Chapter 4915: Demotion to King Wei
Li Ji glanced at Fang Jun and was not interested in his suggestion that he should step forward to help the ministers.
In other words, he is not sure whether there will be other pitfalls in this, so it is better to sit on the sidelines to be on the safe side...
Looking at Li Ji's cautious look, Fang Jun suppressed a smile and said, "Young Master, it seems that the heart of a villain is judging the heart of a gentleman."
Li Ji ignored him at all.
Fang Jun stood up in person, bowed and saluted, and then said: "Your Majesty clearly knows that although King Wei made mistakes and was of a bad nature, there were reasons and extenuating circumstances. Your Majesty has always been friendly to brothers, and even King Jin made a big mistake I can't bear to be harshly criticized, let alone the disaster caused by King Wei's recklessness. The title of King Wei was given by the late emperor and should not be deprived of it under any circumstances."
Li Chengqian looked angry: "It is because of my friendship and magnanimity that they have no fear, and one or two of them committed treasonous and unethical acts! I really can't bear to kill them, but I can still do it by demoting them to common people!"
Which minister who can stand in the palace is not a master of observing words and emotions and figuring out people's hearts? Seeing that although His Majesty is still angry, there is already room in his words. Moreover, Fang Jun stepped forward and took the initiative to "build a ladder" for everyone, so naturally he had to go down the steps.
Otherwise, can we still be tough?
Liu Jie said: "The King of Wei did violate the principles of serving as a minister. He ignored the etiquette and laws and despised His Majesty. But in the end, he was your Majesty's sibling, so maybe he can be lenient."
Liu Xiangdao was helped up by someone, covering his face without saying a word. Although he was extremely angry, he also knew that this was not the time to express his feelings and seek justice. If he forced his majesty to deprive him of the title of King Wei, he would definitely regret it later and deeply hate him. The person who "forced the palace" today.
Ma Zhou took two steps forward and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty's desire to protect you is known to all the ministers. To worship the late emperor's mausoleum without permission is a serious crime. Soon it will be spread throughout the world. If your Majesty turns a blind eye, it will be detrimental to the imperial authority." , still should be severely punished, and the etiquette and law must be respected.”
"The words of the servant are reasonable, but if such rebellious behavior is allowed to pass lightly, where are the etiquette and law, and where are the principles?"
"It's better to make him live in seclusion in the mansion and not to go out without permission."
"Deprive yourself of all assignments and apologize behind closed doors!"
As long as it is not deprivation of the title, any other punishment is acceptable. The more severe the better. It is best to deprive him of the tasks of the "Cultural Promotion Association" and "Building the Eastern Capital". Both of these are good tasks. I don't know how many people are jealous and enthusiastic. mouth watering.
Li Chengqian waved his hand to stop the noise of the civil servants, looked at Fang Jun and asked: "What does the State of Yue think should be done?"
Fang Jun looked embarrassed and said: "Normally everyone's opinion is very appropriate. King Wei should be imprisoned and deprived of his missions. But the problem is that the two missions that King Wei is currently serving are extremely important. It would be difficult to replace them rashly. Successfully took over.”
"Is the Duke of Yue exaggerating? The civil and military officials of the entire dynasty are all elites and outstanding people. Even though their intelligence is not as good as that of the King of Wei, Xiao Gui and Cao Sui will still be able to do it."
Whether it is the "Cultural Promotion Association" or the "Building the Eastern Capital", the Wei Dynasty has already created a situation. The successor does not need to start from scratch, and the difficulty is naturally not great.
"Oh, it's really shameless."
Fang Jun sneered and said: "Your Majesty is aware that the 'Cultural Promotion Association' shoulders the important task of building county schools and township schools across the country. It spends millions of dollars in silk every year and mobilizes more than 100,000 people to do corvee work. , and the money and silk needed were basically collected from everywhere by the king of Wei, and the corvee was No matter who takes over, you will be paid according to local wages, but on the day of succession, please make a written guarantee and issue a military order. If this feat of benefiting all people and opening up people's wisdom is aborted midway or even large-scale corruption occurs, Take full responsibility!”
No one answered.
This "Cultural Promotion Association" has great influence and indirectly shoulders the important task of promoting the "imperial examination system". Once successful, it will be an extremely dazzling political achievement. But if it requires a huge investment of money and labor to complete, it is not worth it.
Besides, who can afford millions of dollars a year to support this project?
King Wei went around "begging for help" as a prince, and got a huge "donation" blackmailed from the clan by Fang Jun, so he could successfully implement it. Others didn't have that ability...
"Let's talk about the construction of the Eastern Capital. Luoyang City has gone through wars and was dilapidated. Most of the palaces built by Emperor Yang of Sui Dynasty in the past have been abandoned. Repairing and rebuilding them is an extremely huge project. All aspects of design, planning, construction, etc. are invested in A huge amount of money, silk, labor, and huge trees shipped from overseas are countless. Whoever succeeds will also make a written guarantee that he will take the responsibility if corruption occurs. "
All the civil servants looked at each other.
The more money and silk that are handled, the greater the probability of corruption. The chief officer can control not to be corrupt, but it is difficult to control hundreds of subordinates not to extend their hands, let alone listen to the words. Since Fang Jun said this, it means No matter who takes over these two tasks, he will send people to watch closely, and they will catch the slightest mistake...
For such a huge project, who can guarantee that it will be as clean as water from top to bottom?
Some people were dissatisfied: "Did there not occur any corruption during the reign of King Wei?"
Fang Jun dismissed it: "How can you say such stupid things? If you have doubts, you can apply for supervision. The censors in the censor station have nothing to do all day long. They can be sent out to various places to investigate and approve. If there is any corruption incident, The King of Wei should be held accountable immediately, but this is not just a lie without evidence."
Liu Xiangdao, the imperial censor, covered his face and said nothing.
Whether it is the "Cultural Promotion Association" or the "Building the Eastern Capital", both matters are at the strategic level of the empire. Unless the evidence is conclusive and the impact is huge, how can it be investigated?
Etiquette and law are rules, and officialdom also has rules. Why can't we blame King Wei for breaking the rules and then turn around and not follow the rules?
Li Chengqian looked at Li Shenfu, who was hunched over and silent, and said warmly: "Come here, give the prince a seat!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The chamberlain brought a brocade pier and placed it on the hall. Li Shenfu sat on it and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He stood for a long time, his legs were trembling from exhaustion...
Li Chengqian said: "My uncle is an elder of the clan and has high moral character and high respect. Can you give me some advice on how to deal with King Wei?"
Li Shenfu shook his head: "I came here just because I heard that someone was disobeying the rules and disrupting the dignity of the royal family. It is related to the dignity of the royal family, so I am concerned. As for how to deal with King Wei... Your Majesty is the monarch of King Wei, and he is also the brother of King Wei. Just make your own decisions, why ask others for their opinions?”
Li Chengqian smiled and said with emotion: "I am also very confused now. If the punishment is light, it will not teach him a lesson, and he will not be able to give an explanation to the world. If the punishment is heavy, I can't bear it, lest I bear the burden of an abusive sibling." Infamy. Uncle Wang, you may wish to express your opinions freely, and I will consider them."
Isn't it just to show your presence by running eagerly to the court?
I will give you a chance to show off well.
Li Shenfu raised his head and glanced at His Majesty, cursing in his heart, "You don't want to offend others, so you ask me to stand up and be a villain?"
However, since he came to the court, it was just to show his "high moral and respectable" status, which was just the right thing to do.
Moreover, His Majesty is very aggressive. He will not give up until he expresses his opinion on punishment today...
After thinking about it, Li Shenfu sighed and said: "King Wei is deeply loved by Emperor Taizong and has made many achievements for the Tang Dynasty in recent years. Logically speaking, he should not be harshly criticized. But the country has its own laws and the clan has its own etiquette. Absolutely We cannot allow him to be trampled upon! The king of Wei is not allowed to worship the ancestral mausoleum without authorization. He should be demoted to the king of Wei and be prohibited from worshiping the ancestral mausoleum for three years!"
There was a "buzz" in the hall, and the ministers discussed and were surprised.
In this way, it is equivalent to giving King Wei a "serious demerit" punishment, and he is guilty of the country and the clan. His status as the "successor to the empire" in name is completely deprived. Even if something unexpected happens to His Majesty and his heirs, King Wei will not be punished. It's impossible to succeed as king... It's very serious.
Li Shenfu was helpless. King Wei was originally a good candidate to win over. Even though he said he would not participate in the fight for the throne, who didn't covet that position in his heart? As long as the situation develops to that stage, it is natural for the King of Wei to take over.
But now the king of Wei has made such a big mistake in his madness, which is almost not tolerated by the clan. Who in the clan will support such a person to ascend the throne in the future?
Since you can only give up, then give up more completely.
Anyway, Emperor Taizong had many heirs, and this one was worthy of him... huh?
Li Shenfu's heart suddenly moved, and a thought emerged: Could it be that King Wei did this on purpose?
*****
"Mountains to the south and water to the north are all yang", Xianyang is located just north of the Wei River and south of Jiuwei Mountain. The mountains and rivers are all yang, so it is named Xianyang. From here to the north, Jiuwei Mountain stretches up and down across the hinterland of the plain, facing the peaks of Taibai and Zhongnan. The mountain is abrupt and beautiful, and has good geomantic omen. It was chosen by Emperor Taizong as the site for his mausoleum.
In the tenth year of Zhenguan, Queen Wende was critically ill and her last words were poorly buried.
Emperor Taizong followed Empress Wende's last wishes and placed her temporarily in a newly dug grotto in Mount Jiuwei after her death. He also decided to make Zhaoling his final destination, and named the mausoleum Zhaoling.
"The sacred text Zhou Da is called Zhao, and the virtue and merit are called Zhao."
In the next few years, Emperor Taizong felt that his great achievements were comparable to that of "one emperor throughout the ages". He completely forgot about Empress Wende's last words of "a sparse burial" and started a huge and complicated construction project. Even after his death, he could not complete it. After Li Chengqian succeeded to the throne, he still spent countless money and labor to continue construction.
The clouds were hanging low, and the abrupt ridge was like a sharp sword thrust into the clouds. Large flakes of snow were flying, shrouding the entire mausoleum's above-ground buildings in the vastness. As far as the eye could see, the tall roof of the Xian Palace was hidden in the wind and snow. looming in the middle.
Li Tai knelt on the ground and looked up at the statues of Emperor Taizong and Queen Wende. He already knew that he was being punished by being demoted to a county king, but his heart was calm and untroubled, even after a bit of "the conspiracy succeeded." A secret joy...
There was a sound of footsteps behind him, and Li Chengqian walked in slowly with a futou and a large cloak. Dedication to the Hall
(End of chapter)