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

Chapter 419 What dismissal? This is clearly a promotion!
The servants and maids in the mansion were terrified and fled in all directions. Wen He went straight to the main hall, only to find it empty.

His heart sank, and he was about to order, "Seal off all exits and conduct a thorough search!"

Then they heard a guard's stern voice shouting from the backyard: "Stop! Don't move!"

Wen He immediately led his men to the backyard, where they saw a middle-aged man with a mustache and wearing a purple round-necked robe being cornered by two riders under the courtyard wall.

It was Zhao Dechang, the man they were looking for!

The man was slightly overweight but exceptionally agile. Leaning against the blue brick courtyard wall, his right hand had already quietly grasped the sword at his waist.

Wen He immediately recognized that he was exactly the same as the Zhao Dechang described by Wang Shi, and said in a deep voice.

"Zhao Dechang! Surrender! You colluded with officials to illegally sell Zhenguan rice seeds. The evidence is irrefutable. If you dare to resist, your crime will be compounded!"

A flicker of panic crossed Zhao Dechang's face, which quickly turned into resolute determination.

He knew that once he was captured, the Cui family of Qinghe would never allow him to live and utter a single word. Rather than being imprisoned and tortured and then silenced, he would rather end his own life.

"Hahaha...Lord Wen, what a clever trick!"

He suddenly burst into wild laughter, his voice shrill and piercing.

"Trying to make me a scapegoat? Not so easy!"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly drew the sword from his waist, the blade flashing coldly, and held it directly against his own neck.

"not good!"

Wen He's pupils constricted sharply, and he shouted sternly.

"Stop him now!"

Chen Dahai, who was standing next to him, reacted the fastest. He rushed forward like an arrow and reached out to snatch the knife from Zhao Dechang's hand.

But Zhao Dechang was prepared. With a sudden forceful movement of his wrist, the blade cut deep into his neck, and blood gushed out instantly, splattering red marks on the blue brick wall.

He swayed, his sword clattered to the ground, his eyes widened, and he fell heavily to the ground, making a hoarse sound in his throat before losing his breath a moment later.

Chen Dahai squatted down and checked Zhao Dechang's breath, shaking his head with a grave expression: "County Lord, he's dead."

Wen He walked to the body and frowned as she looked at the deep, bone-revealing wound on Zhao Dechang's neck.

"We were a step too late after all. This must be a suicide squad."

He realized he had underestimated his opponent.

He truly hadn't expected that the merchants supported by the aristocratic families would be just like the assassins.

I really don't know how these aristocratic families brainwashed these people.

He died so decisively.

"Immediately seal off the residence; no one is allowed to enter or leave!"

Wen He made a quick decision and gave instructions to Chen Dahai.

"Take a few men and carefully examine Zhao Dechang's body to see if there are any letters, tokens, or other such items hidden inside; the rest of you come with me to search the house, focusing on the study and bedroom, and make sure to find evidence of his collusion with the Cui family!"

He knew very well that with Zhao Dechang dead, the only survivor would be gone, and the only way to convict Cui was through physical evidence.

Wen He went straight to the study, the place most likely to hold secrets.

The study was filled with bookshelves, displaying classics, histories, philosophical works, and other historical texts, seemingly no different from the study of an ordinary scholar.

Wen He searched around but didn't find anything unusual.

There were a few books on the bookshelf, though.

"Well, it seems this group all share the same habit." Wen He snorted and stepped forward to search.

Finally, his gaze settled on a copy of the Zuo Zhuan.

This set of books is unusually heavy, unlike other lightweight book boxes.

He had his guards move the Zuo Zhuan aside and discovered a hidden compartment at the bottom of the book box, inside which were two items wrapped in oiled paper.

A thread-bound secret ledger and three letters sealed with wax.

Wen He hurriedly opened the secret ledger, where every transaction was meticulously recorded in tiny characters, all starting from the time the rice seeds were stored in the granary in the second year of the Zhenguan era.

"In the second month of the second year of Zhenguan, fifty shi of rice seeds were collected from Li Song and paid one hundred guan of silver."

"In the third month of the second year, 100 shi of rice seeds were collected from Liu An, and 200 guan of silver were paid; in the fourth month of the second year, 150 shi of rice seeds were collected from Li Song, and 300 guan of silver were paid..."

Each transaction was marked with the recipient, quantity, and amount of money, and the last page also stated, "Delivered to Brother Cui Zhong, totaling three hundred shi, awaiting verification."

Wen He frowned.

The initial joy of finding the secret ledger and letters had long since faded, replaced by a lingering sense of resentment.

Zhao Dechang's strike, while leaving behind irrefutable evidence pointing to the Cui family, also severed the possibility of investigating deeper connections.

He crouched down and carefully examined the drawers and hidden compartments of the desk, even tapping the brick seams behind the bookshelf with the handle of his knife. Apart from a few ordinary merchant ledgers, he found no other valuable clues.

“Cui Zhong…”

Wen He murmured the name, her knuckles unconsciously tightening.

The words "Already handed over to Brother Cui Zhong" on the last page of the secret ledger are clearly legible.

But he knew all too well the methods of aristocratic families; this Cui Zhong was nothing more than a pawn that the Cui family had pushed to the forefront.

If the imperial court were to investigate, the Cui family only needed to shift all the blame onto Cui Zhong, and then present him with a lavish apology gift, which would be enough to silence public opinion.

As for the five hundred bushels of Zhenguan rice seeds, Cui had plenty of excuses.

They could easily claim that Zhao Dechang forged documents and sold them to the Cui family, and that they themselves were also victims of deception.

Wen He walked to the window, pushed open the wooden window, and the night wind blew up the hem of his black outfit, bringing with it the chill of approaching dusk in Chang'an.

"That's all."

He sighed softly, rewrapped the secret ledger and letters in oiled paper, and stuffed them into the evidence bag in his pocket.

Having completed the investigation, he had done all he could; the remaining power to dispose of the case was not in his hands to begin with.

Li Shimin had only been on the throne for two years, and the Zhenguan New Policies were just beginning to be implemented. The power of the aristocratic families in the court was deeply entrenched, and Hebei was the stronghold of the Cui family.

At this moment, a complete break with the Cui clan of Qinghe would be tantamount to shaking the foundation of the nation. With Li Shimin's shrewdness, he would never take such a risky move.

Wen He could already picture the ending in her mind.

The Cui family killed Cui Zhong, paid a huge fine, and might even voluntarily return some rice seeds. Li Shimin showed leniency, punishing those involved while preserving the reputation of the aristocratic families. Finally, he concluded the case by rectifying the administration of the granary, limiting it to the scope of corruption.

For the court, this outcome was a means of maintaining stability; for the Cui family, although they lost some face, they at least managed to preserve their reputation.

But from beginning to end, it is always the innocent people who suffer.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Cui family gave away rice seeds for free; they were actually giving them to the hidden households they had released.

The land they own belongs to the Cui family, and the grain they grow will also belong to the Cui family in the future.

He shook his head, suppressing these thoughts, and exhaled a long breath.

"I suddenly feel like I don't want to do this anymore."

Wen He turned and walked out of the study. In the courtyard, a hundred guards were binding the servants in the house one by one. When Chen Dahai saw him come out, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Young master, all personnel are under control. Shall we bring the Hundred Riders back immediately?"

"Ah."

Wen He nodded, his gaze sweeping over the trembling servants, and said in a deep voice.

"Take him back. If he's innocent, release him."

"promise!"

Chen Dahai responded loudly and waved to the guards to escort everyone away.

Wen He watched their departing figures, then glanced at Zhao Dechang's body being carried onto a stretcher before mounting her horse.

The crisp sound of horses' hooves echoed loudly in the twilight as they trod across the cobblestone streets of Zhuque Avenue.

Wen He pulled on the reins, the hem of his dark-colored outfit fluttering in the evening breeze.

As the sun began to set in the west, a magnificent sunset glow ignited along the ridges of the fields on the banks of the Wei River in the distance. The orange-red halo spilled onto the glazed tiles of the Daxing Palace, gilding them with a majestic golden edge.

"Shut up!"

He reined in his horse at the entrance of the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Imperial City, and the two riders following behind him also immediately stopped their horses in unison.

Looking up, Wen He was slightly taken aback by the familiar figure in a dark blue round-necked robe standing in front of the palace gate.

It turned out to be Gao Yue.

Since he appeared here at this time, it's clear he was waiting specifically for this.

'Did Li Shimin know I was coming?'

A hint of surprise flashed through Wen He's mind, but she quickly smiled in relief.

He dismounted, handed the reins to the guards behind him, and strode towards Gao Yue.

Gao Yue quickly stepped forward, a perfectly timed smile on her face, and the folds of her clothes were neatly arranged as she bowed.

"This old servant greets the Earl of Gaoyang County."

"No need for such formalities, high-ranking officials."

Wen He raised her hand in return.

"I trouble you, high-ranking official, to wait here. What are Your Majesty's instructions?"

"His Majesty summoned the County Earl to the Lizheng Hall and specially sent this old servant to greet him."

Gao Yue straightened up, turned sideways to lead Wen He into the palace, and added in a low voice.

"His Majesty hasn't rested since noon, waiting for news from the county magistrate."

Wen He paused slightly, understanding dawning on her.

He left the western side courtyard of the Ministry of Civil Affairs at noon, and Li Shimin already knew the news at that moment, which must have been due to someone delivering a secret report in advance.

The hundred riders who accompanied him remained outside the palace gates.

Gao Yue led the way, and Wen He noticed that the eunuchs and palace maids who used to come and go were nowhere to be seen. Only the imperial guards in bright armor stood every ten steps.

With such a display of force, it seems Li Shimin doesn't want what he discovered today to be leaked.

Outside the Lizheng Hall, Gao Yue stopped and gestured for the hall to open, saying, "Lord Wen, please come in on your own. His Majesty has instructed that there is no need to announce your arrival."

Wen He nodded his thanks, and as he pushed open the heavy vermilion palace door, a faint scent of pine soot and ink wafted out.

Inside the hall, only two dragon-shaped candles were lit. As the candlelight flickered, Li Shimin sat behind his desk, holding a rolled-up document in his hand, his expression so solemn it seemed as if water could drip from it.

"Your subject Wen He greets Your Majesty."

Wen He bowed and saluted.
Gao Yue walked in quietly and brought Wen He a bowl of honey water, placing it on the low table next to her.

He refilled Li Shimin's teacup with hot water, then quietly withdrew and closed the palace door tightly.

In an instant, only the emperor and his minister remained in the Lizheng Hall, their flickering shadows cast by the candlelight on the walls.

"Has it been found out?"

Li Shimin finally put down the letter in his hand, raised his eyes to look at Wen He, his gaze sharp.

Wen He straightened up and said.

"Your Majesty, the case has been thoroughly investigated and the truth has been revealed."

"Li Song, the secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, and Liu An, the principal, were corrupt and colluded with Zhao Dechang, the manager of Yufeng Grain Store in the West Market, to sell a total of 300 shi of Zhenguan rice seeds. Zhao Dechang was sent by Cui Zhong, a servant of the Cui family in Qinghe. The rice seeds have all been transported to the Cui family's fiefdom in Hebei."

He paused, his voice deepening.

"When I led my men to arrest Zhao Dechang, he knew his crimes were unforgivable and committed suicide by drawing his sword. I found a secret ledger of transactions, a letter written by Cui Zhong, and this jade pendant engraved with the Cui family crest in his study, which is sufficient to prove that the Cui family was the mastermind."

"A bunch of giant rats!"

Li Shimin grabbed the secret ledger, flipped through two pages, and slammed it down on the imperial desk with such force that the teacup shook.

"The Zhenguan rice seeds were only just put into the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse this year, and they dare to sell them privately!"

Wen He stood with his hands at his sides, without saying a word.

He knew that Li Shimin's anger was not only directed at corruption.

The Cui family of Qinghe's actions were clearly an attempt to win over the hearts of the people of Hebei by using rice seeds, and to consolidate the foundation of their aristocratic family. This was what truly angered the emperor.

Despite their anger, both the emperor and his minister knew that this was not the time to break with the Cui family.

Sure enough, Li Shimin's anger subsided after a moment. He stroked the Cui family jade pendant with his fingers and his tone returned to calm.

“Zhao Dechang is dead, so the trail has gone cold. Even if Cui Zhong is captured and interrogated, he will only insist that it was an individual act and had nothing to do with the Cui clan. What I want is not a scapegoat, but stability in Hebei.”

Wen He remained silent.

He had many ways to get Cui Zhong to talk.

But he knew even better that what Li Shimin wanted was not a confession from the Cui family, but a way to check and balance the Cui family without causing turmoil among the powerful clans.

Now that war is about to break out on the border of the Tang Dynasty, if the powerful families inside the country cause chaos, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound came from the imperial desk again, interrupting Wen He's thoughts.

He looked up and saw Li Shimin with his brows furrowed and his eyes full of anger.

"Speak up! I summoned you here, not to stand here like a wooden puppet!"

Wen He met Li Shimin's gaze without flinching.

The emperor and his minister stared at each other, the candlelight casting interplay of light and shadow on their faces.

The sound of armor clashing against each other came from outside the Lizheng Hall, and the distant drum tower struck seven times, the deep drumbeat penetrating the palace walls and landing in the silent hall.

"The Tang Dynasty's primary enemy is the Turks. If we do not eliminate this external enemy, how can we talk about pacifying the internal affairs?"

Li Shimin broke the silence first. He stood up, walked to the "Map of the Tang Dynasty" hanging in the hall, and pointed his finger heavily at the territory of the Northern Turks.

"You said that the Tang Dynasty in history experienced the Wei River Alliance. Even though it has not happened now, it is still a great humiliation for me."

"The previous battle at Huizhou severely weakened Jieli, and now the Turks are in a state of panic, and the Qibi tribe is also demanding to surrender to the Tang Dynasty. This is the best time to destroy the Turks."

As he said this, he suddenly turned around and looked intently at Wen He.

"Only when the north is pacified can I focus my attention on the three kingdoms of Liaodong. Once the three kingdoms of Liaodong are pacified, we must then secure the internal affairs, and then the outer seas."

Li Shimin's words were completely opposite to those of the later principal who advocated "pacifying the internal before resisting external aggression," but they were indeed more in line with the situation of the Tang Dynasty at that time.

When Emperor Yang Guang launched three campaigns against Goguryeo, he disregarded the boiling resentment among the people and ultimately caused chaos throughout the country.

Li Shimin had clearly learned his lesson; he decided to stabilize the internal situation first before concentrating all his efforts on dealing with the Turks.

Once the Tang Dynasty's external enemies are gone, it can begin to purge its internal forces.

"To secure internal stability, we must first repel external threats!"

Li Shimin turned around, his voice growing increasingly low.

"Only by eliminating the Turks can I free up my hands to deal with the powerful families. The Cui family is currently based in Hebei Province. If we push them too far, they might secretly collude with the Turks, and the consequences would be unimaginable."

What he wants is stability, even if that stability is only superficial, it's enough.

With the autumn harvest this year, the Tang Dynasty had ample grain supplies, making it the perfect time to wage war against the Turks.

Before that, it is essential to ensure the stability of areas where prominent families like Hebei and Henan are concentrated.

The matter of the Cui family of Qinghe privately purchasing rice seeds can only be handled quietly.

"Wei Chen understands."

Wen He bowed respectfully, his tone carrying a subtle hint of stiffness.

He understood Li Shimin's considerations, but he was still somewhat unwilling.

"You do not understand!"

Li Shimin suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Wen He's shoulder with such force that he almost crushed his bones.

"If you truly understood, you wouldn't be giving me that look! How could I not want to exterminate the entire Cui family? How could I not want to skin those rats alive? But I am the emperor, not a chivalrous knight-errant seeking revenge!"

"Your Majesty, it hurts!"

Wen He immediately gasped.

Li Er was clearly angry himself, but he took it out on me.

Your uncle's!

If I could beat you, I would have attacked you long ago!
He looked up at the young emperor and saw that Li Shimin's eyes were bloodshot.

Wen He was unwilling to accept this, but Li Shimin certainly didn't want to tolerate it either.

Since the Xuanwu Gate Incident, Li Shimin has lived in the shackles of a wise ruler, having to carefully calculate every step and consider the various factions in the court with every decision.

Wen He's promises to him were too grandiose.

He was afraid he would overeat.

“I really understand, but I feel that it shouldn’t be like this.”

Wen He said softly, without hiding anything.

He was not a smooth-talking old minister like Fang Xuanling, and he would not use words like "Your Majesty is wise" to whitewash the situation.

He was not a cold and shrewd strategist like Du Ruhui, who could only weigh the pros and cons from the perspective of the imperial court.

There was always a tacit understanding between him and Li Shimin that transcended the boundaries between ruler and subject, an understanding that allowed no room for pretense.

Li Shimin slowly released his grip and gazed into Wen He's eyes, where there was no flattery, no fear, only pure honesty.

After a long silence, he exhaled a deep breath, then suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with self-mockery: "Have I disappointed you?"

"No."

Wen He shook her head, her tone extremely serious.

“Your Majesty did not do anything wrong. An emperor cannot do whatever he wants. It is his duty to weigh the pros and cons. However, I know right from wrong, so I cannot pretend to agree with him.”

These words immediately eased the atmosphere in the Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin stared at Wen He for a long time, then suddenly reached out and patted his shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down next to him.

"You brat, you dare to say such things. Only you would dare to say such things in front of me."

"I know you harbor resentment."

Li Shimin sat down beside him and continued speaking.

"The Cui family of Qinghe has indeed outmaneuvered me this time. They have gained rice seeds to win over the people and made me hesitant to act against them. But they are not without their weaknesses. I have my own ways to make them suffer a great loss."

Wen He looked up, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Upon seeing this, Li Shimin's lips curled into a smug smile.

"Do you know why the Cui family bought rice seeds privately? They released the hidden households in Hebei Province, actually wanting to bind these hidden households firmly to their own fiefdom. With the Zhenguan rice seeds, these hidden households can produce high yields, and the Cui family's prestige and wealth will also increase."

"I know."

Wen He nodded; anyone with eyes could see that.

Hidden households were the foundation of aristocratic families. They did not pay taxes to the imperial court or perform corvée labor, and were the core source of wealth for these families.

Cui's release of the hidden households, seemingly an act of charity, was in reality no different from what had happened before.

"Therefore, I insist that they hand over the hidden households."

Li Shimin put down his teacup, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"I have already had an imperial edict drafted, ordering the Cui family of Qinghe to relocate the released hermits to Guannei Road on the grounds that 'the land within the pass is fertile and suitable for cultivation,' so that the court can settle them in a unified manner."

"Hebei is barren, while Guannei is prosperous. If they refuse, the farmers will naturally resent them. If they agree, their previous plans will fall through."

Wen He sighed inwardly; Li Shimin's move was indeed brilliant.

Relocating hidden households not only weakened the Cui clan's power but also replenished the population of Guannei Road and increased the imperial court's tax revenue, achieving two goals at once.

Moreover, this move was ostensibly for the benefit of the hidden households, so even if Cui was dissatisfied, he could not find a reason to refute it.

"I'm afraid the Cui family of Qinghe won't agree so easily, will they?" Wen He asked.

Those hidden households were won over by the Cui family with great effort, and they would certainly be unwilling to give them up so easily.

"They had no choice."

Li Shimin chuckled and took out a sealed letter from the drawer of his desk.

"I have already dispatched a hundred cavalry to Hebei Province to bring Cui Zhong and his family to Chang'an. This is a way to deter them."

"In addition, I have written a letter, which is an ultimatum to the head of the Cui family of Qinghe. Either he moves the family into hiding, or I will execute Cui Zhong on the grounds of colluding with unscrupulous merchants and privately buying government grain, and then send a hundred cavalrymen to the Cui family's fiefdom for a thorough investigation."

"However, this exchange will require your contribution."

Li Shimin put the letter back in the drawer, his gaze falling on Wen He, his expression becoming serious.

"Effective immediately, you are relieved of your post as Captain of a Hundred Cavalry and are no longer part of the Hundred Cavalry."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell over the Lizheng Hall.

The candlelight flickered, casting a long shadow of Li Shimin as he stared intently at Wen He's face, trying to discern any surprise, anger, or resentment.

After all, the Hundred Cavalry was the core force personally created by Li Shimin. Wen He served as a captain since the establishment of the Hundred Cavalry and personally trained many elites. This position was quite special among officials in the capital.

He was well aware that rumors were circulating in Chang'an that Wen He was some kind of ruthless little devil among a hundred riders.

But Wen He's reaction was beyond his expectations.

He nodded slightly, his tone as flat as if he were responding to "The weather is nice today," and casually replied, "Oh."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin's lips twitched a few times. He stepped forward and patted Wen He's forehead, as if to check if he was daydreaming.

"You just agreed like that? Without even asking why? Don't you feel wronged?"

Wen He brushed his hand away, rubbed her forehead, and smiled.

“I know that the Cui family fears the Hundred Cavalry, but they fear me even more.”

"After all, it was because of me that the Cui family of Qinghe was driven out of Chang'an."

“My resignation is to reassure them and let them know that His Majesty’s intention this time is one of ‘reconciliation’ rather than intimidation.”

He paused, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Besides, the Hundred Cavalry are only investigating cases. His Majesty commands the Sixteen Guards. With just one order, how could the Cui Clan of Qinghe possibly resist?"

It's not like the Northern and Southern Dynasties anymore.

Although the Cui family of Qinghe had many disciples and former officials, their household was no longer like it used to be, and they still had many private soldiers.

In this respect, Li Shimin should thank Yang Jian.

Li Shimin was speechless after hearing this, and after a long while, he shook his head helplessly.

That brat is even more cunning than Fang Xuanling; he saw right through all my schemes.

Even so, his eyes revealed an undisguised admiration.

He didn't expect Wen He to suddenly change the subject and smile slyly.

"In fact, I have long intended to step down. After the beginning of spring this year, the system of the Hundred Cavalry has been perfected. Xu Jingzong is in charge of documents, Su Dingfang is in charge of training, and Huang Chun is in charge of criminal justice. Each of them performs their duties. Even without me, it can operate smoothly."

"It's perfect timing, being free from official duties, and the weather's been lovely lately, so I'm planning to take Xiaorou out for a spring outing."

With the matter of the Hundred Riders no longer a concern, he felt much more at ease.

Anyway, he was starting to not want to do it anymore.

Li Shimin had been worried that Wen He would have complaints, but now that he saw him agree so readily, he felt something was amiss.

Does this brat really dislike serving me?
He immediately frowned and snorted loudly.

"When did I say I was going to dismiss you from all your official posts? You don't need to train the Flying Fish Guard anymore? You don't need to be in charge of cannons and gunpowder anymore? Don't forget, you are still the head of the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Rites!"

"..."

Wen He was somewhat taken aback.

Why are you getting so angry? Just say what you want to say.

Besides, he had hardly ever visited the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites among these four ministries.

He did handle matters concerning the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War.

Li Shimin raised his hand and slapped Wen He on the head, shouting angrily.

"Still feeling carefree without official duties? Tomorrow I will promote you to Minister of War, a seventh-rank official, and concurrently serve as the Chief Clerk of the Left Guard. I will let you be free from official duties!"

Wen He looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise.

Although the position of the Deputy Minister of War was only a seventh-rank official, it directly connected with the Ministry of War and was in charge of the Ministry's official correspondence and military intelligence. It was an important position that allowed access to core military secrets.

She was essentially Li Jing's personal secretary.

The Chief Clerk of the Left Guard directly participated in the army's combat planning, essentially serving as the Left Guard's strategist.

Responsible for supervising the daily training of the Left Guard.

These two positions combined are far more significant than the previous Hundred Cavalry Captain position.

Seeing his surprised expression, Li Shimin felt a sense of triumph.

However, he still maintained a stern face as he spoke.

"Li Yaoshi will teach you military strategy, and Shubao will teach you archery and horsemanship. Even if you can't become Huo Qubing in the future, you can at least save your life on the battlefield."

"And the Flying Fish Camp, although Zhao Qin is good at training, he is still too slow. Go and help him tomorrow."

Wen He stared in astonishment, speechless.

So Li Er is going to exploit me too!

There is no justice!
Just as dawn broke, the imperial eunuch from Daxing Palace arrived at the Gaoyang County Earl's residence, his feet glistening with morning dew.

Wen He, dressed in plain clothes, received the imperial decree. Faced with the order to "dismiss the Hundred Cavalry Commandant for incompetence and confine himself to his quarters for five days to reflect on his mistakes," he showed no panic on his face, but simply bowed calmly.

"Your subject Wen He obeys the decree."

When the eunuch announced the imperial decree, he deliberately raised his voice, as if he wanted all the neighbors to hear it clearly.

As soon as the eunuch left and the gates of Wen He's mansion closed, the news of "Wen He's fall from power" spread rapidly throughout Chang'an City in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The teahouses in the East Market at Chenshi (7-9 AM) are always packed with people.

Zhou Shen, the director of the Hongwen Academy, held his teacup and glanced sideways at the merchants at the next table who were discussing Wen He. Suddenly, he sneered.

"What Marquis of Gaoyang? He's just a greenhorn relying on His Majesty's favor! At such a young age, he commands a hundred cavalrymen, and in investigating a case, he managed to cause the main culprit to commit suicide, cutting off all the leads. Dismissing him from his post would be too lenient!"

The scholar from the Hongwen Academy sitting opposite him echoed, "Brother Zhou is absolutely right! This Wen He, relying on his strange skills and tricks, was promoted by His Majesty despite the odds. He treated our Hongwen Academy so badly during the imperial examination. Now he has come to this, it is truly gratifying!"

Several scholars at the next table, intrigued by the story, joined in: "I heard that Wen He only got his title through scheming. Now that he's lost his position as a Hundred Cavalry Commandant, he's just a nobody with a title but no real power. Let's see how arrogant he can be now!"

These words drew laughter from the teahouse, and many people nodded in agreement.

"It's a pity that Brother Dengshan isn't in Chang'an, otherwise we would have shared a big drink together today!"

The incident at Hongwen Academy caused Chu Liang to suffer a stroke, forcing him to resign from his position.

Chu Suiliang could only take his father and leave Chang'an to return to their hometown.

Today, half of the Hongwen Academy is open to the public. The once superior scholars of the Hongwen Academy have now been reduced to the same level as the students of the Imperial Academy.

They naturally harbored resentment towards Wen He.

The place where rumors spread the fastest was none other than the Ministry of Personnel's office.

Several officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs gathered under the eaves, pointing and commenting on the list of officials on the wall.

“Look, the annotation for ‘Hundred Cavalry Commandant’ next to Wen He’s name has been crossed out. I think this five-day period of confinement is just a pretense. In a few days, His Majesty may strip him of his title and send him back to his hometown.”

"That was so satisfying!"

One of the officials patted the pillar and laughed.

"He was so arrogant in the Ministry of Civil Affairs before, but now it's finally his turn to suffer. I think we should have a good drink tonight to celebrate!"

These rumors naturally reached Wen He's ears.

During the five days he spent in seclusion reflecting on his mistakes, he practiced swordsmanship every morning, spent the mornings drawing blueprints for improving the weapons of the Left Guard in his study, and spent the afternoons tending to the flowers and plants in the mansion with Xiao Rou. He was nothing like a disgraced official.

Li Tai and the others were initially a little worried, but seeing Wen He's appearance, they immediately felt relieved.

This must be a trick played on those people by Aye and Mr. [the father/son].

The people in charge of supervising Wen He's seclusion were the Hundred Riders.

So Chen Dahai used his official position to visit her under the guise of personal reasons.

He was so angry he gritted his teeth.

“Young master, this matter was not your fault. Don’t take what those people in Chang’an are saying to heart. In a few days, Biaoxia will definitely avenge you.”

Wen He was watering a peony when she heard this and laughed, "Why are you lecturing them? People have mouths, let them talk."

"They'll naturally shut their mouths in a few days."

"It's just that the brothers can't swallow this insult."

Wen He put down the kettle and patted Chen Dahai on the shoulder.

“I’m fine. Go back and tell the brothers to train hard. The Hundred Riders belong to His Majesty, not to me or anyone else.”

"I've got it." Wen He said this with particular seriousness.

Upon hearing this, Chen Dahai solemnly bowed to Wen He.

The five-day period of self-reflection ended in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of the sixth day, as soon as Wen He opened the gate of the mansion, he saw two carriages parked at the entrance of the alley. The brothers Yan Lide and Yan Liben were getting off the carriages, each carrying a food box in their hands, their faces full of worry.

"Jiaying! Your foolish brother has come to see you!"

Yan Lide strode forward and grabbed Wen He's hand.

“These past few days, I’ve been so worried about the rumors that I haven’t been able to sleep. Although His Majesty has dismissed you from your post, the position of Hundred Cavalry is indeed not suitable for you. Besides, you are currently holding the position of Director of the Ministry of Works. You should work diligently in the Ministry of Works from now on.”

Yan Liben nodded in agreement and handed over the food box.

"This is osmanthus cake that my wife made herself. She brought it here especially to cheer you up. But don't worry, His Majesty is always good at recognizing and employing people. Maybe he's just letting you rest for now."

Looking into the brothers' sincere eyes, Wen He felt a warmth in her heart.

Just as he was about to explain, he heard a crisp sound of horses' hooves coming from the alley entrance, accompanied by the eunuch Gao Yue's signature high-pitched voice.

"Gaoyang Bowen He, receive the decree! His Majesty has issued a decree; come immediately to receive it!"

The Yan brothers' expressions changed, and they exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Yan Lide quickly pulled Wen He aside and whispered.

"Jiaying, does His Majesty intend to pursue this matter further? No matter what you say later, kowtow and admit your mistake first, and I'll plead for you!"

Wen He smiled and shook his head, straightened his robes, and strode to the alley entrance.

Gao Yue held the bright yellow imperial edict, followed by four imperial guards. When she saw Wen He, she revealed a meaningful smile.

"Lord Wen, congratulations! His Majesty has issued an edict summoning you to receive the decree!"

Gao Yue was clearly doing it on purpose.

It seems that he came to deliver the imperial decree in such a high-profile manner today because of the recent rumors in Chang'an.

This might have been at Li Shimin's behest.

He wanted to make it clear to those who wanted to see Wen He make a fool of himself.

Wen He remains a highly valued minister of mine!
The commotion at the alley entrance attracted a crowd of onlookers.

Many of them were there to watch the show with Gao Yue.

Those students from the Hongwen Academy deliberately followed, just waiting to beat the dog when it was down.

Gao Yue cleared her throat, unfolded the imperial edict, and read it aloud in a loud voice.

"The Imperial Secretariat issues the following edict: Gao Yang Bo Wen He, during his period of seclusion and reflection, has examined himself with a respectful attitude. Considering his expertise in military affairs, knowledge of weaponry, and numerous meritorious achievements, he is hereby promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of War, of the seventh rank, concurrently serving as the Chief Clerk of the Left Guard. He shall immediately assume his post, overseeing the improvement of the Left Guard's weaponry and military planning. It is hoped that he will diligently perform his duties and share the Emperor's burdens. This is the imperial decree!"

After the imperial edict was read aloud, the alleyway fell into a deathly silence.

The Yan brothers stood frozen in place, the food box in their hands falling to the ground with a thud, scattering osmanthus cakes all over the ground without them noticing.

Those who were watching were dumbfounded, especially those who had come to gloat. Their smiles froze instantly, as if they had been slapped hard across the face, their faces turning red and white in turns.

"Your subject, Wen He, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Wen He bowed calmly, accepted the imperial edict, and stood up, her face still bearing a serene smile.

Gao Yue stepped forward and personally handed the imperial edict to Wen He, lowering her voice as she spoke.

"Earl of Gaoyang County, His Majesty has specifically instructed you to learn diligently from the Duke of Dai and the Duke of Yi, so that you may make great contributions on the battlefield in the future."

"I trouble the eunuch to convey this to Your Majesty; I will certainly not fail Your Majesty's expectations."

Wen He carefully put away the imperial edict and bowed to Gao Yue.

Gao Yue returned the gift with a satisfied smile, then exchanged pleasantries and congratulations before leaving in a grand procession.

Only after Gao Yue's figure disappeared did Yan Lide come to his senses, and he hugged Wen He tightly, his voice trembling slightly.

"You, Jiaying! You've been deliberately keeping this from us! His Majesty isn't dismissing you; he's paving the way for you! Minister of War, concurrently serving as Chief Clerk of the Left Guard—that's a truly important position, far more prestigious than a Hundred Cavalry Commandant!"

The position of Hundred Cavalry Captain, to put it bluntly, involves doing all the dirty work and is a military rank.

But Wen He has now truly embarked on his official career.

Yan Liben also picked up the osmanthus cake from the ground, patted off the dust, and said with a wry smile.

"You've made us worry for five days for nothing!"

Wen He looked embarrassed and apologized, "Then how about I treat you two brothers to a delicious meal today?"

Upon hearing this, the brothers Yan Lide and Yan Liben burst into laughter.

The crowd of onlookers was already in an uproar.

Zhou Shen and the others wished they could disappear into a crack in the ground. They pretended to straighten their robes, secretly squeezed out of the crowd, and slunk away.

Those scholars from the Hongwen Academy left, their faces ashen.

He was afraid of being remembered by Wen He.

In less than an hour, the news of Wen He's promotion spread throughout Chang'an.

Inside the Ministry of Civil Affairs, those officials who had previously applauded were now silent and trembling, no one daring to mention Wen He's name again.

Upon learning the news, Su Dingfang immediately ordered the entire army to have a special meal. The brothers cheered and jumped for joy, even happier than if they had been promoted themselves.

……

"This is outrageous! Do you think the Cui family of Qinghe is a pushover to be bullied?"

The spring planting season had just ended when Li Shimin's letter was delivered to the Cui family residence in Qinghe County.

The old man's roar echoed in the spacious main hall, carrying both the authority of someone who had long held a high position and the fury of the moment.

He is Cui Yanbo, the current patriarch of the Cui clan of Qinghe.

The twenty-odd members of the Cui clan standing below the hall included elders who managed the clan's land and sons who had been appointed to official posts elsewhere; all of them were filled with righteous indignation.

Cui Ming, dressed in a scarlet official robe, slammed his hand on the table, oblivious to the tea splashing onto his sleeves.

"The clan chief is right! The emperor is trying to force the Cui family to its doom! We have already voluntarily withdrawn from the Chang'an business and sold off all three shops in the south of the city, so why are you still holding on to this!"

"Exactly! When the uprising broke out in Jinyang, my Cui family was among the first noble families to respond. Now that the world has just been pacified, are we just going to discard them like this after they've served their purpose?"

Cui Zhongyuan, who was in charge of the clan's sacrificial rites, stroked his beard, his tone full of resentment.

"That private message actually tells us to move all the hidden households in Hebei Province to the interior of the pass. This is cutting off our escape route!"

A member of the Cui clan shouted and cursed.

"Shut up!"

Cui Yanbo suddenly turned his head, pointing his cane directly at Cui Zhongyuan, and his angry shout echoed throughout the hall.

"If it weren't for your greed, how could you have ended up in this state today!"

The main hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone knew the weight of the clan chief's words.

Cui Yanbo took a breath, still feeling lingering fear as he recalled the scene when the eunuch delivered the private letter that morning.

The letter, with its bright yellow cover, had neither a salutation nor a signature, only a few words, yet each one was like a knife.

"I have no intention of taking my anger out on the Cui family for Cui Zhong's mistake, but I also need to quell the anger of the court. I hope the Cui family will not make a mistake."

Then came Li Shimin's demands: the hidden households would be relocated to the interior of the pass and pay 50,000 strings of cash as compensation.

He immediately felt a rush of blood to his head, and if the physician hadn't given him a calming soup in time, he probably would have passed out.

“But Wen He was dismissed from his post as a Hundred Cavalry Commandant, and only a few days later, His Majesty promoted him. He doesn’t respect the Cui family at all.”

Cui Ming retorted defiantly, still feeling his face burning as he recalled the jubilation of the clan when they learned of Wen He's dismissal not long ago.

At that time, they thought it was the Cui family's connections that played a role, and that the emperor would eventually give some face to aristocratic families.

Who would have thought that just five days later, news came that Wen He had been promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of War and concurrently served as the Chief Clerk of the Left Guard.

That was a crucial position directly involved in military affairs, more than ten times more important than the previous Hundred Cavalry Captain.

"Dismissal? That's just a smokescreen by His Majesty!"

From a corner of the hall, a middle-aged man dressed in a moon-white long robe slowly walked out. He was Cui Yuanli, a member of the Cui family, and currently the Registrar of Luozhou. He was at home in mourning for his father.

Cui Yuanli snorted coldly, his eyes sharp as knives.

"Wen He's investigation has implicated our Cui family. His Majesty wants to both reprimand him and prevent him from being too flamboyant and offending the powerful families, and also reassure us so that we can think that the matter is over."

"But secretly, they transferred him to manage the weapons and participate in military secrets. This is clearly to accumulate strength. If we don't comply, I'm afraid Wen He will not come to Qinghe with a hundred cavalry, but with the troops of the Left Guard!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering everyone up.

Cui Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say, "How can a scion of a noble family be manipulated by a country bumpkin?" But Cui Yuanli's gaze forced him to swallow his words.

"That brat! Back then he was just an unknown nobody on the streets of Chang'an, who won the emperor's favor with some strange skills and tricks. Now he dares to ride roughshod over my Cui family!"

Enraged, Cui Yanbo slammed his cane on the ground again, his white beard trembling violently.

"I will immediately write letters to my relatives in each state, requesting them to jointly impeach him!"

"No!"

Cui Yuanli hurriedly stepped forward and stopped the clan chief who was about to turn around to write a letter.

“Uncle, impeaching Wen He now is tantamount to making an enemy of His Majesty! If we cause trouble now, His Majesty will just demote the clan's officials, and then the Cui family will truly be doomed!”

Silence fell once again in the main hall. The clansmen looked at each other, and fear was seen in each other's eyes.

Although Cui Yuanli's words were harsh, they were all reasonable.

His Majesty is no longer the retired emperor; he has distinguished himself in battle and is by no means a foolish ruler who would be manipulated by powerful families.

"So, in your opinion, we should just stand by and watch three thousand hidden households be relocated, handing over fifty thousand strings of cash for nothing?"

Cui Zhongyuan asked unwillingly.

Those hidden households were tenant farmers accumulated by the Cui family over generations, forming the foundation of the clan's land holdings.

The 50,000 strings of cash nearly emptied the clan's profits for almost a year.

Moreover, if we pay this 50,000 strings of cash, I'm afraid we'll have to hand over the distribution rights for Hebei Province this year!
This is another huge loss!

Cui Yuanli suddenly smiled, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and cupped his hands to Cui Yanbo.

"Uncle, my fellow uncles, this matter may seem like a catastrophic crisis for the Cui family, but it is actually a golden opportunity for us to return to the imperial court!"

(End of this chapter)