"Someone secretly reported to Dr. Sun that Chang Sun often took memorials out of the palace... It should have been handled by Lu Zongye and others who were involved in the matter. It is easy to investigate.
However, in this case, Changsun Shilang may have to walk in the Dali Temple. It depends on His Majesty’s wishes..."
Fan Wenjin looked at the emperor expectantly.
None of the previous actions could completely bring down Changsun Shunde. The most they could do was demote him or lose his official position.
Regardless of the few words in the history books, who and so and for what reason ended up being killed, what they reveal is the danger of political strife in the imperial court.
But in fact, officials who have passed the third rank are still very safe. As long as they do not commit treason, control the government, conspire to abolish the establishment and other extremely serious crimes, generally speaking, no matter how many crimes they commit, officials who have passed the third rank will at most be reduced from their posts.
It was just dismissal from office, or more likely, demotion to a remote place in the south of Lingnan, which was a very severe punishment.
The kind of person who dies himself and then confiscates his family and exterminates his family is basically the fate of a loser who failed in his rebellion.
Changsun Shunde suppressed the memorial for several days in order to seek personal gain or other political benefits from it. After verification, or it was not verified, it just made the emperor angry. According to the law, demotion is the most normal punishment method.
Generally speaking, the emperor and courtiers would leave some leeway for the sake of political stability. The emperor would push people out and behead them with a wave of his hand. This is a story in the storybook.
It was very rare for Shi Wansui of the Sui Dynasty to defend himself in court, show his filial piety to the emperor, and eventually be executed by the emperor.
And the reasons were very complicated. At that time, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty had just deposed the prince, and Yang Su and others took the opportunity to say that the prince had formed a clique and rebelled, and Shi Wansui was also implicated.
Not only had Shi Wansui just achieved great success in defeating the Turks, but Yang Su and others had also concealed his achievements and refused to report them. He had written several letters but was suppressed by Yang Su. This was the time when he was full of anger and felt that the court's treatment was unfair.
Yang Jian recruited him to go to court to question him, which intensified the conflict and was executed in court.
In the meantime, Yang Guang, Yang Su and others were stirring up trouble, eradicating Prince Yang Yong's gang members and criticizing his political opponents. It can be said that they achieved a great victory.
What about Yang Jian? That was the time when he wanted to continue to consolidate the imperial power and deal with the heroes. Otherwise, with his intelligence, how could he allow Yang Guang, Yang Su and others to mess around?
This is politics. People who can see through the cause and effect will choose their own position wisely, either going with the trend or retreating to protect themselves. People who can't see through the situation can only make a fuss and marry others.
…………
Therefore, Fan Wen's speech this time is consistent with this pattern. If Li Po had not intended to do this, he would not have attacked Changsun Shunde at this time.
You must know that Changsun Shunde is not alone. As a newly appointed servant, without the support of the emperor, he wants to target Changsun Shunde? Just dream.
Moreover, he actually has to pay attention to his own influence. He has not made any achievements in the position of servant, but he is busy eradicating dissidents. What will the emperor think of him? Are the people below convinced? These are all issues that must be considered...
…
Now that he had the emperor's signal, he was just following the trend. In addition, because his eldest grandson Shunde had many party members, he felt that he must be killed if the stick was used, otherwise he would probably suffer the consequences in turn.
People who have experienced the chaos in Liangzhou will not hesitate about such things.
…………
After hearing this, was Li Po angry? Of course he was very angry.
But to say how shocked he was was nonsense. In fact, today's situation was ultimately caused by his indulgence. When he allowed his eldest son Shunde to recommend his officials, he could have predicted that such a day would come.
It’s just how brave Changsun Shunde is.
Changsun Shunde did live up to his expectations and did a lot of tricks in the position of servant.
Therefore, what he did did not really exceed Li Po's expectations. Taking the memorials of his ministers home, whether he read them himself or showed them to others... it was not a "big deal".
Li Po weighed whether he could take Changsun Shunde's head off his neck. The most important thing was to minimize the impact.
The easiest thing to do
The method is to let eldest son Shunde resign himself. This is a normal method. Letting others go will save himself trouble.
If he wanted to formally establish a crime, it would take a lot of effort to search for evidence and incriminate people. What Li Po had to consider was whether it was worth it.
Li Po drank his wine and looked at Fan Wenjin. This man seemed not to hide it at all. He was eager to give it a try. Li Po gave up asking for his opinion. The reply he heard should not be beyond his expectation.
.
Fan Wenjin, as a servant, has nothing to do with a veteran like Changsun Shunde. If someone blocks the way, they will naturally find ways to get rid of them, and no one will be an exception.
…………
In the evening, Li Po arrived at Qingning Palace.
Li Bi is teaching Li Zhen how to write big characters. Compared to Ashina Rongzhen, they look like a more normal mother and daughter.
More than a month had passed since Li Zhen escaped from his mother's pursuit. Later, it was Li Po who helped Ashnarong Zhen capture his daughter. He always kept his word.
As expected, Li Zhen received a beating and only recently appeared in Qingning Palace again, but she could do nothing about her father's betrayal.
Li Po took off his outer cloak while being served by the palace servants, and sat down comfortably on the couch, "Has Da Lang been here?"
Li Bi saw that he didn't look well, so she came over and rubbed her husband's shoulders, "I've been here before, and after eating here, there was no one around. Alas, after leaving the palace, my heart has become wild. I want to take exams like before.
He couldn't find anyone even when he was studying."
The tone of an old mother made Li Po laugh.
Li Zhen, who was immersed in writing big characters, raised his head and showed a flattering smile to his father, but his mouth went straight into his elder brother's weakness.
"Eldest brother said that he will invite us to the Wude Palace tomorrow morning to teach us martial arts... It's been a long time since the queen has done anything, right? Why don't you go with us tomorrow morning and let me know how powerful you are."
Naturally, she is not the only one she talks about, but also the second son of the emperor, Li An. Li An is also four and almost five years old. He has reached the age where cats dislike dogs and he is even more naughty than Li Yuan. It is estimated that the effect will not be achieved after enlightenment.
What happened, made Li Bi very worried.
Li Po's other children are still in their infancy, so it is naturally impossible for them to go to Wude Hall to play with their eldest brother with guns and sticks.
At this time, Li Bi smiled quite affectionately, "He looks like an older brother. He has been out of the palace for more than half a year, and he still wants to teach you martial arts..."
Li Po chuckled and poured cold water on his wife, "I'm afraid he thinks it's not appropriate to hit others, but it's just right to take the time to beat his younger brothers and sisters... As a mother, you always think of the best for your son.
Oh, please be gentle..."
Li Zhen laughed playfully and said, "I'm wise, but my eldest brother is very ill-intentioned, especially those around him. They are very cunning and do not give him any good ideas all day long."
I am now seven years old and very strong. I am no longer afraid of my eldest brother. I asked my wife to go with me because I wanted her to be a witness. I am afraid that if I beat my eldest brother so much that it hurts, he will not admit his guilt."
The whole family is not a waste of money, especially this daughter. As her force level gets higher and higher, she supports her elder brother and steps on her younger brother. She has always been very arrogant.
Li Bi snorted, took the back of her husband's neck and kneaded it, making Li Po feel very sore.
"You just go ahead and make trouble. If you make me angry one day, I will have to break your legs."
Li Po quickly patted her hand and told her to relax, saying to him, don't break my neck before you break the legs and feet of your children.
"It's just fun, you have to know the severity of your actions, and you have to be tolerant between brothers and sisters, you know?"
Li Zhen continued to trace her big characters and responded to his father smoothly, "Grandpa, don't worry, my eldest brother can't do anything to me. When I grow up in a few years, he will definitely have to avoid me."
The corner of Li Po's mouth twitched a few times, knowing that there was something wrong with Ashnarong's education. He turned around and glared at his wife, "You said she is always hanging around you, so you don't know how to teach her something good?"
Li Bi glared back, "Husband, you'd better go talk to your noble concubine."
Li Po muttered silently, "I can bear it."
After staying for a while, Li Po drove away his annoying daughter and fell into a trance with his wife in his arms. Li Bi enjoyed this quiet atmosphere.
She didn't want to speak, so she rested her head on her husband's thigh, stretched out her two slender thighs, and raised her feet, enjoying herself, and soon she felt sleepy.
Li Po subconsciously stroked his wife's hair, lowered his head and looked for it under the light of the lamp. He couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw no white hair.
Li Bi is older than him. She is forty this year, so she is no longer young.
After staying for a while, seeing his wife squinting her eyes as if she might fall asleep at any time, Li Po said: "Recently, if you look at the palace, there will be changes in the provinces. They should enter and leave the palace more casually, and they may have something to do with the palace people...
…”
Li Bi opened her eyes, then stood up and sat up, "Who made my husband treat me so cautiously?"
Li Po smiled relaxedly, "No need to do that, it doesn't matter. Changsun Shunde is trying to exert power and connect with his gang members. I want to change my servant."
This person, I think, worked for Li Yuan before we entered Chang'an. As time goes by, he has more cronies, so be careful."
Li Bi looked at her husband's expression, thought for a moment and said, "The eldest grandson Shunde... he is a descendant of Li Yuan and the leader of the Luoyang family. Is your husband... trying to settle an old score?"
Li Po: "Look, even you think so, let alone others? The people of the Li family in Longxi are safe and sound so far. What old scores does his eldest grandson Shunde have to settle?
Needless to say too many details, we still need to investigate... There were more people who escaped from Henan back then. You know, when Yang Guang was here, the Luoyang court was full of smoke and the atmosphere was very bad.
Some of them fled to Kansai to avoid disaster, and they brought old habits with them in their actions. Among them, the eldest grandson Shunde was the most important. He did not have much talent, but he was very enthusiastic about fighting for power and profit.
Sooner or later we have to start rectifying it, I'm just worried about losing my sense of proportion, so I'll tell you first so that I won't be taken advantage of by you."