Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4920 Feeling confident
Several people greeted each other and took their seats.

As a landlord and the lowest-ranking official, Li Anqi took the initiative to serve tea to the others. Fang Jun smiled, took a sip, and asked, "How is the situation?"

Ma Zhou glanced at Liu Xiangdao, who said, "After the interrogation, we found that the matter was serious. These people not only colluded with each other, manipulated the public funds, and controlled the lawsuits, but they were also found to be involved in the construction of Zhaoling..."

Fang Jun was stunned for a moment, then waved his hands: "How the case is tried has nothing to do with me. I am just cooperating with you. If you have any requests, just speak up."

The civil and military officials have different paths. The conflict between the civil and military officials in the court is already very serious, and we need to pay more attention to it.

Liu Xiangdao nodded and said, "In that case, please ask the Duke of Yue to send someone to summon all the people involved in the case. We will try the case here and report to His Majesty after we make progress. At the same time, we must pay more attention to various places in the city to prevent anyone from taking risks and causing chaos."

Since it involves the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum, it is a serious crime that can easily lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family. It is inevitable that some people are too deeply involved in the case and know that they are guilty of a serious crime, so they try their best to escape from the crime...

Fang Jun looked solemn and nodded, "That's exactly what should be done!"

He turned around and ordered Cheng Wuting and Sun Renshi: "Send soldiers to follow the officials of the Censorate to summon all the people involved in the case. No matter who they are, they must be detained. If there is any obstruction, they will be arrested! In addition, send people to the various city gates to coordinate the garrison. Anyone leaving the city tonight must be strictly checked. If there is any suspicion, they can be arrested!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangdao hurriedly said, "This... isn't it a bit too much of a fuss?"

The curfew in Chang'an City has been abolished today, and as it is the end of the year, the entire city has a strong commercial atmosphere. Countless people enter and leave the city every day, and even in the middle of the night, the city gates are not quiet. A hasty blockade of the city gates will inevitably cause great chaos and panic.

Fang Jun said sternly, "If they dare to tamper with the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum, it is a major crime known to the world. No matter how strict the investigation is, it will not be excessive. Doctor Yushi, rest assured, I will bear all the consequences. You just need to investigate the case thoroughly!"

He also instructed Cheng Wuting: "Go to the Duke of Xun's mansion to summon him. You must follow him in person. If he resists, tie him up and bring him here."

Cheng Wuting's heart trembled, and he quickly agreed: "Yes!"

"Go ahead, and be quick. Otherwise, the more you delay, the more trouble you will cause."

"Here!"

Cheng and Sun took the order and strode out of the yamen.

The streets were already densely packed with elite soldiers of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards, standing in neat formation in the heavy snow, motionless, with a solemn and murderous atmosphere, ready to take action.

At the same time, officials from the Censorate also walked out of the gate in a hurry. Immediately, a captain led a team of soldiers to contact them and obey their orders. In a blink of an eye, more than ten teams of people walked out of the streets in succession, galloping in the heavy snow, and rushed to various places in the city.

The hurried sound of horse hooves was particularly clear in the long street on a snowy night. After arriving at the destination, they would order the gate to be opened and drive straight in while the guards were stunned. They would go straight to various mansions, smash down the doors and rush in. They would arrest people directly according to the list, but anyone who disobeyed or obstructed would be arrested.

There was chaos in Chang'an city, all the streets were brightly lit, and no one knew what was happening.

Even the left and right guards patrolling the imperial city noticed something was wrong, and quickly sent more soldiers to guard the city gates. They also sent people to the left and right Jinwu guards responsible for the city's defense to gather information, and reported to the palace...

……

In Taiji Palace, Li Chengqian had just finished dinner, bathed and changed his clothes. He sat in the bedroom for a while but felt no sleepiness at all, so he put on his robe and went to the imperial study with a eunuch holding a lantern.

Looking at the pile of memorials on his desk, he couldn't help but sigh softly. The heavy workload almost exhausted his energy. Although he could still cope with it, he had overdrawn his body and neglected the concubines in the palace.

The reason why I didn't sleep in the bedroom was probably a subconscious escape...

He asked the eunuch to make a pot of strong tea, lit the candlesticks, sat behind the imperial desk, and buried his head in his documents.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Chengqian, with a stiff waist, put down his pen, rubbed his waist, and looked up at the snowflakes falling under the light of the lanterns outside the window...

The climate in Guanzhong has been very different in recent years. It is rainy and hot in summer, snowy and freezing in winter, not as peaceful as in previous years. A few days ago, houses in Chang'an collapsed due to heavy snow, and some people even froze to death in the snow. He was very angry and reprimanded Jingzhao Yin Ma Zhou, but he didn't know whether he could deal with it.

As the year draws to a close, we can’t let the people have a bad year, right?
There were hurried footsteps outside the door, and soon, the eunuch Wang De walked in quickly: "Your Majesty, the Right Army General Zheng Rentai wants to see you."

"Ok?"

Li Chengqian frowned, then said, "Announce!"

"Here."

Wang De turned around and went out. A moment later, Zheng Rentai, wearing a helmet and armor, walked in and greeted him.

"Be flat!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Wang De, make a cup of hot tea for the Duke of Tongan."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zheng Rentai took the hot tea handed to him by Wang De and took a sip.

Li Chengqian asked, "My dear minister, why did you enter the palace in the middle of the night when you were not on duty in the imperial city?"

Zheng Rentai put down his teacup and said, "Your Majesty, there was chaos in Chang'an City just now. Soldiers were seen entering and leaving many neighborhoods. I heard that the Imperial Censorate and the Jinwu Guards were dispatched together and arrested many people. In addition, all the city gates have been put under martial law, and people are allowed to enter but not leave. I am responsible for guarding the imperial city, but I have no idea what is going on. May I ask Your Majesty whether it is necessary to close all the gates of the imperial city and strengthen the security?"

The Imperial City is outside the palace city. Although it is divided into two, it is actually connected as one. Together with the Northern Ya Forbidden Army stationed at Xuanwu Gate, Chongxuan Gate and other places, they are responsible for guarding the Imperial Palace. Therefore, once the Left and Right Leading Army Guards strengthen their vigilance and patrols, or even block the gates of the Imperial City, the entire body will be affected, and the Northern Ya Forbidden Army will inevitably follow suit.

This created a tense atmosphere throughout the palace.

Regardless of the era, "Martial Law in the Palace" is a big deal, and the consequences are extremely serious...

Li Chengqian thought for a moment, shook his head, and said, "There is no need to make a big fuss. Since the left and right Jinwu Guards have already begun martial law, Chang'an City is as solid as a rock. Besides, it's just Wannian County investigating corruption, it's no big deal."

"Here!"

Zheng Rentai accepted the order, and seeing that His Majesty had no further instructions, he withdrew and returned to the imperial city.

Standing on the tower of Suzaku Gate and overlooking the various neighborhoods of Chang'an City, which were clearly outlined by lights and scattered across the city in the night, I couldn't help but sigh.

He felt a little sympathetic towards Li Chengqian. When he was the crown prince, he did not enjoy the respect and honor of being the "successor to the empire". Instead, he had to be on guard against his brothers stabbing him in the back all the time. Moreover, Emperor Taizong was always thinking of "changing the crown prince". He was trembling with fear and trepidation all day long. Even after he ascended the throne, first the Guanlong meritorious officer and then the Prince of Jin Li Zhi launched mutinies one after another. The Xuanwu Gate was captured twice, and he was only one step away from successfully usurping the throne...

To this day, there are still some disloyal people who harbor covetous hearts.

It is not easy for the emperor to achieve this, with internal and external troubles and walking on thin ice...

*****
At the residence of Duke Xun, Li Xiaoxie was reconciling accounts in the study. As the year was coming to an end, gifts from old relatives and acquaintances had to be recorded in a book for easy return of gifts or comparison in the future. However, looking at the accounts, Li Xiaoxie was filled with sorrow and sighed deeply.

His son Li Sizhong poured a cup of tea and placed it next to Li Xiaoxie, and asked curiously, "Why is father sighing?"

Although the prestige of the Duke of Xun's Mansion is declining, it is, after all, a descendant of Emperor Gaozu, and the eldest branch of Prince Xun's branch, with a respected seniority. Therefore, at the end of the year, fewer gifts were given out and more were received, and the almost empty treasury was filled again.

Li Xiaoxie drank a sip of tea and said depressedly, "If it weren't for the blackmail by Fang Jun, why would the mansion be so short of money and food? Relying on accepting gifts to make a living, we have become a laughing stock among the royal family!"

It was precisely because of this that he became more determined to follow Li Shenfu in starting an uprising. Otherwise, he didn't know when he could earn back the money that Fang Jun had extorted...

After a pause, he asked again: "Why didn't the brick kiln in the west of the city send the account book?"

Li Sizhong said, "I have sent someone to inquire, and they said they are calculating it. It will probably be delivered tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, and the money will be delivered at the same time."

Li Xiaoxie nodded and said, "The brick kiln made a lot of money this year, which greatly eased the government's expenses. Let's wait until after the New Year to see if there are any suitable brick kilns. If we build one or two more, we can have enough food and drink by relying on Zhaoling."

When Empress Wende passed away, she left a will asking for a "shallow burial". Emperor Taizong agreed very well, but large-scale construction began within a few years. In particular, the royal navy occupied a large number of gold and silver mines overseas, and countless gold and silver were transported to Chang'an and paid into the imperial treasury. Emperor Taizong was wealthy and paid more and more attention to the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum, and its scale increased by more than twice compared to before.
The corresponding various building materials were naturally consumed in large quantities, and many people who were responsible for supplying the materials made a fortune...

Li Sizhong hesitated for a moment and said cautiously, "We still need to be more cautious. His Majesty attaches great importance to the construction of Zhaoling Mausoleum. The prices of various materials are also very high. As long as we supply them on time and in quantity, we can make a lot of money. Why should we pass off inferior products as good ones? If something goes wrong, it will be a serious crime!"

That is the mausoleum of Emperor Taizong and Empress Wende!
Once something happened, even without the emperor's confession, those Zhenguan meritorious officials who followed Emperor Taizong in his campaigns would dare to come to the door, tie up the father and son and bury them alive in Zhaoling Mausoleum to apologize to Emperor Taizong...

Li Xiaoxie disagreed: "It's not just us who did this. Your Majesty thought that the royal family was so respectful of Zhaoling that they wouldn't dare to do anything, so he distributed most of the supplies to the royal family. But it's the royal family that is so fearless... Even if they found out something, what can they do? Will they wipe out the royal family?"

Now it’s not Li Chengqian who is looking for trouble with the royal family, but many people in the royal family are holding back and want to overthrow Li Chengqian... Li Chengqian can’t even appease the royal family, so how dare he raise an army to hold them accountable?
(End of this chapter)