Whether it is the Feng Deyi case that has caused a stir in the court recently, or the Dang Renhong case that came from behind and attracted all the attention of the government and the public, Li Chengqian believes that it is not as important as disaster relief.
People are water, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If people's livelihood is in trouble and the people are miserable, then the country will not be prosperous and the country will be unstable. This is the top priority.
In contrast, what does it matter whether Feng Deyi was counterattacked or not, and whether Dang Renhong was punished by Ming Zhengdian?
Ma Zhou quickly stepped out of the queue and reported back: "Your Majesty, the 'Emergency Rescue Yamen' jointly established by Jingzhao Mansion and various yamen has been operating. Although the snow is heavy, the yamen and more than a hundred officials under their jurisdiction are working day and night.
To maintain the smooth flow of disaster relief, various ministries and departments formulated disaster relief plans. Subordinate officials coordinated the mobilization of supplies and recruited civilian workers to transport money and food. Township organizations cooperated in repairing collapsed houses and resettling the affected people. They coordinated and worked together from top to bottom. As of now, less than ten people have frozen to death.
And they are all chronically ill and too old, and the rest have been properly accommodated."
Since Fang Jun established the "Emergency Rescue Yamen" for the first time and ordered the army to participate in disaster relief, various Yamen in the imperial court that are related to people's livelihood have accumulated rich experience in disaster rescue. Once the weather is found to be unfavorable, disasters may occur.
We will be well prepared. If a disaster occurs, a rescue plan will be formulated and issued as soon as possible. All levels will perform their duties, and the disaster relief work will be timely and effective.
In this way, the support of the people in Guanzhong for the empire continued to rise. Therefore, during the two consecutive mutinies, except for the domestic soldiers and slaves belonging to the Guanlong families, ordinary people did not pay attention to their recruitment at all, and even paid to buy from the private sector.
Very few people responded with grain and fodder, which prevented the Guanlong rebels and the Jinwang rebels from building a greater momentum.
Most of the people are illiterate and don't understand the meaning of family, country and world, and they have the most simple values: they will support whoever is truly good to them and who brings them more benefits.
Li Chengqian nodded slightly and felt relieved, but still warned: "The people are the cornerstone of the empire. Although the empire has billions of people, there is not a single spare person. The entire imperial court must go all out to rescue the victims. Who dares to neglect their duties?
Treating human life as child's play, whoever dares to use his hands to embezzle the life-saving money and food of the victims, I don't care what official position he has, what title he has, what achievements he has made, we will definitely destroy the three tribes and punish him severely!"
The voice is sonorous and murderous!
The civil and military ministers in the court were briefly stunned, then bowed one after another and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty loves the people like a son, and you should be a prosperous and wise king, long live!"
For a long time, Li Chengqian has given the world nothing more than the word "weakness". Even though his own abilities are not bad, he always lacks the brilliant deterrence of the Nine-Five Supreme, and cannot make people sincerely awe him.
But now these words are rarely made with anger, and they are a bit domineering like the Lord of the Empire...
In fact, the minds of ministers are also very contradictory. A monarch with a weaker personality is actually a good thing for everyone. He can forgive some mistakes even if they are serious. Even if it is serious, he will not kill everyone. As an official
It's natural, comfortable and leisurely, and you don't need to be severely punished for making mistakes.
But in this way, the monarch naturally lacks charisma, and how can a monarch without charisma intimidate the public and control the country?
Now that Li Chengqian has finally shown his domineering side, the ministers don't know whether to be happy or worried...
…
"Your Majesty, I have a starting point for you!"
Dai Zhou, the minister of Dali Temple, took a step forward.
Liu Xiangdao, who was about to get out of the queue, had to stop taking half a step. He was a little annoyed in his heart. Why was he a step too slow?
This old thief must have been staring at me and only moved when he saw me move, right?
The Feng Deyi case and the Dang Renhong case can be said to be indistinguishable in terms of impact. Whoever can take the lead in impeachment will have the upper hand. Whoever steps late will follow suit and receive very different praises.
.
But since it's too late, that's all. Even if he steps forward at this moment, according to the rules, His Majesty can only listen to Dai Zhou's impeachment first.
This old thief is usually silent, but his thoughts are so meticulous that he is almost perfect...
Li Chengqian looked at Dai Zhou who stood out from the crowd, and sighed in his heart, but his face was warm and gentle: "What's the matter with Dai Zhou?"
"I impeach Dang Renhong, the governor of Guangzhou, for embezzling public funds, exploiting merchants, gathering family members to fight for war, and disturbing the local area..."
One after another, the charges were announced in public, and Dang Renhong was simply dominating, a villain in the fish and meat village.
No one spoke out to refute Dai Zhou or plead for Dang Renhong.
Once the evidence of Feng Deyi and Dang Renhong's crimes is accurate, it means that Emperor Taizong "appointed traitors" in a sense. This will greatly damage Emperor Taizong's almost perfect reputation. As his son, Li Chengqian will inevitably bear a burden.
The reputation of being "unfaithful and unfilial", after all, the cases of these two people broke out when he, the emperor, was in power, and he had no way to avoid them.
And if these two people are pardoned, it means that the imperial power is completely above the law, and will definitely be criticized and opposed by civil servants all over the world...
We are all waiting to see how His Majesty will deal with it.
Li Chengqian paused and asked, "Where is Dang Renhong?"
"Just outside the palace."
"Proclaim him to go to the palace and allow him to defend himself."
"Here!"
The censor who maintained order in the palace quickly came to the palace gate and loudly said: "Your Majesty has an order to announce that Dang Renhong will go to the palace!"
In a moment, Dang Renhong, who had already taken off his official robe and crown, walked into the Tai Chi Hall under the escort of two guards. As soon as he entered the hall, Dang Renhong knelt down with a "pop" sound and bowed his head.
, weeping bitterly: "My sins are serious and I deserve to die. I am willing to dedicate all my family property to Your Majesty. I just ask Your Majesty to spare my life for the sake of my past sacrifices for the empire and my family!"
Everyone's eyes were amused. Dang Renhong relied on such an act to win the mercy of Emperor Taizong and forgive him for all his crimes. However, he did not repent afterward, but worsened his situation.
I don’t know how His Majesty will deal with such an old minister who relies on his old age and is self-reliant on his merits...
Under the attention of everyone, Li Chengqian looked friendly and said warmly: "Loving you is a meritorious service of the empire. No matter what the situation is, you can state it in front of the emperor."
Dang Renhong kowtowed and cried: "I am confused and have made mistakes. I dare not defend myself in front of you. I only ask your majesty to spare my life."
This is not even a quibble. He lies down and pleads guilty, but he keeps talking about his past achievements and begging to be spared death.
Li Chengqian looked at Dai Zhou and asked, "According to the law, how should he be punished?"
Dai Zhou said: "This person is extremely corrupt and has caused endless disasters. His crimes are extremely heinous. He should be punished for several crimes and should be punished with the death penalty."
Dang Renhong was so frightened that he fell to the ground and cried, begging for mercy again and again.
Li Chengqian sighed and said: "Although Dang Aiqing's crime is unpardonable, but he does not make sophistry and is willing to plead guilty, can his crime be reduced by one degree?"
Dai Zhou's face was expressionless and his tone was strong: "If you are guilty of a crime and have a good confession attitude, you can indeed reduce the penalty as appropriate. However, Dang Renhong was the one who caused trouble, causing turmoil in Lingnan and local unrest. Feng An, the general manager of Gaozhou, repeatedly impeached him for his role in Guangzhou."
If lawlessness is rampant in the land, if capital punishment cannot be imposed, how can we appease the land?"
At the beginning of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Feng Ang had already occupied Lingnan. Many people suggested that he follow Zhao Tuo's old example and cede territory to become king and make the land his own. However, Feng Ang was unmoved. After Li Jing issued a proclamation, he led the twenty states in Lingnan to surrender.
In the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu established eight states of Gao, Luo, Chun, Bai, Ya, Dan, Lin, and Zhen in Feng An's jurisdiction, and appointed Feng An as Shangzhu State, General Manager of Gaozhou, and Duke of Wu.
In fact, it is equivalent to acknowledging Feng Ang's control over the entire Lingnan.
Dang Renhong held his own merits and clashed with Feng Ang when he was the governor of Guangzhou. This would most likely lead to turmoil in the entire Lingnan region. If Feng Ang believed that Dang Renhong's actions were supported by the imperial court, he might be able to rebel.
Compared with corruption and other crimes, this was Dang Renhong's biggest sin, because the court wanted to give Feng Ang an explanation to reassure him.
Li Chengqian said again: "Let him use his merits to offset his faults, and how about staying in the capital to take care of his old age?"
Dai Zhou looked firm: "If everyone follows suit in the future, will your Majesty also forgive them?"
Dang Renhong kept his head down and cried for mercy. After a while, he cut his forehead and the gold bricks were stained with blood, which looked pitiful.
Li Chengqian looked unbearable and couldn't help but shed tears: "Why is this happening? Although Dang Aiqing was wrong, her meritorious service and loyalty were outstanding. Both of her sons died in the battle to establish the empire. She can be said to be full of loyalty.
The late emperor was even more fond of him. Now that I have ascended the throne, but my hero is about to die, how can I face the late emperor and the world's meritorious deeds? Please be patient with Dai Aiqing."
The civil and military ministers in the court were all moved.
If it were Emperor Taizong who was sitting on the throne now, then this scene would be an act for everyone to see. But now it is Li Chengqian who is crying and pleading to Dang Renhong, and everyone thinks that this is his true feelings revealed.
They are all dissatisfied with Dai Zhou. You can certainly be selfless and gain the reputation of being a direct minister, but where do you put the king? This Dang Renhong is a hero who has been forgiven by Emperor Taizong many times. You force your majesty to make it clear.
Wouldn't the canonical punishment push His Majesty into the state of "disloyalty and unfilial piety"?
Too much.
Even Liu Ji couldn't bear to see Li Chengqian being forced to look helpless. He was a good emperor with a soft heart. Why did he have to force him to be just, selfless and decisive in killing?
Then he said: "Although Dang Renhong's crimes are extremely heinous, the crimes he committed are not among the ten evils. Thinking of his past merits, he should be generous."
In the first year of his reign, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty formulated the Criminal Code "New Code", which included ten evil articles, mostly adopting the system of the later Qi Dynasty, and it was quite profitable. The first was conspiracy, the second was conspiracy of great rebellion, the third was conspiracy, and the fourth was evil.
The fifth one is disrespectful, the sixth one is disrespectful, the seventh one is unfilial, the eighth one is disharmony, the ninth one is unrighteousness, and the tenth one is civil strife.
This is an unpardonable crime, and even if the prince commits it, he should be punished with death.
Although Dang Renhong caused outrage and turmoil in Lingnan, he never violated any of the "Ten Evils". Now that the emperor is crying and begging for mercy, why should he be forced to execute him?