Fang Jun hurriedly said: "How dare I hold a grudge? Your Majesty's handling of this matter is not inappropriate. It is not good for Wei Chen to control the Jinwu Guard all the time. He should avoid suspicion. Besides, the salt affairs matter is imminent, and Wei Chen really has no choice.
I have been wasting my energy on the reorganization of the Jinwu Guards, so I came here today to resign from His Majesty, and plan to rush to Hedong to take up my post in the next two days."
Li Chengqian saw that Fang Jun's expression was natural and did not seem to be hiding, so he felt relieved and nodded: "The salt affairs are concerned about the national financial system. I ask Erlang to pay attention to it. No matter what, you just go ahead and do it."
After all, I felt guilty for influencing Jin Wuwei, so I felt that I should be compensated in other ways.
The Hedong Salt Pond is nominally under the jurisdiction of the country, but in fact it has been controlled by the Hedong family for generations. It is deeply rooted and has a huge influence. If you want to rectify the salt affairs, you will inevitably leverage the interests of the Hedong family. The resistance you may encounter is obvious. Although Fang Jun has outstanding talents, he wants to
It is extremely difficult to rectify the salt affairs. We can't just kill all the children of the Hedong family, right?
Under such circumstances, the support from the emperor is particularly important...
Fang Jun's face was filled with joy: "Thank you very much, Your Majesty. I will not disappoint Your Majesty when I go to rectify the salt affairs this time."
Li Chengqian said with emotion: "How has Erlang ever let me down? Even in the most difficult time, when he was clearly on the verge of despair, he still managed to turn the corner and win with the help of Erlang. For me, Erlang is a God-given general."
These words are really not false words that he made to win people's hearts. If it weren't for Fang Jun, how would he, Li Chengqian, be where he is today?
Even though Fang Jun had to be suppressed due to the situation, his gratitude to Fang Jun in his heart never diminished at all, and he never thought about attacking Fang Jun like those emperors in history who cut off their heroes after they came to power.
He does not have great ambitions in politics. He just wants to strengthen the empire and benefit the people. He is willing to write a good story about the emperor and his ministers together.
…
After Fang Jun left, Li Chengqian said to Li Junxian: "Let's investigate secretly. No matter who is involved, don't get involved with the Duke of Yue. Let the Duke of Yue go to Hedong to rectify the salt affairs in peace, and let the matters in the clan be left to us."
To the King of Hejian County and the King of Han."
"Here."
Li Junxian responded respectfully, and couldn't help feeling deep down in his heart that Fang Jun was the only one who truly deserved the words "Jane is in the Emperor's Heart" today.
Of course, the reason why Fang Jun was so trusted and favored by His Majesty was due to his unwavering support. If Fang Jun had not strongly supported Li Chengqian at the beginning, Emperor Taizong would have been in trouble long ago. Later, Fang Jun stood unswervingly.
In front of Li Chengqian, he fought bloody battles and sacrificed his life to defeat mutinies and rebellions one after another and ensure the stability of the throne.
With such loyalty and meritorious service, he is worthy of any holy family member.
However, sometimes there are not so many truths to be said, and there are not so many "natural things". There are many examples of "the cunning rabbit dies and the running dog is cooked". Killing the donkey is nothing new...
*****
"What? Helan Chushi was imprisoned by the 'Baiqisi' because of corruption?"
In the palace of the Prince of Xiangyi County, Li Shenfu's eyes widened in surprise, obviously frightened and caught off guard.
Li Xiaoxie pinched his eyebrows and said worriedly: "There are people of mine in the Jinwu Guard. This is absolutely true. I thought that he relied on Fang Jun to enter the Jinwu Guard. He had a transcendent status in the Jinwu Guard and no one dared to offend him, so he relied on his
I can get some armor and weapons because of my position...Now that he has been taken away by the 'Hundred Cavalry Division', if it is leaked, it will be a serious matter."
As a member of the clan, gathering and controlling arms in private, no matter what his intentions, is a capital crime. As long as Li Chengqian is serious, no one can save him. Even if he wants to cause serious involvement, the entire Duke of Xi will have to pay for it.
Fortunately, Li Chengqian is a kind-hearted person and may still have a glimmer of hope...
Li Shenfu also frowned and complained: "You, you, you, how many times have I told you to be careful, but you just don't listen. How will it end like this?"
Li Xiaoxie was helpless: "Helan Chushi was the Jinwu Guard position that Wu Shunniang asked for from Fang Jun. I thought that the Jinwu Guards would sell Fang Jun's favor no matter what. Even if the corruption incident happened, it would only be dealt with within the Jinwu Guards.
, who would have expected that Cen Changqian's son would directly hand over the person to 'Baiqisi' without saying a word? Originally, there was a back-up to this matter. Even if Fang Jun learned about it, no matter how he reacted, he would be involved in the clan.
This has further deepened the disagreement between him and His Majesty... But who would have guessed that this kid Cen Changqian would ruin things."
So what if the armor is gathered up and the bows and crossbows are put away? Everyone in the Jinwu Guard is Fang Jun's people. Once the incident happens, Fang Jun will definitely ensure that the generals of the Jinwu Guard suppress the incident and get involved. Otherwise, how can he report to His Majesty?
explain?
In this way, Fang Jun committed the crime of "deceiving the emperor", and his relationship with Li Chengqian was no longer close.
But now Helan Chushi was escorted to "Baiqisi" and delivered directly to Li Chengqian. Without Fang Jun to suppress the matter, how could Li Chengqian dare to let go of the matter of collecting the ordnance? At the same time, Fang Jun also took it out and followed Fang Jun.
With his political sense, he can escape completely.
Li Shenfu scolded: "You are so stupid. I will be killed by you idiots sooner or later!"
Li Xiaoxie said aggrievedly: "Uncle, you asked me to gather more armor and bows and crossbows for use in times of trouble, but how do I have any military connections? I can only secretly contact the Guanlong clan and find a channel through their past relationships...
…You can’t just blame me if something goes wrong now, right?”
There were two consecutive mutinies, and the clan was involved in them. The result was that almost all the clan's hands reaching into the army were cut off, and no soldier could control them. Under such circumstances, if you want to gather some armor, bows and crossbows
To equip their respective family soldiers and dead soldiers, they can only find another way.
The original idea was excellent. The Jinwu Guard has not yet been reorganized and is a mess. It is very easy to take the opportunity to get some armor and crossbows. Even if the incident occurs, with the relationship between Wu Shunniang and Fang Jun well known to the world, how can it be done?
Difficult Helan Chushi?
Even if Helan Chushi's head was chopped off with a knife, the matter would never be leaked.
But a dumbfounded Cen Changqian caused trouble...
Li Shenfu returned the scolding, but he had to find a way to calm the situation and eliminate the hidden dangers. After thinking about it, he said: "You can go back to the house later to clean up, and go to Tai Chi Palace to bear the thorns to apologize."
"What?!"
Li Xiaoxie was startled and lost his voice: "Uncle, will you let me die?"
Li Shenfu slapped the table with his stained hands and cursed: "If you don't go, we will die together!"
Li Xiaoxie was frightened to death: "The clan gathered armor and bows and crossbows secretly. This is a capital crime! Besides, this matter was ordered by the uncle. How can I be allowed to bear the responsibility of the crime by myself? Unless I don't want to bear it, it's really...
I can’t afford it!”
You asked me to do this, and now you want me to take the blame after it happens?
You think beautifully!
Li Shenfu said angrily: "He is simply hopelessly stupid! Now that Helan Chushi has been sent to the 'Baiqisi', can you expect him to keep silent under the torture of the 'Baiqisi'? Now, His Majesty's side
You must have already known about this matter. Whether you live or die depends on His Majesty’s thoughts. Do you think you can hide away?”
Li Xiaoxie knelt at the feet of Li Shenfu with a pop, hugged Li Shenfu's legs, and cried loudly: "Uncle, save me, I don't want to die!"
Inexplicably, the phrase "do great things without cherishing your own life" came to Li Shenfu's mind. How could he achieve great things if he was surrounded by people who would rush forward when there were benefits but had no master when encountering difficulties?
But now that the matter has come to this, there is nothing to regret, there is no way out.
He sighed and said in a calm tone: "Don't panic. It's not too late to save yourself. Asking you to go to the gate of Tai Chi Palace to bear thorns and plead guilty is not to make you die, but the only way to survive. When the time comes, you will kneel in front of me.
Outside Tianmen, tell the story about being extorted by Fang Jun and let all the passers-by hear. Our clan has been forced into such a desperate situation by Fang Jun, a powerful official. The reason why you gathered your armor and bows in private is because
It’s because I was frightened by Fang Jun’s aggressive momentum. I was afraid that one day Fang Jun would rush into the Duke of Xi’s mansion and cut you to death with a thousand knives. I lacked weapons and ice blades to protect you, so I had to take this step to protect myself.”
"Is this...is this okay?"
Li Xiaoxie was still hesitant.
"Another point is that Helan Chushi is Fang Jun's man. You insist that he took the initiative to sell you armor and bows and crossbows. He may not have the motive to lure you into doing wrong things... Doesn't Li Chengqian flaunt himself as 'benevolent, righteous and generous'?
Let’s see if he dares to kill you, the Duke of Xi, so that the world can see what kind of character he really is!”
This is "moral kidnapping". Aren't you "benevolent, righteous and generous"? Then how can you kill the princes of the clan who have done wrong things but have corrected them after they have done so?
But I have to say that this point is indeed targeted at Li Chengqian's "personality", and the effect may not be as good as usual.
It doesn't matter whether Li Chengqian will be angered or not. As long as the current crisis is overcome, there will be no hidden dangers when Li Chengqian's throne is not preserved.
After hearing this, Li Xiaoxie was finally not so panic-stricken. He thought about it and felt that this move might be successful. Moreover, as Li Shenfu said, this matter has been exposed. Life and death can only be determined by Li Chengqian's thoughts, and others cannot protect him at all.
he.
If you want to get out of this matter, you have to fight on your own...
Immediately, Li Xiaoxie made up his mind to return to the mansion, explain to his wife, concubines and children, tidied up briefly, then rode out of the mansion and headed to Tai Chi Palace.
When he arrived at Chengtian Gate, he stood up and dismounted. In front of the officials who were constantly coming and going, the passers-by knelt on the ground, then stamped their heads on the ground and cried loudly: "The humble minister is guilty, and I beg your majesty to forgive me!"
When Li Chengqian in the Taiji Palace heard about this, he immediately laughed angrily and said to Li Junxian: "Look, these shameless people are the clan of the Tang Dynasty! The clan is like this, but I still have to do everything possible to maintain it.
, and even went so far as to suppress the humerus of the hero, which is simply ridiculous!"