Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

So many dukes were called to Ganlu Palace?

It seems that what these princes and aristocratic families have done has touched Li Shimin's bottom line, making this emperor of all ages unable to sit still.

I don’t know how Changsun Wuji will perform?

Du He stood up and said, "Lai Ji, let's go over now."

On the way to Ganlu Temple.

Du He asked softly, "Lai Ji, have you adapted to serving the Crown Prince for so long?"

Lai Ji quickly responded, "Duke Hanguo, because you spoke well of me in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince has great trust in me and will send me on any task, big or small."

When he first went to the Eastern Palace, the prince completely ignored him.

Apart from running errands, he has no access to any confidential matters.

The officials in the Eastern Palace also excluded him in every possible way, treating him as a spy sent by His Majesty to be by the Crown Prince's side.

After Han Guogong spoke well of him, the situation changed drastically.

The prince began to let him take part in some important matters, and the officials and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace also welcomed him with a smile.

Du He smiled and said, "That's good."

After he became the Minister of Revenue, he specifically looked up Lai Ji's information.

He passed the imperial examination during the Wude period and was appointed Tongshi Sheren in the 17th year of Zhenguan. In recent years, he co-authored "Book of Jin" with Linghu Defen, the Junior Secretary.

After the "Book of Jin" is completed, Lai Ji will be promoted to the Secretary of the Secretariat.

Military generals who destroyed countries and civil officials who compiled national history could all be quickly promoted, and the promotion of official positions basically jumped five or six small levels.

After a cup of tea,

When Du He walked to the gate of Ganlu Palace, he found that Li Ji, Hou Junji, Fang Xuanling, Changsun Wuji, Ma Zhou and others had just arrived.

Except for Changsun Wuji, the others were all confused.

Everyone greeted each other, and then, led by the eunuchs, walked into the Ganlu Hall together.

"See Your Majesty, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

On the imperial platform.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said, "Everyone, sit down!"

When everyone saw Li Shimin's gloomy expression and a hint of anger in his tone, their faces also became solemn.

A moment of silence.

Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "Just an hour ago, Sun Fujia, the Minister of Justice, and Cui Shenji, the Imperial Censor, told me about two serious cases!"

"There are 35 princes and 360 aristocratic families who embezzled a large amount of childbirth subsidies."

"In addition, some vassal kings reached out to the captives of the Western Turks and secretly took away a large number of beautiful women!"

what!

So many princes and aristocratic families embezzled birth subsidies?

Moreover, the young women of the Western Turks were all kept as concubines by the soldiers, and almost every one of them was already taken.

These princes are so bold!

Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Li Ji, Ma Zhou and others had big reactions on their faces, looking extremely surprised.

Although Changsun Wuji was pretending to be surprised, his expression looked very stiff.

"hehe."

Du He smiled and glanced sideways at Changsun Wuji, making a slight sarcastic sound.

Changsun Wuji's expression paused slightly, and his hands, hidden in his wide sleeves, were clenched into fists.

Shuzi!

You are still mocking me even when you are about to die!

Let’s see how you die this time!

Things have gotten to this point that even His Majesty can't keep his composure. Next, Du He will have to face the princes and aristocratic families of the world.

The power of these princes and aristocratic families is stronger than that of the Han Dynasty.

The Han Dynasty's reduction of the feudal system led to the Disaster of the Seven Kings. Even the wise and capable Emperor Jing of Han could not save Chao Cuo. Later, the Tang Dynasty encountered the Disaster of the 35 Kings. Can Your Majesty save Du He?

It definitely can’t be saved!

Faced with the tremendous pressure from the princes and aristocratic families, His Majesty can only sacrifice Du He to appease the anger of the people.

Li Shimin's deep gaze swept across everyone, and he stayed on Changsun Wuji the longest.

A moment of silence.

Li Shimin picked up a stack of lists on the table and waved to the eunuchs, "Distribute all the lists."

"promise!"

The eunuch responded, then took the list and handed it out.

The advantage of movable type printing is reflected here. The lists in the hands of the ministers have the same handwriting and look very clear and neat.

When everyone's eyes fell on the list, their eyes widened.

"Li Shenfu, Prince of Xiangyi; Li Xiaotong, Prince of Zichuan; Li Daoli, Prince of Gaoping; Li Boyi, Prince of Longxi; Li Yu, Prince of Jibei... Li Feng, Prince of Guo; Li Yin, Prince of Shu."

"Is the King of Shu also involved?"

Thinking of Li Yan's various behaviors in Chang'an and his misdeeds in his fiefdom, the ministers' surprise suddenly disappeared.

Unlike King Li Ke of Chu, King Li Yin of Shu was a domineering and arrogant playboy who indulged in hunting without restraint.

He has been in office for so many years and has never done a good thing.

It was normal for this dandy prince to spend all his money and then defraud the birth subsidy reward.

The ministers looked down and suddenly there was a sound of people sucking in their breaths of cold air.

"Suck~"

"Xiangyi County Prince Li Shenfu requested 81 Western Turkic beauties!"

"Prince Guo Li Feng requested 50 Western Turkic beauties!"

"..."

You should know that to be called a beauty, her appearance must be outstanding.

The beauties selected by these princes were almost all awarded to generals who had made great contributions, such as Su Dingfang, Xue Rengui, Luo Tong and Yuchi Huan.

Didn’t these princes seize the concubines of the soldiers?

The hatred for taking away my wife is irreconcilable!

If this matter gets out, those princes will be skinned alive if not dead.

After a long time.

Li Shimin asked in a deep voice, "My dear ministers, regarding these vassal kings and aristocratic families violating Tang law, what should we do?"

The ministers looked at Du He, then lowered their heads to think.

This case of ink and abuse of power is not an ordinary small case. If it is not handled properly, it may shake the foundation of the country.

It must be treated with caution!

Du He didn't say anything either. He and Li Shimin looked at each other, and then he drank his tea with a calm expression.

To deal with this group of thieves, you can use thunder and lightning to suppress them.

The only drawback is that it doesn't involve the old scoundrel Changsun Wuji.

On the imperial platform.

Seeing that no one had spoken, Li Shimin called out his name and asked, "Changsun Wuji, you come and speak!"

Changsun Wuji?

His Majesty has always called it auxiliary engine and rarely calls it by its name. Is there some inside story?

The eyes of all the ministers were focused on Zhangsun Wuji.

this...

Changsun Wuji's eyelids twitched suddenly.

Previously, he sent his concubine Han Yunu to sneak into the Eastern Palace, and His Majesty always called him by his courtesy name. Unexpectedly, His Majesty now calls him by his name.

Did the matter leak out?

impossible!

He did this matter very secretly and had no contact with these princes and aristocratic families, but why is His Majesty's attitude so strange?

He was stunned for a few breaths.

Zhangsun Wuji stood up and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, the Zhenguan Code clearly stipulates that those who embezzle birth subsidies will be punished with caning at the very least, and imprisonment at the worst."

"Officials who defraud childbirth subsidies will be dismissed from their posts."

"Venerable princes who defraud childbirth subsidies will have their titles and fiefs reduced."