"Did you encounter any trouble in Pyongyang City that required my intervention?"
Li Xuan asked directly, but before Cui Gongming and others could reply, he waved his hands and said.
"If there is anything that needs my help, just go out and find Zheng Fu and tell him!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Cui Gongming and others quickly bowed and walked out.
"call……"
After walking out of the hall, Cui Gongming and Shi Chang subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, they looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and walked towards Zheng Fu who was standing far away.
And in the main hall.
Li Yuan looked at Li Yuanjing.
"Are you going to deal with this person like this? Or stay for a few years and wait until he makes more money for you, then take him down in one fell swoop?"
"Aye..."
Li Yuanjing didn't expect that Li Yuan would ask him like this, so he couldn't help but look shocked and subconsciously felt embarrassed.
Although he was angry that Liu Zongxin dared to use his name to steal money from the rich businessmen and powerful people in Pyongyang. However, the ten thousand gu each month was a huge amount of money for Li Yuanjing.
In the past, when he was still the prince of the Tang Dynasty, he had a salary from the imperial court, so he had no worries about food and drink. In total, he had tens of thousands of dollars every month.
However, after arriving in Goguryeo, the imperial court only gave him 30% of his previous salary, except for his residence in the Tang Dynasty.
Not only did he have 20,000 more soldiers, he also had a lot of officials to support.
Every month, Pyongyang and the four surrounding cities collect a maximum of more than 40,000 yuan in taxes.
However, just to support the officers and soldiers below, it would cost almost the same. There would be no much money left for him, and sometimes he would even have to pay back his salary as a prince of the Tang Dynasty.
Now, the luxurious objects in his palace, as well as the beautiful prostitutes, were all presented to him by Liu Zongxin. If he were to buy them himself, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the money to buy any of the beautiful prostitutes.
Therefore, deep down in his heart, Li Yuanjing still felt that Liu Zongxin still had some merit for him.
Li Yuan ignored it and continued: "But if you are reluctant to take it down so quickly, then you have to ensure that the 10,000 yuan that this officer keeps privately every month is not used to bribe the soldiers under his command, or even
It’s those guards in your palace!”
Hearing this, Li Yuanjing's face was shocked.
This place is far away from the Tang Dynasty, and there are some vassal states of aristocratic families nearby.
And he only had 20,000 generals and 5,000 personal guards.
If Liu Zongxin bribed all his 25,000 soldiers and generals, he, the King of Pyongyang, would be worse than a prisoner.
And if he were to kill him, he wouldn't be able to bear it!
"It's just that, Liu Zongxin and his staff have not done anything inappropriate to the child!"
"Then what do you want to do?"
Li Yuan glanced at Li Yuanjing and asked slowly.
"Go back to Aye, I want to send him back to Chang'an, or let him disarm and return to his field!"
Li Yuanjing said slowly.
"You are now a vassal king. You can deal with your subordinates how you want to deal with them." Li Yuan said.
In fact, in Li Yuan's heart, Liu Zongxin's fault was not that big.
The main thing is that in his heart, those Goguryeo hozens cannot be compared with the Tang people.
However, a minister who actually deceived his monarch and wanted to share the money with his monarch was also a general with military power and could no longer stay by his side!
"Thank you Aye!"
Li Yuanjing quickly bowed respectfully to Li Yuan.
Then, he shouted outside.
"Where is Li Cheng?"
"Li Cheng has met with the King. I wonder what the King has ordered?"
Soon, Li Cheng, the commander of Li Yuanjing's palace guards, walked in.
"I order you to bring someone with you to summon Liu Zongxin!"
Li Yuanjing said in a deep voice.
"Subordinates obey orders!"
Li Cheng felt this in his heart, and he respectfully clasped his fists in salute, then personally selected a group of confidants and walked outside the palace.
A quarter of an hour later.
Li Cheng walked in with a man with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a simple and honest face.
"General Liu Zongxin pays homage to the king! Pays homage to the Supreme Emperor, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, pays homage to His Highness King Jin, pays homage to King Wei, all gentlemen!"
After seeing the ceremony, Li Cheng looked at Li Yuanjing.
However, what surprised him was that there was something wrong with Li Yuanjing's expression today.
"Liu Zongxin, I would like to know how much money you can receive every month from the wealthy businessmen and powerful people in the city by using my name."
"this……"
Liu Zongxin was startled, then smiled bitterly.
"Does the king already know?"
"You are so brave!"
Li Yuanjing's face was full of anger, "I have trusted you so much in vain and entrusted you with the entire defense of Pyongyang City. You actually deceived me like this!"
"Your Majesty, forgive me!"
There was not much fear in Liu Zongxin's eyes, but he bowed his hands with helplessness and said: "Your Majesty, it is not actually your intention to do this, but all the brothers followed your Majesty all the way to Goguryeo.
Since we can't enjoy the prosperity of our Tang Dynasty in such a desolate place, we should earn more money to support our family."
"Is the military pay I have given you and others not enough?"
Li Yuanjing said angrily.
"Your Majesty, forgive me!"
Liu Zongxin smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, these soldiers only have enough military pay every month. After eating and drinking, there is not much left. How much can we have if we want to subsidize our elderly parents at home?"
After Li Yuanjing was silent for a moment, he said slowly again: "Why don't you tell me about this matter?"
"Your Majesty, the city you govern is only as big as this, and your subordinates know how much income you get every month. Even if I tell you, you can't change the money, and you may even prevent your subordinates from treating those Goguryeo hozens like that.
Harsh!" Liu Zongxin said.
"So, you distributed all the money you withheld to your soldiers?"
Li Yuanjing asked slowly.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Liu Zongxin was very single.
"You bastard!"
Li Yuanjing looked angry.
"Did you know that just because you secretly distribute money to your soldiers, you are suspected of bribing soldiers? No king can tolerate the existence of such a general?"
"My subordinates are loyal to your Majesty without any second thoughts. I would like to ask Your Majesty for your enlightenment!"
Liu Zongxin's expression changed drastically and he said quickly.
"snort!"
Li Yuanjing snorted coldly, "In a moment, I will send a captain to go. You pack up, take your family, and follow the Supreme Emperor back to the Tang Dynasty!"
"King?"
Liu Zongxin was shocked, "Your Majesty, are you going to drive your subordinates away?"
"Hmph, your crime is a capital crime no matter where you look at it. Take your family and go back to the Tang Dynasty. I don't want this king to see you again!" Li Yuanjing said angrily.
"Subordinates obey orders!"
Seeing Li Yuanjing's determined expression, Liu Zongxin had no choice but to smile sadly and cupped his hand towards Li Yuanjing again.
"My subordinates will return to their hometown of Anye County. If the king wants to drive you in the future, just give him his orders!"