Pei Huaijie was so distraught that the navy went north to Luoyang with great fanfare. Could it be that they wanted to arrest him?
Not so much, whether it is the attitudes of Liu, Dai, and Zhang, or Zhang Liang's report just now, it means that His Majesty still remembers his meritorious service and hard work, and even though he is dissatisfied with himself, he always restrains himself and is unwilling to force himself. To a dead end.
However, although the Navy is named "Royal", it is actually controlled by Fang Jun. "There will be no consequences for the emperor's life." If Fang Jun feels that his "Henan Yin" is the biggest backer behind the Hedong family , and even the main culprit who instigated strikes and production suspensions in the Hedong Saltworks, so he wants to overthrow himself in one fell swoop and gain the dominance of the Hedong Saltworks?
After thinking about it carefully, I dare not rule out this possibility.
Fang Jun's acting style has always been extremely tough, with a bit of "those who follow me will prosper and those who go against me will perish". As a second-grade border official, he may be very important in the eyes of others, but if Fang Jun decides to pull the trigger, If he can help him rectify the salt affairs and lead the salt field, then there will be nothing he can't accomplish.
Pei Huaijie believed in the information revealed by Zhang Liang, and also believed that His Majesty's kindness would not allow him to die a happy death. However, once captured by Fang Jun, all escape routes would be cut off, and he was afraid that even His Majesty would not be able to control his own destiny...
Without hesitation, he left the temple with an oil-paper umbrella and walked south along the Canal Canal. After arriving at Cao Canal, he turned west and entered a house in the southeast corner of Lidefang. At the same time, he dispatched his entourage to contact various places. Officer, listen for exact information.
Having worked in Luoyang for more than ten years, he has already found several hiding places. As long as he really wants to sink, it is basically impossible for others to find him.
He must temporarily hide in the dark and figure out the exact purpose of Su Dingfang's trip before he can make the next decision.
*****
"Pei Huaijie is missing?"
In the evening of that day, Liu, Dai, and Zhang came to Shangshanfang to meet Li Tai. They revealed the news with a dark face. Li Tai was very surprised, and then said flatly: "No need to ask, this person must feel guilty. , the law is intolerable and cannot be reviewed The three of you are the leaders of the empire's judiciary. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and issue a sea arrest document throughout the country to arrest you!"
Dai Zhoulie grinned and said helplessly: "How can you be so hasty? It's just that the person can't be found temporarily, so it can't be regarded as missing. Even if it is missing, there are various possibilities. It cannot be so arbitrarily regarded as absconding in fear of crime. .”
The prerequisite for "fleeing in fear of crime" is that you have already been convicted or have serious suspicions of committing a crime. Now that the review has just begun, and everything has not yet been figured out, how can you rashly convict a second-grade border official?
Li Tai disagreed: "Then continue the trial. It doesn't matter whether Pei Huaijie is present or not. As long as the witnesses and material evidence are complete, it doesn't matter whether he is present or not."
Dai Zhou nodded and said: "This is natural, but Pei Huaijie is a person involved, and he cannot be allowed to disappear silently. Your Highness is also requested to summon Luoyang officials, issue an order, and mobilize the entire city to find him."
"Luoyang Liushou" is the highest official in Luoyang, the nominal eastern capital. Now that "Henan Yin" is missing, Li Tai can only summon officials to issue orders.
Li Tai agreed and said, "Early tomorrow morning, I will summon Luoyang officials to search the whole city and dig three feet into the ground to dig out this animal! It is simply embarrassing for a high-ranking official to leave without any responsibility. Shame on the imperial court!”
It's not easy to say this, and it's easy to offend people if you do. Who knows what's going on over there with Pei Huaijie? If His Majesty eventually transfers him back to Chang'an in an lenient manner, he may become an official in the same court in the future, so it would be better to keep a low profile at this time.
Zhang Liang, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked: "Su Dingfang led the navy north to Luoyang and is now stationed at Mengjindu. I wonder if His Highness knows?"
Li Tai nodded: "Of course I knew it. When Su Dingfang arrived at Mengjin Ferry, he sent someone to inform him."
He was "left behind in Luoyang". Su Dingfang was marching here, so he naturally needed to report.
Zhang Liang refused to give up: "According to the military order established by Emperor Taizong, only the marching commander who issued the order has the right to mobilize the army. I have never heard of your majesty making any appointment to Su Dingfang before. Now Su Dingfang has mobilized the army to leave the station without authorization. It should be Military Disposal”
He turned to look at Liu Xiang and said: "Doctor Liu is in charge of the Yushitai and supervises all officials in the world. Those who blatantly violated military laws like Su Dingfang should be supervised and impeached to prevent others from following suit in the future."< br>
Dai Zhou stroked his beard and glanced at Zhang Liang in surprise.
Everyone in the court knew that Zhang Liang had been attached to Fang Jun in the past few years, almost following his orders, and Su Dingfang was a general under Fang Jun. Fang Jun must have ordered the navy to go north this time, but Zhang Liang openly accused Su Dingfang. He violated military law and demanded severe punishment. Did he fall out with Fang Jun, or did he choose someone else?
However, he cares neither about military affairs nor prosecutorial affairs. There is no room for him to interfere in this matter, and he will not interfere.
Liu Xiangdao pondered for a moment and said: "I will report this matter to your majesty and ask your majesty to make a decision."
Zhang Liang said: "That's good."
……
The naval fleet arrived at Mengjin Ferry and docked at the ferry. Dozens of warships were lined with boats and white sails like clouds. They were menacing and murderous. Luoyang's officialdom was as silent as a cicada.
First, the unprecedented big bosses of the "Three Law Divisions" arrived in Luoyang to review the case of "Insulting the Prince's Concubine", involving almost all Luoyang officials. Now another army arrived in Luoyang brazenly. Could it be that Pei Huaijie's crimes were too numerous to describe, so Is the court going to take action boldly and take coercive measures?
Luoyang officials are all in danger, and the wealthy families are trembling.
As the "Henan Yin" who was recommended by local powerful people, his interests are intertwined. Once Pei Huaijie is convicted, I don't know how many officials and aristocratic families will be involved. How can we not be frightened by this?
Immediately, the news of Pei Huaijie's "disappearance" spread, and even more like oil was poured on a fire, public opinion suddenly exploded.
The dignified Yin of the government and the official of the border area actually "disappeared" when the court was examining his crimes, which naturally affected all parties.
Did Pei Huaijie think that he could not get rid of his crimes and that it was difficult to die a good death, so he "fleeed in fear of crime"?
Or was Pei Huaijie's crime so far-reaching and entangled that the wealthy family behind it had no choice but to "kill people and silence them"?
The trial of the "Three Laws Division" is still proceeding in an orderly manner, and many officials are called in for questioning one after another. As more and more officials are questioned, various rumors spread widely and become very popular in the city. The entire Luoyang officialdom and even the local area The people in the clan are panicked and at a loss.
Coupled with the naval warships cruising back and forth at Mengjin Ferry and the naval soldiers who came ashore from time to time, a violent turmoil began to brew.
For a time, Luoyang attracted all the attention of the "Land of Three Rivers".
*****
Since ancient times, the places where ancestors lived together have been connected by water systems. Therefore, there are "eight rivers surrounding Chang'an" and "five rivers gathering in Luo". The Yellow River, Luo River, Yi River, Zhang River, Gu River and other rivers converge in the Luoyang Basin surrounded by rivers and mountains, giving birth to the city of Luoyang, the "Land of Three Rivers".
The moon is setting and the sky is misty.
In the east of Luoyang City, a small boat sailed upstream from the Luoshui River and docked at the shore thirty miles east of the city. Several people on the boat abandoned the ship and landed, walking quickly and entering an ancient temple with dense trees and dilapidation.
In a house in the temple, King Li Tai of Wei knelt and sat in front of the window. When he saw Su Dingfang and his party walking quickly, he smiled and opened the window with his hand.
The accompanying soldiers stayed outside the door. Su Dingfang quickly entered the house alone and stepped forward to salute: "General, I will see you at the end of your highness!"
"No gifts, no gifts. I have just brewed a pot of tea. Come and have a try."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Su Dingfang stood up, knelt down opposite Li Tai and sat down.
Li Tai personally held the pot and poured tea for Su Dingfang. He looked at the other person with a smile. He was in his fifties, not tall but very stout. The temples under his head were stained with frost and there were wrinkles on his face, but his square face looked calm and he had thick eyebrows. Rumo has cold eyes and a tiger's eye. Although he is sitting on his knees, his back and waist are straight, giving him the chilling majesty of commanding thousands of troops.
He is indeed a famous general today.
It was inevitable to sigh in my heart, admiring Fang Jun's eye for understanding people and his courage to free the other party from difficulties. At the same time, he also inevitably had a fantasy: if he could have Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, and Pei Xingjian under his command when he was fighting for the reserve. Will the current situation be completely different if such generals are able to use civil and military skills?
I was not born with talents and could not recruit talents to cultivate them. Is this also the reason for the failure of the competition?
Su Dingfang took a sip of tea and saw that Li Tai's eyes were a little dazed and seemed to be distracted, so he coughed dryly and asked respectfully: "The general has led his army to Luoyang on the order of the commander-in-chief. He will meet up with the commander-in-chief later. I don't know, Your Highness." Do you have any instructions?”
Li Tai came back to his senses and poured tea again, with a worried look on his face: "Fang Jun is so bold. Such actions may lead to unexpected consequences. You are a famous general, why don't you advise him?"
Su Dingfang's expression remained unchanged and he said calmly: "The general is a soldier. He only knows how to obey orders and go through fire and water wherever he is ordered. As for the rest, the general does not understand and does not care."
Li Tai had no choice but to say: "I met Fang Jun and asked him to move more quickly and solve the Hedong Saltworks. I still need your help here."
"Don't worry, Your Highness, the general is aware of some of the goings-on in Luoyang City. They are just clowns. When the army enters Luoyang City, anyone who dares not to obey will be severely punished!"
Listening to Su Dingfang's murderous words, Li Tai felt helpless: "I hope these thunderous methods can shock Luoyang's officialdom, and will not be self-defeating and trigger greater turmoil, otherwise my situation will be worrying." The army completely subdued the family members, and this This was the response method that Fang Jun discussed with him. As for Liu, Dai, and Zhang's so-called "three-division trial", it was just a false shot, and the real purpose was not here.