The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

"The people who told me about this are not isolated cases. Many people in Wannian County have encountered this situation. It's just that... the amount of land they have had embezzled by Wannian County officials using their positions is not this large."

While Li Shimin was reviewing the memorials, Chen Huai'an explained, "These people are quite careful in their actions. They rarely bother with the common people who frequently enter and leave Chang'an, or they take very little from them."

"Most of them are ten or twenty acres. If it's a place further away from Chang'an City and the people are honest, they will take more."

"But no matter how much they take, there's one thing in common."

After reviewing the memorials, Li Shimin also read the secret report, which mainly contained evidence and the confessions of the victims summoned by Chen Huai'an, which were basically irrefutable.

Therefore, Li Shimin's expression was indeed not good: "What they have in common is that at least five acres of permanent farmland have been embezzled, right?"

"Yes." Chen Huai'an said in silence, "Because the permanent land can be passed down, while the allotted land will eventually return to the imperial court."

"You insolent wretch!" Li Shimin roared, throwing the memorial to the ground. "Summon Zhou Keji to the palace immediately! No matter his current condition, even if you have to carry him, bring him here to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Anan accepted the decree and quickly gave the orders.

"As Minister Fang said, this is definitely not an isolated case." Li Shimin stood up, looked at his ministers, and said, "Tell me, how should we investigate?"

"And how can we quell public discontent?"

"Your Majesty," Fang Xuanling said, bowing, "I suggest that the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review conduct a thorough investigation immediately, with the Minister of Justice presiding over a joint trial in court, to give the people an explanation."

"Furthermore, those involved in the related cases must be severely punished and executed in the East Market."

"All the land that has been seized must be thoroughly investigated, recovered, and redistributed. Officials should personally visit the homes of the affected people and return the land to them."

"With the locust plague raging, this incident is absolutely intolerable and must be dealt with swiftly and decisively!"

"Not enough!" Li Shimin said coldly, "Far from enough!"

Fang Xuanling was somewhat taken aback. He sensed a strange implication in the phrase "far from enough".

Chen Huai'an's eyes changed slightly, and many officials also sensed something unusual.

"Such a thing can happen right under the emperor's nose! I can hardly imagine what it's like in other places!" Li Shimin rebuked. "Do many people think that because the emperor is far away, I can't do anything to you?"

"Today I tell everyone: the equal-field system and the militia system—no one can interfere; anyone who dares to interfere will die!"

"deliver an imperial order!"

Zhang Anan stepped forward with his head bowed, and all the officials bowed in respect.

Li Shimin looked at his ministers and said, "Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling should jointly compile the May court report and publish everything that happened in Wannian County. Tell the people of the world what happened in Wannian County, how the land that should have been allocated to them was seized by these people by what means."

"Then I will inform the people that if anything similar happens, I will set up three drums on Zhuque Avenue. If there are grievances that cannot be redressed, injustices that cannot be appealed, or injustices that have no one to stand up for... then the sound of the drums will be heard throughout Chang'an. The Censorate will monitor the situation in real time, and once the drums are sounded, they must be thoroughly investigated by me!"

"Your Majesty, we obey." Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling dared not be negligent and solemnly agreed.

"Every prefecture, every county, even every township!" Li Shimin said, enunciating each word clearly, "I want every person to have a place to seek justice, and someone to stand up for them!"

"Anyone who dares to illegally seize their land... shall be killed without mercy!"

"..."

For a moment, the hall was silent, then all the officials bowed and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Many people's expressions changed slightly, but at this moment, no one dared to say anything.

With the fates of the Lu and Zheng families looming before them, no one dared to provoke Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin any further.

In any case... land consolidation is not passive, but active.

Such a method may be effective in the short term, but it will ultimately be no match for the general trend.

Under the current system, land will inevitably gravitate towards the privileged class.

"Finally!" Li Shimin stood before his ministers with his hands behind his back, "I hope you can understand one principle: all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects."

"You think things are still the same as before? Oh, you think that because the emperor is far away, I can't control you?"

"Times have changed!"

"The morning gazette is known throughout the land; who will be remembered for eternity, and who will be infamous for ten thousand years, depends entirely on your own thoughts!"

After speaking, Li Shimin paused and said, "Furthermore, if such a thing happens again in the future, as long as even one commoner reports it, I... am not a soft-hearted person."

Chen Huai'an looked up at Li Shimin and thought to himself, "The other party is indeed planning something big."

Firstly, he wanted to temporarily curb land annexation; secondly, he wanted to intimidate officials across the country; and thirdly, he wanted to further enhance his reputation.

Of course, there are many more benefits than these, but these three points are definitely the most important.

However... Li Shimin's methods still had many problems.

For example, where can ordinary people seek redress? You haven't explained that clearly.

Did you come all the way to Chang'an?

What kind of injustice or unfair treatment must one have suffered to travel thousands of miles to seek justice?

In this day and age, information is difficult to circulate, and most people are illiterate, making this task extremely difficult.

But it's already quite good that Li Shimin was able to do this in one night. At least he made a good start, and he can gradually improve it in the future. There's no rush.

After all, this is no small matter.

In reality, it's many times more serious than a locust plague.

"Imperial Attendant Quan," Chen Huai'an turned his head with a smile, "as the highest-ranking official in Wannian County, you have been impeaching me all along, without even giving me a chance to explain."

"Are you really unaware of what happened in Wannian County?"

Quan Wanji's face turned pale. Chen Huai'an's words, coupled with Li Shimin's earlier statement that the whole matter would be published in the court newspaper, left Quan Wanji with no way to defend himself, regardless of whether he had said it or not!

Chen Huai'an chuckled lightly. Did they really think he had a good temper?

He has no problem fulfilling his duties, and he's not that petty, but if you target him, you should be prepared to bear the consequences.

Just as Quan Wanji was about to speak, a voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, Zhou Keji has arrived."

Two imperial guards escorted Zhou Keji, who was bruised and battered, into the room and made him kneel on the ground.

Li Shimin glanced at him and asked, "Zhou Keji, what do you want to say?"

"Your Majesty... has nothing to say." Zhou Keji's voice was hoarse, and his expression was gloomy. He thought that the contest between the people above had ended and that Chen Huai'an had won.

So he was brought here.

However, in reality, no one dares to fight Chen Huai'an and his group on these matters anymore.

He had no idea how serious what they were doing was in the eyes of these people.

As for why they did this... the reason is quite simple: those above want to take it, and those below also want to take it. They're stuck in the middle, and it's impossible for them to be a blank sheet of cloth.

He had no right to choose his fate, only the helplessness of being chosen by fate.

The officialdom... is a huge cesspool. Someone like him, without any background, wants to remain untainted by the mud... haha, what a joke.

Self-discipline... self-discipline... but ultimately failed to achieve self-discipline.

Whether it's greed or oneself.