Chapter 258: The Battle Comes, Yang Zhao's Allegiance
After the Qianqiu Festival, there are two days of vacation.

Recently, a decree from Chang'an regarding men and women getting married at the age of 18 has been circulating, causing an uproar in Chang'an.

Even though there are explanations, there are still both praise and criticism.

Since ancient times, there has been no example of marriage for people over the age of eighteen.

Although the "Book of Zhou" stipulates that men should marry at the age of 30 and women should marry at the age of 20, this is not actually the case.

In order to increase the population, rulers of all dynasties have adopted strict measures, often limiting the number of unmarried people to a certain age.

In the Spring and Autumn Period, there were strict laws that punished one's parents.

In the Han Dynasty, if a woman was not married by the age of 15, she would be fined five times the tax.

The Jin Dynasty was quite ruthless. If a girl was still unmarried at the age of 17, the government would simply find an older bachelor and force her into marriage.

The subsequent Northern and Southern Dynasties used all means to restore the population.

Some ministers advised Li Xuan to consider the policy, but Li Xuan retorted that they were "using troubled times to measure prosperous times."

Some officials felt that this would lead to a significant reduction in the number of young and strong people in the next few years, which would be detrimental to the country.

Li Xuan certainly knew this, so he could only encourage married women to have more children when he issued the decree.

With such a family, the Changping warehouse will be exempted from interest.

Every major reform will involve some pain.

Many people only care about their own interests. They don't consider the future, but only see that their own interests are being harmed now.

It's the same in any era.

A great man changes like a tiger, a villain changes his face, and a gentleman changes like a leopard.

Once you are determined to implement a policy, you must act vigorously. Looking ahead and behind will only lead to losses.

After seeing Li Xuan's determination, many ministers shook their heads and left.

But from the very beginning, Li Xuan was a stranger to most of the civil and military ministers.

In addition to ministers visiting Li Xuan at home, there were also many scholars who were about to take the imperial examinations, who vied with each other to present him with poems and various literary works.

This action was called "xingjuan" in this era.

Scholars made a name for themselves by presenting their best works to high-ranking officials, thus paving a smooth path for the imperial examinations.

Whenever the imperial examinations were held, scholars would often gather in taverns and teahouses to recite poems, compose essays, and make friends.

This is also a way to make a name for yourself.

Because the imperial examinations in the Tang Dynasty were not anonymous, and the examiners also relied on the candidates' fame and reputation as the main reference for marking and grading the papers.

In other words, the circulation and popularity of the poems and essays written by the candidates, as well as their reputation, determine whether they can be accepted by the examiner.

The water is deep here and there is a lot of room for maneuver.

Sometimes, judging from one's academic performance alone, one should have passed the imperial examination, but because of one's lack of fame or the lack of support from high-ranking officials, one missed the opportunity.

If one has a certain private relationship with the Minister of Rites, it will be difficult for him not to pass the imperial examination under the system of not disguising one's name.

For example, in the second year of Tianbao's imperial examination, a famous cheating incident occurred.

In the second year of Tianbao, Li Linfu was appointed Minister of Personnel and dealt with state military and political affairs in the Council of State Affairs every day.

He entrusted all the selection matters to the assistant ministers Song Yao and Miao Jinqing.

At this time, Chief Censor Zhang Yi was deeply trusted by Li Longji. Song Yao and Miao Jinqing wanted to curry favor with him and try to gain Li Longji's appreciation through Zhang Yi.

There were tens of thousands of candidates for the imperial examination that year, but only sixty-four passed.

The top scholar turned out to be Zhang Shi, the son of Zhang Yi, which caused an uproar among the crowd.

Because all the civil and military officials knew what kind of person Zhang Shi was. He was even worse than Li Xuan at that time and was a frequent visitor to the Southern Opera brothel.

It is obvious that Miao Jinqing and Song Yao made his son the top scholar in order to curry favor with Zhang Yi.

Su Xiaoyun, the former magistrate of Ji County, reported this to An Lushan. An Lushan found an opportunity to go to the palace and tell Xuanzong. Li Longji summoned dozens of Jinshi candidates for interviews. Zhang Shi held the test paper in his hand, but could not write a single word all day, and handed in a blank paper.

Li Longji was furious and drove Zhang Yi out of Chang'an to be the governor, and also demoted Miao Jinqing and Song Yao to other positions.

People in Chang'an now call that examination "Yibai".

Because "circulating scrolls" has a long history.

Covering up the name on the roll of paper seems simple, but it is actually very difficult.

It will be strongly opposed by the nobles and the gentry.

Because they are the vested interests, most of the successful candidates every year are either promoted by officials or come from aristocratic families.

Unless the poor gentry had extraordinary talent, and their writings could shock the world and move the gods and ghosts with their poems, they would be at a great disadvantage in the imperial examinations.

But Li Xuan felt that it was necessary to cover the names on the test papers.

He is waiting for an opportunity!
An opportunity to make scholars all over the world feel disheartened.

In this way, when he was anonymous, he would not only have the support of common people, but also some scholars.

He did not intend to interfere in this year's imperial examination. He hoped that Li Linfu would make that matter public and shock the scholars all over the world.

As for the scholars who submitted their essays to him, Li Xuan simply gave them a few words of encouragement without making any promises.

No matter how they brag about it.

"Qilang, something big is happening."

Another day, when Li Xuan was reading ancient books in the house, Li Qi, the Shao Yin of Jingzhao, ran in and said to Li Xuan.

"Third brother, what's the matter?"

Li Xuan asked Li Qi.

As the Shao Yin of Jingzhao, Li Qi was the first to know many news in Chang'an.

"An official reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture that a monk named Shi Jingzhong had been discussing prophecies at Yang Shenjin's home, misleading the public with his lies."

"The Jingzhao Yin immediately sent people to arrest Shi Jingzhong and put him in the Jingzhao Yin prison for interrogation."

Li Qi informed Li Xuan about this matter.

As everyone knows, Yang Shenjin is Li Xuan's man. Last time, he followed Li Xuan to deal with Li Linfu and eliminated all of Li Linfu's lackeys in the Three Departments.

"Yang Shenjin hasn't driven Shi Jingzhong away yet. Has his brain been squeezed by the door?"

Li Xuan frowned when he heard the news.

Last year he repeatedly reminded people that Shi Jingzhong's lies were misleading the people and his prophecies were not to be trusted.

Li Xuan looked at Yang Shenjin, who seemed to be trying to change his ways, and thought that he would expel Shi Jingzhong from Chang'an.

This is truly a way to death.

"Qilang, do you want me to tell someone to bring Shi Jingzhong..."

Li Qi made a gesture of wiping his neck, ready to kill the evil monk Shi Jingzhong and leave no evidence against him.

"Third brother, don't think about such things anymore. Besides, you are the Junior Magistrate of Jingzhao. If Shi Jingzhong died in the Jingzhao Magistrate's prison, wouldn't that make people suspicious?"

Li Xuan said to Li Qi solemnly.

He has never supported killing people to silence them when something happens.

It's not worth ruining his reputation for Yang Shenjin.

Prophecy is the most taboo thing for saints. Shi Jingzhong was arrested, and it was difficult to conceal the series of things he had done.

Because this guy Shi Jingzhong kept shouting that the world was in chaos.

Who can bear this?

"Qilang, all the officials think that Yang Shenjin is your man. If Yang Shenjin is accused of a serious crime, will you be implicated?"

Li Qi was worried about this.

"Don't worry. Even if Yang Shenjin committed a heinous crime, it won't implicate me. Look at the mistakes Li Linfu has made in recent years. Isn't he still the prime minister?"

Li Xuan smiled.

Once Li Longji favors someone, he will lose restraint.

In history, Wang Yu was a favorite of Li Longji, and Wang Yu was a junior of Yang Shenjin.

When Li Longji learned that Yang Shenjin and Shi Jingzhong had a close relationship, he told Wang Yu not to have any contact with his relative Yang Shenjin.

So Li Xuan didn't think that Yang Shenjin would implicate him.

Because Yang Shenjin was promoted by Li Linfu, Li Xuan was just handling a case with Yang Shenjin diligently.

There was not a single private meeting!
If this is considered relevant, then all the civil and military officials in the court would have gone to hell long ago.

The reason why people thought that Yang Shenjin was Li Xuan's man was because Yang Shenjin suddenly betrayed Li Linfu and dealt a heavy blow to Li Linfu.

Even if Li Xuan was really implicated by Yang Shenjin, Li Longji would protect him.

"By the way, who reported Yang Shenjin?"

Li Xuan suddenly remembered this and asked Li Qi.

"It was reported by Xiao Yinzhi, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Justice."

Li Qi replied to Li Xuan.

"As the Minister of Justice, why don't you arrest him yourself, but use Jingzhao Prefecture as an excuse?"

Li Xuan and Xiao Yinzhi are not familiar with each other.

Since the Minister of Justice Pei Kuan was the prime minister and there was only one vice minister in the Ministry of Justice, Xiao Yinzhi was in charge of the Ministry of Justice.

Generally speaking, there are two assistant ministers in each ministry.

"Qilang, Jingzhao Yin Han Chaozong has been alienating me recently! We were very friendly before!"

Li Qi's words were very clear. Han Chaozong changed his attitude because of the commotion caused by Li Xuan's return.

Han Chaozong was transferred back to Chang'an by Li Shizhi, which seemed to be an ungrateful act.

In fact, when Li Shizhi was not very famous, Han Chaozong was the first to write a letter to recommend Li Shizhi as the governor of Qinzhou.

Now that Li Shizhi has been dismissed from his post as prime minister, it is normal for Han Chaozong not to buy into Li Xuan's ideas.

Han Chaozong was such a rigid official.

"Third brother, don't worry about Han Chaozong, just do your own thing."

Han Chaozong was only the prefect of Jingzhao and posed no threat to him.

Yang Shenjin brought about his own destruction, which made Li Xuan very angry.

Because Yang Shenjin put him in a dilemma, and the reform was imminent, the civil and military officials thought that Yang Shenjin was attached to Li Xuan. If Li Xuan did not speak well of Yang Shenjin, those civil and military officials who wanted to follow Li Xuan would inevitably feel disappointed. "General Li, there is a blue-clothed servant outside the door with a letter, saying it is for you!"

Just then, Luo Xing entered the house with a letter.

Li Xuan opened the letter and saw that it was a letter from Yang Shenjin asking for help. He snorted coldly, "He knew it was inconvenient to come to the Duke of Song's mansion to find me?"

Li Qi also knew that this was a letter from Yang Shenjin.

If Yang Shenjin came to find Li Xuan at this time, he would cause trouble for Li Xuan.

Li Xuan looked at the letter carefully.

Yang Shenjin was extremely frightened when he learned that Shi Jingzhong was arrested by the government.

Because after his affair with Shi Jingzhong was exposed, he was in danger of his family being broken up.

Yang Shenjin explained to Li Xuan that he had no choice but to do so and asked Li Xuan to plead for him in front of the emperor.

"This Yang Shenjin, he was hanging out with the evil monk Shi Jingzhong, and now his affair has been exposed. He wants me to speak to him?"

"The straw man next to my father's grave on Shaoling Plain was bleeding? So he brought Shi Jingzhong back to pray for blessings. Is Yang Shenjin a pig-brained person? He actually believed the straw man was bleeding?"

Li Xuan was rarely angry.

He suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a mysterious record in history that a straw man was bleeding in the area around the tomb of Yang Shenjin's father Yang Chongli.

But Li Xuan didn't believe such a mysterious thing.

Either the straw man was accidentally stained with the blood of some wild animal, or someone did it deliberately.

"It must be this Shi Jingzhong who deliberately used animal blood on the straw man and let Yang Shenjin, who believed in this, know about it. Yang Shenjin had no choice but to ask Shi Jingzhong to pray for him. Shi Jingzhong also made money from Yang Shenjin because of this."

Li Xuan was certain that Shi Jingzhong was an evil monk who cheated people for money and women.

There are many examples in ancient and modern times of evil people playing tricks on high-ranking officials.

This type of people rely on "mysterious" tricks to move among high-ranking officials and cheat them of their money and sex.

Without exception, they all have a certain theoretical knowledge of Taoism, Buddhism, and Yijing, and are eloquent.

"Third brother, go and interrogate Shi Jingzhong and make him admit that he sprinkled blood on the straw man in front of Yang Chongli's grave to confuse the ministers."

Li Xuan said to Li Qi.

"Qilang, what if Shi Jingzhong doesn't admit it?"

Li Qi asked Li Xuan back.

"Tell Shi Jingzhong that if he tells the prophecy, he will be killed. If he admits that he did it, he may be able to save his life."

Li Xuan replied to Li Qi. In history, Shi Jingzhong did not stick to his guns until the end.

If Shi Jingzhong used this to cheat Yang Shenjin of money, Li Longji would at most scold him and then look at Yang Shenjin.

The prerequisite is that Yang Shenjin can hold it.

There is nothing you can do if you can’t hold it.

In history, Yang Shenjin's subordinates, brothers, and in-laws were all severely punished by Li Linfu's minions, and Yang Shenjin was also framed.

"Okay! But I'm only the Shao Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture. Han Chaozong might stop me. Maybe they are interrogating Shi Jingzhong right now."

Li Qi told Li Xuan that a higher-ranking official can crush a person to death. Han Chaozong had been the Jingzhao Yin for more than three years and had a great prestige.

"Tell Han Chaozong that it was right to believe the rumors of war and build a house in Zhongnan Mountain?"

Li Xuan has the means to control Han Chaozong.

Han Chaozong was actually similar to Yang Shenjin, also a person who believed in "metaphysics", or perhaps most people at that time firmly believed in "prophecies".

Historically, Han Chaozong was demoted mainly because he believed rumors of war and built a house on Mount Zhongnan in preparation for taking refuge when war came.

One can imagine Li Longji's anger.

Because of the butterfly effect, Han Chaozong is fine now, which means no one has reported him yet.

Li Xuan believed that Han Chaozong must have done something like this.

Just like Yang Shenjin is trapped in his own web.

Yang Shenjin not only headed the Censorate, but also served as the Minister of the Imperial Treasury. In Li Longji's eyes, he was an expert in managing the treasury.

This gene was passed down from his father, Yang Chongli.

Because Yang Chongli managed the Taifu for Li Longji for more than 20 years.

As a result, the position of Taifu Qing became the ancestral official position of the Yang family.

No matter how Yang Shenjin changes, his position as Taifu Qing remains unchanged.

But Yang Shenjin did the most intolerable thing.

Although Li Qi was confused, he did as Li Xuan instructed.

Li Shizhi ordered his brothers to follow his younger brother's arrangements on all matters in the court.

After Li Qi left, Li Xuan remained calm and continued reading.

"General Li, Yang Zhao, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Imperial Censor, requests to see you."

The personal guard reported to Li Xuan again.

"Let him in."

Normally, Yang Zhao would go to Li Linfu's residence to flatter him, but now he came to the Duke of Song's residence.

Li Xuan put down the book and went to the front hall.

"Greetings to the King of Tianshui!"

As soon as Yang Zhao arrived at the front hall, he bowed to Li Xuan with great respect.

"No need to be polite! Yang Duzhi, please take a seat wherever you like."

Li Xuan asked Yang Zhao to stand up, wondering if he knew that Yang Shenjin was in big trouble?

It shouldn’t be!

Unless Yang Zhao has spies in Jingzhao Prefecture.

"You are the noble King of Tianshui, but you condescend to live in such a small house. Li Linfu is not as capable and powerful as you, but he enjoys a mansion that is as big as a palace. The Jiayou Temple in his mansion alone is larger than the Duke of Song's Mansion."

As soon as Yang Zhao sat down, he began to bluntly belittle Li Linfu in order to praise Li Xuan.

He said one thing to one person and another to another. He took advantage of the situation to the extreme.

"Don't say that. I'm just the Imperial Censor. How can I compare myself with the Chief Prime Minister?"

Li Xuan knew Yang Zhao too well, but he still continued to follow what Yang Zhao said.

"You carry Zhuge Liang's sword and command most of the troops in the world. Everyone in the court admires your achievements. Li Linfu can't even recommend an envoy, and his orders can't be implemented through the three departments. How can he be the chief prime minister? You will definitely replace him soon."

Yang Zhao continued to say to Li Xuan that if Li Linfu heard this, he would definitely beat Yang Zhao to death.

But Yang Zhao saw that there were only him and Li Xuan in the hall, so even if he cursed Li Linfu's ancestors for eighteen generations, Li Linfu would not know.

Yang Zhao was able to grasp people’s psychology and, through such rude remarks, made people feel that Yang Zhao was “one of their own”.

He is a speculator who will abandon all ethics and morals as long as it allows him to climb up.

Li Xuan wanted to issue policies that would influence the whole world, but he seemed to be criticized and opposed by the ministers.

But what Yang Zhao saw was Li Xuan's influence on the saint.

As long as Li Xuan said a good word for him in front of the saint, he would be able to rise to prominence.

Although the title of "Duzhilang" is honorable, it is far from satisfying Yang Zhao's appetite.

"If one day I replace him, those wise men will also get purple robes."

Li Xuan seemed to stop pretending and spoke meaningfully.

If he could become the chief prime minister, those who first joined him would be able to obtain an official position of the third rank.

"I often went to Li Linfu's house before, but I had no choice. From now on, I will turn over a new leaf and work for the King of Tianshui. I will go through fire and water for him!"

Yang Zhao stood up and bowed to Li Xuan, looking very loyal.

"Well! I haven't asked Yang Zhidu why he came yet?"

Li Xuan knew exactly what Yang Zhao was planning, but he didn't point it out.

To him, Yang Zhao is useful.

After helping Yang Zhao up, Li Xuan asked Yang Zhao.

Yang Zhao was stunned. He just came to flatter Li Xuan, there was no big deal.

In the past two years, he was either flattering the Yang sisters, or paying respects to Li Linfu at his residence, or queuing up to give gifts when Gao Lishi was at the mansion.

However, Yang Zhao was a smart man. He turned his eyes and said to Li Xuan: "In addition to wanting to meet you, I also want to report a treacherous villain to you."

"who?"

Li Xuan had just asked casually, but now he became interested.

"Ji Wen! Last winter, the Du Youlin case occurred in the capital. Du Youlin had nothing to do with the case, but Ji Wen colluded with Liu Ji and proved that Du Youlin had colluded with the Eastern Palace. I suspect that Li Linfu instructed Ji Wen."

In order to show his loyalty to Li Xuan, Yang Zhao revealed this matter.

Ji Wen was entrusted by Li Linfu to interrogate Du Youlin and Liu Ji.

There is almost no dispute that Li Linfu instructed Ji Wen. It all depends on whether evidence can be found.

Du Youlin was beaten to death and Liu Ji was exiled.

As long as Liu Ji is brought back and re-interrogated, the truth will be revealed and Du Youlin will be cleared of all charges.

The blow to Li Linfu was fatal.

"But I heard that Liu Ji was exiled after being beaten with a stick and died on the way..."

Yang Zhao saw what Li Xuan was thinking and told Li Xuan the news.

Perhaps Li Linfu didn't want to leave any evidence, so he killed Liu Ji.

"Please ask Yang Duzhi to notify Yang Shenjin to arrest Ji Wen for interrogation..."

Li Xuan's face darkened, but he then thought of this.

He knew that Xiao Yinzhi and other ministers had gone to Li Linfu's residence. Yang Shenjin's fall was closely related to Li Linfu.

Let Yang Shenjin drag Ji Wen into the water, interrogate Ji Wen, and put some pressure on Li Linfu.

(End of this chapter)