Chapter 180 Why don't you, Xuancheng, suffer a bit?
What imperial aura, what imperial wrath...
All imposing auras and pressures were completely ineffective against Lao Wei.
Not only will it grant immunity, it will also give Lao Wei a boost in fighting spirit.
The more fiercely you resist, the more aggressively Lao Wei will attack.
"His Majesty!"
Wei Zheng took a step forward, his beard bristling, his imposing manner striking: "Orders changed from morning to evening can be of any magnitude..."
"But the Tang Code is the foundation of a nation!"
"A nation cannot exist without laws!"
"Your Majesty is the current emperor. If you do not take the lead in obeying the rules, how can the people of the world follow them?"
"Officials disregarded the Tang Code, engaging in corruption and perverting the law!"
"The people disregard the laws of the Tang Dynasty, engaging in arson, murder, and looting!"
"What will happen when the country is no longer a country and the world is in chaos?"
"Your Majesty must not do something that would destroy your own Great Wall..."
After he finished speaking, Wei Zheng bowed solemnly.
Li Shimin's face turned purple with anger.
"Wei Zheng, stop spreading alarmist rumors!"
Li Shimin slammed his fist on the dragon table: "The matter of Chu Suiliang was petitioned by all the officials, and all the ministers agreed to it!"
Li Shimin did not back down.
This time, I am flanked by civil and military officials.
Let's see how you criticize me now!
"Your Majesty is absolutely right."
Wei Zheng nodded: "It is a blessing for the Tang Dynasty and the people that Your Majesty is able to listen to advice."
"But there are priorities in everything."
"The laws of the Tang Dynasty supersede all officials!"
"These officials' actions disregard the law and discipline. Your Majesty should not only disobey them, but also issue an edict to severely punish them!"
However, Li Shimin paid no attention to Wei Zheng's words.
Instead, it raised a fatal question.
"And what about me!"
Li Shimin's eyes gleamed with arrogance: "My Tang Code allows me to grant amnesty, so why can't I execute someone?"
"Does Your Majesty truly believe this?"
Wei Zheng's expression gradually turned serious: "If Your Majesty truly holds such a mindset, I, Wei Zheng, will remonstrate with my life!"
Damn it.
If you can't win an argument, you resort to this tactic. Is this how you play the game?
Li Shimin gritted his teeth.
"Wei Duzi, don't try to talk to me about life and death."
Li Shimin was so angry he gritted his teeth: "Just tell me, what's wrong with my order to execute them?"
"I'm not indiscriminately killing people!"
"Didn't I order the Court of Judicial Review to handle this case?"
Li Shimin was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.
What should we do if Lao Wei pulls out a desperate act of remonstrance and risks his life?
Just bear with it!
If he dies, won't I be cursed to death?
He's dead. Where am I going to find another minister who can stand up to his court?
Can't you just be a little more obedient?
If only you didn't manage me so strictly normally.
If you just flatter someone a little bit normally...
If I'm in a good mood, won't I just shower you with rewards?
Don't even mention marrying a princess to Shuyu, I could even bestow a princess upon you myself!
"As I just said, the law is the foundation of the Tang Dynasty."
Wei Zheng remained calm and composed, his expression becoming even more resolute, even resolute: "With the constraints of the law, the Tang Dynasty can become more cohesive and powerful!"
“Under normal circumstances, His Majesty does indeed possess the authority to execute!”
"But Your Majesty is addressing all civil and military officials in this matter, and should set an example!"
"The law..."
"It is a blade hanging over the heads of all officials, used to restrain their behavior."
"It is also a protective umbrella over the heads of the people, used to ensure peace and tranquility in the world!"
"Your Majesty, I, Wei Zheng, am writing this to the death to remonstrate with Your Majesty, and I earnestly request that you abandon your contempt for the Tang Code!"
Li Shimin's expression changed unpredictably.
All you do all day is criticize me.
You fell ill when the officials offered their advice.
You were cured when you sprayed me with water?
Is this how you criticize someone?
I am not convinced, I will rebel.
I'm going to stand up for myself!
"Chu Suiliang was already guilty of heinous crimes; I merely executed him ahead of time!"
Li Shimin still refused to admit his mistake.
"Does Your Majesty truly believe that Chu Suiliang killed Li Daliang?"
Wei Zheng then changed the subject, directing the conversation towards the incident.
Li Shimin was taken aback: "Isn't that right?"
"Perhaps I misspoke."
Wei Zheng suddenly changed his mind and said, "What I meant to ask was, could Chu Suiliang kill Li Daliang?"
Um?
Li Shimin frowned.
It seems like I've grasped something, but I can't figure out the key.
"Chu Suiliang rushed to Liangzhou with only a few men."
"Li Daliang is the governor of Liangzhou and holds military power!"
"How could Chu Suiliang, a low-ranking official of the eighth rank, kill Li Daliang?"
"His Majesty's decree alone is clearly insufficient!"
"Not to mention the Tang law that required repeated petitions, even if Chu Suiliang wanted to kill someone by force, who would obey his orders?"
"Liangzhou is Li Daliang's territory!"
As Wei Zheng recounted his story...
Li Shimin also sensed something strange about the situation.
He had also come from the Qin Dynasty and was more familiar with military affairs.
Just like when Li Yuan sent someone to deliver an imperial edict to him, he gave the special envoy face and addressed him as "Imperial Envoy".
If you don't give them face, what can they do to you?
He wanted to kill himself on a fabricated charge.
Even if he were willing, his subordinates Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong would not agree.
If he angered them, he would simply throw them into the deep mountains and forests and bury them alive.
"Does Xuancheng think Chu Suiliang was framed?" Li Shimin asked, frowning.
"Your Majesty, the most urgent matter now is not whether or not to frame someone."
Wei Zheng raised his eyelids slightly: "What Your Majesty should be worried about is how to deal with that matter of yours, which, once verified, is punishable by immediate execution."
"Chu Suiliang has been escorted to the capital and will arrive in a few days."
"..."
Li Shimin was dumbfounded.
Originally, with the case being reviewed and approved multiple times, there were still several months to delay.
After issuing this imperial edict, it seems... it might not last much longer.
If Chu Suiliang was indeed framed.
If I were to kill him, wouldn't that be a mistake?
At that time, it will be recorded in history books...
Disregarding the law and discipline, they wrongly executed a good official.
"Xuancheng, my decree has already been conveyed, and in front of all the ministers. I can't just change it every day, can I?"
Li Shimin said without changing his expression.
Embarrassing?
Just throw it away.
When have I ever shown any respect to Lao Wei?
Losing face in front of Lao Wei only means getting scolded by Lao Wei.
If orders are changed frequently, the officials will criticize them.
Which is more important?
I'm not stupid.
"..."
Wei Zheng was also quite speechless.
Now you know you can't change your mind so easily?
"Your Majesty, Chu Suiliang is a man of great talent; we must not let him die like this."
Wei Zheng bowed and said, "In my opinion, this matter can be postponed for now."
"We can't delay any longer..."
Li Shimin replied awkwardly, "You didn't see the faces of the ministers. They wished they could tear Chu Suiliang to pieces."
Wei Zheng looked at Li Shimin with a puzzled expression: "Your Majesty can simply issue an edict to postpone the trial, can't you?"
"that……"
Li Shimin replied guiltily, "I have already entrusted the matter to the Prince of Hejian."
Li Xiaogong?
Holy crap!
Wei Zheng was dumbfounded.
Li Daliang not only came from the Li clan of Longxi.
Back when he was conquering the country, he was Li Xiaogong's vanguard general!
Li Daliang was killed.
As the former elder brother, Li Xiaogong would certainly seek justice for his younger brother.
Unlike others...
Li Xiaogong voluntarily relinquished power and became a leisurely prince, which showed Li Shimin's extremely high tolerance.
Even if Li Shimin killed three more Chu Suiliangs in a fit of rage, let alone kill Chu Suiliang in a fit of anger, Li Xiaogong would not be punished.
Because his merits are enough to offset all his sins!
"Xuancheng, isn't Shuyu quite good at investigating cases? Why don't we let him investigate?" Li Shimin said guiltily.
What the hell are you investigating?
Liangzhou is so far from Chang'an, by the time the truth is found out, grass will have grown on Chu Suiliang's grave.
Wei Zheng was speechless.
"What? Is it too late?"
As if he had expected this, Li Shimin said quietly, "Then there's no other way. If we want to protect Chu Suiliang, we can only ask Li Xiaogong for help."
"It doesn't seem like that will work either..."
Li Shimin said to himself, "It seems that persuading just Li Xiaogong is not enough. There is also Xuanling and the Li family of Longxi."
"What should we do?"
Li Shimin changed the subject, occasionally stealing a glance at Wei Zheng.
It all boils down to one thing.
I have a sense of shame.
It's impossible for me to change my orders frequently and be criticized by my ministers.
Seeing that Wei Zheng did not reply for a long time, Li Shimin could only shamelessly say...
"Why don't you, Xuancheng, take the trouble and try to persuade them at the court meeting in two days?"
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