Chapter 4881 What is the law
Many important officials in the court were dissatisfied with Li Chengqian's indecisiveness in facing the rebellion that was likely to break out within the clan. They were even dissatisfied with Li Chengqian's indecisiveness. For the sake of their so-called prestige and reputation, they repeatedly indulged thieves with proven records. This is simply an extremely stupid act. The emperor rules over the world, and the so-called "benevolence" is just a tool to hide from others. The real core of governance is the "way of kings and dominators". Strike when it is time to strike. How can you retreat again and again? , Tolerate and tolerate?
Not only will this not influence the rebels, but it will make them push forward...
But Li Chengqian insisted that those traitors could not achieve great things, and did not want to bear the reputation of "slaughtering the clan" and attack those people.
Li Yuanjia felt that this move was simply playing with fire. After all, if you can only be a thief for a thousand days, how can you prevent a thief for a thousand days?
If you are a little negligent, you will fall into a situation of eternal disaster.
When Wang De served tea in person, Li Chengqian dismissed him, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile: "Uncle Wang is worried about me, and I am grateful in my heart, but it doesn't have to be like this. The wind is roaring, the grass and trees are all soldiers, it's just a rabble, I have With the four guards in hand, the city of Chang'an is impregnable inside and outside, so why should we fear it?"
Li Yuanjia said anxiously: "This is not a question of whether we are sure or not. Now we know clearly that those people are about to do something disloyal, so why are we indifferent and condone it again and again? Your Majesty is a man of thousands of gold, and you will never tolerate the slightest risk."
He understood that the reason why Li Chengqian did not want to bear the infamy of "slaughtering the clan" was because for a man who had been crowned the crown prince since childhood, but who had been repeatedly questioned and criticized in the years that followed, and was even almost killed several times due to lack of ability. The deposed emperor desperately needed recognition from the world.
In his opinion, Li Chengqian did not have abundant energy and tenacity, but he always showed the qualities of working hard and loving the people. It was precisely because he forced himself to do better and gain recognition from more people that he could He was praised by the world as "a middle-class figure", which proved that His Majesty Li Er was wrong to depose him.
Just like when His Majesty Li Er launched the Xuanwu Gate Revolution and ascended to the throne of God, he strictly demanded that he obtain the recognition of the people of the world...
But putting himself in great danger in order to gain recognition, Li Yuanjia felt that this was going too far and going to extremes.
Li Chengqian was silent for a while, but remained unmoved. Instead, he sighed: "Before and after the Xuanwu Sect Revolution, the late emperor felt ashamed of the clan. So many clan members who followed Emperor Gaozu and conquered the Tang Dynasty with great achievements were either dead or dead. In a different place, the whole family will be extinct, or they will give up their seals and ribbons and leave them idle. ...After so many years, although the merits and demerits of that year have long since disappeared, the scars left behind are still vivid in my mind. I am not Emperor Taizong, and I do not have the majesty and domineering power of Emperor Taizong. I only hope that the clan will be one and the world will be one and glorious. Sustainability and eternal stability”
Li Yuanjia was stunned, what did this mean?
Are you questioning Emperor Taizong's purge of the clan and nobles after the Xuanwu Gate Incident?
But in fact, among the mutinies in the past and present, the Xuanwu Gate Incident is the most generous and conniving. Except for a small number of clan members and nobles who directly participated in the mutiny, most of the other people who openly and secretly supported Prince Yin were pardoned and To be reused, the evaluation of Emperor Taizong in history books is absolutely indispensable with the evaluation of "a mind as big as the sea and a spirit that swallows mountains and rivers".
But even if he has been so tolerant, do he still question his murder of the clan?
To put it another way, even if the whole world questions Emperor Taizong for killing Prince Yin, King Qi and his entire family, and forcing Emperor Gaozu to abdicate, as the biggest vested interest, you, Li Chengqian, have no reason to stand up and question it?
Is it just to show that you are kinder and more generous than Emperor Taizong?
Li Yuanjia hurriedly said: "How can your Majesty be like this? On the day of Emperor Taizong's funeral, his life's achievements have been concluded regardless of his posthumous title or temple name. Although there are some flaws in it, Emperor Taizong told his subordinates not to hide their words, let alone powder them. It’s too much, he’s an old man A family of heroes whose achievements span the ages, a few flaws can not obscure the dazzling achievements, but can actually show a bit of chivalry! ! ”
The people of the world know that Emperor Taizong killed his brothers, forced his father to abdicate, and other misdeeds, but they still forgive him because of his great achievements, and think that his achievements in his life are enough to compete for the unparalleled honor of "one emperor through the ages." How can you, as a son of man, do it? What about being the first to question?
Even if you still hope to gain recognition from the world, you cannot rely on the reputation of Emperor Taizong to become your stepping stone...
Li Chengqian looked serious and said seriously: "As a son of man, no one admires Emperor Taizong's great achievements more than me. But right is right and wrong is wrong. Emperor Taizong wiped out the rebellion and killed them all. It was against the harmony of nature and too cruel. , this is recognized by the world! Now it is just someone with evil intentions, and the evidence of evil is not obvious. How can I kill him with unfounded excuses? This is unkind and unjust, and I don't care to do it. .”
“Has Your Majesty ever studied the Code of the Tang Dynasty?”
"This is nature."
“Then your Majesty, do you still remember the judgment and punishment of ‘rebellion’ in the Code of the Tang Dynasty?”
Li Chengqian was displeased. He felt that Li Yuanjia was mocking him for being "ignorant and ignorant", so he said with a sullen face: "Rebels will be punished with death. The whole family will sit together, and those whose children are over sixteen years old will be hanged; mothers, daughters, wives and concubines will be hanged." Exiled for three thousand miles... However, after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, all the heirs in the East Palace and Prince Qi Palace were hanged regardless of their age, but the daughter was spared, so it was not in compliance with the law."
Li Yuanjia was speechless: "Your Majesty clearly knows that the Code of the Tang Dynasty was approved by Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui and others, and was implemented in the Zhenguan Dynasty. The changes in Xuanwu Gate you mentioned occurred in the ninth year of Wude. How can it be based on the regulations of the Zhenguan Dynasty? Which law should be used to judge Wu Dechao's case? On the contrary, what are those now? The Law of the Tang Dynasty only applies to people who try to subvert the imperial power! 'Rebellion' is one of the ten evils and is not allowed to be forgiven. The regulation of 'rebellion' in the Law of the Tang Dynasty is 'threatening the country', that is, all plots. Words and deeds that shake the imperial rule are all included.”
In the era of imperial power, "rebellion" was taken extremely seriously and intolerable, so the scope of its conviction was extremely wide.
"What you do is a crime, and there is no need to do any harm. What you say is a crime, and there is no need to do it. But planning is a crime, and there is no need to have words or deeds."
And "one person can be called a conspiracy, not two or more people."
As long as it is carried out, regardless of whether it is harmful or harmless, it is guilty. As long as it is said without carrying out it, it also constitutes the crime of "treason", and there is no need for multiple people to conspire, as long as one person can be called "conspiracy".
He felt that His Majesty was a little obsessed now, and even "trampled" on Emperor Taizong's reputation to win the recognition of the world, so he did not refute Li Chengqian from here, but insisted that the words and deeds of Li Shenfu and others were already "treason", and there was no need to do so. Wait until they show signs of rebellion before imposing sanctions. Instead, we should use thunderous measures to nip problems in the bud.
Since the law has already stipulated what "rebellion" is, all it takes is a joint trial by the three judicial divisions. Once the guilt of Li Shenfu and others is determined, they can take action. This way, there is a law to follow and the world will accept it, which is the safest.
However, contrary to his expectations, Li Chengqian shook his head and sighed: "At the time, celebrities from all over the world participated in the determination of the Code of the Tang Dynasty, which was fair, strict, and dignified. However, times have changed, and the provisions of that year have become too much now. Strict. At that time, the world was unstable and the political power was unstable, so strict laws were naturally needed to maintain it. To govern the system, heavy laws should be used in troubled times. But now that the rivers are clear and the sea is unified, what is needed is relatively benevolent and lenient laws to ensure social development. For example, the definition of the serious crime of "rebellion" should depend on its exact actions. , instead of just talking a few words in private and then being 'guilty for what you say'."
Li Yuanjia: "..."
Not only do you question Emperor Taizong's achievements, but you even want to change the "Datang Code"? !
Do you really think that the Nine-Five Supreme Being, who rules the world, can hold the sun and moon in his hands and do whatever he wants?
Do you have any misunderstandings about the sentence "Under the sky, it's the king's land; on the shore of the land, it's the king's ministers"?
I really thought that after becoming the emperor, everyone in the world would respect you and respect your words and deeds without any disobedience!
"Your Majesty, the law is the foundation for the operation of the empire and the rules for the conduct of the world. Although it needs to keep pace with the times, it cannot be changed easily, otherwise the world will be in chaos!"
Why is this emperor so naive?
Do you really think that what the law advocates is fairness and justice?
fart!
The reason why the law exists is not fairness and justice, but a tool for the ruling class to achieve class rule, that's all!
When the ruling class needs justice and fairness to reflect the correctness of the ruling class, then what the law embodies is fairness and justice.
When the ruling class needs to maintain its rule, then the law is a weapon derived for the purpose of rule!
This is an issue that every ruling class should be well aware of. How come there is a cognitive bias on His Majesty’s side?
At that time, the East Palace gathered almost all the celebrities and great scholars from the Zhenguan Dynasty. What did they teach Li Chengqian?
The eldest son and grandson of the Zhenguan Dynasty and the undisputed heir to the throne not only almost lost the iron-clad inheritance of the throne, but even the most basic knowledge that a ruler should have was deviated...
Li Yuanjia had no choice but to admonish: "This is such a big matter that even His Majesty the Nine-Five Supreme Being cannot decide it with just one word and should consider it in the long term. However, Li Shenfu and others are now clearly committing evil deeds and cannot be tolerated. Your Majesty should act decisively to eliminate hidden dangers and avoid the consequences." The country is at risk of falling into turmoil.”
This time, Li Chengqian didn't say anything more. He nodded and said, "I understand what His Highness the King of Han said. I will send the 'Hundred Cavalry Division' to keep an eye on him and capture him if he makes the slightest move. I will never allow him to cause trouble to the imperial court." , subvert the imperial power.”
Li Yuanjia was helpless. Although His Majesty did not say any more stupid words such as "tolerance", "kindness" and "cannot be punished for words", he was still indecisive, which made him feel dissatisfied. I still lack some weight, so maybe I should let Fang Jun come and give me some advice. With Fang Jun's qualifications, status, and temperament, if Li Chengqian still says these stupid things, he will definitely be scolded by Fang Jun in person... …