Chapter 123 Li Shimin: This time, I definitely cant bear it anymore!
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.
After the court meeting, the aristocratic families gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
Similarly, Li Shimin also summoned his closest ministers to discuss the situation.
Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Qin Shubao, Wei Zheng, Yuchi Gong and other close officials of Li Shimin's Qin Palace in the past, as well as the pro-emperor faction in recent years, all gathered here.
This shows how much Li Shimin attaches great importance to this!
This is just like a small court meeting.
The difference is that everyone here is absolutely loyal to Li Shimin.
"Hateful! Hateful! Hateful!"
"These officials from aristocratic families are so coercive to me. They simply don't take me seriously. I wish they could all be dismissed from their posts and imprisoned for questioning!"
The people gathered here were all Li Shimin's closest ministers, so his words were very unscrupulous.
The voice revealed deep anger towards the aristocratic family!
Among them, the one who made him the most angry was Wu Xingqi Wang!! They were stamping on his face like crazy!!
Not to mention Li Shimin, even any emperor would not be able to bear being treated like this.
But no matter how angry he is, he must endure it.
Officials from aristocratic families accounted for almost half of the court. If all of them were removed from their posts, the entire court would be paralyzed, and even the entire Tang Dynasty would be paralyzed.
This is also the biggest reason why a large family with five surnames and seven hopes dares to challenge Li Li Shimin and the imperial power!
Li Shimin, who had vented his anger, became a little calmer. He looked at his closest ministers and asked: "Everyone, can you tell me how to solve the problems of the victims?"
Everyone met Li Shimin's expectant gaze and immediately lowered their heads in embarrassment.
Because they don't have any solution.
Today, when there is a shortage of food, the solution is very simple, that is, to get food, everything else is empty.
In recent days, millions of food and wages have been robbed, a locust plague has occurred in the south, and the north is still worried but powerless because of the Wuwei smallpox incident half a month ago.
It can be said that there is really no place to borrow strength.
For the current plan, we can only get through this difficulty by borrowing food from the Five Surnames and Qiwang!
"Xuanling, Chang'an City is the most important. If we transport the remaining grain there from the south, how soon will it be the fastest?" Li Shimin asked Fang Xuanling.
Fang Xuanling was slightly startled.
Li Shimin, you have to choose to fish in the lake.
He thought for a while and replied: "Your Majesty, even if there is surplus food in the south, it will be difficult."
"Let's not talk about the locust plague. Due to the heavy rains in recent days, countless official roads have been washed away and the roads are rugged and difficult to travel. It originally took a month to travel, but now it may not be possible to reach the capital in two months."
"And our food storehouse in Chang'an City will be exhausted in half a month. Water from afar cannot cure the thirst that is near."
"Alas~"
Fang Xuanling sighed, his expression full of depression.
As early as when the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs reported that there was a food shortage, Fang Xuanling had already begun to calculate the dangers and time he would encounter along the way from the southern granary to Chang'an City.
It's just that water from afar can't really quench your thirst for nearness.
By the time the food arrived, many of the victims had already starved to death!
"What about buying from the market?" Li Shimin asked still unwilling to give up.
"It's useless, Your Majesty. Those aristocratic families, with five surnames and seven hopes, have already begun to purchase the grain stored in the market, and even purchased the grain from the grain merchants at a premium of several times."
"The current market price of grain has skyrocketed more than ten times than before, and it continues to rise!"
"Presumably after what happened in the court today, those big families will probably become even crazier and buy food at all costs."
Changsun Wuji smiled bitterly, directly breaking Li Shimin's hope.
Obviously he is very aware of the urinary nature of people from wealthy families.
"well……"
"Is there really nothing we can do?"
Li Shimin lay on his back on the dragon chair, sighing, his expression full of sorrow and helplessness.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, just put the knife on the necks of those birdmen and force them to get food! I don't believe they dare not give it!?" Yuchi Gong said harshly, like a bandit.
"No, we are no longer in troubled times. Your devilish demeanor is no longer enough."
Li Shimin smiled helplessly, this guy Yu Chigong was already a veteran who had gone through many ups and downs with him, yet he was still so ruthless.
Although Li Shimin also wanted to do this, the actual situation simply did not allow him to do so.
In his current position, he cannot do whatever he wants.
Otherwise, the whole world would be in chaos!!
"no way!"
"Shubao, Jingde, you two will mobilize the army to surround the victims to prevent civil unrest."
"If the matter really comes to a last resort, we can only suppress it through the army!!"
Li Shimin held his forehead and gave an order that he really didn't want to give.
Suppression with the army is a last resort measure that must be used only as a last resort.
Once he does this, the reputation that Li Shimin has accumulated over the past two years after taking the throne will be ruined again!
"Your Majesty, this..."
When everyone heard Li Shimin's order, they were all shocked!
Especially Qin Shubao, Yu Chigong and others who did not know the identity of Qin Wenyuan's consort.
All of them never imagined that Li Shimin would go to such an extent for Qin Wenyuan.
In their opinion, under such a general situation, Li Shimin should choose to arrest Qin Wenyuan and take food from Qiwang of the Five Surnames.
You must know that since Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Revolution and ascended to the throne, he has been working hard to establish the image of a wise king and took practical actions to do so.
Accept advice widely and carry out benevolent governance.
Even Li Shimin, Wei Zheng, Wang Gui, Feng Li, Wei Ting and Xue Wanche, the old ministers of Prince Yin, respectively entrusted them with important responsibilities.
After two or three years, the Xuanwu Gate Incident gradually faded in people's minds, and the image of a wise king who worked hard to govern and was determined to become stronger was slowly established.
but...……
If Li Shimin used the army to suppress the victims in this way, his hard-working image would collapse in an instant!
But when they reach this position, right and wrong are no longer so important, image is the most important!!
For the sake of image, they can twist black into white, and white into black.
But now, for Qin Wenyuan, Li Shimin is willing to let the image of Mingjun, who has worked so hard, collapse.
Is this...really worth it?!
"I have made up my mind!"
"Execute the order!"
"I will bear all the consequences!"
Li Shimin said firmly.
"As you command!"
Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong stopped talking and immediately accepted the order.
"Your Majesty, actually we still have a glimmer of hope." At this time, Wei Zheng suddenly said to Li Shimin.
He thought of a person who might be able to solve this murderous situation.
That is Qin Wenyuan!!
Wei Zheng felt confident in his heart when he watched Qin Wenyuan rise from prominence to Qin Wenyuan becoming famous all over the world.
Qin Wenyuan, that person, is a strange man who can always surprise people!
"oh?"
"Wei Qing, please tell me, what's the hope?"
Li Shimin quickly looked at Wei Zheng, his eyes full of hope.
If there was a glimmer of hope, Li Shimin would not choose the most despicable measure of using the army to suppress it.
"This hope is...our champion, Qin Wenyuan!"
Wei Zheng was a little proud when he talked about Qin Wenyuan, and then continued: "This man's talent is so impressive in ancient and modern times that he is not as good as a humble minister! Maybe he can do things that we have no choice but to do."
Qin Wenyuan......
A precious husband with a beautiful daughter?
Li Shimin thought silently in his heart, thinking of his medical skills to cure smallpox, thinking of the good prescriptions he proposed for governing the country, thinking of the Quyuanli he transformed...
These are things that many people cannot do even in their lifetime.
Just think of this.
A glimmer of hope gradually appeared in Li Shimin's lonely eyes.
Maybe...Qin Wenyuan, he really can!
"Walk!"
"Go find Qin Wenyuan!"
Li Shimin waved his hand and went out without even having time to change his clothes. He couldn't wait to hear whether Qin Wenyuan had any solution to this problem.
Halfway through, he heard Wei Zheng stop him and said: "Your Majesty, please stay!!"
Li Shimin frowned slightly, turned back and glanced at Wei Zheng, "Wei Qing, is there anything else you need to say?"
Wei Zheng sighed and said calmly: "Your Majesty, Mr. Qin left Chang'an City a few days ago."
After the words fell, all the ministers including Li Shimin were surprised.
At this critical juncture of the relationship, Qin Wenyuan left Chang'an City?
Li Shimin's heart felt a little cold.
Then, Wei Zheng continued: "However, three days ago, Mr. Qin sent someone to look for me."
"Looking for you? Why?" Li Shimin frowned.
Wei Zheng took out a letter from his sleeve and read it aloud.
[Today, Qin and his wife Changle are in danger. I hope Mr. Wei will ask Mr. Cheng to come to Kailin County for rescue as soon as possible! 】
…………
Kailin County.
Today is still a peaceful day.
Qin Wenyuan and his wife and others also continued to stay in the inn for a long time.
Changle came to Qin Wenyuan and smiled, "Husband, the food has been prepared for you, we can..."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At this moment, before Chang Le had finished speaking, drums suddenly sounded.
The inn was very close to the Yamen, so they could hear someone beating the grievance drum in the Yamen.
Changle was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Is this... a drum of grievance? It's so late, how can someone in the Yamen beat the drum of grievance?"
Whining a grievance?
Qin Wenyuan was stunned for a moment. This was the first time he had heard this cry of injustice since he came to this world.
In the midst of Tianquan's killing spree, he suddenly heard the heavy beating of a drum for grievances. He really felt a little strange.
He looked at Chang Le and said with a smile: "If someone beats the drum to complain, it is natural that there is a grievance to be made. Madam, we might as well go and take a look."
Changle nodded slightly, "That's okay. You happen to be here, husband. I know your abilities, husband. There is no comparison between Magistrate Wei of Kailin County and you."
"If my husband is here, I believe that any grievances the visitor has will be resolved immediately."
"It's just a pity that the food you just prepared will be cold later."
"But other people's grievances are more important. Husband, let's go."
Changle came up and tried to hold Qin Wenyuan.
Qin Wenyuan chuckled. He felt that he was praised too much by his wife.
"Well, let's go."
After that, the couple, Xu Gou and others quickly went to the Yamen lobby.
Another very strange thing happened in the yamen.
The person sitting on it was not Wei Liang, the original magistrate of Kailin County, but a man Qin Wenyuan had never seen before.
This man has a dignified appearance, a graceful demeanor, and coupled with his somewhat handsome face, he looks like a handsome young man.
Qin Wenyuan looked at him, his eyes flashing slightly.
He didn't say much, he just stood there quietly and listened to the trial.
After the county magistrate sat down, he slapped the crowd and said, "Whoever beats the drum of grievance, please bring him to court."
Soon, a woman walked into the lobby.
As soon as she came in, she glanced around, then glanced at the lobby, saw the white-faced boy sitting in the lobby, and knelt down directly to the magistrate.
She cried and cried: "A civilian woman has met the county magistrate and begged the county magistrate to make the decision for a civilian woman and her husband."
The white-faced boy looked at the woman and said, "Are you beating the drum of grievance to find me?"
The woman nodded quickly and said, "The woman knows that the county magistrate makes the decision for the people and knows everything clearly. He is our Lord Qingtian, so I ask the county magistrate to make the decision."
The white-faced young man looked at the yamen servant on the side, who hurriedly said: "My lord, you just came to Kailin County, and you don't know about the recent cases."
"This person is Wang Liu's wife. Wang Liu has been convicted by the former county magistrate Wei Liang for the murder case."
"But his wife has never been convinced. She came to us many times to complain, but she was beaten back every time."
"After all, the evidence is irrefutable. We have not wronged Wang Liu. If the county magistrate doesn't believe it, you can take a look at the case files."
The white-faced boy thought for a moment and said, "Bring Wang Liu's files here."
A yamen servant quickly ran over and fetched the file. The white-faced boy opened the file and read it carefully.
Then he looked at the woman and said: "There are no omissions in the evidence in the file. There are both witnesses and physical evidence. The evidence can also form a closed loop. The motives are all complete. So, why do you have any objection to the person your husband really killed?"
?”
The woman said: "The woman is not denying that my husband-in-law killed someone, but my husband-in-law killed someone for a reason!"
"My husband-in-law has two sworn brothers. Although the three of them are not real brothers, they are better than real brothers."
"But suddenly one day, Zhang Liao had a conflict with my husband-in-law and wanted to kill them."
"In the end, my husband's two sworn brothers died to protect my husband. My husband is a person who values love and justice. How could he not avenge his brothers, so he finally killed Zhang Liao!"
The woman looked at Qin Zulai and said, "My lord, magistrate, you said... shouldn't Zhang Liao die?"
"If he had killed my husband-in-law's brother, how could my husband-in-law kill him?"
"So, shouldn't it be natural and just for my husband to kill Zhang Liao?"
The white-faced boy knocked his fingers lightly on the table and said nothing.