The person Li Xuan was waiting for finally arrived!
Li Xiaogong, Prince of Hejian County!
Li Xuan had always thought that the most likely visitor would be Changsun Wuji, or advisers such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, and Wei Zheng.
But he never expected that it would be Li Xiaogong.
However, after seeing the group of aristocratic family heads locked up in the Wang family mansion and seeing Li Xiaogong's expression, Li Xuan understood!
"I see you, Lord Hejian!"
"Students and others meet Prince Hejian!"
Standing in the main hall, all the people from aristocratic families looked at Li Xiaogong with respect, and even Li Xuan could see the traces of fear in the eyes of the heads of these aristocratic families.
"Master Wang, Master Yuan, Master Xie... Hahaha, long time no see. I didn't expect you all to still be so healthy after so many years!"
Li Xiaogong's face was full of joy, as if he had met a friend he hadn't seen for many years.
However, when this kind of smile fell in the eyes of those aristocratic families, they all shrank their necks subconsciously, as if they were seeing a devil's smile.
"What Your Highness said is absolutely true. We haven't seen each other for a long time! However, although we have lived in Jiangning for a long time, we can still hear His Majesty's reputation from time to time. He conquered Tuyuhun in the west and swept away the Tubo Hozen, which made great achievements for me.
The Tang Dynasty opened up its territory and expanded its territory..."
"Your Highness is as brave as before, which I and others admire greatly!"
For a moment, all the heads of the aristocratic families praised Li Xiaogong fiercely!
Li Xiaogong, on the other hand, squinted his eyes and enjoyed it for a while, then his expression straightened.
"Okay, okay, we've finished talking about the old friendship, let's start talking about business!"
Hearing this, all the heads of the aristocratic families looked at Li Xiaogong nervously.
Li Xiaogong snorted coldly, "Your Majesty heard that you have been entrenched in Jiangning for so many years and have disobeyed the emperor. Not only did you hide your soldiers secretly, but you also openly used weapons against the prince of Tang Dynasty and the king of Jin.
Moreover, even the annexation agreement signed face-to-face with His Majesty two years ago can be violated in a fair and just way?"
The faces of the heads of the aristocratic families changed greatly.
"Please also ask the Prince of Hejian County to listen to the explanation from the old man and others!"
"Explain what?"
Li Xiaogong's expression changed again, and a pressure that Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others had never seen before rushed directly towards the heads of the aristocratic families.
"In broad daylight, thousands of soldiers raised by the royal family shouted at the prince and the king of Jin to kill him at the gate of the royal family. Do you still want to ignore this matter?"
"Also, there are at least thousands of people around Jiangning City. They have been threatened by your family in the past two years. Thousands of young people have been forced to join your family as slaves and go to cultivate fields in your vassal country.
, do you want to deny this?"
"Or maybe you also want to deny the thousands of tenant slaves of the Tang Dynasty who appear in your country?"
"this……"
The faces of all the heads of the aristocratic families changed drastically, and they realized that the man in Chang'an City had already known everything they were doing in private.
Beside them, Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others stood quietly, watching all this with expressions on their faces as if they were watching a show.
Ever since they came to Jiangning City, the people of these aristocratic families have always looked like dead pigs who are not afraid of boiling water. They are not worried at all about what Li Xuan and Li Chengqian can do to them!
Indeed, just by violating the agreement, hundreds or even thousands of people in the Tang Dynasty were harmed privately!
For these aristocratic families, these minor crimes are nothing more than a trivial matter!
Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others were unable to cause any substantial harm to these deep-rooted aristocratic families.
Only the Wang family was used to being arrogant and domineering. They never expected that the King of Jin and the Crown Prince would come all the way to trouble them with their guards. The housekeeper in their family did not recognize the King of Jin and the Crown Prince, directly putting the Wang family into a certain death situation.
!
As for the Meng family, they are also used to being arrogant, and they just hit the edge of the knife by themselves!
The remaining heads of the aristocratic families, all of whom have matured, have already come up with good countermeasures in the past few days.
Everything has even been arranged through the butler.
But they never expected that His Majesty would send Hejian County Prince Li Xiaogong.
Who is Li Xiaogong?
Other aristocratic families can ignore Li Xiaogong, but these Jiangnan aristocratic families dare not forget him!
In the past, during the Wude period, General Li of the family was the general manager of Jingzhou. He controlled several states south of the Yangtze River. He had many powerful generals under his command and thousands of troops. He conquered most of the south of the Yangtze River.
For this reason, most of the aristocratic families south of the Yangtze River faced Li Xiaogong's soldiers and were forced by Li Xiaogong to surrender to Li Tang.
And Li Xiaogong was also secretly called the "King of Jiangnan" by a group of Jiangnan aristocratic families!
Although now, Li Xiaogong has been transferred back to Chang'an and will soon become an idle king of the Tang Dynasty!
However, these aristocratic families would not naively believe that Li Xiaogong did not secretly leave any influence in Jiangnan?
Or maybe the shameful evidence of their families that Li Xiaogong controlled back then has been destroyed?
Moreover, they have all experienced Li Xiaogong's ruthlessness and cunningness, and now they still have lingering fears when they think about it.
Now, Li Xiaogong has come here on the edict of the sage, and these aristocratic families have still made mistakes before, so how can they live well?
Thinking about it, the heads of these aristocratic families are all filled with heavy hearts!
"Why are you silent?"
Li Xiaogong asked coldly.
"Your Highness, what the Wang family has done is extremely treasonous and unethical, and they should be exterminated! Their royal title should also be removed, and the feudal kingdom should be put away!"
The head of the Xie family quickly spoke.
Seeing this, several family heads on the side also hurriedly spoke in agreement.
"Exactly, the Wang family should be destroyed!"
"Your Highness, the head of the Meng family has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. This branch in Jiangning City should be destroyed!"
"Your Highness..."
Seeing this, a trace of satisfaction flashed in Li Xiaogong's eyes.
Li Xuan and Li Chengqian, on the other hand, snorted coldly at the heads of the aristocratic families. They had been imprisoned by them for so long and they did not admit any fault.
Now, when Li Xiaogong comes, these old thieves are so attentive and even a little groveling!
"Brother Wang, since these aristocratic families dare to openly violate the agreement, whether they know it or not, or whether the family members do it privately, they are violating the vassalage agreement signed with His Majesty. They must withdraw their royal titles and take back their royalties.
Seal the country!"
Li Xuan said coldly.
"Exactly, since you dare to violate the agreement, you should bear the consequences. Otherwise, where is the majesty of the imperial court and where is the dignity of my father?"
Li Chengqian also said angrily.
After saying that, a few people turned around and left, regardless of the faces of the people from the aristocratic families who changed drastically.
Now that Li Xiaogong, who is playing tricks with these old thieves from aristocratic families, is here, there is no need for them to keep an eye on these old foxes every day.
Immediately, Li Xuan and Li Chengqian directly ordered the personal guards and servants to pack their bags and begin to leave.
They have been out for several months and have long wanted to go back!
But the heads of the aristocratic families who were still in the main hall, pleading with Li Xiaogong with miserable faces, did not expect this at all.
Their princely titles and feudal kingdoms have nearly exhausted half of their family's wealth.
If they were really withdrawn by the court just because of a few hundred untouchables, then these aristocratic families would definitely be devastated, or even unable to recover, and it is not impossible that they would become poor families from now on.
Thinking about it, all the heads of the aristocratic families gathered next to Li Xiaogong and begged.
"This is a stupid thing you have done. What does it have to do with this king?"
About a quarter of an hour later, Li Xiaogong couldn't bear the trouble anymore, and his face was full of irritation.
"I only came here following His Majesty's order. Instead of asking me to let your family go, you should go and ask for forgiveness from the King of Jin and the Crown Prince. Otherwise, even if you dedicate all your family property to me, I will not be able to do it."
Even the king dare not agree!"
"this……"
The heads of the aristocratic families were stunned for a moment, and then they all slapped their heads violently, filled with regret. They were so frightened by the power of the Hejian County Prince that they became confused.
For this kind of thing, instead of asking the rightful owner, you keep asking the person doing the work!
No wonder the King of Jin and the Crown Prince looked so angry just now.
"Thank you, Prince, for reminding me!"
After thanking them, the heads of the aristocratic families prepared to look for Li Chengqian, Li Xuan and others.
However, after listening to the words of the soldiers at the door, everyone was filled with disbelief.
"What, King Jin, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and others have already left?"
"Where have you gone?"
As for the personal guards brought by Li Xiaogong at the door, they didn't even bother to answer the questions raised by the heads of these aristocratic families!
How could they easily inform outsiders of the whereabouts of the King of Jin and the Crown Prince, not to mention that these heads of aristocratic families were the ones they wanted to arrest this time?
Seeing this, the heads of the aristocratic families quickly turned their heads and looked at Li Xiaogong expectantly.
"Where did the King of Jin and the Crown Prince go?"
Li Xiaogong was also very curious about the sudden departure of Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others.
"Reporting to your Majesty, His Royal Highness the King of Jin, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and all the princes have just packed all their luggage and said they are going back to Chang'an!"
The guard quickly replied.
"What?"
Li Xiaogong was shocked.
On the side, all the heads of the aristocratic families were confused, and subconsciously looked at the guards beside them with doubts on their faces.
They just chatted here for a while, and hundreds of people including the King of Jin and the Crown Prince had already packed up and left?
Similarly, after Li Xiaogong looked surprised for a while, he stood up and walked to the backyard.
All the heads of the aristocratic families quickly followed!
After a while, when he saw several empty houses, Li Xiaogong couldn't help but his face was dull and his eyes were full of disbelief.
"Really went back to Chang'an?"
"Back to your Majesty, King Jin, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and several young men have indeed left!"
The guard on the side quickly replied.
"How did they pack up the luggage of more than 600 people so quickly?" Li Xiaogong still didn't understand.
"Your Majesty, I don't know this! But I saw that the guards of His Highness Prince Jin were very orderly when packing their bags!" the guard replied.
"Go back and find Chongyi to learn from you!"
After being inexplicably annoyed for a while, Li Xiaogong recovered, glanced at the bodyguard beside him, and gave instructions.
Since everyone was gone anyway, there was nothing he could do.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
A group of personal guards responded quickly.
However, the heads of the aristocratic families on the side looked at the empty rooms in front of them, as if no one had ever lived in them, and they still couldn't believe it.
He actually left!
Moreover, not a single object was left behind!
However, there were more than 600 people, how could they leave so neatly?
Thinking of this, the head of the Xie family trembled and quickly walked to Li Xiaogong: "Please, Your Highness, please save me..."
On the side, all the heads of the aristocratic families also reacted and hurriedly approached Li Xiaogong, all of them with anxious faces.
Now, the person who can really make the decision has run away due to their delay.
Now, in Jiangning City, only the person in front of them can save them!
"Aren't you all confused?"
Seeing the heads of these aristocratic families coming around again, Li Xiaogong couldn't help but feel angry.
"ah?"
The heads of the aristocratic families were stunned again.
"Even if the King of Jin, the Crown Prince and others leave, with such a large team and carrying so many items, how fast can they go? Moreover, they have only been gone for such a long time, maybe they won't even be there by now.
We’ve left Jiangning City!”
Li Xiaogong said with some hatred that iron cannot become steel.
"Why don't you go chase me soon?"
"Thank you, Prince!"
At this time, the heads of the aristocratic families hurriedly bowed their hands to Li Xiaogong, thanked him, and quickly ran out.
Seeing the heads of these aristocratic families running faster than rabbits, a trace of disdain flashed in Li Xiaogong's eyes.
"Let's see where you can run. Your Majesty just sent me here to help you deal with these old guys. He didn't ask you to be a hands-off shopkeeper and run back to Chang'an to enjoy your happiness, leaving me to face these aristocratic families here alone... Hehehe
…”
Later, when the entire Wang family mansion was empty, Li Xiaogong snorted again, with a murderous look on his face.
"Someone is coming!"
"I wonder what your Majesty's orders are?"
"The following members of the Langya Wang family committed crimes and committed treason and injustice. They gathered troops and horses to confiscate the Langya Wang family and exterminate the clan. All their children were taken into custody..."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"In addition, the Meng family in Pingchang committed the crime of deceiving the emperor and took all the brothers of the Meng family into custody..."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Soon, the entire Jiangning City, and even the entire Jiangnan area, began a wave of arrests.
All the aristocratic families were shocked and panicked by Li Xiaogong's actions.
However, after learning about the crimes committed by the Langya Wang family and the Pingchang Meng family, all the aristocratic families felt sad in their hearts and quickly summoned a group of family members to prevent them from harming the people.
At the same time, before they could take any action, they received an invitation.
Of course it was posted by Li Xiaogong!
After receiving the invitation, all the heads of the aristocratic families quickly got on the carriage and rushed to Jiangning City.
On the other hand, although the heads of the aristocratic families in Jiangning City are well-informed, they basically know which road Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others' convoys are taking.
However, I just can't catch up.
Even when he was just a few miles away from catching up, a big tree blocked the road ahead.
Obviously, it was the convoy in front that deliberately prevented them from catching up.
In this way, one afternoon later, all the heads of the aristocratic families returned to Jiangning City with their heads down.
At the same time, I felt even more terrified.
The King of Jin and the Crown Prince did not allow them to catch up, obviously they deliberately wanted to remove the princes and feudal lords from their families.
Therefore, when facing Li Xiaogong, these aristocratic families were even more cautious. At the same time, they wrote more than ten letters one after another, handed them to their confidants, and sent them to Chang'an overnight.
However, he didn't know that Li Xuan, Li Chengqian and others used trees to block the road just to prevent Li Xiaogong from chasing them.