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

Chapter 276 If those censors dare to impeach you, I will suppress it for you.
Li Shimin's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible dissatisfaction; he felt that Wen He was using someone else's name to make a big fuss.

Wen He, however, maintained his smile and calmly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, when I was investigating the case of embezzlement of military funds, you granted me the authority to act expediently, and you have not yet revoked it."

“Now, this case of burning wool is just like embezzling military funds; both are harmful to the army and endanger the border defense. Therefore, I have dared to exercise the power you have granted me.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback and turned to look at Li Shimin with inquisitive eyes.

Li Shimin was also taken aback, then suddenly realized.

After Wen He was placed under house arrest, he had completely forgotten about this!
That decree was indeed never withdrawn.

"Ahem...that is indeed true."

Li Shimin coughed lightly, a hint of unease flashing across his face.

He couldn't very well deny what he had said in public, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and admit it.

In his heart, he cursed Wen He a thousand times. This brat was too reckless. He didn't even inform him beforehand.

Upon hearing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that they had been overthinking things.

However, Wen He was quick-witted and managed to connect this matter with the previous case of embezzlement of military funds.

Now that even His Majesty has reluctantly accepted it, what else can they do?

Zheng Yuanzhu was completely dumbfounded, his face turned ashen, and his body trembled slightly.

The power to act expediently is as if I were personally present!

If that's the case, then his hundred-plus guards really died in vain, with no one to reason with.

"If that's the case, then the magistrate of Gaoyang County wasn't trespassing, but rather acting on imperial orders. Yet the Zheng family resisted with weapons; there must be more to the story. Could they truly harbor ulterior motives?"

Li Jing immediately responded, his gaze sharp as a hawk as he turned to Zheng Yuanzhu.

He was truly intent on killing at that moment.

If those 10,000 soldiers don't get winter clothes, who knows how many will suffer frostbite or freeze to death when they go to the northern border this winter.

If the casualties are too heavy, as the Minister of War, he will definitely be the first person impeached by the censor.

Therefore, he is not simply helping Wen He today, but also doing it for himself.

Zheng Yuanzhu felt a chill run down his spine under Li Jing's gaze and quickly explained, "It's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. Those guards were simply unaware of the situation and were confused for a moment..."

"Misunderstanding?" Fang Xuanling pressed closer, his gaze piercing.

"Was it also a misunderstanding that your son burned the wool?"

"That concerns the winter clothing of 10,000 soldiers. If this leads to a mutiny, who can bear the responsibility?"

Zheng Yuanzhu was speechless, unable to find any words to refute him.

He never expected things to develop this way. He thought victory was in his grasp, but Wen He's sudden "right to act expediently" caught him off guard.

Wen He looked at Zheng Yuanzhu's disheveled appearance without feeling anything.

This is the arrogance of the aristocratic class, always thinking they can control everything, unaware that karma is a cycle and no one escapes its consequences.

Wen He also found it interesting.

Zheng Yuanzhu was once considered a man of courage, daring to personally travel to the Turkic Khaganate to negotiate with Jieli.

A person who can rise to the position of Left Martial General is naturally no ordinary person.

It's a pity that they ultimately failed because they were blinded by greed.

However, Wen He's victory was not easy; it was largely thanks to Li Shimin and his desire to take the opportunity to put pressure on the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families.

Zheng Yuanzhu was not from the Qin King's lineage; he was promoted by Li Yuan himself, and he was one of the few among the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families to hold military power.

Such a person would naturally be an eyesore in Li Shimin's eyes.

Even without this incident, he would still have been dismissed from office by Li Shimin on some pretext not long afterward.

That seems to be how it happened historically, only a few years earlier.

"I order the Hundred Cavalry to thoroughly investigate who was behind the burning of the wool. Wen He, although your actions this time were in accordance with the rules, they were also reckless. Therefore, I am giving you three days. If you fail to find out the truth within three days, your salary for the next three years will be waived!"

Li Shimin also harbored resentment towards Wen He.

Although he forgot to revoke the right to act expediently, this brat is still trying to take advantage of his authority.

That's why he said that on purpose.

If he were to be dismissed from office, Wen He certainly wouldn't care; he would rather not be an official.

Li Shimin was reluctant to hit him, and the Empress and Li Lizhi would definitely come looking for him, so he would have to coax his wife and daughters.

Wen He is the one thing that's most reluctant to part with, so punishing him by cutting his salary will definitely make him suffer for a while.

As expected, Wen He became depressed upon hearing this.

This is simply a heartless capitalist!

Li Er, you son of a bitch!

Although he resented it in his heart, Wen He had no choice but to bow and agree: "Your subject obeys the decree."

"Hmm." Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Zheng Yuanzhu: "As for Zheng Yuanzhu, go back to your residence first. The affairs of the Left Martial Guard will be temporarily handled by the apothecary."

Zheng Yuanzhu looked up in astonishment.

More than a hundred people died in his household, and His Majesty still wanted to strip him of his military power.

What does it mean to be trapped by one's own actions?

He finally understands now.

However, under Li Shimin's coercion, he had no choice but to comply.

"Your subject obeys the decree and expresses gratitude."

"General Zuo Wuhou, rest assured, I am an impartial person. I will never wrong an innocent person, nor will I let a bad person go free." Wen He grinned, his smile exceptionally innocent.

Looking at him, Zheng Yuanzhu suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, and a sweet, metallic taste suddenly welled up in his throat.

To avoid being laughed at by others, he swallowed the blood.

"Alright, everyone except Wen He, you may all step down."

Li Shimin let out a long breath and waved his hand.

Seeing this, everyone took their leave, leaving Wen He standing there alone.

"You go out too." After all the officials had left, Li Shimin glanced at Gao Yue.

Upon hearing this, the latter bowed to Li Shimin without hesitation, and then instructed the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall to leave.

After leaving the Liangyi Hall, he made sure to close the door behind him.

"You're such a jerk!"

Once only Wen He and Li Shimin remained in the Liangyi Hall, a loud shout was heard.

Immediately, Wen He saw a long, white object fly towards him. He quickly dodged it and heard a "smack".

When he turned his head, he realized it was a paperweight.

It's such a pity, it's broken like this.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to throw away the brush washer?" Wen He turned around with a teasing smile, only to see Li Shimin already striding down the imperial steps.

"Why didn't you come to discuss this matter with me? Who told you to barge into the Zheng family's territory so recklessly? Zheng Yuanzhu is the Left Martial General, commanding more than six thousand soldiers. Do you think you can deal with him with just a hundred cavalrymen!"

Li Shimin had been suppressing his anger, but now that he only had Wen He left, he finally let it all out.

This brat really doesn't care about his own safety.

"I have said that eliminating the powerful families is not something that can be rushed. Didn't you advise me against it before?" Li Shimin glared at him like an angry Vajra.

Seeing his furious expression, Wen He knew he was truly angry, so she suppressed her smile and said, "Your Majesty, they were the ones who bullied me first. If it weren't for the flame-retardant properties of wool, we would all have been trapped by them this time."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin pondered for a moment, then sighed helplessly.

He knew Wen He was right.

"Alright, alright, I'll cover for you. If those censors dare to impeach you, I'll suppress it for you. But you!" Li Shimin said irritably, tapping Wen He's forehead hard with his finger.

"With so many riders, why don't you send Xu Jingzong instead?"

"How old are you to be personally leading troops into battle? What if the Zheng family has prepared crossbows?"

Li Er is actually so concerned about me?

Wen He felt a little embarrassed, but then chuckled.

"They wouldn't dare, would they?"

There's still some leeway in keeping private soldiers, but if it's about keeping bows, crossbows, and armor, then there's really no room for maneuver.

Li Shimin felt that Wen He was still somewhat naive, and gave a light snort as he spoke.

"Hmph, back then, after Yang Jian weakened their military power and dispersed their private armies, he thought they wouldn't have the guts. But what happened later? Yuwen Huaji still dared to assassinate the emperor."

This is true.

"Alright, I will have someone help you with this matter. However, apart from Zheng Yuanzhu and his son, you must not involve anyone else. This is the end. I will make them pay a different price."

Li Shimin was worried that Wen He would act impulsively, so he gave him special instructions.

Wen He smiled and agreed, but inwardly she was unconvinced: 'Does he really think I'm a child? If it weren't for wanting to vent my anger, I wouldn't bother with this at all. If I wanted to make a big deal out of it, I would have sent people to block the Cui family's door long ago.'

"You're such a jerk!"

Li Shimin was pleased to see that his son was sensible, but then he saw the boy pout and immediately kicked him in the buttocks.

After half a stick of incense.

Wen He left the palace with footprints on her buttocks.

Xu Jingzong and Huang Chun waited anxiously outside Xuanwu Gate.

Upon seeing him emerge, Xu Jingzong hurriedly went to greet him.

"Jiaying, something terrible has happened! The Cui family of Boling is in Chang'an City contacting censors and upright officials to impeach you."

Although the Cui clan of Boling could not compare to the Cui clan of Qinghe, their influence was still considerable.

In addition, other aristocratic families were secretly pushing things along.

Xu Jingzong was worried that Wen He would become the target of public criticism.

"It's just impeachment. Let them talk. Our top priority now is to get Jung Yunho to plead guilty as soon as possible."

As long as the evidence is conclusive, no matter how much the censors and upright officials argue, he will handle the matter impartially.

He may act a little extreme, but doesn't that just show his loyalty to His Majesty?
"What about those aristocratic youths who were arrested before?" Huang Chun asked.

Wen He, who was walking towards Zhang Wenxiao, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

His eyes darted around, and he suddenly thought of something interesting.

In the future, after Changsun Wuji captured Fang Yi'ai, he gave him a piece of paper and a pen, asking him to confess who his accomplices were.

This time...

Li Shimin told him not to make a big fuss, but he didn't say he couldn't extort money.

Wen He stroked his chin, returned to Huang Chun's side, and said in a low voice.

"I'd like to trouble you, Lao Huang, to secretly send someone to inform the families of those aristocratic sons that Zheng Yunhao has implicated and implicated many people while in prison."

(End of this chapter)