Chapter 200: Li Linfu's power is further reduced, the prince's servants outside Taiyuan City

"Kill the thief merchant!"

"Kill the thief merchant!"

After the people of Dunhuang City discussed for a while, someone took the lead and shouted loudly.

The other people were filled with righteous indignation and raised their fists and shouted.

There must be more women who have disappeared in Dunhuang County over the years.

These cruel and insane foreign merchants must die in order to appease the public anger.

This roar made the faces of the thieves turn pale with fear.

Many of their men had already died in the battle the day before.

They knew they could not escape death, but the surge of the people still frightened them.

Even the foreign merchants who were not thieves were so scared that they shrank back. They were afraid that the common people would pin them down and beat them up because of their similar body shapes.

Fortunately, thanks to General Li, they did not flee, because Li Xuan was a very prestigious person in Hu Shangzhong.

Li Xuan has always been famous among businessmen for his impartiality. Li Xuan once encouraged business in Liangzhou City and said "fair competition" and "trust is the foundation".

Li Xuan also made it clear in advance that businessmen who break the law will be punished according to the law.

Those thieves must die.

They made a fortune by trafficking in female slaves from the Tang Dynasty.

If you walk by the river often, how can you not get your feet wet?

"Folks!"

Seeing the crowd was indignant, Li Xuan, escorted by Luo Xing, Xue Cuo and other riders, rode out on his horse.

The people knew that this extraordinary and heroic general was General Li, so they all withdrew their arms and stopped talking.

The noisy scene became silent.

"Misfortunes sent by heaven can be forgiven, but misfortunes brought upon oneself cannot be forgiven. The thieves Shang deserve to be put to death. But not now. We still need to interrogate the thieves Shang and get some information from them. Let them live a few more days. After the interrogation is completed, they will be beheaded at the East Gate along with the corrupt officials and tyrants in Dunhuang."

Li Xuan shouted loudly with great force.

The people believed Li Xuan's words and raised their hands to echo him, staring intently at the legendary General Li's demeanor.

Their reverence was written all over their faces.

If General Li can become a fatherly official, Dunhuang will no longer be shrouded in dark clouds and will not be afraid of yellow sand.

"Aweng... General Li is a god. He saved us."

The pretty girl looked at Li Xuan and said to the old man.

Her eyes brightened for a moment, then quickly dimmed.

"General Lee can do anything!"

The old man stammered something.

One thing can reflect a person's charm.

At this time, the old man was convinced that Li Xuan was omnipotent.

It's a pity that he is old and unable to repay Li Xuan's kindness.

I can only burn incense at home and wish Li Xuan good health.

Amid cheers, the people surrounded Li Xuan and led him into Dunhuang City.

Li Xuan ordered the soldiers to send the other women back to the villages around Dunhuang.

The homeless maid stayed in Dunhuang city temporarily.

Waiting for follow-up arrangements!
Confiscating the property of the powerful, seizing the property of officials, and squeezing out the thieves and merchants can gain a lot of wealth, and Li Xuan will take the initiative to compensate them some.

It will also compensate those families whose wives and daughters will never return.

After Li Xuan returned to the prefectural government, he immediately wrote a memorial to the emperor, stating the numerous evil deeds of officials such as Sheng Yuliang.

He hoped that Li Longji would execute him directly and have the Ministry of Personnel select officials to take up their posts in Dunhuang as soon as possible.

In his letter, he again hinted at the Censor-in-Chief and the previous interview for his inaction, and was preparing to direct the blame on Li Linfu.

Normally, there are many procedures for executing a prefect.

But Li Xuan knew that when Li Longji trusted someone, he would decisively give up power.

Just like in his previous life, Luo Xishi killed his way from Qingzhou to Lingnan. Not only prefects, but even ministers and people like Li Shizhi who had served as prime ministers could be executed at will.

The crime of murder is unfounded!
Li Xuan handed the entire case over to Yan Zhenqing to handle.

Yan Zhenqing's other identity now is the judge of the Hexi Interview Envoy.

The next day, early in the morning.

Li Xuan led his personal guards and arrived at Yumen Pass with Yumen Army Envoy An Yuanzhen.

Why bamboo flute complain willow, spring is not degree Pass.

Advise Jun to make a glass of wine even more, and there is no reason for him to go out of Yangguan.

Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass are so famous, I think it is due to the contributions of Wang Zhihuan and Wang Wei.

Li Xuan inspected the defense and warehouses of Yumen Pass.

Although this city is no longer heavily defended, basic guarding cannot be slackened.

Although Dunhuang is vast in area, the Dunhuang County west of Yumen Pass is no longer the territory of the Han people.

Although there were Han immigrants in the Western Regions, there were more Hu people.

The Tang Dynasty's control over the Western Regions was far less than that over the Hexi Corridor.

Hexi Road includes not only the five counties in the Hexi Corridor, but also Yiwulu County (now Hami) and Jiaohe County (now Turpan) after Yangguan and Yumenguan.

However, none of the troops and garrisons of the Hexi Jiedushi were stationed in the half of Dunhuang County, Yiwulu County and Jiaohe County beyond Yumen Pass.

The Hu people there were highly autonomous and had their own soldiers, and they only had to pay taxes on time.

"General An, it is said that merchants love and hate the roads from Yumen Pass to Gaochang and from Yangguan Pass to Qiuci. The wasteland and desert have become the graves of many merchants. I think we can set up dozens of garrisons in this wasteland and desert, with 50 to 100 people in each garrison, to completely open up the smooth trade route, so that merchants can enter the Tang Dynasty without any scruples. What do you think?"

After leaving Yumen Pass, Li Xuan rode his horse across the vast desert. There was an occasional post station here, but they were far apart.

He told An Yuanzhen about this idea.

"General Li, this will indeed attract more merchants to Hexi. But at present, our Yumen Army is short of manpower, and I am afraid we can't even build a garrison along one road."

An Yuanzhen replied to Li Xuan.

To build a garrison group with a force of 5,000, do we only need 5,000 soldiers?

Certainly not!

Especially in garrisons in the desert, it is very troublesome to transport daily necessities, supplies, and water.

At the very least, there was a convoy of 5,000 people that continuously provided water, food and other supplies to these garrisons.

Moreover, it takes a lot of effort to build these garrisons.

This is also the reason why the Tang Dynasty did not completely open up the wasteland and desert.

"Some things must be done. General An, be prepared. I will make some plans."

Li Xuan looked straight to the west.

He knew that according to history, after the An-Shi Rebellion, China would lose Central Asia forever, and a "god" from the West would stay there forever to educate the people there.

Now many people in Central Asia speak Chinese, learn Chinese, and understand Confucianism. But after the catastrophe, the white-haired and lonely city will forget the fluent language.

Even the Western Regions will take a very long time to recover.

Therefore, Li Xuan wanted to connect the Western Regions with the Hexi Corridor more closely.

For future operations and planning.

"As ordered!"

An Yuanzhen followed Li Xuan's arrangement. If so, his military strength would increase significantly, and his official rank would also be upgraded.

So he couldn't ask for it more.

Li Xuan and An Yuanzhen went around the desert and arrived at Yangguan.

He used the lesson of the Dou Lu Army to tell the defending soldiers to cherish themselves...

……

Chang'an, Xingqing Palace.

"Right Prime Minister, I heard that this Zhuge Liang sword is a treasure given to you by the governor of Jinchang."

In front of a pavilion beside the Dragon Pond, Li Longji pointed at the Zhangwu sword in front of him and said to Li Linfu.

"Sir, I am stupid and don't know what this is about."

Li Linfu thought that Li Longji summoned him into the palace to tell him something, but he didn't expect to be asked this question.

Li Linfu, who was familiar with Li Longji, knew that the saint was in an angry state.

But he had no idea what was going on.

Suddenly, Li Linfu realized something.

Jinchang?

Isn’t this in Hexi?
When Hexi was mentioned, Li Xuan's face popped into Li Linfu's mind.

Although Li Linfu was the chief prime minister, he could receive memorials from various places.

However, there was one memorial that Li Longji specifically ordered to be presented directly to the Xingqing Palace in Beijing, and was passed on to Li Longji by Gao Lishi of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

That is Li Xuan’s memorial!

It must be that little thief Li Xuan who is playing tricks on him again.

"Look for yourself! The governor of Jinchang did not hesitate to kill the son of the chief of the Moli Tuyuhun tribe to curry favor with the right prime minister, causing Tuyuhun to rebel, cut off the Silk Road, and besiege Jinchang."

Li Longji threw Li Xuan's memorial to Li Linfu.

Although he was frightened, Li Linfu still opened the memorial and read it with trembling hands.

really!

Hateful Li Xuan, stupid Fan Changhai.

After reading the memorial, Li Linfu felt like crying but had no tears. It was truly an unprovoked disaster.

But Fan Changhai has confessed and it is a fact that he presented Zhuge Liang's sword to him.

The main reason was that Zhuge Liang's sword was too sensitive, which directly caused the Tuyuhun rebellion.

It seems that local officials can be promoted as long as they bribe him.

"Please forgive me, Fan Changhai has misled the country and the people, and he should be sentenced to death!"

Li Linfu pretended to be very pale and knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

"Right Prime Minister, if you receive Zhuge Liang's sword, will you give Fan Changhai a position as a minister?"

Li Longji asked a question suddenly without letting Li Linfu stand up.

"The assistant minister must be selected from among the outstanding county governors. This requires the discerning eyes of a saint. How dare I?"

Li Linfu was not without reason.

"As a second choice, how about becoming a Shaoqing?"

Li Longji asked again. "The position of Shaoqing must be held by a person of good character and a prominent father. The glory of the sage's throne will make it impossible for people of bad character to hide."

Li Linfu continued to reply.

"Then why is the Right Prime Minister planning to arrange this for him?"

When Li Longji heard Li Linfu's words, his anger gradually subsided.

"If it is an ordinary sword, I will wear it, because it is a sword of virtue; if it is a middle-class sword, I will abandon it in the courtyard, because it is a sword of warning; if it is a high-quality sword, I will bury it in the ground, because it is a sword that hurts people. If it is Zhuge Liang's sword, I will offer it to the saint with both hands, because the prime minister is chosen by the emperor. I dare not do such a disrespectful thing. I hope the saint will understand!"

After saying this, Li Linfu kowtowed to Li Longji again.

He divided the sword into upper, middle and lower parts, and considered how to use it based on its sharpness.

The sharpest ones are buried in the soil.

Usually sharp and hung in the courtyard.

A bladeless sword, carried on the body.

It means that he has no edge, no ambition, and is loyal to Li Longji.

After Li Linfu said this, Li Longji's anger disappeared.

There should be no problem with the right prime minister, it's all Fan Changhai's fault.

"Fan Changhai was so clever that he issued an order that he should not return to Chang'an, but should be beaten to death on the road immediately, and his family should be made slaves! The deputy driver of Jinchang was given poisoned wine and executed."

Li Longji gave instructions to the eunuch Li Jingren.

He blamed all the blame on Fan Changhai.

It is outrageous that a county magistrate could cause a rebellion in an area.

"According to the order!"

Li Jingren took the order and left.

Li Linfu then breathed a sigh of relief, but he hated Li Xuan even more in his heart.

Fortunately, he was able to figure out the emperor's intention and escaped.

Li Xuan, this little thief, repeatedly harmed him and wanted to kill him.

I had to swallow my anger again.

For example, this time, Li Xuan only mentioned in the memorial that Fan Changhai wanted to give the sword to the right prime minister, but the other words were all describing that Fan Changhai was determined to be successful if he gave the sword to the right prime minister.

Doesn't this imply that he is nepotistic?

The key is that he couldn't fight back against Li Xuan.

Although the saint was no longer angry, Li Linfu could feel that this incident would inevitably have an impact on him.

"Right Prime Minister, do you think you are qualified to wear this Zhuge Liang sword?"

Li Longji pulled out a part of Zhuge Liang's sword and pushed it back into the scabbard.

Although Zhuge Liang's sword is good, it is, after all, a minister's sword, not an emperor's sword.

As an emperor, it is impossible for him to wear it.

"…If the saint grants me the sword, I will do my best to carry it until my death."

Li Linfu said with great struggle.

Although he thought he was not as good as Zhuge Liang, he could not shirk his responsibility.

The sage got Zhuge Liang's sword and wanted to give it to his ministers.

As the chief prime minister, he would become a laughing stock in Chang'an if he did not get Zhuge Liang's sword.

"In matters of state, the Right Prime Minister needs to work harder!"

What Li Longji said meant that he had no intention of giving Zhuge Liang's sword to Li Linfu for the time being.

In the third year of Tianbao, he had the idea of ​​entrusting state affairs to Li Linfu and standing aside and doing nothing.

But Li Linfu disappointed him again and again, so he had to give up this idea.

Why was the position of Minister of Personnel left vacant? Wasn't it because they wanted to find an opportunity to hand it over to Li Linfu?
Every year when he had this kind of thought, Li Linfu would always make mistakes.

Life is too short.

He spent most of his life as a man of great talent and vision, creating brilliant cultural achievements and making outstanding military achievements.

A farmer can still enjoy his old age. But as the emperor, can't he enjoy a few more years?
Since Li Linfu is unqualified, who can succeed him and leave him in vain?

"I will definitely complete the Saint's instructions."

Li Linfu sighed inwardly.

The sage did not give him Zhuge Liang's sword.

Everyone knows the importance of this sword. If it is given to Pei Kuan, who will be the chief prime minister?
Li Linfu knew that there was something called "power".

If Zhuge Liang's sword spread in Chang'an and Luoyang, relying on Zhuge Liang's fame, a sword can bring about a qualitative change in one's identity.

His guess was correct. Soon, an allusion would be born because of this...

As for how to deal with Helian Chengying, Li Longji and Li Xuan expected the same thing, which was to exile him to Qianzhong.

For Helian Chengying, exile to Qianzhong was better than exile to Lingnan.

In order to show his kindness, Li Longji followed Li Xuan's advice and pardoned the crimes of the Tuyuhun tribe.

This time, the rebellion of Moli Tuyuhun was not as serious as the previous rebellion of Hushu.

If Hu Shu kills the governor of the Tang Dynasty, all his tribes will be pardoned.

What's more, there was a reason why Moli and Tuyuhun did this.

Li Longji entrusted Pei Kuan with the task of appointing the new governor of Jinchang and deputy governor of Jinchang.

……

In Chang'an, five days later, another incident occurred that made Li Longji furious.

It’s still Li Xuan’s memorial!
Li Xuan presents the missing case of the Hexi woman and maid from beginning to end.

Li Xuan believed that this outrageous thing was a smear on the prosperous era, a disrespect for the authority of the saints, and an insult to the great Tang Dynasty.

In the Celestial Empire, even ordinary people cannot be bullied.

Like Sheng Yuliang, he not only helped the bandits and merchants abduct Tang women, but also plotted a rebellion, gathered powerful people, and wanted to kill the founding duke of the Tang Dynasty.

"How can such an official be appointed as a prefect? ​​How is the Ministry of Personnel evaluating officials? Did the Censor-in-Chief go to Dunhuang during the Tianbao period? Was the previous envoy a good-for-nothing? The court was completely unaware of such a major event, or did you know about it but didn't tell me?"

Li Longji summoned Pei Kuan and Li Linfu to the Council Hall and scolded them harshly.

Pei Kuan and Li Linfu had already read the memorial. Although they looked terrified, their moods were different.

Pei Kuan had been prime minister for less than a year. Before that, he was the Minister of Revenue, and before that he was the Jiedushi of Fan Yang.

When he was prime minister, he was not in charge of the assessment of officials.

There is no way a saint could hold on to him.

But Li Linfu was different. He had been prime minister for so many years, and Yang Shenjin, the head of the Censorate, was recommended by Li Linfu.

The Censor-in-Chief was sent by Yang Shenjin.

Most of the envoys were recommended by Li Linfu.

Let’s not talk about the thieves and merchants for now.

Over seventy decent women disappeared in just one county over the past few years, but the governor of Dunhuang did not report this to the court.

"Your Majesty, I just learned about this as well."

Li Linfu felt very miserable.

It's really a wave of unrest, a wave of another.

This grandson Li Xuan is too troublesome. He kills wherever he goes. Doesn't he have any scruples at all?

Li Linfu certainly knew that if he looked carefully, at least half of the 328 counties and prefectures, except for the newly built Taoyang County and Jiuqu County, would have problems.

In the past, Li Linfu only thought that the counties were just petty corrupt officials who were harmless and that it was human nature to pursue family wealth and status.

After Li Linfu read Li Xuan's description of Sheng Yuliang, he suddenly felt like an honest official.

Although his bottom line is ten feet deeper than that of ordinary people, it is not this low.

"From now on, do not recommend the position of envoy anymore. Let the highly respected county governor take up the position concurrently!"

Li Longji issued a warning to Li Linfu.

It means depriving Li Linfu of the power to recommend envoys for interviews.

Because this was not the first time that Li Linfu was involved in major cases. All the envoys who were interviewed by the Ministry of Personnel were recommended by Li Linfu.

"Your Majesty... obeys your order!"

Li Linfu bowed his head and accepted the order.

He knew what this meant. It was difficult for him to get Zhuge Liang's sword.

"I heard that some people were dissatisfied with Qilang's appointment as the envoy. Were they satisfied with the previous envoys? Do those envoys still remember that they have their own staffs? All the envoys and supervisory censors in Hexi since the second year of Tianbao will be dismissed and investigated."

Li Longji gave Pei Kuan another order.

"I obey your order..."

Pei Kuan bowed.

"Tell General Li to have the Yumen Army Envoy, the Yumen Pass Yangguan Guard, the Dunhuang Governor, and the Dunhuang Chief Clerk all beheaded in Dunhuang! Behead all the thieves and merchants, and place their heads in Yangguan for three days as a warning to others. Behead all the tyrants involved, and use the slaves and county soldiers as soldiers for the army."

Li Longji trusted Li Xuan immensely, and based on this memorial, he gave Li Xuan the power to kill indiscriminately.

As an important city on the Silk Road, Dunhuang must be inhabited by wealthy people who could bring him large amounts of gold, silver, and jewelry.

Moreover, all the bad reputation of offending the powerful was borne by Li Xuan.

Therefore, Li Longji liked Li Xuan very much.

……

"I just realized today that prestige can be lost again and again. If this continues, I will lose my head."

"I wanted to wait, but now I have to act. First, get rid of Wang Zhongsi and overthrow the crown prince, and then find Li Xuan's flaws."

In the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, Li Linfu said with his fist clenched.

……

Half a month later, a dead body appeared outside Taiyuan City.

The body looked like it had been murdered, and all the valuables on it were missing.

This kind of thing should be a local minor matter.

However, the case officer under Taiyuan Ling found an "identity certificate" on the body to prove the identity.

This person turned out to be a servant in the Prince’s Mansion!

After receiving the news, the Taiyuan magistrate was shocked. How could the prince's servant appear in Taiyuan for no reason?

How could a slave leave Chang'an without his master's order?
What’s more, he is the prince’s slave!

At the suggestion of his assistants, the Taiyuan magistrate remembered Wang Zhongsi, the governor of Hedong and Shuofang towns in Taiyuan city!
After Wang Zhongsi took on the post of Jiedushi of Hedong, he moved his office to Taiyuan, the seat of the Jiedushi of Hedong.

Everyone knows that Wang Zhongsi is the saint's godson. He grew up in the Eastern Palace with Crown Prince Li Heng and calls Crown Prince Li Heng "brother".

Thinking of this, the Taiyuan magistrate immediately wrote a memorial and sent it to Chang'an at full speed...

(End of this chapter)