Chapter 4774: Looking for someone to take the blame
Li Yuanjia had some doubts about His Majesty's decision, not the level of His Majesty's move, but the intention of His Majesty's move.
His Majesty ordered the Sanfa Division and Zongzheng Temple to jointly hear the case, and even added a "special supervision" inexplicably. It seemed that he was trying to balance the interests of all parties and stabilize the overall situation, so that everyone could sit together to discuss an acceptable decision, but In fact, it has formed a de facto opposition and division, because everyone's interests are contradictory. Those who benefit are unable to give up their interests, but those who do not benefit are trying their best to get a share of the pie.
The most obvious among them are the clan and Jingzhao Webster.
From the standpoint of the clan, they are the Li Tang royal family and the bloodline of the Great Ancestor. They have some differences but have the same interests, that is, they must maintain the clan's suppression of the aristocratic families and must not allow the aristocratic families to challenge their bottom line. , trying to share their own interests.
The arrogant Guanlong clan has fallen apart and disappeared, so what's the point of Jingzhao and Webster?
But if Wei Shuxia is allowed to escape guilt, then the dignity of the clan will be trampled on at will at the feet of the noble family.
Jingzhao Weishi has always been on the same side as Guanlong Clan. Although the two sides are not one, they have many interests connected together. The collapse of Guanlong Clan has caused Jingzhao Weishi to suffer heavy losses. If the clan is allowed to bully now, the outside world will Realizing that the so-called Jingzhao Webster is only an empty shell, the consequences can be imagined.
Therefore, neither side can retreat and must fight at any cost to maintain their core interests.
This was caused by the uneven distribution of interests in the situation after His Majesty ascended the throne and Guanlong was overthrown. Wei Shuxia was the trigger of this matter, but the core of the whole matter still lies in the distribution of interests. Since conflicts exist, it is natural for them to break out. Inevitable, but the death of Li Jingshu brought the situation to the edge of getting out of control.
……
It wasn't until he sat in the Wei family's hall and saw the Wei family's determination that Li Yuanjia suddenly understood the core of the current situation: some groups must be in chaos, and if they are not in chaos, they will flourish and pose a huge threat, while some groups cannot be in chaos, and complete chaos will causing the balance to be broken.
Therefore, the current situation must be chaotic, but this "chaos" must be restrained within a certain range, and cannot be completely "chaotic"...
Thinking about it this way, the method of shirking responsibility that I negotiated with the boss of the Sanfa Division actually fits the current situation. There is no more appropriate way than this.
At the same time, I sighed from the bottom of my heart that Dai Zhou could always sit in the position of Dali Temple Minister as stable as a rock. He could not only be far away from the center and not be swept into the turbulent whirlpool, but also not far away from the center and be despised by others. His political ability was really profound. Unfathomable.
Everyone in the world has despised this veteran of three dynasties...
Li Yuanjia looked warm and smiled softly. He waved his hands and said with a smile: "Brother Wei may have misunderstood. I did not come here to announce your son's guilt. In fact, until now, there is no evidence to identify your son as the culprit who caused Li Jingshu's violent death." .”
Wei Wan was stunned at first, then overjoyed and grabbed Li Yuanjia's hand. His excitement could not be suppressed: "So, is the dog safe?"
Li Yuanjia smiled and shook his head: "Brother Wei has misunderstood again. Although the son is not the culprit, he is still involved. The responsibility must still be borne. After all, if the real culprit is not found, the son is still the primary responsibility."
"Then I don't understand. Since I know clearly that Quanzi was not the culprit that caused Li Jingshu's violent death, I naturally only have to bear the responsibility that I should bear. How can I equate responsibility with the culprit?"
Wei Wan straightened his back and his tone became tougher. Since Wei Shuxia was not the culprit but still had to bear the responsibility, do you really think Jingzhao Wei was made of clay?
The clan can’t accuse people unjustly!
Li Yuanjia had already predicted Wei Wan's reaction, and his smile remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "Jingzhao Weishi's poetry and calligraphy are passed down to the whole family, and the literature is unparalleled, but don't you even read the "Datang Code" on weekdays? Among the laws It has been stipulated that if the real culprit cannot be found in a situation like yours, then even though he is not the real culprit, he must bear the same responsibility as the real culprit. "
Of course Wei Wan looked at the law. As the ruling class of the country and a person with vested interests, how could he not study the law assiduously in order to find out what was beneficial to him?
However, unlike the laws of all dynasties since ancient times, which were rarely changed after they were established, the Tang Dynasty confirmed the laws at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Later, Emperor Taizong improved them after he ascended the throne. Several important ministers and great scholars worked together to finalize the "Zhenguan Law". Think of it as the law of the world.
However, as the empire's national power grew, private commerce prospered, and social development accelerated greatly, many of the regulations that were applicable in the past were gradually no longer in line with the current situation of society and had many drawbacks. Therefore, there were many important ministers, great Confucians, clans and other forces in the center. An organization has been set up all year round to draft, study, and improve previous laws. Therefore, the current "Datang Laws" is hundreds of pages thick. Under each law, there are many subdivided regulations attached to each type of law. The situation will be explained in detail...
Therefore, it is difficult for anyone except a professional legalist to understand the specific meaning of each point in the current "Datang Code".
Wei Wan felt that Li Yuanjia's statement was unreasonable, but he also understood that Li Yuanjia had no need to deceive him, and the fact that Li Yuanjia could come to the door in person showed that the matter might not be as hopeless as he said.
Otherwise, as Zong Zhengqing, why would Li Yuanjia come in person?
After carefully considering Li Yuanjia's words, Wei Wan figured out what they meant, but he was not sure, so he asked tentatively: "Your Highness, you mean that once the real culprit is found, Quan Zi can be exempted from liability?"
Li Yuanjia shook his head: "Of course it is impossible to be exempted from liability, but there is still a big gap from the primary liability to the secondary liability. The primary liability is to kill someone to pay for his life. As for the secondary liability, we can calmly discuss it. As long as the deceased is not held accountable, the Third Law Division will certainly be lenient. .”
Wei Wan understood: "So for Quanzi, the top priority is to find the real culprit?"
Li Yuanjia nodded repeatedly: "Yes, that's the case, but it's very difficult. The Tribunal has been conducting trials all night without even a single suspect. Even if we want to help, we can't help. I'm really sorry."< br>
Wei Wan's eyes flashed, he thought for a moment, and said, "What if the murderer can be made to stand up and confess his crime?"
"Perhaps the murderer's conscience is still intact, which is not impossible. However, it is difficult to block the news. The son was taken away by Lai Ji last night. By this time, the clan may have already gotten the news. Once several princes and princes arrive in Beijing together, It is difficult for us to resist the pressure exerted by the government. After all, the death of a prince’s son is not a trivial matter.”
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I know what to do. I will find the murderer and rationalize him with emotion, so that he can stand up and take the responsibility actively so that he will not harm innocent people."
"Since the Wei family has this ability, we are naturally happy to see the results, but we have to do it faster... It is late, so I will go back first."
"Your Highness, walk slowly, I will think of a way."
"Stay, stay."
After seeing off Li Yuanjia, Wei Wan returned to the main hall and called his other sons over, asking: "His Highness's intention is very clear. His Majesty also does not want to see our Wei family and the clan quarreling to death, so he is willing to open up the net." On the one hand, it’s just that a real culprit must come forward and confess his crime in order to extract Saburo... Tell me, who should this real culprit be?”
The sons also understood the meaning. As long as someone stood up and took responsibility, it didn't matter whether the person was the real murderer or not. Sanfasi and Zongzheng Temple would stand by the Wei family to resist the pressure of the clan.
Of course, it is not easy to find the candidate for the real murderer. Trampling the prince's prince to death is a serious crime. Even if it is done unintentionally, he will be exiled for three thousand miles. And those who participated in the attack on Jingzhao Mansion that night were all children of aristocratic families and nobles. , who is willing to bear such serious responsibility?
In this way, if the Wei family wants to find someone willing to admit themselves as the "real murderer", not only must they pay a huge price, but they must also use some unconventional means.
The eldest son Wei Ling pondered and said slowly: "Most people may not be willing to be the real murderer, and even if they are, our Wei family may not be able to provide the compensation they need... What does father think of Chai Mingzhang?"
Wei Wan didn't remember who this person was for a moment, so he frowned and asked, "Who?"
Wei Caixuan, the fourth son on the side, said: "He is the nephew of Duke Gu Qiao and the cousin of brothers Chai Zhewei and Chai Lingwu."
Wei Wan then suddenly realized: "The son of 'Wall Dragon' Chai Qing!"
It is said that the "wall dragon" Chai Qing has the ability to fly over eaves and walk over walls. He can climb walls and houses as easily as walking on the ground. He is especially good at stealing. Emperor Taizong made a bet with Changsun Wuji and asked Chai Qing to steal a pair of stirrups from Changsun's house. Changsun Wuji sat down that night. While drinking outside the stable, Chai Qing still managed to steal the stirrups...
It's just that this person was born with incomplete organs and insufficient bones since childhood, so he died at a young age.
The attack on Jingzhao Mansion last night included Chai Mingzhang, who was considered a representative of the Chai family.
Wei Wan asked: "Why choose him?"
Wei Lingze said: "The Chai family is now in dire straits and is not as good as before. As long as we provide enough benefits, Chai Lingwu is likely to agree. Of course, the most important thing is that compared to others admitting their guilt in causing Li Jingshu's death, the Chai family has to pay The price must be the minimum. If you pay a relatively small price and gain enough benefits, this calculation is suitable.”
Wei Wan was puzzled: "Why can the Chai family pay a smaller price than others?"
Wei Caixuan added with a smile: "Of course it's because Princess Baling and Fang Jun have always had a good relationship. The Chai brothers were in crisis several times before, and it was Princess Baling who came forward to plead with Fang Jun to turn the corner. If Princess Baling begged, Fang Jun comes out When pleading for Chai Mingzhang, even the clan has to pinch its nose and stop. Nowadays, there are only a handful of civil and military ministers who can suppress the clan, and Fang Jun happens to be the most powerful one."
On the one hand, he accepted the benefits of the Wei family, and on the other hand, he begged Fang Jun to come forward and suppress the clan. All he had to pay might even be Princess Baling's "Guan Bao acquaintance", and Chai Lingwu could accept the difference calmly.
In any case, this account is very reasonable.
Wei Wan nodded in approval and breathed a sigh of relief: "You should handle this matter yourself. Don't be stingy with Chai Lingwu. You have only one request as a father. No matter what the cost, you must ensure that Chai Lingwu is willing to throw his cousin out and take the blame. , be sure to ensure that three Lang returned home unscathed." Wei Ling stood up and said solemnly, "Father, don't worry, Sanlang is my brother, even if I risk my life, I have to save him, let alone a child who is just outside me? Go and discuss with Chai Lingwu.”