Chapter 418 The Drum of Petition
The next day.
The meeting opens.
Li Shimin sat majestically on the dragon throne...
"Do any of my beloved ministers have anything else to report?"
Near the end, Li Shimin asked the questions as usual.
Seeing that no one responded, just as he was about to announce the end of the court session, a guard came to report...
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu requests an audience!"
Oh ho?
They actually dare to come?
"Get them out!"
Li Shimin sternly rebuked, "We are discussing matters of state right now. How can a mere child be involved?"
The courtiers couldn't help but raise their heads.
Your Majesty is quite angry.
"Your Majesty, this may not be possible..." The guard looked bitter.
"You bastard!"
Emperor Taizong was furious: "You can't even handle a little brat, what are you good for?"
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is followed by a large number of merchants."
The guard replied with a forced smile, "If we forcibly drive them away, it may incite public anger."
What?
Everyone was shocked.
Leading a group to besiege the palace is a serious crime!
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu has besieged the palace. I implore Your Majesty to punish him."
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu is suspected of treason. We implore Your Majesty to arrest him!"
"Your Majesty, Wei Shuyu has incited the people. We implore Your Majesty to suppress him."
The ministers were all incredibly enthusiastic.
Li Shimin's face, however, was unusually gloomy.
"Tell me, what is Wei Shuyu here for?" Fang Xuanling stepped forward and asked the guard.
"Wei Shuyu, representing the merchants, wants to seek justice from His Majesty."
"I guess...I guess it's something that happened in Hu County."
snort.
Li Shimin snorted coldly.
What about the people?
Do you think you, Little Wei, can just see me whenever you want?
"Which of my beloved ministers is willing to drive Wei Shuyu away?" Li Shimin asked authoritatively.
Drive them away?
The Taiji Hall fell into complete silence.
It's one thing to chime in with a few words in court, but forget about kicking someone out.
As long as Wei Zheng is still alive, Xiao Wei will not be finished.
If Wei Shuyu were to rebuke someone in front of the common people, they would lose all face.
"Father, I am willing to go!"
Li You immediately stepped forward.
He hosted a banquet and invited Li Ke and Li Tai, but neither of them showed up...
As expected... I have to take revenge myself!
"Granted."
Li Shimin readily agreed: "If there is any resistance, I allow you to use the Imperial Guards to suppress it."
"Your subject obeys the decree!"
Li You left gracefully.
Xuanwu Gate.
Wei Shuyu stood in front of the crowd.
"Wei Shuyu, can you please stop causing trouble?" Li Junxian was on the verge of tears.
“I did it for the Tang Dynasty,” Wei Shuyu replied solemnly.
"Then can you try causing trouble at a different city gate?" Li Junxian sighed.
The palace has so many gates, why are you focusing on my Xuanwu Gate?
Do I, Li Junxian, look like someone who's easy to bully?
"It's not my fault..."
Wei Shuyu shrugged: "There are only a few gates near the Taiji Hall, and the main gate is closed, so the only one left is the Xuanwu Gate..."
"..."
Li Junxian was exhausted.
Of all the city gates, why did I choose to be on duty at Xuanwu Gate?
"Wei Shuyu, how dare you!"
Just then, Li You walked out of Xuanwu Gate in a menacing manner.
"Oh, it's Prince Yan again."
Wei Shuyu greeted him with a smile.
snort.
Li You snorted coldly: "By order of the Emperor, no common people are allowed to block the Xuanwu Gate."
“We have something to report to His Majesty,” Wei Shuyu replied with a smile.
"Is there no one left in the government?"
Li You coldly rebuked, "You have to come to Father Emperor for every trivial matter? Who will handle the important affairs of the state?"
"I'm sorry, Your Highness..."
Wei Shuyu grinned and said, "This is also a matter of national importance."
"Don't make a big deal out of it."
Li You said with a sneer, "You incited the people and caused trouble. If you don't retreat, don't blame me for suppressing you."
"Hold on……"
Wei Shuyu clapped his hands.
Then a dozen or so people came carrying a huge drum...
"Do you see this drum...?"
Wei Shuyu walked up to the drum and touched it: "I call it the Dengwen Drum!"
Swish.
Li You's expression changed drastically.
The Drum of Petition.
Originating in the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, people with grievances or urgent cases would beat a drum to appeal to the emperor.
During the reigns of Emperor Wu of Jin, the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the Sui Dynasty, drums for petitioning were hung outside the imperial court.
However, in the early Tang Dynasty, it was not hung up.
It wasn't until the fifth year of the Xianqing era that someone brought a drum to the court to appeal, and Emperor Gaozong of Tang re-hung the Dengwen Drum outside Yingtian Gate.
"Your Highness, Prince Yan..."
Wei Shuyu smiled and clasped his hands in greeting: "Please inform Your Majesty that I, Wei Shuyu, have a grievance and wish to see Your Majesty."
"If you have a grievance, go to the government. Your father doesn't have time to deal with your trivial matters!"
Li You remained defiant.
I took this job voluntarily, so if I don't do it well...
Not only would it leave the emperor with the impression that he was useless, but it would also make him a laughing stock among the civil and military officials.
"You can inform them first."
Wei Shuyu smiled and said, "I think His Majesty will see me."
"presumptuous!"
Li You suddenly shouted: "Father has clearly ordered you to leave. If you dare to block the Xuanwu Gate again, you will all be punished for treason!"
Upon hearing this, many people were alarmed.
But seeing Wei Shuyu still standing in front, their panicked hearts calmed down.
"Really? You forced me to do this!"
Wei Shuyu pulled out a drumstick that was taller than himself from beside the big drum.
Then he looked at Li You and asked, "Are you sure you want me to strike this drum?"
Li You pondered.
What will happen if Wei Shuyu knocks? Will my father blame me?
Is it possible for me to forcibly suppress Wei Shuyu?
Just as he was pondering what to do, Wei Shuyu suddenly spoke up...
"Then I'll knock."
Thump!
A tremendous sound rang out...
"You bastard!"
Li You suddenly woke up with a start: "Who told you to knock?"
"I thought your silence meant you agreed," Wei Shuyu said innocently.
As he spoke, he struck the drum again with a loud thud.
You bastard!
Li You was so angry he jumped up and down.
Taiji Hall.
Upon hearing the drumbeats, Li Shimin frowned slightly...
"Didn't the drums at the Bell and Drum Towers just sound? How come they're ringing again so soon?"
The ministers' expressions changed drastically.
Besides telling time, the drums in the Bell and Drum Towers have two other functions...
Intrusion alert! Natural disaster alert!
"Could it be an urgent military situation?" Fang Xuanling asked, frowning.
"wrong."
Changsun Wuji shook his head: "The frequency of these knocks is not related to military intelligence."
Intrusion alarms and natural disaster alarms are designed with special knocking sounds that make them easy to distinguish.
"Who exactly is banging the drums?" Li Shimin asked calmly.
"The sound of the drum seems to be coming from near Xuanwu Gate..." Fang Xuanling looked outside the hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Just as we were speculating, a guard rushed in to report...
"Wei Shuyu struck a large drum outside Xuanwu Gate."
He called it the "Petition Drum"!
What?
Li Shimin stood up in shock!
The people petitioned, and the petition drum sounded!
Damn Wei Shuyu...
Are you trying to put me on the historical record and roast me?
Below.
The historian, who was dozing off, suddenly jolted awake...
Finally, work has come!
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