Tang Xuan

After the Shangyuan Festival, officials from various ministries will return to the court, and the results of the assessment of the Ministry of Officials before the year will also be announced.Li Qian had a happy face and arrived early.

Then some officials inquired about the results of the assessment, and Li Qian said with a smile: "You don't need to ask the king, anyway, you will know it today and tomorrow. Last year, there was a flood and drought, and the king remembers everyone's hard work, so don't worry."

So the Xuanzheng Palace was full of praises, Li Qian nodded and smiled, calculating, but not showing his face.

Not long after, Li Xun also came.He had just recovered from a serious illness, and his face was still weak after illness.Now, although he is nominally assisting the state affairs, he doesn't intervene much, letting Li Qian decide and avoid his edge.

However, a blood letter received during the New Year's Day made Li Xun unwilling and unable to bear it any longer.

The disaster in Henan Province was serious, and the Ming emperor exempted a three-year tax payment to support the people.However, Liang Shubi, the governor of Bianzhou, ignored the sentiments of the people. He not only embezzled the relief money, but also tried to search for the people's fat and anointment after the disaster.In August, the officials forced the people to rebel, and they suppressed it with thunderous means. They reported that the famine and plague were serious, so as to cover up the number of people who died.

No matter how Li Xun knew that the current situation required him to endure, he couldn't bear it anymore.Liang Shubi is the younger brother of Concubine Liang, if he is so reckless about human life, I am afraid that Emperor Ming will not punish him seriously.But no matter what, he has to say a few words for the people of Bianzhou.

Yesterday he went to Weiyang Residence to visit Mingda, and his original intention was to discuss countermeasures with Lang Huai.But when he went, Jiang Liang told him vaguely that the two had left Chang'an long ago and went to play around.

Li Xun had no choice but to go back to the mansion and think for a while, instead of going to discuss with Wei Lingzhi and others, he planned to play the performance by himself.If there is nothing he can do, Emperor Ming will just be furious and lock him up for a few days, but he doesn't have to implicate those poor loyal ministers who are already few.

Before it was too late, Emperor Ming arrived beaming.At the beginning of the court meeting, there were all those who sang meritorious deeds, and there was no such thing as the grand occasion of the Qing Dynasty ten years ago.Emperor Ming newly enshrined a Taoist priest as a real person, so he got a few pills of elixir, and after taking them, his whole body felt ecstatic.This Taoist priest was obtained by Li Qian's visit to Zhongnan, and he specially invited him into Chang'an to pray for the Ming Emperor to refine medicine.He also saw Li Qian's suave and suave talk, and he handled everything with insight, so he couldn't help liking it even more.

Halfway through the court meeting, Emperor Ming praised: "Everything is prepared this year, how about the assessment by the Ministry of Officials?"

Li Qian cupped his hands: "Reporting to my father, the assessment of the Ministry of Officials has been completed, and all officials have attributive opinions. After the flood of the Yellow River last year, there was a severe drought along the coast, and the East Road, Henan Road, Shannan East Road, and Huainan Road were the most serious. These four officials fought hard. Rescue disasters, save the country from danger, but in the face of natural disasters, the sons and ministers think that they have not made any credit, but also have hard work, so they relax a little, so as not to chill the hearts of officials."

Emperor Ming nodded, appreciating it very much: "You can sympathize with the people's sentiments, and you can also think about the difficulties of your subjects. It is very good, and you have improved a lot compared to previous years. I don't care about this matter, you can handle it according to your discretion."

Liang Shubi was in the Hanyuan Hall, and heaved a long sigh of relief after hearing Emperor Ming's words - but he narrowly passed this hurdle.As for what Li Qian said later, he didn't want to listen carefully.It seems that walking the way of Duke Huai is very accurate, not in vain Noble Concubine Liang Even if her son does not want that position, she still has to support him.

Li Qian's words were full of hype, which made Emperor Ming laugh again and again, and he was very proud of himself.However, what he had been waiting for was Li Xun's attack.Out of the corner of his eye, Li Qian saw that Li Xun's face was getting more and more angry, and he couldn't help but feel more and more proud.

"Father, my son has something to say." Li Xun couldn't bear it anymore, and interrupted Li Qian's long speech loudly.As soon as he opened his mouth, Tang Feiyan knew he was going to suffer.But he is inferior, so he can't talk to him, so he can only hope that Li Xun will not make too much trouble.

"My minister received a blood letter the day before yesterday, but it was written by the people of Bianzhou for a civil uprising." Li Xun took it out of his cuffs and held it in his hands, saying: "It mentions the seven major crimes committed by the imperial court. After all, Bianzhou Jiedu envoy Liang Shubi has been reporting that the disaster situation is stable and the people are stable. But he didn’t know that he lied about the famine and epidemic situation for the victims, and cruelly slaughtered the people.”

Emperor Ming's expression changed, and with a wave of his hand, Lu Youlin hurriedly went to take the blood book and handed it over.Emperor Ming watched and listened to him continue: "I don't have definite evidence in my hand, but I don't want to believe that this is a non-existent thing. My son has the courage to ask my father to send someone to investigate in detail, lest such people who care about human life stay behind. In the court, disturb the hearts of the people!"

"Your Majesty, I have been wronged!" Liang Shubi first knelt down and shouted: "The disaster in Bianzhou is serious and the people are in dire straits. I went bankrupt to fill the granary. I have a clear conscience!"

Li Xun said with a livid face, "Master Liang went bankrupt to fill the granary? But why did the seven major crimes in the report all count that Mr. Liang seized the people's property and filled his own pocket?"

"His Royal Highness is honorable, please take the evidence and then dismiss him!" Liang Shubi sneered, "I am loyal to His Majesty, and I can show it every day! Your Highness is so bloody, I am really not convinced!"

Li Xun was still waiting to say more, Minghuang said: "What does it look like to be noisy!"

Wei Lingzhi shook his head slightly, signaling Tang Feiyan not to act rashly.For the current plan, we can only hope that Emperor Ming will send a trusted minister to investigate in detail and get evidence.

"The disaster in Henan Province is serious, I know. How is Liang Aiqing's governance? There are all the officials' assessment and the Yushitai's investigation documents. I don't believe he has the guts." He squinted at the bloody book in his hand—the paper was torn and the handwriting was scrawled , but it doesn't look like a forgery, so I can't help feeling suspicious.But Liang Shubi is the younger brother of his beloved concubine, and Emperor Ming has to protect him no matter what.

"Xun'er's blood book, I don't believe it's groundless." Emperor Ming raised his head, and said, "I can't ignore it even if I'm chasing after the wind. Shangguan Yuan, choose one person from the Yushitai of the Ministry of Officials, and leave tomorrow to go to Bianzhou to investigate .”

"I obey the order." Shangguan Yuan responded, and Li Xun hurriedly said: "Father, my son, please order to go!"

"You are in poor health, so it didn't take long. If you are exhausted, you don't need it." Emperor Ming waved his hand and said, "But there is one more thing. The governor of Beiting Dufu Mansion died of illness, and the position is vacant. Dear friends, where is the court?" Is someone suitable to take over as the governor?"

This is a big event. The Di Bao was sent directly to Emperor Ming this morning, and no one knew about it except Li Qian, who had received the message in advance.Li Xun was plotted just now, and Li Qian only waited a month later to deal him a fatal blow.And the vacancy in the Beiting Protectorate's Mansion was an opportunity he had been thinking about for many years.He nodded slightly. After seeing it, Liang Qinfang immediately understood that this was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so she took the initiative, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I recommend someone."

After Liang Qinfang became the commander of the Jinwu Guard, he suppressed dissidents and cultivated his confidantes.The third child on Tuoba Yiyang Road was found an excuse and demoted to general.Wei Qianyi turned a blind eye to this and didn't say much.

"Who?" Emperor Ming liked the brothers of his concubine's family very much. After Liang Qinfang returned to Chang'an, he actually offered many things that Emperor Ming liked, which was quite heart-warming.

"Return to Your Majesty, I recommend General Wei." Liang Qinfang was expressionless, but she said every word to her heart: "Regardless of prestige or qualifications, there is no one who is more suitable than Commander Wei. No matter how good you are, you should not avoid relatives. Although he is under Commander Wei, he sincerely recommends it."

Emperor Ming didn't think about Wei Qianyi, he said with a smile: "For the sake of prudence, Qianyi has always been strategic, so it's appropriate. But Qianyi, would you like to go?"

"Father, General Wei has commanded the Imperial Forest Army for many years and guarded the Daming Palace. If General Wei is appointed as the governor of Beiting Dufu, who should be in command of the Imperial Forest Army?" Li Xun interrupted quickly, and Liang Qinfang was up and down now. Well, although the governor of Beiting Duhufu is also a real official of the frontier, he is not a close minister of the emperor.Besides, if Chang'an City doesn't have a loyal courtier to guard the Daming Palace, there will be chaos in the future.

"I'm a humble minister, but follow your Majesty's orders." Unexpectedly, Wei Qianyi did not refuse, and threw the problem back to Emperor Ming.After decades of ups and downs in the officialdom, he was a mighty general who aspired to be on the battlefield, but he stayed in the muddy pit of the Imperial Forest Army. The only victory in his life was to support the Emperor Ming to the throne, and the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who were slaughtered were also.

The famous general has white hair, he is already 50 years old, and he sees nothing lightly, but he really yearns for the yellow sands of the Western Regions.

There was a moment of silence in the hall, Emperor Ming stroked his beard, but understood Wei Qianyi's words.Wei Qianyi was the only one left among the high-spirited people who looked mighty.

Emperor Ming sighed, and said: "There is no rush on this matter, we will put it aside for further discussion. Let go of court!"

Li Qian bowed down to see the Emperor Ming off, secretly happy - it seems that Wei Qianyi's time in Chang'an is really not long.But now he can't be greedy for merit, as long as he doesn't say much about the position of the general of the Yulin Army, he will definitely get what he wants.

In the afternoon, Emperor Ming thought about it for a while in Linde Hall, and still called Li Xun and Li Qian, intending to ask his two sons for their opinions, and also meant to take the school exam.

Li Qian arrived for a while, but waited outside. When Li Xun arrived, he said: "Brother is finally feeling better now, but spring is not long, so you have to be careful about the cold spring."

"That doesn't bother fourth brother. If it's cold, add more clothes. No matter what the East Palace is, there will always be some fabrics." Li Xun straightened his outer shirt without any pretense, and went in first.

Li Qian smiled, didn't think it was disobedient, lifted the corner of his robe, and followed him in.

"I called you here, and I think you know why. Qian Yi has followed me for many years, and I really don't want to part with it." Ming Huang cut to the chase, looked sideways at the expressions of the two, sipped his tea, and waited for the two of them to answer.

Li Xun raised his eyes to look, Lu Youlin closed his eyes slightly, he was startled, but he still said according to his own mind: "Duke Qi has been in the court for many years, and if he leaves the court one day, he is afraid of something bad happening. I think it's inappropriate .”

Lu Youlin sighed inwardly: No matter what, Li Xun still seems to be too kind-hearted, and he is always too hard-hearted. In the future, I'm afraid... Sigh.

Li Qian laughed in his heart, still respectful on his face, bent over and said: "Father, even though I am the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, I can't intervene in these matters. If the father wants the general to go, the son will return It's quiet—the selection of the generals of the Yulin Army is his military department's concern. If my father doesn't want Qi Guogong to go, the appointment of a first-rank officer must be decided by my father."

Emperor Ming really liked Li Qian's witty words, he burst out laughing, and said: "You are a ghost, so I will let you worry about me."

After talking some gossip, Li Xun became even more angry.Ming Huang saw that his face was not looking good, so he let the two of them retreat.The hall fell silent, and the newly replaced incense in the censer ignited misty smoke.Minghuang's face was hidden in it, and it looked more and more distant.

"Where did Mingda and the others go?" Minghuang asked suddenly.

"Return to Your Majesty, the girl is self-willed, Hua Qing Palace can't stay here, I'm afraid she's going to enter the mountain." The answer was not Lu Youlin who was standing beside Emperor Ming, but Yuan Xuanhong, the villain commander who appeared out of nowhere.

"You know what happened today, what is the situation in Henan Province?" Emperor Ming trusted him completely, so he didn't care what news the officials who went to investigate would bring back.

"Returning to Your Majesty, there are disaster victims in Henan Province, but it has not yet turned into a civil uprising. Although Liang Shubi did not go bankrupt to help the victims, he has really contributed. He is the younger brother of the imperial concubine. He once said that he didn't care about the food at all. With the imperial concubine here, he will have his food. As for the blood book in the hands of His Highness, I still need to investigate one or two." Yuan Xuanhong hung his head and answered, but the content turned black and white.And for decades of his loyalty, Emperor Ming did not have doubts at all.

"Xun'er, this child, why is he getting bigger and bigger, more and more indiscriminate between right and wrong." Ming Huang became short of breath and coughed.

Holding the tea bowl, Lu Youlin said, "Your Majesty, don't be angry, the crown prince must be too soft-hearted and has been taken advantage of by others. You will send him alone tomorrow to ask questions, and you will know when you ask."

Emperor Ming sighed and stopped asking questions.Yuan Xuanhong bowed and saluted, then disappeared into the shadows again, disappearing without a trace.

It was already the beginning of March when Lang Huai learned that Wei Qianyi would step down as the general of the Yulin Army.They played all the way, but they arrived in Nanzheng.Disgusted by the inconvenience of people coming and going in the inn, Lang Huai rented a three-way house.When the nail sent by Shang Zixuan was found, Lang Huai did not hide it from Mingda, and listened to it with her, and read Shang Zixuan's letter together.

With a long sigh, Lang Huai said: "The only good thing about my uncle is that it fulfills my wish. However, there is a vacancy for the general of the Imperial Forest Army, which is a tricky matter."

"Don't worry, Daddy won't do that if he's too foolish." Mingda frowned and said, "Brother's matter is difficult."

What Mingda said was correct, the officials from the Ministry of Officials and Yushitai came back to investigate, and it was no different from what Yuan Xuanhong said.Li Xun questioned in court, not only offended the Ministry of Officials and Yushitai, but also recklessly contradicted the Emperor Ming.

Lang Huai didn't need to think about it, he could guess that this must be Li Qian's serial trick.Li Xun was banned from entering the East Palace and pondered his mistakes behind closed doors. This was tantamount to telling the world that the crown prince's position was beginning to be unstable.And Li Qian was even more favored in front of the Ming Emperor, and he took care of the government affairs.

"There is something wrong in the middle." Lang Huai rubbed his chin in thought, and Mingda also nodded: "Father's temperament, he will never be so angry with elder brother because of the words of officials and Yushitai. Father must have known the situation a long time ago. , Dad doesn't care whether these two people talk or not."

The only thing that can make Emperor Ming known to the world is the private army and secret guards around him.The two thought of this place almost at the same time, and said in unison: "Bad people!"