Chapter 1,689: Don’t let go even if you bite me to death
Liangyi Hall.
His Majesty Li Er looked at the memorial on his desk with a gloomy expression and sat for a long time without saying anything.
In front of him were Prince Li Chengqian, Zhongshu Ling Cen Wenwen, Li Daozong, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xiao Yu, Duke of the Song Dynasty, Minister of the Ministry of War, Li Ji, Duke of Ying, Minister of the Ministry of War, Liu Jie, the imperial censor, Yin Mazhou of Jingzhao, and Sun Fujia, minister of Dali Temple. When all the important officials of the imperial court were seated, they all looked serious and remained silent.
Earlier, Fang Xuanling submitted a memorial to "begging for a divorce" to his door. This was not the first time that Fang Xuanling had "begged for a divorce." In the past two years, Fang Xuanling's health had been deteriorating and he was often bedridden. Normal affairs have been handled by Shangshu Zuocheng Wei Cong, Pei Xizai, Zhang Xingcheng and others. In fact, he is in a semi-retired state. However, His Majesty Li Er knows that even if Fang Xuanling cannot sit in charge of Shangshu Province, his ability and experience in governing the country are not the same. Wei Cong and others could compare, so they rejected all Fang Xuanling's resignation memorials.
However, this time, everyone knew that Fang Xuanling was coming...
"The old minister defected to the Ming Dynasty in Weibei. Fortunately, he did not give up. He was entrusted with important tasks, preparing military affairs, and managing the secretary. Suddenly, it has been thirty years... The old minister thought long and hard all night, fearing that he would have to bear the heavy responsibility, but he was walking on thin ice. I dare not slack off for a moment... "Book of Rites" says: A doctor becomes an official when he is seventy. The old minister is not old, but he describes aging as losing energy, suffering from various diseases, and being in a trance, and he is no longer able to be driven by your Majesty... Your Majesty has tried to persuade you to stay. , the old minister felt deeply in his heart, but he failed to teach his son well, which brought shame to the family and failed the emperor's favor. How could he have the face to stand on the court to control all officials and clean up the court... I invite you to serve in order to live in peace... "
His Majesty Li Er ordered his chamberlain to pass Fang Xuanling's memorial to all the ministers and circulate it together.
After all the ministers saw it, they remained silent.
Fang Xuanling has always been an elegant man, he does not fight for power, does not seek profit, does not form cliques, and does not pursue selfish interests. He is usually tolerant, humble and gentle as jade. He is a true gentleman and an honest person.
But now, the honest man lost his temper...
There was no conclusive evidence in the impeachment case of Fang Jun at the Yushitai. However, the supervisory censor Le Yanwei insisted that it was true that Fang Jun raped civilian girls and refused to let go. This led to a surge of public opinion in both the government and the public. Although some people disagreed, but more people But people spread the story by word of mouth.
People are ignorant, and when public opinion rises, they are easily influenced and follow what others say... As a result, Fang Jun's reputation is in a whirlpool, and Fang Xuanling's reputation is also damaged.
However, anyone with a discerning eye knows that someone is clearly targeting Fang Jun in this matter.
How can Fang Xuanling not be angry?
Even an honest person could express his dissatisfaction to the emperor with words that seemed mild but were actually fierce. Moreover, from the lines of this memorial, it can be seen that Fang Xuanling was determined in his anger.
This is not only to express his anger, but also to put pressure on the emperor...
I, Fang Xuanling, have devoted my life to the emperor, and now I have to be persecuted to the point where my family’s reputation is in jeopardy, and my children and grandchildren suffer injustice?
Emperor, you can figure it out yourself...
His Majesty Li Er's heart was filled with anger.
He looked around and said solemnly: "Does Dali Temple have a decision on this matter?"
Sun Fujia, the minister of Dali Temple, stood up quickly and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the facts have been found out, and the evidence used by the supervisory censor Le Yanwei to impeach Fang Jun is not credible. However, Le Yanwei insists that Fang Jun did rape a civilian girl. But after hearing the news of the impeachment, he reacted quickly and gave the merchant's daughter to his own soldiers, and intimidated the girl's parents to get away."
When everyone heard this, they all admired this Le Yanwei, he is so ruthless...
According to the law, if there is no evidence, it means that Fang Jun is not guilty. Le Yanwei insisted that the rape of the girl was true, but Fang Jun made up for it quickly, rendering the evidence invalid. As a result, Le Yanwei must suffer
To impose heavy penalties and bring the impeachment case to Dali Temple without evidence is simply contempt for the king's law. If everyone did this, wouldn't it be chaos?
However, Le Yanwei was ruthless in that even though he could not prove that Fang Jun raped a civilian girl, he still refused to let go.
It seems extremely stupid, but it is not.
Public opinion is unreasonable. It has a "preconceived" quality. People often believe that they heard it first...
The lack of evidence doesn't mean you didn't do it, it just means you hid it well.
Therefore, now that Le Yanwei is fighting for his future, he still wants to hold on to Fang Jun. The more severe the punishment given to Le Yanwei, the more sympathetic public opinion will be, and the more damage will be done to Fang Jun's reputation.
A small supervisory censor actually dared to bite a marquis without any evidence. Who would believe him if he said he had no one to back him up?
His Majesty Li Er glanced at Xiao Yu, who was looking at his nose and heart. His heart was filled with anger, but he was helpless.
He has always paid attention to a "good beginning and a good ending". Even if the ministers who conquer the world with him make mistakes, he will try his best to be lenient. He hopes that everyone can have a good ending, a good destination, and can also achieve something "the king and his ministers"
The story of "each other's love" will be remembered for centuries.
As unruly as Qiu Xinggong, as cunning as Changsun Wuji... He could tolerate these people. As long as they were not as rebellious as Hou Junji, he was willing to give them a good end.
What's more, the conscientious and loyal Fang Xuanling?
His Majesty Li Er glared at Liu Ji angrily. This guy has known his business reputation all day long, and his leadership skills are really lacking. If it weren't for his incompetence, how could he not even be able to control the subordinates of Yushitai, making Le Yanwei like this
Is the villain so confident that he can do whatever he wants?
Liu Ji felt the emperor's dagger-like gaze and shrank his neck in fear, not daring to speak.
But I complained about Fang Xuanling in my heart. You asked me to help you, but you didn't say that this matter was so big...
His Majesty Li Er looked at Xiao Yu, looked at him for a while, and then asked: "What does the Duke of Song think of Xuan Ling's resignation?"
Xiao Yu's heart sank.
Song Guogong... Xuan Ling... Just hearing the title, it can be seen that His Majesty must be extremely dissatisfied with him at this moment.
He is also riding a tiger now. His original intention is to damage Fang Jun's reputation and hinder his rapid promotion. It is best to make the emperor dissatisfied with Fang Jun and then take back control of the Huating Town Shipping Department and the Royal Navy.
Replace others with the position to ease Fang Jun's control over Jiangnan's business.
But who could have expected that this idiot Le Yanwei would actually get things to this point...
The emperor asked a question and had to answer. Xiao Yu thought about it for a while and then said: "Xuanling is not feeling well, and it is known to everyone in the government and the public. Although he is still old, he has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty. At this time, he sincerely begs for leave, and hopes that your majesty will grant him permission."
Xuan Ling spent most of his life thinking deeply about national policy. Now that he has become an official, he can enjoy his family and travel around the mountains and forests, which is not a bad thing."
Naturally, he was inclined towards Fang Xuanling becoming an official. Fang Xuanling was the left pushe of Shangshu, and he was the right pushe of Shangshu. As long as Fang Xuanling became an official, he would definitely be promoted to one level and become the head of the ministers.
Ma Zhou, who had been silent for a long time, glanced at Xiao Yu indifferently and said, "It is true that Prime Minister Fang is sincere in begging for a divorce, but if Your Majesty allows him to take office at this time when the case of Fang Jun has not been revealed, I am afraid that there will be more trouble in the government and the public.
If rumors spread, it will not only damage the prime minister's reputation, but also impair His Majesty's wisdom."
He somewhat looked down upon Xiao Yu.
It is true that this person is old, has a solid foundation, and has a high reputation, but he is just trying to make profits for the Jiangnan nobles. He is short-sighted and narrow-minded, and he is not the image of a chief assistant.
Couldn't this person see the anger and intensity in Fang Xuanling's memorial? The most important thing right now is not whether Fang Xuanling's official appointment is approved or not, but how to resolve the impeachment case of Le Yanwei as soon as possible. This is not true
To solve it, is it possible for Fang Xuanling to endure his son’s reputation as an unclean person when he retired?
This is chilling.
Xiao Yu shook his head indifferently and retorted: "I know that Prince Bin, you and Fang Jun have a close friendship and a deep friendship, but the impeachment case of Le Yanwei is really difficult to handle. Le Yanwei dared to risk his future by insisting on it
It is true that Fang Jun raped civilian girls. Is there no article to check? Although there is no conclusive evidence against Fang Jun, it does not mean that Fang Jun has never done such a thing. If His Majesty had to forcefully punish Le Yan
Regarding Wei's crime, if evidence emerges in the future to prove that Fang Jun is indeed guilty, how can His Majesty's reputation be restored?"
Ma Zhou was dissatisfied and retorted: "Song Guogong's words are simply unbelievable. According to your opinion, as long as someone accuses anyone with death, he can be convicted without evidence? Then what's the use of Wang's laws and regulations?
?What’s the use of the Empire’s Three Law Divisions?”
The two were arguing endlessly, but Prince Li Chengqian just sat quietly aside, without saying a word, his face was calm, but his eyes were shining slightly...