Chapter 466 Dang Renhong!

The Imperial Palace.

Li Shimin held a rattan cane in his hand.

Li Chengqian and Li Tai trembled in fear before him.

"Father...Father, what brings you to see me?"

"Bad mood."

ah?

The two were completely dumbfounded.

If you're in a bad mood, you'll hit us.

"Where did you get the money to give Wei Shuyu?" Li Shimin questioned.

"We borrowed it from our uncle!" they both replied in unison.

Holy crap.

The two were dumbfounded as soon as they finished answering.

They looked at each other...

Couldn't you have borrowed from someone else?

"You bastard."

Li Shimin was furious: "You can't even come up with a better excuse."

"Tell me, where did you come from?"

The two stammered and couldn't answer.

Snap snap...

Li Shimin raised his hand and swung two rattan canes.

Neither of them dared to move.

"All you do is think about is pointless things."

Li Shimin scolded, "If any of you had even half of Wei Xiaotong's cleverness, I wouldn't be in this predicament..."

Li Shimin paused as he spoke.

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

*Slap slap*

He raised his hand and used two more rattan canes.

"..."

There's no escaping it.

Father must have been criticized by the Wei family again.

But why are you taking your anger out on us?

"Your Majesty, there is an urgent report!"

Just then, a soldier rushed in to report.

Li Shimin frowned.

Could it be that something went wrong in the border campaign?

"explain."

Li Shimin returned to the dragon throne and sat down, his expression somewhat solemn.

"Guangzhou Governor Dang Renhong embezzled hundreds of thousands of strings of cash..."

What?

Li Shimin stood up in shock.

first……

Li Shimin's focus was not on money.

It's because that person's name is Dang Renhong!

Dang Renhong.

A founding hero of the Tang Dynasty.

An underrated general who enjoyed Li Shimin's utmost trust.

He successively served as governor-general, prefect, and military commander-in-chief...

The governor was the highest-ranking civil official in a prefecture.

The Commander-in-Chief, also known as the Marshal of the Army, is the supreme commander of the army.

"What exactly happened?"

Li Shimin did not punish him, but instead inquired about the reason.

"It's Ma Zhou, Imperial Censor Ma!"

As the story unfolded, Li Shimin gradually came to understand what had happened...

After Dang Renhong became the Governor of Guangzhou, he indulged in pleasure, sold official positions, and oppressed the local people. His subordinates even committed murder and robbery...

As the Ministry of Commerce developed, merchants became bolder.

The joint lawsuit reported his misdeeds to Ma Zhou, who was in Guangzhou on business.

After Ma Zhou learned of this, he did not know how he did it.

Dang Renhong was arrested.

They are currently on their way to Chang'an and should arrive soon.

"The Xuanxuan Emperor has been summoned..."

Li Shimin instinctively wanted to summon Wei Zheng to discuss countermeasures.

But they quickly changed their tune.

Wei Zheng was known for his incorruptibility and impartiality.

If you encounter a corrupt official, you will certainly not show any mercy.

well.

Li Shimin sighed and sat back down on the dragon throne.

"Dang Renhong, Dang Renhong..."

Why are you so foolish!

It was late at night.

The candlelight flickered in the Taiji Hall.

Wang De brought the food forward three times, but Li Shimin waved him off each time.

I really have no appetite.

“Your Majesty, if Attendant-in-Ordinary Wei doesn’t pursue the matter and stands by your side, he might be able to save Governor-General Dang…” Wang De advised.

Will he agree?

Li Shimin shook his head.

That night.

Li Shimin had been thinking of a way to pardon Dang Renhong.

News of Dang Renhong's embezzlement spread throughout Chang'an.

The officials were all discussing it.

Will His Majesty kill Dang Renhong?

The next day.

As soon as Li Shimin arrived at the imperial study, he saw a huge pile of memorials.

It was all about impeaching Dang Renhong.

The Dali Temple submitted five memorials demanding the execution of Dang Renhong.

"Wei Zheng, do you have anything to say about Dang Renhong?"

Li Shimin put down the memorial and asked Wei Zheng, who was standing beside him.

Even though he knew Wei Zheng would never agree.

But he still wanted to give it a try.

"His Majesty……"

Wei Zheng rose and bowed to Li Shimin: "Dang Renhong is doomed to die. Even if I do not speak, the ministers will not spare him!"

"What if I insist on keeping him alive?"

Li Shimin's expression was exceptionally solemn.

"He...can't survive!"

Wei Zheng replied solemnly, "If Your Majesty wishes to pardon an official whose crime is not serious, I have nothing to say."

"But what he committed... is unforgivable!"

"Wei Zheng!"

Suddenly, Li Shimin shouted loudly.

The voice was stronger than ever before...

Do you know how much the Dang Renhong family has sacrificed for the Tang Dynasty?

"Back when we were fighting Xue Ju..."

"Dang Renhong's eldest son was covered in arrows, his body dripping with blood..."

Do you know what Dang Renhong did?

Li Shimin descended the steps and approached Wei Zheng...

He shouted excitedly, "After licking the blood off his son's face, he turned, mounted his horse, and continued his charge!"

Wei Zheng remained silent.

He was naturally aware of this matter.

Moreover, it was frequently praised within the military.

"And his second son..."

Li Shimin's face was terribly gloomy: "Back then, in the battle with Wang Shichong..."

"His second son was pierced by a spear and was on the verge of death."

Do you know how Dang Renhong did it?

Recalling this past event, Li Shimin's eyes turned a little red.

He shouted, "After handing his son over to me, he continued his charge!"

"His second son died in my arms!"

"Before he died, he hoped that I would take good care of his father..."

"I agree. How do you want me to kill you?"

Wei Zheng remained silent.

Dang Renhong's achievements are beyond doubt.

But this did not convince Wei Zheng.

"Your Majesty, I admire the loyalty and bravery of the Dang Renhong family."

Wei Zheng bowed and said, "But he... he still has to die!"

"You bastard."

Li Shimin kicked over the desk in front of Wei Zheng: "I've said so much, haven't you understood yet?"

"I understand."

Wei Zheng nodded: "But it is precisely because he understands that Dang Renhong deserves to die!"

"fart!"

Li Shimin clenched his fist.

I wanted to punch Lao Wei.

"His Majesty."

Wei Zheng retorted without fear: "There were many founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty, and there were many more who were loyal and brave than him."

"Today, Dang Renhong is innocent of embezzling hundreds of thousands of strings of cash."

"Other meritorious officials will follow suit in the future!"

"In that case, would the Tang Dynasty still be the Tang Dynasty?"

"They abused their power to embezzle, bully, and exploit the people..."

"If there are more people like him... the Tang Dynasty will surely perish!"

Li Shimin was taken aback.

He knew this all too well.

But he just couldn't bring himself to do it!

"besides……"

"The Tang Code was promulgated by His Majesty."

"If Your Majesty acts out of personal favoritism, where will the Tang Code be applied?"

"Your Majesty, I humbly beg you to be as brave as a warrior cutting off his own arm... and to execute Dang Renhong!"

Wei Zheng bowed solemnly.

Li Shimin's eyes flickered.

cut.

He can't do it.

"Okay, okay..."

Li Shimin was furious: "You're unwilling to help me, are you?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, it's that I can't help!"

Wei Zheng straightened up and looked at Li Shimin with a firm gaze.

"Then answer me..."

"If Wei Shuyu had made the mistake, would you have executed him?"

In response to this.

Wei Zheng refused without even thinking.

"Shuyu wouldn't do such a thing!"

"With his methods of making money, he doesn't need to..."

Before Wei Zheng could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Li Shimin's angry roar...

"I meant if!"

Wei Zheng pondered.

There was still no direct answer.

"Your Majesty's assumption is invalid."

Wei Zheng retorted, "How could Shuyu's contributions to the Tang Dynasty be compared to hundreds of thousands of strings of cash?"

"Wei Zheng".

"I demand a direct answer..."