A fire left Yeon Gaesumun without any movement for several days.
Li Jing and Xu Shiji did not dare to waste time and asked the soldiers to strengthen the defense of Cangzhou.
Both sides know very well that before long, it will be a life and death battle again.
As for the Tai Chi Hall far away in Chang'an, the atmosphere seemed a bit gloomy today.
Although Li Tai was not sitting on the emperor's throne, he was already standing in front of the throne, looking at the court officials.
Under Li Tai's gaze, all the officials lowered their heads one after another, not daring to look at him.
"Prime Minister, I asked you to pass an order to Liu Zhenghui of the Ministry of Household Affairs. The Tang Dynasty's treasury is empty, and the money and food originally used to support the front line have been reduced to 30% of the previous amount."
"Have you ever heard of it?"
"Also, where is that old fellow Liu Zhenghui, Minister of Household Affairs?"
"He didn't come to court today, and he didn't ask for leave from the Yushitai. What does he mean?" Li Tai said slowly.
After questioning Fang Xuanling, he then talked about Liu Zhenghui, the Minister of Household Affairs who was not here today.
All the officials knew that Li Tai was just looking for trouble with Fang Xuanling. As for Liu Zhenghui, he was the emperor's diehard loyalist.
If Li Tai doesn't get rid of such people, something will happen sooner or later.
The so-called empty treasury reduced the amount of money and food to support the front line to 30% of the previous amount.
When fighting at the front, the soldiers' money and food are reduced in the rear.
No matter how arrogant Li Tai was, he would not dare to do this.
It was just an excuse to kick Liu Zhenghui out of the court.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I have already discussed this matter with Liu Shangshu, but Liu Shangshu said that the soldiers on the front line are working hard and the money and food cannot be reduced under any circumstances."
"If His Highness insists on reducing the number, Liu Zhenghui will resign and return home." Fang Xuanling sighed inwardly and said to Li Tai.
Fang Xuanling also understood Li Tai's intentions very well.
He even knew that no matter what he said or what others said, Li Tai would not listen to a word.
I just don’t know when such days will end.
If something happened to the emperor on the front line, the Tang Dynasty would definitely be defeated at the hands of Li Tai.
"Resign and return home?" Li Tai sneered.
"Is this old guy threatening me?" Li Tai walked down the steps.
Fang Xuanling did not answer.
Of course Liu Zhenghui was not threatening Li Tai.
If we cut the soldiers' money and food the year before last, we would obviously want them to lose to Goguryeo.
If this really happened, the Goguryeo army would march directly into the hinterland of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty fell!
For the sake of your own selfish desires, do you do such a stupid thing?
What would Fang Xuanling say about Li Tai?
"I see that Liu Zhenghui is really old, and he probably won't live more than a few years."
"In this way, I will let him leave in a dignified manner."
"Come here, please pass on my decree to give Liu Zhenghui a foot of white silk." Li Tai waved his hand and said to the accompanying eunuch.
"Your Highness, you can't do that!" Fang Xuanling's face turned pale with anxiety.
He knew that Li Tai wanted to establish his authority.
But you can just let an old man like Liu Zhenghui commit suicide.
This is really crazy.
"No?"
"My father is in critical condition, and they are still fighting to death on the front lines. They will not allow my father to return to Chang'an for treatment. They are despicable!"
"If I don't cut their money and food, how can I force them to send my father back to Chang'an?"
"Everyone counts today. Anyone who dares to intercede for Liu Zhenghui will be guilty of the same crime!" Li Tai shouted suddenly.
Baiguan, who originally wanted to plead for mercy, instantly felt like a little chicken whose neck was pinched.
Asking for mercy is the same crime!
Li Tai is much more ruthless than Zhao Chen back then.
No one dared to speak at this moment.
Baiguan suddenly felt in his heart that Zhao Chen was like a living Bodhisattva compared to the lunatic Li Tai.
There was deathly silence in the Tai Chi Hall, and Fang Xuanling's face twitched twice.
After all, he retreated to his position and never spoke again.
When Li Tai saw Fang Xuanling retreating, the other officials also huddled together, with a sneer on his lips.
It feels really good to have the power of your heart.
I remember when the emperor faced the courtiers, he was scolded so much that he couldn't even lift his head.
But today, Li Tai, with just a few words, silenced all the officials.
Li Tai felt inexplicably proud.
Compared to the emperor, Li Tai is obviously stronger.
"Another one, I am planning to establish the Taxation and Salt Department, and merge all the previous salt bureaus into the Taxation and Salt Department for unified management."
"The Department of Taxation and Salt is personally supported by this palace, and there is a deputy department of salt, headed by Zuo Pushe Kong Yingda."
"The circulation of all salt in the world is the responsibility of the Salt Tax Department."
"Stand back!" Li Tai announced a decision again.
Throwing up his sleeves, he walked directly out of the Tai Chi Hall.
In the Tai Chi Hall, all the officials were stunned and did not recover for a long time.
…
Liu Zhenghui is dead!
Hanged from the beams of his house.
One foot of white silk cost the life of an old minister.
The entire Liu family didn't even dare to cry.
Because this is the order given by the prince.
Anyone who dares to cry is questioning the decision of Prince Li Tai.
Several white flags were hung on small bamboo branches, and everyone in the house was kneeling in the mourning hall, burning paper money.
When Fang Xuanling came, he only saw a few people coming to pay homage.
"Prime Minister of the Fang." Liu Xuanyi, the eldest son of Liu Zhenghui, wearing silk and hemp on his head and wrapped in silk and silk. When he saw Fang Xuanling coming, he came over to greet him.
"My condolences." Fang Xuanling didn't know how to comfort Liu Xuanyi for a while, so she could only say the word "sorrows."
Liu Xuanyi didn't say what it was, but just extended his hand to invite Fang Xuanling in.
The woman kneeling on the ground glanced at Fang Xuanling and lowered her head.
After lighting incense and bowing before the spirit, Fang Xuanling sighed deeply in her heart.
He had just met with Liu Zheng yesterday, and Liu Zhenghui also said that Li Tai would not end well if he behaved so perversely.
Today Liu Zhenghui has already left.
Fang Xuanling felt a little chilly because of the impermanence of the world. She glanced at the mourning hall behind her again, held hands with Liu Xuanyi, and left slowly.
Fang Xuanling walked out of Liu's Mansion without going back to her own home. When she passed by Wei Zheng's Mansion, she turned around and went back in.
There is no one to monitor Wei Zheng's house. A few days ago, Wei Zheng lived in Zhao Chen's house. Later, Empress Changsun moved in, and Wei Zheng returned to live in his own house.
"Xuancheng!" Fang Xuanling walked into Wei Zheng's house and saw Wei Zheng sitting in the courtyard drinking tea.
"Here comes the Prime Minister." Wei Zheng seemed to be in good spirits, even more energetic than when he was in the court before.
"I just came from the Liu Mansion and walked around. I didn't know where to go. I happened to walk outside your house and wanted to come in and sit." Fang Xuanling explained and sat on the stone bench.
When Wei Zheng heard that Fang Xuanling came from Liu Zhenghui's house, he nodded slightly.
He has been there before and knows what happened in the court.
However, Wei Zheng at this moment was not as irritable as before. According to his previous temper, he would have rushed to the East Palace to reprimand Li Tai.
"The prime minister looks downcast, is he disappointed with the court?" Wei Zheng asked with a smile, pouring a cup of tea for Fang Xuanling.
Fang Xuanling took the tea and looked at the scattered tea leaves with a look of self-mockery on his face.
"I originally thought that since Li Tai became the prince, he could suppress his inner desires. I didn't expect that for the sake of power, he could do this."
"Okay, okay, for the sake of power, you can force the old minister to commit suicide, you can completely ignore your family ties, you can ignore my great Tang Dynasty." Fang Xuanling said bitterly, and he slapped the teacup in his hand on the stone table.?