Chapter 231 Wei Zheng Strikes a Pillar

Why did Li Shimin forbid the common people from discussing Emperor Yang of Sui?

Because the two of them look so alike...

First, they all came from the Guanlong Group.

Second, they are both legitimate sons, and the second son in his family.

Third, he murdered his brothers in his quest for the throne.

Fourth, he forced his father to abdicate in order to seize the throne.

Fifth, Li Shimin's military achievements are self-evident. He was the commander-in-chief when Yang Guang conquered the north and south and completed the unification of the north and south.

Sixth, both of them had Xianbei ancestry.

Other things include literary talent, family background, etc...

You could say that.

In the Tang Dynasty today, when people talk about Li Shimin, one thought inevitably comes to mind...

Li Shimin was the second Yang Guang!

"Someone come here!"

Li Shimin slammed his fist on the dragon table in anger: "Drag the Wei family father and son away and execute them!"

Wow.

The courtiers were in uproar.

This time, Lao Wei really touched Li Shimin's sore spot.

Li Shimin truly harbored murderous intent.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Fang Xuanling immediately stepped forward: "Xuancheng has made great contributions to the Tang Dynasty, we must not do this."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Cheng Yaojin also stepped forward: "Wei Duzi may curse loudly, but everything he does is for the Tang Dynasty."

"Your Majesty must not act rashly."

Yan Xiangshi also stepped forward: "Wei Shizhong's words may be too extreme, but his starting point is also for the glory of the Tang Dynasty."

The courtiers pleaded for mercy.

Although Wei Zheng was usually quite disliked.

But there's one thing...

He is fair and just!

I feel the same way as Li Shimin.

When Wei Zheng dealt with them, they wished they could tear him to pieces.

However, if there was a proposal that was to be passed and that would benefit the Tang Dynasty, Wei Zheng would spare no effort to support it.

Most importantly...

If Li Shimin had actually executed Wei Zhongxian, he would have definitely regretted it.

And then I have to scold them!

There have been several such cases.

1. Lu Zushang did not want to take up a post in Lingnan. Du Ruhui persuaded him, his wife's brother persuaded him, and Li Shimin persuaded him. In the end, Lu Zushang obeyed the imperial edict but disobeyed and did not go. Li Shimin was furious and beheaded him. After regretting it, he restored his official rank and title.

Second, Zhang Yung-gu, in an attempt to exonerate his friend's younger brother by claiming the man suffered from mental illness, was impeached by the censor. Li Shimin, without hesitation, had Zhang Yung-gu executed. Later, it was discovered that the brother did indeed have a mental illness. It was too late for regrets.

For this, Li Shimin scolded Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng, and others, for not doing more to restrain him.

The "three replies and five memorials" of the Tang Dynasty were actually a result of Li Shimin regretting his decision...

Following this incident, the Tang Code officially implemented the system of three reviews for death sentences.

But...

The three repetitions were just a formality; even after the formalities were over, Li Shimin's anger had not subsided.

What should we do then?

Let's change it.

Finally, it was changed to five rounds of reporting by officials in the capital and three rounds of reporting by local officials.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to plead for my father and me!"

Wei Zheng waved his hand dismissively: "Let's have a good talk today. After we're done, I'll gladly kill myself right here in this Taiji Hall!"

"That's right!"

Wei Shuyu also shouted loudly: "Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death? Let my loyal heart shine in history!"

"Today, I will plead with my father even unto death..."

"Your Majesty, please stop deceiving yourselves!"

However, faced with this scene...

Li Shimin's murderous intent not only did not diminish, but intensified.

Wei Zheng humiliated him in court, accusing the Tang Dynasty of merely benefiting from the Sui Dynasty's influence!

This is an insult to the emperor and a disgrace to the country!

Even if Li Shimin had the best temper, he absolutely could not tolerate it!

"Then tell me!"

"You'll crash into me after I finish speaking!"

Li Shimin slammed his hand on the dragon table and stood up.

He pointed at Wei Zheng and shouted, "If you don't kill yourself in the Taiji Hall today, I will personally behead you!"

Wei Zheng's expression froze for a moment.

He bowed respectfully to Li Shimin...

"What kind of etiquette is this?"

Li Shimin angrily cursed, "You've already nailed me to the pillar of shame, what are you still pretending for!"

"His Majesty."

Wei Zheng still respectfully said, "A ruler is a ruler, and a subject is a subject. Even if the relationship between ruler and subject has ended, you are still the ruler of the Tang Dynasty."

"If Your Majesty wishes to hear, then I shall speak..."

Wei Zheng's voice was no longer as high-pitched as before, sounding somewhat suppressed and low.

When he raised his head, the determination in his eyes gradually solidified.

"Since Your Majesty aspires to surpass Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han, why should you care about a mere Yang Guang?"

"Emperor Yang of Sui had great achievements, but he was slightly inferior to Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han!"

"May I ask Your Majesty, you don't even dare to face Yang Guang directly!"

"And what makes them think they can challenge Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han?"

As he spoke, Wei Zheng paused.

"If we were to compare the emperors of all dynasties to a painting..."

"Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han sat in a pavilion atop the mountain, discussing the state of the empire over wine!"

"Emperor Yang of Sui was unable to enter the pavilion from outside."

"And what about you, Your Majesty..."

"You can only stand at the foot of the mountain, with a group of mediocre rulers, looking up at the emperor on the summit."

"Time flies..."

"Hundreds of years later, they will be completely forgotten among the emperors of history!"

"Only when people occasionally mention the Tang Dynasty will they remember that there was such a monarch as His Majesty!"

Wow.

The courtiers felt a chill run down their spines.

Old Wei is really going to risk his life.

"Xuancheng, stop talking."

Fang Xuanling couldn't help but tug at it.

"Get out of the way!"

Wei Zheng rudely pushed him away...

Then he bowed to Li Shimin and said, "Your subject Wei Zheng will die today to remonstrate with you. I hope Your Majesty will broaden your mind and see the truth in your heart!"

"When the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die!"

"Your Majesty's decree shall be obeyed!"

"Finally, I wish that the Tang Dynasty will establish a lasting foundation for all ages, and that Your Majesty will surpass even the Qin and Han emperors!"

The words were spoken.

Wei Zheng took off his official hat, flung his robe and trousers aside, and rammed straight into the load-bearing pillar.

Holy crap.

Li Shimin was engrossed in the painting Wei Zheng had described when he saw this and was greatly alarmed...

"Quick...stop him!"

Li Shimin's heart was in his throat.

I regret it.

Old Wei regretted it even before he hit him.

Although Lao Wei often gets angry with himself, to be honest, he is extremely loyal to himself and to the Tang Dynasty.

Throughout history, rulers have had no friends.

But Lao Wei is!

Old Wei dared to criticize, scold, praise, and defend him. He even dared to joke with him about the jade pendant and show off his son.

Li Shimin was angry, but wasn't he also enjoying it?

"Fuji, Zhijie, Xuanling, quickly stop Xuancheng!"

Li Shimin was so anxious that he kept shouting.

However, it was all too late.

In the imperial court, civil and military officials stood on both sides.

Even if military generals wanted to stop them, they were too far away to do so.

Fang Xuanling reached out to grab Wei Zheng's robe, but grasped only air.

Just as Wei Zheng was about to crash into the pillar, Li Shimin closed his eyes in anguish...

But after a while, the expected collision did not occur.

Li Shimin opened his eyes and looked.

Wei Shuyu grabbed Wei Zheng's arm, and Wei Zheng tried desperately to rush forward, but he didn't move an inch.

"..."

Wei Zheng turned around: "You brat, let go of your father!"

The atmosphere has been built up to this point.

Even I, as a father, was about to crash into it.

Don't you know this is embarrassing?

"Dad, if anyone's going to crash, it should be me who does it first."

Wei Shuyu said helplessly, "I don't want to collect your corpse."

"..."

Such a solemn and sacred scene.

My father is about to go down in history...

The historian looked at his paper and slapped his forehead.

Ouch.

I was so engrossed in watching that I forgot to take notes.

But this is for the best.

It saves paper and ink...