Today, after experiencing Shangguan Tingzhi's impeachment of Jiangnan noble families' land occupation in the Golden Palace, Li Zhi's mood could not be said to be happy or angry, he just felt deeply tired.
When Li Qinzai entered the palace and saw him looking calm and lazy, it turned out that Li Zhi was really tired. He was so tired that he didn't want to talk. He was too tired to ramble on and didn't want to talk about business.
Foreign troubles have not been eliminated, but internal troubles have arisen again. The war is raging in the front, and the soldiers are fighting bravely for the Tang Dynasty. In the court hall behind, the customary window paper is broken, and everything is turned upside down.
At today's court meeting, Shangguan Tingzhi made an impassioned speech and denounced the disadvantages of enclosure of land by powerful families, which shocked the court and caused endless quarrels. Before the fire could be suppressed, Shangguan Yi, who had retired from office, knelt down and worshiped outside the palace gate.
, and kowtowed in the direction of Tai Chi Hall until his head was bruised and bleeding.
As the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, is Li Zhi tired?
Of course I'm tired. If Li Qinzai were to be the emperor, I'm afraid he would want to abdicate within a few days, which would be troublesome both inside and outside. The queen in the harem is still so powerful, and it depends on her face to favor a beautiful woman.
So, where is the joy of being an emperor?
Seeing Li Zhi's tired look, Li Qinzai said wisely: "Your Majesty is very tired, why not take a good rest. I will come back tomorrow."
Li Zhi waved his hand: "Can you hide today, can you hide tomorrow?"
Sighing, Li Zhi said: "Jingchu is here because of Shangguan Tingzhi's affairs, right?"
Li Qinzai hesitated for a moment and said calmly: "Yes."
Li Zhi hummed and said, "Shangguan Tingzhi's son is your disciple. When the disciple's family is in trouble, it is understandable for the teacher to go to the palace and ask."
Then Li Zhi paused and said, "Jingchu thinks it's wrong for me to deal with Shangguan and his son today?"
Li Qinzai shook his head: "There is nothing wrong. Your Majesty is even very tolerant."
Li Zhi smiled: "It seems that Jing Chu understands me. Shangguan Tingzhi is already middle-aged, but he is still very scholarly and naive. If I don't ban him today, I only have to wait for a few days."
Shangguan Tingzhi’s fate is not just as simple as being exiled.”
Li Qinzai whispered: "I can see that your Majesty is actually protecting the Shangguan family."
"Yes, I am protecting him, but I also hope this matter ends here."
Li Zhi said with a gloomy expression: "Land annexation has been taking shape since the end of Zhenguan. Do you really think that I am blind and deaf?"
"It's just that it's too difficult to deal with this matter. It's so difficult that I don't even dare to think about it. I wish others wouldn't mention a word in front of me. I'll just get over it in this life. I'll just leave this trouble to the next emperor..."
Li Qinzai smiled: "Your Majesty's words...if I'm honest, I'm more naive than Shangguan Tingzhi."
Li Zhi sighed and said: "Actually, I don't dare to face it, because it is too troublesome and involves too many people and things. If I deal with it impartially, I am afraid that all the civil and military officials in the court will be imprisoned, including
My unworthy princes, princesses and clan members."
As he spoke, Li Zhi suddenly stared into Li Qinzai's eyes and said, "Jingchu thinks, is Shangguan Tingzhi's memorial today right or wrong?"
Li Qinzai thought about it seriously and said: "We did the right thing, but... the timing was wrong."
A smile appeared in Li Zhi's eyes: "I would like to hear the details."
"Of course it is right to impeach a powerful family for annexing land, because everyone in the court knows that Shangguan Tingzhi did not create a trap, did not confuse right and wrong, and every word he said is fact..."
"But...facts are facts. He should never have said it. He shouldn't have said it at this time. Sometimes the time is not right, and even the right thing to say turns out to be a big mistake."
"Now the focus of the imperial court is on the Eastern Expedition. The monarchs and ministers in the court each perform their duties to ensure the logistics, food, baggage, ordnance, horses and troop replenishment for the Eastern Expedition soldiers... When the emperor and his ministers are united, they cannot allow other things to arise.
, disrupting the rhythm of the court."
"The most important chess piece in the century-old strategy has fallen, and the victory is decided. At this time, Shangguan Tingzhi suddenly mentioned the annexation of the land in Jiangnan and Huainan, which really disrupted the imperial court's deployment. To put it more seriously, it may even trigger civil strife in the Tang Dynasty.
."
"Therefore, Shangguan and his son should be exiled. Your Majesty must interrupt this sign of civil strife in time and continue to pull the court's rhythm back to the battlefield of the Eastern Expedition. For today's Tang Dynasty, nothing is more important than taking over the Haidong Peninsula.
important."
Li Zhi laughed loudly: "The person who knows me is Jingchu. Yes, that's what I thought. So today, I can't even wait until the dynasty is over, so I immediately issued an order to exile Shangguan Tingzhi."
The smile gradually faded, and Li Zhi snorted coldly: "Everything has its own priorities. In the eyes of others, Shangguan Tingzhi is a loyal minister who speaks out and violates advice, but in my eyes, he is a big fool!"
"He thought that if he didn't mention it, I wouldn't know about the land annexation? Am I that stupid? The situation of the Eastern Expedition is great, and Zu Yinggong is about to destroy the Silla Kingdom. At this juncture, Shangguan Tingzhi took the risk
When you come out, you insist on breaking the window paper of land annexation, haha, stupid!"
"How does he want me to deal with it? According to his wishes, I should immediately issue an order to thoroughly investigate the evidence of the annexation of land by the powerful families in Jiangnan and Huainan. It is best to arrest a large number of officials and powerful people and kill a number of family members to serve as a warning to others.
, I will do this and he will be satisfied.”
"If I were to govern the world like he did, I would have already been the king of subjugation. Just like Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty, I was overthrown by a coalition of powerful families in the world within a year."
Li Qinzai smiled bitterly.
He really agreed with Li Zhi on this matter.
I don’t deny that Shangguan Tingzhi is full of justice, but that’s really not how he governs the country. What he does is not called governing the country, it’s called grudges and grudges. If things in the world must be made clear and black, the balance of the world will inevitably be broken.
After the matter was discussed, Li Qinzai no longer had any worries.
After a moment of silence, Li Qinzai whispered: "Shangguan and his son are exiled to Qiongzhou. Will they set off tomorrow?"
Li Zhi glanced at him, nodded and said, "That's right, we'll set off tomorrow."
Li Qinzai looked worried: "I'm worried..."
Li Zhi then asked: "Are you worried that Shangguan and his son will not survive until they reach Qiongzhou?"
Li Qinzai nodded.
In fact, Li Zhi knew everything. He knew very well that Shangguan Tingzhi's memorial had caused a great disaster, which was the annihilation of the clan and the family.
According to the usual procedure, an exiled official would only be escorted by two or three officers. When they arrived at the locality, the officers would hand over the person and leave.
But Shangguan Tingzhi stirred up a hornet's nest and made countless enemies. The journey to exile in Qiongzhou may not be so safe and smooth. It is estimated that there are countless assassins waiting to kill them halfway.
Li Zhi frowned: "The exile to Qiongzhou is my explanation to the courtiers. This is not an easy fate."
"But I really can't bear Shangguan and his son... Alas, I'm just a little stupid. After all, it's rare to be a loyal minister."
Shaking his head, Li Zhi lowered his voice and said: "It's not appropriate for me to mobilize the imperial guards to escort me, as it might attract people's attention. Is there anyone at Jingchu's place?"
Li Qinzai smiled: "If your Majesty is relieved, I would like to share your worries."
Li Zhi's expression returned to indifference, he sat up straight and said calmly: "If there is something wrong, I will not admit it at all."
"I don't recognize it either."
Li Zhi looked like he was waking up from a dream: "Hey, what were we talking about just now?"
Li Qinzai said seriously: "We are talking about beef. Your Majesty, I have just received news that there is a cow in my Zhuangzi. For some reason, it hit the pillar and died in shame and anger..."
"What did your farmer do to the cattle?"
"Maybe the bull is being milked as a cow..."
Li Zhi nodded clearly: "A scholar cannot be killed but cannot be humiliated. He should indeed hit the pillar to honor his name... Can fresh beef be delivered tomorrow?"