seems that His Majesty is determined to kill one to warn the rest! I'm afraid it will be very difficult for us to deal with it next!"

"Humph, no matter how difficult it is, we have to do it!"

Cui Renshi snorted coldly, "If His Majesty kills our direct descendants, how will we survive in the court in the future?"

"That's right. Now it's no longer a dispute between us and the prince, but a conflict between His Majesty and us. If His Majesty really insists on having his own way, we might as well let him see our influence! I don't believe that Li Erlang dares to go against the world's will!" Zheng Shanguo, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice, echoed.

"But Li Erlang even killed his brothers. If we provoke him, I'm afraid..." Shaofu Supervisor Li Shushen said with some concern.

"Oh, he killed his brothers, forced his father to abdicate, and took possession of his brother's wife. His reputation has long been rotten, but few people know about it. If we make these things public, how can he have the face to sit on the throne?" Li Zhen, the right attendant of the cavalry, sneered.

"no!"

Cui Renshi immediately rejected this idea: "If we publicize this matter, the conflict with Li Shimin will be exposed, which will do our family no good. Even if it means saving our direct descendants, it is not worth it!"

Upon hearing this, the family heads looked at each other in bewilderment.

But then Zheng Shanguo said, "Then according to Patriarch Cui, how should we deal with Li Erlang?"

Cui Renshi thought for a moment and said, "It's true that Li Shimin cares about his reputation, but he cares even more about the Tang Dynasty. Otherwise, he wouldn't have launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident. So, as long as we consider the interests of the country and negotiate with him, we should be able to get him to not pursue this matter!"

"But how should we consider it from the perspective of the world?" Lu Chengqing couldn't help but ask.

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Master, His Majesty has sent a decree from the palace, summoning all ministers of the fifth rank and above in the capital to the Taiji Hall for a meeting!"

"Ok?"

Lu Chengqing was slightly surprised, then frowned and asked, "What happened?"

"It's said that there's been a massive locust plague in Henan Province, covering the sky and the sun, leaving not a single blade of grass behind!"

"What!?"

The family heads were shocked when they heard this.

At this moment, Cui Renshi suddenly threw his head back and laughed: "Hahaha! God helps me! God helps me!"

"Master Cui, what do you mean?" Li Zhen was shocked by Master Cui Renshi's laughter and his face was full of confusion. He couldn't help but ask.

Cui Renshi laughed and said, "I have an offer that Li Erlang can't refuse. Let him release our family officials!"

The family heads looked at each other again.

Although they didn't know what Cui Renshi was up to, they believed in his words without a doubt.

So, she followed him directly into the palace, ready to act accordingly.

……

Please give me double the monthly tickets.

　Please give me a monthly ticket. Please give me a monthly ticket.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)