The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 344

Soon Qin Xian brought a man up. When Magistrate Chen saw the man, his eyes widened. Wasn't this the man sent by the Minister of Rites to monitor him?

Unexpectedly, the man said, "Our Lord Chen has always admired your methods of doing things. This chain of academies is even more beneficial to the country and the people. My master has wanted to do something that benefits the country and the people for a long time, but it is simply not feasible."

When I came out, the master gave me many instructions, saying that he once had someone he admired, and besides the Emperor, that person was you.

Xu Tian chuckled inwardly. Seeing the disgruntled expression on Magistrate Chen's face, he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"Did you hear that clearly?"

It seems he was terrified by Tang Jian before, and now that Chen Shuda has taken office as Minister of Rites, coupled with Chen Shuda's usual respect for the emperor and patriotism...

He also liked to do practical things for the people. After hearing that he was going to set up an academy, he sent people to come and watch the progress of the project.

Unexpectedly, Magistrate Chen thought that Chen Shuda had sent him to monitor him. Overcome by greed, he embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver and even used the banner of the Ministry of Rites as a protective umbrella.

Xu Tian almost laughed to himself.

“Magistrate Chen, you should know that I am already the Grand Tutor, second only to the emperor, and now I have been granted the title of Prince.”

Although Xu Tian was a modern person, after transmigrating to this world, he understood a rule: those in power needed numerous subordinates to command them to be authoritative. Saying this too explicitly wouldn't be effective. Otherwise, even if you were the one at the top making it clear, your subordinates wouldn't perceive you as particularly powerful.

For example, if Magistrate Chen's rank is vastly different from his, and if he brings up these grand principles and Magistrate Chen still doesn't intend to change, then it proves that he doesn't realize the effectiveness of what his superior, who is eighteen or nineteen ranks higher than him, is saying.

On the contrary, if he were to speak to his superior or someone he could respect, Magistrate Chen would realize that his embezzlement was a grave mistake and that he was courting death.

Thinking of this, Xu Tian felt a little depressed. He looked around and saw that the only people he had brought with him this time were the steward of Hongwen Academy and Qin Xian, the bodyguard and thug that Li Jing had assigned to him.

Another female teacher from another academy was quite annoyed, but Qin Xian was also rather fierce.

Xu Tian quickly gave Qin Xian a wink, and Qin Xian then showed a helpless expression. If Xu Tian hadn't been so strong-willed, he would have stood up and given him a good scolding. Instead, he saw Qin Xian walk to Master Dongfang's side and whisper something in his ear.

Dongfang Tingyun's expression changed several times before he stepped forward and said, "Do you know that the Prince can kill you without hesitation, no matter how high your rank is? You dare to put on airs in front of the Prince, and you dare to hide it!"

The ten thousand taels of silver you embezzled went into your own pocket. Now hand over that ten thousand taels of silver and confess your crime; otherwise, your fate will be no worse than the extermination of your entire family.

Magistrate Chen immediately cried and wailed, "I was forced into this situation! I was being threatened! Please, Your Highness, spare my life!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian realized that the Minister of Justice was about to invoke his authority again. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he slammed his gavel down on the table.

Qin Xian couldn't help but walk up to Xu Tian and say, "Your Highness is too soft-hearted. Corrupt officials like this should be executed as a warning to others."

Xu Tian pouted and said, "Old Qin, you know I'm here to run an academy. I don't have time to investigate a corrupt official."

If all the work of investigating corrupt officials were assigned to me, I would have been exhausted long ago. I was just trying to trick him, but I didn't expect this corrupt official to take it seriously.

Qin Xian stumbled. Was his decisive and ruthless demeanor just an act? Thinking about how Princess Jinyang had been abusing her power these past few days, dragging people out at the drop of a hat, Qin Xian forced himself to close his eyes and stood aside with a steely expression.

Magistrate Chen, of course, couldn't see anything wrong with it.