Shi Zhou Shouliang, governor of Deng, fled to Chang'an. He refused to be loyal to Liang Chongyi and fled to Chang'an with his family on an ox cart on the eve of the Lantern Festival.
He was not the first Jingxiang official to flee to Chang'an. A large number of Jingxiang officials resigned and left under the threat of Liang Chongyi.
But every Jingxiang official who fled to Chang'an had to undergo identity verification by the Yushitai, and Zhou Shouliang was no exception.
That morning, a censor hurriedly came to Zhongcheng Jingyu's office and handed an audit report to Jingyu.
"Jing Zhongcheng, this is the review report of Governor Deng Shi Zhou Shouliang."
Jing Yu didn't have the intention to read it carefully, so he flipped through it casually and asked, "Is there any special situation?"
"Basically there are no special circumstances, it's relatively normal."
"Who is he behind the scenes in Chang'an?"
"Xiangguo Li Xian, when Li Xiangguo was appointed as the governor of Nanyang, Zhou Shouliang was a confidant of Li Xiangguo's staff and was recommended by Li Xiangguo as the governor of Deng."
Jing Yu's heart moved and he was dozing off when he brought him a pillow. God's will!
The emperor hinted that he had a clue to arrest the prime minister Li Xian. He didn't know where to start. Wasn't this coming?
Jing Yu immediately ordered: "Send him to Dizihao Prison!"
The men were shocked. Dizihao Prison is a place for serious criminals. They were only checking the authenticity of officials. How could it turn into an arrest?
"Jing Zhongcheng, isn't this appropriate?"
Jing Yu's eyes widened, "How about you become the Zhongcheng!"
"I don't dare to be humble! I don't dare to be humble!"
The official was so frightened that he quickly retreated. Jing Yu ordered again: "Let Pei Sheng come to see me!"
Not long after, Pei Sheng, the trial officer of Yushitai, rushed over and said, "See Jing Zhongcheng!"
Jing Yu approved a case handling order and handed it to him, "This week Zhou Shouliang, you will be in charge of the interrogation. He is Li Xian's confidant and must know Li Xian's background. If he doesn't take action, give him the seven major punishments in turn.
Give him a breath."
Pei Sheng hesitated and said, "I'm afraid he won't be able to survive the seven punishments. No one has ever been able to survive. He will die!"
"Then let him taste the pot of water and fire. If you don't do anything, he will be cooked."
The water-fire urn was invented by Lai Junchen and asked the king to enter the urn. First, the person was tied up and stuffed head down into a large urn filled with water, and then roasted over fire. When the water boiled, the person was cooked.
This is not used to interrogate criminals, but to intimidate the offending officials. After watching the entire process, they are then tied up with ropes and stuffed into water jars. There are no officials who will not recruit them.
Pei Sheng agreed and hurried away.
Zhou Shouliang never dreamed that he would be subjected to such a cruel punishment because he refused to be loyal to Liang Chongyi and fled back to the court. When he saw a prisoner being cooked alive, he immediately became paralyzed with fear and told everything he knew about Li Xian
They all confessed honestly.
Jing Yu sorted out three major crimes against Li Xian. First, he minted money without the permission of the imperial court. In fact, this was something that all Jiedushi envoys did. It would depend on whether the imperial court would pursue him or not. Once he did, it would be a serious crime.
Second, appointing officials privately without the consent of the Ministry of Personnel is the power of the officials. What Li Ye got red-faced with when negotiating with the court was the power of officials in Bashu. Even Li Ye did not dare to do something in private, but Li Xian actually did it.
This is also a great sin.
Third, tax reductions and exemptions without the consent of the emperor were an expression of Li Xian's love for the people, but the power of tax reductions and exemptions was in the hands of the emperor. In fact, this was one of the key points in Li Ye's negotiations with the court, the right to set taxes.
Of course it is also a grave sin.
Others, including accepting a little money and accepting a few paintings and calligraphy, are all minor issues and not important. The three charges compiled by Jing Yu involve supporting soldiers to support one's own self-reliance, which is a major crime of rebellion.
What's more important is that it is very detailed. When and what was done, the time, place, and the events are all very detailed and can't be relied upon.
On the same day, Jing Yu submitted the impeachment letter to Emperor Li Heng.
Li Heng immediately issued an order to suspend Li Xian from all his duties, and Pei Zunqing, the right prime minister, questioned Li Xian in accordance with the impeachment document.
Interrogation is a process for interrogating senior officials. Generally, the superior will question the contents of the impeachment document. If the contents of the impeachment document are acknowledged, the official will be dismissed directly. If he insists that he does not admit it, a three-chamber trial will be formed to conduct detailed verification.
In the room, Pei Zunqing walked in and sat opposite Li Xian. He looked at Li Xian for a moment and said: "I came to question Li Xiangguo on a few matters according to the emperor's order. It is strictly business. Please don't take it seriously!"
Li Xian was a little depressed. He shook his head and said, "I don't care anymore. Please ask me!"
"Does Li Xiangguo know Zhou Shouliang?"
Li Xian was startled, nodded and said: "He used to be my staff, and I recommend him to be the governor of Deng."
Pei Zunqing handed him a copy of Zhou Shouliang's confession and the censor's impeachment letter, "He fell into Jing Yu's hands and explained a lot. You can see for yourself!"
Li Xian was immediately furious, "The imperial court requires the Yushitai to verify the identity of officials, not to put them to death."
"You read it first, and you'll understand after reading it."
Li Xian read the confession carefully, and the more he read, the more horrified he became. He even revealed that he had received a gift worth twenty taels of silver. What kind of cruel punishment would he have to suffer before his will would completely collapse?
Li Xian already understood at this time that there were many officials who escaped from Jingxiang, but only Zhou Shouliang was tortured, because he was once his staff, and Jing Yu was targeting him.
Li Xian looked at the impeachment document again, and sighed: "Whatever Pei Xiangguo wants to ask, just ask!"
Pei Zunqing asked in a deep voice: "Does Li Xiangguo admit to the three charges listed in the impeachment document?"
Li Xian nodded, "I admit, it is indeed true!"
Pei Zunqing was startled. He didn't expect Li Xian to answer so quickly. He said in a deep voice: "Can Li Xiangguo explain? Why do you do these things that violate the basic system of the imperial court?"
Li Xian sneered, "The emperor wanted to move the capital, but he was afraid that I would oppose him, so he asked Yushitai to accuse me. If he wanted to incriminate me, why bother? Is there anything I can explain?"
Pei Zunqing looked at Li Xian for a long time and slowly pushed the pen and ink to him.
Li Xian picked up a pen and signed his name on the confession and impeachment documents. He threw the pen away and faced the wall without saying a word.
Pei Zunqing nodded, "Li Xiangguo, go home!"
Li Xian let out a long sigh, "If Adou can't help him, what does he have to do with Zhuge?"
He got up and left the room, then walked away
That night, Emperor Li Heng issued a decree to remove Li Xian from the post of Prime Minister and demote him to Sima of Yuezhou.
The emperor also appointed Du Hongjian, the minister of the Ministry of War, as his servant, and he was the same as Zhongshu's servant.
Removing Li Xian from the phase also eliminated a huge stone that opposed the move of the capital. Li Heng immediately issued an order and appointed Guo Ziyi, the governor of Henan Province, to concurrently serve as the defense envoy of the Eastern Capital. He led an army of 30,000 to the Eastern Capital to clean up the palaces and improve public order.
At the same time, Li Heng secretly instigated Taichang Qing Li Yu to publicly submit a letter requesting that the capital be moved to Luoyang on the grounds that Guanzhong was short of food and the situation in Jianghuai and Hebei was out of control.
To test the tone of officials.
Li Heng's plan to move the capital was implemented step by step in an orderly manner.