Chapter 4922: Pressing forward step by step
"Is this happening?!"
Dai Zhou was so shocked that his eyes widened when he heard that a case that was originally just a case of many officials from the Wannian County government colluding inside and outside to embezzle public funds and manipulate lawsuits actually involved someone substituting substandard quality during the construction of the Zhaoling Mausoleum.
Han Ai was also a little confused.
This is a big deal!
That is His Majesty Taizong's mausoleum, but someone actually dares to pass it off as a good one and take advantage of it?
Liu Xiangdao nodded: "The confession made by the county magistrate Duan Yuanliang and the participation of the Duke of Xi are beyond doubt. Now the Duke of Xi is being interrogated in the wing. However, he has denied it and refused to admit guilt, so a confession has not yet been obtained."
Han Ai frowned: "That would be difficult."
Even if you are brave enough to do such a thing, who would dare to admit it?
Even the princes of the royal family cannot bear the crime of "blaspheming the imperial mausoleum". The king of Wei has been deprived of his royal title for "violating the etiquette system". Li Xiaoxie shoddy the building materials of the imperial mausoleum to avoid safety risks and cause the imperial mausoleum to collapse. ... King Xi's entire branch must be killed from top to bottom, from old to young.
But after all, he is a descendant of the clan, and he is the inheritor of King Xi's branch. When offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors, he can stand in a separate row, but he cannot be served with severe punishment, right?
Dai Zhou took a sip of tea, waved his hand, and said disapprovingly: "What's not easy to do? When it comes to the imperial mausoleum, no one can resist the interrogation with a special status, not to mention a mere prince, even a prince or a prince. Detect the case and bring it to justice The most important thing is to find out those rebellious people and bring them to justice, and at the same time find out how many substandard building materials have flowed into the imperial mausoleum, whether it will affect the stability of the imperial mausoleum, and replace or even rebuild them in a timely manner."
He looked at Liu Xiangdao and said slowly: "Is the Yushitai determined to find out? If not, we can withdraw now and let Dali Temple take over."
Han Ai has always been a discerning person, and immediately said: "You two are the elders here, and I should be the one to do this kind of hard work. You might as well supervise some from the side, and it is also good to check for deficiencies."
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Liu Xiangdao was so angry that he stared at him. This old man and this young man were simply not human beings. Do you want to put him on the fire?
The dignified censor, the clear stream among the clear streams, the embodiment of "justice" and "toughness", if he is "
If the reputation of "fearing power" spreads, how can you have the dignity to steal this position?
However, the consequences of punishing Li Xiaoxie are not small...
But now there is no room for hesitation. Compared with the backlash from the clan afterwards, he must show enough strength and fairness at this moment.
"If someone comes, use torture on Li Xiaoxie. You must make him bow his head and confess his crime, and reveal whether he has any accomplices!"
"Here!"
Then, Liu Xiangdao looked at Dai Zhou and asked, "Are you proud that your provocation method worked?"
Dai Zhou laughed and said: "I will be proud if this method of provoking generals does not work."
Han Ai patted her legs aside and said regretfully: "It would be a great achievement if such a big case could be solved, but it's a pity that the Yushitai took the lead. Since it involves the imperial mausoleum, it is a huge case, why not let the Three Laws Division Joint trial? With more people and more power, the case can be heard more quickly and accurately, thus taking some of the pressure off the Yushitai.”
"Ha," Liu Xiangdao sneered. The two people's abacus balls were beating louder than those in the accounting offices: "It doesn't take much trouble for you two. The Yushitai supervises all officials, corrects impeachment and lawlessness, reviews prison sentences, interrogates corruption and rectifies officials. Under their authority, officials at all levels sternly swear to be incompatible with lawlessness. No matter how big their official position is, how powerful they are, or how noble their status is, as long as they violate the criminal law, they will be brought to justice! ”
Is he afraid of pressure?
Are you kidding me? As a pure man among the pure, it is his duty to be impartial and upright. Being slandered as the "Emperor's Eagle Dog" in the past has damaged his reputation. He just used this case to clear his name. He is only afraid of the pressure. Not big enough!
Not long after, Li Shouyue returned quickly with an excited expression. He handed the confession in his hand to Liu Xiang and said: "Li Xiaoxie confessed, and also confessed that seven other members of the clan were shoddy in the process of supplying building materials to Zhaoling." , cutting corners! ”
Liu Xiangdao stood up suddenly, took the confession and glanced at it. Then he looked up at Fang Jun with a solemn expression: "This case involves too many areas and has serious implications. It is necessary for the Duke of Yue to send more soldiers to help arrest, and at the same time, the stability of Chang'an must be ensured."
Fang Jun did not agree, but said softly: "Let me tell you to your Majesty first. How to make a decision? I ask your Majesty to issue an edict."
Liu Xiangdao shook his head: "The facts of the case are clear and the evidence is conclusive. They are all within the scope of the Yushitai's authority. I can investigate to the end. Why does your Majesty need to make a decision?"
He didn't think it was a good thing to inform Li Chengqian.
This case has a wide range of implications, with many clans involved. Instead of letting His Majesty be the "evil person", it is better for the Yushitai to shoulder the responsibility and not make it difficult for His Majesty.
Furthermore, Your Majesty has always been indecisive and tolerant towards the clan. If you still have the idea of preserving the clan and unwilling to bear the burden of killing the clan, you have no choice but to let these people escape this disaster...
Fang Jun insisted on his opinion: "When it comes to the clan, Yushitai only has the power to interrogate and not to dispose. Even if the trial is a solid case, doesn't it still have to be made by His Majesty in the end? Regarding the clan, His Majesty has his own overall considerations, and should inform him in advance Your Majesty.”
Liu Xiangdao was very angry. He felt that he should take the initiative to be this "evil person" instead of shifting the responsibility to His Majesty. After all, he was indeed the "Emperor's Eagle Dog". Although he was righteous, it did not prevent him from serving as His Majesty's pawn...< br>
But he could refute Fang Jun's opinion, but he couldn't resist.
"Then enter the palace immediately to see His Majesty."
"Just as it should be."
"Don't you go with the Duke of Yue?"
"The imperial censor will leave as he pleases. I will be here to take charge of the situation and ensure that everything goes smoothly in Chang'an City."
When it comes to imperial mausoleums, someone's head must fall to the ground. It is difficult to guarantee that those clans will not take risks...
Liu Xiangdao said no more, packed up the confession, stood up and said goodbye to a few people, took a few of his followers and rode out of the county government office, and went straight to the palace city.
……
Li Chengqian stayed awake in the Imperial Study Room, waiting for news from the Wannian County Government. First, Zheng Rentai reported the chaos in Chang'an, and then "Baiqisi" reported that Yushitai and Jinwuwei were arresting many people and even involved many clan members. , inevitably makes him anxious.
When Liu Xiangdao asked for an audience outside the palace gate, he was immediately taken to the imperial study.
After Liu Xiangdao greeted him, Li Chengqian asked: "What's the situation outside? Why are there so many arrests?"
Liu Xiangdao put several confessions in his hand aside, then took off his turban, knelt on the ground, and said in a choked voice: "I am a humble person, but I was stripped by your majesty and stole the position of deputy prime minister. Not only did I fail to repay your majesty's kindness in case of accidents, , but failed in their duty to supervise the officials, causing the traitors to actually embezzle the building materials of Zhaoling. Emperor Taizong's soul was uneasy, and his subjects were guilty of death!"
At this point, I burst into tears.
Li Chengqian's expression changed drastically. He stood up suddenly and took a few steps to come to Liu Xiangdao. He looked down from a high position and his eyes were about to burst: "What did you say?! Someone tampered with the building materials of Zhaoling?!"
Liu Xiangdao raised several confessions over his head: "It has been found that Li Xiaoxie, the Duke of Xi, Li Youliang, the Prince of Changle County, Li Xiaotong, the Prince of Zichuan County, and several clan members were involved in it, either passing it off as good, or falsely reporting the number... shocking, Man and God are angry!”
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Li Chengqian took the confessions with trembling hands and read them carefully one by one. His face turned red, his lips were trembling, and his eyes were blood red: "The late emperor ruled the world, benefited the people, and had unparalleled prestige, but he did not think about the gods. His position will be desecrated and trampled upon by his own children. I pride myself on always being tolerant and tolerant to my clan, but instead I allow them to be so arrogant, causing the late emperor’s mausoleum to be humiliated, and I am no longer a son of man!”
Seeing Li Chengqian trembling in anger and his eyes bloodshot, Liu Xiangdao was shocked. He climbed up from the ground, stepped forward to support Li Chengqian's arm, and said in panic: "Your Majesty, calm down your anger, Your Majesty, calm down your anger. Thieves are so audacious that they will be dealt with according to their own laws." Don’t let your anger break your body!”
"Huh..."
Li Chengqian let out a long breath and slowly calmed down.
After a while, he opened his mouth and said, "Xuan Lijun is here to see you!"
"Here!"
Wang De, who had always lowered his head and was frightened in his heart, accepted the words, walked out of the imperial study room quickly, and sent someone to summon Li Junxian.
Li Chengqian's angry mood calmed down a little. After returning to the Imperial Case, he sat down and asked someone to make tea. Then he asked Liu Xiangdao to sit down and said, "Tell me what happened."
It was just a case of embezzlement of funds for repairing dangerous houses in Wannian County. How come it was involved in a major case related to the construction of an imperial mausoleum?
Liu Xiangdao sat down halfway, holding the tea cup and not daring to drink, and explained the incident in detail.
Hearing that Fang Jun not only sent troops to arrest those involved in the case, but also personally took charge of Wannian County Yagong Guard Cheng'an to ensure the stability of the capital, Li Chengqian breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little excited. He now hoped that those in the clan were too involved and knew that they would not be able to escape the death penalty. , so I took the risk and launched it in advance...
He is a person who does not have much patience. Although he cherishes his feathers and worries about his reputation and is prepared to strike later, the enemy is still not moving, which makes him quite anxious and a little impatient to wait.
Maybe now is an opportunity to get it done once and for all...
"Your Majesty, General Lee is here."
"Xuan."
"Here."
Not long after, Li Junxian stepped inside.
"I will see your Majesty at last."
"Excuse me, does the general know what happened in the city?"
"The general will hear a little bit about it."
"The 'Baiqisi' sent capable personnel to assist Yushitai in reviewing the case. No matter who is involved, they will be arrested first and then interrogated. If necessary, severe punishment can be used without worrying about their identity."
Although Yushitai had also tortured Li Xiaoxie before, after all, he had many concerns and the scale was too shallow to achieve the purpose of shocking people's hearts.
The "Hundred Qisi" is different. This is the real minion of the emperor. Once the "Hundred Qisi" uses severe punishment on the clan members, it will be more significant and the shock will be more far-reaching.
If they are pressed harder and harder, I don’t believe those people can still sit still...
Li Junxian thought for a moment and immediately understood what His Majesty meant, and said in a deep voice: "I will obey your orders!"
This snowy night is destined to be swept by strong winds. (End of chapter)