Jing Zhaoyin's heart was shocked and he said subconsciously: "Fornication against thieves, this... this is a capital crime!"
Jing Zhaoyin had no objection to killing Zhong Qi, but Zhong Qi had a high prestige in Chang'an. To deal with him, he had to provide real evidence to convince the public. He asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, does he have any evidence that Zhong Qi had an affair with Wei Xiao?"
?”
Liu Xiu shook his head and said, "There is no evidence."
Jing Zhaoyin murmured: "Then this matter will be difficult to handle. Zhong Qi has a high reputation among the people. If there is no real evidence, I'm afraid many people will complain about him!"
Liu Xiu asked: "Zhong Qi asked people to spread statements that were detrimental to the court and beneficial to Wei Xiao. Is this evidence?"
Hearing this, Jing Zhaoyin bowed to Liu Xiu and said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty, this... I'm afraid this is not enough."
Liu Xiu said: "Whether it is enough or not, we will arrest the people first." Jing Zhaoyin looked embarrassed and was about to speak when Liu Xiu continued: "The war is about to begin. Is our army going to be famous or unknown?
It is crucial that at this juncture, people like Zhong Qi must not be allowed to spread rumors and confuse the public in Sanfu. As for the specific evidence of Zhong Qi's crime, when our soldiers kill Wei Xiao, they will naturally find Zhong Qi.
Evidence of adultery with Kui Xiao."
Jingzhao Yin bowed again and did not dare to say anything more. He said seriously: "Your Majesty, I will send my subordinates this afternoon to take Zhong Qi back to Jingzhao Mansion for interrogation."
Liu Xiu nodded and said: "During this period, Wei Xiao and even Gongsun Shu will definitely send a large number of spies and eyes to sneak into Chang'an to collect information and spread rumors. As Jing Zhaoyin, we must investigate carefully."
Jing Zhaoyin bowed and said: "Yes! Your Majesty! I understand!"
Liu Xiu thought for a while and then said: "If the manpower of Jingzhao Mansion is not enough, we can temporarily transfer it from Fufeng Mansion and Feng Yi Mansion. If the manpower is still not enough, we can transfer it from Luoyang County Mansion. I will also inform Dong Xuan and do my best."
Support Jingzhao Mansion."
Hearing this, Jing Zhaoyin quickly said: "Wei Chen, thank you for your majesty's consideration. With your majesty's support, Wei Chen is more confident."
Liu Xiu smiled first, then looked at Jing Zhaoyin, and said meaningfully: "It is not easy to be Jing Zhaoyin in Chang'an. The affairs are complicated and the relationships are complicated. The capital is in Luoyang. Jing Zhaoyin's many efforts in Chang'an are great.
The imperial court may not all be able to see it.”
His words were said into Jing Zhaoyin's heart. In the past, Chang'an was the capital, and Jing Zhaoyin, as the local official of the capital, had a certain status in the court. But now that the capital has been moved to Luoyang, Jing Zhaoyin's status is no longer the same.
Embarrassing or not, the feeling is not known to outsiders.
"Your Majesty..." Jing Zhaoyin's eyes were red and his voice was choked.
Liu Xiu said seriously: "This time the imperial court sent troops to attack Wei Xiao, Chang'an is the foundation of the Western Expedition. If Chang'an is stable, the foundation of our Western Expedition will be stable. If Chang'an is turbulent, the foundation of our Western Expedition will be shaken. Chang'an will be shaken.
The situation directly affects the battle of the soldiers at the front. I hope that Jing Zhaoyin can take up the responsibility and stabilize the rear foundation of our army at this critical moment."
Jing Zhaoyin immediately stood up, straightened his official uniform, knelt down to Liu Xiu, kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I will do my best to ensure that Chang'an is stable and peaceful."
"Very good!" Liu Xiu stood up, walked to Jing Zhaoyin, and helped him up from the ground.
Liu Xiu stayed in Jingzhao Mansion for nearly an hour before leaving. Afterwards, Liu Xiu went to Fufeng Mansion, Feng Yi Mansion and the East and West City. When Liu Xiu and others returned to Weiyang Palace, it was already evening and the sky was dark.
It's already dark.
As soon as they arrived near the palace gate, someone walked out quickly. Long Yuan immediately took two steps forward, stood in front of Liu Xiu, and asked in a deep voice: "Who is that person?"
The visitor raised his head and looked at Long Yuan, raised his hands and saluted, and said: "Li Ying, the meritorious officer of Jingzhao Mansion, pays my respects to General Long!"
Long Yuan took a closer look and saw that the person who came was indeed Li Ying. He frowned and asked, "Li Gongcao is here, what is your purpose?"
"I have come here specifically to wait for Your Majesty!"
Before Long Yuan could speak, Liu Xiu stepped forward, looked at Li Ying, and asked, "Li Gongcao wants to see me?"
Seeing Liu Xiu, Li Ying hurriedly bowed deeply and said respectfully: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty!"
"What's the matter with Li Gongcao?" Liu Xiu asked.
When Li Ying was about to speak, Liu Xiu waved his hand and said, "Let's talk in the palace!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Li Ying responded, and then followed Liu Xiu into Weiyang Palace.
Liu Xiu took Li Ying to the side hall of the front hall. After sitting down, he asked: "What's the matter with Li Gongcao? You can tell me now!"
Li Ying first bowed to Liu Xiu, and then said: "This afternoon, Zhang Jingzhao arrested Zhong Qi. I heard that this was your Majesty's order." Chang'an Jingzhao Yin's name was Zhang Chang.
Liu Xiu nodded and said, "Yes, it was my order."
Li Ying secretly frowned and asked, "I wonder what crime Your Majesty asked Zhang Jingzhao to arrest Zhong Qi for?"
"Fornication with Kui Xiao."
"Your Majesty, do you have any evidence?"
"There is no real evidence yet."
"Your Majesty, then... Zhong Qi can't be caught!" Li Ying looked anxious.
Liu Xiu couldn't help but burst into laughter and asked: "Zhong Qi is only a commoner, I can't catch him?"
Li Ying said sternly: "Zhong Qi's prestige in Chang'an and even Sanfu is extremely high. He even responds to a hundred calls. The Jingzhao Mansion arrests Zhong Qi for no reason. As long as someone instigates it, there will be chaos in Chang'an!"
Seeing Liu Xiu frowning, Li Ying said hurriedly: "I am not an alarmist at all. Your Majesty, please tell me clearly!"
Liu Xiu laughed out loud, looked down at Li Ying, and said: "The dignified Gong Cao of Jingzhao Mansion is actually afraid of a commoner. Li Gong Cao is really disappointing!"
"Your Majesty..." Li Ying wanted to speak, but Liu Xiu waved his hand and said, "Okay, I understand what Li Gongcao means. You can leave now."
"His Majesty!"
"Back off!"
Li Ying looked anxious and rubbed his hands repeatedly. Long Yuan walked up to him, waved his hand and said, "Li Gongcao, please!"
Alas! Li Ying sighed secretly, shook his head repeatedly, and finally left the side hall helplessly.
Even outside, he kept saying: "General Long, we really can't catch Zhong Qi. There will be trouble. Chang'an will be in big trouble..."
Long Yuan looked confused. No matter how high Zhong Qi's prestige was, he was indeed just a commoner, not even a nobleman. He couldn't understand what big trouble the imperial court could cause by arresting a mere commoner.
He said: "Li Gongcao came directly to meet with His Majesty, which was already a transgression, and now it is even more inappropriate to obstruct His Majesty from arresting the traitors who collaborated with the enemy. If Li Gongcao feels that something is wrong, he can communicate with Jing Zhaoyin first.
"
The meritorious officer of Jingzhao Mansion has a fairly low status in Jingzhao Mansion. Although he is not the top leader, he is the second in command after Jingzhao Yin.
However, it is true that the meritorious officer was not qualified to skip Jing Zhaoyin and report the situation directly to the emperor. The emperor was willing to receive him, which was extremely gracious.
"General Long, this is a very important matter! Zhang Jingzhao obeys His Majesty's orders. Even though he knew that His Majesty's orders would cause turmoil, he did not stop him. It is useless no matter how much I talk to Zhang Jingzhao..."
It sounds like Li Gongcao is quite dissatisfied with Jing Zhaoyin.
Long Yuan shrugged. He would not get involved in the internal problems of the Jingzhao Mansion or the conflicts between officials, nor would he make any judgments. This was neither under his control nor beyond his scope of authority.
Liu Xiu didn't take Li Ying's report seriously at all, but that night, late at night, a big event really happened in Jingzhao Mansion.
At midnight, Liu Xiu was resting in Chengming Hall. There was a knock on the door outside. Liu Xiu opened his eyes and said, "Come in."
The door of the main hall opened, Zhang Kun walked in from the outside, went to the inner room, came to Liu Xiu's bed, and whispered: "Your Majesty, something happened in Jingzhao Mansion!"
Liu Xiu was stunned and asked in confusion: "What happened to Jingzhao Mansion?"
Zhang Kun lowered his head and said: "Thousands of people surrounded Jingzhao Mansion and asked Jingzhao Mansion to release the people."
Liu Xiu's still somewhat confused eyes suddenly flashed and he asked: "Thousands of people?"
"Yes...yes! The people heard that Jingzhao Mansion had arrested Zhong Qi. Many people rushed to Jingzhao Mansion overnight and gathered around Jingzhao Mansion. Now, there are thousands of people outside Jingzhao Mansion!
"
After a pause, he said with a worried face: "Your Majesty, if the people lose control of their emotions and thousands of people storm Jingzhao Mansion, I'm afraid the government troops will not be able to stop them!"
Liu Xiu lifted up the quilt, got out of bed, raised his head and said, "Luo You!"
"The maid is here!" Luo You walked in quickly from outside.
Liu Xiu said: "Get your casual clothes and I'll go to Jingzhao Mansion to have a look!"
Luo You said worriedly: "Your Majesty, the current situation in Jingzhao Mansion is too chaotic. If Your Majesty goes there, I'm afraid there will be danger! I think it's better for Your Majesty to stay in the palace and mobilize troops to suppress the unruly people!"
Liu Xiu shook his head and said: "Forcibly suppressing thousands of people will only lead to greater chaos!"
Luo You didn't dare to say any more, so he got his casual clothes and helped Liu Xiu change with Zhang Kun.
Liu Xiu muttered while putting on his clothes: "Li Gongcao really talked about it! A mere Zhong Qi can actually attract thousands of people to besiege Jingzhao Mansion. This person really cannot be underestimated!"
Something happened in Jingzhao Mansion, and Liu Xiu couldn't stay in the palace any longer. He changed into casual clothes and went to Jingzhao Mansion with Luo You, Long Yuan, Xuying and others to check the situation.
When Liu Xiu and his party arrived at Jingzhao Mansion, the number of people gathered here was no longer thousands, but increased to tens of thousands. Looking around, the streets in front of Jingzhao Mansion were crowded with people, and it looked dark.
Can't see the edge.
On the streets, people's shouts and noises could be heard for several streets.
Only with the combined efforts of Long Yuan, Long Zhun, Long Bo, Xu Ying, Xu Ting and Xu Fei opened the way, Liu Xiu squeezed in front of the gate of Jingzhao Mansion.
At this time, the gate of Jingzhao Mansion was closed tightly, and there were several rows of fully armed soldiers standing in front of the door. In addition, there were many soldiers squatting on the gate tower and on the courtyard wall, some drawing bows and some holding crossbows.
, one by one as if facing a formidable enemy.
An official of Jingzhao Mansion climbed up the ladder to the courtyard wall, stuck out his head, and shouted loudly at the people outside: "You are besieging Jingzhao Mansion. Do you know what crime you should be punished for? Now you are waiting for it."
Disperse quickly, and Jingzhao Mansion can forget about the past..."
Before the official finished speaking, the people outside were shouting: "Release Mr. Zhong! Release Mr. Zhong immediately!" "What crime did Mr. Zhong commit? Why did your Jingzhao Prefecture arrest him?"
Let Mr. Zhong go immediately!"
The people were excited. The more they shouted, the more excited they became. People kept crowding forward. Seeing this, the Jingzhao Mansion official shrank his neck in fright and hurriedly climbed down the ladder to the courtyard wall.
Not long after, another official climbed up the ladder to the wall and continued to persuade the people outside to go home, but his tone was much softer.
But the people didn't buy it at all and kept shouting for Jingzhao Mansion to release Zhong Qi.
Just when people were excited and the situation began to get out of control, the door of Jingzhao Mansion opened and Li Yingcai walked out.
Seeing this, Luo You, Long Yuan, Xu Ying and others all nodded secretly, and even Liu Xiu showed admiration. Other officials did not dare to leave Jingzhao Mansion at all, they just hid on the wall and poked their heads toward
Such timidity in public speaking is simply a sign of guilty conscience. How can their propaganda convince the people?! This Li Ying is quite good. No matter what his ability or character is, at least he has the ability to speak out.
courage.
"Quiet! Everyone, please be quiet first and listen to me!" Li Ying stretched his neck and screamed for a while before the crowd at the scene calmed down a bit. He looked around at the people on the street and said loudly: "I
I think everyone has misunderstood. We just asked Mr. Zhong to go back to Jingzhao Mansion to investigate a case this time, not to arrest Mr. Zhong. It’s so late now, so don’t make trouble in front of Jingzhao Mansion. Let’s go home first.
