Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

"Your Majesty's anger! Your Majesty's anger!"

"This matter was indeed caused by our negligence. Even if Your Majesty were to kill us, we would not dare to utter a single complaint. But please, Your Majesty, take good care of your health!"

"......"

Dai Zhou, who had been kicked away, rolled several times on the ground. Then, grimacing, he quickly crawled back to his original position and knelt down with a hunched back.

Fang Xuanling and the others all begged for mercy.

At this moment, a group of officials were kneeling outside the threshold of the Governor's Mansion's reception hall, all shouting in fear to appease Li Shimin.

Li Shimin glanced at these people with resentment, then glared fiercely at Fang Xuanling, Li Daozong, and Dai Zhou kneeling before him with a look of utter disappointment.

"Humph!"

"Now the officials of both circuits have been corrupted and almost all of them have been wiped out. Spring plowing in many places has been delayed. The Jiangnan Circuit and Huainan Circuit are in such a state of chaos. Have you thought of a way to deal with this?"

He stood with his hands behind his back in front of everyone, and behind Li Shimin at this moment was Li Chengqian, who hadn't said a word from beginning to end.

This was Li Shimin's instruction; he didn't need to say a word about this matter today, leaving the decision entirely to his father, the emperor.

After all... whether it was Fang Xuanling, Dai Zhou, or Li Daozong, they were all considered his subjects.

This is what is now known in the imperial court as the Zhenguan Party.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling hurriedly spoke up.

"Your Majesty, I have already made arrangements for the officials who performed well in the evaluations, preparing for their handover and subsequent transfers to Jiangnan and Huainan circuits. Although there are some vacancies, they will be filled after this year's official promotion assessments and imperial examinations..."

Li Shimin suddenly let out a cold snort.

"With these newly appointed officials who know absolutely nothing about the local area, do you really think they can manage the Liangjiang Road area well?!"

He was even more dissatisfied.

Or rather, Li Shimin clearly intended to take this opportunity to suppress those who were complacent in the court, especially those like Fang Xuanling who were getting old, had grown up with their children, and felt that their lives were already fulfilled.

Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Pei Ji, Xiao Yu... these veteran officials from the Zhenguan and Wude eras are now showing such signs.

Everyone trembled.

Li Shimin walked up to Fang Xuanling and pondered for a moment.

Then he spoke in a cold voice.

"Left Minister Fang Xuanling and Right Minister Du Ruhui have neglected their duties in governing the country and have been negligent in their duties to the nation. Considering their many years of loyal service to the country and their great contributions, their official positions will be temporarily retained, but..."

Fang Xuanling, who was just about to breathe a sigh of relief a second ago, was immediately put on edge by Li Shimin's single word "but".

next moment.

Li Shimin's voice came through.

"Strip them of their titles of Duke of the Kingdom and confiscate all their fiefs!"

When Li Shimin said those words, Li Chengqian, sitting behind him, could clearly sense the pain and helplessness in his father's heart. Under Li Chengqian's gaze, the hand behind his back clenched tightly in pain.

It even trembled slightly.

Li Shimin was historically known for treating his subjects well. Those who followed him in conquering the country, except for those who rebelled, generally had good endings.

Fang Xuanling and his associates, who had served Li Shimin since he was still the Prince of Qin, could be considered his brothers.

At that age, the sheer determination Li Shimin made in stripping them of their titles and titles is unimaginable.

Despite his inner pupils being bright and piercing, seemingly radiating dragon energy, Li Shimin stared firmly and majestically at Fang Xuanling, who was looking up at him.

"Do you have any objection?"

Fang Xuanling trembled, his face streaked with tears. After a moment of astonishment, he let out a sorrowful cry and kowtowed once more.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your benevolence and grace!"

Afterwards, Li Shimin immediately reduced the fief of Prince Rencheng, Li Daozong, and also ordered him to temporarily serve as Minister of Justice.

Dai Zhou also did not escape punishment.

Only then did Li Shimin finally calm down, and waved his hand to send them away.

"I haven't wanted to see you all these days. Quickly finalize the transfer of officials in the Liangjiang Circuit..."

He was speaking when he suddenly paused.

"The positions of governors of various prefectures and counties shall not be finalized for now. Just send someone to fill in. I have other arrangements!"

Fang Xuanling was taken aback, but quickly accepted the order.

After everyone left, Li Shimin finally snorted coldly and sat down with full dissatisfaction.

"Hmph! These old fogies, it seems I'll have to make some of them resign as soon as possible! How dare they so easily deceive the court!"

Li Chengqian smiled and pushed a cup of tea in front of his father, the Emperor.

"Hehe, Father, calm down. It's something I should be angry about, don't let it upset you..."

Li Shimin's lips curled up almost imperceptibly on one side, but he quickly suppressed it.

He picked up the tea his son had brewed for him, took a sip, and continued speaking.

"These fellows in the court have been complacent for too long. Although they will certainly not dare to fool you and me again after this incident, we still need to teach them a lesson. Fortunately, many capable officials skilled in politics and history have emerged in the new policies of Jiannan Circuit. I plan to select a group of them and transfer them to Liangjiang Circuit."

“You should also transfer some young officials you trust from Chang’an or Taiyuan… If the Tang Dynasty’s national strength far surpasses that of other dynasties in China, our ambitions will not cease. However, some people will eventually grow old.”

Li Chengqian nodded slightly.

In fact, this was what he had been thinking about these past few days: the imperial court needed a new batch of officials, and at least people like Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui should be allowed to retire and live out their retirement.

"Your subject will keep an eye on the candidates..."

......

End of April in the eighth year of Zhenguan.

The Chang'an-based "Great Tang Daily" and other major newspapers published reports on the results of the suppression of the rebellion in Jiangnan and Huainan circuits, indicating that the rebellion had been quelled.

However, an article deliberately printed in red ink, along with its woodblock illustrations, sent a chill down the spines of all officials, merchants, and even ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty after reading it.

"Anyone who consumes, traffics, or cultivates opium or other drugs, regardless of their status, merit, age, or weakness, shall be beheaded! They shall be barred from holding office for five generations."

The accompanying picture was a stark depiction of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

The content described above made those who read the newspaper deeply wary of this thing that had turned the Two Rivers Road into a mess.

Regarding the propaganda about what opium is, Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites in Chang'an, has already begun making arrangements in full swing.

Meanwhile, in Hongzhou City, Jiangnan Province, the former residence of Chen Congyun has now been temporarily converted into a prison for the Embroidered Uniform Guard by order of Li Chengqian.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

"Whoosh—!"

Inside an iron cage that resembles a dog cage, if you don't look closely at its face, who would guess that the thing in front of you is writhing inside?

It was one person, the mastermind behind this major case.

Chen Congyun...