Chapter 468: Sin yourself edict
The next day.
It was time for the court assembly again.
Wei Shuyu held his official tablet while attending court.
While waiting to enter the hall, I heard many officials discussing Dang Renhong.
"Shuyu, what do you think of Dang Renhong's matter?" Tang Jian stepped forward and asked.
Over time.
Wei Shuyu also gained the approval of the court officials.
Occasionally, ministers would strike up a conversation with him.
"Well..."
Wei Shuyu frowned: "Although he deserves to die, I don't think His Majesty will agree so easily."
Why do you say that?
"Yesterday, the Dali Temple submitted five memorials requesting the execution of Dang Renhong, but His Majesty did not approve any of them. This shows that His Majesty has no intention of killing him!" Wei Shuyu replied.
Tang Jian nodded.
That's the truth.
Moreover, this was also a way for the aristocratic families to exert pressure on the imperial power.
If Li Shimin acted out of personal favoritism.
The aristocratic families will definitely make a big fuss about it.
"So what are your plans?"
Tang Jian smiled and said, "You should know that the reason this happened was because the merchants joined forces to expose him."
"What does this have to do with me?"
Wei Shuyu rolled his eyes: "Whether he lives or dies doesn't affect me."
Well……
Upon closer reflection, it really is true.
"Enter the palace."
As the censor's voice rang out, the officials lined up and entered.
"Do any of you gentlemen have something to report?"
Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne, his face looking slightly haggard.
As soon as he finished speaking, someone from the Dali Temple stepped forward...
"Your Majesty, this is my report."
Sun Fujia bowed and said, "Guangzhou Governor Dang Renhong is corrupt and accepts bribes, and he oppresses the local people... His crimes deserve to be punished by death!"
"Where is Dang Renhong?" Li Shimin asked.
"The Dali Temple has taken him outside the hall."
"Bring him in!"
As soon as Li Shimin finished speaking, Li Junxian led in an old man dressed in prison clothes.
The old man was still wearing handcuffs and leg irons.
He had no injuries, but looked unusually haggard.
"Your Majesty, I, the disgraced subject Dang Renhong, pay my respects!"
Upon seeing Li Shimin, Dang Renhong knelt on the ground.
"Dang Renhong, you're already so old, what do you need so much money for?"
Li Shimin walked down the steps.
Wang De tried to stop him from getting close to Dang Renhong, but Li Shimin pushed him away.
"Your subject was wrong."
Tears welled in Dang Renhong's eyes as he knelt on the ground, too afraid to look up.
He didn't realize he was embezzling.
Until he was caught, endless remorse filled his heart.
With his status and power, he already had no worries about food and drink.
Moreover, he's old, and he has nowhere to spend all that embezzled money.
"Raise your head and look at me!" Li Shimin shouted sternly.
"This humble subject dares not."
"I tell you to raise your head!"
Dang Renhong's body trembled.
He slowly raised his head.
Li Shimin rolled up his sleeve: "Do you see this scar on my hand?"
"When your second son was dying, he held my hand tightly, begging me to take good care of you!"
"I have always remembered it."
"I have always regarded you as the person I trust the most."
"But how have you repaid me?"
Dang Renhong's eyes instantly turned red.
Kneel on the ground.
"This sinner was wrong, truly wrong!"
Dang Renhong kowtowed and said, "This sinful subject will not make things difficult for Your Majesty, and is willing to atone for my sins with my death!"
Bang.
Li Shimin kicked him over.
"I promised your second son I would take care of you. Do you intend to break my promise?"
Dang Renhong broke down in tears.
I don't know how to answer.
He could only kneel on the ground and kowtow repeatedly.
"His Majesty!"
Just then, Sun Fujia spoke again: "There is no possibility of pardon for Dang Renhong's crimes!"
Swish.
Li Shimin gave him a cold look: "Then you'll make me break my promise to the world?"
Sun Fujia, however, remained completely unmoved by his words...
"His Majesty's promise is to take good care of Dang Renhong."
"Over the years, you have entrusted him with important responsibilities, such as governor, commander-in-chief, and general commander of the army. Which of these positions is not a powerful one?"
“It is Dang Renhong who has acted recklessly by taking advantage of the trust His Majesty has placed in him.”
"He brought this upon himself; Your Majesty has no reason to blame!"
"Your Majesty, I implore you to execute Dang Renhong to uphold the Tang law and give the people of the world an explanation!"
Sun Fujia bowed.
His words were met with agreement from the assembled officials.
"Your Majesty, I implore you to execute Dang Renhong!"
"Your Majesty, I implore you to execute Dang Renhong!"
Li Shimin coldly glanced at the assembled officials.
No response was given.
He looked at Dang Renhong...
"The death penalty may be waived, but punishment is inescapable."
Li Shimin said in a deep voice, "This time, I will take the blame for you."
"His Majesty!"
When the ministers saw that Li Shimin was still doing things his own way, they immediately spoke up to stop him.
"If His Majesty were to act arbitrarily, what use would he have for us advisors?"
"We beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for the people and give the suffering masses an explanation."
"Your Majesty, please set an example and do not disregard the Tang law for personal gain."
The courtiers all bowed, giving Li Shimin no chance whatsoever.
"Shut up, all of you!"
Li Shimin suddenly let out a loud shout.
His cold gaze swept over the assembled officials before he shouted, "Wang De, have you made the arrangements?"
"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged," Wang De replied softly.
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin walked straight toward the entrance of the Taiji Hall.
The courtiers turned around and looked.
At some point, an item called incense burner and straw mat appeared at the entrance of the Taiji Hall.
The courtiers were all taken aback.
It seemed as if he understood what Li Shimin was going to do.
Li Shimin walked to the table where the sacrificial offerings were placed, and on it was an imperial edict.
“The law is what the ruler receives from Heaven, and it cannot be broken for personal reasons. Now I am acting out of personal interest, and Dang Renhong has violated the law. If I were to pardon him, I would be disrupting the law and failing Heaven.”
“I shall go to the southern suburbs to gather grass for three days and eat vegetarian food every day to atone for my sins.”
Swish.
The courtiers were dumbfounded.
An edict of self-reproach.
He really issued an edict of self-reproach!
What an honor it was for Dang Renhong to issue an edict of self-reproach for a disgraced official!
“Your Majesty is the current emperor, holding the power of life and death. Why would you do such a thing?” Fang Xuanling stepped forward to admonish him.
"Wrong is wrong."
Li Shimin decisively waved his hand: "If I have personal matters to attend to and violate the Tang law, I will bear the responsibility."
“I have committed three crimes: first, I failed to recognize the true worth of people; second, I abused my power for personal gain; and third, I failed to reward the good and punish the evil.”
The courtiers remained silent.
Li Shimin forcibly pardoned Dang Renhong, and they could object.
But now Li Shimin has admitted his mistake.
Moreover, this mistake also demonstrates that his pardoning of Dang Renhong was a violation of the law.
Then they can't keep harping on it.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
Just then, Wei Zheng stepped forward again.
Um?
All the officials looked at Wei Zheng.
How dare you!
How dare you oppose it at a time like this?
Li Shimin was completely dumbfounded...
What do you want to do?
I've already admitted my mistake, and you still want to criticize me?
"Your Majesty took responsibility for Dang Renhong, and I admire you greatly."
"But Your Majesty, as the ruler of a country, going to stay in a thatched hut in the southern suburbs for three days is to disregard state affairs."
"To disregard state affairs for the sake of a disgraced official is a foolish act..."
Wei Zheng unleashed a torrent of words, leaving Li Shimin utterly bewildered.
You bastard.
I can tell you just can't stand to see me leave.
"Since Minister Wei says so, then I will not go to the southern suburbs?" Li Shimin asked tentatively.
"Your Majesty is wise." Wei Zheng bowed.
"If that's the case..."
Just as Li Shimin was about to pardon Dang Renhong, another voice stopped him.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
Looking around, who else could it be but Xiao Wei?
What are you doing?
Is it going to kill you Wei family to say one less word or something?
I have issued an edict of self-reproach.
A feat that will go down in history!
Can you guys be a little more cooperative and serious...?
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