Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 250 I wish I could kill you

Outside the Dali Temple.

When Wen He's carriage arrived, there were already people waiting there for a long time.

An elderly man in a crimson round-necked robe greeted Wen He with a broad smile upon seeing her.

Upon seeing this, Fan An stepped forward to greet him and exchanged pleasantries.

After Wen He alighted from the carriage, Wen He stepped forward to introduce him, saying, "This is Wen He, the magistrate of Gaoyang County and the advisor of the Hundred Cavalry, also known as Wen Jiaying."

After saying that, he introduced Wen He to Dai Zhou, saying, "This is Dai Xuanyin, the baron of Wuchang County and the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review."

The title of "Male of Wuchang County" is one rank lower than that of "Wen He".

However, he was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a fourth-rank official, which was sixteen ranks higher than Wen He.

They're worlds apart, like heaven and earth.

"Greetings, Vice Minister Dai." Wen He, being young, greeted him first.

"No, no, I've met the magistrate of Gaoyang County." Dai Zhou did not act arrogantly, nor did he regard Wen He as a low-ranking official; he treated him with the same courtesy.

"I've long heard of the young hero from Gaoyang County, and seeing him today, I can confirm his extraordinary talent. With this case of embezzlement of military funds, Gaoyang County's name has become famous throughout the land. He has a bright future ahead of him."

Such generous praise upon their first meeting made Wen He a little embarrassed.

He smiled and returned the greeting: "Minister Dai, you flatter me. This was not achieved by my own efforts alone."

As he spoke, he searched his mind for records about Dai Zhou.

And you know what? This man has indeed made his mark on history.

Moreover, he later held the dual positions of Minister of Civil Affairs and Minister of Personnel, and was granted the additional title of Prime Minister by Li Shimin, who allowed him to "participate in government affairs".

He was a prime example of someone who came from humble beginnings; his father was merely a county magistrate.

During the Sui Dynasty, he entered officialdom by passing the imperial examinations and began his career as a Yunqiwei (a military officer) in the Ministry of Personnel, later being promoted to the position of Menxia Lushi (a minor official).

Later, he followed Wang Shichong. During the Battle of Wulao Pass, Shen Yue, the magistrate of Zhengzhou, surrendered Hulao Pass to the Tang army while besieging Luoyang. Dai Zhou was thus captured by the Tang army, but was recommended by Li Ji because of his outstanding "performance and ability".

He was summoned to the Prince of Qin's residence by Li Shimin.

Wen He remembered that he seemed to have served as a secretary in the Ministry of War.

Come to think of it, I did see his name when I was checking the account books at the Ministry of War.

However, this person was not involved in the embezzlement case of military funds, so Wen He did not take it to heart at the time.

Therefore, his current enthusiasm towards me makes sense.

Dai Zhou stroked his beard and couldn't help but sigh.

"I was still in the Ministry of War a few months ago. I never expected that such a thing would happen in the Ministry of War so soon after I was transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. My former colleagues are now criminals in the court. It is truly a case of the vicissitudes of life."

"Dai Shaoqing is upright and honest, and his integrity is impeccable. Those people would probably die of shame if they saw you."

At least in the case of embezzlement of military funds, Dai Zhou did not take a single penny.

This is also because he did not serve in the Ministry of War for long. He was appointed as an assistant minister in the Ministry of War in May, and after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he was appointed as a senior minister in the Ministry of War.

After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he was transferred to the Dali Temple and never came into contact with the Battle of Huizhou.

Naturally, there would be no opportunity for embezzlement.

However, this did not stop Wen He from saying some nice things.

After exchanging pleasantries, Dai Zhou invited Wen He into the Dali Temple.

The Dali Temple was not quite what Wen He had imagined.

In the past, when watching TV dramas or movies, these places were always depicted as dark and gloomy. But when you actually see them in person, they're no different from other government offices.

Upon entering the main gate, you are greeted by the lobby, with long corridors connecting to both sides.

However, there were many more imperial guards and fully armed officers today.

Wen He used to think that the Dali Temple was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, but later he learned that the two were independent government offices.

The Dali Temple was equivalent to the Supreme Court in later times, while the Ministry of Justice was equivalent to the Ministry of Justice.

The former had the power to punish, while the latter only applied to commoners and officials below the seventh rank, and only had the power to interrogate, not to punish.

It seems that the authority of the Court of Judicial Review is higher than that of the Ministry of Justice.

However, the official rank of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is one grade lower than that of the Minister of Justice; the former is a third-rank official, while the latter is a third-rank official.

Wen He remembered that Li Daozong seemed to have done something similar in the future.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

Upon entering the main hall of the government office, I saw an elderly man with a robust appearance, wearing a scarlet round-necked robe, taking a sip of tea.

Only when they saw movement did they raise their heads.

When he saw Wen He, his face was practically contorted with a smile.

"I am deeply grateful to the magistrate of Gaoyang County for coming to the Dali Temple. I have failed to greet you properly."

"This is Liu Dewei, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review," Dai Zhou stepped forward and introduced.

Wen He immediately bowed and said, "This humble official, Wen He, greets Minister Liu."

"You're too kind. I've long admired your name, sir of Gaoyang County. It's a great honor to meet you today." Liu Dewei grasped Wen He's hand, his words exceptionally warm.

"I apologize for my abrupt invitation to the county magistrate today. The reason for this is that the Dali Temple is extremely busy with matters concerning the prisoners."

Although he said that, there was not a trace of resentment in his expression; he was smiling so broadly that it seemed like his face was blooming with joy.

In fact, the functions of the Hundred Riders conflict somewhat with those of the Dali Temple.

However, the Hundred Riders are ultimately an under-the-table force. For a case as big as this one, the Dali Temple is still needed.

After all, the Hundred Riders were not an organization like the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Liu Dewei was so happy because Wen He had presented him with so many achievements.

These past few days, he and Dai Zhou have been the most sought-after figures in Chang'an.

Countless influential people have come to visit, hoping to get their relatives' sentences reduced.

Wen He had a deeper impression of Liu Dewei than Dai Zhou.

Because when his unfortunate student Li You plotted a rebellion in the future, Liu Dewei happened to catch him in the act.

The Old Book of Tang, Volume 77, Biographies, Part 27, records: In the seventeenth year, he rushed to Jizhou to escort Prince Qi, Li You, back. When he arrived at Puzhou, he heard that Li You had killed the Chief Clerk Quan Wanji and that Dewei had entered and occupied Jizhou. He sent an envoy to report this.

Zhao Dewei then mobilized troops in Henan to demonstrate his strategic vision, but the plan was abandoned due to his mother's grief.

The following sentence means that because of his mother's funeral, he gave up and went home to observe mourning.

Wen He didn't know whether he was being filial or using this as an excuse to avoid getting involved in the imperial family's disputes.

He sighed inwardly, then smiled and offered a few words of flattery.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Dewei and Dai Zhou got down to business.

"Inviting the magistrate of Gaoyang County today was a last resort, for the sake of some convicted officials. They said the magistrate had promised them that he would reduce their sentences by one degree. I have already informed His Majesty of this matter."

"His Majesty said that he would grant the county magistrate the authority to act as he sees fit, and since the county magistrate is also the chief official of the Ministry of Justice and the presiding officer in this case, I took the liberty of inviting you here."

Whether in speech or action, Liu Dewei is indeed meticulous.

Since he had said that, Wen He was too embarrassed to say it even if she wanted to refuse.

Moreover, Liu Dewei is right; he made the promise first, so he does indeed need to advise on how to determine the crime.

This can be seen as a sign of respect from the Dali Temple.

"It's getting late. Minister of Justice, Magistrate of Gaoyang County, why don't you interrogate the prisoner as soon as possible? After you leave the office, how about we go to Pingkang Lane for a few drinks?"

Dai Zhou was the eldest of the three, and his beard was as white as snow.

But Wen He always felt that his energy was no less than her own.

However, let's forget about drinking.

After being tricked by Li Daozong last time, he avoided such places of entertainment like the plague.

"Ahem, let's interrogate the prisoner first."

Wen He gave an awkward smile. The two men in front of him were both shrewd old foxes. They had survived the chaos of the Sui Dynasty and were now highly regarded and held high positions in the Tang Dynasty. None of them were easy to deal with.

Now facing two unfamiliar people, Wen He steadied herself and decided to be cautious.

"Alright, we'll move to the main hall first." Liu Dewei stroked his beard and smiled kindly.

Upon hearing this, Wen He stood up first.

He was the youngest and held the lowest official rank, so he should have been expected to observe certain courtesies.

This is neither the Prince of Qin's residence nor in front of Li Shimin, so he must also abide by some rules.

Upon arriving at the main interrogation hall of the Dali Temple, Liu Dewei sat at the head of the hall, with Dai Zhou on his left and Wen He on his right.

The gavel struck.

Not long after, the prisoner was brought up.

However, there was no scene like in the TV series where someone shouted "Warrior!"

The people standing on both sides were not the yamen runners of later generations, but the Jinwu Guards in armor.

Wen He stroked her chin and looked them over.

It must be said that the armor of the Imperial Guards is indeed better looking than that of the Hundred Riders.

However, after expanding the army to a hundred cavalry, Wen He planned to submit a memorial to Li Shimin requesting that he change his equipment.

After all, they're working for the emperor; they need to have some prestige.

Look at the Embroidered Uniform Guard; aren't they most famous for their clothing and equipment?

"Cough cough."

Suddenly, a soft cough interrupted Wen He's reverie. He turned around and saw Liu Dewei and Dai Zhou smiling at him.

"Wenxianzi, the prisoner has arrived."

Liu Dewei pointed to the area below.

Wen He felt a little embarrassed, gave an awkward laugh, and followed his gaze in that direction.

A middle-aged man dressed in prison clothes and with shackles on all four limbs was kneeling in front of the hall.

His hair was disheveled, and there were bloodstains on his body from being whipped.

"Wenxianzi?"

Upon hearing Wen He's address, the man looked up abruptly, and when he confirmed it was Wen He, he was overjoyed.

“Wenxianzi, I, no, the offending official is Wei Tai, it is Wei Tai.”

"Wei Tai?"

This name sounds familiar.

"Oh, I remember now, that doctor from the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Yes, yes, yes, the doctor from the Ministry of Civil Affairs." Wei Tai nodded hurriedly, looking at Wen He with anticipation: "Lord Wen, you promised to reduce the punishment of the offending official after he reported the crime and handed over all his money."

He was so excited that if it weren't for the Imperial Guards stopping him, he probably would have rushed up to Wen He and knelt down.

Wen He hadn't forgotten about this matter, and he turned to look at Liu Dewei and Dai Zhou.

"May I ask, Minister and Vice Minister, how did the Court of Judicial Review rule on this person?"

Liu Dewei looked at Dai Zhou and nodded in acknowledgment.

Dai Zhou then took out a file.

"The convicted official Wei Tai was sentenced to have all his property confiscated and was exiled to Xisha Prefecture as a slave. The women in his family were confiscated and sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), and the men were put into slavery."

Wen He finally understood why Wei Tai acted as if he were seeing his own father when he saw him.

Not only would he have to go to the border to become a slave, but his children at home would also suffer as a result.

Women who were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) would become either prostitutes or servants, completely losing their personal freedom.

Those he had grudges against in the past will probably be eager to take revenge.

Wen He wasn't a saint, but he had made a promise to Wei Tai before.

"He did indeed make a meritorious report before. If it weren't for him, I would have had to spend more time. Could you perhaps give him a lighter sentence? And perhaps we could expel the women in his family from Chang'an?"

Wen He's humble suggestion earned him much more goodwill from Liu Dewei and Dai Zhou.

Although Wen He claimed to be the organizer, this was, after all, the Dali Temple.

Liu Dewei nodded with a smile: "Since Wenxianzi is the person in charge of this matter, then the verdict should be changed, and all the women should be expelled from Chang'an."

"Many thanks to Magistrate Wen, and many thanks to Minister Liu!"

Wei Tai shouted, knelt down, and burst into tears.

Even corrupt officials have people they care about.

"No need to thank me. The money you embezzled has harmed countless families. I wish I could kill you. But I did promise you that you would go to Xisha Prefecture to atone for your sins."

Wen He gave a cold shout.

Wei Tai kowtowed heavily on the ground, and was then taken away by the Imperial Guards.

Dai Zhou then produced another file.

"Next is the Commander-in-Chief of the Jingzhao Military Command. He is a fourth-rank official. Duke Huo had already pleaded for his life, and he was sentenced to exile in Lingnan to serve in the army. His family members are being protected by the Chai family. He had previously requested a reduction in his sentence. I wonder what Magistrate Wen thinks?"

“Minister Dai, this man’s crimes are heinous. The fact that His Majesty has spared his family from harm is already the greatest mercy. Moreover, I believe that his crimes are unforgivable. Now that he has been spared the death penalty, his punishment should be more severe. At the very least, his property should be confiscated, and he should be beaten before leaving the capital.”

Wen He remembered that the man's name was Chai Zhao, Chai Shao's cousin.

He harmed so many soldiers, yet he only received a banishment to the army.

That person still has the nerve to shout about a reduced sentence.

Even being skinned alive wouldn't be enough to atone for his sins.

Upon hearing this, Dai Zhou looked at Liu Dewei.

Both of them were very cautious about Chai Zhao, after all, he was a member of the Chai family.

Liu Dewei stroked his beard lightly and nodded, saying, "What Wen County Magistrate said makes sense. In addition to confiscating his property and giving him one hundred lashes, as for his family members, perhaps we should consult His Majesty on this matter?"

He glanced at Wen He.

Putting aside Chai Zhao's background, just considering his official rank of fourth grade, if anyone wanted to punish his family, it would be best to consult the emperor.

But he felt it depended on what Wen He thought.

"It's natural."

Wen He smiled and nodded.

Upon hearing this, Liu Dewei and David exchanged a glance, their goodwill towards Wen He increasing even more.

This young man from Wen County may look young, but he is quite mature and thoughtful.

Despite achieving fame at a young age, he showed no arrogance and was adept at assessing situations.

"Not bad, not bad." Liu Dewei nodded approvingly.

But if Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin were here and knew what he was thinking, they would definitely scoff at it.

You have no idea how unruly this brat was when he first arrived.

He speaks without restraint, saying whatever comes to mind.

Wen He had no idea what they were thinking. Seeing Liu Dewei's increasingly amiable smile, she relaxed considerably.

"Then next..."

Dai Zhou abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

Liu Dewei and Wen He both looked at him with suspicion at almost the same time.

"Why did you stop reading?" Liu Dewei asked, puzzled.

Dai Zhou's expression was somewhat bitter. Looking at the name on the dossier in his hand, he chuckled and said, "This is the person His Majesty personally appointed to be judged by Wen County Magistrate."

(End of this chapter)